?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

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.

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 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 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 discuss the effects of the changes of sex hormone levels on quality of life and nutritional status in middle-aged and elderly hospitalized men.Methods A total of 150 male patients (aged 45-90 years) were divided into 3 groups according to age:45-59-year (the middle-aged group),60-79 year (the elderly group),and over 80 year (the old old group) (n=50,each group).Levels of serum testosterone,follicle stimulating hormone (FSH),and luteinizing hormone (LH)were detected.The questionnaire (SF-36) and micro-nutrient assessment table (MNA) were conducted.Results Serum testosterone level was significantly lower in the old old group than in the elderly group and middle-aged group [(10.5±2.5) pmol/L vs.(13.1±2.0) pmol/L and (15.6±3.2) pmol/L,respectively,P＜ 0.05].Levels of FSH and LH were significantly higher in the old old group than in the elderly group and middle-aged group [(15.5±7.7)U/L vs.(12.7±5.1)U/L and (9.5±2.9)U/L,(9.8±3.7)U/L vs.(7.8±3.2)U/L and (5.4±2.0) U/L,respectively,P＜0.05].The 8 health latitude scores of SF-36 scale and nutritional status scores were significantly lower in the old old group than in the elderly group and middle-aged group (all P＜0.05).Relation analysis sho wed that age had a negative correlation with serum testocterone level (r=-0.389,P＜0.05),and had positive correlations with the levels of serum FSH and LH (r=0.427,r=0.520,both P＜0.05).After adjusting for age,serum testocterone level was positively correlated with physical functioning,role of physical activity,body pain,general health,vitality,mental health and nutritional status in SF-36 health scale (all P＜0.05),and had no obvious correlation with social function and emotional function health dimensions (all P＞0.05).Conclusions The sex hormone levels are changed with age,which can seriously affect the health state in middle-aged and elderly hospitalized men.

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 .

AIM:To compare the synthesis efficiency of n3 and n6 very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid ( VLC-PUFA ) by overexpressing ELOVL4 protein, providing guidance for treating Stargardt-like macular dystrophy (STGD3).
METHODS:To establish recombinant adenovirus with the ELOVL4 protein and green fluorescent protein, transferred into cultured PC12 cells. The cells were divided into 3 groups: PC12, PC12 + Ad- GFP and PC12 + Ad-ELOVL4, former two groups serve as controls. ELOVL4 gene expression was quantified by qRT-PCRs. ELOVL4 protein was analyzed by Western - Blot ( WB ) . The transduced cells were treated with both EPA and AA (1:1). After 48h of incubation, cells were collected, total lipids extracted and fatty acid methyl esters prepared and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry ( GC-MS) .
RESULTS:When supplemented together, 20:5n3 (EPA) and 20:4n6 ( AA) were efficiently taken up at almost the same amounts in the PC12 cells regardless of ELOVL4 expression. The ELOVL4-expressing cells elongated both EPA and AA to a series of n3 and n6 VLC-PUFAs. From 20:5n3/EPA, 34:5n3 and 36:5n3 account for 0. 71% and 1.6%, respectively. From 20:4n6/DHA, 34:4n6 and 36:4n6 were only 0. 46% and 0. 61%, respectively. The total relative mol% of n3 VLC-PUFAs synthesized from EPA was almost two times that of n6 VLC-PUFAs synthesized from AA.
CONCLUSION: ELOVL4 protein preferentially elongates n3 PUFA to VLC - PUFAs over n6 PUFA. Dietary supplementation of appropriate n3/n6 PUFAs may provide STGD3 patients with some therapeutic benefits.