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.

OBJECTIVETo invesitigate the clinical effects of percutaneous closed reduction and cannulated screw internal fixation combined with external fixation in the treatment of unstable pelvic fractures.

METHODSFrom April 2006 to May 2009,29 patients with pelvic fractures of rotatory instability were treated with closed reduction and screw internal fixation combined with external fixation. There were 19 males and 10 females with an average age of 31 years old (ranged from 19 to 53 years). Based on the Tile classification,17 cases were type CI and 12 case were type C2. Tornetta standard and Majeed score were used to evaluated the clinical effect after operation.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 10 to 24 months with an average of 16 months. There were no nerve injuries and other organ injuries, only one case of infection was found and it was cured with wound dressing. Time of fracture union was from 14 to 18 weeks with the mean of 16.2 weeks. No loosening, slippage or breakage of the screw were found. According to the Tornetta standards,14 cases obtained excellent results, 10 good, 4 fair and 1 poor. The Majeed score was 87.2 ± 11.3, 16 cases got excellent results, 9 good and 4 fair.

CONCLUSIONClosed reduction and screw internal fixation combined with external fixation is an effective way to treat unstable pelvic fractures with Tile type C1 and Tile type C2.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Bones ; injuries ; surgery

Autophagy is an important homeostatic cellular recycling mechanism responsible for degrading injured or dysfunctional cellular organelles and proteins in all living cells. Aging is a universal phenomenon characterized by progressive deterioration of cells and organs due to accumulation of macromolecular and organelle damage. Growing evidences indicate that the rate of autophagosome formation and maturation and the efficiency of autophagosome/lysosome fusion decline with age. Dysfunctional autophagy has also been observed in age-related diseases. Autophagy disruption resulted accumulation of mutated or misfolded proteins is the essential feature of neurodegenerative disorders. However, in cancers, fibroproliferative diseases or cardiovascular diseases, autophagy can play either a protective or destructive role in different types of disease, and even in different stages of the same disease. The review will discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms of autophagy and its important role in the pathogenesis of aging and age-related diseases, and the ongoing drug discovery strategies for therapeutic intervention.
Aging ; Autophagy ; Drug Discovery ; Humans ; Lysosomes ; metabolism ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Phagosomes ; metabolism ; Protein Folding

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.