Background Whether the wearing of bifocal lenses can delay the development of myopia in school childhood is in controversy.To assess the effect of bifocal lenses using evidence-based medicine method is of important significance.Objective Present study was to compare the effect of bifocal lenses with single vision lenses in retarding myopia progression in school-aged myopic children.Methods This was a evidence-based medicine study.The systematical literature search was performed from MEDLINE(1966 to October 2010),EMBASE(1974 to October 2010),Cochrane Library,Chinese Biomedical Database(1978 to October 2010),and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry combined with hand searching of related bibliographies of journals and books were applied to collect the randomized-controlled clinical trial about bifocal lenses.Screening,evaluation and data extraction of the retrieved literature were performed by two investigators independently.Mata-analysis was used to assess the progression of refraction and axial length among included randomized clinical trials.Results Three high-quality randomized-controlled clinical trials meeting the inclusion criterion were included in this meta-analysis.The results showed that the weighted mean difference in progression of refraction was 0.22D between bifocal lenses and single vision lenses(95% CI:-0.24-0.67),and the difference was statistical insignificance(P=0.35).The weighted mean difference in progression of refraction during the follow-up durations of 6,12,18,24 and ＞30 months were 0.15(95% CI:-0.09-0.38),0.17(95% CI:-0.05-0.39),0.42(95% CI:-0.14-0.98),0.23(95% CI:-0.21-0.66) and 0.03(95% CI:-0.40-0.46),respectively without statistical significance.The weighted mean difference in elongation of axial length between two interventions was -0.17mm(95% CI:-0.26-0.08) with a statistically significance(P=0.000).Conclusion Based on currently available studies,bifocal lenses could not significantly slow the progression of myopia in myopic school-aged children in comparison with single vision lenses.Because only few high-quality studies are currently available,this conclusion need to be supported by more large-sample-size clinical trials.

mRNAs of alpha-adrenoceptor (α-AR) subtypes are found in neurons in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and change after peripheral nerve injury. In this study, the distribution of α-AR subtype proteins was studied in L5 DRG of normal rats and rats with chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve (CCI). Using immunofluorescence technique, it was found that α1A-, α1B-, and α2A-AR proteins were expressed in large, medium, and small size neurons in normal DRG, and significantly increased in all size neurons 14 days after CCI. α1D- and α2C-AR was also expressed in all size neurons in normal DRG. However, α1D-AR was significantly increased and α2C-AR was decreased in small size neurons 14 days post CCI. α2B-AR neurons were not detectable in normal and CCI DRG. Co-expression of α1A- and α2A-AR in the same neuron was observed in normal DRG and increased post CCI. Collectively, these results indicated that there is distinct distribution of α-AR subtypes in DRG neurons, and the distribution and levels of expression of α-AR subtypes change differently after CCI. The up-regulation of α-AR subtypes in DRG neurons may play an important role in the process of generating and transmitting neuropathic pain.

Cleistocalycis Operculati Cortex is the dry bark of Cleistocalyx operculatus. It is the raw material of Compound Hibiscuse which is external sterilization antipruritic drugs. The quality standard of Cleistocalycis Operculati Cortex in Guangdong Province "standard for the traditional Chinese medicine" (second volumes) only contains TLC identification. It is unable to effectively monitor and control the quality of Cleistocalycis Operculati Cortex. A reversed-phase HPLC method was established for the determination of 3, 3'-O-dimethylellagic acid from Cleistocalycis Operculati Cortex and the content was calculated by external standard method for the first time. Under the selected chromatographic conditions, the target components between peaks to achieve effective separation. 3,3'-O- dimethylellagic acid standard solution at the concentration of 1.00 - 25.0 mg x L(-1) showed a good linear relationship. The standard curve was Y = 77.33X + 7.904, r = 0.999 5. The average recovery was 101.0%, RSD was 1.3%. The HPLC method for the determination of 3,3'-O-dimethylellagic acid in Cleistocalycis Operculati Cortex is accurate and reliable. It can provide a strong technical support for monitoring the quality of Cleistocalycis Operculati Cortex.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Syzygium ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene modified neural stem cells (NSCs)transplantation on cerebral ischemic injury in rats.Methods NSCs from newborn rat hippocampus were isolated,cultured in a medium containing fibroblast factor (FGF) in vitro. Their proliferation and differentiation were detected by immunohistochemistry.Virus vectors pLXSN-BDNF were built and BDNF were transfected into NSCs.Biological activity were detected to obtained engineering stem cells of BDNF protein with secretary activity.Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models were made and transplanted with NSCs-BDNF by stereotaxic technique.The effect of transplantation on MCAO models was evaluated histologically and behaviorally.Results Statistical analysis showed that the behavioral performance of the animals improved after transplantation (Longa mark being 1.343?0.293 four weeks after stem cell transplantation).The number of hippocampal dentate gyrus neurons increased to 87.5%?6.6% , four weeks after stem cell transplantation on Nissle stained hippocampal sections,which was significantly different from that of controls.Positively BrdU stained neural stem cells revealed by immunohistochemistry in the cultured cells and in the transplanted brain sections,indicated that the engineering cells transplanted had survived in the host brain and began to proliferate.Conclusion Transplantation of BDNF genetically modified NSCs can effectively promote the recovery from cerebral ischemic injury.

