Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which the epithelial cells change to a mesenchymal phenotype.The highly conserved and fundamental process is integral in development, wound healing and contributes pathologically to fibrosis and cancer progression.The process can be activated by many transcription factors, growth factors or protein molecules, which involves complex molecular mechanism and signal transduction pathways.This paper reviews the development of molecular mechanisms of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and briefly summarizes the research progress of natural compounds targeting the EMT.

AIM: To investigate the safety and efficacy of undersurface ablation of the flap ( UAF ) for laser in situ keratomileusis ( LASIK ) retreatment in eyes with regression.
METHODS: Twelve patients ( 22 eyes ) with regression after LASIK were performed undersurface ablation of the flap. The mean of preoperative refractive error was -2. 27±0-88D, the astigmatism was -0. 44±0. 30D, the central corneal thickness was 424. 9±8. 2μm. The follow-up time was 1a, including visual acuity, refractive error, the elevation of posterior cornea, WavScan. The data was analyzed with Student's t test andχ2test.
RESULTS:During the operation, the measured stromal thickness was 275. 4±9. 3μm, the flap thickness 144. 7±7-5μm, the depth of ablation 28. 1±9. 3μm. The mean postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 4. 99±0. 04, best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA) 5. 03±0. 04, at 1a follow up. There was no patient with postoperative BCVA decreasing, compared to preoperation. Mean spherical refraction decreased to-0. 22±0. 19 D at 1a follow up (t=10. 232, P<0. 001) and the astigmatism decreased to -0. 24±0. 26 D (t=2. 365, P=0. 028). The elevation of posterior cornea changed from 1. 95 ± 1. 68μm preoperatively to 2. 00±1. 88μm after 1a, but there was no statistical significance (t=0. 090, P= 0. 929). The coma changed from 0. 283±0. 112μm preoperatively to 0. 331±0-149μm after 1a (no statistical significance, t=1. 452, P=0. 161) and the spherical aberration changed from 0. 320±0. 119μm to 0. 341±0. 103μm (no statistical significance, t=0. 390, P=0. 674).
CONCLUSION:UAF, as one of a choice, is an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of regression after LASIK, based on the reasonable surgery design.

Objective To study the arthroscopic operative procedure and the result for knee osteoarthritis. Methods 49 patients with knee osteoarthritis treated by arthroscopic operation from May 1993 to September 1999 were reviewved.Arthroscopic lavage,debridement or debridement Combined with drilling was performed on different patients. Results The average follow-up period was 5 years.The scale improved 36.0 after operation.No serious complication was found. Conclusions Arthroscopic debridement for osteoarthritis is satisfactory in the long-term efficacy and drilling of grade Ⅳ subchondral bone does not improve long-term outcome.

Objective To study the values of arthroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods A retrospective survey of 75 patients with knee osteoarthritis treated by arthroscopic operation from May 1993 to Sep 1999 was conducted.the Tindings by radiograph and those in operation were compaired. Results The average follow-up period was nearly 5 years.The scale improved 35.7 after operation.No serious complication arose. Conclusions The more severe the condition, the more consistent radiographic diagnosis is with arthroscopic findings.Radiography reflects the site of the lesion better.50% of the patients at the intermediate and late stage have meniscal lesions.It seems that meniscal lesion does not affect surgical results;having loose body indicates better results.

Objective: To study the influences of steam distillation (SD) on the isomerization of the essential oils of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diel. Methods: SD、GC、GC-MS. Results: The duration of the extraction of essential oils of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. by SD was about 14 h, and the yield of (Z)-ligustilide was about 67.1 percent of total (Z)-ligustilide. During the SD, it produced some new components in the essential oils, for example 4-hydroxy-3-methylacetophenone, 2,4,5-benzaldehyde,2,4,5-trimethyl-et al. Conclusion: The results suggested that the extraction of essential oils of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. by SD had some disadvantages.

Objective To investigate the effects of adenosine postconditioning (AP) on serum IL-10 and TNF-α concentrations following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion(VR)in rats.Methods Twenty-four SD ratsweighing 180-250 g were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=6 each):group I sham operation (group S);group Ⅱ myocardial I/R;group Ⅲ ischemic postconditioning(group IP)and group Ⅳ AP.Myocardial I/R was induced by 30 rain occlusion of anterior descending branch of left coronary artery followed by 120 min reperfnsion.IP was induced by 3 cycles of 30 s myocardial ischemia followed by 30 s reperfusion at the end of ischemia.In AP group adenosine 1.5 mg/kg was infused at 40μg·kg-1·min-1 before the onset of reperfusion.SP,DP and HR were recorded before ischemia (baseline) at 30 min of ischemia and 30 and 120 min of reperfusion.Arterial bloodsarnples were collected at 120 min of repednsion for determination of serum TNF-α and IL-10 concentrations.Theanimals were then killed.Their hearts were removed for microscopic examination.Myocardial infarct size wasmeasured and myocardial MDA content was determined.Results BP and HR were signilicandy decreased duringreperfusion while myocardial infarct size.MDA content and serum concentrations of IL-10 and TNF-α weresignificantly increased in I/R group compared with group S.Ischemic and adenosine postconditioning significantlyattenuated hypotension,reduced infarct size,myocardial MDA content and serum TNF-α concentration and increased serum IL-10 concentration in group AP and IP as compared with I/R group.There was no significant difference in the above changes between group AP and IP. Myocardial injury was ameliorated in group AP and IP as compared with I/R group. Conclusion Adenosine postconditioning can protect myocardium from I/R injury by increasing IL-10 production and inhibiting TNF-a release.

Objective To evaluate the inflammatory response and the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR)isoforms(PPARα,PPARβ/δ,and PPARγ)in the brain(cortex,striatum,cerebellum)of spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR).Methods Brain tissues(cortex,striatum,and cerebellum)were dissected from SHR and age-matched control Wistar-Kyoto rats.Myeloperoxidase(MPO)activity was measured in brain tissues as an index of neutrophil accumulation and the carbonyl protein content was analyzed by spectrophotometry to evaluate the protein oxidation.RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to examine the expressions of inflammatory mediators(IL-1β,TNFα,ICAM-1,and iNOS)and nuclear factor PPARs(PPARα,PPARβ/δ,and PPARγ),respectively.Results(1)Systolic blood pressure of SHR was significantly higher than that of Wistar-Kyoto rats,(205.4±9.4)mm Hg versus(130.4±7.9)mm Hg(t=14.96,P＜0.01).(2)MPO activity of cortex,striatum,and cerebellum were markedly higher in SHR than in Wistar-Kyoto rats.Carbonyl protein levels of cortex,striatum,and cerebellum in Wistar-Kyoto rats and SHR were(3.27±0.43)nmol/mg versus(11.87±1.11)nmol/mg,(4.02±1.04)nmol/mg versus(14.06±1.36)nmol/mg,(5.94±0.71)nmol/mg versus(14.95±1.82)nmol/mg,indicating significantly higher levels of protein oxidation in SHR than Wistar-Kyoto rats(t=17.70,14.36,11.30,P＜0.05).Consistently,the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators(IL-1β,TNFα,ICAM-1,and iNOS)was upregulated when compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats.The difference between SHR and control Wistar-Kyoto rats was statistically significant except the mRNA expression of IL-1β in striatum,cerebellum and TNFα in cerebellum of SHR.All the above experimental data indicated the occurrence of inflammatory status in the brain tissue of hypertension.(3)mRNA and protein levels of brain PPAR isoforms(PPARα,PPARβ/δ,and PPARγ)of SHR increased significantly when compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats.Specifically.protein levels of PPARα in cortex.striatum,and cerebellum of SHR increased by 644.78%,791.95%,and 42.85%;PPARβ/δ increased by 106.72%,94.12%,and 161.44%;PPARγ was up-regulated by 2700.16%,790.81%,and 875.00%compared with that of Wistar-Kyoto rats,respectively.Conclusions The brain(cortex,striatum,and cerebellum)from SHR shows marked inflammatory status and increased expression of all PPAR isoforms.Increases in PPARs expression may play a compensatory role in the inflammatory response of the brain in SHR.

OBJECTIVE: To study clinical characteristics, diagnosis, pathological types and therapy methods of nonsquamous cell neoplasm in subglottis, in order to improve comprehension of this rare disease. METHOD: To analysis 3 patients' clinical data with noosquamous cell neoplasm in subglottis by reviewing related literature, and to generalize the symptoms, differentiation and treatment experience of nonsquamous cell neoplasm in subglottis. RESULT: Among the 3 patients, one's main complain was hoarseness and the other two's main symptom was inspiratory dyspnea. As diagnosis was definite and acute obstruction of airway was relieved, the neoplasms were removed totally. Two patients were undergone operation through oral cavity by using suspended laryngoscope, and one patient was done surgery by neck approach. Paraffin wax result showed that one patient suffered epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, who received radiotherapy after surgery. There is no recurrence in all patients by following up more than 1 year. CONCLUSION The occurrence of nonsquamous cell neoplasm in subglottis is relatively low, and the subglottis should be inspected carefully to avoid missed diagnosis. Operation is the preferred method to treat this kind of disease. To choose a suitable operational manner according to size, location of the neoplasm is crucial.
Female ; Glottis ; pathology ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged

Diabetic macular edema(DME)and age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)are the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness worldwide, and their common pathological features are increased vascular permeability and abnormal neovascularization, in which cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and angiopoietin-2(Ang-2)play an important role. Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents significantly changed the clinical management of DME and ARMD, but limitations such as the non-responsive cases, the treatment burden and risks caused by frequent injections need to be overcome. Faricimab, a novel bispecific monoclonal antibody that simultaneously targets VEGF-A and Ang-2, can effectively reduce vascular permeability, decrease the number of neovascularization and alleviate retinal edema. Registered clinical studies have shown that Faricimab is effective in improving vision and reducing retinal edema, which is non-inferior to Aflibercept and Ranibizumab, maintains a long dosing interval, and has a high safety profile. This article reviews the latest advances in the treatment of DME and ARMD with Faricimab.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristic changes in the infrared thermogram of chronic prostatitis (CP) patients and find some evidence for the auxiliary diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of the disease.

METHODSFifty CP patients and 20 healthy male volunteers were included in this clinical trial. The infrared thermograms of the subjects were compared between the two groups for characteristic changes. The values obtained were used for the auxiliary diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of the disease.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy males in the same age group, the CP patients showed extremely significant abnormal changes in the average temperature value in the hypogastrium (H), pubis (P), scrotum (S), and groin (G) (P < 0.01). The average H temperature value of the CP patients was correlated negatively with the CP symptom index (CPSI) (P < 0.01, Pearsons correlation coefficient = -0.519), while the S temperature positively with CPSI (P < 0.01, Pearsons correlation coefficient = 0.446). In addition to the H value, the P, S, and G values were all correlated in different degrees with CPSI (P < 0.01), which the S value exhibited the most significantly negative correlation (Pearson's correlation coefficient = -0.898).

CONCLUSIONThere are some characteristic changes in the hypogastrium temperature of CP patients in the infrared thermogram, which has a potential application value for the auxiliary diagnosis, symptom assessment, and therapeutic evaluation of CP.