AIM: To investigate the changes of protein expressions in human lens epithelial cells(SRA01/04)undergoing oxidative damage, hoping to provide new protein target for the pathogenesis of age-related cataract(ARC).METHODS: SRA01/04 cells were divided into experimental group and control group. In the experimental group, cells were irradiated with ultraviolet-B(UVB)for 10min to establish the model of oxidative damage, whereas cells in the control group were untreated. Protein expression profile from the two groups was sequenced by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation(iTRAQ). The filtering criteria that fold change >1.2 and p<0.05 was used to determine the differentially expressed proteins(DEPs). Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)database were utilized for functional enrichment analysis of the top 50 DEPs with either up-regulated or down-regulated significance. Furthermore, Pathway commons software was used to establish the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network.RESULTS: Overall, 552 DEPs were screened out. A total of 176 DEPs were up-regulated in the experimental group compared with the control group, including HMGB1 and USP1, while 376 DEPs were down-regulated, including POLR2A and POLR2B. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the top 50 DEPs with up-regulated or down-regulated significance were involved in various crucial biological processes and signaling pathways. PPI network revealed that oxidative damage repair(ODR)-related proteins might play a key role in UVB-induced oxidative damage.CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of multiple proteins, especially ODR-related proteins, can be altered in SRA01/04 cells via UVB irradiation. These findings may provide cellular-related insights into the pathogenesis of ARC and into proteins or pathways associated with therapeutic targets.

Objective To analyze the NBS-LRR disease resistance gene family of Codonopsis pilosula(Franch.)Nannf.and explore the disease resistance mechanism,so as to solve the problem of root rot disease of C.pilosula and promote the breeding and industrial development of C.pilosula.Methods Based on the transcriptome data of C.pilosula in response to root rot pathogen,gene structure,phylogeny,gene interaction and expression pattern of C.pilosula NBS-LRR family genes were analyzed by using bioinformatics methods.Results 88 NBS-LRR family genes were successfully identified.Including N,NL,CN,CNL,TN,TNL and PN,there are 50,14,1,14,4,3 and 2 genes respectively.Their physical and chemical properties,gene structure,phylogeny,gene interaction and expression pattern were analyzed.The results showed that CNL subfamily genes of C.pilosula were amplified during evolution;CNL and TNL gene structures ar-relatively conservative;Expression pattern analysis showed that there were differences in temporal expression patterns of C.pilosula NBS-LRR family genes under F.oxysporum infection.The highly expressed genes DN64786c1g6,DN64786c1g5,DN48234c0g2,DN54844c1g2,DN59747c0g3,DN56071c1g8,DN64591c1g1,DN48464c1g1,DN59886c0g1 play an important role in regulating the disease resistance of C.pilosula.The DN54844c1g2 may interact with GLR family,and then participate in immune regulation by regulating Ca2+ influx;DN64786c1g5 may interact with cytc-1 and cytc-2,and then participate in the response of C.pilosula to root rot by participating in redox reaction;DN59747c0g3 may interact with MPK3 and play an important role in the response of C.pilosula to root rot by participating in map signal cascade,phosphorylating WRKY transcription factor and participating in hypersensitivity reaction(HR).Conclusion The identification and expression analysis of NBS-LRR family genes of C.pilosula is of great significance to explore the mechanism of root rot resistance and gene function of C.pilosula..

A contributory role of oxidative stress and protection by antioxidant nutrients have been suspected in cataract formation. Ganoderic acid A (GAA), an effective lanostane triterpene, is widely reported as an antioxidant. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential effects of GAA on cataract formation. After lens epithelial cells (LECs) were exposed to UVB radiation for different periods, cell viability, apoptosis-related protein levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were monitored. We found that cell viability, the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and SOD activity were increased, while Cleaved caspase-3 levels and MDA activity were decreased compared with those in UVB-impaired LECs after GAA treated. Furthermore, GAA activated PI3K/AKT in UVB-impaired LECs and effectively delayed the occurrence of lens opacity in vitro. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that GAA exhibited protective functions in SRA01/04 cells and rat lenses against UVB-evoked impairment through elevating cell viability and antioxidant activity, inhibiting cell apoptosis, activating the PI3K/AKT pathway and delaying lens opacity.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cataract/prevention & control* ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Epithelial Cells/radiation effects* ; Heptanoic Acids/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Lanosterol/pharmacology* ; Lens, Crystalline/radiation effects* ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism* ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effects*

The standard decoction of Chinese herbal decoction pieces is a standard reference substance to measure whether different dosage forms of Chinese medicine are basically consistent with those of clinical decoction,and provides new ideas and methods for effectively solving the problems of uneven quality in Chinese medicine dispensing granules. In this study,a systematic method for evaluating the quality of Scrophulariae Radix decoction was established from the perspective of " standard decoction",providing reference for the quality control of the Scrophulariae Radix dispensing granules. 15 batches of Scrophulariae Radix decoction pieces from different origins were collected,and 15 batches of standard decoctions were prepared according to the standardized process with water as solvent.Harpagide and harpagoside were used as quantitative detection indicators to determine the content,calculate the transfer rates and determine the extraction rate. The high performance liquid chromatography( HPLC) was used to establish a standard decoction fingerprint analysis method. The results showed that the transfer rates of harpagide and harpagoside in 15 batches of Scrophulariae Radix pieces standard decoction were( 70. 84±13. 39) % and( 48. 56±6. 40) % respectively; the extraction rate was( 57. 47±5. 89) %. Nine peaks were identified in the HPLC fingerprint,and the similarity was higher than 0. 97 between the fingerprints of 15 batches of standard decoction and the control fingerprint. In this study,the preparation process of standard decoction of Scrophulariae Radix pieces conformed to the traditional decoction preparation method. The sources of the samples were representative,and the established fingerprint method was stable and feasible,which can provide reference for the preparation and quality control of Scrophulariae Radix dispensing granules.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Scrophularia ; chemistry

AIM:To investigate the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) among people aged 50 years and above in Funing county,Jiangsu province.METHODS:Survey research.Random cluster sampling was used in selecting individuals aged ≥ 50 years in 30 clusters in Funing county.Proportions were compared by using the x2 test and the means compared by using the ttest.Logistic regression was used to detect possible factors of ARMD such as age and gender.RESULTS:A total of 6145 persons aged 50 years were enumerated and 5947 (96.78％) participants were received visual acuity test and eye examination.The prevalence of ARMD was 7.53％,with a total of 448 individuals (633 eyes).The prevalence of blindness and visual impairment for presenting visual acuity were 4.13％ and 11.96％,respectively.The prevalence of blindness and visual impairment for presenting visual acuity were 4.45％ and 7.79％,respectively.Older were significant risk factors of ARMD (OR=1.01,P=0.04).CONCLUSION:The prevalence of ARMD was higher among people aged 50 years and above in Funing county,Jiangsu province.ARMD is one of the leading cause of visual impairment.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of uncorrected refractive errors among urban population aged 50 years and above in Ftming county,Jiangsu province.Methods Survey research was conducted and randomly cluster sampling was used to select individuals aged ≥50 years for visual acuity test and eye examination in Funing county,Jiangsu province.The criteria of uncorrected refractive errors in this study was defined as an improvement of at least 0.2 log MAR (equivalent to 2 lines) in the best corrected visual acuity with the base vision ＜ 0.5 log MAR in daily life.The quantitative data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation,and t-test was used for comparison between groups,and while the count data were expressed as rate or composition ratio,and the x2 test was adopted for comparison between the groups.Logistic regression was used to examine the effect of possible factors (i.e.age and gender) on the prevalence of uncorrected refractive errors.Results A total of 6145 persons aged 50 years and above were enumerated and 5947 (96.8％) participants were examined,of whom 2388 had uncorrected refractive errors,with the prevalence of 40.2％.The prevalence of uncorrected refractive errors for myopia only,hyperopia only,astigmatism,and for hyperopia and astigmatism were 84.4％,84.2％,64.1％ and 100％,respectively.Moreover,the higher prevalence of uncorrected refractive errors presented in elderly person (OR =1.07,P ＜ 0.00l) and female (OR =1.38,P ＜ 0.001),and education was a protective factor for junior high school (OR =0.74,P =0.003) and high school (OR =0.55,P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion Uncorrected refractive errors presented high prevalence in rural population aged 50 years and above in Funing county,Jiangsu province,which are the leading cause of visual impairment.

BACKGROUNDProneurotrophins such as the precursor of nerve growth factor (proNGF) and the precursor of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) interacted with sortilin and p75(NTR) to form a complex capable of activating an apoptotic signaling. We found that the expression of p75(NTR) and sortilin was increased in ischemic retina induced by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), but the protein expression changes of proNGF and proBDNF in the same situation were not clear. This study aimed to ascertain the protein expression changes of proNGF and proBDNF in ischemic retina induced by elevated IOP.

METHODSExpression of proBDNF and proNGF was examined by double-labeling immunochemistry in normal rat retina, examined using Western blotting and analyzed using statistical methods in ischemic retina induced by elevated IOP.

RESULTSImmunocytochemistry showed that the proBDNF expressed in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) while the proNGF primarily existed in both the nerve fiber layers (NFL) and large ganglion cell bodies of normal rat retina. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that the molecule weights of 28 kD (proBDNF)/25 kD (proNGF) band were increased significantly (P < 0.05) at days 3, 5 and 7 after retinal elevated-IOP-induced ischemia.

CONCLUSIONProBDNF expressed in the GCL and proNGF primarily presented in NFL and large ganglion cell bodies of normal rat retina, the protein expression forms of 28 kD proBDNF and 25 kD proNGF increased in ischemic retina induced by elevated IOP.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intraocular Pressure ; physiology ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; analysis ; Protein Precursors ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Retinal Diseases ; metabolism

Objective To analyze the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and outcome of patients with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC). Methods Fifty-one patients with LVNC evaluated by echocardiography and/or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) from January 2006 to August 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Coronary angiography or MDCT was performed for detecting coronary artery disease. Predictors of the cardiac events were analyzed by Cox regression analysis. Results There were 31 LVNC patients without CAD and 20 LVNC patients with CAD including single vessel coronary disease in 9 cases, double vessel coronary disease in 3 cases, three vessel coronary disease in 5 cases and left main coronary disease in 3 cases. Coronary artery bypass graft and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were performed in 4 patients. Compared to LVNC patients without CAD, mean age ( P = 0. 008 ), incidence of hypertension (65.0% vs. 19. 4% , P = 0. 001 ), diabetes mellitus (40. 0% vs. 12. 9% , P = 0. 026) and hyperlipidemia ( 55.0% vs. 25. 8%, P = 0. 035 ) were significantly higher while NT-proBNP level was significantly lower( P = 0. 049 ) in LVNC patients with CAD. Incidence of major cardiac events was similar in LVNC patients with or without CAD. LogNT-proBNP is the independent prognostic factor for adverse cardiac events in patients with LVNC( HR 3.993,95% CI 1. 140-13. 988 ,P =0. 030). Conclusions Coronary artery disease is common in patients with LVNC and associated with traditional risk factors for CAD. Poor prognosis is associated with increased NT-proBNP but not with CAD in this patient cohort.

Vancomycin is one of important antibiotics against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)infections.Therapeutic monitoring of vancomycin has been advocated to lessen the potential toxicity and to achieve therapeutic concentrations.Reviews of previous articles have recommended the AUC/MIC as the preferred predictive parameter for vancomycin and trough serum concentrations as the most accurate and practical method for monitoring vancomycin effectiveness.Monitoring of serum vancomycin concentrations is useful in preventing toxicity in some patients.Additional clinical experiment is required to promote the safety and efficacy of vancomycin use.

OBJECTIVE: To optimize low copy number (LCN) DNA analysis methods for forensic STR genotyping. METHODS: Two groups of DNA sample, extracted using either Magnetic bead method or Chelex-100 methods, were previously amplified with a Identifiler PCR Amplification kit, but no genotype was detected. The DNA samples were concentrated using either a drying method or the Microcon-100 method, then amplified using an miniFiler PCR Amplification kit and genotyped. RESULTS: Among the 127 DNA samples, 47 samples, previously extracted using the Magnetic bead method, were genotyped with 36% success rate. Eighty samples, previously extracted using the Chelex-100 method, were genotyped with 30% success rate. CONCLUSION The application of sample concentration methods and miniFiler kit can improve the success rate of LCN STR analysis.
Blood Stains ; DNA/analysis* ; DNA Fingerprinting/methods* ; DNA Primers ; Forensic Genetics/methods* ; Genotyping Techniques/methods* ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Saliva/chemistry* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Specimen Handling/methods* ; Templates, Genetic