Objective To observe serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels in retinal vein occlusion (RVO) patients with different ages and types.Methods A total of 79 patients (79 eyes) diagnosed with RVO were enrolled.There were 33 females and 46 males,the mean age was (57.00± 9.29) years.Eighty-two age-and sex-matched patients (82 eyes) without retinal vascular disease were included as controls.There were 32 females and 50 males,the mean age was (60.00± 10.15) years.Among RVO patients,there were 24 patients younger than 50 years old (young patients) and 55 patients older than 50 years old (elderly patients);35 patients with central RVO (CRVO) and 44 patients with branch RVO (BRVO).Fasting plasma Hcy,serum vitamin (Vit) B6,B12 and folate levels were measured in all patients.The relationship of high Hcy,low VitB6,low folate and RVO with different age were analyzed.Results Hcy level was significantly higher in RVO patients than control subjects (t =2.946,P ＜ 0.01).Blood concentration of folate and VitB6 were significantly lower in RVO patients than control subjects (t=2.641,2.889;P＜0.01).Blood level of VitB12 was significantly different in RVO patients from control subjects (t =1.665,P＞0.05).Concentrations of Hcy,folate,VitB12 and VitB6 were not different between patients with CRVO and BRVO (t =0.756,1.306,0.682,1.306;P＞ 0.05).Hcy level was significantly higher in the young RVO patients than in the elderly RVO patients (t=2.394,P＜0.05).Blood concentration of folate and VitB6 were lower in the young RVO patients than in the elderly RVO patients,but the difference were not significant(t=1.318,1.694;P＞0.05).The number of patients with high Hcy [x2=13.67,odds ratio (OR) =3.327,95％ confidence interval (CI) =1.742-6.354],low VitB6 (x2 =5.28,OR =2.068,95％CI=1.103-3.878) and low folate status (x2 =8.642,OR=2.546,95％CI=1.349-4.806) in RVO patients were more than control subjects (P=0.0001,0.023,0.004).Conclusions High Hcy,low folate and low VitB6 were risk factors for the onset of RVO.Hcy may play more important role in young patients with RVO.Hcy,folate and VitB6 levels were similar in CRVO and BRVO patients.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney diseases are a large family of inherited diseases,which are characterized by the development of multiple renal cysts of tubular epithelial cell origin. Progressively enlarging cysts compromise normal renal parenchyma,reduce renal function and lead to renal failure. This review article summarizes recent literatures on the intracellular calcium homeostasis and signaling involving cAMP,EGFR and Ras/ERK,Wnt,m-TOR,as well as JAK-STAT,in the pathogenesis of polycystic kidney disease.

Objective To prepare a 10-hydroxycamptothecin (10-HCPT) loaded folate-receptor targeted phase-change contrast agent (FR-HCPT-PNPCA),and to study the general characteristics including drug loading,phase changing and targeting capability in vitro.Methods Using a method of two-step emulsification,the phase-change nanoparticles loading anticancer drug (10-HCPT) with lipids shell and liquid pefluorocarbon core were prepared.The entrapment efficiency and the drug-loading amounts were studied by high performance liquid chromatography,and the phase transition of the nanoparticles after heating was observed.The targeting ability was evaluated on liver cancer cell line 7721 in vitro.Results The FR-HCPT-PNPCA,with a drug encapsulation rate of about 70.42 ％ and drug loading amounts of about 20.05 ％,was prepared successfully.When being heated to 70℃,obvious phase changing and microbubbles generating could be observed under microscope.In addition,a large amount of FR-HCPT-PNPCA particles could adhere specifically around the 7721 cells.Conclusion The prepared FR-HCPT-PNPCA,which has a stable characteristic and high performance of drug loading and tumor targeting,is expected to become a promising multifunctional molecular ultrasound probe for diagnosis and treatment of tumor.

Objective To study the expression and regulation of aquapofins (AQP) in cystic epithelial cells of jck mice with polycystic kidney disease. Methods Localization and regulation of AQP1, AQP2, AQP3 and AQP4 protein were analyzed by using the immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Results Kidneys of jck homozygous mice were 4 folds larger than those of litter matched wild-type mice. There were multiple cysts and fibrosis in the renal tissue of jck mice. The epithelial cells in cysts were flat in shape. Blood urea level in jck mice was (42.6 ± 6.7) mmol/L, which was 5 folds higher than that in wild-type mice [(8.4±1.9) mmol/L] (P<0.01). Immunofluorescence analysis showed that AQP1 was expressed in the apical and hasolatend membranes of epithelial cells in proximal tubules, as well as in the thin descending limb of Henle and endothelial cells of descending vasa recta. There was no AQP1 expression in epithelial cells of cysts. AQP2 was expressed in the apical membranes of collecting ducts and renal cysts. AQP3 and AQP4 were expressed in basolateral membranes of collecting duct and renal cystic epithelial cells of jck mice. Western blot analysis showed the same protein sizes of AQP1, AQP2, AQP3 and AQP4 in both jck and wild-type kidneys. However, AQP1 expression was down-regulated in jck kidneys (P<0.01). Conclusion The renal cystic epithelia expresses AQP2, AQP3 and AQP4, which indicates that epithelial cells in renal cysts are derived from renal collecting ducts in jck mice and aquaporins may play an important role in renal cyst development.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of PEG-INF alpha-2a(PEG-INF-2a)on patients with chronic hepatitis C.Methods 60 patients with hepatitis C were included in this study.30 patients were treated with PEGINF-2a(180μg or 135μg/week)and RBV 900mg/d,30 patients were treated with IFNα-2a(5 MIU/qod)and RBV 900 mg/d.The time of treatment was 48 weeks,and all the patients were followed up for 24 weeks after treatment.There was no significant difference between the two groups in pretreatment HCV-RNA,HCV genotype and other clinical data.The main parameters to evaluate the efficacy were virological and biochemical responses.The side effects were intensively observed.Results Sustained vimlogical response(SVR)rate in PEG-IFNα-2a group was significantly higher than that in IFNα-2a group(56.5%and 19.5%respectively,P＜0.01).As the patients were divided according to HCV genotype 1 and high virus load.the SVR rate of PEG-IFNα-2a group Was higher than IFNα-2a group(P＜0.01).However,there was no significant difference between two groups in the patients with non-genotype 1 and low viral load(P=0.664,0.116).Similar side-effects were observed in PEG IFNα-2a group and IFNα-2a group,but the rate of weisht decline and the degree of leukocyte decrease were more significant in PEG IFNα-2a group than in IFNα-2a group(P＜0.01).Conclusion The efficacy of PEG IFNα-2a in the treatment of chromic hepatitis C is superior to that of conventional IFNα-2a,PEG-IFNα-2a had good tolerance and safety profiles.

Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Radiation Tolerance

Objectives:To investigate the expression of regulators survivin and Ki 67 in rhabdomyosarcoma(RMS), and to evaluate their relationship with clinicopathological features. Methods: Immunohistochemical technique(S P) and image analysis were used to detect the expression of regulators survivin and Ki 67 in 43 cases of RMS and 10 normal skeletal muscles. Results: Expression of survivin was detected in 86% of the RMS, with higher levels in RMS than in normal skeletal muscles ( P

Objective To study the method and diagnostic value of curved planar reformation(CPR)of body canals with multislice spiral CT.Methods 50 patients with various disease of chest and abdomen scanned by multislice spiral CT.CPR of canals of chest and abdomen were performed.Results The images of CPR were acquired satisfactory in all cases.3 cases were normal.There were vascular diseases of chest in 6 cases,lung cancer in 9 cases,disease of abdominal vessels in 10 cases,disease of biliary tract in 10 cases.Carcinoma of the head of pancrease in 4 cases,ureter cancer in 4 cases,ureter stone in 2 cases,tuberculosis of ureter in 1 case,malformation of ureter in 1 case.Conclusion CPR of body canal with multislice spiral CT is an effective method in the diagnosis of various diseases of chest and abdomen.It is an useful supplement of routine CT scan.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the preventive and therapeutic effects of Yishen Huanji Decoction (YSHJD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on military overtraining-induced kidney injury in a rat model. METHODS: Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, untreated group and YSHJD-treated group. The military overtraining-induced kidney injury in rats was established by forcing to run on the treadmill for 8 weeks. The rats in YSHJD-treated group were administered with YSHJD at the same time. The 24-hour urines were collected every weekend for detecting the contents of urinary sediment, 24-hour urine total protein, 24-hour urine albumin and activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG). The blood and renal tissues were collected after 8-week training, and the levels of serum urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (SCr) were detected. Angiotensin II (Ang II) was detected by radioimmunoassay and activity of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase in kidney was analyzed by chemical colorimetric method. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, after 8-week training, the contents of 24-hour urine protein, activities of NAG in urine, and the levels of BUN and SCr in rats in the untreated group and YSHJD-treated group were obviously increased (P<0.05), and these parameters of the YSHJD-treated group were lower than those of the untreated group (P<0.05). The contents of Ang II in blood plasma and kidney of rats in the untreated group and YSHJD-treated group were higher than those of the normal control group (P<0.05), and had no statistical difference between the untreated group and YSHJD-treated group. Compared with the normal control group, the activity of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase in kidney of rats in the untreated group was obviously decreased (P<0.05), and had no statistical difference between the normal control group and YSHJD-treated group. CONCLUSION: YSHJD can protect against military overtraining-induced kidney injury in rats by decreasing the contents of 24-hour urine protein, BUN and SCr, and the activity of NAG, and increasing the activity of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase.

Objective To study the preventive and therapeutic effects of losartan and vitamin E on kidney injury induced by overtraining in a rat model. Methods Forty SD male rats were randomly divided into four groups (10 each): control group, model group, losartan group and vitamin E group. Rats in control group were fed with conventional diet. Rats in other three groups were forced to run on the treadmill for 8 weeks, once a day for 20 minutes and 5 days for each week, till exhaustion to induce the kidney injury. Rats in losartan group and vitamin E group were gavaged either with losartan or vitamin E everyday. Urine was collected at the end af each week, urine protein and N-acety-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were detormined, and the serum urea nitrogen, creatinine (SCr), angiotensin Ⅱ, Na+-K+-ATP-ase activity in kidney were analyzed after 8 weeks' training. Results After 8 weeks' training, the urine protein, NAG in urine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), SCr were obviously increased in model group, losartan group and vitamin E group as compared with that in control group, while those in model group were higher than that in losartan group and vitamin E group (P0.05). Na+-K+-ATP-ase activity of renal tissue were obvionsly lower in model group and losartan group than that in control group and vitamin E group (P