Purpose To investigate the association between the macular volume and thickness,as assessed by optical coherence tomography(OCT),with refraction state and axial length(AL)in children.Methods A total of 100 normal children whose right eyes were randomly selected were divided into five groups due to their refraction,comprising hyperopia,emmetropia,low myopia,moderate myopia,high myopia.The AL of the eyes was measured by IOL master measuring machine.Then the macular volume and thickness were measured bv OCT.Results Children with high myopia have smaller macular volume and thinner parafoveal retinal thickness(especially out-ring macular).The minimum thickness and average thickness of the fovea were not significantly different among the five groups.The macular volume ,total average macular thickness and quadrant-specific macular thickness(except the nasal inner quadrants)were positively associated with refraction and negatively associated with AL,while there were no correlation between minimum foveal thickness,the average foveal thickness and refraction or AL.Conclusions In Chinese children,increasing axial length was associated with reduced maeular volume and thickness(except the foveal region and the nasal inner quadrant).

Penaeidin-2 (Pen-2) is an important antimicrobial peptide derived from the Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, and possesses both antibacterial and antifungal activities. Recent studies suggest that recombinant penaeidins show similar activities to the native Pen-2 protein. Previous researches have shown that some antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit cytotoxic activity against cancer cells. To date, there have been no studies on the antitumor effects of Pen-2. This study evaluated the potential of recombinant pen-2 (rPen-2) in the selective killing of kidney cancer cell lines ACHN and A498, and its action mechanism. MTT assays found the maximal growth inhibition of HK-2, ACHN and A498 cells treated with 100 μg/mL rPen-2 at 48 h was 13.2%, 62.4%, and 70.4%, respectively. DNA-specific fluorescent dye staining showed a high percentage of apoptosis on cancer cells. Flow cytometry revealed that the apoptosis rate of HK-2, ACHN and A498 cells was 15.2%, 55.2%, and 61.5% at 48 h respectively, suggesting that rPen-2 induced higher apoptosis rate in cancer cells than in HK-2 cells. Laser confocal scanning microscopy demonstrated that the plasma membrane was the key site where rPen-2 interacted with and destroyed tumor cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed the morphologic changes of the cell membranes of kidney cancer cells treated with rPen-2. These results suggest that rPen-2 is a novel potential therapeutic agent that may be useful in treating kidney cancers.

Objective To investigate the coping style and influencing factors of the relative living donor of kidney transplantation.Methods Medical coping modes questionnaire (MCMQ) and observation-interview were performed by sampling survey.52 case of relative living donor of kidney transplantation according to the adopted standard were analyzed.Results The confronting score of all the cases were close to that of normal model ( t =1.462,P ＞ 0.05 ),but the avoiding score ( t =3.320,P ＜ 0.05 ) and yielding score ( t =3.065,P ＜0.05) were significantly increased.The prospective health conditions of the relative donors,economic burden and the survival risk of unilateral renal were the main factors affecting the coping style of the recipients.Conclusions Based on the accurate evaluation of the coping style,nursing intervention should be aimed at the relative liying donor of kidney transplantation,which might help the donors to create a correct coping style and improve the outcome and life quality of donors.

A high-product superoxide dismutase(SOD)bacterial strain was first obtained from the soil around the warm spring of Changbai Mountain,which is alkaline-resistant.The nature analysis by the inhibition of H2O2 and chloroform-ethanol indicated that the SOD was Mn-SOD.It belongs to bacillus genus by the modal character,physiological and biochemical character.The phylogenetic analyses based on 16SrDNA sequence indicated that the strain 110-2 was closed to Bacillus sp.MO6 with 100% identity and 99% with Bacillus licheniformis.According to the sodA sequence of Bacillus licheniformis and conservative regions of many kinds of bacillus,which were published in GenBank,two pairs of primers were designed and the complete sequence of Mn-SOD(600bp)and the core fragment(430bp)were amplified by PCR techniques.The recombinant plasmid pMD18-SOD was built successfully.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alcoholism ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; pathology ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; etiology ; pathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore the methylation status in promoter region of norepinephrine transporter gene (NET, SLC6A2) in heart failure ( HF) patients and its correlation with qi deficiency/blood stasis syndrome (QDS/BSS).

METHODSThirty-six patients with heart failure (NYHA classification III to IV) were recruited in the study (as the heart failure group) and their scores of QDS/BSS were evaluated. Besides, a healthy elderly group (30 cases) and a healthy youth group (30 cases) were also set up. They were recruited from Physical Examination Center of Fujian Provincial Hospital. Pyrosequencing was applied to detect the methylation in promoter region of SLC6A2 gene, and the total methylation index (MTI) of CpG island was calculated. The correlation between the methylation status in promoter region of SLC6A2 and scores of QDS/BSS was assessed using Pearson and Partial analyses. Risk factors were screened and adjusted using Logistic regression.

RESULTSBy one-factor analysis of variance, the total MTI in the HF group (219.72% ± 54.03%) was obviously higher than that in the healthy elderly group (194.47% ± 34.92%) and the healthy youth group (161.60% ± 41.11%) (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the total MTI was higher in the healthy elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P < 0.01). By covariance analysis , after controlling age and BMI, the total MTI was higher in the HF group than in the healthy elderly group (P = 0.041), while it was higher in the healthy elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P = 0.016). Age was found to play an essential role in affecting MTI of SLC6A2 gene promoter region among the 3 groups (F = 16.447, P = 0.01). The total MTI was quite lower in the healthy youth group. Results of Partial correlation analysis showed MTI was positively correlated with scores of qi deficiency and blood stasis respectively (r = 0.494 and 0.419 respectively, both P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed after adjusting confounding factors, the relative risk (OR value) of total MTI of SLC6A2 gene in promoter region was 1.038 (95% CI, 1.006 to 1.071, P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONSAbnormally elevated methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene is one of risk factors for HF. In addition, the degree of methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene was positively correlated with the severity of QDS/BSS.

Adolescent ; Aged ; DNA Methylation ; Heart Failure ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Qi

AIM To observe the oxidant stress and opoptotic effects of anisodine hydromide (AH) on chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) rats.METHODS In vivo CCH models were established in adult male SpragueDawley rats by permanent ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries [two-vessel occlusion (2-VO)] surgery.Rats were randomly divided into six groups,sham group,model group,positive group of n-butylphthalide and sodium chloride injection,and AH groups (1.2 mg/kg high-dose group,0.6 mg/kg medium-dose group,and 0.3 mg/kg low-dose group).Antioxidant indices including the activity of SOD,CAT,LDH and iNOS and the content of GSH and NO were measured.In the in vitro trial,PC12 cells were divided into control group,model group,positive group of n-butylphthalide,and AH groups (100 μmol/L high-dose group,50 μmol/L mediumdose group,and 25 μmol/L low-dose group),and the hypoxic models were established by treating PC12 cells with CoCl2.The cells had their release of NO and LDH detected,their cellular apoptosis determined by Hochest 33342 fluorescence staining,and the expression of P53 protein identified by IF (immunofluorescence) and Western blotting method.RESULTS The in vivo trial revealed AH's enhancement in serum SOD activity and inhibition in serum iNOS activityof the CCH rats,and its power in the cerebral GSH and LDH release reduction.The in vitro trial showed the resultant lower LDH and NO release,decreased number of neuro-apoptosis,and inhibited P53 pro tein expression after AH intervention.CONCLUSION The antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of AH on CCH rats may be associated with down regulation of P53 protein.

Objective To compare the complete ablation rate of radiofrequency (RF) ablation and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of uterine ifbroids with different blood supply. Methods One hundred and ten patients with 146 uterine ifbroids in Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University from January 2009 to December were randomly divided into two groups and treated with HIFU or RF respectively. Each group had 55 patients. All patients were examined by color Doppler lfow imaging before the treatment. The blood supply of ifbroids were semi-quantitatively classiifed into three grades including G1, G2 and G3. The HIFU group had 15 patients with 20 ifbroids in which blood supply was G1, had 32 patients with 38 ifbroids in which blood supply was G2, and had 8 patients with 10 ifbroids in which blood supply was G3. The RF group had 14 patients with 18 ifbroids in which blood supply was G1, had 31 patients with 42 ifbroids in which blood supply was G2, and had 10 patients with 18 ifbroids in which blood supply was G3. The complete ablation rates of the two treatments were evaluated by contrast-enhanced ultrasound one week before and after treatments. Fibroids which had no contrast agent perfusion and smooth boundary were completely ablated. Statistical analyses were used to compare the complete ablation rates and postoperative complications rates of these two methods. Results When ifbroid′s blood supply was G1, the complete ablation rate was 80.0%(16/20) and 88.9%(16/18) in HIFU and RF group, respectively. The difference was not statistically signiifcant (χ2=0.563, P>0.05). When ifbroid′s blood supply was G2 and G3, the complete ablation rate in HIFU and RF group was 90.5%(38/42) vs 55.3%(21/38) and 72.2% (13/18) vs 20.0% (2/10), respectively. There was statistically difference between these two groups (χ2 =12.778, P < 0.05;χ2=7.049, P < 0.05, respectively). Postoperative complications included fever, abdominal pain, pelvic effusion and vaginal discharge and unilateral lower limb numbness. The incidence of complications was lower in HIFU group than that in RF group, which was 9.1%(5/55) and 27.3%(15/55) respectively, This difference was statistically signiifcant (χ2=6.111, P<0.05). Conclusions HIFU and RF are both effective in treating uterine ifbroids with few blood supply. However, RF can be more effective than HIFU in treating hypervascular ifbroids. Therefore, RF might be able to apply to majority of the ifbroids. As a non-invasive therapy, HIFU is more suitable for hypovascular ifbroids and could be the ifrst therapy in clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rules that apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) changes with time and space in cerebral infarction, and to provide the evidence in defining the stage, guiding treatment or judging the prognosis in infarction. METHODS: Eighty-eight work-ups in 69 patients with cerebral infarction (8 hyperacute, 35 acute, 20 subacute, and 25 chronic infarctions) were imaged with both conventional MRI and diffusion weighted imaging. The average ADC, the average relative ADC (rADC), and the ADC or rADC from the center to the periphery of the lesion were calculated. RESULTS: The average ADC and the average rADC of hyperacute and acute infarction lesion depressed obviously. The average ADC and the average rADC of subacute infarction lesion were significantly higher than those of hyperacute and acute infarction lesion (P < 0.05), and some approached the values of uninjured side which appeared "pseudonormal values" at 10 to 14 days. The average ADC and the average rADC in chronic infarction lesion were the highest (P < 0.05). The longer the prognosis, the higher the average ADC and the average rADC of infarction lesion. The ADC and the rADC in 7 hyperacute and 26 acute lesions had gradient signs that these lesions increased from the center to the periphery. The ADC and the rADC in 15 subacute lesions had adverse gradient signs that these lesions decreased from the center to the periphery. CONCLUSION The ADC and the rADC of infarction lesions have evolution rules with time and space corresponding to the pathophysiological foundation. The evolution rules with time and those in space can be helpful to decide the clinical stage and pathophysiological phase of infarction, and to provide the evidence in guiding the treatment or judging the prognosis in infarction.
Aged ; Brain ; pathology ; Cerebral Infarction ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Time Factors

The emerging nano-black phosphorus materials have created a new platform for biomedical research. Nano-black phosphorus has the following advantages: black phosphorus can produce singlet oxygen under near-infrared light irradiation, so it can be used as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy;black phosphorus has extensive light absorption in the long wavelength region, and this near-infrared photothermal property can be used in photothermal therapy. The high specific surface area and unique fold structure of the black phosphorus nanosheet make it have very high drug loading.This paper mainly reviews the applications of black phosphorus in biological imaging, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, and as a drug carrier in recent years. Based on the photoelectric properties of black phosphorus nanomaterials combined with intelligent drug delivery platform, the synergistic effects of light/heat/chemistry, light/chemistry/gene, and light/chemistry/immunity can be produced, which has a broad application prospect.