Autophagy is an important homeostatic cellular recycling mechanism responsible for degrading injured or dysfunctional subcellular organelles and proteins in all living cells. The process of autophagy can be divided into three relatively independent steps: the initiation of phagophore, the formation of autophagosome and the maturation/degradation stage. Different morphological characteristics and molecular marker changes can be observed at these stages. Morphological approaches are useful to produce novel knowledge that would not be achieved through other experimental methods. Here we summarize the morphological methods in monitoring autophagy, the principles in data interpretation and the cautions that should be considered in the study of autophagy.
Autophagy ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Organelles ; Phagosomes

Vogt-Koyanagi-Halada syndrome is an autoimmune disease attacking melanocytes, which involves eye, ear, meninge and skin. Patient offen has uveitis and extraocular symptoms and signs and the misdiagnosis of missed diagnosis of VKHS is very common. Patients have good prognosis after hormone therapy.
Adult ; Diagnostic Errors ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome ; diagnosis

Hereditary angioneurotic laryngeal edema (HALE) is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease in which there is a decrease or defect in the C1 inhibitor (C1-INH). The pathophysiology of HALE is characterized by recurrent spontaneous episodes of transient edema of the laryngeal mucose and submucosal tissue with remission at irregular. Patients may die because of a life-threatening acute upper airway obstruction caused by laryngeal edema. HALE was diagnosed on the clinical symptoms, family history, and markedly decreased serum C1-INH activity and C1-INH protein.
Angioedemas, Hereditary ; diagnosis ; Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein ; Humans ; Laryngeal Edema ; diagnosis ; Recurrence

Objective To understand the relationship between age and chronic complications in hospitalized aged patients with hypertension, to provide evidence for hypertension prevention and control. Methods To retrospectively analyze the clinical and laboratory data on 17,682 patients with essential hypertension during Jan 1st,1993-Dee 12th, 2008 in PLA general hospital. Results 1)Among all of the inrolled cases, those aged 60-64 account for 27.87%, 65-69 years group account for 26.55%, 70-74 years group accounted for 23.96%, 75-79 years group accounted for 14.14%, 80-84 years group accounted for 5.26%, 85-89 years group accounted for 1.69%, > 90 years accounted for 0.41%. 2) The prevalence rate of chronic complications in 60-69 years group were 31.3-31.2% for diabetes and,22.6-27.0% for cerebrovascular disease, 9.5-11.1% for myocardial infarction, 6.7-9.1% for heart failure, 5.8-6.0% for renal dysfanction 4.9-6.8% for atrial fibrillation, 0.1-0.3% for multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in the elderly(P <0.05 ). 3) The first four complications of hypertension were diabetes(33.5%), cerebrovascular disease (31.9%), myocardial infarction(13.2%) and heart failure(12.3%) in 70-74 years group (P<0.05), cerebrovascular disease (42.8%), diabetes (32.8%), heart failure (16.5%) and myocardial infarction(15.9%) in 75-79 years group (P<0.05), cerebrovascular disease (45.4%), diabetes (35.0%), heart failure (21.1%) and myocardial infarction(15.9%) in 80-84 years group (P<0.05), cerebrovascular disease(42.5%), diabetes (35.8%), heart failure (23.1%) and renal dysfanction (17.7%) in 85-89 years group(P<0.05 ),and cerebrovascular disease (45. 2%), heart failure(31.5%), diabetes (26.0%) and renal dysfanction (20.5%) in patients more than 90 years group (P<0.05). Conclusions The prevalence rate and kinds of chronic complications in hospitalized aged patients with hypertension were changed with the increasing age, and the first kind of complication is cerebrovascular disease. It is of more importance to prevent the occurrence of renal dysfanction and heart failure in those hypertension patients who were more than 80 years old.

Autophagy is an active research area in the biomedical field as its role has been identified in many physiological and pathological processes. Accordingly, there is a growing demand to identify, quantify and manipulate the process accurately. Meanwhile, there is great interest in identifying compounds that modulate autophagy because they may have applications in the treatment of a variety of autophagy-related diseases. In this review, we summarize the current status of autophagy screening systems to facilitate identification of autophagy modulators.
Autophagy ; Humans

Objective To explore the changes of atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP)and parathyroid hormone(PTH)in umbilical cord blood of newborn infants with intrauterine growth retardation(IUGR)and their relationships with electrolytic.Methods A total of 71 IUGR infants borned between Jan.2006 and Aug.2007 were enrolled in this study.Another 40 normal appropriate for gestational age neonates were selected as control group.The study group were divided into 2 groups:mature IUGR group(n=29)and premature IUGR group(n=42).The samples of umbilical cord blood of every group were collected at the time of delivery,and ANP,PTH levels in umbilical cord blood were mea-sured by radioimmunoassay.The sodium,calcium levels in their peripheral vein were measured simultaneously.Results 1.Compared with control group[(0.78?0.42)?g/L],the ANP levels of premature IUGR group[(1.26?0.47)?g/L] and the mature IUGR group[(1.09?0.51)?g/L] were significantly increased(t=5.98,2.76 Pa0.05).The calcium levels of the premature IUGR group[(1.85?0.37)mmol/L]significantly decreased(t=1.93 P0.05)compared with control group [(2.02?0.44)mmol/L].3.The serum sodium level was negatively correlated with the umbilical ANP level(r=-0.93 P

Objective To compare the treatment effects and toxicity of convention fractionation ra- diotherapy(CFR),late course accelerated hyperfractionafion radiotherapy(LCAFR) and whole course accel- erated hyperfractionation radiotherapy(WCAFR) for patients with middle or low thoracic esophageal moder- ately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.Methods Ninety patients with middle or low thoratic esoph- ageal carcinoma were divided into three groups:1.CFR group,patients were irradiated 2.0 Gy/f,5 times a week,to a total dose of 70 Gy;2.LCAFR group,patients were first irradiated with CFR to 40 Gy,then fol- lowed by 1.5 Gy/f bid,at more than 6 hoursinterval,5 times a week,to a total dose of 70 Gy;3.WCAFR group,patients were irradiated 1.5 Gy/f bid,at more than 6 hoursinterval,5 times a week,to a total dose of 72 Gy.Results The 1-,2-,3-year local control rate was 47%,17% and 0% in CFR group,60%,20% and 20% in LCAFR group,60%,40% and 33% in WCAFR group,respectively.The 1-,2-,3-year survival rate was 47%,20% and 10% in CFR group,63%,43% and 17% in LCAFR group,and 63% ,50% and 33% in WCAFR group,respectively.There were better results in the latter two groups(P＜0.01).The a- cute toxic effect was severer in the WCAHF and LCAF groups than in CF group.Highter grade 2-3 acute esophagitis rate was observed both in WCAHF and LCAF groups.There were no significant differences in late esophagitis rate between the three groups.The grade 1-2 acute radiation pneumonitis rates were higher in WCAHF group than in LCAF and CF groups.One patient died of radiation pneumonitis in WCAHF group. Conclusions Whole course accelerated hyperfractionation radiotherapy can significantly improve the local control rates and the 1-and 2-year survival rates of esophageal cancer,but can also increase the toxicity.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is an acute organic brain syndrome caused by various reasons, and it is common in elderly patients. Antipsychotics treatment is an important method to control delirium.OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of new antipsychotic agent of olanzapine and the traditional antipsychotic agent of haloperidol in treating senile delirium.DESIGN: A randomized controlled observation. SETTING: Mental Health Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing University of Medical Sciences.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 175 inpatients with senile delirium were selected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing University of Medical Sciences from September 2001 to September 2003, they were randomly divided into olanzapine treatment group (n=74), haloperidol treatment group (n=72) and a control group(n=29). There were 111 males (63.4%) and 64 females (36.6%). Delirium had occurred for a duration of 30 minutes to 17 days, with an average of (3.02±2.71) days. The enrolled patients were classified according to the etiological factors of delirium: metabolic (n=68), toxic (n=47), structural (n=25) and infectious (n=35).METHODS: Different treatments were used in different groups. Control group (n=29): The patients were only given somatic treatment aiming at delirium, and not any drug for central nervous system was used. Olanzapine group (n=74): Besides the somatic treatment aiming at delirium, the patients were given olanzapine (Zyprexa, produced by Eli Lilly and Company,5 mg/tablet) taken orally or sublingually (fasted patients), the initial dosage was 1.25-2.5 mg per day, and then adjusted to 1.25-20 mg per day. Haloperidol group (n=72): Besides the somatic treatment aiming at delirium, they were treated with intramuscular injection of haloperidol (2.5-10 mg per day). The effects were prospectively observed for 1 week.The scores were observed before enrollment and at 1-7 days respectively,the severity of mental disorder and amelioration were evaluated by the clinical global impression scale-severity of illness (CGI-SI) and global improvement item of clinical global impression scale (CGI-GI). The dosage and time of administration was taken as the dosage and time to take effect when the CGI-SI baseline scores decreased by more than 1 point.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The severity of mental disorder and amelioration were observed.RESULTS: ① The scores of CGI-SI after treatment were significantly decreased in the olanzapine group, haloperidol group and control group, and there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.01). ② The rates of marked effect in the three groups were 82.4%, 87.5% and 31.0%, respectively, and those in the two treatment groups were significantly different from that in the control group (P ＜ 0.01). ③ Both olanzapine and haloperidol began to take effect at small dosages, and it was the fasted in the olanzapine group, followed by the haloperidol group, and slowest in the control group.CONCLUSION: Olanzapine and haloperidol have similar effects in treating senile delirium. However, olanzapine is faster to take effect than haloperidol.

With the development of therapeutic antibodies over the past decade, they have become the treatment options for immunity and inflammation diseases. Major limitations of mouse antibodies as therapeutic agents - immunogenicity, lack of effectors' functions and short serum half-life -- were subsequently identified and largely overcome by the advent of humanized and fully human antibody technologies. The therapeutic antibodies for immunity and inflammatory diseases are primarily utilized in the treatment of allograft rejection, autoimmune disease, autoinflammatory syndromes, allergies and other chronic inflammation. The action mechanisms of therapeutic antibody include blocking ligands or receptors, regulating receptor activity, clearing the target cells or activating receptor. Strategies for generating the antibody drugs with high efficacy and low side effects can be realized by modulation of Fc-mediated activities and optimization of antigen-binding domains.

Objective To study the use of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy (PTGD) followed by selective minilaparotomy cholecystectomy (MC) for acute obstructive cholecystitis in the high-risk elderly.Method A retrospective study was conducted on 120 patients who received ultrasound-guided PTGD followed by selective MC from January 2008 to December 2010.Results PTGD+ MC were performed successfully on 120 patients with acute severe obstructive chole cystitis.In all the patients,the abdominal pain was relieved within 2-3 h of operation,and the temperature decreased to normal from 24- 48 h after operation.The average time of drainage was 10 days.In 97 patients MC was performed 1 week after PTGD,and in 23 patients 2 weeks after PTGD.Bleeding from gallbladder bed occurred in 1 patient.No patient suffered from bile leak.There was no major complication or death after PTGD+ MC.Conclusion PTGD followed by selective MC is a simple,efficacious and minimally invasive treatment for high-risk elderly patients with acute obstructive cholecystitis.