AIM :To investigate the association of primary open-glaucoma (POAG), intraocular pressure (IOP) and systemic blood pressure in a rural population aged 50 years old or above in Shaanxi Province, China.METHODS: In the population-based, cross-sectional study, 1 775 (83.53%) residents, aged 50 years old or above, from 3 counties of Shaanxi Province, China, undertook an interview with a standard questionnaire and a detailed eye examination, including logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, applanation tonometry and dilated fundus examination. Two blood pressure reading in the sitting position were taken. Gonioscopy was performed if a narrower peripheral anterior chamber (less than one fourth of the corneal thickness) was indicated. Automated visual field testing was performed by participants assessed to have suspicion of glaucomatous disc damage or if IOP was 22mmHg or higher.RESULTS: IOP significantly correlated with systemic blood pressure, and both IOP and systolic blood pressure increased significantly with increasing age. No association between POAG and hypertension was found. The frequency of POAG increased significantly with lower diastolic perfusion pressure.CONCLUSION: Data in our study are accordance with those reported in other population-based studies, and confirm that lower diastolic perfusion pressure is a significant risk factor for primary open angle glaucoma.

AIM: To assess the prevalence and risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a rural population in Shaanxi Province of China.METHODS: A total of 2 835 (81.00%) people aged 40 years old or more, from Fuping county, Jingbian county and Yang county of Shaanxi Province, China, underwent a comprehensive interview and a relative eye examination. The present of AMD was classified into neovascular AMD (NV) and pure geographic atrophy (GA) by using direct ophthalmoscopy for fundus examination according to International Classification System.RESULTS: The prevalence (95% CI) of AMD was 3.00% (2.42, 3.71) in this population, of which NV accounted for 1.45% (1.05, 1.98) and 1.55% (1.14, 2.10)for GA. The prevalence of AMD increased significantly with increasing age (P ＜0.001). AMD was present in 0.47% of participants aged 40 to 49 years, rising to 11.90% of participants older than 80 years, of which the corresponding data increased from 0.28% to 4.76% for NV and from 0.19% to 7.14% for GA. No significant difference was found in the prevalence of NA and GA between genders in this population. With multiple logistic analyses, apart from advancing age, only smoking was found to have a strong association with any type of AMD.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AMD in the rural population of Shaanxi Province of China is lower than that reported from other population-based studies in different provinces of China, less than that reported in whites, more than that reported in blacks. Except increasing age, smoking is also a significant well-known risk factor for AMD.

· AIM: To assess the prevalence and related risk factors for primary angle-closure glaucoma in a rural population for 40 years of age or older in Shaanxi Province.· METHODS: By using a stratified, cluster-based, random sampling technique, 8 500 persons of all ages were selected randomly, including 3 500 those aged 40 years or more, from the North, the South and the Middle of Shaanxi Province in Western China from July to December in 2003. All participants had an interview with a standard questionnaire and those questions related to glaucoma of previous diagnosis and treatment, family history and outbreak history. Then a detailed and relative eye examination was performed, including logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity, external eye examination with slit-lamp biomicroscopy and fundus examination. The intraocular pressure was measured with Perkins applanation tonometry to those persons aged 50 years old or more and those with suspected increased IOP. A further examination was performed to those persons with suspicious glaucoma, including repeated tonometric examination, gonioscopy, dark room test, automated visual field testing, et al.·RESULTS: 6 815 of the eligible 8 500 persons of all ages were interviewed and examined from July to December in 2003, a response rate of 80.18%, including 2835 of the eligible 3 500 persons of 40 years old or more with a response rate of 81.00%. According to Van Herick method, the percentage of shallow peripheral anterior chamber was 13.6%, of which 10.4% was in grade 2, 3.0% in grade 1, and 0.2% in grade 0. In this rural population for 40 years of age or older 31 participants were found to have primary angle-closure glaucoma, with the prevalence of 1.09%. With multiple logistic analyses, the prevalence increased significantly with age (P=0.008), whereas no significant difference (Pgender=0.180, Peducation=0.199) was found in the rate with gender and education, although women and illiteracy seemed to be at increased risk of the disease (OR: 1.77, 95%CI,0.77-4.10; OR: 1.71, 95%CT, 0.76-3.87). Of 31 participants, 21 persons (67.74%) had not been previously diagnosed and treated. Of 10 participants previously diagnosed, 6 (60%) had been received peripheral iridectomy; nevertheless, no any other treatments were performed. 48.39% participants suffered from visual impairment in various degrees, of which the percentage of blindness in either eye accounted for 29.03%. Of those with primary angle-closure glaucoma, 22 persons (70.97%) were classified as having chronic from of the disease.· CONCLUSION: In this rural population in Shaanxi Province of China, the rate of occludable angles is 13.6%, more common than that reported previously in other Chinese populations. The prevalence of primary angle-closure glaucoma is close to that from other Asian populations, increasing with age. A majority of glaucoma was undiagnosed and untreated previously.

· AIM: To assess the prevalence and related risk factors of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in a rural population in Shaanxi Province.· METHODS: By using a stratified, duster-based, random sampling technique, 8 500 persons of all ages were selected randomly, from the North, the South and the Middle of Shaanxi Province from July to December in 2003. All participants had an interview with a standard questionnaire and those questions related to glaucoma of previous diagnosis and treatment, family history and outbreak history. Then a detailed and relative eye examination was performed, including logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity, external eye examination with slit-lamp biomicroscopy and fundus examination. The intraocular pressure was measured with Perkins applanation tonometry to those persons aged 50years old or more and those with suspected increased IOP. A further examination was performed to those persons with suspicious glaucoma, including repeated tonometric examination, gonioscopy, dark room test, automated visual field testing, et al.· RESULTS: 6 815 of the eligible 8 500 persons of all ages were interviewed and examined from July to December in 2003, a response rate of 80.18%. 9 participants were found to have POAG, with the prevalence of 0.13%, age ranging from 38 to 80 years (mean year:62.0). In those aged 30 years old or more, the prevalence of the disease was 0.23%, 0.28% and 0.39% for those more than 40 and 50 years old, respectively. The rate of suspicious POAG was 0.18% (12 cases) with age ranging from 35 to 77 years (mean year: 54.7). With multiple logistic analyses, the prevalence increased significantly with age (P=0.023). Other than increasing age, myopia was also a strong risk factor for POAG. Of 9participants with POAG, only 2 cases (22.22%) had been previously diagnosed. No one with POAG was received any treatment previously. 66.67% (6 cases) participants with POAG suffered from visual impairment in various degrees secondary to POAG. The percentage of blindness in either eye was 33.33%.· CONCLUSION: The prevalence of POAG is close to that from other Chinese populations, increasing with age. A majority of glaucoma was undiagnosed and untreated previously.

Objective：This study was designed to evaluate the merits and demerits of C(S)DH circular stapler in upper digestive tract reconstruction. Methods：Intrathoracic or cervical esophagogastric anastomosis was performed in 600 cases with esophageal or cardiac cancer using a kind of new stapler-C(S)DH circular stapler between January 1996 and January 2000. Of these 600 patients, 410 cases were esophageal cancer， 190 cases were cardiac cancer， 33 cases underwent cervical anastomosis， 20 cases underwent anastomosis at thoracic apex. Supra-aortic anastomosis was performed in 357 cases and subaortic anastomosis in 220 cases. Results：Cervical Anastomotic leakeage developed only in 1 case and benign anastomotic stricture was found in 11 cases. No instrumental failure occured. Conclusion：C(S)DH circular stapler can be used safely and reliably in upper digestive tract surgery.

OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study was to compare the biodistribution and PET imaging of (11)C-PDT and (18)F-FDG in a mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma, and to evaluate the value of (11)C-PDT as a new tracer for PET imaging of lung cancer.

METHODSTwenty four lung adenocarcinoma-bearing mice were randomly divided into two groups, 12 each. The mice received (11)C-PDT or (18)F-FDG injection i.v. respectively. The biodistribution of (11)C-PDT or (18)F-FDG in the mice was measured with a well-gamma detector at 60 min after injection. The PET imagings of mice were performed using either of the two tracers.

RESULTSConsiderable uptake of the both radioactive tracers in the tumors was observed. The tumor uptake of (11)C-PDT [(0.65 +/- 0.20)%ID/g] was significantly lower than that of (18)F-FDG [(7.44 +/- 1.56)%ID/g, P < 0.01]. In the (11)C-PDT group, the highest uptake was observed in the liver, kidney and blood in a successively declining order, while the highest uptake of (18)F-FDG was seen in a order of heart, tumor and kidneys. The tumor/muscle ratio of (11)C-PDT uptake was relatively high (2.02 +/- 0.56), but still lower than that of (18)F-FDG (2.95 +/- 0.49, P < 0.01). All values of other tumor/organ ratios (T/NT) of (11)C-PDT uptake were < 2. High radioactive uptake was showed in the tumor and abdominal organs on PET images in the tumor-bearing mice injected with (11)C-PDT, and (18)F-FDG uptake was showed in the heart, tumor and abdominal organs. The tumor PET images with (11)C-PDT and (18)F-FDG were all clear.

CONCLUSIONThe uptake of (11)C-PDT in lung cancer is higher than that in muscle tissues, and pulmonary cancers can be detected by PET imaging. (11)C-PDT may be a promising PET tracer for lung cancers.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Carbon Radioisotopes ; pharmacokinetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; pharmacokinetics ; Kidney ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Podophyllotoxin ; pharmacokinetics ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tissue Distribution

OBJECTIVETo identify the expression of Drosophila Eyes Absent Homologue 2 (EYA2) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to investigate its correlation with clinical parameters.

METHODS59 fresh specimens of lung cancer and paired normal lung tissue were obtained from 59 NSCLC cases treated in the department of thoracic surgery in our hospital from June 2006 to October 2007. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to assay the specimens with goat anti-human EYA2 polyclone antibody. Clinicopathological parameters were collected and the correlation with EYA2 expression was subsequently analyzed.

RESULTSThe expression of EYA2 was detected in cytoplasm and nucleus of the cancer cells, but mostly in cytoplasm. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry showed the expression of EYA2 in NSCLC was increased and correlated with pathological type, but not with gender, age, pTNM stage, histological differentiation and lymph node metastasis. EYA2 expression was significantly up-regulated in adenocarcinoma, while not changed in lung squamous cell carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study suggest that expression of EYA2 in lung adenocarcinoma is augmented. EYA2 is likely participating in the development of lung adenocarcinoma as a transcriptional activator.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

The present study investigated the contribution of endogenous heme oxygenase (HO)/carbon monoxide (CO) system to hypertension pathogenesis of rats. Zinc deuteroporphyrin 2,4-bisglycol (ZnDPBG),an inhibitor of heme oxygenase (HO), was used to inhibit HO activity in vivo. It was found that the blood pressure of rats with HO inhibition was significantly elevated, and plasma levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline,endothelin, nitrate and nitrite were significantly increased. HO activity and HbCO formation within vascular smooth muscle tissues were significantly inhibited after administration of ZnDPBG. Furthermore, administration of exogenous CO into HO inhibiting rats led to MABP decrease, but injection of HO substrate, heme-Llysinate, had no effect on HO inhibition-induced hypertension. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, injection of exogenous CO resulted in a significant decrease of MABP, and heme-L-lystnate had a similar effect with exogenous CO. These data show that HO/CO system has an anti-hypertension biological action, suggesting that endogenous CO plays an important role in hypertension pathogenesis.

A sepsis model induced by cecal ligation and puncture was used to study the role of endogenous carbon monoxide in hypotension pathogenesis of rats during septic shock. After administration of zinc deuteroporphyrin 2,4-bisglycol (ZnDPBG),an inhibitor of heme oxygenase (HO),blood pressure (BP),HO activity and carbon monoxide (CO) release from vascular muscle tissue were measured. The results showed that BP of sepsis rats,including systolic and diastolic arterial BP,decreased significantly while HO activity and CO content were significantly increased. In contrast,after administration of ZnDPBG,BP of sepsis rats was significantly increased while the HO activity and CO production were significantly decreased. These findings suggest that HO activity and CO release within vascular musculature are increased during septic shock;inhibition of HO may elevate BP of rats during septic shock through a decrease of endogenous CO production. It is concluded that endogenous CO derived from vascular muscle cells plays an important role in regulating vascular tone,and the up-regulation of HO activity followed by subsequent CO production contributes to hypotension pathogenesis during septic shock.

BACKGROUNDEarly detection and diagnosis is urgent for the sake of effective treatment strategy for lung cancer. However, a convenient, economical and relatively precise method is not available. We here report a prospective study to find the possible value of the combined use of four popular tumor markers in the early diagnosis of lung cancer among patients with suspicious nodules in the lung.

METHODSSix hundred and sixty inpatients with suspicious nodules in the lung were divided into a lung cancer group and a benign pulmonary tumor group according to post-operative histological examinations. Serum levels of four tumor markers including squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Cyfra 21-1 and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were assayed for each patient. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for each tumor marker. The power of lung cancer diagnosis of each tumor marker, as well as a combination of them were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe serum levels (median, range) of SCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE were 0.44 (0.01 - 35.70) ng/ml, 2.49 (0.30 - 26.78) ng/ml, 2.30 (0.82 - 73.33) ng/ml and 10.54 (0.10 - 56.41) ng/ml respectively in lung cancer group, and were 0.32 (0.01 - 0.90) ng/ml, 1.60 (0.20 - 8.93) ng/ml, 1.41 (0.72 - 4.82) ng/ml and 9.36 (6.56 - 24.24) ng/ml respectively in the benign pulmonary tumor group. The difference in each tumor marker between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). The ROCs of SCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE were 0.702 (95%CI, 0.654 - 0.751), 0.611 (95%CI, 0.563 - 0.659), 0.650 (95%CI, 0.601 - 0.700) and 0.598 (95%CI, 0.542 - 0.654) respectively, indicating very low power of these four tumor markers. When a combination of SCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE were employed, the diagnosis power was strengthened.

CONCLUSIONSCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE are valuable in the early diagnosis of lung cancer among suspicious nodules in the lung, especially when they were assayed together for one patient.

Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; metabolism ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; blood ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; metabolism ; Serpins ; blood ; metabolism