A design scheme of a tele-screening system for diabetic retinopathy (DR) has been proposed, especially the communication subsystem. The scheme uses serial communication module consisting of ARM 7 microcontroller and relays to connect remote computer and fundus camera, and also uses C++ programming language based on MFC to design the communication software consisting of therapy and diagnostic information module, video/audio surveillance module and fundus camera control module. The scheme possesses universal property in some remote medical treatment systems which are similar to the system.
Computers ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Programming Languages ; Telemedicine ; instrumentation

DNA damage repair gene mutations are prevalent in advanced prostate cancer. Among these, mutations in homologous recombination repair genes could impair the ability of cell to restore the DNA double-strand break, which can be exploited by Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors through synthetic lethality and result in cell death. The phase Ⅲ study " PROfound" showed that the PAPR inhibitor Olaparib could significantly improve the survival of patients with homologous recombination repair gene mutations compared with novel hormone agents, starting the era of targeted, precise and individualized treatment based on genetic profile detection for prostate cancer treatment.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of fluoxetine (FLX) on the expressions of BDNF and Bcl-2 in the hippocampus, the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex of conditioned fear (CF) model mice. Forty eight mice were randomly divided into three groups, normal control group, CF stress group and FLX-pretreated CF group. The FLX-pretreated CF group was given FLX (10 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for 7 days before CF stress. After CF stress model was established, all mice were given behavioral experiments to test whether FLX impaired or improved the auditory and contextual fear conditioning. Then mice were sacrificed. The expressions of BDNF and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blotting. The results showed that the freezing time of FLX-pretreated CF group was significantly lower than that of CF group; FLX pretreatment up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 in the hippocampus at 1 d after CF stress (P < 0.001), but no significant differences was observed at 7 d; BDNF significantly increased in the hippocampus at 7 d (P < 0.001), but no differences at 1 d; the expressions of BDNF and Bcl-2 in the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex were of no obvious differences between CF group and FLX-pretreated CF group at 1 d or 7 d after CF stress. Parallel to these changes, pretreatment with FLX could affect histopathologic changes induced by CF stress. Furthermore, the results indicated that FLX pretreatment could protect against CF stress-induced neurological damage via the activation of BDNF and Bcl-2 in hippocampus.
Amygdala ; metabolism ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Fear ; drug effects ; Fluoxetine ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Stress, Psychological ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Xinfeng Capsule (XC) on lipoprotein metabolism of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

METHODSTotally 180 RA patients were assigned to the experimental group and the control group by random digit table, 90 in each group. Patients in the experimental group took XC (three pills each time, three times daily), while those in the control group took Methotrexate Tablet (four tablets each time, once per week). One month consisted of one therapeutic course and all patients were treated for two therapeutic courses. A healthy control group consisting of 60 patients was also set up. Changes of lipoprotein indices, clinical efficacy, lipid metabolism, joint symptoms and signs, activity indicators were observed, and correlation analyses were performed.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, expression levels of prealbumin (PA), globulin (GLO), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), apolipoprotein Al (Apo-A1) were lowered in RA patients (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Correlation analyses showed that PA was negatively correlated with joint tenderness, morning stiffness time, disease activity score (DAS-28), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, respectively. Total protein (TP) was negatively correlated with joint tenderness. GLO was negatively correlated with joint tenderness and DAS-28. HDL was negatively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and endothelin (ET)-1. Apo-Al was negatively correlated with joint pain; Apo-B was negatively correlated with CRP; LDL was negatively correlated with morning stiffness time (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with before treatment, expression levels of PA, HDL, Apo-A1 , Apo-B, and serum IL-10 contents increased, and expression levels of ESR, CRP, IL-6, ET-1 , joint pain, joint swelling, morning stiffness time, and DAS-28 decreased in the experimental group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). PA increased more after treatment than before treatment in the control group (P <0. 01). There was statistical difference in joint symptoms (except joint tenderness) and activity indices (except ET-1) in the control group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the control group after treatment, PA and HDL increased, ET-1 and duration of morning stiffness decreased in the experimental group (all P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSLipoprotein metabolic disorder exists in RA patients, and it is associated with disease activity. XC could obviously improve lipoprotein metabolism and joint symptoms.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Lipoproteins ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; metabolism ; Methotrexate

Objective To study whether amputation of the tail extremity could induce change of Fos protein expression in mice ACC neurons , and explore the role of NK?1 receptor in the change. Methods Immunohistochemistry technique was adopted to study Fos protein expression change in mice ACC neurons at 0.25 h,0.5 h,1 h,2 h after amputation of the tail extremity 2.5 cm,and also the effect of NK?1 receptor antagonist GR82334(iv)or GR82334(ith)in the change. Results Fos protein expression in mice ACC neurons was significantly increased at 0.25 h,0.5 h after the amputation,and reached its peak at 1 h after the amputation,then started to decrease at 2 h after the amputation. GR82334(iv)com?pletely antagonized the significant augment in Fos protein expression in mice ACC neurons after the amputation ,but the antagonism of GR82334 (ith)was incomplete. Conclusion Amputation of the tail extremity could significantly increase the Fos protein expression of mice ACC neurons in a time?dependent manner. Both peripheral and central NK?1 receptors were involved in the process. However ,there are also central conduction pathways of other receptors and neurotransmitters involved in the significant augment in Fos protein expression in mice ACC neurons after amputa?tion.