Objective To evaluate effects of interleukin-36α (IL-36α) on psoriasiform skin lesions and C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) expression in mice.Methods Totally,30 BALB/c female mice were randomly and equally divided into 3 groups:control group treated with topical vaseline cream on the shaved back and intracutaneous injection with phosphate buffer saline (PBS),model group treated with topical imiquimod cream on the shaved back and intracutaneous injection with PBS,experimental group treated with topical imiquimod cream on the shaved back and intracutaneous injection with IL-36α solution.Psoriasis area severity index (PASI) was used to evaluate changes of psoriasiform skin lesions in mice,and light microscopy to observe morphological changes of skin lesions and to measure the thickness of the epidermis.Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the expression of IL-36α in skin lesions in the control group and model group,and qRT-PCR,Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical study to evaluate changes of CCL20 levels in skin lesions.Results The model group showed significantly increased mRNA (△ Ct value:0.0195 ± 0.0059) and protein expression (3.922 ± 0.248) of IL-36α compared with the control group (mRNA:0.0012 ± 0.0004,P ＜ 0.05;protein:0.690 ± 0.025,P ＜ 0.05).The mRNA and protein expression of CCL20 were significantly higher in the experimental group than those in the model group (mRNA:2.152 ± 0.793 vs.0.999 ± 0.178;protein:0.397 ± 0.033 vs.0.145 ± 0.030;both P ＜ 0.05),and higher in the model group than those in the control group (mRNA:0.378 ± 0.075;protein:0.025 ± 0.009;both P ＜ 0.05).Immunohistochemical study showed that the expression intensity of CCL20 in skin lesions significantly increased in the experimental group compared with that in the model group (Z =2.294,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion IL-36α may aggravate psoriasiform skin inflammation in mice by promoting CCL20 expression.

In this assay, the reaction kinetics, optimum temperature, pH and various influential factors of ATP microbial rapid detection reagent by bioluminescence were studied. The results showed that it's enough for detection system to have 40 ~ 50?g/mL D-Luciferin. The light production decreased fastest in the first minute of reaction, then began to decay slowly. The optimal reaction temperature was 24℃~25℃and the optimal pH was pH 7.2 -7.4 in the reaction system. In addition, when stored at 4℃for 45h, the dissolved reagent solution could keep its 86% activity. When preserved at 25℃, the enzyme activity decreased less for 1h, and degraded gradually as time went by and only left 53. 5% of its activity after 6. 5h. While stored at 33℃, the enzyme activity decreased quickly with the time and only left 59. 1% after 1. 5h. The result indicated that storage temperature was a very important influential factor to the activity of reagent Meanwhile, different chemical substance such as acid, alkali, salt and surfactants inhibited the ATP bioluminescent reaction. When the concentration of NaCl reached 1. 5g/L, it could inhibit 52. 5% light production. Triton X-100, acid, and alkali also had some effects on the reaction, while CTAB, SDS and TCA would inhibit the bioluminescent reaction seriously.

