Background Both functional and morphological changes in amblyopic development are known to occur at various levels in the central visual pathway.However,whether the retina is involved or not during amblyopic progression remains controversial.Objective This study was designed to compare the thicknesses of the fovea and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of the normal fellow eye of amblyopic eye using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in children with myopic anisometropia.Methods Twenty-two patients with unilateral myopic anisometropic amblyopia were included as the anisometropia amblyopia group.Ten unilateral myopic anisometropic amblyopia subjects received treatment and recovered were used as the amblyopic cure group,and 11 individuals with simple myopic anisometropia without amblyopia were enrolled as the control group.OCT was performed on both eyes of all the subjects with informed consent.Fovea retinal thickness and RNFL thickness from the superior,inferior,nasal and temporal quadrants in the peripapillary region were evaluated.The measurement parameters were bilaterally compared in all the individuals by paired t test.The multiple regression model was used to analyze the correlation of retinal thickness with amblyopia patients.This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of this hospital.Written informed consent was obtain from each subject prior to the eye examination.Results Fovea retinal thickness increased in the amblyopic eyes compared with the fellow eyes,showing a statistically significant difference between them (P =0.001).However,no significant differences were found in the fovea retinal thickness between both eyes in the amblyopic cure group and simple myopic anisometropia without amblyopia group (P =0.778,0.943).Among the anisometropia amblyopia group,amblyopia cure group and simple myopic anisometropia without amblyopia group,the RNFL thicknesses of the temporal quadrant was significantly thicker in the higher myopic lateral eyes than those of the fellow eyes (P＜0.001,P =0.003,P =0.046).However,the differences in the superior,inferior,nasal and the average RNFL thickness were not statistically significant between the two eyes (P＞0.05).A negative correlation was found between the inferior retinal thickness with age (r=-0.559,P=0.016).Conclusions The fovea may be affected in unilateral myopic anisometropic amblyopia.There is no significant difference in the RNFL thickness between simple myopic eye and unilateral myopic anisometropia amblyopic eye.Improvement in amblyopia is coming along with the reduction of the thickness of the fovea.

OBJECTIVETo study the molecular mechanism of curcumin in human esophageal carcinoma cell line (EC109).

METHODSEC109 cells were cultivated in vitro. When 80%-90% confluence was reached, they were treated with curcumin in different concentrations (15-120 µmol/L). The effects on cell proliferation were examined by CCK-8 colorimetry. The ultrastructure of EC109 cells were detected with transmission electron microscope(TEM). The cells apoptosis was observed with laser confocal microscope(LCM) by AnnexinV-FITC/PI double staining. The proteins level of PTEN, AKT, GSK3β and Caspase 3 were tested by flow cytometry(FCM) .

RESULTSCCK-8 test showed that curcumin could inhibit the proliferation of EC109 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. TEM and LCM examinations indicated that curcumin could make EC109 cells apoptosis. The data of FCM showed that curcumin could increase the expression of PTEN, GSK3β and Caspase 3, decreased the expression of AKT.

CONCLUSIONThe effects of curcumin on inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of EC109 cells were related with increased expression of PTEN and inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Humans ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Objective To observe the status of oxidative stress and activity of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) in rats exposed to high fluoride for the different periods and to analyze the effect of fluoride on the activity of ALP and oxidative stress in fluorosis rats. Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into control and high-fluoride groups according to their body mass, 12 rats in each group. The control group drank tap water(sodium fluoride concentrations < 1 mg/L), and high-fluoride group drank tap water containing sodium fluoride(sodium fluoride concentrations 221 mg/L). On a standard diet and water available ad hbitum, each rat was measured body weight once a week in 1,4,8,12 week. The biochemical techniques were used to test the indicators of oxidative stress including malonaldehyde(MDA), superoxidedismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GPx), uric acid and activity of ALP in serum of fluorosis rats. Results There was a interaction between fluoride and time in the activity of ALP (F = 4.690,P < 0.05). The activity of ALP was obviously higher in rats exposed to fluoride for 1,12 week [ (19.29± 3.69), (15.72 ± 0.79)kU/L] compared to the control[ (14.08 ± 1.99),(12.91 ± 3.97)kU/L, all P< 0.05] ; the level of MDA was obviously higher in rats exposed to fluoride for 1,4 week [ ( 13.37 ± 4.38 ), ( 11.82 ± 2.08) μmol/L ] compared to the respective control[ (8.75 ± 3.24), (7.42 ± 2.62)μmol/L, all P < 0.05]; difference of SOD and GPx between control and high-fluoride groups was not statistically significant(all P > 0.05); the level of uric acid in serum was significantly higher in high-fluoride group for 1,4 week[ (89.53 ± 13.21 ), (88.47 ± 19.78 )μmol/L] compared to the control [ (77.79 ± 11.43 ), (65.42 ± i 3.42) μ mol/L, all P < 0.05 ], but the level of uric acid showed lower in high-fluoride group for 8,12 week [(67.21 ± 9.44), (73.95 ± 9.52)μmol/L] compared to the control [(77.79 ± 11.43), (65.42 ± 13.42)μmol/L]. Conclusions Effect of overdose fluoride on ALP is time-dependant. On the other hand,overdose fluoride stimulates the status of oxidative stress in a way unrelated to the exposure period.

