?Dry eye is a multi-factorial disease of tear film and ocular surface, and it can result in discomfort, visual disturbance and tear film instability and potential damage of ocular surface, accompanied by hyper osmolarity of tears and ocular surface inflammation. lnflammation is the key factor to dry eye. Many kinds of immune cells and inflammatory factors are involved in the occurrence and development of dry eye syndrome. Cell apoptosis, nerve dysregulation, disorders of sex hormones also play an important role in pathologic process of dry eye. Recently, while illustrating the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of dry eye has been made some progress, there is still no single standard. The possible mechanisms of ocular surface inflammation and tear dysfunction of dry eye were reviewed in this article.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the different dose of perindopril on cardiac function in the rabbits with ische-mic cardiac dysfunction .METHODS:Male rabbits weighing 2.5~3.0 kg ( n=30) were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10):high dose perindopril group (HD group), low dose perindopril group (LD group) and cardiac dysfunction group (CD group).The Left anterior descending coronary artery of the rabbits was ligatured for model preparation .In HD group, the rabbits were treated with perindopril split normal saline solution (1 g/L)2 mL· kg-1 · d-1 .In LD group, the rabbits were treated with perindopril split normal saline solution (0.33 g/L)2 mL· kg -1 · d-1.In CD group, the rabbits were treated with normal saline solution 2 mL· kg-1 · d-1 .Four weeks after treatment , the cardiac function was measured via echocardiography , the mRNA expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ( ACE2 ) and angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) was analyzed by real-time PCR, serum angiotensin (Ang)-(1-9) and Ang-(1-7) levels were detected by ELISA. RESULTS:Compared with CD group , the cardiac function of the 2 groups treated with perindopril was significantly im-proved (P<0.01), and more improvement in HD group was observed than LD group (P<0.05).The serum angiotensin ( Ang)-(1-9) and Ang-(1-7) level and the mRNA expression of ACE 2 and AT2R in the 2 groups treated with perindopril were significantly improved (P<0.01).Compared with LD group, the mRNA expression of ACE2 and AT2R and the ser-um levels of Ang-(1-9) in HD group were significant improved (P<0.05), while no difference of serum Ang-(1-7) level was observed.Correlation analysis revealed that the improvement of the cardiac function was associated with serum Ang -(1-9) level, mRNA expression of ACE2 and AT2R (P<0.01), but has no significant correlation with serum Ang-(1-7) lev-el.CONCLUSION:High dose of perindopril may improve more cardiac function in ischemic cardiac dysfunction model in rabbits.The mechanism may relate to increasing serum Ang-(1-7) level to activate AT2R.

Objective To investigate the feasibility,safety and efficiency of the establishment of model for Budd-Chiari syndrome with hepatic vein obstruction through endovascular technology in canine.Methods Twenty four dogs were randomly divided into experimental group (n=18) and control group (n=6).Under the surveillance of digital subtraction angiography,the balloon catheter was sent to the target hepatic vein via right external jugular vein,and then the balloon was filled by contrast agent until the target hepatic vein was blocked completely.In the experimental group,3～5 ml the mixture of N butyl-cyanoacrylate and lipiodol was infused into the target hepatic vein through the end hole of the balloon catheter until the hepatic vein flow stasis was achieved.In the control group,equal volume of normal saline was injected.The changes of liver function,portal vein pressure were measured and pathological varieties of target hepatic vein as well as the liver parenchyma were observed in the different periods in the two groups.Results The successful rate of the technique was 100 percent.There were no serious complications such as pulmonary embolism and death in the two groups.In the experimental group,the serum levels of alanine transpeptidase were (52.5 ± 12.5)U/L,(61.3±5.7)U/L,(38.6±9.4)U/L,which were higher than those in control group(P＜0.05) and prealbuminwere (0.18±0.04)g/L,(0.22±0.02)g/L,(0.19±0.06)g/L,which were lower than those in control group(P＜0.05) in the fourth,sixth and eighth weeks after the procedure,respectively.A common trunk formed by the middle and left hepatic veins which was looked as the targetic hepatic vein were completely occluded.the color of the liver appeared light red,dark red and dull black in the fourth,sixth and eighth weeks after the procedure,respectively.However,the hepatic veins were patented in the control group.In experimental group,histopathological observation revealed hepatic cells congestion and edema while a lot of inflammatory cells were seen in the wall of hepatic vein in the fourth week,the hepatic cells changed with severe edema,adipose kind,inner and middle membranes became thicker in the sixth week,and part of the hepatic cells showed hydropic degeneration,besides,inner and middle membrane became more thicker,there was substantially proliferation in elastic fiber hyperplasia in the eighth week.Conclusion Endovascular technology was a safely and effectively way to establish the canine model of Budd-Chiari syndrome with hepatic vein obstruction.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate tolerance and toxicity of high-dose epirubicin regimen CEF-100 as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer.

METHODSFrom March 2005 to October 2006, 98 patients with stage I - III a breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive postoperative chemotherapy with CEF-100 regimen (epirubicin 100 mg/m2, dl per 21 days for 6 cycles, n =48) or CEF-60 regimen (epirubicin 60 mg/m2, dl per 21 days for 6 cycles, n = 50). Blood routine test were done every cycle, liver and kindey function were examined and adverse effects were recorded after every cycle.

RESULTSNo difference of average leucocyte or neutrophil count (P >0.05) was observed in every cycle. Adverse effects of digestive tract and damage of liver function in CEF-100 group were more severe than that in CEF-60 group (P <0.05), but all adverse effects could be relieved by treatment. No severe non-hematological toxicity and cardiac toxicity in both groups were observed (P <0.05). There was no death caused by chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONOur data shows that high dose epirubicin-containing CEF regimen is safe and tolerable for postoperative chemotherapy of breast cancer patient, and the adverse effects could be relieved by marrow support and liver-protection therapy. Further observation and longer follow-up is still needed in order to evaluate the efficacy of this high dose regimen.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Lobular ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cyclophosphamide ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Epirubicin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Middle Aged ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; Vomiting ; chemically induced

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the cardioprotective effects of dexrazoxane (DEX) on breast cancer patients who received anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.

METHODSA total of 122 breast cancer patients after operation were randomly divided into two groups: The experimental group of 61 cases treated with EPI plus DEX (DEX:EPI = 10:1) as adjuvant chemotherapy regimen, and the control group of 61 cases treated with EPI but without DEX. All patients received four cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy and their changes of specific cardiac functional status and hematology status before and after chemotherapy, as well as non-cardiac toxicity were observed and analyzed.

RESULTSBrain natriuretic peptide (BNP) before chemotherapy and after four cycles of chemotherapy in the control group was (106.78 ± 4.52)×10(-6) µg/ml and (187.19 ± 8.71)×10(-6) µg/ml, respectively, with a significant difference between them (P < 0.05). It in the experimental group was (102.34 ± 8.76)×10(-6) µg/ml and (105.29 ± 7.21)×10(-6) µg/ml, respectively, without a significant difference (P > 0.05). Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) before chemotherapy and after four cycles of chemotherapy in the control group was (12.55 ± 2.73)×10(-3) µg/ml and ( 31.05 ± 7.10 )×10(-3) µg/ml, respectively, with a significant difference between them (P < 0.05). It in the experimental group was (12.70 ± 2.15)×10(-3) µg/ml and (13.65 ± 7.82)×10(-3) µg/ml, respectively, without a significant difference (P > 0.05). The hart rate (HR) before chemotherapy and after four cycles of chemotherapy in the control group, was 75.32 ± 7.14 bpm and 89.60 ± 9.21 bpm, respectively, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). It in the experimental group was 78.60 ± 6.29 bpm and 83.10 ± 7.56 bpm, respectively, without a significant difference (P > 0.05). The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) before chemotherapy and after four cycles of chemotherapy in the control group was (65.23 ± 7.82)% and (55.21 ± 7.23)%, respectively, with a significant difference between them (P < 0.05). It in the experimental group was (64.12 ± 6.25)% and (59.6 ± 4.72)%, respectively, without a significant difference (P > 0.05). The absolute neutrophil count before chemotherapy and after four cycles of chemotherapy in the control group was (3.95 ± 1.36)×10(9)/L and (3.50 ± 1.52)×10(9)/L, respectively, without a significant difference (P > 0.05). It in the experimental group, was (4.96 ± 1.41)×10(9)/L and (3.10 ± 1.26)×10(9)/L, respectively, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). The incidence of grade I-IV bone marrow suppression in the experimental group was 21.3%, 16.4%, 24.6%, and 4.9%, respectively. It in the control group was 16.4%, 11.5%, 9.8%, and 5.5%, respectively, with a significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCardiac toxicity after anthracycline treatment in breast cancer patients may be significantly reduced by DEX, without increase of non-cardiac and and non-hematologic toxicity. DEX combined with anthracycline increases the risk of bone marrow suppression, therefore, peripheral blood picture should be monitored or routine bone marrow support may be needed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Cardiovascular Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Epirubicin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; cytology ; Razoxane ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Stroke Volume ; drug effects ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo develop a new denaturing high performance liquid chromatograph (DHPLC)-based method to screen patients with EXT gene mutation and to study the gene mutation in three families with multiple exostoses.

METHODSAll the exons of EXT gene, including the intro-exon boundaries, were amplified by PCR. Linkage analysis and DHPLC screening were carried out to identify the mutations. DNA sequencing was used to confirm the mutations.

RESULTSTwo known splice site mutations, IVS2+1 G to A and IVS7+1 G to T, and two SNPs have been detected in EXT2 or EXT1 gene.

CONCLUSIONThe transversions of IVS2+1 G to A and IVS7+1 G to T in EXT2 gene are suggested to be the disease-causing mutations and the DHPLC is a high throughout, sensitive, simple, quick, economical method to screen gene mutation in hereditary multiple exostosis.

Adult ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Exons ; genetics ; Exostoses, Multiple Hereditary ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases ; genetics

BACKGROUNDEndothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been used in both experimental studies and clinical treatments of limb ischemia, as well as in the construction of engineered vascular tissue. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of transplanted bone marrow-derived EPCs on the vein microenvironment in a rat model of chronic vein thrombosis.

METHODSMononuclear cells were isolated from the bone marrow of immature rats by density gradient centrifugation, cultured, and then transplanted into experimentally induced thrombi into inferior vena cava through the femoral vein. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-1 (ANG-1) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA and protein expression levels were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting of thrombi and adjacent caval walls 28 days post-transplantation.

RESULTSLevels of VEGF, ANG-1, and MCP-1 mRNA in EPC-transplanted thrombi were 100%, 230.7%, and 212.5% of levels detected in the sham-operated group (P < 0.01), and 99.9%, 215.4%, and 177.8% of levels detected in the experimental control group (P < 0.01). VEGF, ANG-1 and MCP-1 protein levels exhibited a similar trend.

CONCLUSIONSTransplanted bone marrow-derived EPCs appear to alter the vein microenvironment in experimentally induced chronic vein thrombosis by upregulating cytokines associated with thrombic organization and recanalization.

Angiopoietin-1 ; analysis ; genetics ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Chemokine CCL2 ; analysis ; genetics ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Immunohistochemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis ; genetics ; Venous Thrombosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo research the genetic diversity of different Rhodiola rosea geographical populations in Tianshan Mountain, China;

METHODThe genetic diversity of eighteen R. rosea geological populations from six niches was estimated using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. The data of amplified bands were analyzed by the software POPGENE v1.31 (32-bit) and SPSS.

RESULTThe nine primers employed produced a total of 238 discernable and reproducible amplified fragments. There were 228 polymorphic bands. The percentage of polymorphic bands with in different populations was 95.6%. Genetic diversity analysis showed that average number of alleles per loci was Na = 1.4883, effective number of alleles per loci Ne = 1.3907, Neis gene diversity index H = 0.2170, Shannon's information index I = 0.3108, the percentage of polymorphic loci P = 52.71, genetic differentiation among populations Gst = 0.364; UPGMA cluster analysis based on genetic distance data divided eighteen populations into two clusters: Cluster I composed of twelve populations and Cluster II 6 populations which distributed in attitude upper 3 175 m;

CONCLUSIONOur researches suggest that the best niche of R. rosea was at attitude between 3 150-3 250 m; this region is important for the conservation of R. rosea germplasm resource.

Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; China ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Rhodiola ; classification ; genetics

Because of irregular shapes of Chinese herbal pieces, we simplified the previously deduced general extraction kinetic model for TCMs, and integrated particle diameters of Chinese herbs that had been hard to be determined in the final parameter "a". The reduction of the direct determination of particle diameters of Chinese herbs was conducive to increase the accuracy of the model, expand the application scope of the model, and get closer to the actual production conditions. Finally, a simplified model was established, with its corresponding experimental methods and data processing methods determined. With total flavonoids in Scutellariae Radix as the determination index, we conducted a study on the adaptability of total flavonoids extracted from Scutellariae Radix with the water decoction method in the model. The results showed a good linear correlation among the natural logarithm value of the mass concentration of total flavonoids in Scutellariae Radix, the time and the changes in the natural logarithm of solvent multiple. Through calculating and fitting, efforts were made to establish the kinetic model of extracting total flavonoids from Scutellariae Radix with the water decoction method, and verify the model, with a good degree of fitting and deviation within the range of the industrial production requirements. This indicated that the model established by the method has a good adaptability.
Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; Kinetics ; Models, Theoretical ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the extent of genetic damages in somatic and germ cells from patients of benzene poisoning, silicosis and gas poisoning, which may provide clues for protection and reproductive healthcare.

METHODS174 patients with three types of occupational disease (including 48 with benzene poisoning, 71 with silicosis and 55 with gas poisoning) and 80 healthy controls had their aberrant chromosome and micronuclei rates measured with routine methods. Male patients also had their sperm samples measured for sperm abnormities and de novo mutations.

RESULTSThe aberrant chromosome rate, micro-nuclei rate and sperm abnormity were as followed: benzene poisoning 0.4%, 1.52 per thousand, (62 +/- 14%), silicosis 0.51%, 2.31 per thousand, (41 +/- 7%), harmful gas poisoning 0.42%, 1.55 per thousand, (48 +/- 8%), all being significantly higher than those of the controls [0.20%, 0.34 per thousand, (27 +/- 5)%]. The aberrant chromosome and micro-nuclei rates of silicosis group were higher than other two groups, but without statistical significance. Sperm abnormity of benzene poisoning group was significantly higher than that of other groups. In addition, de novo mutations in sperm of benzene poisoning group were detected.

CONCLUSIONPatients with the studied occupational diseases not only have genetic damage in their somatic cells, but also acquire de novo mutations in germ cells.

Asbestosis ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Gas Poisoning ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; genetics ; Occupational Exposure