Objective: To investigate the expression of PRDM1 and its relationship with PI3K/AKT pathway activation in extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma-nasal type. Methods: Immunocytochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of PRDM1 and p-AKT in 10 EN-NK/T-NT tissue or 3 cell lines (PRDM1-positive YT cell line, PRDM1-negative NKL and NK92 cell lines). Nanostring gene expression profiling technique was used to detect the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in normal nasal mucosa, PRDM1-negative and positive EN-NK/T-NT tissue. MTS was used to detect cell proliferation, and flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle and apoptosis. Results: Nanostring gene expression profiling revealed that genes associated with PI3K/AKT signaling pathway (eg, IL-7, BRCA1, ITGA8, IL2RB, FASLG, CDK2, COL27A1, CSF3R, KITLG and IL-6) were highly expressed in EN-NK/T-NT cases (P<0.05). Also, we found that p-AKT was highly expressed in YT cell line, but lower or not expressed in NK92 and NKL cells. In addition, LY294002, a PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor, increased PRDM1 and PTEN expression in a dose dependent manner in YT cells. More importantly, YT cell were treated with 20 μmol/L LY294002 48 h, the proliferation rate was significantly decreasing (58.18% vs 100.00%, t=12.770, P=0.006), and the proportion of cells in G(1) phase was significantly increased (30.05% vs 76.93%, t=11.570, P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in cell proliferation and cell cycle between NKL cells and control group (P>0.05). Conclusion: The activation of PI3K/AKT pathway is positive associated with the expression of PRDM1 in EN-NK/T-NT, and inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway may have significant therapeutic potential for PRDM1-positive EN-NK/T-NT.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Fibrillar Collagens ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1 ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Tongxinluo on adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), anti-oxidant enzymes activities, and lipid peroxidation of mitochondria or brain homogenate in focal brain ischemia-reperfusion rats. METHODS: The models of the focal brain ischemia-reperfusion rats were made by the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and ATPase and malonaldehyde (MDA) levels of mitochondria or brain homogenate were measured by biochemical methods. RESULTS: Tongxinluo significantly inhibited the decrease of activities of SOD and the increase of MDA levels, but had no difference in GSH-Px in brain homogenate. It also inhibited the decrease of activities of SOD, GSH-Px, ATPase, and the increase of MDA levels in mitochondria. CONCLUSION The protective mechanisms of Tongxinluo against mitochondrial injuries in focal ischemia-reperfusion rats may be derived from reducing lipid peroxides, scavenging free radicals and improving the energy metabolism.
Adenosine Triphosphatases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Brain Ischemia ; enzymology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; enzymology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of compound polymyxin B ointment combined with desonide cream for the treatment of subacute or chronic eczema. Methods A multicenter, randomized, double?blind, parallel?group, controlled clinical study was conducted. Totally, 144 patients with subacute eczema and 144 patients with chronic eczema were enrolled into this study, and both randomly and equally divided into the test group and control group. The test group and control group firstly topically applied compound polymyxin B ointment and its vehicle respectively, then both topically applied desonide cream 3 hours later. The drugs or vehicle were applied twice a day in all the patients. Patients′ symptoms and signs (including degree of itching, inflammation, erosion/exudation and infiltration/thickening, as well as area of target lesions) were evaluated, and the time to onset and duration of itching?alleviating effect were recorded. The clinical efficacy and safety of treatments were analyzed and compared between the test group and control group. Results The total symptom and sign scores significantly decreased to different extents on days 7 and 14 in the test group(subacute eczema patients:6.09 ± 2.78 and 3.68 ± 3.18 vs. 13.44 ± 1.66; chronic eczema patients: 6.56 ± 2.68 and 4.38 ± 3.27 vs. 12.96 ± 1.16)and control group(subacute eczema patients:8.26 ± 3.17 and 5.28 ± 4.05 vs. 13.60 ± 1.75;chronic eczema patients: 8.84 ± 2.90 and 6.25 ± 3.78 and vs. 12.64 ± 1.18)compared with those at baseline. Moreover, the total symptom and sign score of patients with subacute or chronic eczema was significantly lower in the test group than in the control group on days 7 and 14(all P<0.05). A significant increment was observed in the degree of decrease in scores for itch, infiltration/thickening in patients with subacute eczema in the test group compared with that in the control group(all P<0.01), as well as in scores for itch, infiltration/thickening and area of target lesions in patients with chronic eczema in the test group compared with those in the control group (all P < 0.05). In addition, patients with subacute eczema in the test group showed significantly shorter onset and longer duration of itching?alleviating effect than those in the control group(both P<0.05). The time to onset of itching?alleviating effect was also significantly shorter in patients with chronic eczema in the test group than in those in the control group(P<0.000 1), but there was no significant difference in the duration of it between the two groups of patients with chronic eczema. Clinicians and patients were both more satisfied with therapeutic effects in the test group than in the control group(all P<0.05). Conclusions Topical compound polymyxin B ointment can increase the efficacy of topical desonide cream for the treatment of subacute or chronic eczema, especially subacute eczema. Compound polymyxin B ointment also shows a favorable therapeutic effect on itching and infiltration/thickening in patients with eczema.

OBJECTIVETo explore the modulatory effect of niflumic acid (NFA) on gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)-activated currents of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in rat.

METHODSThe whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record the NFA- and GABA-activated currents in neurons freshly dissociated from rat DRG neurons.

RESULTSApplication of NFA(0.1 - 100 micromol/L) could induce concentration-dependent outward currents in some cells (21/48,43.75%), and GABA (0.1 - 100 micromol/L) could induce concentration-dependent inward currents in some cells(150/159,94.32%). NFA-(100 micromol/L) and GABA-(100 micromol/L) activated currents were (0.27 +/- 0.06) nA (n = 12) and (1.29 +/- 0.72) nA (n = 53) respectively. However, pre-application of NFA (0.1 - 100 micromol/L) could inhibit the GABA-activated inward current which was identified to be GABAA receptor-mediated current. The inhibitory effects of NFA were concentration-dependent. NFA could not alter the EC50 (about 30 micromol/L) and inverse potential (about -10 mV) of GABA-activated current (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPre-application of NFA exerts a more strong inhibitory effect on the peak value of GABA-activated current.

Animals ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Ganglia, Spinal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Niflumic Acid ; pharmacology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism