AIM: To evaluate the effects of 23G vs 20G pars plana vitrectomy ( PPV ) combined with internal limiting membrane peeling, phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation for macular epiretinal membrane with cataract. ·METHODS: Totally 45 eyes of 45 patients with macular epiretinal membrane and cataract were enrolled in this retrospective non-randomized controlled clinical study. All eyes were treated with PPV combined with internal limiting membrane peeling, phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. There were 20 eyes in 23G PPV group, and 25 eyes in 20G PPV group. The best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA ) , intraocular pressure (IOP), counting of corneal endothelial cells ( CEC) and central retinal thickness ( CRT ) were examined before surgery. BCVA results were converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution ( LogMAR ) visual acuity. All operations were performed by the same doctor. Operation time for vitrectomy and membrane peeling, average ultrasound energy ( AVE) and effective phacoemulsification time ( EPT ) were recorded. BCVA and CRT were observed postoperatively at 30d and 90d, counting of CEC was observed postoperatively at 90d. IOP was observed postoperatively at 1d and 7d. ·RESULTS:The mean operation time for vitrectomy were 12. 57± 1. 35min in 23G group and 17. 30 ± 1. 19min in 20G group. The difference was statistically significant ( t =-12. 488, P<0. 01). There were no statistical significances in operation time for membrane peeling, AVE and EPT between 23G and 20G groups ( t=-0. 68,-1. 186,-0. 737, P=0. 500, 0. 242,0. 465). On 1d after surgery, IOP in 23G group was lower than that in 20G group, the difference was statistically significant (t= -2. 345, P=0. 024). The BCVA and CRT of the two groups both improved after operations. There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in terms of IOP, BCVA, and CRT ( F = 0. 465, 1. 895, 0. 689; P = 0. 499, 0. 176, 0. 411). IOP, BCVA and CRT were significant statistical different in different time-point within each group ( F=291. 245, 103. 06, 665. 402, P<0. 01 ). Different surgical methods of 23G and 20G had interactive effects on IOP with different time points ( F = 13. 245, P<0. 01 ), but different surgeries had no interactive effects on BCVA and CRT with different time points (F=1. 212, 2. 293;P=0. 283, 0. 129). The counting CEC in 23G group was more than that in 20G group postoperatively at 90d, the difference was statistically significant (t=2. 049, P=0. 048). ·CONCLUSION: The 23G PPV combined with internal limiting membrane peeling, phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation for macular epiretinal membrane with cataract is effective. Compared with 20G PPV, 23G PPV has advantages in operation time for vitrectomy and counting CEC. But lower IOP is likely in 23G PPV on 1d after surgery

Objectives To evaluate the lung function in patients of severe secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by uremia and to analyze related factors.Methods The pulmonary function of 70 patients with uremia ( 40 patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism, 30 MHD patients without SHPT) and 30 healthy people was determined.Correlative analysis was performed between parameters such as pulmonary function indexes and clinical or laboratory parameters. Results Lung function was significantly different between patients with uremia and healthy subjects(P<0.05, respectively). A number of lung function indicators were negatively correlated with iPTH,C reactive protein( CRP) ,dialysis age but were positively correlated with hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin(Alb) (P <0.05).Conclusion Patients with SHPT show impaired lung function.IPTH, dialysis age, Hb, Alb and CRP can be used as important indicators of lung function.

BACKGROUNDCatestatin, a chromogranin A-derived peptide, is a potent antagonist of nicotine-evoked catecholamine release. We know that catecholamine plays an important role in cardiovascular remodeling induced by hypertension, therefore we hypothesized that catestatin would affect target-organ structure during hypertension.

METHODSTwelve spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were randomized to SHR control group and catestatin group, the normal control group was comprised of six healthy Wistar-Kyoto rats of the same age. Tail-cuff blood pressure and pulse rate were obtained at weeks 1, 4 and 8. At the end of the eight-week period, the heart, abdominal aorta and left kidney were excised and weighed, VG staining was done and the intima-media thickness of vessels and the collagen volume fraction were assessed by an image acquisition and analysis system. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was observed by immunohistochemistry, and real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA levels of proliferative genes including cyclin A, ki67 and PCNA in the abdominal aorta.

RESULTSAll the parameters in SHR observed in the present study increased significantly compared to Wistar Kyoto rats (P < 0.01). With intervention with catestatin, the systolic blood pressure decreased slightly but it was not significantly different from the SHR control, the cardiac mass index and left ventricular mass index both decreased significant ly, the collagen volume fraction decreased by nearly 30% in the heart, by 25% in vessels and by 10% in the kidney, and the intima-media thickness and expression of proliferative genes, including cyclin A, ki67 and PCNA, in the abdominal aorta also decreased significant ly.

CONCLUSIONSThe present study indicated that catestatin could ameliorate proliferating changes of heart, kidney and vessels during hypertension, especially to the deposition of interstitial collagen. Blood pressure was not the main factor to mediate this effect, which suggested that catestatin could become a novel protective factor for hypertensive target organs.

Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; drug effects ; pathology ; Blood Pressure ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromogranin A ; pharmacology ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY

BACKGROUND:IPS e.max Presshas an excelent biocompati bility and corrosion resistance, which obtains satisfactory clinical outcomes on dental veneers, inlay and onlay restorations. But little is reported on molar monolithic restoration by IPS e.max Presscrown.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical effects of IPS e.max Press crown on molar repair after root canal therapy.
METHODS:Totaly 215 patients with 324 affected molars, including 88 males and 127 females, aged 22-58 years old, were enroled for repairing with IPS e.max Presscrown. Then the color, shape, fracture and edge coloring of the restoration, marginal discrepancy, secondary caries and gingival health status were assessed after a 3-year folow-up.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:During the folow-up, 324 dental restorations met the class A standards for color, marginal discrepancy, shape as wel as secondary caries. In addition,3restoration swere fractured, 14 restorations had margin coloring, and 8 restorations appeared to have gingival inflammation. More than 95% restorations were scored grade A. These results indicate that IPS e.max Press crown applied to molar repair after root canal therapy can achieve ideal outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in couples with the husband positive for chronic infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV).

METHODSThis study involved 102 infertile couples receiving IVF-ET with the husbands(but not the wives) positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and another 204 couples negative for HBsAg receiving the treatment served as the control group. The cumulative embryo score, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, rate of good quality embryos, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, first trimester and late miscarriage rates, delivery rate, and neonatal malformation rate were recorded and compared between the two groups.

RESULTSBetween the HBsAg-positive and the control groups, the cumulative embryo score (52.8-/+18.7 vs 55.4-/+16.9), insemination rate (66.9% vs 66.1%), cleavage rate (97.6% vs 97.2%), rate of good quality embryos (34.0% vs 37.1%), implantation rate (40.9% vs 34.6%), clinical pregnancy rate (56.9% vs 50%), first trimester miscarriage rate (6.9% vs 5.9%) and late pregnancy miscarriage rate (8.6% vs 4.9%), delivery rate (40.2% vs 43.6%) and neonatal malformation rate (0 vs 0) were all similar (P>0.05;).

CONCLUSIONChronic HBV infection in the husband might not affect the outcome of IVF-ET treatment.

Case-Control Studies ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the transformative potential of hepatic progenitor cells to differentiate into liver stem cells using a normal adult mouse system and to determine the effects of HBx protein in these liver stem cells' differentiation into hepatic cells.

METHODSHepatic progenitor cells were obtained from mice by means of an optimized two-step digestion and perfusion method followed by joint differential centrifugation and density gradient centrifugation. Transformation of the hepatic progenitor cells into liver stem cells was observed by immunofluorescent detection of CD 133, EPCAM, CD49f and CK19. Differentiation of the resultant liver stem cells into hepatic cells and bile duct epithelial cells was observed after DMSO addition by Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) staining followed by cell immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. To determine the effects of HBx on these liver stem cells' ability to differentiate into hepatic cells, cell transfection was used followed by observation of morphology and proliferation capacity.

RESULTSCell viability of the isolated hepatic progenitor cells was 78.67+/-4.04%. Stimulation with EGF and collagen led to growth of some of the paving-stone shaped cells attached to the hepatic progenitor cells which had gathered into spherical clumps, as is the nature of stem cells. The liver stem cells showed high expression of CD133, CD49f and CK19, and low expression of EPCAM. Under the effect of DMSO, the liver stem cells differentiated into hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells. After HBx transfecfion, the liver stem cells maintained the characteristic shape of stem cells and showed enhanced proliferation.

CONCLUSIONEPCAM-positive adult hepatic progenitor cells can transform into liver stem cells.The HBx protein may play an important role in maintaining the stability of liver stem cells in the adult mouse.

Animals ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Bile Ducts ; cytology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Liver ; cytology ; Mice ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVEThe present study was designed to observe the plasma concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) and homocysteine (HCY) in hypertensive patients with different blood pressure levels and complications.

METHODSA total of 165 outpatients with essential hypertension were involved in this study (84 males, 81 females, mean age 59.81 +/- 10.60 years old). There were 28 new-onset untreated, 137 ever-treated patients. Among ever-treated patients, blood pressure was normal in 38, grade 1 hypertension in 43, grade 2 and 3 hypertension in 56 patients. Thirty-two patients were accompanied with coronary heart disease (CAD), and 42 patients were accompanied with stroke. A total of 32 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (18 males) were also recruited. Plasma H(2)S and HCY concentrations were determined in all patients and controls.

RESULTS(1) Plasma H(2)S levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and HCY levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in ever-treated hypertensive patients compared with controls. (2) Plasma HCY levels were significantly higher in patients with hypertension history > 6 months and complicated with CAD compared to patients without CAD. (3) Plasma H(2)S concentrations in patients with stroke history > 5 years were significantly lower than that in patients without stroke (P < 0.01). Plasma HCY concentrations were increased in proportion to stroke history. (4) In ever-treated hypertensive patients, plasma H(2)S concentrations in patients with grade 2 and 3 hypertension were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and HCY levels significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that in patients with well-controlled blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONHyperhomocysteinemia and the novel signaling gasotransmitter H(2)S might play important roles in the pathogenesis and development of hypertension.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gases ; blood ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; Hypertension ; blood ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma ; chemistry

AIM:To investigate the effect of Hedgehog(Hh) signaling pathway on the viability and apoptosis of cervical carcinoma cells by shRNA technique to knock down Smoothened (Smo) gene. METHODS:Smo shRNA was used to transfect the cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. The expression of Smo and Gli1 at mRNA and protein levels in the He-La cells was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot,respectively. The effect of Smo gene silencing on the growth of the cells was measured by MTT assay. The apoptosis and cell cycle were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS:Compared with control group,the mRNA and protein expression of Smo and Gli1 were evenly reduced obviously after transfected with Smo shRNA for 72 h(P<0.05). The viability of HeLa cells transfected with Smo shRNA was significantly inhibited. The percentages of the cells in G0/G1phase and early apoptosis rate were obviously higher in Smo shRNA transfection group than those in control group. CONCLUSION:Smo gene silencing effectively inhibits the cell growth and induces the apop-tosis of human cervical carcinoma cells.

Objective To investigate the endurance or resistance of different bacteriophages to bubbling stress in different sampling solutions,to select the optimum sampling solution from three different ones and to select relatively stress-resistant bacteriophages from five different ones.Methods AGI-10(all glass impinger)was used as the representative for all the impingers that would bubble during operation to fulfill the bubbling experiment.Three different sampling solutions used,such as distilled water(DW),phosphatic buffer solution(PBS),and suspension medium(SM),were divided into two groups by adding olive oil(50 μl) or otherwise(0 μl).The impingers were operated 30 min at a flow rate of 7.0 L/min.The titers of bacteriophages and the volume of final sampling solutions were determined before the corrected survival probability was used to evaluate the stress resistance of several different bacteriophages.Results It was found that the survival probability of the same bacteriophage bubbling with different sampling solutions was different except for bacteriophage F2.The use of SM as the collection fluid was related to a high survival probability which remained unchanged between 50 μl and 0 μl olive oil.The corrected survival probability was 79%,77%,86%,50% and 71% for phage SM701,SM702,PhiX174,EcP1 and F2 respectively after 60 minutes of impingement at a flow rate of 7.0 L/min.Conclusion The endurance or resistance of different kinds of bacteriophages in the same sampling solution is different.SM might be an optimum sampling solution for phages.Bacteriophage SM701,SM702 and PhiX174 are more resistant to bubbling stress than EcP1 and F2.

Using a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, macroporous adsorbent resin, and reversed-phase HPLC, 115 compounds including diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, treterpenes, coumarins, lignans, fatty acid derivatives, and simple aromatic derivatives were isolated from an ethanol extract of branch of Fraxinus sieboldiana (Oleaceaue), and their structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1 D, 2D NMR and MS techniques. Among them, 41 compounds were new. In previous reports, we have been described the isolation, structure elucidation, and bioactivities of the 41 new compounds and 22 known orii including 8 coumarins, 4 phenolic and 12 phenylethanoidal glycosides. As a consequence, we herein reported the isolation and structure elucidation of the remaining 50 known compounds including 8- hydroxy-12-oxoabieta-9(11),13-dien-20-oic 8, 20-lactone(1), 6beta-hydroxyfcrruginol(2),(+)-pisiferic acid(3), (+)-pisiferal(4),(+)-7-dehydroabiet6none(5), 1-oxomiltirone(6), subdigitatone(7), linarionoside B(8), (9S)-linarionoside B(9), (3R,9R)-3-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-beta-ionol 9-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside(10), ursolic acid(11), betulinic acid(12), euscaphic acid(13), (+)-syringaresinol(14), (+)-fraxiresinol(15), (+)-1-hydroxysyringaresinol(16), pinoresinol(17), medioresinol(18), 8-acetoxypinoresinol(19), epipinoresinol(20), (-)-olivil(21), (+)-cyclo-olivil(22), 3,3'-dimethoxy-4,4',9-trihydroxy-7,9'-epoxylignan-7'-one(23),(+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (24), (+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol 4"-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(25),(+)-syringaresinol O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (26), liriodendrin (27), ehletianol D(28), icariside E5(29) (-)-(7R, 8R)-threo-1-C-syringylglycerol(30),(-)-(7R, 8S)-erythro-guaiacylglycerol (31),(-)-(7R, 8R)-threo-guaiacylglycerol(32), 3-(4-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-3-methoxy)-phenyl-2E-propenol(33),2,3-dihydroxy-l-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone(34), 2,3-dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-propanone (35), 3-hydroxy-l-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone(36), omega-hydroxypropioguaiacone(37), sinapyladehyde(38), trans-p-hydroxycinnamaldehyde(39), syringic acid(40), vanilic acid(41), vanillin(42), 4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (43), (24R)-24-ethyl-5alpha-cholestane-3beta,5,6beta-triol(44), beta-sitosterol(45), daucosterol(46), 2,6-dimethoxy-I,4-benzoquinone(47), 2,6-dimethoxy-pyran-4-one(48), 1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)uracil(49), and mannitol(50). Compouds 1-7,12,18,28-37,44 and 48 were obtained from the genus Fraxinus for the first time.
Fraxinus ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis