?A great number of miRNAs have been shown to play critical roles in pathological angiogenesis, the oxidative stress response, immune response and inflammation, all of which have been shown to have important roles in the pathogenesis and progression of age- related macular degeneration ( AMD) . Here we reviewed the pathological processes involved in AMD and the roles of miRNAs in these processes, and discussed potential miRNAs-based therapeutics for AMD.

OBJECTIVETo provide quantitative foundation for the diagnosis of atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation by analyzing the various imaging features of normal atlanto-axial joints in neutral position and rotary functional position on the MSCT images.

METHODSForty-one normal volunteers were examined by CT on the atlanto-axial joint in neutral position and rotary functional position. By the observation and measurement of atlanto-dental interval (ADI), lateral atlanta-dental space (LADS), VBLADS and rotating angle of atlas on dentate (RAAD), the imaging manifestations and anatomical characteristics were analyzed and compared. In order to compare VBLADS and RAAD and make a correlation analysis between different age groups, 51 normal volunteers were divided into two groups: age younger than 45 years old group and age older than or equal to 45 years old group.

RESULTSThe dens in neutral position deviated in an angle range of (3.22±0.89)°. The articular facets of lateral atlantoaxial joint in rotary functional position had rotatory displacement and the range of the relative rotation angle was (33.85± 2.79)°. Through the correlation analysis of matching data, it could be concluded that there was no correlation between atlantoaxial relative rotation angle and VBLADS within a certain range. There were statistically differences of atlantoaxial relative rotation angle in rotary functional position between two groups.

CONCLUSIONMSCT imaging in rotary functional position can clearly show the anatomical structure and rotation function of a normal atlanto-axial joint, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the diagnosis of atlanto axial rotatory subluxation.

Adult ; Aged ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; methods ; Rotation

砄bjective: To investigate the role of Candida species in burning mouth syndrome (BMS) in a Chinese cohort. Methods: The studied population comprised 52 BMS patients and 37 healthy controls. An oral rinse technique was used to detect the candidal carriage. The isolates were identified using API 20C AUX Candida identification kit.Results: Candida was found in 3 out of 37 of the controls(8.1%) and in 10 out of 52 BMS patients(19.2%). 25 strains of Candida were isolated from the 10 Candida positive BMS cases, 22 out of the 25 strains were Candida albicans while 3 were Candida prarapsilosis . 7 strains of Candida were isolated from the 3 Candida positive controls and all the 7 were Candida albicans . Conclusion: Candida infection may play a role in the development of BMS, especially in the type 1 subtype.

Objective To study the relationship between serum leptin and thyroid function by investigating the change of serum leptin concentration in children with abnormal thyroid function (hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism).Methods The levels of serum leptin was determined by radio-immunoassay(RIA) in 20 cases of hyperthyroidism, 17 cases of hypothyroidism, 25 cases of normal controls, respectively .Meanwhile, the serum levels of free triiodothyronine(FT 3), free thyroxine(FT 4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) were measured by micro-particle-chemiluminescence immunoassay.Results The levels of serum leptin in hypothyroidism group before treatment was significantly lower than that of normal control groups (P0.05).Conclusions The levels of serum leptin in hypothyroidism markedly descend and no change in the hyperthyroidism. Thyroid hormone can promote the secretion of serum leptin eligibly.

Objective To investigate the effect of CXCL16 on the development of murine collageninduced arthritis (CIA). Methods CXCL16 mRNA of the involved synovium and serum CXCL16 protein were determined respectively by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in murine collagen-induced arthritis. The proliferation of lymphocytes from murine spleen and the level of RANKL mRNA, stimulated by CXCL16 at different concentrations (0,100, 200, 400, 800 ng/ml), was detected respectively by CCK-8 and RT-PCR, then the level of IL-2 and IFN-γ in culture supernatant was detected by ELISA. Comparisons between groups were tested by t test and one-way ANOVA analysis. Results The serum CXCL16 [(127± 10) vs (72±8) pg/ml, P＜0.05] and synovial CXCL16 mRNA (0.214±0.007 vs 0.375±0.009, P＜0.01) in CIA were all significantly higher than those in normal controls. The proliferation of CXCL16 (200, 400, 800 ng/ml) in CIA mouse lymphocytes, was significantly higher than that of CXCL16 (0 ng/ml) (0.51±0.06, 0.56±0.05, 0.55±0.04, (0.41±0.04, P＜0.05). And CXCL16 on the CIA stimulated lymphocyte proliferation was significantly higher than controls on normal lymphocytes (P＜0.05). Compared with blank control group, the expression of IL-2, IFN-γ and RANKL mRNA of CIA CXCL16 (400, 800 ng/ml) groups was higher significantly (P＜0.01). Conclusion CXCL16 plays an important role in the development of murine CIA by activating lymphocytes.

AIM:To investigate the influence of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) on the proliferation of neural stem cells in peri-infarction cortex of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model rats .METHODS: Male SD rats (n=48) were randomly divided into sham group , ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group, RNA interference group and nega-tive interference group .The rat middle cerebral artery was blocked to establish focal cerebral I /R model ( ischemia for 1 h and reperfusion for 7 d).Lentivirus vector of HMGB1 shRNA was used to suppress the HMGB1 protein expression in the rat brain.The effect of RNA interference was evaluated by the methods of double-immunofluorescence labeling of HMGB 1/GFAP and Western blotting .The proliferation of neural stem cells in the peri-infarction cortex was assessed by double labe-ling of BrdU/nestin.RESULTS: The protein expression of HMGB1 in I/R group was much higher than those in sham group (P<0.05).RNA interference effectively inhibited the HMGB1 expression (P<0.05).Double labeled BrdU/nestin positive cells in I/R group were more than that in sham group (P<0.05).The double labeled BrdU/nestin positive cells were significantly decreased in RNA interference group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury promotes the proliferation of neural stem cells in peri-infarction cortex by increasing HMGB 1 protein level .

Objective To study the effects of 3,5-diiodotyrosine (DIT) and potassium iodide (KI) on myocardial ATPase activity in hyperthyroidism Wistar rats induced by thyroid tablets.Methods Seventy-two Wistar rats were divided into 8 groups according to body weight by the random number table method (9 rats in each group),respectively,which were control group,hyperthyroidism model group,low,medium and high doses groups (both DIT and KI contents were 25.0,166.7,500.1 μg/kg).Physiological saline was intragastrically administrated to the control group;the hyperthyroidism model group was given thyroid tablet suspension (200.0 mg/kg);DIT and KI groups were given thyroid tablet suspension with corresponding doses of iodine simultaneously.The medicine was given once a day for a mouth,all the rats were sacrificed and heart tissue was collected.The colorimetric method was used to examine the activity of ATPases (Na+-K+-ATPase,Mg2+-ATPase,Ca2+-ATPase).Results The activities of Na+-K+-ATPase,Mg2+-ATPase,Ca2+-ATPase were significantly different statistically between groups (F =2.99,3.03,6.18,all P ＜ 0.01).Compared with the control group [(4.01 ± 0.22),(4.28 ± 0.28),(4.46 ± 0.35) μmol/mg·h],the activities of ATPases (Na+-K+-ATPase,Mg2+-ATPase,Ca2+-ATPase included) were reduced significantly in hyperthyroidism model group [(3.60 ± 0.25),(3.42 ± 0.31),(3.85 ± 0.17)μ mol/mg·h,all P ＜ 0.01];the activities of Mg2+-ATPase in DIT medium dose group [(3.89 ± 0.35)μmol/mg ·h],Ca2+-ATPase in DIT medium and high doses groups [(4.12 ± 0.20),(4.09 ± 0.21)μ mol/mg·h] were reduced significantly (all P ＜ 0.05);the activities of Na+-K+-ATPases,Ca2+-ATPase were decreased significantly in three KI groups [(3.64 ± 0.32),(3.60 ± 0.32),(3.53 ± 0.33),(3.93 ± 0.22),(3.90 ± 0.23),(3.85 ± 0.26)μmol/mg·h],Mg2+-ATPase in KI high dose group [(3.65 ± 0.49)μmol/mg·h] was decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.05or ＜ 0.01).Compared with the hyperthyroidism model group,the activities of ATPase were increased in most of the DIT groups [Mg2+-ATPase in low,medium doses groups:(4.06 ± 0.51),(3.89 ± 0.35)μmol/mg·h;Ca2+-ATPase in low,medium,high doses groups (4.15 ± 0.26),(4.12 ± 0.20),(4.09 ± 0.21)μmol/mg·h,all P ＜ 0.05].Conclusion Supplementation of thyroid tablets in the process of hyperthyroidism formation in Wistar rats will reduce myocardial damage by DTT compared with the same dose of KI.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in 5/6 renal ablation model. MethodsAtRA was administered to 5/6 renal ablation rats by three dosages: 5 mg·kg-1·d-1 (n=8), 10 mg·kg-1d-1 (n=8) and 20 mg·kg-1 d-1 (n=8) and vehicle (vehicle group, n=8) for 10 weeks. Healthy rats consisted of shamoperation group (n =8). The level of renin and angiotensin Ⅱ in renal tissues were measured by radioimmunoassary. The level of angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) in remnant renal cortex was measured by Western blot. The mRNA expression levels of two subunits of activative protein 1(AP-1),c-jun and c-fos was quantitated by real-time PCR. ResultsAfter 10 weeks of atRA treatment by gavarge, artery blood pressure decreased (P＜0.05). AtRA reduced the levels of renin (P＜0.05) and angiotensin Ⅱ (P＜0.05) in kidney and down-regulated the expression of AT1R protein in renal cortex. Larger dose of atRA (20 mg·kg-1·d-1) performed higher activity in inhibiting renin and AT1R. Compared with vehicle group, atRA could significantly inhibit the expression of renal c-jun and c-fos mRNA (P＜0.05). Conclusion atRA can decrease the over-expression of main components of RAS.

Objective To observe the preliminary clinical results and safety of 27-gauge microincision vitrectomy surgery for partial vitreoretinal diseases.Methods A total of 13 patients (13 eyes) who underwent 27-gauge microincision vitrectomy surgery were enrolled.The follow-up period was 6 to 12 months.Preoperative and postoperative visual acuity and intraocular,total operative time,cutting time for removing vitreous,wound healing status,intraoperative and postoperative complications were observed.Results Mean best corrected visual acuity improved from preoperative (1.26±0.66) logMAR (0.10±0.09) to postoperative (0.63±0.52) logMAR (0.35±0.24),and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.743,P=0.018).The difference of mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP),IOP of postoperative day 1,day 5,one month and final postoperative visit were not statistically significant (F=0.593,P＞0.05).The mean total operative and cutting times were (36.38±14.97) min and (10.12±3.54) min respectively.Postoperative scleral incision showed linear closure,no cases of postoperative sclerotomyrelated complications such as wound dehiscence,vitreous incarceration and subcoujunctival fluid were observed.No intraoperative and postoperative complications of iatrogenic retinal breaks,endophthalmitis,choroidal detachment,retinal detachment and vitrous hemorrhage were observed.Conclusions The 27-gauge microincision vitrectomy surgery can improve postoperative visual acuity for treatment of vitreoretinal diseases and induce fewer sclerotomyrelated complications,which maybe a safer surgical approach.

Objective To investigate the effects of intra-articular hyaluronan(HA)injection on the expression of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein(COMP)in synovium of strenuous running rats,and investigate the possibility of predicting the effectiveness of HA based on COMP in synovium.Methods 36 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group,strenuous running group and strenuous running group and HA injection group.Strenuous running group and HA injection group were intra- articularly injected with HA once a week for 5 consecutive weeks.The histological changes of synovium of knee joint was examined by H.E.staining and immunohistochemical expression of COMP in three groups after 6 weeks' strenuous running.Results Synovial inflammation was less severe in strenuous running and HA injection group than strenuous running group(t =7.15,P ＜0.01).The immunohistochemical expression of COMP in rats'synovium of knee joint in strenuous running and HA injection group was significantly lower than that in rats'synovium in strenuous running group(t = 6.30,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Intra- articular HA injection suppressed synovitis,and the expression of COMP in synovium could be used to predict the effectiveness of HA.