Objective To investigate the significance of measuring carotid arterial intima-media thickness(IMT) and diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods 76 diabetic patients were divided into three groups:no diabetic retinopathy(NDR),nonpmliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR),and proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR).20 helath people were chosen as control All subjects were examined by ColorDoppler imaging on the carotid arterial intima-media thickness.Results The mean IMT was significantly higher in T_2DM patients than in normal control group(P

Background and purpose:Tumor microenvironment plays an important role in the introduction of foreign factors that mediate tumor acquired resistance. The antitumor effects of many chemotherapeutic agents depend on the level of oxygen pressure (pO2) in tumor microenvironment. This study aimed to evaluate electron paramagnetic reso-nance (EPR)-based monitoring on an oxygen-enriched tumor microenvironment to increase chemotherapeutic sensitivity. Methods:MCF-7 cells were used to establish human breast cancer in nude mice. EPR was used to directly measure pO2 levelin vivo. Tumor tissues were collected, and mitochondrial activity was assayed on the basis of the kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. A laser Doppler monitor was used to detect regional blood flow. Tumor apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results:The tumor volume decreased more evidently in the chemotherapy group with oxy-gen-enriched environment than that in the conventional chemotherapy group after the treatment was administered (P<0.01). After chemotherapy was completed, the apoptotic rate of tumor cells was significantly higher in the chemotherapy group with oxygen-enriched environment than that in the conventional chemotherapy group (P<0.001). This study examined the mechanism ofpO2 changes in tumor microenvironment: This was related to the change of the balance between the oxygen consumption and the regional blood flow in the tumor tissues after chemotherapy.Conclusion:Based on the characteristics ofpO2 changes in the tumor microenvironment after chemotherapy was completed, the selection of chemotherapy mode forthe treatment inpO2 peak time window improves the sensitivity of chemotherapy, which provides a new idea for individual-ized chemotherapy in clinical applications.

ObjectiveTo analyze the relationship between clinical characteristic pathology and prognosis in infant with intra-abdominal solid tumor.MethodsFifty-two infants(less than 1 year old) with abdominal solid tumor from Apr.1998 to Feb.2007 in Shanghai Children's Medical Center and from Jan.2001 to Feb.2007 in Shanghai Xinhua Hospital were reviewed.The history of these children were reviewed.Features and clinical pathology of these children with their prognosis were analyzed and followed up by telephones and children return visit records from 5 months to 8 years.ResultsLess than 1 month,7 cases;1 month to 1 year old,45 cases.Teratoma 23 cases(44.23%),neuroblastoma 9 cases(17.31%),nephroblastoma 6 cases(11.54%),hepatoblastoma 5 cases(9.62%),epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver 3 cases(5.77%),congenital mesoblastic nephroma 3 cases(5.77%),fusiform cell epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of pancreas 1 case(1.92%),hamartoma of the liver 1 case(1.92%),retroperitoneal small cell malignant tumor 1 case(1.92%).Benign:malignant=1:1.Among the benign tumor,male:female=1:1.Among the malignant tumor,male:female=2.33:1.0.All children were treated with tumor resection,and combined with chemotherapy for those whose tumors were malignant.ConclusionsAmong infant abdominal solid tumors,teratoma and neuroblastoma are much more than other tumors.The cases of benign tumors are almost as much as the malignant tumors.The benign tumors did not have sex differences,and had good prognosis after surgical resection.However,in malignant tumors,the incidence rate of male is obviously higher than female.Completely resection of those malignant tumors with chemotherapy would get little incidence of recrudescence and low case fatality rate.Early diagnosis and early treatment play an important role in prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo observe blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading, as well as their correlation in Wilson's disease (WD) patients with different Chinese medical syndrome types.

METHODSTotally 906 WD patients in line with inclusive criteria were assigned to 6 groups, i.e., the heart spirit confused by phlegm group (HSCP, 26 cases), the phlegm-fire disturbing heart group (PFDH, 90 cases), the retention of damp-heat group (RDH, 113 cases), deficiency of qi and blood group (DQB, 168 cases), the deficiency of Gan-yin and Shen-yin group (DGYSY, 327 cases), the deficiency of Gan and Shen group (DGS, 182 cases) due to different Chinese medical syndrome types. Recruited were another 160 healthy subjects having similar ages and diet structures, who came for medical examinations, as the healthy control group. Venous blood was collected from the medial cubital vein of each-patient on an empty stomach in early mornings to detect blood uric acid levels. Results Blood uric acid levels were lower in each syndrome type group than in the healthy control group (146.08 +/- 67.24 micromol/L in the HSCP group; 157.08 +/- 69.77 micromol/L in the PFDH group; 162.58 +/- 97.72 micromol/L in the RDH group; 156.20 +/- 62.63 micromol/L in the DQB group; 161.83 +/- 111.23 micromol/L in the DGYSY group; 194.41 +/- 90.01 micromol/L in the DGS group; 242.39 +/- 87.55 micromol/L in the healthy control group, P < 0.01). Blood uric acid levels were higher in the DGYSY group than in the other 5 syndrome groups (P < 0.01). Correlation analyses between Goldstein grading and blood uric acid showed that, along with increased Goldstein grade (that was aggravating disease conditions), WD patients' blood uric acid levels decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSWD patient's blood uric acid levels decreased more. Blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading were different in various Chinese medical syndrome types. Blood uric acid levels had certain value in assessing the severity of WD.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Heart ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; blood ; classification ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Syndrome ; Uric Acid ; blood

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis (TTCA) using a retrograde intramedullary nail with a valgus curve.Methods At our department,22 patients underwent TTCA using a retrograde intramedullary nail with a valgus curve from June 2009 to January 2014 and were available for complete follow-up.They were 12 men and 10 women,aged from 46 to 79 years (average,62.2 years).There were 3 cases of primary ankle osteoarthritis,9 ones of traumatic arthritis,one of ankle arthritis secondary to severe talar avascular necrosis,3 ones of progressive subtalar arthritis following failed ankle replacement,5 ones of progressive subtalar arthritis following failed ankle arthrodesis,and one of arthritis secondary to equinovarus.The outcome measurements included the American Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale,EQ-5DTM functional score,radiologic assessment and clinical examination.Results The mean follow-up was 21.3 months (range,from 14 to 38 months).A plantigrade foot and bony union were achieved in all the patients after a mean time of 3.9 months (range,from 2.4 to 6.2 months).Postoperative radiologic results showed a good hindfoot alignment in all the patients.Superficial infection occurred in one patient and loosening of the distal screw in another who asked for removal.The mean postoperative EQ-5DTM functional score and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score were 69.3 (range,from 20 to 90) and 69.9 (range,from 45 to 85),respectively.Conclusion TTCA using a retrograde curved intramedullary nail may lead to solid fusion and good hindfoot alignment.

BACKGROUND:Recent years, fiber posts and resin cores have been widely used in repairing the endodonticaly treated teeth with satisfactory effect. Erbium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser is a new type of water power laser system, which can be used for surface treatment of fiber posts. But studies on the effect of Er:YAG laser surface treatment on the bond strength of fiber posts are rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of surface treatment utilizing Er:YAG laser irradiation with different parameters on the bond strength of fiber posts to root canal dentin. METHODS: Fifty human maxilary central incisors that had similar dimensions were used. After endodontic treatment, removal of the crown and canal preparation, ParaPost FIBER LUX glass fiber posts were cemented into the root canals. According to the method of surface treatment, 50 teeth were randomly divided into: no surface treatment as control group; four groups undergoing surface preparation with Er:YAG laser with four different power settings (150, 250, 350 and 450 mJ at 10 Hz for 60 s at 100-μs pulse duration), named 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 W Er:YAG laser irradiation groups, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The mean bond strength values reduced from the cervical to the apical root canal, and the bond strength of the dental cervix was significantly different from that of middle and apical thirds (P < 0.05), but there was no difference between the middle and apical thirds (P> 0.05). Regardless of the different part of the root slices, the bond strength was highest in the 4.5 W Er:YAG laser irradiation group, showing significant difference from other groups (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that 4.5 W Er:YAG laser irradiation significantly increases the bond strength of the fiber posts to root canal dentin.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether aldosterone infusion induces glomerular or podocyte injury in rats and to evaluate the effects of eplerenoen (EPL), andodipine (CCB) and telmisartan (ARB) on aldosterone- induced injury. MethodsThirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: control, subcutaneous infusion of aldosterone (1.5 μg/h, ALD group) and aldosterone infusion plus eplerenone (100 mg·kg-1·d-1, EPL group), amlodipine(10 nag·kg-1·d-1 CCB group), telmisartan (3 mg·kg-1·d-1, ARB group), respectively. Systolic blood pressure(SBP) and urinary albumin excretion ratio(UAER) were measured at day 0, 7, 14, 21, 28. Blood samples were harvested to detect plasma angiotensin Ⅱ, plasma aldosterone, serum sodium, serum potassium and serum creatinine at day 28. Glomerular damge was quantified by morphological glomerular injury score (GIS). Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were performed to evaluate podocyte lesion, and apoptosis ratio of pedocyte (ARP) in a glomerular cross section was analyzed by TUNEL. ResultsALD infusion progressively increased SBP and UAER compared with CTL (P＜0.01). SBP was significantly reduced in EPL, CCB or ARB-treated animals, meanwhile, UAER was decreased in EPL and ARB group, but not in CCB group. The ALD-infused rats exibited hypernatremia and hypopotassaemia, which were blocked by EPL adminstration but not by CCB or ARB treatment. ARB group had a significant increase in plasma angiotensin Ⅱ compared with ALD, CCB and EPL groups(P＜0.01). The ALD-infused animals developed hyperaldosteronemia compared with CTL, but with no difference of plasma aldosterone among ALD, EPL, CCB and ARB-treated rats. Treatment with EPL prevented an increase of GIS and ARP compared with CCB and ARB (P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Protein and mRNA expression of nephfin was up-regulated in ALD group (P＜ 0.01), but was significantly prevented by EPL treatment(P＜0.01), whereas CCB and ARB therapy had no such effect. Conclusion ALD infusion significantly induces glomerular and pedocyte injury which is blocked by EPL but not by CCB or ARB independently on systemic hemodynamics.

AIM: To evaluate the safety, efficacy and stability of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens ( ICL ) implanation and clear lens extraction for the correction of high myopia.
METHODS: The study enrolled 56 cases ( 100 eyes ) of high myopia. Group I comprised 32 cases ( 58 eyes ) receiving ICL implantation and Group II comprised 24 cases (42 eyes) undergoing clear lens extraction. In this study, we evaluated the two groups of subject's the visual and refractive results, intraocular pressure ( IOP ) , endothelial cell density ( ECD ) , anterior chamber depth ( ACD) , lens transparency, the surgical complications as well as visual adverse symptoms before and after surgery.
RESULTS: The postoperative subjects in group I and group II were followed, uncorrected vision acuity ( UCVA)>0. 5 were 69. 0% in group I and 71. 4% in group II after 3mo. UCVA>0. 5 were 72. 4% in group I and 73. 8% in group II after 1a. Predictability of the manifest spherical equivalent refraction within±1. 00D was achieved in 62. 1%of eyes in group I and 57. 1% in group II after 1a. The central vault of the ICL ( distance from posterior surface of ICL to the crystalline lens ) measured with anterior segment optical coherence tomography ( AS-OCT ) was 0. 35-0. 54 (0. 40±0. 16) mm. Twelve point one percent of eyes in group I and 7. 1% of eyes in group II had transient mild increase in IOP. Here were statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative ECD (P<0. 001 ). Complications of surgery: 1 eye had ICL spontaneous rotation, 2 eyes had anterior subcapsular cataract, 4 eyes noticed halos around lights at night in group I. Three eyes had posterior capsule mild opacification, 3 eyes noticed halos around lights at night, 12 eyes had difficulty in near vision in group II.
CONCLUSION: ICL implantation and clear lens extraction are effective, safe and predictable surgical option for the management of high myopia. No severe complications occurred, but its long time effect and safety still need more time to prove.

In order to establish the stable andreliable ISSR-PCR System of Lysimachia christinae, L16 (4(5)) orthogonal design, which based on 7 levels of single factor experiment, were used in this study. The variance analysis was carried out by SPSS 19.0, and 5 main factors affecting the reaction system were optimized in 4 levels. The best annealing temperature was selected by the optimized reaction system. And the stability and reliability of this system was tested by 23 samples from different origins. The results showed that the five factors (DNA template, primer, dNTP, Mg2+ and Taq enzyme) were the most impacts on the amplified results of ISSR-PCR of L. christinae. The order of the influence was: primer > Taq enzyme > DNA template > Mg2+ > dNTP. The optimal system, which was determined by multiple comparison on different levels of each factor, was total volume of 25 microL, including DNA template 60 ng, primer 0.3 micromol x L(-1), dNTP 0.2 mmol x L(-1), Mg2+ 1.8 mmol x L(-1), Taq enzyme 1.25 U. The optimal system was stable and reliable tested by 23 samples from different origins. This study lays the foundation for genetic diversity analysis, fine varieties selection and molecular identification of L. christinae, and provides reference for optimization on ISSR-PCR system of other speciesin future.
DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Primulaceae ; classification ; genetics ; Quality Control

Objective To evaluate the possibility of methylation analysis of secreted frizzled-related protein gene 2 (SFRP2),hyperplastic polyposis protein gene (HPP1) and O~6-methylguanine-DNA methyhransferase gene (MGMT) in feces for screening colorectal cancer (CRC).Methods Total DNA was isolated from fecal samples of 52 patients with colorectal cancer and 35 patients with benign colorectal diseases and 24 normal volunteers,and the methylation status of SFRP2,HPP1 and MGMT was analyzed with methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction.Results SFRP2,HPP1 and MGMT were methylated in 94.2%,71.2%,48.1% of CRCs,respectively.At least one of the three genes was methylated in 96.2% of CRCs and 81.8% of precancerous lesions,respectively.In contrast,of the 24 normal controls,only one had methylated SFRP2.These results indicated 93.7% sensitivity,77.1% specificity,84.3% positive predicative value and 90.2% negative predictive value of the test for detecting CRC and precancerous lesions.Conclusions Methylation analysis of SFRP2,HPP1 and MGMT gene in stool is a high sensitive screening tool for CRC and precancerous lesions.Analysis of fecal DNA methylation is expected to serve as a new detection way for CRC or a new screening tool for individuals at risk of developing colorectal neoplasm.