Objective To study the clinical classification and etiologies of uveitis based on 1 214 uveitis patients reffered to Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center. Methods A retrospective analysis was made on the patients with uveitis, coming from all over China between January 1996 and December 2001. All kinds of uveitis were classified according to the anatomical criteria and etiological criteria. The relevant data of these patients, such as the age at uveitis onset and sex were also analyzed. Results The total number of the patients is 1 214 (male 698, female 516), with the average age at disease onset being 34.43. Anterior uveitis, the most common type, was seen in 546 cases, accounting for 44.98% of all the patients, followed in descending order by panuveitis (530 cases, 43.66%), intermediate uveitis(78 cases, 6.43%) and posterior uveitis(60 cases, 4.94%). Etiological factors and clinical entities were identified in 703 patients, accounting for 57.91% of all the patients, and the other 511 patients were idiopathic ones. The most common types of anterior uveitis were idiopathic uveitis(316 cases, 57.88%), followed by Fuchs syndrome(85 cases) and ankylosing spondylitis(45 cases). Behcet ) disease(218 cases, 41.13%) and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome(196 cases, 36.98%) were the most common entities in panuveitis. Neither etiological factors nor clinical entities could be identified in the patients with intermediate uveitis and those with posterior uveitis. Conclusions Uveitis occurs mostly in young and middle-aged adults. In general, a predilection was seen in the male as compared with the female in the development of uveitis. Idiopathic anterior uveitis, Behcet ) disease and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome are the most common entities of uveitis seen in China. Classification based on etiological and anatomical factors may provide a reasonable system for the study of uveitis.

Objective To investigate the expression of costimulatory molecules( B7, CD28, and CTLA-4) of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with Behcet′s ) disease(BD). Methods Lymphocytes were obtained in 24 patients with BD and 20 healthy individuals, and the expression of CD80(B7-1), CD86(B7-2), CD28 and CTLA-4 on T and B cells were detected by direct three-color immunofluorescence flow cytometry. Results Significantly increased expression of CTLA-4 on CD4 + T cells [(3. 18?1. 18)%] was found in BD patients compared with that in controls [(1. 73?0. 66) %] ( t=-3. 722,P

In this study,we isolated and characterized chlorobenzene degrading bacteria from the effluent and sludge samples of one chemical plant.Minimal medium supplemented with chlorobenzene as sole car-bon source was used during the enrichment and domestication process.Seven major bacterial isolates were obtained and purified.Their 16S rRNA genes were amplified by PCR for sequencing and their identities were determined with homology comparisons.Five of the seven isolates belong to Actinomycetales in-cluding Kocuria KD139,Rhodococcus KD140,Rhodococcus KD142,Arthrobacter KD230,and Ar-throbacter KD232;one is classified as Bacillus d KD178;and another one as Stenotrophomonas KD237.The phylogenetic tree was also constructed based on the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences.Chloro-benzene concentrations were quantified with gas chromatography to investigate the bio-degradation rates of the isolated strains.Stenotrophomonas KD237 degraded 60.78% chlorobenzene in the minimal medium within 24 h.

Objective To investigate visuospatial-visuoconstructional ability in patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI).Methods The subjects were divided into three groups:122(51 males and 71 females)in the normal control group; 205(95 males and 110 females)in the MCI group,including 133 amnestic MCI(aMCI)and 72 non-amnestic MCI(naMCI),and 75(36 males and 39 females)in the Alzheimer' s disease(AD)group.The subjects were assessed for visuospatial-visuoconstructional ability by three tests:Rey-Osterrieth Complement Fixation Test(CFT),Clock Drawing Task(CDT),and Stick Test.Mini-mental State Examination(MMSE)was also performed in all groups.SPSS 11.5 statistical software was used for statistic analysis; Chi-square test was used to analyze enumeration data; One-way analysis of variance was used in pairwise comparison between the groups,and Bonferroni and LSD methods were used for multiple comparison.Results(1)The average MMSE score in the normal control group,MCI group and AD group was 28.24 ± 1.74,27.39 ± 1.83 and 19.98 ±3.23,respectively.(2)In the normal control group,either CFT imitating score or total CDT score had no obvious correlation with age or education,while Stick Test-Rotating part(STR)was correlated with age(r =-0.179,P ＜ 0.05),but had no significant correlation with education.(3)There were correlations between CFT imitating score and total CDT score (r =0.337),CFT imitating score and STR(r =0.232),and total CDT score and STR(r =0.235).The correlations were statistically significant(P ＜ 0.01).(4)CFT imitating and total CDT showed the greatest correlation with Trail Making Test B and Stroop Color Word Test Card C time consumption,an indicator of executive function.STR had greatest correlation with Auditory Verbal Learning Test,an index of memory.There were significant differences in CFT imitating,total CDT score and STR among the normal,MCI and AD groups(P ＜ 0.01).(5)STR is a more informative test to be used in diagnosis of MCI than CFT imitating and total CDT score,as shown by comparison of these tests in three subjects groups.Conclusion Visuospatial-visuoconstructional ability impairment is one of the symptoms of MCI.In detection of MCI,the assessment of space rotating ability is better than CFT imitating and total CDT score.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of sodium tanshinone II (A) sulfonate (STS) on Ang II -induced atrial fibroblast collagen synthesis and TGF-beta1 activation.

METHODAtrial fibroblasts of neonatal rats were cultured to determine the content of collagen protein. The original synthesis rate determined by the [3H]-proline incorporation method was taken as the index for myocardial fibrosis. The content of active TGF-beta1 and total TGF-beta1 in cell culture supernatants were tested and cultured by ELISA. The expression of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) was assessed by using Western blot.

RESULTAng II could significantly increase the content of atrial fibroblast collagen and the collagen synthesis rate, the TSP-1 expression and the concentration of active TGF-beta1, without any obvious change in total TGF-beta1. After the STS treatment, all of the indexes, apart from total TGF-beta1, were obviously down-regulated.

CONCLUSIONSTS could decrease the secretion of Ang II -induced atrial fibroblast collagen and the synthesis rate. Its mechanism is related to the inhibition of TSP-1/TGF-beta1 pathway.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Heart Atria ; cytology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Thrombospondin 1 ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Objective To explore the expression and significance of galectin-3 in COPD and lung cancer.Methods Sixty female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups:COPD group,lung cancer group and the control group with 20 rats in each group.COPD group was given tracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide and exposed to daily cigarette to establish the model.Lung cancer group was injected with 3,4-benzopyrene-corn mixture.The control group was fed normally.After 20 weeks,plasma galectin-3 concentration was assessed in each group using ELISA method.Results The galectin-3 average concentrations of COPD group,lung cancer group and the control group were (8.63 ± 0.46) ng/mL,(9.15 ± 0.69) ng/mL and (4.47 ± 0.51) ng/mL.The average concentrations in COPD and lung cancer groups were higher than that of the control group with a statistically significant difference (P＜0.05).Conclusion As expressed in COPD and lung cancer,galectin-3 may own a great significance to the occurrence,development and prognosis of COPD and lung cancer.

Objective To investigate the effect of jejunal infusion of amino acids on secretion of gastrointestinal hormone in healthy dogs.Methods Six healthy adult dogs were treated with jejunal fistulas and femoral vein intubation.Twenty-four hours after the operation,solution of 8 different amino acid monomers (experimental group) or normal saline (control group) were infused into the jejunum of the dogs every 24hours.The levels of cholecystokinin (CCK),motilin,and gastrin in the peripheral plasma were measured using radioimmunoassay at the start of infusion (0 minute),and 30,60,90,and 120 minutes after infusion.Results Compared with the control group,the serum CCK level in the phenylalanine group was significantly higher 30 and 60 minutes after infusion [(1.25 ±0.19) ng/L vs.(0.66 ±0.14) ng/L,(1.23 ±0.12) ng/L vs.(0.80 ± 0.03) ng/L,both P ＜ 0.01],while that in the tryptophan group was significantly higher 30 minutes after infusion [(1.08 ±0.26) ng/L vs.(0.66 ±0.14) rig/L,P ＜0.01].The other measurement results showed no statistically significant differences.Conclusions Jejunal infusion of phenylalanine or tryptophan may stimulate the secretion of gastrointestinal hormone to some extent.Aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine and tryptophan) is more potent in triggering the release of CCK than aliphatic (leucine,isoleucine,and methionine) and charged amino acids (aspartic acid,arginine,and glutamate).The mechanism may be related to the properties of the amino acids.

Objective To study the inhibitory effects of total flavonoids of scutellaria baicalensis georgi(TFSB) on S180,Hep-A-22 and Bcap-37 tumor cell proliferation in vitro and on S180,Hep-A-22 in mice bearing tumor in vivo.Methods In vitro,S180,Hep-A-22 and Bcap-37 cells were divided into control group and TFSB groups(12.5,25.0,50.0,100.0 mg?L-1).The inhibitory effects of TFSB on proliferation of S180 and Hep-A-22 were measured by XTT colorimetric assay,and Bcap-37 cells were measured by MTT colorimetric assay.In vivo,the mice bearing tumor were divided into control group,CTX group(30 mg?kg-1),high,middle,low doses TFSB groups(200,100,50 mg?kg-1).After the mice bearing S180 and Hep-A-22 tumor cells were treated with TFSB for 15 d,the tumor weights were measured,the inhibitory rates of S180 and Hep-A-22 were calculated and survival of Hep-A22 was measured after administration of TFSB for 10 d.Results TFSB inhibited the proliferation of S180,Hep-A-22 and Bcap-37 cells,IC50 values were 16.04,17.74 and 9.05 mg?L-1,respectively.The tumor weight of mice bearing S180 and Hep-A-22 cells in TFSB groups(200,100,50mg?kg-1) were lowered than that in control(P