The therapeutic effects of a high fibre diet composed of naturally high fibre foodstuffs containing protein, various essential amino acids and trace elements (Zn, Cr etc.) on diabetics were tested both experimentally and clinically. The high fibre diet or steamed bread (for control) with identical carbohydrate content was taken by normal mice, alloxan diabetic mice and nine healthy volunteers. The high fibre diet caused significant reduction in the blood glucose area (carbohydrate tolerance) as compared with the steamed bread. In another study, eighteen non-insulin dependent diabetic patients (10 females, 8 males) were administered the high fibre diet for 34 days, the average fasting and 2 h postprandial blood glucose level were significantly lower than those before the test, but no difference was observed in blood electrolytes. This implied that no malabsorption occurred during the testing period. At the same time, 16 of the 17 overweight patients were found to have a reduction of weights. In addition, improvement of symptoms (poly-dipsia polyuria, constipation etc) both in diabetic animals and in patients was observed. This study indicates that the high fibre diet is benificial for diabetic patients.

BACKGROUNDPhacoemulsification yields successful outcomes in eyes with standard cataract. Though techniques have been improved, it is still challenging to perform phacoemulsification in cases of hard cataracts for difficulty in nuclear management and much more complications. This study aimed at describing and evaluating the efficacy and safety of a peripheral radial chop technique to remove hard cataracts.

METHODSIn this prospective study conducted between January 2003 and January 2004, 107 consecutive eyes with hard cataract underwent modified phacoemulsification surgery with peripheral radial chop technique by the Bausch & Lomb Millennium phacoemulsifier with preset parameters of power less than 30%; vaccum, 150 mmHg; and bottle height, 85 cm when a DP8145 phaco tip was used, and vaccum, 380 mmHg; bottle height, 95 cm when a DP8245 phaco tip was used.

RESULTSThe mean ultrasonic power was 14.7% (range 9% to 19%), ultrasonic time was 1.98 minutes (range 1.55 to 3.18 minutes). At 1, 7 and 30 days postoperatively, the eyes with uncorrected visual acuity 0.5 or better accounted for 76.42%, 87.16% and 90.67% respectively. At 1 month, the endothelial cell loss rate was 9.74% (range 8% to 17%). There were 6 cases of posterior capsule rupture in an early period of study. No serious intraoperative or postoperative complications were noted.

CONCLUSIONSThe peripheral radial chop technique was effective without serious complications in hands of an experienced surgeon.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phacoemulsification ; adverse effects ; methods ; Prospective Studies

Objective To investigate the uptake of 99Tcm-hydrazinonicotinamide-D-alanine-D-alanine-alanine-proline-arginine-proline-glycine (HYNIC-A(D) A(D) APRPG) in rabbit models of inflammation and VX2 tumor xenografted, so as to evaluate its use as a new tracer for tumor angiogenesis. Methods Ten rabbit models of xenoplanted VX2 tumor and inflammation were randomly divided into two groups which were injected with different injected tracers, 99Tcm-HYNIC-A(D) A (D)APRPG 99Tcm-RGD, followed by serial Gamma images at various time points. The first group underwent 18F-FDG PET ahead of 99Tcm-HYNICA(D)A (D) APRPG SPECT. Analysis of variance and t-test were performed with SPSS 10.0. Results 99TcmHYNIC-A(D) A (D)APRPG scan showed negative uptake at inflammation focus but positive uptake at tumor. Pathological examination confirmed high 99Tcm-HYNIC-A(D)A(D) APRPG accumulation in tumor cells, with the highest tumor/inflammation ratio (3.25 ±0. 171) at 2 h post-injection, which was significantly higher than that of 99Tcm-RGD (2.37 ± 0.076) (F = 15. 63, P<0. 01). The tumor/inflammation ratios of 99Tcm-HYNIC-A(D)A(D)APRPG, 99Tcm-RGD, 18F-FDG were significantly different at 0.5, 1,2,3, 6 h (F = 13. 83～26. 41; t = 23.84, 12.75; all P<0. 01). Conclusion 99Tcm-HYNIC-A (D) A (D)APRPG can be used as a potential tracer for tumor angiogenesis.

Proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) expression has been observed on numerous cell types. However, little is known about the functional expression of PAR-2 in human mast cells. In the current study, the actions of a PAR-2 agonist trans-cinnamoyl-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-Leu-Orn-amide (tc-LIGRLO) on tryptase release from dispersed human colonic mast cells were examined. The results showed that tc-LIGRLO was able to induce a fold increase in tryptase release over the basal level following a 15 min incubation of colonic mast cells, whereas tc-OLRGIL did not have any effect on tryptase release. The potency of tc-LIGRLO appeared greater than that of anti-IgE and calcium ionophore A23187 (CI) in induction of tryptase release. Extending the incubation time to 30 min had no significant effect on the actions of tc-LIGRLO or anti-IgE. In the time course study, it was observed that the tryptase release from mast cells induced by tc-LIGRLO started at 1 min and peaked at 3 min following incubation. The above-mentioned results indicate that tc-LIGRLO is a potent stimulus of tryptase release from human mast cells, which strongly suggests that PAR-2s are expressed in human mast cells.
Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Receptor, PAR-2 ; agonists ; Tryptases ; metabolism

AIMTo examine the ability of calcium ionophore (CI) to induce tryptase and histamine release from human mast cells and its mechanisms.

METHODSEnzymatically dispersed cells from human colons were challenged with CI, and the cell supernatants after challenge were collected. Tryptase release was determined with a sandwich ELISA procedure and histamine release was measured using a glass fibre-based fluorometric assay.

RESULTSCI was able to induce a concentration dependent release of histamine and tryptase from human colon mast cells following 15 min incubation. The maximum of induced histamine and tryptase release were approximately 5.3 and 2.8 fold more than the levels of spontaneous release, respectively. CI at the concentrations higher than 1.0 micromol/L was able to induce significantly more histamine than tryptase release from mast cells. The time course revealed that the action of CI on mast cells started from 10 s, peaked at 6 min and lasted at least 15 min following incubation. Pertussis toxin and metabolic inhibitors were able to inhibit mast cell response to CI.

CONCLUSIONHuman colon mast cells were able to release tryptase and histamine in response to CI. The process seemed to be associated with the activation of a G-protein coupled receptor on the membrane of mast cells and requires cell energy supply.

Calcium Ionophores ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Colon ; cytology ; Histamine ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; secretion ; Tryptases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of oral sweet solutions in relieving pain caused by vaccination in infants aged 1 to 12 months.

METHODSRelated databases were searched to find related randomized control trails (RCTs). The quality of these RCTs was evaluated. The Meta analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3.

RESULTSA total of 20 RCTs involving 2 376 infants were included, and quality assessment showed that 6 RCTs had grade A quality and 14 had grade B quality. The Meta analysis showed that compared with sterile water, 25%-75% oral sweet solution significantly reduced crying time (WMD=-21.16, 95%CI -39.66 to -2.77, P<0.05) and the proportion of crying time (the duration of crying /3-minute periods after the injection) (WMD=-13.83, 95%CI -20.88 to -6.78, P<0.01), while the crying time showed no significant difference between the group treated with oral administration of 12% sucrose solution and non-intervention group. Co

ONCLUSIONSOral sweet solution (25%-75%; 2 mL) given 2 minutes before vaccination can effectively relieve the pain caused by vaccination in infants aged 1-12 months.

Crying ; Humans ; Infant ; Pain ; prevention & control ; Solutions ; Sucrose ; administration & dosage ; Vaccination ; adverse effects

Objective To investigate the mechanism of reverse redistribution (RR) on dipyridamole 201Tl myocardial perfusion studies in the patients with coronary artery spasm. Methods Twenty-six patients with coronary artery spasm and presented as RR on dipyridamole 201Tl myocardial perfusion studies were enlisted as RR group, while other 16 patients with no coronary artery stenosis nor RR were enlisted as control group. Dipyridamole test was repeated during coronary angiography. Corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC) and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) were measured at RR related and non-RR related coronary arteries before and after dipyridamole infusion respectively.All of the data were analyzed by Student's t-test orχ2-test and correlation analysis. Results Coronary artery angiography showed slower blood flow and lower myocardial perfusion in RR related vessels when compared with non-RR related vessels in RR group, but there was no significant difference among the main coronary arteries in control group. The perfusion defects of RR area at rest were positively related to slowerblood velocity at corresponding coronary arteries ( r = 0.79, t = 10.18, P ＜ 0.001 ). In RR related vessels,CTFC were (36 ±6) frames and (26 ±7) frames (t =4.15, P ＜0.01 ), while TMPG were (2.02 ±0.39)grades and (2.92 ± 0.12) grades ( t = 2.25, P ＜ 0.05 ) before and after dipyridamole infusion, respectively.In non-RR related vessels, CTFC were (29 ±7) frames and (25 ±5) frames (t =2.31, P ＜0.05), while TMPG were (2.56 ± 0.31 ) grades and (2.96 ± 0.06) grades ( t = 2.17, P ＜ 0.05 ) before and after dipyridamole infusion, respectively. However, there were no significant changes of CTFC and TMPG before and after dipyridamole infusion in control group ( t = 0.932, 0.867, respectively, both P ＞ 0.05 ). Conclusion RR is related to the decreased blood flow and myocardial perfusion induced by coronary artery spasm at rest,which may be improved by stress test such as intravenous dipyridamole infusion.

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of the application of condensed Chinese version of the MOS 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) in assessment of quality of life among adult patients with Kashin-Beck disease,and to provide a scientific basis in rehabilitation of the patients.Methods Four hundred and twenty seven eases of adult patients with Kashin-Back disease and 419 healthy individuals randomly selected in Kashin-Beck disease endemic areas in 8 counties of Gansu province were surveyed with the SF-36.The reliability of the SF-36 was assessed by split-half reliability and Cronbach's α coefficient and the validity through principal component factor analysis and correlation analysis,etc.The dimension scores of different people were obtained by analysis of variance and univariate t-test.Results The split-half reliability of all the 8 dimensions was greater than 0.6 and the Cronbach's α coefficient was greater than 0.8; the pearson correlate coefficients of all the items to their dimensions were greater than 0.391.SF-36 contained 8 domains and 2 summary scales in the factor analysis.The score differences of quality of life in different ages of the patients,different stages of the disease were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The SF-36 is practical in studying the quality of life among adult patients with Kashin-Beck Disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and risk factors for its transmission among injection drug users (IDUs) in Liangshan Yizu Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, China.

METHODSA community-based survey was conducted to investigate demographic characteristics, pattern and frequency of sharing injection equipment, and sexual behaviors in IDUs. Blood samples were also collected from them to detect for antibodies against HIV and syphilis.

RESULTSA total of 379 subjects were recruited with informed consent for study through community outreach and peer recruiting methods. Their prevalence of HIV infection was 11.3% (43/379). Ethnicity, frequency of sharing syringes and cotton swab during the past three months and syphilis infection associated with HIV infection by univariate analysis using chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed odds ratio of frequency of sharing syringes for HIV infection during the past three months was 2.28 (95% CI 1.18 - 4.43), and that for syphilis infection 3.10 (95% CI 1.48 - 6.48).

CONCLUSIONFrequency of sharing syringes during the past three months associated with syphilis and HIV infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Needle Sharing ; adverse effects ; Prevalence ; Sexual Behavior ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; virology

BACKGROUNDThis study was undertaken to obtain differentially expressed genes related to human glioma by cDNA microarray and the characterization of a novel full-length gene.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted form human glioma and normal brain tissue, and mRNA was used as a probe. The results of hybridization procedure were scanned with the computer system. The gene named 507E08 cone was subsequently analyzed by northern blot, bioinformatic approach, and protein expression.

RESULTSFifteen differentially expressed genes were obtained from human glioma by hybridization and scanning for four times. Northern blot analysis confirmed that the 507E08 clone was low expressed in human brain tissue and over expressed in human glioma tissues. The analysis of BLASTn and BLASTx showed that the 507E08 clone was a novel full-length gene, which codes 203 amino acid of protein and is called human ribosomal protein 14.22 gene. The nucleotide sequence had been submitted to the GenBank with the accession number of AF329277. After expression in E. coli., protein yielded a major band of apparent molecular mass 22 kDa on an SDS-PAGE gel.

CONCLUSIONScDNA microarray technology can be successfully used to identify differentially expressed genes. The novel full-length gene of human ribosomal protein 13.22 may be correlated with the development of human glioma.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Northern ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Glioma ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Ribosomal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA