Neovascular age-related macular degeneration(nAMD)and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV)are leading causes of blindness and visual impairment in older population.They are both with a hemorrhagic and exudative macular disorder.PCV has been proposed to be a sub-type of nAMD,hut this is a matter of controversy.Although several genes are found to be associated with PCV and nAMD(CFH,ARMS2/HTRA1),but more genes show no common association with the two diseases.such as BF/C2,Elastin,PEDF,SERPlNG1,VEGF,APOE genes.All these Results might imply that PCV and nAMD have different pathogenesis.But in the current state of our knowledge for PCV and nAMD.we still could not conclude if they are the same diseases.The purpose of these review is to discuss the recent progress in the molecular biology of PCV and nAMD.

Aim: To establish an analytical method to study the chemical components in Zhizi-Gancao-Chi(ZGC) decoction, and investigate its anti-depressant effect. Methods: An LC-PDA-MS/MS method was established and applied. The separation was performed on an ODS C_(18) column (250 mm ×4. 6 mm, 5 μm) with a gradient elu-tion. The mobile phase consisted of water/acetic acid( 1 %, v/v) and methanol. The main components were identi-fied according to the UV and MS. The anti-depressant effect was evaluated with mice tail-suspension test and forced swimming test. Results: The components of the ZGC decoction were separated isolated and ten of them were identified. These compounds are classified to iridoid glycosides, flavonoids and triterpene saponins. In addi-tion, its anti-depressant effect was observed for the first time. Conclusion: The LC-PDA-MS/MS method can ef-fectively separate and identify the components of ZGC decoction, which has significant anti-depressant effect. The relationship between the chemical component and its anti-depressant effect needs further study.

Esophageal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Preoperative Period

In order to investigate the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, the mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infected mice were experimentally studied. 6 to 8 week old female BALB/C mice with immunosuppression were selected to undergo the MCMV inoculations: intracranial inoculation and peritoneal inoculation. MCMV of the infected mice in various organs and tissues were detected by using beta-gal staining and in situ nucleic acid hybridization assay. The pathological changes were observed in HE staining paraffin-embedded sections. It was found that all the MCMV infected mice showed the retardation of growth and development, and feather looseness. Both intracranial inoculation of 10(4) PFU viruses or peritoneal inoculation of 10(6) PFU viruses resulted in the pathological changes, to some extent, of various organs and tissues in the mice. The pathological changes in liver were consistent with the amount of beta-gal staining positive cells, indicating the liver lesions were mainly caused by viral proliferation. It was also found that the viruses in the immunosuppressed mice subjected to intracranial inoculation could spread to whole body organs, while the viruses in the immunosuppressed mice subjected to intrapeitoneal inoculation couldn't spread to the brain, suggesting blood-brain barrier could prevent the virus from spreading to the brain.
Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain/pathology ; Brain/virology ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Herpesviridae Infections/pathology ; *Herpesviridae Infections/virology ; Immunocompromised Host ; Liver/pathology ; Liver/virology ; Lung/pathology ; Lung/virology ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; *Muromegalovirus

Objective To compare the anthelmintic effect of albendazole with that of triclabendazole against Fasciola giganti-ca. Methods Two patients infected with Fasciola gigantica were investigated,and one was administered with albendazole orally (200 mg,twice per day for 5 days)and another was administered with triclabendazole[10 mg/(kg?d)for 2 days]. Their total fe-ces were collected daily during the period of whole therapy,and the eggs of the parasite were collected by using the nylon bag method,and incubated at 28℃. Results The parasite eggs were detected from the first patient’s dejecta on the 1st,2nd and 5th day after the end of the treatment,and no miracidiums hatched out as well as no eggs developed during the period of 25 days of the incubation. Meanwhile,her body temperature fluctuated between 37.4℃and 38.3℃,and she still complained bellyache. For the other invalid,the eggs were not detected on the 2nd and 5th day after the end of the treatment. However,the eggs before and dur-ing the treatment developed the miracidiums of Fasciola gigantica on the 13th day after the incubation,but the eggs collected from the 1st day after the termination of the therapy did not develop and no miracidiums hatched out. At the same time,the signs and symptoms of the patient vanished after the 4th day of the end of the therapy. Conclusions Albendazole has no obvious insecticid-al activity on adult Fasciola gigantica in the short term,but may affect the development of eggs. Triclabendazole has the anthelmin-tic effect on the adults as well as eggs of Fasciola gigantica. In addition,triclabendazole has the characteristics of well curative ef-fect,short course of treatment,and no obvious side effects.

Objective To examine the relationship between plasma homocysteine level and status of congestive heart failure. Methods Plasma homocysteine level was determined in 106 patients with congestive heart failure(CHF).Among them,40 patients were diagnosed as having recent onset of CHF(group 1) and the remaining 66 were receiving conventional treatment(group 2).Thirty healthy subjects were served as a control group. Results(The plasma) homocysteine levels in group 1,group 2 and the control group were(14.87?5.22),(13.25?5.45) and((7.52)?1.73) ?mol/L,respectively.The plasma homocysteine level was significantly higher in group 1 and group 2 than in the control group(P

Objective This study is undertaken to evaluate the changes of serum cytokine levels in different stages of collagen induced arthritis(CIA)rats,to search for the specific proteins related with rheuma- toid arthritis(RA)pathogenesis and inflammation,and to explore the mechanism of RA pathogenesis.Methods Rat cytokine antibody array coated with 19 specific cytokine antibodies was used to examine serum samples at peak and late stage of CIA rats,and were compared to normal cytokine levels.At the same time,ELISA assay for serum TNF-?production was used to verify the array results.Results Among the target cytokines,10 up- regulating cytokines were kept in high expression in different phases of disease,while 1 showed significant change only at the peak of disease.There was no downregnlating cytokines in the results.Serum TNF-?assay results were consistent to the array results.Conclusion Cytokines show different expression in CIA at differ- ent stages,and specific cytokines can be used as the candidates to further study of the RA pathogenesis.This study also provides molecular makers for early diagnosis.

Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell ; Humans

Objective To explore the the role of fraction exhaled nitric oxide(FeNO) in airway inflammation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP).Methods Inpatients with low respiratory tract infection were enrolled from August to November in 2012,69 patients had MPP and 33 had no MPP(non-MPP).Patients with MPP were further grouped into a bronchopneumonia group and the lobar pneumonia group.Fifty-four inguinal hernia patients without respiratory tract infection during the last 2 weeks were enrolled as a control group.FeNO was measured by nitric oxide analyzer.Eosinophile level was detected by blood cells analysator.Results The level of FeNO in patients with MPP [(6.28 ±3.00) ppb] was lower than that of patients of non-MPP [(10.85 ± 2.86) ppb] and the control group [(9.74 ± 3.10) ppb] (t =7.30,6.26,respectively,all P ＜ 0.000 1) ; the level of FeNO between the bronchopneumonia group [(5.78 ± 3.06) ppb] and the lobar pneumonia group [(6.48 ± 2.98) ppb] with infection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) had no statistical significance(t =0.88,P ＞0.05).The proportion of blood eosinophile in patients with MPP [(0.60 ±0.51) ％] was lower than that of non-MPP group [(1.15 ± 0.76) ％] (t =4.14,P ＜ 0.000 1) ; the proportion of blood eosinophile between bronchopneumonia group [(0.61 ± 0.57) ％] and lobar pneumonia group [(0.60 ± 0.55) ％] with infection of MP had no discrepance (t =-0.05,P ＞0.05).Conclusions MP infection decreases production of FeNO.The possible mechanism for this phenomenon is that the cilia loss and hyperimmune response to MP may affect the production of FeNO.The airway inflammation of mycoplasma pneumonia is associated with cilia loss and hyperimmune response.

Objective To investigate the killing effect of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) on spinal metastasis of transplanted VX2 carcinoma in experimental rabbit models. Methods Spinal metastasis of transplanted VX2 carcinoma model was successfully established in 18 rabbits. The experimental rabbits were randomly and equally divided into three groups with 6 rabbits in each group. Under CT guidance , PMMA or saline was injected into the center of VX2 tumor; in group A 0.3 ml of PMMA was used, in group B 0.1 ml of PMMA was used and in group C (control group) 0.3 ml saline was used. Twenty-four hours after the injection, the animals were sacrificed. Four tissue samples were obtained from the sites at 1 mm , 5 mm, 10 mm and 15 mm away from the PMMA mass in each rabbit of group A and group B , while four tissue samples were collected from different four sites from the tumor ’s center to border in each rabbit of group C. TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method was used to determine the tumor cell apoptosis rate. Results After successful establishment of rabbit model, injection of PMMA was performed in sixteen among the eighteen rabbits. Technical success rates were 83.3% in both group A and B, and the success rate was 100% in group C. The difference in technical success rate was not significant. The mean tumor cell apoptosis rates of spinal VX2 carcinoma at 1 mm, 5 mm and 10 mm away from the PMMA mass in group A were (65.75±18.81)%, (50.00±14.24)% and(14.95±8.98)% respectively. The mean apoptosis rate in the control group was (9.79 ±5.24)%; the differences between the group A and the control group were statistically significant (P<0.05). The mean tumor cell apoptosis rate of spinal VX2 carcinoma at 15 mm away from the PMMA mass in group A was (10.30 ±8.13)%, which was not significantly different with that of the control group. The mean tumor cell apoptosis rates of spinal VX2 carcinoma at 1 mm and 5 mm away from the PMMA mass in group B were (49.20±15.57)% and(17.75±9.28)% respectively, which was significantly different with that of the control group(P<0.05); the mean tumor cell apoptosis rates at 10 mm and 15 mm away from the PMMA mass in group B were not significantly different with those of the control group. Statistically significant differences in the mean tumor cell apoptosis rates determined at 1 mm, 5 mm and 10 mm away from the PMMA mass existed between group A and group B(P<0.001). Conclusion PMMA can promote the apoptosis of tumor cells, properly increasing the injected amount of PMMA can enlarge the extent of tumor cell apoptosis.