AlM: To investigate the influences of 577nm panretinal photocoagulation ( PRP ) on the retinal thickness of macular fovea on diabetic retinopathy ( DR) .METHODS:A total of 45 eyes of 37 cases suffering from preproliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PPDR ) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PDR ) undergoing 577nm PRP were enrolled in this study. The alterations of the retinal thickness of macular fovea measured by optovue optical coherence tomography( OCT) before and 1, 3, 6mo following PRP were comparatively analyzed.RESULTS: The macularfoveal retinal thickness after 1, 3mo of PRP had significantly increased that before operation (P<0. 05). After 6mo postoperative follow-up, it gradually recovered to the level before PRP, with no significant difference (P>0. 05).CONCLUSlON: After the treatment of PRP, it appeared a transient increase on the retinal thickness of macular fovea, but after 6mo following-up, the macular foveal retinal thickness decreased nearly to the levels before PRP.

Animals ; Colonoscopy ; methods ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins ; metabolism ; Precancerous Conditions ; pathology ; Rodentia

To ascertain current situation of wild Marsdenia tenacissima resources in Honghe, Yunnan province, the distribution, habitat characteristic and resources reserves of M. tenacissima were surveyed based on interviews and investigation. The results showed that M. tenacissima was found in 7 counties such as Jinping, Mengzi etc, and distributed mainly on the mountainsides from 800 m to 1 200 m. And distribution was affected by many factors, such as light, heat, topography, soil, and vegetation. M. tenacissima grew well in distribution areas. M. tenacissima had averagely a weight of 2.8 kg per plant. Resources reserve of M. tenacissima in Honghe was estimated to 1 300 tons by now but it reduced rapidly in resent years, the wild resources reserve may not meet demand of market. Resources protection and wildlife tending would be conducted to deal with increasing medication requirements.
China ; Ecosystem ; Marsdenia ; classification ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; growth & development ; Soil ; chemistry

Objective To elucidate the electrophysiological features of POEMS syndrome. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the electrophysiological findings of 22 patients of POEMS, and compared their results with those of 22 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Results Compared with the CIDP group, the motor nerve conduction velocity was decreased in the POEMS group, but the difference was not significantstatistically (P>0.05); whereas, distal motor latency (DML) was significantly decreased (P<0.05), and terminal latency index (TLI) was significantly increased (P<0.05). The incidence rate of the nerve conduction block in the POEMS group was lower than that in the CIDP group (P<0.05). Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the tibial nerve was decreased significantly in the POEMS group as compared with the CIDP group (P<0.05), whereas CMAP of the median nerve was not significantly different (P>0.05). Abnormal electrophysiology was frequently observed in muscles of lower limbs in the POEMS group, and in comparison of upper limbs, the difference was not significant statistically (P<0.05).Conclusion In POEMS syndrome, slowing of nerve conduction velocity is more predominant in the intermediate segments of the peripheral nerve, and conduction block is rare. Abnormal nerve conduction may be correlated with limbs.

Child ; Contracture ; congenital ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Neck Muscles ; pathology ; Torticollis ; congenital

The aimed of this study was to prepare stabilized thiomers to overcome the poor stability character of traditional thiomers. Poly(acrylic acid)-cysteine (PAA-Cys) was synthesized by conjugating cysteine with poly(acrylic acid) and poly(acrylic acid)-cysteine-6-mercaptonicotinic acid (PAA-Cys-6MNA, stabilized thiomers) was synthesized by grafting a protecting group 6-mercaptonicotinic acid (6MNA) with PAA-Cys. The free thiol of PAA-Cys was determined by Ellmann's reagent method and the ratio of 6MNA coupled was determined by glutathione reduction method. The study of permeation enhancement and stabilized function was conducted by using Franz diffusion cell method, with fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FD4) used as model drug. The influence of polymers on tight junctions of Caco-2 cell monolayer was detected with laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscope. The results indicated that both PAA-Cys and PAA-Cys-6MNA could promote the permeation of FD4 across excised rat intestine, and the permeation function of PAA-Cys-6MNA was not influence by the pH of the storage environment and the oxidation of air after the protecting group 6MNA was grafted. The distribution of tight junction protein of Caco-2 cell monolayer F-actin was influenced after incubation with PAA-Cys and PAA-Cys-6MNA. In conclusion, stabilized thiomers (PAA-Cys-6MNA) maintained the permeation function compared with the traditional thiomers (PAA-Cys) and its stability was improved. The mechanism of the permeation enhancement function of the polymers might be related to their influence on tight junction relating proteins of cells.
Acrylic Resins ; chemistry ; Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Caco-2 Cells ; Cysteine ; chemistry ; Dextrans ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; analogs & derivatives ; Glutathione ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; Nicotinic Acids ; chemistry ; Rats ; Sulfhydryl Compounds ; chemistry

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Among its various active components, glycyrrhizic acid is believed to be the marker component. Squalene synthase (SQS) and beta-amyrin synthase (beta-AS) are key enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway of glycyrrhizic acid in G uralensis. To reveal the effects of co-expression of SQS1 and beta-AS genes on this pathway, 7 yeast expression vectors harboring different SQS1 variants and beta-AS were constructed and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as fusion proteins. TLC and GC-MS results showed that co-expression of SQS1 and beta-AS enhanced the accumulation of beta-amyrin. The effects of SQS12 were more obvious than the other two SQS1 variants. This study is significant for further investigations concerned with exploring the biosynthesis of glycyrrhizic acid in vitro and strengthening the efficacy of G. uralensis by means of increasing the content of glycyrrhizic acid.
Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; genetics ; Intramolecular Transferases ; metabolism ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of implantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs)on neovascularization and ischemic-type intrahepatic biliary lesion in rabbits.Methods The animals were divided into the sham-operation group, experimental model group and BM-MNCs implantation group with 10 rabbits in each. The animal model of ischemic-type intrahepatic biliary lesion was established by clamping the hepatic artery and common bile duct. The BM-MNCswere isolated from the tibial plateau by means of density gradient centrifugation and were implanted through the common hepatic artery. Changes of some biochemical markers such as ALT, AST, ALP,γ-GT, TBIL and DBIL etc. were detected. In 4 weeks after operation, the cholangiography, histopathological manifestation, differentiation of BM-MNCs, and microvessel density were observed.Results At each observation time, the degree of change of biochemical markers in group C was lower than that in group B. The engrafted cells could differentiate into vascular endothelial cells. The intrahepatic biliary lesion of group B was severer than that of group C but had fewer new capillary blood vessels around it. Conclusion The implantation of BM-MNCs can promote neovascularization and increase blood supply to the ischemic bile duct to diminish or prevent ischemic-type intrahepatic biliary lesion.

Objective To describe the clinical features and imaging characteristics of nodular splenic sarcoidosis. Methods We describe a patient with splenic sarcoidosis and review the related medical literature, the etiology, symptomatology, pathology, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, management and prognosis of splenic sarcoidosis. Results The etiology of this rare disease remains unknown. Symptoms are scanty and usually mild; computed tomography usually reveals splenomegaly or the presence of multiple nodules, confusing with metastatic tumor in spleen. On histopathologic examination, sarcoid produces noncaseating granulomas. Sarcoid is typically treated only when symptomatic. Oral corticosteroids is the most important method of treatment in patients with progressive loss of organ functions. Prognosis has closed relationship with early clinical manifestation. Conclusion Splenic sarcoidosis is rare and often misdiagnosis as other diseases.

Objective To investigate the effects of propofol on intracellular free Ca2+ concentration and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in PC12 cells exposed to bupivacaine. Methods The PC12 cells were provided by Shanghai Cell Biology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences and cultured in DMEM liquid culture medium. The cultured PC12 cells were seeded in 36 well plates and randomly assigned to one of 4 groups (n=9 wells each): group Ⅰ control (C);group Ⅱ propofol (P);group Ⅲ bupivacaine (B) and group Ⅳ propofol + bupivacaine (PB). In control group D-Hank solution was added. The cells were exposed to propofol 2 mmol/L and bupivacaine 0.09 mmol/L in group P and B respectively. In group PB the cells were incubated with propofol 2 mmol/L and bupivacaine 0.09 mmol/L simultaneously. After being incubated for 6 and 24 h the apoptosis in BC12 cells was assessed by flow cytometry. Apoptotic rate was calculated. NOS activity and intracellular free Ca2+ coneentration in PC12 cells were determined. Results Bupivacaine significantly increased the apoptotic rate of PC12 cells, the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration and NOS activity in PC12 cells in group B as compared with control group. Propofol significantly decreased the toxic effects of bupivacaine on PC12 cells in group PB compared with group B. Conclusion Bupivacaine is toxic to PC12 cells by increasing apoptosis, intracellular Ca+ concentration and NOS activity in the cells. The toxic effects can be prevented to some extent by concomitant administration of propofol.