AIM: Firstly to evaluate the changes of corneal sensation and its effect to dry eye syndrome after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK); secondly to evaluate the relation between the changes of corneal sensation and the laser ablation depth. ·METHODS: 30 patients (60 eyes) had bilateral LASIK with a superior-hinged flap. Every patient underwent preoperative and postoperative (after one week, one month and three months) evaluations, including corneal sensation, Schirmer's basic tear secretion test, tear breakup time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein stainting, and a questionnaire evaluating dry eye obtained from each patient.·RESULTS: Compared with preoperative level, after one week and one month, the difference of corneal sensation was very significant (P＜ 0.01); after three months, there was no statistical difference (P ＞ 0.05). After one week, there was no statistical difference (P ＞ 0.05) in the subjective dry eye symptoms, after one month, the difference was significant(P=0.025 ＜0.05) and after three months, the difference was very significant (P=0.001 ＜ 0.01). Compared with preoperative level, the basic tear secretion decreased significantly after one week and one month(P＜ 0.01), it did not return to the baseline level after three months (P ＜ 0.01). Tear breakup time decreased significantly after the surgery, and after three months, there was still statistical difference compared with preoperative level (P ＜ 0.01); with cornea fluorescence staining, we found corneal epithelial defect was most serious after one month after LASIK, and did not return to the baseline level after three months (P ＜ 0.01). Linear regression analysis and relevant were used to evaluate the relation between the changes of corneal sensation and the laser ablation depth (r=0.798, P ＜ 0.01). ·CONCLUSION: The central corneal sesation decreased noticeable after LASIK, and it recovered three months postoperatively, but the indicators of dry eye syndrome did not return to their preoperative levels following it. We have found that the decreasation of corneal sensation had positive correlation with the laser ablation depth.

Background and purpose: Protein kinase P1k3 could increase the transcriptional activity of p53. However, the effect of P1k3 on the transcriptional activity of p73 is still unknown. Our study was to investigate the effect of P1k3 on the transcriptional activity of p73. Methods: Luciferase reporter assay, RT-PCR and colony formation assay were adopted to study the effect of P1k3 and kinase-deficient P1k3 (K52R) on the transcriptional activity of p73 in p53-deficient human lung carcinoma H1299 cells. Results: Luciferase reporter assay showed that p73 increased the luciferase activities induced by p21~(WAF1) and Bax promoters (P<0.05). After co-transfection with p73 and P1k3, the luciferase activities induced by p21~(WAF1) and Bax promotors were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner as compared with the group that transfected p73 only (P<0.05). However, kinase-deficient Plk3 (K52R) had no significant effect on the luciferase activities induced by p21~(WAF1) and Bax promoters (P>0.05). RT-PCR showed that p73 increased the mRNA expressions of p21~(WAF1) and BAX (P<0.05). P1k3 decreased the expressions of p21~(WAF1) and Bax induced by p73 (P<0.05). Kinase-deficient P1k3 (K52R) had no significant effect on the expressions of p21~(WAF1) and Bax induced by p73 (P>0.05). Colony formation assay revealed that p73 decreased the colony formation of H1299 cells (P<0.05). P1k3 decreased the inhibitory effect of p73 on the colony formation of H1299 cells (P<0.05). Kinase-deficient P1k3 (K52R) had no significant effect on the inhibitory effect of p73 on the colony formation of H1299 cells (P>0.05).Conclusion: P1k3 can inhibit the transcriptional activity of p73, where as kinase-deficient P1k3 has no effect on the transcriptional activity of p73.

ABCC8,KCNJ11,and GLUD1 gene mutations were investigated in a male patient with congenital hyperinsulinism and his parents were also investigated.A 1484 G＞A mutation was found in the 10th exon of ABCC8 gene in the patient,which leads to amino acid substitution at the 495 residue of the sulphonylurea receptor SUR1 protein.The patient's father also carried the same heterozygous inactive mutation,while the genotype of the mother was normal,indicating that the gene mutation of the patient was paternally inherited.According to that mutation,it is deduced that the patient may suffer from the focal type of congenital hyperinsulinism.

Objective:This work aims to detect the levels of miR-200c/141 methylation and miR-200c/141 in gastric cancer tissue and investigate the relationship between miR-200c/141 expression and clinical parameters. Methods:The methylation status of miR-200c/141 CpG island and miR-200c/141 in gastric cancer tissue specimens was evaluated by qRT-PCR or BS-MSP method. We analyzed the relationship among the methylation status of miR-200c/141 CpG island, expression level of miR-200c or miR-141, and clinical parame-ters. Results:The status of miR-200c/141 CpG island methylation in gastric cancer tissue was significantly higher compared with that in paracarcinoma tissue. MiR-200c and miR-141 were markedly decreased in gastric cancer tissue compared with those in adjacent tis-sue. MiR-200c/141 CpG island methylation was negatively related with the expression of miR-200c and miR-141 in gastric cancer speci-mens. Conclusion:The upregulation of miR-200c/141 CpG methylation inhibits miR-200c/141 expression in gastric cancer tissue.

Objective To investigate the association of serum leptin (LEP) levels during the first postpartum year with the occurrence of postpartum thyroiditis (PPT).Methods Fifty-seven PPT patients consisted of 34 with overt PPT and 23 subclinical PPT.37 healthy postpartum women were used as controls.Serum samples were obtained at 4 postpartum date points,i.e.3-days and 3,6,12-months postpartum.LEP level was determined by radioimmunoassav.Results Compared with control women,PPT patients were maintaining significantly higher levels of LEP and LEP/body mass index (BMI) ratio during the first postpartum year.There was no significant difference in serum LEP level or LEP/BMI ratio between overt PPT and subclinical PPT groups.In PPT patients,LEP and LEP/BMI ratio were negatively correlated with serum TSH,and positively correlated with serum FT4 and FT3.Conclusion Sustained high levels of serum LEP after delivery may favor the occurrence of PPT.Further studies are needed to clarify the specific role played by LEP in PPT.

Adolescent ; Deglutition ; Dermoid Cyst ; Epithelium ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Humans ; Keratins ; Mouth ; Mouth Floor

OBJECTIVE: To examine various pneumatized extensions of the sphenoid sinus of Chinese people. METHOD: The sphenoid sinus and its surrounding structures were examined from 100 computed tomography images of the sinus. The type of the sphenoid sinus was classified according to the various extensions of the sinus. RESULT: The type of the sphenoid sinus was classified into the following 6 basic types based on the direction of pneumatization: sphenoid body, lateral, clival, lesser wing, anterior, and combined. CONCLUSION The variations in the extensions of pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus may facilitate entry into areas bordering the sphenoid sinus.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Sphenoid Bone ; anatomy & histology ; Sphenoid Sinus ; anatomy & histology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Follow-Up Studies ; Hyoid Bone ; Mandible ; Mouth ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus ; Prognathism ; Retrospective Studies ; Tongue

beta-Glucans are naturally occurring polysaccharides that are produced by bacteria, yeast, fungi, and many plants. Although their pharmacological activities, such as immunomodulatory, anti-infective and anti-cancer effects, have been well studied, it is still unclear how beta-glucans exert their activities. However, recent studies on the beta-glucan receptors shed some light on their mechanism of action. Since beta-glucans have large molecular weights, they must bind surface receptors to activate immune cells. In this review, we summarize the immunopharmacological activities and the potential receptors of beta-glucans in immune cells.
Bacteria ; beta-Glucans ; Fungi ; Light ; Molecular Weight ; Polysaccharides ; Receptors, Immunologic ; Yeasts

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of microRNA (miRNA)-mediated p65 gene knockdown on the proliferation and apoptosis of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells.

METHODSp65-targeted miRNA plasmid was constructed and transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells via lipofectamine(TM)2000. The expression of p65 gene in the transfected cells at the mRNA and protein levels were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry (FCM), respectively. The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blotting in the transfected cells.

RESULTSCompared with the negative control group, the expressions of p65 mRNA and protein in p65miRNA-trasnfected cells were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). MTT assay showed significantly lowered viability of MDA-MB-231 cells after the transfection (P<0.05). FCM showed an increased cell apoptosis rate in p65miRNA group compared with that in the negative control group (P<0.05). Caspase-3 and PARP were both cleaved into their active forms and the expression of these active forms was increased in p65miRNA group.

CONCLUSIONThe miRNA targeting p65 gene can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of breast cancer cells, and p65 gene might become a new target in gene therapy for human breast cancer.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection