?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.

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 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.

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.

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.

To assess the postoperative outcomes of piggyback implantation using Acrysof Toric intraocular lens ( lOL ) in high myopia combined with corneal astigmatism.
●METHODS: Sixty patients who had phacoemulsification with lOL implantation due to high myopia, cataract and corneal astigmatism from January 2010 to June 2013 were randomly divided into observation group (piggyback Toric lOL implantation, both an Acrysoft lQ Toric lOL and a minus foldable acrylic three piece lOL were implanted in the capsular bag, n= 30) and control group (foldable lOL implantation, n = 30). Postoperative follow - up went on 6mo. lnformation collected included uncorrected visual acuity ( UCVA), lOL position, residual astigmatism and complications.
● RESULTS: The UCVA increased from 3. 52 ± 0. 03 preoperatively to 4. 78±0. 01 at 6mo postoperatively in the observation group, from 3. 51±0. 03 preoperatively to 4. 30± 0. 13 at 6mo postoperatively in the control group. The observation group's postoperative UCVA was better than that of the control group. There was statistically significant difference ( t = 3. 612, P < 0. 05 ). The preoperative corneal astigmatism was 2. 97 ± 0. 87 (1. 70 -4. 27) D in the observation group and 2. 92 ± 0. 97 (1. 50 -4. 90)D in the control group. The postoperative residual astigmatism was 0. 48 ± 0. 23 ( 0. 25 - 1. 00 ) D in the observation group and 2. 87 ± 1. 11 (1. 00 - 5. 20) D in the control group. There was statistically significant difference postoperatively (t = - 11. 995, P < 0. 05) between the two groups. No complications occurred.
●CONCLUSlON: Piggyback implantation using Toric lOL can help to solve the problem of no matching Toric lOL power for the high myopia combined with corneal astigmatism at the current stage. lt improves the UCVA and reduces the astigmatism after the cataract surgery.

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 .