Background A stable diabetic cataract animal model is a premise for screening and evaluating the drug for cataract therapy.Galactose cataract model is widely used in relevant experimental study,but the onset,extent and the type of lens opacification may be different due to different modeling way.Objective This study was to investigate the manifestations and pathological characteristics of cataract induced by D-galactose.Methods Fifty-six SPF SD rats were randomly divided into cataract-model group and control group and 28 rats for each group.50% D-galactose feed was given daily in model group,and regular feed was given in control group.Lenses of rats were examined under the slit lamp through the 30-day period at a 2-day interval,and then the opacity of lenses was graded on the modified Suryanarayana criteria.The body weight of rats was recorded and compared between two groups at day 5,10,15,20,25 and 30.The lenses samples were obtained for the histopathological examination by hemotoxylin and eosin staining.The wet weight,dry weight of the lenes and their ratio were detected and compared between these two groups.The use of animals followed the Regulation for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The body weight was reduced in model rats compared with control rats with the statistically significant difference from 10 days through 30 days(P＜0.05).The different grades of opacification of lens cortical and nuclear progressed in model rats throughout the experiment duration,but the lenses were clear in control rats.The slit-lamp microscopy and pathological examinations revealed that lenses opacity in model rats started from the cortex at the equator zone and developed towards central zone gradually with the lapse of experimental time.Following the entire opacity of lens cortex,lens nucleus were cloudy and expanded.The swelling and degeneration of the fiber cells in lens cortex,the differentiation,migration and denuclearation delay of lens epithelial cells were seen in model rats under the light microscope.The wet weight of lenses was increased and the dry weight was decreased in model rats in comparison with control rats in experimental 30 days,showing significant difference between two groups(t=138.571,t=52.468,P＜0.05).Conclusion The development of galactose-induced cataract animal model resemble one of age-related cortical cataract in human with the similar generating mechanism.This cataract model is reproducible and classifiable.

Objective To study the relationship between the mutation of androgen receptor(AR) gene and the development of human prostat e cancer. Methods All exons of AR gene except trineucl eic acid repeat polymorphism were amplified by PCR and selected by single strand conformation polymorphism( SSCP) in 27 paraffin-embedded slides of human pros tate cancer. The abnormal mobility shifts were further detected by direct DNA c ycle sequencing. Results Three abnormal mobility shifts respectively in exon A.D.G were found by SSCP in three prostate cance r tissues. One point mutation was found in 296 amino acid (C 966→A,Ser29 6Arg) from exon A.This point mutation has not been reported before. Conclusions This mutation might change the transcriptive activity of AR, and it might be correlated to PCa progression.

Objective:To investigate the mechanism responsible for lost sensibility of tyrosine aminotransferase(TAT)to dexam- ethasone(Dex)in human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 through examining the cDNA sequence of TAT and the status of glucocorticoid receptor(GR)pathway.Methods:The TAT cDNA fragment containing the full length of coding sequence was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and was sequenced.The expression of TAT mRNA was determined by real-time quantitative PCR to observe the influence of Dex on expression of TAT mRNA in SMMC-7721 cells.The experiement with HepG2 cells was performed as the control.Reporter genes(GRE-tk-LUC and GRE-MMTV-CAT)were transiently transfected into SMMC-7721 cells by electroporation.The induction efficiencies of LUC and CAT genes expression by Dex were examined and compared between SMMC-7721 cells and HepG2 cells.Results:The results showed that there was a same-sense mutation(Gln576Gln)in TAT cDNA se- quence.TAT mRNA could be induced by Dex,with the maximal induction level being 2.22-folds in SMMC-7721 cells,which was signifi- cantly lower than that in HepG2 cells(15.1-fold increase,P

Background Sugar cataract is one of the major diabetic complications in the eye,but there is not effective medicine to prevent or delay development of cataract. Objective The goal of this study was to investigate the effects and the potential mechanism of aldose reductase (AR) inhibitor,AL-1576 on prevention of galactose cataract in rats. Methods Forty-two SD rats were randomly and equally divided into 7 groups.The cataracts were induced by feeding with 50％ galactose.At the day of feeding galactose and the day 5,10 and 15 after feeding galactose,AL-1576 was added into the feeds.The rats were divided AL-1576 prevention group and early-,intermediate-or late-stage intervention groups.For another group,the withdrawing AL-1576 group,AL-1576 was added into the feeds at the day of feeding galactose,then was removed after 10 days.The lenses of the rats were examined under the slit-lamp microscope before and after given AL-1576 every 5 days.At the day 35,the lenses were obtained.The wet and dry weight of the lenses were weighted,respectically,to calculate the water content of the lenses.Activities of AR and superoxidedismutase (SOD) and contents of glutathione (GSH) of the lenses were measured by their commercial detecting kits.The care and use of the animals complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission. Results In AL-1576 prevention group,all lenses maintained clear.Opacification of the lenses were significantly attenuated in all three AL-1576 intervention groups and withdrawing AL-1576 group compared with the cataractous model group ( P＜0.05),but the inhibiting role was weaken with late intervention.The water contents and the activities of AR of the lenses were decreased,the contents of SOD and GSH were dramatically increased in all different AL-1576 treated groups compared with the cataractous model group (P＜0.05).Moreover,AL-1576 prevention group showed the best effect on all indexes (P＜0.05). Conclusions The activity of AR can be inhibited by AL-1576 at the different stages of development of cataract induced by galactose.By blocking and attenuating formation of the edema and elevating antioxdative capacity in the lenses,AL-1576 prevents and delays the formation of galactose cataract.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease. The prevalence of NAFLD is increasing year by year in the world, which seriously threaten the public health. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex, and there is no specific treatment for NAFLD. Natural-derived compounds have the characteristics of multi-target and multi-mechanism, which can improve the curative effect and reduce the toxic and side effects by regulating multiple factors of the disease. They are ideal drugs for treating complex diseases and have unique advantages in improving NAFLD. However, low intestinal absorption, poor bioavailability, and single medicine efficiency limit the utilization of many compounds, and further drug development and clinical application are challenging. This paper reviews the research progress of natural-derived compounds in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD in recent years, analyzes the existing problems, and discusses the improvement strategies, so as to provide reference for related research.

Integrative Medicine ; Professional Competence

BACKGROUND: Dynamic glucose monitoring can reflect the fluctuation of blood glucose by successive examination at the interval of 5 minutes,which contributes to the overall and objective evaluation of glucose metabolism.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the tendency and characteritics of blood glucose fluctuation in type 2 diabetic and normal subjects. DESIGN: A case-controlled retrospective experiment based on patients and healthy controls.SETTING: Endocrine Metabolism Ward and Clinic of Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 47 patients were newly diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes mellitus at Endocrine Metabolism Ward and Clinic, Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, between December 2002 and July 2004. They had not received intervention (diet, exercise or medicine) before. Those with acute complications such as ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar coma were excluded. Meanwhile, 43 healthy controls were selected from those coming for routine health examinations, and they had no family history of diabetes, and impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance were excluded. Their lipid and liver and kidney indexes as well as blood pressure were within normal range. They all signed informed consent.METHODS: Totally 43 normals and 47 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were subjected to dynamic glucose monitoring for consecutive (71±10) hours, and (846±122) results of glucose level were obtained.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The average glucose level, diurnal maximum and minimum, fluctuation amplitude, the average preprandial and postprandial glucose values and the time percentage of diurnal glycemic fluctuations.RESULTS: According to the objective of this study, all subjects went through the experiment without loss. ① The fluctuation tendency of blood glucose in two groups: The average glucose, diurnal maximum and maximum fluctuation amplitude in type 2 diabetes mellitus group were [(12.2±2.6) mmol/L], [(18.5±2.7) mmol/L] and [(11.2±2.8) mmol/L,respectively], which were significantly higher than those in control group [(5.3±0.5), (7.8±1.4) and (3.9±1.6) mmol/L](t=16.68, 23.04, 15.14;P ＜ 0.001). ② The percentage of diurnal glycemic fluctuations time: The time percentage of glycemic fluctuations within 2.8-7.8 mmol/L was 99％ (87％-100％) in control group, 95％ (28％-100％) and 62％ (6％-100％) when blood glucose.was increased to ＞ 7.8 mmol/L or ＞ 11.1 mmol/L in type 2 diabetes mellitus group.CONCLUSION: Blood glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus has been proved to fluctuate at a relatively higher level than that of normals, with greater fluctuation amplitude.Dynamic glucose monitoring is benefical to evaluating the tendency and characteritics of blood glucose fluctuations in type 2 diabetic and normal subjects.

Objective To investigate the influence of atorvastatin on tumor necrosis factor - α (TNF- α) of sepsis rats.Methods Sepsis models were established using male SD rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).A total of 100 healthy rats were divided into 4 groups ( n =25) randomly ( random number):sham- operation group,CLP group,low- dose atorvastatin group and high -dose Atorvastatin group.Blood samples of 5 rats in each group were collected at postoperative 0,3,6,12 and 24 hours,to detect tumor necrosis factor - α (TNF - α) levels in plasma.Observe and compare the mobility of rats in each group and specimens of small intestine were taken for histopathological examination by optical microscope.Results At 0 hour,plasmic TNF - α levels in 4 groups were statistically equal (P ＞ 0.05 ).In plasma of sham - operation group,changes of TNF - α levels were not obvious.Compared with CLP group,TNF - α levels in low - dose and high - dose Atorvastatin groups were both significantly lower ( P ＜0.01 ) at postoperative 3,6,12 and 24 hours.And TNF-α levels in high -dose Atorvastatin group were significantly lower than those in low - dose group ( P ＜ 0.01 ) at the 4 time points.The mortality of sepsis was higher in CLP model group than other groups,That of Atorvastatin group was significantly lower than CLP model group but higher than control group and high - dose group was lower than low - dose group.Conclusions Atorvastatin can inhibit the expression of TNF - α in blood plasma of sepsis rats and reduce inflammatory reaction.

Objective To explore the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)by photoselective vaporization of prostate(PVP)and curative effect in the near future. Methods Clinical data of 60 BPH patients underwent PVP were retrospctively aralyzed.The changes of IPSS and QOL and the max urine flow rate and residual urine volume(RUV)perioperatively were compared through observations of the operation time and complication. Results The therapeutic efficacy was favourable.No transurethral resection of prostate(TURP)syndrome and uroclepsia happens.IPSS(t=2.471,P <0.05)and QOL(t=2.392,P <0.05)and the max urine flow rate(t=2.287,P ＜0.05)and residual urine volume(t=2.513,P＜0.05)obviously improved(P ＜0.05). Conclusion PVP had many advantages such as operated simply and no serious complications.It was a good operation method to treat BPH.

Cardiovascular Diseases ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases