?Corneal collagen cross-linking ( CXL ) could increase the mechanical strength, biological stability and halt ectasia progression due to covalent bond formed by photochemical reaction between ultraviolet - A and emulsion of riboflavin between collagen fibers in corneal stroma. Corneal melting is an autoimmune related noninfectious corneal ulcer. The mechanism of corneal melting, major treatment, the basic fundamental of ultraviolet- A riboflavin induced CXL and the clinical researches status and experiment in CXL were summarized in the study.

Objective To summary the clinical applied value of interventional therapy in hepatic venous outflow obstruction after orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT).Methods The clinical data of 27 patients suspect with hepatic outflow obstruction out of OLT patients were analyzed retrospec- tively.Most of them presented with liver dysfunction,like ascites,jaundice,or hydropsia of lower ex- tremity as BCS.These patients accepted venography and endovascular treatment if venous outflow ob- struction was found.Results By venography,one case of thrombus in inferior vena cava,one case of hepatic vein stenosis,13 cases of inferior vena cava stenosis(3 cases were associated with hepatic vein stenoses)were identified.Stent implantation was successfully performed on 10 patients,and balloon angioplasty on 4 patients.Rapid,dramatic resolution of symptoms was achieved in those patients. Hepatic vein restenosis occurred in one case 8 months after balloon dilatation,and treated with stent implantation.Inferior vena cava restenosis occurred in one case 2 years after balloon dilation,and trea- ted with another balloon expanding.Patients remained completely asymptomatic at 4 months to 5 years of follow-up.Conclusion The venacavographic balloon angioplasty and metallic stent replacement are safe and useful for post-OLT with venous outflow obstruction.

Objective To evaluate the CT and MRI characteristics of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma(PCNSL)in immunocompetent patients,and enhance its diagnosis level.Methods CT and MRI data of 20 patients with PCNSL confirmed by histo-pathology were analyzed retrospectively.MRI scans were performed with and without Gadolinium contrast.Two of them had contrast-enhanced CT scan;six had CT scan without contrast administration;1 had CT scan with both non-contrast and contrast enhancement.Re- suits Totally,38 lesions were found in all patients:14 lesions of them were single and 24 lesions were found in 6 patients.Generally,the lesions were located in the surface and/or midline of the brain.The signal features and density were similar to meningioma,and strongly enhancing after contrast administration.Thirty-six of the 38 lesions had spicular sign peripheral to the lesion.Conclusion Although the manifestations of the PCNSL are variety,there are still many characteristics in the medical imaging,especially in the locations,the signal features,and spicular sign in the edge of the lesions after contrast material injection.

OBJECTIVETo verify the existence and significance of calcium/calmodulin dependent serine protein kinase/inhibitors of differentiation 1 (CASK/Id1) pathway in fibroblasts of human keloid.

METHODSImmunofluorescence laser was used to confirm CASK and Id1 protein expression and localization in fibroblasts of the keloid and normal skin. RT-PCR and Western-blot were adopted to analysis the CASK and Id1 expression and differences between keloid and normal skin fibroblasts. The natural combination of CASK and Id1 protein of keloid fibroblasts was tested by immunoprecipitation.

RESULTSCASK and Id1 protein expression were both found in fibroblast cells of keloid and normal skin under normal circumstances. Most of CASK and Id1 were distributed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of fibroblasts. The results of RT-PCR showed that the expression of CASK mRNA in the keloid group was 0.658 +/- 0.024, which was lower than that in the normal control group (1.076 +/- 0.008, t = 11.159, P < 0.05). The expression of Id1 mRNA was 0.497 +/- 0.014, which was higher than that in the normal control group (0.307 +/- 0.017, t = 15.148, P < 0.05). The results of Western-blot showed that the expression level for CASK protein in the keloid group was 0.057 +/- 0.006, which was lower than that in the normal control group (0.168 +/- 0.012, t = 13.524, P < 0.05); the expression of Id1 protein was 0.812 +/- 0.035, which was higher than that in the normal control group (0.368 +/- 0.031, t = 16.356, P < 0.05). The results of immunoprecipitation showed that Id1 could be detected in the CASK precipitate, while CASK also could be detected in the Id1 precipitate. There was a natural binding of CASK and Id1 in keloid fibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONCASK/Id1 signal pathway may be existed and involved in the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts, which is related with the occurrence of keloid.

Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Keloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Objective To detect the mutations of ATP2C1 gene in patients with Hailey-Hailey dis- ease (HHD).Methods PCR and direct sequencing were performed in 17 patients and 120 healthy controls to screen the mutations in the exons of ATP2C1 gene.Results Eight mutations were identified in nine probands, including three deletion mutations (nt1464-1487 del/nt1462-1485del,1523delAT,2375delTTGT),three splice site mutations (360—2A→G,1415—2A→T,2243+2T→C) and two missence mutations (C920T and G1942T).None of the above mutations was found in the controls.Conclusion Eight specific novel mutations were identified in nine probands of HHD,which could be causative factors of the disease.

OBJECTIVETo establish and evaluate a mouse model of bronchial asthma with Yin deficiency syndrome.

METHODSThe mouse model of bronchial asthma with Yin deficiency syndrome was established by the treatment with injecting ovalbumin (OVA) two times to sensitize, inhaling OVA 14 times to stimulate, and using thyroxin through lavage during late stimulation. This model was evaluated through body weight, asthmatic behaviors, respiratory function, autonomous activity, lung pathology, and pulmonary fluid clearance.

RESULTSOVA combined with thyroxin was an appropriate method to induce the mouse model with increased food and water intake, autonomous activity, asthmatic behaviors score, and respiratory rate, decreased body weight, tidal volume, and wet/dry ratio of lung, and changed with pathology of lung tissue. The changes of the above mentioned parameters indicated that the model was the bronchial asthma with Yin deficiency syndrome.

CONCLUSIONThe OVA combined with thyroxin is a good pattern to establish a mouse model of bronchial asthma with Yin deficiency syndrome successfully, which can highly simulate the clinical symptoms of this disease.

Animals ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; Bronchi ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Ovalbumin ; Thyroxine ; Yin Deficiency

OBJECTIVETo investigate osthole effect on femoral tissue resorption activity of rat in vitro.

METHODSSix SD rats weighted (80 ± 5) g were used to isolate and culture femoral tissue (diaphyses and metaphysis) in vitro. The cultured tissue were devided into control group, estradiol group and osthole group. The femoral tissue was treated with final concentration of 1 x 10(-5) mol/L osthole and 1 x 10(-8) mol/L estradiol culture in vitro at 48 hours after cultured. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (StrACP) activity, glucose and Lactic acid content, StrACP, MCSF (Macrophage colony stimulating factor) and CTSK (Cathepsin K) mRNA was detected by Real-Time RT-PCR were detected.

RESULTSConcetration of Alkaline phosphatase activity were 2226 and 2498 in 1 x 10(-5) mol/L osthole and 1 x 10(-8) mol/L estradiol respectively. As compared with control group, the activity of StrACP of 1 x 10(-5) mol/L osthole and 1 x 10(-8) mol/L estradiol were inhibited at 6, 9, 12 days (P < 0.05); under treatment of in l x 10(-5) mol/L osthole, the content of Lactic acid were increased and the content of glucose were decreased at 3, 6, 9 days (P < 0.05); StrACP, MCSF and CTSK mRNA expression level were inhibited at 6, 9 days (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOsthole can inhibit bone resorption and raise the level of nutrition metabolism of femurs tissue.

Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bone Resorption ; prevention & control ; Coumarins ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Femur ; drug effects ; Glucose ; analysis ; Lactic Acid ; analysis ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Volatile Oil of Radix Angelicae Sinensis (VOA) on experimental asthma in rat model based on abnormal immune functions of Treg cells.

METHODSAfter grouping, the asthmatic rats were developed through injecting OVA and AI(OH)3 for sensitization and then administering OVA aerosol for challenge, and the respiratory functions, asthmatic behaviors, IL-10 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) (ELISA) and Foxp3 expression (immunohistochemistry) in lung of asthmatic rats were observed.

RESULTSVOA at the doses of 40-160 mg/kg could improve the respiratory functions and the asthmatic behaviors, and upgrade IL-10 levels in BALF and Foxp3 expression in lung of asthmatic rats.

CONCLUSIONVOA has some effects of anti-asthma and one of the mechanisms is to improving the lower immune functions of Treg cells.

Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; chemistry ; Lung ; metabolism ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacology ; Plant Oils ; pharmacology ; Rats ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sequence Deletion ; Smoking ; genetics