AIM: To study the relationship between expression of ? 3 integrin, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) stimulated by osteopontin (OPN) and fibronectin (FN).METHODS: VSMC migration was examined using a model of wounding injury of confluent cultured cells. The expression of ? 3 integrin, FAK and Gax genes in VSMC were detected using Western blotting and RT-PCR. RESULTS: OPN and FN induced the migration activity of VSMC in a time-dependent manner ( P

Objective To introduce a new method for correction of epicanthal folds, which could avoid obvious scar in medial canthus. Methods First, through upper and lower palpebral margin incisions, the connective and orbicularis oculi muscle dense fibers underlying epicanthal folds as well as the superficial head of medial canthal ligament were thoroughly released and excised. After repositioning the medial canthus, the redundant skin tissue was removed and then the incisions closed. Results 122 epicanthoplasties had been performed. Postsurgical scars were invisible in all cases. All patients were satisfied with operation results. No recurrence of epicanthal fold was observed. Conclusions The introduced method has advantages in avoiding scar formation and is an especially suitable approach for epicanthoplasty in Asian patients.

Bosentan is a non-selective endothelin receptor antagonist,which plays an important role in the treatment of children with pulmonary arterial hypertension.Bosentan has shown to improve exercise capacity,hemodynamics and reduce pulmonary vascular resistance in pediatric patients.The main adverse effect is less severely comparing with the adult.The combination of bosentan with other drugs can improve the life quality furtherly.Further study of large-scale trials needs focus on the long-effects of bosentan,the ideal period of therapy and the effects of combination therapy in children.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between NF-?B activation and intimal hyperplasia.METHODS: The protein extract from aorta was used to detect the expression of NF-?B p65,I?B?,ICAM-1 and COX-2 by Western blotting,and detection of threonine phosphorylation of p65 was performed by immunoprecipitation analysis.RESULTS: The level of p65 reached a maximum level at day 7,and then decreased significantly,which was higher than that in the control,in both cellular extract and nuclear extract at day 21 after balloon injury.The p65 level in cytoplasm had no obvious changes at different time points after balloon injury.The threonine phosphorylation of NF-?B p65 was negative correlated with the nuclear translocation of NF-?B.I?B? level showed a 15% decrease at day 1 after balloon injury,compared with control group,then returned at day 14,and reached to normal level at day 21.However,the expression of ICAM-1 and COX-2 was maximal at day 14,and then declined but higher than that in control group at day 21 after balloon injury.CONCLUSION: The activation of NF-?B p65 and the expression of ICAM-1 and COX-2 are parallel to the neointimal thickening after balloon injury.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of different wavelength krypton lasers on diabetic retinopathy. Methods A total of 55 eyes (35 cases) with diabetic retinopathy underwent different wavelength krypton lasers photocoagulation treatment, according to the different manifestation of the affected eyes. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure,visual field,visual evoked potential were examined, and slit lamp, ophthalmoscopy, B ultrasonography, and fundus fluorescein angiography were performed preoperatively. The patients were followed up for at least 12 months after krypton laser treatment. Results The resulting effect on visual acuity after 12 months of photocoagulation in this series revealed that, 20 eyes (36.4%) improved, 34 eyes (61.8%) remained no change, and one eye (1.8%) decreased. Conclusions Different wavelength krypton lasers photocoagulation can be used in treatment of diabetic retinopathy and can improve the visual acuity at certain extent.

Objective To observe the effect of Zhibo Dihuang Pill(ZDP) on leptin-induced idiopathic central precocious puberty(ICPP) in mice.Methods Eighteen BALB/c female mice aged 18 months were randomized into 6 groups: normal group,model group,high-and low-dose ZDP groups(at the dose of 101.4 and 50.7 g?kg-1?d-1 respectively),and megestrol acetate(3.9 mg?kg-1?d-1)group and gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues(GnRH-A) group(at the first dose of 1573.5 ?g/kg,the second and the third dose of 1180 ?g/kg,once every other day).Except the normal group,the mice in other groups received intraperitoneal injection of leptin 20mg/kg to establish ICPP model.After treatment,the vaginal opening,body weight,uterus weight and ovaries weight as well as the serum levels of luteinizing hormone(LH),estrogen(E2) were detected.Meanwhile,the uterus index and ovaries index were also examined.Results High-dose ZDP had an inhibition on the advance of vaginal opening induced by leptin after modeling for 4~6 days(P0.05).Conclusion The therapeutic effect of ZDP for ICPP is probably related with the inhibition of the advance of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis activation.

Objective To make the management responsibility clear for guarding against the lacking of legal basis in patient lawsuits.Methods An implantable coding database for medical consumables was set.Barcode on packaging bag was scanned in 'information system'.'secondary management database for high-value consumables' was set in operation room.According to a warehouse-out list,the warehouse was checked monthly.Results The flow of all consumables was controlled.Conclusion Operational links are reduced and work efficiency is improved.Besides,the transparency of charges is increased.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2008,29(2):64-65]

AIM: To investigate whether the expression of integrin ?_3 and the activation of focal adhesion kinase(FAK) are involved in neointima formation after de-endothelium.METHODS: The model of intima hyperplasia was prepared by balloon injury.The levels of osteopontin(OPN),integrin ?_3 and FAK in vascular tissue were detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: There were similar expression patterns in OPN,integrin ?_3 and FAK following balloon injury.The levels of three proteins were markedly increased 3 days after operation and reached the peak at 7th day.The increased FAK was mainly the phosphorylated form.The migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells was associated with the increase in the expression of integrin ?_3 and FAK,and was parallel with rapid turnover of extracellular matrix(ECM).CONCLUSION: The interaction of cells with ECM mediated by OPN and integrin ?_3 is essential for migration.The integrin ?_3-FAK pathway is involved in neointima formation.

Objective To analyze the normal anatomy and variation of arteries around ankles in Chinese adults in and around Shaanxi province. Methods Aged 18-82 (48±15) years, 522 males and 557 females who came to Xijing Hospital for medical treatment or for a healthy check were randomly recruited to participate in this study. Their arteries around ankles were assessed by high-frequency color Doppler ultrasound. Then the anatomy and variation of the arteries were analyzed. Results There were totally 213 arterial variations in 175 subjects, including variations at single ankle in 137 subjects and variations at both sides in 38 subjects. The rate of arterial variation at ankle in persons was 16.2%(175/1 079) and was higher in females than that in males (21.5%, 120/557,χ2=24.028, P=0.000). The rate of arterial variation at ankle in limbs was 9.9%(213/2 158). There was no signiifcant difference for the rate of arterial variation between the left (5.1%, 109/2 158) and right (4.8%, 104/2 158) ankles (χ2=0.129, P=0.701). In variations of arteries at ankles, there were 131 cases with small posterior tibial arteries and peroneal arteries extending to the bottoms of feet, i.e., posterior tibial arteries substituted by peroneal arteries (typeⅠ, 6.1%, 131/2 158), 69 cases with small anterior tibial arteries and peroneal arteries extending to the dorsums of feet, i.e., anterior tibial arteries substituted by peroneal arteries (typeⅡ, 3.2%, 69/2 158), and 13 cases with both small anterior and posterior tibial arteries, and peroneal arteries extending to both the dorsums and bottoms of feet, i.e., both anterior and posterior tibial arteries substituted by peroneal arteries (typeⅢ, 0.6%, 13/2 158). There was no signiifcant difference in each type of variation rates between left and right sides. The rates of typeⅠvariation were 6.0%(65/1 079) and 6.1%(66/1 079) at the left and right ankles respectively (χ2=0.010, P=0.928);the rates of typeⅡvariation were 3.6%(39/1 079) and 2.8%(30/1 079) at the left and right ankles respectively (χ2=1.213, P=0.271);the rates of typeⅢvariation were 0.5%(5/1 079) and 0.7%(8/1 079) at the left and right ankles respectively (χ2=0.697, P=0.404). Conclusions Ultrasound can be used to depict anatomy and variation arteries around ankles. There is a high prevalence of anatomic variation of ankle arteries in population in and around Shaanxi province. Therefore it will be helpful for diagnosis vascular abnormalities with the knowledge of characteristics of normal anatomy and variation of ankle arteries.