Objective To explore the characteristics of dipyridamole 201 Tl myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) SPECT in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods Thirty patients with dilated cardiomyopathy underwent pharmacological stress 201Tl MPI SPECT after intravenous infusion of dipyridamole (0. 56 mg/kg) for 4 min. The early and delayed SPECT images were acquired respectively at 10 and 240 min after 201Tl injection. The images were analyzed and reported by two or three experienced nuclear medicine physicians. Results All patients were found to have abnormal perfusion patterns at delay imaging, however 90.00% (27/30) were also abnormal at early images. Six patients had reverse redistribution. Conclusion Dipyridamole 201Tl MPI SPECT imaging may be of some value for the assessment of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background Sirius system,a new Scheimpflug camera combined with Placido topography,improved the capability of imaging the anterior eye segment significantly.However,the study of assessing the repeatability and agreement between Sirius and Pentacam is still lack up to now.Objective This study was to evaluate the repeatability and agreement of the anterior ocular segment measuring parameters by Sirius and Pentacam in myopia received laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).Methods Thirty-five myopic eyes of 35 patients received LASIK were included in School of Optometry and Ophthalmology Eye Hospital from 2010 May through 2010 July.Corneal power flat keratometry (Kf),step keratometry (Ks),mean keratometry (Km),thinnest corneal thickness(TCT),the location of TCT,anterior chamber depth (ACD) and anterior chamber volume (ACV) were measured by Sirius and Pentacam in all the eyes,respectively.The repeatability of the measuring results were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Cronbach's coefficient alpha (CoA),and the agreement of measuring parameters between Sirius and Pentacam was analyzed using Bland-Altman plot.Results Both Sirius and Pentacam demonstrated high intraobserver repeatability,with all ICC and CoA more than 0.90.No significant differences were found in Kf values and Ks values between the two methods (t =-1.533,-1.750,P＞0.05).Km value was (39.14 ± 1.95) D by Sirius measurement,which was sígnificantly higher than (39.05 ± 1.91) D by Pentacam measurement (t =3.572,P =0.001).The TCT was (457.6 ± 40.9) μm by Sirius method,showing a significant reduce in comparison with (465.4±37.5) μm of Pentacam method (t =-6.689,P＜0.001).A positive correlation was seen in the TCT between the two methods (r=0.988,P＜0.001).The Bland-Alrman plots showed the 95％ CI-21 μm to 6 pm in the TCT value between the two devices.Pairwise comparison of the location of TCT measurements showed significant differences between the two devices (t =-4.132,-5.696,P＜0.001),with a good correlation (r=0.751,0.775) and the 95％ CI (-0.36-0.17 mm,-0.35-0.12 mm).A very good agreement was seen in ACD between the two devices (-0.02-0.12 mm),but the agreement result was not very well in the ACV between the two devices with the 95％ CI (-27.70-6.20 mm3).Conclusions Sirius and Pentacam measurements for anterior ocular segment parameters have a very good repeatability in post-LASIK eyes.In addition,good agreement results are exhibited in corneal power,TCT and ACD between Sirius and Pentacam with an acceptable maximal different value between them.Sirius and Pentacam can be used interchangeably in clinical examination.However,the two devices can not interchangeably for ACV measurement and TCT location.

Objective To explore clinical significence of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecular(SVCAM - 1),immunoglobulin A (IgA) anti- endothelial cells antibodies(AECA) in Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) and their relationships. Methods SVCAM-1 were detected by ELISA between 55 cases with HSP (40 cases in acute stage and 15 cases in recovery) and 20 controls. Results The levels of serum SVCAM - 1 of the HSPN cases were significantly increased compared with the other HSP. In addition, the serum level of SVCAM - 1 in acute stage HSP children was significantly higher than that in recovery stage and normal controls. IgA AECA positive rate in HSPN was higher than that of without nephritis group. The level of serum SVCAM - 1 in IgA AECA positive children was higher than that of IgA AECA negative children. Conclusion SVCAM - 1 and IgA AECA may participate in the pathogegesis of HSP, and the level of molecule is correlated with the progress of HSP.

Objective Our study is to analyse the effect of potassium supplement by clyster of potassium chloride on hypokalemia in the elderly with severe disease, compared with intravenous potassium supplement. Methods 50 elderly patients with severe disease and hypokalemia admitted to our hospital were equally divided into two groups by random, with 25 patients in each group: intravenous infusion group and clyster group. The patients in intravenous potassium supplement were supplied with potassium chloride by intravenous infusion and those, in clyster of potassium chloride were supplied with potassium chloride by clyster. The effects and the occurrences of complexition and the time for showing them were observed in the two groups.Results There was no significant difference between two methods for potassium supplement. But, in intravenous potassium supplement group, 14 cases had the occurrences of pains or phlebitis, and in clyster group, 5 cases exhibited a shorter tolerancing time. The time for intravenons potassium supplement group is 8.5 to 9.5 hours, and the time for clyster group is 15 to 20 minutes. Conclusions Potassium supplement by clyster has the characteristics of being quick, convenient, and effective and having a few of complexitious, showing a same effect to intravenous potassium supplement.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of neonatal exposure to different doses of bisphenol A (BPA) on the vaginal opening day (VOD), hypothalamic Kiss-1 mRNA expression, and ovarian estrogen receptor (ER) mRNA expression in female rats.

METHODSNeonatal female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: blank control, vehicle, 17β-estradiol (17β-estradiol, E2, 10 μg/d), low-dose BPA [25 μg(kg·d)], medium-dose BPA [50 μg(kg·d)], and high-dose BPA groups [250 μg(kg·d)]. The rats were subcutaneously injected with respective agents on postnatal days 0-6. The VOD was recorded, and each rat was sacrificed on the same day. The hypothalamus and ovary were taken and weighed, and the organ coefficients of hypothalamus and ovary were calculated. The hypothalamic Kiss-1 mRNA expression and ovarian ERα and ERβ mRNA expression were measured by real-time PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the E2 and medium- and high-dose BPA groups had advanced VOD, and the E2 group had significantly reduced hypothalamic Kiss-1 mRNA expression and ovarian ERβ mRNA expression (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNeonatal exposure to medium- and high-dose BPA[50 and 250 μg/(kg·d)] can induce precocious puberty in rats, but it may not result from the change in hypothalamic Kiss-1 mRNA expression. Neonatal exposure to low-dose BPA [25 μg/(kg·d)] does not induce precocious puberty in rats.

Aging ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Kisspeptins ; genetics ; Male ; Phenols ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; genetics ; Sexual Maturation ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of chronic prostatitis in men with premature ejaculation.

METHODSThe segmented urine specimens before and after prostatic massage and the expressed prostatic secretion specimens from 106 patients with premature ejaculation and 38 controls were evaluated by microscopic and/or bacteriological studies. The prevalence of premature ejaculation was also investigated in 120 patients with chronic prostatitis.

RESULTSProstatic inflammation was found in 46.2% and chronic bacterial prostatitis in 34.7% of the subjects with premature ejaculation, respectively. Compared with the controls, the findings were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The prevalence of premature ejaculation in the patients with chronic prostatitis was 47.5% (57/120).

CONCLUSIONSChronic prostatic inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of some cases of premature ejaculation and it is important to give a careful examination of the prostate before initiating any therapy for premature ejaculation.

Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Ejaculation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Prostate ; diagnostic imaging ; Prostatitis ; complications ; epidemiology ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological ; etiology ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological ; etiology ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVEThe effect of vascular endothelial growth factor(165) (VEGF(165)) on intracellular free magnesium ([Mg(2+)](i)) and the relationship between Mg(2+) and angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were investigated in this study.

METHODS[Mg(2+)](i) in HUVECs loaded with fluorescent magnesium indicator mag-fura-2 were quantitatively detected with the use of intracellular cation measurement system. HUVECs were obtained from normal fetus and cultured in M199 with 0.2 fetal bovine serum. The angiogenesis effects of VEGF(165) were observed in presence of 0 mmol/L, 1 mmol/L or 2 mmol/L of extracellular Mg(2+).

RESULTSVEGF(165) significantly increased [Mg(2+)](i) in a dose-dependent manner independent of extracellular Mg(2+), Na(+) and Ca(2+) and this effect could be blocked by pretreatment with VEGF(165) receptor-2 (KDR) inhibitor (SU1498). The angiogenesis induced by VEGF(165) was significantly inhibited cells with 0 mmol/L extracellular Mg(2+), the angiogenesis effects of VEGF(165) were similar in cells with 1 mmol/L and 2 mmol/L extracellular Mg(2+) and these effects could be blocked by SU1498.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that the [Mg(2+)](i) increase induced by VEGF(165) originates from intracellular Mg(2+) pools and promotes angiogenesis via KDR-dependent signaling pathways.

Cations, Divalent ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Magnesium ; metabolism ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Signal Transduction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism