Although it has many important functions in physiology,glutamine is not used widely in clinic.Low dissolution and unstabitity in water are the main disadvantages of glutamine.L-alanyl-L-glutamine dipeptide is the product of high dissolution and stability in water and can be metabolised and utilized rapidly in the body.The metabolism and clinical use of the dipeptide are reviewed here.

It was confirmed that acetylcholine signaling pathway and dopamine signaling pathway play critical roles in refractive development.Many evidences have supported that acetylcholine and its receptor antagonists were closely related to the formation of experimental myopia.Retinal dopamine signaling could exert a significant influence on refractive development,and its upregulation induced by light comprises an important component of the retinal clock network;meanwhile,the retinal dopamine signaling could also participate in the regulation of retinal circadian rhythms.The role of intrinsic retinal circadian rhythms in the developing process of myopia is gaining increasing attention.Moreover,it was also found that both acetylcholine and dopamine signaling pathways influence the development of myopia.Therefore,the present paper summarizes the two signaling pathways in the mechanisms of regulating myopia process,which provides an insight into the pathogenesis of myopia and clinical ideas for the effective prevention and treatment of myopia.

Objective To observe the clinical manifestations and the effect factors of thyroid-associated ophthalmopath (TAO) with optic neuropathy. Methods The clinical data of 62 cases (120 eyes) of TAO with optic neuropathy diagnosed in 1994-2001 were retrospectively analyzed. Results The incidence of TAO with optic neuropathy was 18.3% in all the simultaneous TAO inpatients, and was more frequently found in the male than in the female ones. The incidence of TAO with optic neuropathy was correlated with orbitono-increase, ocular myopathy, hypertension, hyperlipemia, diabetes, and cardiopathy (P0.05). In 62 patients with the methylprednisolone pulse therapy, the visual acuity improved in 33 (29 0%), improved while the treatment but decreased after stop treating in 29 (24.2%), and no changes in 58 (46.8%). In 63 eyes undergone orbital decompression with methylprednisolone pulse therapy, 59 (93.7%) had better visual acuity. Conclusion The incidence of TAO with optic neuropathy was correlated with orbitono-increase, ocular myopathy, hypertension, hyperlipemia, diabetes, and cardiopathy. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy and orbital decompression are the effective measures for TAO with optic neuropathy.

Objective To investigate the effects of 860MHz microwave on the formation and extinction of context conditioned fear in mice. Methods The mice were exposed to 860MHz continuous microwave ( power density were 380 μW/cm2 or 550 μW/cm2, respectively) for 30 min or 2 h, which then were divided in to 5 groups.Each group consisted of 15 animals. Footshocks were used to induce context conditioned fear by 75 voltages. The frequency and time of freezing after irradiation were investigated. Results When 24 h after foot shocking, the values of freezing time: control group was 2.31 ±4. 17 , two groups of the microwave irradiation 2 h were 3.93 ±6.99 and 2.47 ± 3.34, the Nemenyi test results (P = 0.004): control group was 32.63333, while two groups of the microwave irradiation 2 h were 52.46667 and 39.76667; and the values of freezing frequency: control group was 0.73 ± 1.16 , two groups of the microwave irradiation 2 h were 0.86 ± 1.41 and 1.07 ± 1.16, the Nemenyi test results of (P=0. 014): control group was 33. 26667, while two groups of the microwave irradiation 2 h were 50. 76667 and 40.90000. Conclusion The mice receiving relatively longer period of microwave irradiation showed more stable memory of the context conditioned fear.

Objective To establish the quality standard of Fengsui Pills. Methods The qualitative analysis of Fructus Amomi and Radix Glycyrrhizae in Fengsui Pills was carried out by TLC,and the content of berberine hydrochloride,an effective component of Cortex Phellodendri in Fengsui Pills was determined by HPLC. Results The chromatographic sports of Fructus Amomi and Radix Glycyrrhizae were identified without the interference of negative control. A linearity of berberine hydrochloride was obtained from 0.272?g to 1.360 ?g with a good correlation (r=0.999 9,n=5).The average recovery was 99.01 %and the RSD was 0.98%. Conclusion The qualitative and quantitative methods established in this study are simple and feasible,accurate and reproducible,and can be used as the quality control standard for Fengsui Pills.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a multifunctional growth factor,which is widely expressed in most ocular tissues including cornea,retina and sclera.It may regulate the growth and proliferation of various ocular cells with the interaction of epidermal growth factor receptor in vitro or in vivo.This article reviews the role of EGF in pathological and physiological processes of ocular diseases,including corneal injury,retinal proliferative diseases,myopia,pterygium,glaucoma,cataract,and eye tumors.

Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of stent-assisted coil embolization for acutely ruptured wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 192 wide-necked intracranial aneurysms in 178 patients. The efficacy and peri-procedure complications of stent-assisted embolization were compared between rup?ture aneurysms and unrupture aneurysms. Results Stent was successfully implanted in 78 rupture aneurysms and 114 un?rupture aneurysms. There was statistically significant difference between rupture aneurysms and unrupture aneurysms groups in rate of poor prognosis on discharge ( 23.1%vs. 5%,χ2=12.726, P<0.001) but not in the peri-procedure compli?cations rate (14.1%vs. 6.1%,χ2=3.456,P>0.05)nor in the rate of mortality and permanent disability (8.9%vs. 6.1%,χ2=0.475, P>0.05). Angiograms at 14.7 months of follow-up did not reveal any significant difference between rupture aneu?rysms and unrupture aneurysms groups in aneurysm complete occlusion (74.1%vs. 70.6%,χ2=0.197,P>0.05), recana?lization (10.3%vs. 9.4%,χ2=0.034,P>0.05)and in-stent stenosis (3.4%vs. 4.7%,χ2=0.136,P>0.05). Conclusion Stent-assisted coil embolization for acutely rupture wide-necked intracranial aneurysms can prevent recurrence effective?ly and can achieve high complete occlusion rate in long term follow-up. However, its procedure related complications and mortality is higher in rupture aneurysms than in unrupture aneurysms, which indicates that a caution is needed to conduct stent-assisted coil embolization in rupture aneurysms.

Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupunctures at Baihui,Fengfu,and Shenshu on the cognitive function and learning memory of mice exposure with ionizing radiation.Methods C57BL/6J (30-day old) mice were randomly divided into l0 groups consisting of the control group,X-ray exposure groups (4,8 and 16 Gy),electroacupuncture-nonacupiont (E-nonA) groups (4,8 and 16 Gy) and electroacupuncture-acupiont (EA) groups (4,8 Gy and 16 Gy),with 10 mice assigned to each group.The mice were irradiated (IR) on the left cerebral hemisphere with doses of 4,8 and 16 Gy.Some mice were electroacupunctured for 3 courses of treatment.Using weight as a measurable parameter,the open-field test and Morris water maze test were used to evaluate the curative effects.Results Compared with the control group,the weights of mice in the exposure groups (8 and 16 Gy) significantly decreased (t =2.917,9.650,3.043,2.882,P ＜ 0.05) at 7 and 14 d,while the weights of the E-nonA (8 and 16 Gy) and EA groups (8 and 16 Gy) were not significantly altered.Compared to the model groups (8 and 16 Gy),the weights of EA groups (8 and 16 Gy) significantly increased (t =6.602,5.409,19.660,2.975,P ＜ 0.05).In the open-field test,the crossing times and the rearing time of exposure model groups (8 and 16 Gy) significantly decreased compared to the control group (t =2.183,2.119,2.369,2.231,P ＜ 0.05).Compared with model groups (8 and 16 Gy) and E-nonA groups (8 and 16 Gy),the crossing times and rearing time of the EA groups were significantly increased (compared with model:t =8.914,2.727,4.325,4.178,P ＜ 0.05;compared with E-nonA:t =4.030,3.014,2.150,4.771,P ＜0.05).In the Morris water maze,compared with the control,the latent period of model group (4 Gy) was significantly increased and the crossing times significantly decreased (t =4.544,3.422,P ＜ 0.05);compared to model and E-nonA groups (4 Gy),the latent period of EA group significantly increased (compared with model:t =2.877,P ＜ 0.05;compared with E-nonA:t =3.001,P ＜ 0.05).At day 2 and 3,the latent period of model groups (8 and 16 Gy) significantly increased (t =2.544,3.706,3.796,7.934,P ＜ 0.05) and the crossing times (t =2.120,2.393,P ＜ 0.05) significantly decreased,resident time in target area of model group (8 Gy) was significantly decreased (t =2.543,P ＜ 0.05) compared to the control group.Compared with model and E-nonA groups (8 and 16 Gy),the latent period of EA gourps significantly decreased (compared with model:t =5.404,7.869,4.104,15.590,P ＜ 0.05;compared with E-nonA:t =2.938,7.955,6.566,10.350,P ＜ 0.05) while the through times and resident time in target area significantly increased in the EA group (8 Gy) (compared with model:t =2.673,2.613,P ＜ 0.05;compared with E-nonA:t =3.345,2.179,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Irradiation with a dose higher than 8 Gy could induce mice brain injury.Electroacupuncture can alleviate the radiation damage of cognitive function as well as learning and memory functions in mice.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of alcohol fixation and liquid-based cytology method for malignant stricture of common bile duct and to study the interval time between sampling and fixation for procedure of alcohol fixation.Methods Data of 82 patients were retrospectively studied,who were suspected of having malignant stricture of common bile duct underwent brushing through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP),and were confirmed by follow-up for 2 years or pathology after surgery from October 2008 to June 2013.These patients were randomly divided into alcohol fixation group (n =30),liquid-based cytology group (n =28) and conventional cytology group (n =24).The positive diagnostic rates of brush cytology in each group were compared.The alcohol fixation group were randomly divided into 2-minute group and 5-minute group according to the interval time between sampling and fixation.Positive diagnostic rates were also compared.Results The positive rates were 73.33％ (alcohol fixation group,22/30),75.00％ (liquid-based cytology group,21/28) and 20.83％ (conventional cytology group,5/24),respectively.The positive rate of conventional cytology group was obviously lower than alcohol fixation group (x2 =21.525,P=0.000) and liquid-based cytology group (x2 =22.208,P =0.000) with statistical significance.But the positive rate of alcohol fixation group was similar to the liquid-based cytology group (x2 =0.683,P =0.898).In alcohol fixation group,the positive rate of 2-min group (88.24％,15/17) was significantly higher than the 5-min group (53.85％,7/13) with statistical significance (x2 =4.535,P =0.033).Conclusion Compared with conventional fixation,alcohol fixation and liquid-based cytology can improve positive diagnostic rate of brushing during ERCP.The alcohol fixation is more simple in procedure and low in cost than liquid-based cytology.The interval time between sampling and fixation should be reduced to no more than 2 minutes.

Objective To evaluate curative effects of treatment of malignant biliary and gastric outlet-duodenal obstruction with endoscopically placed self-expandable metal stents.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed in 17 patients who underwent enteral stenting after placement of the biliary stent.The success rate of insertion,the effective palliation of biliary and duodenal obstruction,the rate of complication,recurrent stent obstruction and the median patency were observed.Results In 17 patients,biliary stenting were all performed for obstructive jaundice and then enteral stents were inserted.The levels of tatal billirubin [from (263.4 ± 62.5) μmol/L to (157.6 ± 25.1) μmol/L],direct billirubin [from (1233.2 ±66.5) μmol/L to (130.9 ± 27.7) μmol/L] and alkaline phosphatase [from (233.2 ± 66.5) IU/L to (130.9 ±27.7)IU/L] decreased significantly (P ＜0.01),and the gastric outlet score increased significandy [from (0.9 ± 1.1) points to (2.1 ±0.7) points] (P ＜0.01).No serious complication in all patients.Lifetime of patients ranged from 70 days to 332 days,and the median survival time was 192 day.Conclusion Combined biliary and enteral stenting is an effective method for palliation of malignant biliary and gastric outlet-duodenal obstruction.