Age-related macular degeneration ( AMD ) is a kind of age-related blinding degenerative fundus lesions, totally about 30 million patients suffering from AMD all over the world, with about 500 000 people blind for it yearly. As the development of economy and the aging of the population intensified, incidence of AMD indicates a trend of rising year by year, being the third major cause of blindness in our country. At present, the pathogenesis of AMD is not fully clear, as reported it may be related to oxidative stress, inflammatory immune response, VEGF and genetic manipulation. Clinical treatments mainly include photodynamic therapy, drug therapy, radiation therapy, laser photocoagulaory operation, the pupil warm treatments, Chinese medicine and intravitreous injection VEGF antagonists such as Ranibizumab, Conbercept and so on. ln this issue, we mainly expound on the progress in the epidemiological studies of AMD, especially elaborate the progress made on genetic manipulation in recent years.

Objective:To observe the temporal and spatial expression and function of mcpr1 gene during murine tooth germ development.Methods:The expression of MCPR1 at different stages of mouse tooth germ were detected by immunohistochemical staining.Results:MCPR1 expression was detected at all stages of tooth germ, but the distribution patterns at various stages were different. It indicated that the temporal and spatial expression pattern of MCPR1 during murine tooth germ development was specific.Conclusion:mcpr1 might play an important role in modulating the differentiation and mature of enamel organ.

ObjectiveAnalyze preoperative clinical relevanted factors of acute type A aortic dissection with hypoxemia according to a group clinical data.MethodsFrom January 2011 to June 2011,we have collected 54 preoperative cases of acute type A aortic dissection,including 42 males,12 females,aged 28-73 years old,onset to treatment time is 0.4-14.0 days.General information:age,gender,time of onset,body mass index,hypertension,diabetes mellitus,smoking,drinking,heart ejection fraction,prothrombin time,quantitative fibrinogen,fibrinogen degradation products,D-dimer,C-reactive protein,procalcitonin,ICU time,length of hospital stay.According to the blood gas analysis of quiet state case without oxygen,with PaO2 ＜ ( 100-age ×0.33 ±5) mm Hg is for the hypoxemia group,equal or higher than this is no-hypoxemia group.ResultsNo-hypoxemia group has 14 cases,11 males,3 females,average aged (51.14 ± 14.24) years old,including 12 operation patients ( no death) and 2 no-operation patients(2 cases death).Hypoxemia group has 40 cases,31 males,9 females,average aged (50.53 ± 9.73 ) years old,including 33 operation patients(2 cases death) and 7 no-operation patients(7 cases death).There is no significant difference in age,gender,time of onset,hypertension,diabetes mellitus,smoking,drinking,cardiac ejection fraction,prothrombin time and fibrinogen.There is statistically significant on body mass index,fibrinogen degradation products,D-dimer,C-reactive protein,procalcitonin,ICU time and length of hospital stay time ( P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionPreoperative hypoxemia with acute type A aortic dissection is associated with obesity,excessive inflammation and activation of coagulation and fibrinclytic system,and hypoxemia may prolong the time of operative patients with acute type A aortic dissection in ICU and hospital.

Objective:To investigate the effect of carvedilol on expression of cardiac matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases(TIMPs)after myocardial infarction in rats.Methods:An animal model of acute myocar- dial infarction(AMI)was established by descending left coronary artery ligation in 24 rats and they were divided into carvedilol (10 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1))group(n=12)and normal saline group(n=12).Sham operated group(n=9)received the same proce- dure but with no ligation.All animals were treated for 6 weeks via a gastric lavage.Heart function and hemodynamic parame- ters were determined after 6 weeks.The protein expression of cardiac MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-2 was detected by immuno- histoehemical analysis in AMI groups,and the MMPs activities were assessed by zymography.Gene expression of myocardial MMPs/TIMPs(MMP-2,9 and TIMP-1,2)and cytokines(TNF-?,IL-1?)were measured by real-time quantitative PCR.Re- suits:Compared with Sham-operated group,earvedilol group had significantly higher left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LV- EDP)and lower LV upstroke velocity(+dp/dt_(max))and LV descent velocity(-dp/dt_(max))(P

Objective To review the effect of exposed and buried Kirschner wire fixation of lateral humeral condyle fracture in children.Methods Randomized control trials (RCTs) about exposed versus buried Kirschner wire fixation of lateral humeral condyle fracture in children were identified through electronic search using the Cochrane Collaboration search strategies and manual search.Electronic database included Cochrane Library,Medline,PubMed,CBM,VIP,CNKI,Wanfang database and other Chinese and English database.Manual research included related journals and conference proceedings.Quality analysis of the included literatures was performed using the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS).RevMan 5.3 software was used for Meta analysis.Results Four studies involving exposed Kirschner in 150 cases and buried Kirschner in 351 cases were included.The two techniques were similar with respect to postoperative infection (OR =1.10,95％ CI 0.52 ～ 2.33,P ＞ 0.05),superficial infection (OR =1.45,95 ％ CI 0.66 ～ 3.18,P ＞ 0.05),reoperation rate (OR =2.29,95％CI 0.51 ～ 10.25,P ＞0.05),delayed union rate (OR =1.57,95％ CI 0.76 ～ 3.21,P ＞0.05) and total complications (OR =1.57,95％ CI 0.76 ～ 3.21,P ＞ 0.05).However,Kirschner wire exposure shortened the time of pulling out Kirschner wire (MD =-13.28,95％ CI-16.42 ～-10.14,P ＜0.05).Conclusion Applied for lateral humeral condyle fracture in children,exposed versus buried Kirschner wire fixation results in short Kirschner wire stabilization time that avoids local anesthetic and cost while pulling out Kirschner wire in the late stage.

OBJECTIVE: To compare pattern-pulse multifocal visual evoked potential (PPmfVEP) with pattern-reversal multifocal visual evoked potential (PRmfVEP), and to investigate the symmetry of mfVEP between both eyes in normal individuals. METHODS: The multifocal Vision Monitor was used to observe the mfVEP. T-test and ANOVA were used to analyze P1 wave, amplitude and signal noise ratios (SNR) of two mfVEPs. RESULTS: The SNR and the P1 amplitude reached the maximum at the central visual field and decreased with the increase of eccentricity, and then decreased slowly. The amplitude of the PPmfVEP was significantly smaller than the PRmfVEP in the central retina, while in the peripheral retina the result was exactly the opposite. SNR and amplitude of the PRmfVEP showed no statistical difference in both eyes (P > 0.05). The variance of the amplitude at the same side of visual field was larger than that at the symmetrical visual quadrant. CONCLUSION mfVEP can reflect the visual function in different parts of retina objectively and exactly. PPmfVEP reflect the vision function of the central retina better than PRmfVEP. The stability of PPmfVEP is better than PRmfVEP in the central retina, while the result is opposite in the peripheral retina. The mfVEP is symmetrical in both eyes of the same individual.
Evoked Potentials, Visual/physiology* ; Humans ; Neurologic Examination ; Reference Values ; Retina ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Visual Fields/physiology*

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the degenerative mechanisms of lumbar intervertebral disc (LID) and apoptosis.MethodsThe total RNAs were isolated from human LID tissues. Both the mRNAs from the degeneration and normal LID were reversely transcribed to the cDNAs. The cDNAs were labeled with the incorporations of fluorescent dUTP, for preparing the hybridization probes. The mixed probes were then hybridized to the cDNA microarray. After high-stringent washing, the cDNA microarray was scanned for the fluorescent signals and analyzed by computer image analysis. The apoptotic status and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in 12 cases of degenerative LID and 10 cases of normal LID were detected with TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry methods.ResultsAmong the 4096 targets, there were 10 genes related to apoptosis. The expression related to Bax protein gene was up-regulated and it was down-regulated for Bcl-2 protein. In group of normal LID, the average apoptotic index (AI) was (24.897±3.620); percentage of Bcl-2 positive cells was (31.440±4.150)%; percentage of Bax positive cells was (29.372±2.588)%, average optical density (OD) values of positive particles were (0.183± 0.010 ), ( 0.203 ±0.012) and (0.169±0.005) respectively. In group of degenerative LID, the average AI was (49.232±3.440); percentage of Bcl-2 positive cells was (18.239±2.470)%; percentage of Bax positive cells was (52.349±3.764)%; average OD values of positive particles were (0.152±0.003), (0.310±0.008) and (0.262±0.014) respectively. There were significantly differences in AI and expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins between normal LID and degenerative LID (P<0.05).ConclusionCell apoptosis plays an important role in the process of LID degeneration. Both Bcl-2 and Bax take part in the occurrence and progression of LID.

OBJECTIVETo explore the recording method of the electrophysiological signals in corticospinal tract (CST) of adult rats by plugging microelectrodes and analyze the characteristics of these signals. These could provide some valuable and basic neural electrophysiological information for further research of recovering and refunctioning after spinal cord injury.

METHODSThe microelectrodes were plugged into the corticospinal tract at the T8 spinal section of Sprague-Dawley rats and the neuro-electrical signals were identified and recorded from CST by means of the Cerebus System. The characteristics of the recorded signals were described with the help of the Offline sorter and Neuroexplorer softwares, including the wavelength, amplitude, discharging frequency, the synchrony among the multi-discharging units from the same electrode and two different electrodes, analysis of interspike interval (ISI), etc.

RESULTSThe continuous and steady spontaneous electrophysiological signals were recorded from CST. Three or four types of discharging signals originated from different discharging units were collected with each electrode. The waveform of the signals appeared bidirectional. The wavelengths were 0.6 - 1.3 ms with wave amplitudes at a grade of hundred microvoltage and high signal-noise ratios. The LFB staining proved that the electrodes were accurately plugged into the corticospinal tract.

CONCLUSIONThe neuro-electrical signals at a grade of hundred microvoltage could be recorded stably from the corticospinal tract of rats by the Cerebus System with the microelectrodes, which provided valuable and basic neural electrophysiological information for further research on recovering and refunctioning after spinal cord injury (SCI) by analyzing the characteristics of electrophysiological signals.

Animals ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; physiology ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; physiology ; Male ; Microelectrodes ; Pyramidal Tracts ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; physiology ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; physiopathology

To study the effect of the combined administration of different doses of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma on the proliferation of DFMO-treated intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6) and p53, p21 mRNA and protein expressions, in order to define the molecular basis for the effect of the combined administration of different doses of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma on the cell proliferation. The effect of the drugs on the cell division rate and cell cycle of IEC-6 cells was detected by FCM. Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze the effect of the drugs on mRNA of p2l and p53 related to IEC-6 proliferation. Western blot was used to analyze the effect of the drugs on p2l and p53 protein expressions of IEC-6 cells. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma could increase p53, p21 mRNA and proteins expression in DFMO-treated IEC-6 cells. The combined administration of different ratios of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma could significantly down-regulate Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma's effect on p53, p21 mRNA and proteins expression in DFMO-treated IEC-6 cells and promote the proliferation of IEC-6 cells. The combined administration of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma could down-regulate Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma's effect on DFMO-treated intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6).
Animals ; Atractylodes ; chemistry ; Cell Line ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; adverse effects ; Ceftriaxone ; adverse effects ; Child, Preschool ; Cholelithiasis ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; complications