Objective To investigate the echocardiographic features and clinical significance of prenatal diagnosis of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). Methods Fetal echocardiographic images of 13 fetuses with TAPVC conifrmed by pathology or postnatal echocardiography were reviewed. Echocardiographic features and clinical signiifcance of prenatal diagnosis of TAPVC were summarized. Results Twelve fetuses with TAPVC were diagnosed prenatally by fetal echocardiography, including seven cases of supracardiac type, three cases of infracardiac type and two cases of intracardiac type. The common echocardiographic characteristics of 12 fetuses with TAPVC included slightly size discrepancy of left heart and right heart, large foramen ovale with increased shunting at the atrial level, increased distance between left atrium (LA) and descending aorta, absent insertions of pulmonary veins in the LA, presence of pulmonary venous conlfuence on the top of LA and dilatation of vessels where pulmonary venous conlfuence drained. One case was missed prenatally and intracardiac type TAPVC was diagnosed by postnatal echocardiography. Among the 13 cases, three were isolated and the other ten were all in association with other abnormalities. Conclusions There are fetal echocardiographic characteristics of TAPVC. Fetal echocardiography plays an important role in prenatal diagnosis of TAPVC.

Objective Through detecting the expression of erbB-2 and erbB-3 of epithelial growth factor receptor family in clinical specimens of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma, to explore the role of erbB-2 and erbB-3 in the carcinogenesis and development of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma. Methods Thirty-four specimens of adenoid cystic carcinoma were tested with immunohistochemical assay. Then the relationship between the expressions of erbB-2, erbB-3 and the gender, age of patients, TNM staging, tumor size and nerve invasion were analyzed.Results The positive expression ratios of erbB-2 and erbB-3 were 64. 7% and 32.4% respectively. And 29.4% of tumors were positively stained both by erbB-2 and erbB-3. The expression of erbB-3 was significantly correlated with TNM staging of tumors (P = 0. 026). The correlationship between the expressions of erbB-2 and erbB-3 was also found. Conclusions erbB-3 and erbB-2 may play important roles in the carcinogenesis and development of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma. The positive expression of erbB-3 was associated with the biological behavior of tumors and prognosis of patients, and might become one of markers to evaluate the prognosis of patients.

Objective To establish an auditory evoked potential (AEP) detection system in zerbafish.Methods The AEP detection tank was designed and made, and then verified for its quality and reliability via four experiments: anesthesia experiment, swim bladder deflation, noise exposure and goldfish AEP test.Finally, zebrafish (total length form 10 mm to 46 mm) were determined using this system for AEP.Zebrafish randomly were divided into five groups according to total length (TL=12~15 mm, n=6;TL=17~20 mm,n=4;TL=22~26 mm, n=4;TL=32~37 mm, n=9;and TL=42~46 mm,n=12).Goldfish, as control group, were purchased for local petshop (TL=38~54 mm,n=8).Results The results of these four verifying experiments confirmed the biological, rather than artefactual, nature of the responses represented by the recorded waveforms.The AEPs were detected up to a much higher frequency limit (12 kHz) than previously reported.In this study, all fish demonstrated a range of hearing frequency from 100 Hz to 12 kHz without frequency expansion during development.The best hearing was observed at 600 Hz~1 kHz.The mean values of the frequency-averaged thresholds (mean SEM) were 141.7±1.32, 124.8±1.31, 121.8±1.49, 117.8 ±1.09 and 124.4±1.87 dB w, respectively, for the 5 TL groups.The AEP thresholds demonstrated both developmental improvement and age-related loss of hearing sensitivity.Conclusion An auditory evoked potential detection system of zerbafish has been established with stable performance and can be used for AEP detection of zebrafish.

Objective To evaluate the in vitro antiviral activity of HB-13,a compound derivant from berberine and its prodrug berberine,against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Methods Vero cells were cultured in vitro and infected with HSV.Then,various concentrations of HB-13, berberine,and aciclovir were used to treat these infected cells.The cytopathic effect was observed to deter- mine the antiviral effects and cytotoxicity of HB-13 and berberine.Results For HB-13,berberine and acy- clovir,the half toxicity concentration (TC_(50)) to Vero cells was 31.99,380 and more than 800?g/mL, respectively;the average half inhibitory concentration (IC_(50)) against HSV-1 was 1.328,more than 100,and 0.443?g/mL,respectively,the treatment index (TI) against HSV-1 was 24.09,less than 3.80,and more than 1805.87,respectively;the IC_(50) against HSV-2 was 1.344,more than 100,and 0.679?g/mL,respectively,the TI against HSV-2 was 23.80,less than 3.80 and more than 1178.20,respectively.Conclusion HB-13 possesses marked antiviral activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2 in vitro,while berberine does not.

Objective To explore the dynamic changes of expressions of surfactant protein A,B(SP-A,B)and aquaporin5(AQP5)mRNA of specificity mark in alveolar epithelial cell(AEC)of premature rats with chronic lung disease(CLD)and those significances.Methods Eighty premature rats were randomly and equally divided into model group(hyperoxia group)and control group(room air group).CLD was induced by hyperoxia exposure.The gene expressions of SP-A,SP-B and AQP5 were assayed with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)after 1,3,7,14 and 21 days.Results Compared with control group,in hyperoxia group,the levels of SP-A and SP-B mRNA increased from day 7(Pa