? AIM: To explore the curative effect of dacryocystorhinostomy under endoscopy with mitomycin for the treatment of chronic dacryocystitis.?METHODS: Totally 73 cases ( 78 eyes ) with chronic dacryocystitis were treated with dacryocystorhinostomy under endoscopy with mitomycin and followed up for 6-12mo.?RESULTS: In the 73 patients, 66 cases with 70 eyes (90%) were cured, 2 cases with 3 eyes (4%) improved, 5 cases with 5 eyes ( 6%) not changed. In the recurrent 5 eyes, 2 eyes were treated under endoscopy to remove granulation, enlarge the opening, then anesthetic tube was placed after cotton sheet with 0. 4g/L mitomycin was put on the incision for 5min. The rest 3 eyes were treated in superior hospital with laser, and all were successful. There was no severe complication observed.?CONCLUSION:Dacryocystorhinostomy under endoscopy with mitomycin for chronic dacryocystitis is effective.

Objective To observe the lecithin's effect on membrane of African green monkey kidney cells (Vero) exposed to sodium arsenite(NaAsO2). Methods Vero cells cultured in vitro were divided into 4 groups:control group (saline), model group (2.20 mg/L NaAsO2), high eoncentration of lecithin and arsenic group (53.33mg/L lecithin + 2.20 mg/L NaAsO2), low eoncentration of lecithin and arsenic group( 13.32 mg/L lecithin + 2.20 mg/L NaAsO2), 6 bottles of cells in each group, medium was changed every 2 days, cultured for 120 h. Na+ ,K+-ATPase activities of membrane were measured by spectrophotometry, and membrane phospholipids composition including phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylethano-lamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingmyelin (SM) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results The Na~, K+-ATPase activities of membrane of control group, model group, high concentration of lecithin and arsenic group, low concentration of lecithin and arsenic group were (0.962 ± 0.081) × 106, (0.544 ± 0.037) × 106, (0.647 ± 0.043) x 106, (0.550±Compared with control group, the Na+ ,K+-ATPase activities of other 3 groups were significantly reduced (all P < 0.05). Compared with model group, the Na+ ,K+-ATPase activity in high concentration of lecithin and arsenic group was significantly higher (P < 0.05),but in low concentration of lecithin and arsenic group did not change significantly (P > 0.05). Compared with control group[(0.087 ± 0.003), (0.127 ± 0.053), (0.588 ± 0.105),(0.071 ± 0.029)g/L], PS, PE, PC, SM levels in model group[(0.051 ± 0.018), (0.073 + 0.030), (0.240 ±0.038), (0.047 ± 0.121 )g/L] were significantly lower(all P < 0.05) ;PS, PE, PC in high concentration of lecithin and arsenic group[(0.084 ± 0.011), (0.109 ± 0.363), (0.591 ± 0.476)g/L] did not change significantly(all P > 0.05), but SM[(0.057 ± 0.004)g/L] significantly decreased(P < 0.05) ;PS, PE, SM levels of low concentration of lecithin and arsenic group[(0.058 ± 0.020), (0.086 ± 0.177), (0.048 ± 0.103)g/L] significantly reduced (all P < 0.05), the PC did not change significantly [(0.521±0.098 )g/L, P > 0.05]. Compared with model group,the levels of PS, PE, PC, SM in high concentration of lecithin and arsenic group were significantly higher(all P <0.05);PS, PE, SM levels in low concentration of lecithin and arsenic group did not change significantly(all P > 0.05), and PC was significantly higher(P < 0.05). Conclusions High concentration lecithin has certain protective effect on Vero cell membrane exposured to sodium arsenite.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an important regulatory factor of cell proliferation and metastasis, involved in the occurrence and development of a variety of malignant tumors, and it is one of the hot spots in the research of targeted anti-tumor drugs. Our group screened a novel benzobis (imidazole) structure small molecule compound LZJ541 through the screening model of Janus kinase (JAK)/STAT3 pathway inhibitors, which has definite STAT3 inhibitory activity. We examined the effect of LZJ541 on the proliferation of HepG2 and PC-3 cells by MTT assay in vitro, detected the effect of LZJ541 on the expression of STAT3-related proteins in HepG2 cells by Western blot, and measured the effect of LZJ541 on the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of HepG2 cells via flow cytometry. The results indicated that LZJ541 significantly inhibited the activation of STAT3 signaling pathway and restrained the proliferation of HepG2 cells. Its half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was 13.8 μmol·L^-1, which was much lower than that of PC-3 cells (with low STAT3 expression, IC₅₀: 41.99 μmol·L^-1), LZJ541 can also inhibit the phosphorylation of STAT3 in HepG2 cells, thereby inducing apoptosis and cycle arrest and then exerting anti-tumor effects. In conclusion, LZJ541 has a certain anti-tumor effect in vitro, which provides an experimental basis for the development of new STAT3-targeted anti-tumor drugs around this kind of compounds.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukins/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/therapy* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr

Objective In order to avoid potential injuries imposed to human body,it could be feasible to use the musculoskeletal models which can be reconstructed from the cadaver color cryosection(CCC)images,computerized tomography(CT)images,magnetic resonance(MR)images or other images to analyze the dynamic properties of muscles in vivo during human movement.Mothod We reconstruct the lower limb musculoskeletal model and define the uniform ioint coordinate system(JCS)on the model and the subject.The coordinate transformation of the muscle attachment points both on the model and the subject is described in detail.Results The length and the moment arm of the biceps femoris(short head)during knee flexion are calculated and analyzed.Conclusion This method plays an important role in improving the kinematics and dynamic simulation and the muscle force estimation.

Objective In order to avoid potential injuries imposed to human body,it could be feasible to use the musculoskeletal models which can be reconstructed from the cadaver color cryosection(CCC)images,computerized tomography(CT)images,magnetic resonance(MR)images or other images to analyze the dynamic properties of muscles in vivo during human movement.Mothod We reconstruct the lower limb musculoskeletal model and define the uniform ioint coordinate system(JCS)on the model and the subject.The coordinate transformation of the muscle attachment points both on the model and the subject is described in detail.Results The length and the moment arm of the biceps femoris(short head)during knee flexion are calculated and analyzed.Conclusion This method plays an important role in improving the kinematics and dynamic simulation and the muscle force estimation.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bartter Syndrome ; genetics ; Child ; Chloride Channels ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation

OBJECTIVE: Over-expression of thrombin in ovarian cancer cells is associated with poor prognosis. In this study, we investigated the role of thrombin in inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in SKOV3 epithelial ovarian cancer cells. METHODS: After thrombin treatment SKOV3 cells were subjected to western blots, reverse-transcription PCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantify EMT-related proteins, mRNA expression of SMAD2, DKK1, and sFRP1, and the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cytokines. Meanwhile, invasion ability was evaluated using transwell assays. RESULTS: The results indicated a dose- and time-dependent down-regulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of N-cadherin and vimentin in thrombin-treated SKOV3 cells, compared with the thrombin-free control group (p<0.05). There was a dose- and time-dependent increase in the levels of SMAD2 and DKK1 mRNAs and a decrease in the levels of sFRP1 mRNA in thrombin-treated SKOV3 cells compared to control cells (p<0.05). Thrombin-treated SKOV3 cells exhibited increased secretion of MMP-9, MMP-2, interleukin (IL)-8, and IL-6 and increased invasion compared to untreated cells (p<0.05). Thrombin altered the morphology of SKOV3 cells to a spindle-like phenotype. Addition of hirudin to thrombin-treated cells reversed the effects of thrombin. CONCLUSION: Thrombin induced EMT and promoted the invasion of SKOV3 cells, possibly via distinct signaling pathways. Hirudin inhibited the effects of thrombin, suggesting that anticoagulant therapy could be a novel therapeutic strategy for ovarian carcinoma.
Blotting, Western ; Cadherins ; Cytokines ; Down-Regulation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Hirudins ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Proteins ; RNA, Messenger ; Thrombin ; Up-Regulation ; Vimentin

OBJECTIVETo develop a screening program for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) carriers, and to assess the carrier frequency and detection rate in Shanghai region.

METHODSQuantitative analysis of the SMN1 gene by real-time PCR was developed using specimens from 15 SMA patients and 76 SMA parents from 38 affected nuclear families. A pilot screening was carried out for 1741 asymptomatic pregnant women. Frequencies of SMN1 alleles were determined with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

RESULTSForty five out of the 1741 women were identified as SMA carriers by the presence of single copy of SMN1. The frequencies of no copy, 1 copy, 2 copy and 3 copy alleles were 1.37 U+00D7 10-2, 9.45 U+00D7 10-1, 2.80 U+00D7 10-2 and 1.27 U+00D7 10-2, respectively. The adjusted SMA carrier frequency was 1:35 with a detection rate of 94.49%. For those with a negative screening result, individuals with 3 copies carried a higher residual risk.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of SMA carriers in Shanghai region is similar with that in Caucasian populations. Carrier screening has high detection efficiency. An effort should be made to further distinguish SMN1 gene copy numbers for those with more than 2 copies, since accurate determination of 2 and 3 copy allele frequencies is essential for post-screening genetic consulting.

Alleles ; Female ; Gene Dosage ; Gene Frequency ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Pilot Projects ; Pregnancy ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo characterize molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities in six 46, XX males, and to investigate the clinical manifestations and underlying mechanisms in such patients.

METHODSClinical data of six XX male patients were collected. Karyotyping, multiple polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were utilized to detect and locate the sex determining region (SRY) gene.

RESULTSPCR and FISH showed that all patients were SRY-positive XX males. All patients have their SRY gene located at the tip of derivative X chromosomes, which have resulted from translocation between short arms of X and Y chromosomes. High resolution karyotyping at 550-750 band level has revealed that the translocation breakpoints were at Xp22.33 and Yp11.2 in three patients. In the remaining patients, the breakpoints were either at Xp22.32 and Yp11.31 or Xp22.31 and Yp11.2. The breakpoints at Xp22.32, Xp22.31 and Yp11.31 were rarely reported. Genotype-phenotype correlation analysis indicated that the clinical manifestations were age-specific. Four adult patients have come to clinical attention due to infertility, with typical features including azoospermia and testis dysgenesis, whereas poorly developed secondary sexual characteristics and short stature were main complaints of adolescence patients, and short stature was the sole symptom in a child patient.

CONCLUSIONCombined karyotyping, PCR and FISH are important for the analysis of XX males. Particularly, high resolution karyotyping is valuable for the refinement of chromosome breakpoints and detailed analysis of genotype-phenotype correlation.

46, XX Disorders of Sex Development ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Genetic Association Studies ; methods ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; methods ; Male ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult