Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Biology

AlM:To observe the efficacy of the multiple wave length laser in treating diabetic retinopathy combined with central retinal vein occlusion.
METHODS:Totally 95 cases ( 100 eyes ) with diabetic retinopathy combined with central retinal vein occlusion were treated by multiple wave length laser. Krypton yellow laser was used for macular edema in focal photocoagulation and diffuse photocoagulation. For peripheral retina, krypton green or krypton red laser were used. Visual acuity, slit - lamp biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy and fundus fluorescein angiography were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. The patients were followed up for 12 to 48wk. ln this study, change in visual acuity and macular edema were observed in both groups, and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: The effective rate was 61. 2% in diffuse macular edema group and 86. 3% in focal macular edema group. The general effective rate of later was higher than the former, while the treatment effect had significant statistical difference (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSlON:Multiple wave length laser is an effective and safe way to treat diabetic macular edema of diabetic retinopathy combined with central retinal vein occlusion, which is worth widely applying in clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the iodine nutritional status of targeted population in the high-risk areas of iodine deficiency disorders in Chongqing, so as to provide scientific evidence for establishing prevention and remedial measures. Methods Six towns were selected in Chengkou and Wuxi Counties to found suspected dementia patients born after first Jan, 1997. Two hundred children aged 8-10 years were investigated in every town. The thyroid volume, intelligence quotient(IQ) and urinary iodine of the children were examined. Forty women (pregnant and nursing women) were investigated in every town. The iodine content of salt from their home was measured. The thyroid volume was examined by palpation and B-uhrasound. IQ was measured by combined Raven Test in China(CRT-RC2). Urinary iodine was determined using the acid digest arsenic-cerium contacting method, and iodined salt was detected using direct titration method. Results Six suspected dementia patients were found in the local town hospital. Five eases were excluded. There was 1 case born in other place. The rates of goiter by palpation and B-ultrasound were 9.58%(92/960) and 8.89%(65/731), respectively. The median of urinary iodine of children and women was 319.15 μg/L and 248.42 μg/L, respectively. The mean of IQ of the children was 103.32. The coverage rate of iodine salt from residents was 98.82%(336/340). Conclusions The iodine nutrition of children was good and there is no newly occurred cretinism in Chengkou and Wuxi Counties. Goiter rate and median of urinary iodine aged 8-10 years and of women, coverage rate of iodine salt from resident has meet the standard set for basical elimination iodine deficiency disorders.

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) belongs to autoimmun diseases, which is particularly closely related to the liver, spleen and kidney. Using these three organs as the theoretical foundation, the root of the disease can be grasped. Using syndrome differentiation, deficiency is the basic pattern and excess is the syndrome. The main reason for TAO is liver, spleen and kidney deficiency, while dampness, phlegm-blood stagnation in the eyes are pathogen. The rules of treatments are nourishing yin and clearing liver, supplementing and nourishing liver and kidney, removing dampness and phlegm, eliminating blood stasis and promoting circulation. By combining overall symptoms with ocular region changes, together with dynamic differentiation and flexible treatment, satisfactory results have been obtained in clinical practice.

Objective To explore the influence of quality of life for schizophrenic patients who exercise yoga and manual therapy. Methods Totally 105 schizophrenic patients were divided into 3 groups: yoga group of 38 patients, manual group of 24 patients, and control group of 42 patients. All patients were surveyed by GQOLI-74 before and after treatment and treated with the antipsychotic drugs. 38 patients in Yoga group practical Yoga exercise for 8 weeks. 24 patients in manual group practiced manual. After 8 weeks, all patients were measured by GQOLI-74 again. Results The results showed the scores of 18 of 20 factors ( except factor 1 and factor 4) , four dimensions and full score in yoga group and manual therapy group were significantly higher than that in control group (P ＜0. 05). The scores of 11 factors ( sleep and energy, malaise of physical, function of sport and feeling,stress state of spiritual, negative affect, positive affect, cognition, self pride, negative affect, spare recreation time, marriage and family ) and 3 dimensions ( physical function, psychological function, social function) and full score in Yoga group were significantly higher than those in manual group. Conclusions Yoga exercise and manual therapy were benefit for the quality of life of schizophrenic patients. Yoga exercise was better than manual therapy.

OBJECTIVETo explore HEPACAM mutations in a Chinese family with megalencephalic leukoencephaloptathy with subcortical cysts (MLC).

METHODGenomic DNA samples were extracted from peripheral blood of the proband and her parents. All exons and exon-intron boundaries of HEPACAM and MLC1 were amplified in the MLC family by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct DNA sequencing.

RESULTTwo heterozygous mutations of HEPACAM located in exon 2, c.203A > T(p.K68M) and c.395C > A(p.T132N), were identified in the proband. The proband's mother had the heterozygous mutations c.203A > T(p.K68M), and her father had the heterozygous mutation-c.395C > A(p.T132N). There was no variation found in MLC1 gene.

CONCLUSIONThe proband was heterozygous compound MLC patient carrying on one allele with the c.203A > T(p.K68M) mutation inherited from her mother, and the other allele with the c.395C > A(p.T132N) mutation inherited from her father. The parents both are heterozygous carriers with normal phenotype. The disease-causing gene for this family was resulted in HEPACAM mutation other than MLC1 mutation.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Cysts ; genetics ; pathology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Female ; Genotype ; Hereditary Central Nervous System Demyelinating Diseases ; genetics ; pathology ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and pathological features, diagnosis and treatment of cystic lymphangioma of the spermatic cord.

METHODSOne case of cystic lymphangioma of the spermatic cord in a 71-year-old patient was retrospectively analyzed and the relevant literature was reviewed.

RESULTSThe patient, presented with spermatic cord hydrocele, was treated by local excision of the tumor, which was pathologically diagnosed as cystic lymphangioma. No relapse was found during a 3-month follow-up after the operation.

CONCLUSIONLymphangioma of the spermatic cord is a benign tumor. Preoperation ultrasonography and CT are important for determining the location and nature of lymphangioma. Surgical excision is an effective option for the treatment of cystic lymphangioma of the spermatic cord.

Aged ; Genital Neoplasms, Male ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Spermatic Cord ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effects of AP-1 decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) on angiotensin II (AngII)-induced proliferation and collagen synthesis in neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs).

METHODSThe CFs of neonatal SD rats were cultured in serum-free medium for 24 h and stimulated with 10(-7) mol/L AngII in the presence of AP-1 decoy ODNs or mutational AP-1 decoy ODNs at varied concentrations. MTT assay was employed for quantitative evaluation of the CF proliferation. Collagen synthesis in the CFs was assessed with hydroxyproline, and the cell cycle distribution determined with flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSWith the increase of the concentration of AP-1 decoy ODNs, the absorbance at 490 nm (OD490) of the CFs decreased gradually as shown by MTT assay. Treatment with 100 or 200 nmol/L AP-1 decoy ODNs resulted in significantly lowered OD490 of the CFs as compared with that of AngII group. The concentration of hydroxyproline increased significantly after treatment with 10(-7) mol/L AngII in comparison with the control group (P<0.05). Hydroxyproline concentration in cells treated with 100 or 200 nmol/L AP-1 decoy ODNs was significantly lower than that in the 10(-7) mol/L AngII-treated cells. AP-1 decoy ODNs decreased the cell percentage in S phase and increased hydroxyproline concentration, but increased the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase. AP-1 decoy ODNs at 100 and 200 nmol/L did not obviously affect AngII-induced CF proliferation and collagen synthesis (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAP-1 decoy can inhibit AngII-induced rat CF proliferation and collagen synthesis possibly by affecting the cell cycle distribution.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Mutation ; Myocardium ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; genetics

BACKGROUNDRecent studies indicate that bone marrow-derived cells may significantly contribute to atherosclerosis, post-angioplasty restenosis and transplantation-associated vasculopathy. The responsible bone marrow (BM) cells and mechanisms regulating the mobilization of these cells are currently unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on injured arteries and its effects on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the process of vascular remodeling.

METHODSBalloon-mediated vascular injury was established in female rats (n = 100) which received radioprotective whole female BM cells by tail vein injection and male MSCs through a tibial BM injection after lethal irradiation. The injured and contralateral carotid arteries were harvested at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after treatment.

RESULTSMorphometric analysis indicated that intima to media area-ratio (I/M ratio) significantly increased at 28 days, 0.899 ± 0.057 (P < 0.01), compared with uninjured arteries. Combining fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemical analysis showed that a significant number of the neointimal cells derived from MSCs, (45.2 ± 8.5)% at 28 days (P = 0.01), compared with (23.5 ± 6.3)% at 14 days. G-CSF was induced in carotid arteries subject to balloon angioplasty (fold mRNA change = 8.67 ± 0.63 at three days, relative G-CSF protein = 0.657 ± 0.011 at three days, P < 0.01, respectively, compared with uninjured arteries). G-CSF was chemotactic for MSCs but did not affect the differentiation of MSCs into smooth-muscle-like cells.

CONCLUSIONIncreased expression of G-CSF by injured arteries plays an essential role in contribution to recruitment and homing of MSCs to the site of the arterial lesion.

Angioplasty, Balloon ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Carotid Arteries ; surgery ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Movement ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Neointima ; surgery ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vascular System Injuries ; surgery ; therapy

OBJECTIVEIt is revealed that circulating fibrocytes are elevated in patients/animals with cardiac fibrosis, and this review aims to provide an introduction to circulating fibrocytes and their role in cardiac fibrosis.

DATA SOURCESThis review is based on the data from 1994 to present obtained from PubMed. The search terms were "circulating fibrocytes " and "cardiac fibrosis ".

STUDY SELECTIONArticles and critical reviews, which are related to circulating fibrocytes and cardiac fibrosis, were selected.

RESULTSCirculating fibrocytes, which are derived from hematopoietic stem cells, represent a subset of peripheral blood mononuclear cells exhibiting mixed morphological and molecular characteristics of hematopoietic and mesenchymal cells (CD34+/CD45+/collagen I+). They can produce extracellular matrix and many cytokines. It is shown that circulating fibrocytes participate in many fibrotic diseases, including cardiac fibrosis. Evidence accumulated in recent years shows that aging individuals and patients with hypertension, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and atrial fibrillation have more circulating fibrocytes in peripheral blood and/or heart tissue, and this elevation of circulating fibrocytes is correlated with the degree of fibrosis in the hearts.

CONCLUSIONSCirculating fibrocytes are effector cells in cardiac fibrosis.

Coronary Disease ; pathology ; Fibroblasts ; physiology ; Fibrosis ; pathology ; Heart Failure ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; pathology ; Myocardium ; pathology