? AlM: To evaluate the efficacy of Esculin and Digitalisglycosides eye drops and acupoint massage alone or combination of both on video display terminal ( VDT ) asthenopia.
?METHODS: Totally, 224 patients with VDT asthenopia were randomly divided into eye drops group ( n = 56 ) received the intervention by Esculin and Digitalisglycosides eye drops, acupoint massage group (n=56) received the intervention by acupoint massage around the eyes, and combination group ( n=56 ) received the intervention by combination of both and control group received the intervention by ocular hygiene instruction. The effect was evaluated after 4wk. The symptoms curative effect index, tear film break-up time ( BUT) , Schirmer l test ( Slt) and corneal fluorescein staining score were as the indexes of evaluation.
? RESULTS: The symptoms curative effect index of combination group (78. 96±5. 29)% was higher than that of eye drops group (69. 55±6. 23)% and acupoint massage group (71. 15±6. 41)%, which of after both groups was higher than that of control group ( 33. 01±4. 26 )% ( P<0. 01). The main effects of Esculin and Digitalisglycosides eye drops and acupoint massage and its interations for the curative effect index were statistically significant ( P<0. 01). BUT and Slt of after intervention in eye drops group were significantly higher than that of before intervention, acupoint massage group and combination group (P<0. 05); After intervention, BUT of combination group was higher than that of eye drops group, acupoint massage group and control group; Slt of control group was lower than that of eye drops group, acupoint massage group and combination group.
? CONCLUSlON: Esculin and Digitalisglycosides eye drops and acupoint massage could improve symptoms and ocular physiology in patient with VDT asthenopia, and the effects of the combinative use of both are synergistic.

Objective To study the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)in the kidney tissues of chronic interstitial nephritis(CIN).Methods Expression of bFGF was assayed in 30 patients with CIN and 5 normal persons by SP method of immunohistochemical technique.The average gray value and average optical density of the bFGF positive parts and its ratio with the whole visual field had been measured with video analysis system.Results The expression of bFGF in the kidney tissues of CIN was significantly stronger than that in normal tissues.The average gray value,average optical density and the positive areas were significantly high compared with that of normal cases.Conclusion The bFGF can promote the proliferation of fibroblasts and monocytes in renal interstitial patients and lead to renal interstitial fibrosis in the end.

Adult ; Female ; Herbicides ; poisoning ; Humans ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; therapy

In this study, we aimed to investigate the influences of conditioned medium from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) on cancer stem cell phenotype of human hepatoma cells. HUVEC and human hepatoma cells (MHCC97H) were cultured, respectively, and then the MHCC97H cells were co-cultured with conditioned medium from HUVEC (EC-CM) with Transwell system. Anti-cancer drug sensitivity, colony-formation, migration/invasion ability, expression of cancer stem cell marker and sphere formation were performed to determine the cancer stem cell phenotype in MHCC97H cells. We found that MHCC97H cells co-cultured with EC-CM exhibited significantly higher colony-formation ability and lower sensitivity of anti-cancer drugs 5-FU and Cis. Transwell assay showed that treatment with EC-CM obviously increased migration and invasion of MHCC97H cells. Moreover, increased sphere forming capability and expression of CD133 in MHCC97H cells were observed after co-cultured with EC-CM. These results suggested that EC-CM could promote cancer stem cell phenotype of hepatoma cells.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; chemistry ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-immune inflammation efficacy and toxicity of Tripterygium wilfordii decoction, in order to provide experimental basis for studies on its "efficacy-toxicity" correlation.

METHODThe delayed hypersensitivity model was established by dinitrofluorobenzene in mice. Different doses of T. wilfordii decoction was administered for 5 consecutive days. The ear swelling inhibition ratio and the toxic action were observed. After the final administration, the biochemical indexes of PGE2, TNF-α, IL-2, ALT, AST, PA, TBA, TBIL in serum were detected, and the visceral indexes of heart, liver, spleen and kidney were measured.

RESULTThe DNFB-induced ear swelling could be notably inhibited by multiple oral administration of T. wilfordii decoction, with the ED50 and its 95% confidence limit of 0.34 (0.21-0.42) g x kg(-1). The contents of PGE2, TNF-α, IL-2 in serum decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The activities of serum AST, ALT, TBA, TBIL and the PA content reduced.

CONCLUSIONT. wilfordii decoction shows a significant anti-immune inflammation efficacy within the dosage range between 0.59 and 2.34 g x kg(-1) in a dose-dependent manner. With a certain hepatotoxicity, high dose (2.34-4.68 g x kg(-1)) of T. wilfordii decoction can cause substantial liver injury, with a dose dependence in liver function index. Therefore, the efficacy and toxicity of T. wilfordii is dose dependent, which provides reference for preventing adverse drug reactions in clinic and developing early-warning schemes and ensure the clinical medication safety of T. wilfordii.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Drug Dosage Calculations ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Edema ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Tripterygium ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to construct a long-term, osteogenesis-targeting HU-308 drug delivery implant by the layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly (LBL) technique, and observe the features of its delayed release in vitro.

METHODSA heparin (Hep) and chitosan (Chi) multilayer was coated on pure titanium using the LBL technique, and the titanium implants were dipped into the solution to load HU-308. The amount of loaded drug and release rates were measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The relationships between the loading efficiency, release time, and multilayer films were evaluated. The morphology of all the multilayers was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

RESULTSThe results showed that the Hep/Chi self-assembly multilayer was gradually fabricated on the titanium surface. HU-308 was successfully loaded on the titanium implants. The amount of loaded drug increased with the amount of multilayer films, except in the T20 group. In vitro drug release study showed that drug release was more difficult in the system with thicker films, and large amounts of multilayer films decreased the release speed. Both SEM and AFM measurements showed typical LBL deposition of Hep and Chi.

CONCLUSIONThe HU-308 drug delivery implant is successfully fabricated via LBL technology. It could provide sustained release of HU-308 over 30 d. This type of implant may provide a new possi- bility of promoting implant-bone osseointegration for osteoporotic patients.

Cannabinoids ; Chitosan ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osseointegration ; Osteogenesis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Titanium

OBJECTIVETo observe the expressions of Calbindin(CB) and Parvalbumin (PV), the two calcium-binding protein, in auditory pathway in mice of wild type C57BL/6J and kit⁺/kitW⁻ ²Bao, a kit gene mutant.

METHODSSix mutated kit gene kit⁺/kitW⁻ ²Bao mice and 6 wild type C57BL/6J (B6) mice were anaesthetized i. p. with chloral hydrate. After the mice were fixed by heart perfusion, the brains were removed and coronal sections were cut with a freezing microtome.

RESULTSWe found that wild type mice had significant expressions of PV on ventral cochlear nucleus, anterior part (AVCN), ventral cochlear nucleus, posterior part (PVCN), inferior colliculus (IC) and auditory cortex (AC). CB was expressed in wild type mice on PVCN and nucleus of the trapezoid body (Tz). The mutant of kit gene induced the less expression of PV on PVCN, IC and AC (P < 0.01), but increased the expression of Tz (P < 0.01). CB could not be observed on PVCN in mutant mice, and the expression of AC was increased( P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCB and PV has differential expression level in auditory pathway. Since mutated kit gene can affect expression of PV on PVCN, IC, Tz and AC, as well as CB on PVCN and AC, it suggests that the mutation of kit gene can affect the advanced function of central nervous system in auditory pathway.

Animals ; Auditory Cortex ; metabolism ; Auditory Pathways ; metabolism ; Calbindins ; metabolism ; Inferior Colliculi ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mutation ; Parvalbumins ; metabolism ; Pons ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; genetics

Epidemiological surveys show that folic acid can prevent prostate cancer, but fortified folic acid may increase the risk of the malignancy. The physician data queries from the National Cancer Institute of the USA describe folate as protective against prostate cancer, whereas its synthetic analog, folic acid, is considered to increase prostate cancer risk when taken at levels easily achievable by eating fortified food or taking over-the-counter supplements. We review the current literature to examine the effects of folate and folic acid on prostate cancer, help interpret previous epidemiologic data, and provide a clarification regarding the apparently opposing roles of folate for patients with prostate cancer. A literature search was conducted in Medline to identify studies investigating the effect of nutrition and specifically folate and folic acid on prostate carcinogenesis and progression. In addition, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database was analyzed for the trends in serum folate levels before and after mandatory fortification. Folate likely plays a dual role in prostate carcinogenesis. There remains some conflicting epidemiologic evidence regarding folate and prostate cancer risk. However, there is growing experimental evidence that higher circulating folate levels can contribute to prostate cancer progression. Further research is needed to clarify these complex relationships.
Dietary Supplements ; adverse effects ; Disease Progression ; Folic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacology ; Food, Fortified ; Humans ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; chemically induced

Objective To analyze the distribution of tophus in ankle and tarsal joints by multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT)and to explore the pathogenesis of gout.Methods 34 patients with a documented diagnosis of gout underwent CT examina-tion of bilateral ankle and tarsal joints,and 55 ankle and tarsal joints were observed tophus.The sites of tophus deposition were cate-gorized into groups of ligament,tendon and joint in order to record and analyze.Results The tophus were showed at the anterior talofibular ligament (n=38),the medial ligament (the site of talus and calcaneus)(n=30)and the interosseous talocalcaneal liga-ment (n=29)(P <0.05)in the group of ligament;at achilles tendon (n= 18),followed by tibialis posterior tendon (n= 7)(P <0.05)in the group of tendon;at articulations intercuneiformes (n=1 5)and inferior tibiofibular articulation (n= 10)(P <0.05 )in the group of joint.Conclusion In ankle and tarsal joints,tophus is commonly deposited at the anterior talofibular ligament,at the achilles tendon and the articulationes intercuneiformes.

AIM:To investigate the serum antibody of aquaporin 4 ( AQP4 - Ab ) in positive expression rate and the significance in patients with neuritis.
●METHODS: A total of 98 cases ( 128 eyes ) of patients with optic neuritis were studied to detect the patient′s serum AQP4-Ab positive rate of antinuclear antibodies ( ANAs) from Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2015 in ophthalmology center of our hospital. According to the expression of AQP4 - Ab group, the best corrected visual acuity between the two groups, peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFL), the volume of the macula, macular RNFL ( mRNFL ) , macular core layer volume ( mlNL ) measurement were compared.
●RESULTS:Ninety-eight patients (128 eyes) with optic neuritis cases diagnosed through examination revealed AQP4-Ab positive in 22 patients ( 22%) , negative in 76 patients ( 78%) , ANAs positive in 21 patients ( 21%) , negative 77 patients ( 79%) . Optic neuritis patients with serum AQP4 - Ab positive rate and ANAs positive significant correlation ( r = 0. 707, P < 0. 05 ). After examination revealed AQP4-Ab patients and negative-positive patients with best corrected visual acuity difference was not statistically significance (P>0. 05). After inspection found pRNFL, macular volume measured value AQP4 - Ab positive patients were significantly less than the negative patients, the differences were statistically significant (P<0. 05). AQP4-Ab positive patients and negative patients the mRNFL, mlNL measured values were not significantly different (P>0. 05).
●CONCLUSION:AQP4-Ab and ANAs expression in optic neuritis patients is a significant correlation. AQP4-Ab positive patients with optic neuritis pRNFL thinning of macular volume are decreased compared with negative patients.