AIM:To evaluate the feasibility and significance of nasal endoscope combined with Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet ( Nd:YAG ) laser in the treatment of recurrent dacryocystitis.
METHODS: Forty-eight cases (48 eyes) with recurrent dacryocystitis were treated by nasal endoscope combined with Nd:YAG laser. The tubes were kept in place for 3-6mo after operation. The follow-up time was 3-18mo.RESULTS: Symptoms was completely resolved in 46 eyes and improved in 2 eyes, the cure rate was 100%. There were no other complications.
CONCLUSION: Nasal endoscope combined with Nd:YAG laser provides an ideal therapeutic for recurrent dacryocystitis because of its many advantages such as a few complications, simple operation, no scars on face and so on and is fit for clinical application in primary hospitals.

Objective To assess the effectiveness of prevention program on iodine deficiency disorders and iodine nutritional status of residents in Guangdong Province.Methods Probability proportionate to size sampling(PPS) was employed in surveillance of iodine deficiency disorders.Thirty counties(cities,districts) were selected in Guangdong Province.In each county(city,district) one township(street) was selected; in each township (street) one primary school was selected and in each primary school 40 children aged 8-10 were chosen to examine their thyroid and to collect salt samples at their home for determination of salt iodine.Out of the 40 children,12 children were chosen to collect urine samples for determination of urinary iodine.From the primary schools chosen,40 grade 5 students were selected for intelligence quotient(IQ) test.In the nearby of the primary schools,3 townships(towns,street) were selected and in each township(town,street) 5 pregnant and 5 lactating women were selected to collect their urine samples for determination of urinary iodine.Type-B ultrasonic was used in measuring the thyroid volume.The iodine content of urine samples was measured by the method of arsenic and cerium catalysis spectrophotometry.The iodine content of salt was determined quantitatively with the titration method.IQ was tested by Chinese combined Raven's test.According to geographical location and the implementation of iodized salt,the effects of iodized salt on iodine deficiency disorders were analyzed in the plains and the Pearl River Delta Coastal region with mild iodine deficiency(iodized salt implementation region,referred to as the plains and the PRD),historical iodine deficiency areas (iodized implementation region) and the eastern and the western coastal areas of Guangdong(areas with non-iodized salt problem,referred to as the eastern and the western Guangdong).Results A total of 1200 children aged 8 to 10 were examined by type-B ultrasonic test,and goiter rate was 3.5％ (42/1200).The differences of goiter rate between the plains and the PRD,the historical iodine deficiency areas and the eastern and the western Guangdong were statistically significant (x2 =6.6,P ＜ 0.05).The goiter rate (6.1％) in the eastern and the western Guangdong was significantly higher than that of the plains and the PRD and the historical iodine deficiency areas (3.3％,2.0％,x2 =5.6,7.1,all P ＜ 0.05).A total of 1200 salt samples were examined.The median and coefficient of variation of iodine in the salt were 31.0 mg/kg and 23.2％,respectively.Coverage of iodized salt was 97.5％(1170/1200) while 96.1％(1153/1200) of consumed iodized salt was qualified.The median urinary iodine of 1200 children aged 8-10 was 186.5 μg/L,and the differences of median urinary iodine between the plains and the PRD,the historical iodine deficiency areas and the eastern and the western Guangdong were statistically significant(x2 =5.9,P ＜ 0.05).The median urinary iodine of the eastern and the western Guangdong(162.4 μg/L) was significantly lower than that of the plains and the PRD(207.5 μg/L,x2 =8.7,P ＜ 0.01).The difference of median urinary iodine between the plains and the PRD,the historical iodine deficiency areas and the eastern and the western Guangdong was statistically significant(x2 =58.9,P＜ 0.01).The median urinary iodine of the eastern and the western Guangdong(109.6 μg/L) was significantly lower than that of the historical iodine deficiency areas and the plains and the PRD(152.9,155.2 μg/L,x2 =18.3,20.6,all P ＜ 0.05).The mean IQ of the 1208 grade 5 students was 102.8 ± 14.3.The IQ of the plains and the PRD(104.3 ± 13.9) and the historical iodine deficiency areas(102.7 ± 14.3) was significantly higher than that of the eastern and the western Guangdong(100.3 ± 14.7,t =3.8,2.1,P＜ 0.01 orP＜ 0.05).Conclusions The goal of iodine deficiency disorders elimination is achieved as scheduled in Guangdong Province.The health level of general population has been improved significantly.Iodine nutrition is in the appropriate range (100-199 μg/L) in general population but low in pregnant women.The selling of non-iodized salt in the eastern and the western Guangdong Province should be followed closely.

Aim To study the effect of Baoxinbao film on endothelin(ET) and nitric oxide(NO) secretion in patients with stable angina pectoris(SAP).Methods 76 patients with SAP were randomly divided into two groups, with 40 cases in the baoxinbao group plastered with baoxinbao film and 36 cases in the isosorbide dinitrate group receiving isosorbide dinitrate. The levels of plasma ET and NO before and after treatment were observed. Results The concentrations of plasma ET were increased and plasma NO reduced significantly in the SAP patients respectively, as compared with those in the control group(all P

Hirudin is one of the most potent anti-coagulant protein ever found, and its C-terminus is a key domain for inhibiting thrombin.In order to enhance its specificity,a novel anti-coagulant protein was constructed via fusing the C-terminus of hirudin to Annexin V, which was expected to sustain both anti coagulant activity and phorspholipid affinity. The structure of the designed protein was predicted with both molecular mechanics and dynamics. Molecular dynamics was adopted to simulate the docking interaction between the fusion protein and thrombin. The results showed the inhibitory activity of the fusion protein to thrombin.

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of treatment from the lung and treatment from the intestine on the level of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the lung and intestine of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats.

METHODSThe UC rat model was established in 52 rats by using rabbit intestine mucosa tissue allergen combined TNBS-ethanol model (with the model successful rate of 78.0%). Eight rats randomly selected from 40 successfully modeled rats and 8 of 16 rats from the normal group were recruited as the model group and the normal control group before intervention (at week 0). The rest 32 successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group, the Western medicine treatment group (salazosulfapyridine), the treatment from lung group (Huangqi Jiegeng Decoction), and the treatment from intestine group (Huangqi Huanglian Decoction), 8 in each group. Rats in each treatment group were administered with corresponding medication 8 times the dose of a 60 kg adult human. Another 8 normal rats were recruited as the normal group. Equal volume of pure water was given to rats in the model group and the normal group by gastrog avage, once per day. Contents of VIP in the lung tissue and the intestinal tissue were detected at week 0 and 4 after 4-week consecutive intervention. Pathomorphological changes of the lung tissue and the colon tissue were observed under light microscope.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group at week 0, evenly distributed diffuse inflammation could be seen in the pulmonary interstitial tissue; the bronchial wall was thickened; a huge amount of infiltration surrounded bronchi and blood vessels; a large area of necrosis of intestinal mucosa and inflammatory cell infiltration could also be seen in the model group. Pathological injuries of the lung and the colon were more alleviated in each treatment group than in the model group at the same time point. Compared with the normal control group at the same time point, VIP contents in the lung tissue significantly decreased in the model group at the end of week 4 (P<0.05); VIP contents in the colon tissue significantly increased in the model group at the end of week 0 and 4 (P <0.05). Compared with the model group, VIP contents in the lung tissue significantly increased in the Western medicine treatment group and the treatment from lung group at the end of week 4 (P<0.01); VIP contents in the colon tissue significantly decreased in the treatment from lung group and the treatment from intestine group (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONTreatment from the lung and treatment from the intestine showed predominant advantage in improving local inflammation of the lung and the intestinal tract, alleviating pathological injuries, promoting repair of injuries through regulating VIP contents in the lung tissue and the colon tissue.

Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Intestines ; Lung ; Male ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Recovery of Function ; Tibia ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the functional role of transforming growth factor beta1(TGFbeta1) in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the effect of TGFbeta1-ASODN blockage of EMT in esophagus squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSEsophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line EC9706 was transfected with chemically synthesized TGFbeta1-ASODN. RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1, E-cadherin and vimentin before and after the transfection. Morphological changes were documented and scarification test was used to detect the migration potential of EC9706 before and after the transfection.

RESULTSAfter TGFbeta1-ASODN transfection, mRNA (0.25 +/- 0.07) and protein (35.07% +/- 1.42%) expressions of TGFbeta1 in EC9706 were significantly lower than those before transfection (mRNA: 0.43 +/- 0.09; protein: 43.57% +/- 1.77%, chi(2) = 13.847 and chi(2) = 84.120, P < 0.05). The mRNA (0.38 +/- 0.09) and protein (17.13% +/- 1.45%) expressions of E-cadherin were significantly higher than those before transfection (0.22 +/- 0.06; 12.53% +/- 1.31%, chi(2) = 0.160 and chi(2) = 40.008, P < 0.05) and the mRNA (0.73 +/- 0.07) and protein (14.15% +/- 1.46%) expressions of vimentin were significantly lower than those (0.89 +/- 0.09; 17.97% +/- 1.42%) before transfection (chi(2) = 0.160 and chi(2) = 21.103, P < 0.05). Scarification test showed that after transfection, the mobility of EC9706 was significantly inhibited and its migration length (0.45 +/- 0.05) was significantly shorter than that before the transfection (0.81 +/- 0.11, chi(2) = 16.854, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTGFbeta1 may contribute to EMT in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. TGFbeta1-ASODN leads to an over-expression of E-cadherin and a down-regulation of vimentin, along with the morphological alterations and migration inhibition, indicating that a blockage of TGFbeta1 suppresses EMT in esophagus squamous cell carcinoma.

Cadherins ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cell Dedifferentiation ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Esophagus ; pathology ; Humans ; Mesoderm ; drug effects ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology ; Vimentin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficiency of blockage of constitutively activated STAT3 signaling by small interfering RNA (siRNA), and to explore the inhibitory effects on the proliferation of human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells (EC9706 and Eca109).

METHODSEC9706 and Eca109 were transfected with chemical synthesized STAT3 siRNA (100 nmol/L). RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect STAT3 mRNA and protein expression, including phosphorylated-STAT3 (p-STAT3) before and after the transfection respectively. The changes of DNA-binding activity and cell proliferation were evaluated by electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay and MTT, respectively. Stages of cell cycle were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSExpression levels of STAT3 mRNA and STAT3, p-STAT3 proteins were progressively inhibited by STAT3 siRNA at various time points after transfection. STAT3-DNA-binding activity was suppressed after transfection evidenced by electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay. The cell cycle was arrested at G(0)/G(1) phase along with a significant inhibition of cell proliferation after STAT3 siRNA treatment.

CONCLUSIONSTAT3 siRNA specifically and efficiently blocks the constitutively activated STAT3 signaling pathway in human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells, resulting in cell cycle arrest and proliferation inhibition.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Phosphorylation ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

To investigate the effect of Tanreqing injection on immune activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with lung cancer. The peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with lung cancer and healthy persons were separated by the density gradient centrifugation method for subsequent experiments, with those from healthy persons as the positive control. The effect of Tanreqing injection on stimulating the proliferation of lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was determined by MTT method. The effect of Tanreqing injection on the lymphocyte secretions of IFN-γ and TNF-α and the subset ratio of lymphocytes cultured separately or with Tanreqing injection of different concentrations were examined by ELISA and flow cytometry (FCM) respectively. In addition, the LDH release assay was used to detect the cytotoxicity of cytotoxic T cells (CTL) and natural killer cells (NK). According to the findings, all of immunological indexes of lymphocytes from patients with lung cancer were weaker than that of healthy persons, but with the obvious increases in proliferation activity and IFN-γ and TNF-α secretions of lymphocytes co-cultured with Tanreqing Injection (P < 0.05). Among lymphocyte subsets co-cultured with Tanreqing Injection, CD3+, CD3+ CD4+ and CD3- CD16 + 56+ cell ratios notably increased, whereas CD4+ CD25+ Treg cell ratio obviously decreased (P < 0.05). In the meantime, Tanreqing injection can markedly promote the cytotoxicities of CTL and NK (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Tanreqing injection shows a significant effect in promoting the immune activity of lymphocytes from patients with lung cancer and their anti-tumor immunity.
Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; immunology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; immunology ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; physiopathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; drug effects ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

Congenital cataract is a highly heterogeneous disorder at both the genetic and the clinical-phenotypic levels. A unique cataract was observed in a 4-generation Chinese family, which was characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance and late-onset. Mutations in the 13 known genes (CRYAA, CRYAB, CRYBB1, CRYBB2, CRYGC, CRYBA1/A3, CRYGD, Connexin50, Connexin46, intrinsic membrane protein LIM2, cytoskeletal protein BFSP2, the major intrinsic protein-MIP and the heat shock factor HSF4) have previously been demonstrated to be the frequent reason for isolated congenital cataracts, but the exact molecular basis and underlying mechanisms of congenital cataract still remain unclear. This study was designed to find whether these 13 genes developed any mutation in the family members and to identify the disease-causing gene. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequence analysis were carried out to detect the 13 genes. The results showed that no mutation causing amino acid alternations was found in these potential candidate genes among all patients in the family, and only several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. A transitional mutation in the fourth intron of CRYBB2 and some silent mutations in the first exon of BFSP2 and CRYGD were found in the cataract family, but further study showed that these mutations could also be found in normal controls. It was concluded that some unidentified genes may underlie the occurrence of late-onset cataract in this family. A genome-wide screening will be carried out in the next study.