alphaB-crystallin is the structural protein of vertebrate lens, which is widely expressed in non-lens tissue. As one of the heat shock protein family members, alphaB-crystallin possesses biological properties of molecular chaperones and anti-apoptotic effects. Multi-factor injuries, such as retinopathy, inflammation and nervous system diseases, have a closely relationship with alphaB-crystallin. This paper reviews the research progress of the expression and mechanism of alphaB-crystallin in retina and extraocular tissues and organs.
Crystallins ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism* ; Humans ; Lens, Crystalline ; Retina ; alpha-Crystallin B Chain/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the correlation between contrast vision (LV) and sweep visual evoked potential acuity (SVEP-A) among people with emmetropia, mild myopia, and moderate myopia. METHODS: The CV and SVEP-A were tested individually in 96 eyes from healthy young volunteers, including 37 eyes of emmetropia, 27 eyes of mild myopia, and 32 eyes of moderate myopia. The statistic analysis was done by ANOVA analysis and rank sum test. RESULTS: (1) With the decrease of contrast, CV and SVEP-A decreased in every group. (2) At 100% contrast, the difference of CV between emmetropia and mild myopia had statistical significance (P<0.05). At 100%, 25% and 10% contrast, the difference of CV between emmetropia and moderate myopia had statistical significance (P<0.05). (3) In the same group, the difference of 100% and 25% contrast had statistical significance (P < 0.05). So was between 100% and 10% contrast. (4) At 100% and 10% contrast, the difference of CV and SVEP-A had statistical significance (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The CV of myopia relates to many factors including ametropia and fundus lesions. The correction of ametropia is important to the values of CV and SVEP-A.
Evoked Potentials, Visual/physiology* ; Eye ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Myopia/physiopathology* ; Neurologic Examination ; Severity of Illness Index ; Vision Tests/instrumentation* ; Visual Acuity/physiology*

OBJECTIVE: To study the characters of oscillatory potentials (OPs) of electroretinogram (ERG) after methanol intoxication in rats. METHOD: The SD rat models of methanol intoxication were established and divided into control group, 3-day intoxication group, 7-day intoxication group. The changes of OPs of ERG were recorded in a dark room. RESULTS: The total amplitudes of 3-day and 7-day intoxication groups decreased approximately 50% compared with that of the control group, while the schedule delayed approximately 16% and 61%, respectively. CONCLUSION The characters of methanol intoxication in rats included delay in schedule and decline in the total amplitude of OPs.
Animals ; Electroretinography ; Methanol/poisoning* ; Rats ; Retina/physiopathology*

Objective To explore the influence of the lactation exposure to fluoxetine on offspring's behavior and serotonin transporter (SERT) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH). Methods Six SD pregnant rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=3 each group). Experimental maternal rats were intraperitoneally injected with fluoxetine at a dose of 12 mg/kg from postnatal day 5 to 21. The control group were injected with the same amount of normal saline. In infancy, the offspring's weight, hair length, eye opening and auditory development were measured. The free suspension test and bur?ied food pellets test were applied to evaluate the offspring's behaviors. After postnatal day 21, all the offspring were wean. At early childhood (P35d) and adulthood (P75d), 6 offspring rats from each group were executed to examine SERT and TPH in the prefrontal cortex by immunohistochemistry. Results The offspring's weight of experimental group was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). The sensitivity of auditory in experimental group was significantly higher than control group (P<0.01). The time of free suspension in experimental group significantly was decreased comparing to control group (P<0.01). The SERT and TPH in prefrontal cortex was significantly lower in experimental group than those in control group either at childhood (P35d) or at adulthood (P75d) (P<0.05). Conclusion Lactation exposure to fluoxetine re?sults in offspring's abnormal development and behaviors through down-regulation of SERT and TPH in the prefrontal cor?tex.

BACKGROUND: Edaravone can alleviate brain injury and improve neurological functions and symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the effect of edaravone on the p38Mitogen-activated protein kinases/Caspase-3 (p38MAPK /Caspase-3) pathway after diffuse brain injury (DBI) in rats. METHODS: DBI models were established according to the description of Marmarou's method. A total of 250 rats were divided (random number) into four groups: control group (CG, n=45), model group (MG, n=77), low-dose edaravone group (n=67, dosage 5 mg/kg) and high-dose edaravone group (n=61, dosage 10 mg/kg). After 1, 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours after injury, brain tissues were collected. The changes of neuron morphous in the hippocampal region were observed through Nissl staining. The expression levels of phosphorylated p38MAPK and caspase-3 were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting respectively. Learning and memory function were tested with Morris water maze from the 3rd to 7th day after injury. RESULTS: Some neurons had histopathologic changes of necrosis and apoptosis in the model group compared with the control group. The phosphorylated p38MAPK expressions increased at 1, 6, 4, and 48 hours (P<0.05), but no significant difference was observed at 72 hours (0.54±0.19 vs. 0.40±0.14, P>0.05). Caspase-3 expressions increased at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours respectively (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference at 1 hour (0.59±0.29 vs. 0.40±0.17, P>0.05). From the 3rd to 6th day during the Morris water maze test, the latency to find the platform was significantly prolonged (P<0.05) and times of rats crossing the platform was decreased on the 7th day (2.28±1.18 vs. 8.20±1.52, P<0.05). The phosphorylated p38MAPK expressions decreased at 6, 24 and 48 hours respectively in the low dose edaravone group compared with the model group (P<0.05), whereas no significant difference was seen at 1 hour (1.66±0.80 vs. 1.85±0.86, P>0.05). Caspase-3 expression decreased at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours (P<0.05). The latency to find the platform was significantly shortened (P<0.05), and times of rats crossing the platform increased (4.17±1.15 vs. 2.28±1.18, P<0.05). The above mentioned parameters changed more significantly in the high-dose edaravone group than in the low-dose edaravone group. CONCLUSION: Edaravone can alleviate brain tissue damage after DBI, inhibit p38MAP signal activation after early injury, reduce the expression of caspase-3, and promote the recovery of neurological function in the late period.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of urinary iodine and edible iodized salt,and to provide suitable iodine concentration in iodized salt.Methods Sample testing was carried out to detect iodine concentration in marketed salt and child urine before salt iodization (1994).After salt iodization (2001-2010),sample testing was carried out to detect salt iodine level in manufacture,market(2001-2010) and resident household(1997-2010).Urine of children aged 8 to 10 were sampled by PPS method from 1997 to 2005.In 2009,urinary iodine of 20 children was determined in each of 5 schools,which were sampled from 5 counties located at North,South,East,West and center of Chongqing.Based on the urinary iodine and salt iodine levels before salt iodization,the relationship of urinary iodine and consumption of iodized salt was calculated.Suitable iodine concentration in iodized salt was put forward.x2 test and trend analyze approach(F-test) were used for statistical analysis.Results Before salt iodization,salt iodine level was not tested in 204 edible salt samples; the median of urinary iodine was 53.14 μg/L in 1374 children.After salt iodization,form 2001 to 2010,the average iodine levels in manufacture and wholesale salt were between 29.72-36.25 mg/kg and 30.65-36.13 mg/kg,respectively,both of them decreased significantly(F =35.35,140.59,all P ＜ 0.01),and show a downward trend.Batch quality passing rate of industry iodized salt was 100％ except in 2001,which was 92.86％.Batch quality passing rate of market iodized salt were between 88.68％-99.77％,specifically in 2001 (88.68％),in 2002(92.57％) and in 2003 (96.22％).There was no significant difference in other years (all P ＞ 0.05).The median of urinary iodine were between 238.80-328.00 μg/L,more than 35％ fall into ＞ 300 μg/L; while salt iodine increased 1 mg/kg,urinary iodine increased 5.51 μg/L-7.40 μg/L; The medium of urinary iodine of children were between 140.05-383.00 μg/L in 40 counties or districts in 2009.Reducing the iodine concentration in edible iodized salt to 20 mg/kg,the median of urinary iodine can be kept at 163.34 μg/L to 201.14 μg/L.Conclusions Iodine in iodized salt is above sufficient in Chongqing.Salt iodine should be reduced to 20 mg/kg,which will meet various population's need.

Objective To investigate the nutritional status of iodine among residents in Chongqing, and to facilitate scientific prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders. Methods Select 9 towns in each of the 40 districts (counties) in Chongqing, and collect 40 resident edible salt samples in each of the selected town to detect salt iodine by direct titrimetry. Select 5 towns on the site of the east, west, south, north and middle of every district (county), select 20 children aged 8 to 10 in each of the selected town to collect urine samples and detect urinary iodine by As-Ce catalytic spectrophotometric assay. Results The median of iodine of 14 217 salt specimens by household was 292 mg/kg with a coverage rate of qualified iodized salt of 98.90%( 14 061/14 217). The consumption rate of qualified iodized salt was 95.59%( 13 590/14 217). The median of urinary iodine for 4050 children aged 8 to 10 was 247.20μg/L, of which < 50 μg/L accounted for 4.60%(186/4050), 50-99μg/L accounted for 7.28% (295/4050), 100 - 199 μg/L accounted for 26.44% (1071/4050), 200 - 299 μg/L accounted for 25.58% (1036/4050), 300 μg/L or more, accounted for 36.10% (1462/4050). However, no significant difference was observed between different age groups(x2 = 3.77, P > 0.05). At district (county) level, the median of urinary iodine in 10(25.00%) districts (counties) was 100 - 200 μg/L, that in other 23(57.50%) districts (counties) was 200 - 300 μg/L, and that in other 7(17.50%) districts/counties was greater than 300 μg/L, and statistical significance was observed between different districts/counties (x2 = 441.95, P < 0.01). Conclusions Current iodine nutrition among residents in Chongqing is adequate. While there is excess, need to reduce the amount of salt iodization.

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the effects of varicocele (VC) on IL-1 and NO levels in testes of rats with VC.

METHODSMale adult Wistar rats were divided into two groups randomly, VC group (n = 30) and pseudo-operation group (n = 20), and the levels of IL-1 and NO in the testes were determined and compared.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-1 and No of left tests in VC group were higher than those in pseudo-operation group, respectively(P < 0.01). While the levels of IL-1 and NO of right testes between two groups were not significantly different (P > 0.05). More over, the level of IL-1 correlated significantly with that of NO(r = 0.572, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe results revealed that the changes of IL-1 and NO levels in the testes of rats with VC might be the reason which caused testes damage, disturbance of spermatogenesis and even infertility.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukin-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Varicocele ; metabolism

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; analysis ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; analysis ; Hepatitis B virus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Ovary ; virology

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical features of invasive fungal infection in patients with hematological malignancies and to compare the the therapeutic effect of fluconazole and intraconazole. METHODS: The clinical manifestations, mycological features, and the therapeutic results of 47 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Fluconazole was given to 17 paitents, intraconazole was given to 21 patients, and intraconazole to the other 9 patients after they had no effect with fluconazole. RESULTS: All patients had fever. The lung and the mouth cavity were the main locations of infection (53.2% and 21.3%, respectively). Fungi were found in 23 (48.9%) patients, in which the majority were Candida albicans and Aspergillus (56.5% and 26.1%, respectively). Intraconazole was more effective than fluconazole (63.3% vs. 34.6%, P<0.05) with no serious side effect. CONCLUSION The most common clinical features of IFI are fever, lung infection, and oral infection in patients with hematological malignancies. Candida albicans and Aspergillus infection are common. Intraconazole is safe and effective for invasive fungal infection.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aspergillosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Candidiasis ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Female ; Fluconazole ; therapeutic use ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; microbiology ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; therapeutic use ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged