Background Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) has been shown to be associated with the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD),therefore VEGF is a target for the treatment of wet AMD.However,the mechanism of VEGF in the pathogenesis of AMD is not clearly understood.Studying the correlation between VEGF gene polymorphism and AMD is becoming a new research hotspot,but relevant studies on Han Chinese have not been performed.Objective This study was to investigate the association between the VEGF +936C/T gene polymorphism and AMD in the Chinese population.Methods A pilot prospective and nonrandomized controlled trial was designed.This protocol complied with Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethic Committee of Chinese PLA Second Artillery General Hospital.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to entering the study.Two hundred AMD patients and 200 age-and gender-matched normal controls were enrolled in this study.The genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood samples of the subjects,and analysis of the VEGF polymorphisms at the +936 position in the promoter and 3＇-untranslated regions was performed by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method.Frequencies of the VEGF+936C/T genotype were compared between the two groups,and the risk of the VEGF+936C/T gene polymorphism in pre-disposing AMD was evaluated.Results No significant differences were seen in the incidence rates of smoking(P ＝ 0.76),hypertension(P ＝ 0.84),hyperlipidemia (P=0.71),diabetes mellitus (P=0.86) and cardiovascular disease(P=0.89) between the AMD group and the normal control group,and BMI was matched between the two groups (P =0.18).The prevalence of the TT genotype was 9.0％ (18/200)in the AMD group,but that in the normal control was 3.5％ (7/200),showing a significant difference between the two groups (P =0.03).The odds ratio (OR) was 2.73 with a 95％ confidence interval(CI) of 1.11 to 6.68 for AMD in this genotype.The CC and CT genotypes were not significantly different between the two groups (P =0.52,P =0.57).The genotype frequency and allele frequency conformed to HardyWeinberg equilibrium law.There were no significant differences found in the CC,CT,TT genotype frequencies among the early AMD,geographic atrophy AMD and choroidal neovascular AMD (all at P＞0.05).Conclusions The VEGF+936TT genotype is associated with AMD in Han Chinese population.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of two different surgical techniques on congenital cataract on children.METHODS: Twenty-two children (1-3 years old) with congenital cataract were randomly divided into two groups (group A and group B). With group A (10 patients, 20 eyes), we applied 23-gauge (23G) trans corneal limbus vitrectomy system to complete lens cortex gettering, posterior capsulotomy and anterior vitrectomy；With group B (12 patients, 24 eyes), we used the phacoemulsification I/A to complete lens cortex gettering, and performed anterior vitrectomy with anterior vitreous cutting instrument. After that, the differences in intraoperative and postoperative complications between two groups were compared. RESULTS：In group A, the width of corneal limbal incision was 0.6mm, the incision was self-sealing, and the anterior chamber was stable and iris did not prolapse during the surgery. In group B, the width of corneal limbal incision was 3mm, anterior chamber was unstable and intraoperative iris prolapse occurred in 14 eyes (58%). And the incision need to be stitched up after surgery. In the postoperative follow-up of 6-24 months (an average of 14 months), we found that corneal neovascularization did not occur in group A, while in group B, corneal neovascularization occurred in four eyes (17%); Other complications, such as posterior capsular opacification，retinal detachment, glaucoma, hypotony or endophthalmitis did not occur in either group.CONCLUSION: The 23G trans corneal limbus vitrectomy system used in pediatric cataract surgery is safer and more effective than phacoemulsification I/A. It is promising in treatment of congenital cataract on children.

AIM: To investigate the alterations of tear film after sutureless large incision manual cataract extraction (SLIMCE). METHODS: Sixty-eight SLIMCE operation eyes were studied with slit-limp microscope, break- up time (BUT), SchirmmerⅠtest (SⅠt),and fluorescence(FL) to observe the alterations of tear film at different time points in postoperation. Impression cytology and microphoto-analyses technique were also applied to observe the goblet cells at different time points postoperation(7,14,30,60,90 days). RESULTS: Subjective complaint of dry eye within 90 days after the operations were significantly increased compare with preoperations(5-27,23,19,16,13; 2-16,14,8,6,3). The schirmmer Ⅰ test were greatly increased in 14 days postoperation(10.1±4.5;15.0±4.7,13.8±5.7),the mean scores of fluorescence increased (0-17,9,5;0-8,3,1) and the mean break-up time decreased in 30 days post-operation(10.3±2.2;5.5±2.3,7.0±2.4,7.9±2.2) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: SLIMCE operation have effect on the stability of tear film.

The primary processing is important links and closely related to the quality of traditional Chinese medicinal materials, and is not only cleaning of remove the non-officinal parts, drying for termination the physiological status of organisms, but also retaining the most active substances, decreasing the toxic components, and promoting the transformation among chemical ingredients through primary processing. So the traditional primary processing endows with characters, quality, specifications and properties of traditional Chinese medicine, and embodies some important science truth. The traditional primary processing method and technology systems are derived from the long-term practices and experiences, which are distinctive, colorful, diverse, and scientific, which are helpful to development and utilization of traditional Chinese medicine resources. This paper systemically expounds the research status of the Chinese medicine processing method, summarizes the problems in the primary processing of traditional Chinese medicinal materials research, and prospects its bright future.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; trends ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; genetics ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell ; genetics ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; genetics ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Young Adult

AIM:To establish a screening model based on muscarinic receptor type 1(M1) for drugs against Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHOD: Human M1 receptor was expressed in HEK293 (human embryonic kidney) cells, and its activation was measured by the intracellular cAMP (cyclic AMP) level. Exogeneous 3H-cAMP was used to compete the intracellular cAMP binding sites. Acetylcholine chloride was used as a positive drug to ensure the sensitivity of this model. RESULT: HEK293 cell expressing system of human M1 receptor was established. Different concentrations of acetylcholine chloride (10-9～10-4 mol/L) activation of M1 receptor leads to an increase of intracellular cAMP 10.343×10-4～33.754×10-4 pmol/μl. CONCLUTION:This screening model has positive response to M1 receptor agonist and can be used for drug screening.

Objective To study whether bellidifolin has rehabilitation effect on injured sciatic nerve rats,and whether ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is involved in this mechanism.Methods 225 male wistar rats were made to be sciatic nerve injured models,with right sciatic nerve being cut and sewed under microscopy,left sciatic being sham.Rats were randomly divided into control group,bellidifolin 25 mg,50 mg,75 mg groups and mecobalamin group,with 45 rats in each group.Rats in control group were just injected sodium chloride,others were intra-peritonealiy injected different doses of bellidifolin and mecobalamin after operation.Results Three weeks after operation,SFl of control group,mecobalaming group,bellidifolin 25 mg,50 mg and 75 mg group were-84.35± 4.87,-45.20±2.30,-70.42±4.21,-57.73±3.46 and-64.38±4.38 respectively.Compared with control group,others showed significant differences (P＜0.05).There were statistically differences between bellidifolin groups and mecobalaming group(P＜0.05).Within bellidifolin groups,50 mg group showed difference compared with 25 mg and 75 rg groups(P=0.031).TSW results also showed differences among bellidifolin groups,control group and mecobalaming group.There were statistical differences among bellidifolin groups(P＜0.05).Each groups with immunohistochemistry analysis,CNTF expression showed statistically differences among bellidifolin 50 mg group and 25 mg,70 rg groups,Bellidifolin 50 mg group was higher than others(P＜0.05).Conclusion Bellidifolin can promote the recovery of injured sciatic nerve,especially the concentration of 50 mg bellidifolin,and CNTF is involved in the rehablitation process.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical evaluation system reflecting the superiority and characteristics of comprehensive traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy for acute stroke. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial with single blind in various therapeutic centers was applied on the patients with the acute stage of hemorrhagic stroke due to hypertension, who were allocated to the trial group and the control group. The trial group accepted the general Western medicine therapy and differential treatment of traditional Chinese medicine based on stage classification. Patients in the control group were treated with the general Western medicine and the placebo of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The treatment effect was assessed at the 7th day, 14th day, 21st day, and 28th day of post-treatment and after 3-month follow-up. The clinical evaluation system included the syndromes of TCM (ZH), Glasgow coma standard (GCS), nerve functional failure (NF), activity of daily living (ADL), Barther index (BI), quality of life index (QLI) and functional activities questionnaire (FAQ). RESULTS: Four hundred and four patients with acute stroke were included. There were 178 cases with yang-syndrome and 21 cases with yin-syndrome in the trial group (n=199), and there were 165 cases with yang-syndrome and 40 cases with yin-syndrome in the control group (n=205). The rates of recovery and obvious improvement after 3-month treatment in the trial group and the control group were 86.5% and 73.6% respectively. There was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). The response sensitivity of the effect items indicated that the sensitivity of GCS began to increase from the 7th day and was high at the 14th day and the 21st day for all patients. The response sensitivity of the NF scale was high for all patients at the 14th day, the 21st day and the 28th day. The BI scale and the QLI scale were sensitive to the patients with light and middle stage of stroke at the 21st day, and were sensitive to the patients with light stage of stroke after 3-month follow-up. The FAQ scale was sensitive to the light stroke at the 21st day and after 3-month follow-up. The ADL scale was sensitive to all patients at the 28th day and the patients with light stage of stroke after 3-month follow-up. The ZH scale was sensitive to all patients from 0 to 7d, the 14th day, and the 28th day. The principle components analysis indicated these 7 items could reflect the condition of stroke from 0-7d, the 21st day and after 3-month follow-up, and could be used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of hemorrhagic stroke. ZH scale and FAQ scale were more sensitive than other effect items at the 28th day. CONCLUSION: The seven items (GCSbNFbBIbQLIbFAQbADLbZH) have high sensibility to all patients in the acute stage of hemorrhage stroke especially at the 21st day. The ZH score will change in accord with the condition of stroke, and is appropriate to reflect the condition of stroke. It is believed that the seven items can form the system of effect evaluation in different stages of stroke, and the ZH scale is a very important item.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of primary thyroid lymphoma(PTL) and its prognostic factors.Methods Clinical and pathological data of 7 cases diagnosed as primary thyroid lymphoma were retrospectively analyzed.Results All of the 7 patients were diagnosed on thyroidectomy and presented with thyroid nodules,of whom 6 cases were middle-aged to elderly women and some had locally oppressive symptoms.Four cases were diagnosed as diffuse large B non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (DLBCL) and 3 were mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue B-cell lymphoma (MALT).Pathological subtype of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue B-cell lymphomas and younger patients had better prognosis.Conclusion The possibility of PTL must be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules in middle-aged to elderly women.Age and pathological subtype are important prognostic factors.