Epigenetics refers to the changes of heritable gene expression without modification of DNA sequences which is one of major research interest of human genome study post gene era. Epigenetics may play an important role in the pathogenesis of retinal diseases. Epigenetics modification in the regulation of gene expression and function mainly includes DNA methylation,histone acetylation and non-coding RNA such as miRNA. The implication of epigenetics has been suggested with the pathogenesis of retinal fibrosis, retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. In addition, the epigenetics drug has potential to be used in the treatment of retinal diseases.

Epigenetics has become a hot topic in biomedical research in last a few years.Epigenetics refers to as epigenome,and it is interpreted as epigenetic changes (DNA methylation,histone modifications and non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs) in the regulation of genes expression on chromatin-based pathways rather than a single gene.Epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation,histone modification and miRNA serve as an interface for environmental stimuli and interacts each other to regulate gene expression and control phenotypes of cell.All of those epigenetic factors are essential in the keeping homeostasis of human body and contribute to many biologic conditions.In addition,the application of epigenetic drugs has been come into clinical trials especially in the treatment of cancers,therefore the understanding the mechanism of epigenetics in the development of human diseases and the therapeutic potential of epigenetic regulators in the treatment of human disease will bring us into the epigenetics era in biomedical research.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Ataxia ; congenital ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; congenital ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Young Adult

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Qualitative and quantitative analyses of biological samples containing drugs, toxicants and endogenous substances play an important role in the researches of life sciences, as well as in new drug discovery and development. Biological samples are characterized by complex matrix, multiple endogenous interferences, significantly lower concentrations of measured analytes compared to endogenous components and small sampling volume. Consequently, it often requires bioanalysis methods with superior specificity, high sensitivity and good reproducibility. The two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) technique, which allows for high peak capacity, significant reduced matrix effect and carryover of complex matrix samples and automated sample pre-treatment and analysis, has been the powerful solution to the separation and analysis of biological sample and widely applied to environment, food and pharmaceutical analysis. On the basis of introduction of the principle and equipments of 2D-LC, the application of this technique in the pharmacokinetics, toxicological and biological study was reviewed.

High mobility group box-1(HMGB1)distributed widely.It exists in many organs.HMGB1 locates in nuclei and cytoplasm in normal condition.It involves in many activity of life(i.e.,duplication of DNA,cellular differentiation,gene expression).The immunocytes(i.e.,mononuclear macrophage and dendritic cells)secrete HMGB1 into the extracellular milieu when stimulated with LPS and cytokines.It acts as proinflammatory cytokines,activates inflammatory and immunological responses.As a late mediators of inflammation and last long,HMGB1 plays an important role in sepsis,so it may be a convenient and practical index in evaluating severity of sepsis and may be an important and new therapeutic target in sepsis.It has been initially proved in experimental and clinical study.

Background Brn-3a is a newly discovered specificity marker for retina ganglion cells(RGCs).It is well-known that RGCs damage is a important pathological basis of hypertension-visual disorder.But the study concerning expression of Brn-3a in RGCs in glaucoma eye is still rately.Objective The purpose of this work was to investigate the changes of Brn-3a expression in model eye with chronic high intraocular pressure(IOP) and its relation with morphology of retina and the expression of Brn-3a in chronic ocular hypertension rats.Methods Thirty-five clean adult SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group(5 rats) and model group(30 rats).Experimental chronic ocular hypertension models were induced unilaterally in the left eyes of 30 health adult SD rats by cauterizing super-scleral veins,and the conjunctival incision was made in the right eyes as sham operative group.The operated rats were subdivided into 6 groups according to the examination time points and 6 rats for each group.IOP was measured with Tono-Pen tonometer before and after 30 minutes,1,3,7,14,28 day after surgery respectively.The rat models were sacrificed in 1,3,5,7,14,28 days after operation by excessive anesthesia method,and retinal section was prepared for the histopathological examination and the RGCs were counted using Nissl staining method.Expression of Brn-3a in RGCs was detected by immunohistochemistry.This experimental complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The IOP was significantly raised from 30 minutes to 28 days after operation in model eyes with the top IOP( 34.46±4.65 )mmHg in the 30 minutes after operation,showing statistically significant differences in various time groups ( F =95.631,P =0.001 ) and different eyes ( F =287.473,P =0.001 ).Compared with sham operative group,the IOP were elevated from 1 day through 14 days after operation ( q =18.418,15.261,10.987,6.931,4.975,2.962,P ＜ 0.05 ).The numbers of RGCs were ( 29.08 ± 1.98 ) in the normal control group and decreased gradually by 3.17％,7.84％,14.60％,22.40％ in 1,7,14,28 day after surgery in the model eyes with the considerable differences in comparison with normal eyes ( t =5.943,8.034,15.023,17.004,19.371,P ＜ 0.05 ).Immunochemistry revealed that Brn-3a was specially expressed in the RGCs layer and the positive RGCs for Brn-3a were evidently decreased as the prolong of high IOP duration ( F =127.583,P =0.000 ).Conclusions Chronic glaucoma model can be successfully established using Shareef-Sharma method.The loss of RGCs is associated with the high lOP duration.The expression level of Brn-3a is a reliable index of high-IOP-induced damage of optical nurve.

Background Myopia is an important risk factor of glaucoma.Investigation of the characteristics of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and optical head morphology in myopia patients was helpful for differentiating myopic change and glaucomatous change in myopic eye.Objective This study was to investigate the peripapillary RNFLT and papillary parameters in different degrees of myopic eyes.Methods A 5-year case series study was retrospectively analyzed.Total 168 eyes of 168 myopic patients without visual field defect were recruited and divided into three age matched groups according to spherical equivalent (SE):low myopia group (SE:-0.25 ～-0.75 D) (57 eyes),moderate myopia group (SE:-3.0 ～-5.75 D) (57 eyes) and high myopia group (SE:-6.0～-12.0 D) (54 eyes).The RNFLT was measured with scanning laser polarmetry (GDxVCC) and papillary parameters measured with confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (HRT Ⅱ).Intergroup difference of parameters from GDxVCC and HRT Ⅱ were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and SNK-q test.The correlations between spherical equivalent and RNFLT or papillary parameters was evaluated with multiple linear regression analysis.Results The global average,superior and inferior average,standard deviation,inter-eye symmetry of RNFLT were gradually reduced as the increase of SE with significant differences among the three groups (F=6.193,7.127,3.874,4.098,3.128,P ＜ 0.05).Global average,superior average,standard deviation,inter-eye symmetry of RNFLT were significantly lower in the high myopia group than those in the low myopia group (q =5.334,4.526,4.586,20.679,P＜0.05).An statistically significant reduce in inter-eye symmetry was seen between the high myopia group and the moderate myopia group (q =6.225,P＜0.05) as well as between the moderate myopia group and the low myopia group (q =10.035,P＜0.05).The multiple regression analysis showed that global average,superior average,inferior average,standard deviation,inter-eye symmetry of the R NFLT decreased with the increase of SE (β=0.441,t=6.329,P=0.000;β=0.471,t=6.880,P=0.000;β=0.339,t=4.641,P=0.000;β=0.389,t=5.445,P =0.000 ; β =0.338,t =4.621,P =0.000).Cup volume,linear cup/disk ratio,mean cup depth and maximum cup depth in the high myopia group were significantly lower than those of the moderate myopia groups (q =2.603,P =0.0l 1 ;q =2.105,P =0.037 ; q =2.825,P =0.006 ; q =2.495,P =0.014).Mean cup depth and height variation contour were significantly decreased in the high myopia group compared with the low myopia group (q =2.562,P =0.013 ;q =2.203,P =0.030).Rim area,rim volume,height variation contour were positively correlated with the degree of myopia (β=0.195,t=-2.565,P=0.011 ;β=0.199,t=-2.611,P=0.010;β=0.177,t =-2.311,P=0.022) ; while mean cup depth were negatively correlated with the degree of myopia (β =0.153,t =1.997,P =0.047).Conclusions As the increase of myopia degree,superior and inferior quadrants of RNFLT and cup depth are declined,but rim volume is elevated.Myopia is a confounding factor when RNFL data is interpreted by GDxVCC and papillary parameter by HRT Ⅱ.

S100A4, a member of S100 superfamily of Ca~(2+)-binding proteins, is a polypeptide containing 101 amino acids. S100A4, which is overexpressed in most tumor cells, plays pivotal roles in growth, invasion and migration of tumor by regulating cell cycle progression, differentiation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis of cells. This article reviews S100A4′s structure, function and potential application as the new target in the therapy of tumors.

Objective To explore the changes and relationship of serum insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) and leptin in children with growth hormone deficiency(GHD).Method Serum IGF-1 and leptin levels were measured by immunoradiometric assay in 20 prepuberal normal children and 23 children with GHD.Results Serum IGF-1 level in GHD group(51.158?29.988)?g/L was significantly lower than that in controls(112.680?41.540)?g/L.Serum leptin levels in GHD group(6.002?2.204)?g/L was significantly higher than that in controls(4.523?2.204)?g/L.There was no significant correlation between serum IGF-1 and leptin.Conclusion IGF-1 and leptin regulate growth in children with GHD in their individual way.