AIM: To study whether there was a correlation between central foveal thickness (CFT) assessed with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual acuity of patient with high myopia after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.METHODS: Totally 67 patients with high myopia underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were enrolled in the study.Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was recorded and CFT was measured using OCT at 1wk,1 and 3mo after oerations.BCVA and CFT were compared before and after the operation.All patents were divided into two groups by the BCVA at 3mo after operation,BCVA>0.5 in Group A and BCVA≤0.5 in Group B.ANOVA,Spearman correlation analysis and independent t test were used for statistical analysis.RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between preoperative BCVA and postoperative BCVA (F=115.04,P<0.01).Preoperative CFT was different compared with that 1wk and 1mo after operation (P=0.04,0.02) and was not different with that 3mo after operation(P=0.52).There was a statistically significant difference in CFT of postoperative 3-month compared with that of postoperative 1-week(P<0.01) or that of postoperative 1-month (P<0.01).BCVA showed significant positive correlation with CFT without foveal lesion on postoperative 3mo (r=0.28,P=0.03).CFT of Group A and Group B was significantly different at 3mo after the operation (t=-2.24,P=0.03).There was no significant difference in age and intraocular lens of two groups.CONCLUSION: Optical coherence tomography allow for objective assessment of retinal construction changes in eyes with high myopia are correlated to visual acuity.

Objective To investigate the pathogenesis of cytotoxic T cell (CTL) dysfunction in patients with HCV infection. Methods CTL detecting system was established. Two polypeptides which could enhance CTL function and two polypeptides which could inhibit CTL function were selected and cross-combined. BALB/c mice were immunized by subcutaneous injection of the combined polypeptides, and the CTL activity in mouse spleen cells was detected by LDH release test. Results CTL activity in BLAB/c mice immunized by polypeptides in the core region of HCV could be enhanced by CPA10 (5-23 aa) and inhibited by CPA9 (39-74 aa). CTL activity in the mice could be enhanced by polypeptides from the HCV core region, CPB2+CPB8, and CPB6+CPB8, respectively. There was no obvious difference between CPB2+CPB7, CPB6+CPB7 and the negative control. Two-factor analysis of variance showed that there was reciprocal action between the inhibitory and enhancing polypeptides from the HCV core region. Conclusion CTL activity in BLAB/c mice can be detected stably by LDH. There is an interactive effect between the inhibitory and enhancing polypeptides from the HCV core region.

Objective To explore the mechanism of CTL dysfunction in HCV infected person, to provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the pathogenesis of hepatitis C and the development of HCV vaccines. Methods HCV nucleopolypeptides were selected and synthesized with the method of solid phase synthesis. BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with HCV nucleopolypeptides, and CTL activity of mice was detected by LDH releasing test. Results CTL of mice could be inhibited by HCV nucleopolypeptides residues 39-74, 67-76, 71-80 and enhanced by HCV nucleopolypeptides residues 5 23,63 72,131 140. Conclusion The function of CTL can be suppressed and intensified by different HCV nucleopolypeptides.

Objective To establish practical cell model of HCV infection, and investigate the susceptibility of a human liver cell line HepG2 to hepatitis C virus in vitro. Methods A human liver cell line HepG2 was incubated with serum from a chronic hepatitis C patient for 6～8 hours. Both the plus and minus strands of HCV RNA in infected cells or supernatant were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). The HCV NS 3,NS 5 antigens in infected cells were respectively detected with the monoclonal antibodies to antigens of their own by immunohistochemical assay. The minus strand of HCV RNA in infected cells were localized by in situ hybridization. Results The intracellular plus or minus stands of HCV RNA were first detected on day 3 post incubation and then could be intermittently detected until day 35 post incubation in cells or supernatant. The positive signals of NS 3,NS 5 antigens could be expressed within cytoplasm of infected cells. The minus strand of HCV RNA was located within cytoplasm by in situ hybridization. Conclustions These results show that a human liver cell line HepG2 is not only susceptible to HCV but also able to support its long time replication in vitro.

Objective To establish a simple animal model and the cytotoxic T cell(CTL) detecting system for the studies of the effects of CTL on HCV infection. Methods The CTL activity in BLAB/c mice immunized by polypeptides in the core region of HCV was detected with lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) by using SP2/O cells as the target cells. Results CTL activity in BLAB/c mice immunized by polypeptides in the core region of HCV could be detected with LDH. The activity could be enhanced by CPA10(5～23 aa) but inhibited by CPA9(39～74 aa). Conclusion CTL activity in BLAB/c mice can be detected stably by LDH.

Objective: To discuss the pathologic and clinical characteristics of papillary urothelial neoplasm with low malignant potential (PUNLMP). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 41 cases of PUNLMP confirmed by pathological examination from 2003 to 2006 and selected 28 cases of urothelial papilloma and 51 cases of low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma as control. Results: Forty one cases of PUNLMP (male 31; female 10, ranging from 33 to 87 years, average 61.6 years) were recruited in this study. Recurrence occurred in 6 cases (15%) with the mean recurrence period of 24.6 months. No progression was detected by pathological examination. Four patients had multiple tumors, among them 2 (50%) cases recurred. In 28 cases of urothelial papilloma, recurrence was observed in 1 (4%) case with no progression. In 51 cases of low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma, 18 (35%) cases experienced recurrence and 5 cases (10%) had progressed disease. The difference in recurrence rate among the three groups was significant (P = 0.002). Conclusion: PUNLMP has its own pathologic and clinical characteristics. The term "low maligant potential" is more appropriate than "carcinoma". Long-term follow-up is needed after surgery because of high recurrence rate.

Objective To explore the effect of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) in uric acid?induced phenotypic change in renal tubular epithelial cells (HK?2). Methods (1) HK?2 cells were cultured with 0, 75, 150, 225, 300 mg/L uric acid for 24 h in vitro. (2) The cells were divided into normal control group, ER stress inhibitor 4?PBA (5 μmol/L) group, uric acid (150 mg/L) group and 4?PBA+uric acid group for 24 h. Morphological changes of HK?2 cells were observed under inverted microscope. MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of HK?2 cells treated with 150 mg/L uric acid for 24, 48 and 72 h. The protein expressions of α?smooth muscle actin (α?SMA), vimentin, snail, glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α(p?eIF2α) in HK?2 cells were measured by Western blotting. Results Compared with the control group, HK?2 cells in uric acid groups (150, 225, 300 mg/L) showed fibroblast?like appearance. The protein expressions of α?SMA, vimentin, snail, GRP78 and p?eIF2α in 150 mg/L and 225 mg/L uric acid groups were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The proliferation of HK?2 cells in 150 mg/L uric acid group was lower than that in control group at 48 and 72 h (all P<0.01). Compared with the uric acid group, the cell morphology in 4?PBA+uric acid group was improved, and the protein expressions ofα?SMA, vimentin, snail, GRP78 and p?eIF2α were decreased (all P<0.05). Conclusions Uric acid may induce the phenotype transformation of renal tubular epithelial cell, and ER stress is involved. 4?PBA may inhibit the uric acid?induced ER stress response and phenotypic transformation, and may be beneficial in attenuating uric acid?induced renal tubular damage.

Age-related macular degeneration(AMD), the most common cause of irreversible blindness over 50 years in developed countries, is a degenerative disease occurs with age. The prevalence rate in our country is also increasing by year and the pathogenesis is still undiscovered. In this review, we focus on the associated risk factors reported in recent years, aim to further understand the pathogenesis of AMD.

Objective　To investigate the role of cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated molecule-4Ig(CTLA-4Ig) in the prevention of C57BL/6 mice autoimmune hepatitis. Methods　The C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally immunized with C57BL/6 mice liver-specific protein in complete Freund's adjuvant. At the same time CTLA-4Ig were given to observe the pathologic alteration of C57BL/6 mice liver. Results　With the increase of time of immunization, the results in the treatment group were similar to those of the control group; but inflammatory cell infiltration, hepatic cell swelling, focal necrosis and severe hepatocyte damage were found in the pathologic model group. There was a significant difference between the pathologic model group and control one. Conclusion　Autoimmune hepatitis of C57BL/6 mice can be effectively prevented by CTLA-4Ig.

Objective To study the survival and melanogenic potential of human melanocytes reversibly immortalized via SV40T antigen gene and Cre/loxP system in Guinea pigs. Methods The supernatants of retrovirus vector Cre-ERT2 were used to infect melanocytes which had been successfully transfected by SV40TAg gene (MCT), then the expression of Cre recombinase was induced with tamoxifen in infected cells; subsequently, the surviving cells, which were named as MCTC, were subjected to expansion culture. Guinea pigs were utilized to establish animal models of vitiligo, then MCTC and primary melanocytes were transplanted respectively into the animal models. The repigmentation at the transplanted area was observed with naked eyes successively until 3 months after the transplantation when tissue samples were obtained from implanted area and nonimplanted area of guinea pigs and subjected to Masson-Fontana silver stain and Hematoxylin-eosin stain for the analysis of melanocyte distribution and melanin deposition in epidermis. Results Repigmentation started 4 weeks after the transplantation, and dark or brown patches, which ranged in size from 0.5 to 1 cm, were observed in the implanted area 3 months after the transplantation. The repigmentation rate was of no significant difference between pigs transplanted with MCTC and those with primary melanocytes (82.5% vs 76.7%, P > 0.05). Pathological examination revealed melanin deposition in the basal layer of epidermis and some hair follicles in transplanted area. Conclusions SV40T antigen gene combined with Cre/loxP site-specific recombinase system can induce the reversible immortalization of human melanocytes, and the immortalized melanocytes have a favorable profile of biological safety and similarity in survival rate and melanogenic potential to primary melanocytes.