Posterior capsule opacification(PCO) is a common postoperative complication of cataract surgery.PCO is usually caused by the proliferation,migration,epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT),collagen deposition,and lens fiber regeneration of residual lens epithelial cells(LECs).Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) has been proposed as the most important factor driving the trans-differentiation and pathologic fibrosis of LECs.A variety of studies have elucidated that the Smad signaling pathway plays a critical role in the transduction of TGF-β signal.However,there are still other signaling pathways which may be activated downstream by TGF-β,including phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt(PI3 K/Akt),Rho,Wnt and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathways.This review highlights recent advances in the study of the signaling pathway of TGF-β in the pathological process of PCO.

Objective To know the pollution status and the cytotoxicity of PM2.5 in Hangzhou,Zhejiang.Methods PM2.5 was collected in the center of Hangzhou city in spring and summer in 2005,the weighting method was used for PM 2.5 collection.WI-38 cell line was used as the target and the cells were treated with PM2.5 at different doses.The cytotoxicity of PM2.5 was tested by cloning efficiency.Results According to the Air Quality Standard for PM2.5 of U.S.EPA(issued in 1997),it was showed that the rates exceeding standard of PM2.5 concentration in spring and summer were 96.7% and 90.0%,respectively,but the rates were 33.3% and 20.0% compared with the standard newly issued in 2006.WI-38 cell survival rate was 100%,99.6%,96.2%,85.0%,73.8%,54.6% and 100%,97.0%,96.9%,88.0%,83.0%,64.7% respectively when treated with PM2.5 in spring and in summer of 0,25,50,100,200,500 ?g/ml.There was a significant difference except 25 ?g/ml and 50 ?g/ml in summer.Conclusion There is an obvious PM2.5 pollution in Hangzhou,which is heavier in spring than in summer,the cytotoxicity of PM2.5 in the polluted air may be higher.

Cancer stem cell(CSC)plays a very important role in the genesis、relapse、metastasis and drug resistance of cancer.Traditional chemotherapeutics may kill a large part of malignant cells,but it has little effect on scanty CSC.It is enough for the relic CSC to make cancer relapse and metastasis.Targeted therapy aimed directly at CSC is the only way to cure cancer fundamentally.The specific biologic character of CSC is helpful for studying and developing targeted therapy to CSC.

0.05).Duodenal perforation did not occur in 2 groups.Conclusions TP may significantly reduce the frequency of apnoea and vomiting and improve feeding tolerance in VLBWI,it can be used in VLBWI with suspected gastroesophageal reflux.

?Proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PDR ) is a group of disease characterized by neovascular disease complication of diabetes mellitus. Neovascular diseases of eye are one of the major causes of blindness of the world. Recent studies showed that vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor ( PEDF ) are now accepted as the key cytokine in the development of diabetic retinopathy. Recent progress in the investigation of VEGF and PEDF of PDR are summarized in this review.

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in the clinical efficacy between Guan's quadruple therapy for kidney disease and the conventional western medication in the treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF).

METHODSEighty patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each one. In the observation group, besides the physician instruction of low protein and low phosphorus diet in the two groups, Guan's quadruple therapy for kidney disease was applied, including (1) the isolated herbal moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23) and Pishu (BL 21), or Ganshu (BL 18), Zusanli (ST 36) and Guanyuan (CV 4) alternatively; (2) acupuncture at the auricular points such as shen (CO10), jiaogan (AHR6), Shenshangxian (TG2), fei (CO14) and pizhixia (AT4); (3) injection of mixture of astragalus injection and lidocaine injection at Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL 21), Shenshu (BL 23) and the others; (4) modified Shenshuai Yihao decoction according to syndrome differentiation. In the control group, the conventional western medication was used. After 6 months of treatment, the differences were observed between the two groups in the clinical efficacy, serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), endogenous creatinine (Ccr) and 24 h urine protein quantitation (UPQ).

RESULTSIn the observation group, after treatment, the remarkably effective rate was 50.0% (20/40) and the total effective rate was 82.5% (33/40), which were superior to 25.0% (10/40) and 45.0% (18/40) in the control group (both P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of Scr, BUN and 24 h UPQ were reduced apparently (all P < 0.05), and the level of Ccr was increased apparently in the two groups (both P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of Scr, BUN and 24 h UPQ were reduced much more apparently in the observation group as compared with those in the control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGuan's quadruple therapy for kidney disease achieves a better efficacy on CRF compared with the conventional western medication. This therapy improves renal functions, relieves clinical symptoms and physical signs and benefits the life quality of patients.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Astragalus polysaccharides was lounded to 4-(2-aminoethylphenol), followed by labeling the APS-Tyr with fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC) at the secondary amino group. The absorption enhancement effects of low molecular weight chitosan and protamine on astragalus polysaccharides were evaluated via Caco-2 cell culture model. The results show that the fluorecent labeling compound has good stability and high sensitivity. On the other hand low molecular weight chitosan and protamine also can promoted absorption of the astragalus polysaccharides without any cytotoxity, and the absorption increase was more significant with increasing the amount of low molecular weight chitosan and protamine. At the same time, the low molecular weight chitosan has slightly better effect. The transepithelial electric resistance (TEER) of Caco-2 cells show that absorption enhancers could improve its membrane transport permeability by opening tight junctions between cells and increasing the cell membrane fluidity.
Absorption ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Biological Transport ; Caco-2 Cells ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; chemistry ; Fluorescent Dyes ; chemistry ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Calcium Carbonate ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; genetics ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; genetics ; Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Skin Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; ras Proteins ; metabolism