Background Research showed that the morbidity rate of primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in Mongolian population is 3.02 times more than Han nationality population.To understand the cause and mechanism of PACG in Mongolia is of an important significance.Objective This study was to investigate the pathogenesis of Mongolian PACG.Methods Thirty-two eyes of 32 PACG patients in Mongolia and 40 eyes of 40 PACG patients of Han peoples were included in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Hospital according to the diagnosis criteria of glaucoma group of Chinese Medical Ophthalmology Association (version 1987),and 13 eyes of 13 normal Mongolia and 17 eyes of 17 normal Han peoples who suffered with ocular truma were recruited as controls.Intraocular pressure(IOP) was measured before surgery.The trabecular meshwork tissue was obtained from all the eyes during the operation.Annexinv-FITC/PI double staining was performed and the apoptosis rate of trabecula cells was tested with flow cytometry.Written informed consent was obtained initial of the study.Results The IOP value in Mongolia PACG group,Han PACG group,Mengolia normal group and Han normal group was (35.97±7.11)mmHg,(38.70± 6.82) mmHg,(14.69 ± 2.91) mmHg and (13.59 ± 2.91) mmHg,respectively,showing a significant difference among the 4 groups(F=106.144,P=0.000),and the IOP was significantly higher in the Mengolia PACG group and Han PACG group than the normal groups(P＜0.05).The apoptosis rate of the cells was (7.14±0.67)％,(5.40±0.69) ％,(5.86±0.91) ％ and(2.29±0.65) ％ in the Mongolia PACG group,Han PACG group,Mongolia normal group and Han normal group,respectively,with a significant difference among them (F =174.888,P =0.000),and apoptosis rate of the Mongolia PACG group was significantly higher than that of the Han PACG group and the Mongolia normal group (P＜0.05).No significant difference was found between the Mongolia PACG group and the Han PACG group or between the Mongolia normal group and Han normal group (P＞0.05).The cell apoptosis rate was increased with the elevation of IOP (b =0.990,F=10.209,P =0.009) with the regression equition Y =2.788 +0.092X.Conclusions The apoptosis rate of trabecula cells in Mongolian is higher than Han people.If these results are associated with the high incidence of Mengolia PACG is worth of study.

Objective To asses the effects of Gamma nail and DHS/Richard (dynamic hip screw) in the treatment of proximal femoral fractures. Methods A meta analysis of all the relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed. We included randomized and quasi randomized controlled trials in patients with proximal femoral fracture to compare Gamma nail and DHS/Richard. Results First we identified 88 papers on comparison of Gamma nail and DHS/Richard in the treatment of proximal femoral fractures published from 1969 to 2003. 7 trials involving 1256 patients were identified as meeting all the eligibility criteria. 3 investigators independently graded study quality and abstracted relevant data, including information on mortality rates, wound infection, function, revision in patients with a proximal femoral fracture. 4 trials, which included a total of 621 patients, provided detailed information on mortality rates over the first 6 postoperative months. We found there was no significant difference in the relative risk of death in the first 6 months postoperative between treatments of Gamma nail and those of compression hip screw (relative risk 1.17;P=0.51). 6 trials that included a total of 1083 patients provided data on operative complications. The risk of operative complications from Gamma nail fixation appeared to be higher than that from compression screw and side plate fixation but not higher than that from compression hip screw (relative risk 1.41; P=0.02). We also found an obvious increase in the relative risk of fracture of femoral shaft between Gamma nail and compression hip screw (relative risk 6.99; P=0.00). Patients treated with Gamma nail had a higher rate of revision compared with those with compression hip screw, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (relative risk 1.85; P=0.20). In addition, wound infection, operative blood loss and functional recovery were similar between the tow groups(relative risk 0.98 for wound infection and 1.02 for function). Operating time for Gamma nail patients was significantly less than that for DHS/Richard ones (P

Objective: To investigate the value of the trigeminocervical response (TCR) for revealing bulbar involvement in patients with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). Methods: Thirty patients with SBMA and 30 healthy male controls were included in this study. In all of the normal controls, stimulation of the infraorbital nerve on one side produced bilateral short latency waves consisting of a positive/negative wave, p19/n31, the mean latency of which was measured. The mean square root of the ratio between the amplitude of p19/n31 and the mean rectifi ed surface electromyography (EMG) activity preceding the stimulus, the A value, was estimated. The parameters of the TCR were compared between the two groups. Results: Among the patients with SBMA, 21 (70.0%) had delayed latencies of p19/n31 (P < 0.01) and all (100%) had reduced A values (P < 0.01) relative to the normal controls. Conclusions: All parameters of the TCR were signifi cantly different between the patients with SBMA and the normal controls. T

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and its mechanism. METHODS: Primary HSCs isolated from SD rats were cultured and treated with different concentrations (1, 3 or 10micromol/L) of ADMA for various periods (12 approximately 48h). Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and synthesis of type-I collagens in HSC were determined. Messenger RNA levels of the transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta(1)) in the HSCs were determined using RT-PCR. Intracellular reactive oxidant species (ROS) production was measured using oxidant-sensitive fluorescent indicator. Activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). RESULTS: ADMA could increase alpha-SMA-positive cells ratio and Type I collagens production of HSCs in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, concomitant with the increase of the TGF-beta(1) mRNA level. Treatment with ADMA (10micromol/L) significantly increased the intracellular ROS production and activated NF-kappaB. Such effects of ADMA on the level of TGF-beta(1) mRNA could be markedly attenuated by pretreatment with antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (25micromol/L). CONCLUSION ADMA can induce the HSC activation by increasing TGF-beta(1) expression through ROS-NF-kappaB-dependent pathway. Therefore, ADMA should be a novel and endogenous activator of HSC, which may be involved in the development of liver fibrosis.
Actins ; biosynthesis ; Animals ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) on acute hepatic failure induced by galactosamine (D-GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice, and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: The mice were intraperitoneally administered D-GalN (800 mg/kg) and LPS (10 microg/kg), and then were intraperitoneally injected either saline (the control group )or rhG-CSF at 300 microg/kg body weight (the therapy group) at 4 h, 2 h and 0 h before the D-GalN/LPS injection. The survival rate of the mice was estimated at 24 h after the D-GalN/LPS injection. The degree of hepatic injury was evaluated at 6 h after the D-GalN/LPS injection, and the levels of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA were simultaneously measured by semiquantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: The survival rate of the therapy group was significantly higher than that of the control group (68.4% vs 20%, P<0.01). As compared with the control group, the degree of liver injury in the therapy group significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma mRNA in the hepatic tissue also reduced remarkably (P<0.01, respectively), while the levels of IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA increased (P<0.01, respectively) at 6 h after the D-GalN/LPS injection. CONCLUSION G-CSF can protect the mice from acute hepatic failure induced by D-GalN/LPS.
Animals ; Galactosamine ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Liver Failure, Acute ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Protective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Random Allocation ; Recombinant Proteins

Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antiviral Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzofurans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Chromones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Morus ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Resorcinols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Spectrum Analysis ; methods

OBJECTIVETo report a case of pure erythroid leukemia.

METHODSThe clinical features, treatment and prognosis of a rare case of pure erythroid leukemia were reported, and the related literature was reviewed.

RESULTSThe pure erythroid leukemia patient was diagnosed by 90.4% pronormoblasts in bone marrow, 99.5% for erythroid antigen CD71, 67.4% for glycophorin A were detected, while no differentiation antigen of myeloid, lymphoid and megakaryocyte lineages were observed. HAG (homoharringtonine + Cytarabine and G-CSF) regimen were administered with no effect. The patient developed multiple organ failure and died soon.

CONCLUSIONPure erythroid leukemia has a fulminant clinical course with poor response to chemotherapy and worse prognosis.

Humans ; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

AIMThe observation of the relationship between the level of NO detected by ESR in the blood and the myocardial apoptosis and function caused by the recurrent, reversible myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHODSFifteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n = 5): (1) control group, (2) L-Arg group, (3) L-NNA group. The rabbits were anesthetized with intravenous pentobarbital. A suture ligature was passed around the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), so it could be snare occluded and reperfused. The LAD was occluded for 10 min three times, the first and second occlusions were followed by 10 min of reflow, after the third occlusion, the reperfusion was 120 min.

RESULTSIn all groups dp/dt(max) began to decrease at 5 min after the first ischemia. But compared with control group at 5 min after first reperfusion: in L-Arg group NO and apoptosis level were elevated but dp/dt(max) decreased significantly. In L-NNA group NO and apoptosis decreased significantly, dp/dt(max) improved significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe fact that the level of NO and apoptosis elevated suggested that they had taken part in the process of myocardial stunning.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Female ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rabbits

Illegally paid blood donation was a risk factor for HIV acquisition exclusively in Henan and Hubei Provinces of China, and not in Shanghai. Nucleotide sequences in the gag and env genes of HIV-1 were compared between isolates from Henan and Shanghai regions of China to test whether an expected higher degree of a common source of infections from this unique blood donation transmission risk would be evident as decreased variation among Henan isolates in an exploratory cross-sectional analysis. Among 38 isolates studied, 23 of 23 (100%) from Henan and 8 of 15 (54%) from Shanghai were subtype B. In addition, fewer sequence differences were found in gp41 of subtype B isolates from Henan than from Shanghai isolates. Further studies with additional controls are therefore warranted to confirm the role of the degree of a common source of infections in differences in HIV variation across populations.

The rol genes on pRiA4 plasmid of Agrobacterium rhizogenes are potent genes that promote secondary metabolism. Molecular breeding of Atropa belladonna can be conducted by introducing rol genes to increase tropane alkaloids (TAs) content in A. belladonna. In this study, the rolB gene was overexpressed in A. belladonna plants to study the effect of rolB gene on the biosynthesis of TAs. The phenotype, TAs content and expression levels of key enzyme genes in the pathway of TAs biosynthesis of transgenic A. belladonna were analyzed. The results showed that transgenic A. belladonna had developed root system, enlarged leaves, increased leaf fresh weight, deepened leaf color, enlarged flowers, changed flower shape, reduced pistil height and decreased pollen vitality. The content of TAs in the stems of transgenic A. belladonna was significantly higher than that of the control, and the contents of scopolamine, anisodamine, hyoscyamine can reach 2.11-2.91, 1.23-2.37 and 4.88-5.20 times of the control, respectively. Compared with the control group, the expressions of key enzymes putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT), type III polyketide synthase (PYKS), tropinone reductase I (TRI), aromatic amino acid aminotransferase 4 (ArAT4), UDP-glycosyltransferase 1 (UGT1) and hyoscyamine 6-β-hydroxylase (H6H) in the TAs biosynthesis pathway were up-regulated, and the expression of tropinone reductase II (TRII) as a metabolic shunting gene was down-regulated. The results indicated that rolB gene enhanced TAs synthesis ability in roots and accumulation in stems of A. belladonna by enhancing metabolic flow of TAs synthesis pathway and weakening the metabolic shunt of competing pathway. This study laid a foundation for molecular breeding of A. belladonna with high-yield TAs content using rolB gene.