OBJECTIVEA R1210C mutation of complement factor H (CFH) gene has been associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Caucasian population. This study was to verify above association in Han Chinese population.

METHODSThe mutation was detected by direct sequencing in 258 patients with wet AMD and 426 matched controls.

RESULTSThe R1210C mutation has not been identified in either sample.

CONCLUSIONThe R1210C mutation in CFH gene is not associated with AMD in Han Chinese population.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Complement Factor H ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of the expression of PPAR-gamma gene in the adipogenesis in hemangioma evolution.

METHODSRoutine immunohistochemistry staining of Perilipin A, the marker antigen of adipocytes, was performed to observe the adipogenesis in hemangioma. Immunofluorescence staining of PPAR-gamma, the important transcription factor in promoting adipogenesis, was carried out to observe its location in hemangioma tissue, with the co-staining of alpha-SMA and CD31. And RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of PPAR-gamma gene in hemangioma in different stages.

RESULTSIn the evolution of hemangioma, the number of adipocytes increased continuously. And the tumor was replaced by fibrofatty tissue finally. PPAR-gamma was located in the nuclei of perivascular cell in hemangioma tissue. The expression of PPAR-gamma gene in hemangioma increased in the evolution of hemangioma, but still was lower than that in normal fat tissue from children.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of PPAR-gamma in the perivascular cells suggests that they may contribute to the adipogenesis in hemangioma involution.

Adipogenesis ; Adipose Tissue ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hemangioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether resveratrol (RES) plays a protective role in hypothermic preserved isolated rat hearts and whether it is mediated by regulation of silent information regulator protein-1 (Sirt-1) expression.

METHODSThe Langendorff model of isolated rat heart was used. After stored in different Celsior solution at 4 degrees C for 9 h, SD rat hearts were randomly divided into 7 groups: blank control group;9 h group (soley hypothermic preservation for 9 h); RES group (3, 10, 30 micromol/L RES treatment plus hypothermic preservation for 9 h ), niacinamide (NAM) group (40 micromol/L NAM added in Celsior solution plus hypothermic preservation for 9 h), RES + NAM group (30 micromol/L RES and 40 micromol/L NAM were added in Celsior solution plus hypothermic preservation for 9 h). The morphological changes of cardiomyocytes were detected by the HE staining with the light microscope. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Sirt-1 were detected by Real-Time PCR and Western blot respectively.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the blank control group, myocardiocytes were injured remarkably in the 9 h group and the Sirt-1 mRNA and protein expression levels were decreased significantly (P < 0.01); (2) Compared with the 9 h group, rat myocardial injury was alleviated gradually in 3, 10, 30 micromol/L RES group and the Sirt-1 mRNA and protein expression levels were increased in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); (3) The above protective effects of RES were attenuated by Sirt-1 inhibitor NAM.

CONCLUSIONRES can protect myocardiocytes from injury caused by long range hypothermic preservation and this protective effect maybe mediated by upregulation of Sirt-1 expression.

Animals ; Cryopreservation ; Heart ; drug effects ; Male ; Organ Preservation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sirtuin 1 ; metabolism ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of sodium nitrite (SN) on alcohol-induced acute liver injury in mice. Forty male C57bL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups. Acute alcohol-induced liver injury group were injected intraperitoneal (ip) with alcohol (4.5 g/kg); SN preconditioning group were pretreated with SN (16 mg/kg, ip) for 12 h, and received alcohol (4.5 g/kg, ip) injection; Control and SN groups were treated with saline and SN, respectively. After the treatments, liver index (liver/body weight ratio) was determined. Colorimetric technique was performed to measure the serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) activities, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content. The pathological index of liver tissue was assayed by HE and TUNEL fluorometric staining. Using Western blot and immunohistochemistry staining, the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein was detected. The results showed that, compared with acute alcohol-induced liver injury group, pretreatment with low doses of SN decreased liver index and serum levels of ALT and AST, weakened acute alcohol-induced hepatocyte necrosis, improved pathological changes in liver tissue, increased live tissue SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activities, reduced MDA content and apoptosis index of hepatocytes, and up-regulated HIF-1α protein level in liver tissue. These results suggest that the pretreatment of SN can protect hepatocytes against alcohol-induced acute injury, and the protective mechanism involves inhibition of oxidative stress and up-regulation of HIF-1α protein level.
Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Alcohols ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oxidative Stress ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Sodium Nitrite ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

AIM: The effects of ZX-5, as nitric oxide (NO) donor, on ocular blood flow has been investigated using colored microsphere technique in previous study. The relationship between the production of NO by ZX-5 and ocular blood flow has been evaluated. ZX-5 has been shown to have strong positive effect on increasing choroidal blood flow. However,the effect of ZX-5 on retinal function recovery, the effects of its optical isomers, (R, R)-ZX-5 and (S, S)-ZX-5, on choroidal blood flow and retinal function recovery have not been studied and merit investigation.METHODS: Colored microsphere technique was used for in vivo experiments to determine choroidal blood flow of ocular hypertension (40mmHg) in rabbit eyes. Electroretinography was used to measure the b-wave recovery as an indication of retinal function recovery.RESULTS: (R, R)-ZX-5 increased choroidal blood flow at 10g/L, 50μL instillation into eyes at all time points (P＜0.05).(S, S)-ZX-5 was not effective in increasing choroidal blood flow. ZX-5 and (R, R)-ZX-5 showed significant effects in retinal function recovery after ischemia of the retina at all time points (P＜0.05); whereas (S, S)-ZX-5 did not show significant effect on recovery of b-wave after ischemia at most time points except at 120 and 240 minutes.CONCLUSION: ZX-5 and (R, R)-ZX-5 have high potency in increasing the choroidal blood flow and improving the retinal function recovery. It is hoped that they could be used for the prevention/treatment of ocular blood flow related eye diseases.

Objective:To construct a satisfaction evaluation indicator system based on patients′experiences of medical services .Methods: A questionnaire was designed by expert interview and literature review and 400 copies were randomly handed out to inpatients and outpatients from five 3A-public hospitals in Shanghai .The patient′s evaluation of importance of various factors in medical services was analyzed and the mean and weight of indicators in terms of recognition , importance and evaluation were determined to establish a satisfaction evaluation indicator system .Results: A total of 396 valid questionnaires were retrieved , with an effective response rate of 99%.By analyzing survey data , the patient satisfaction evaluation indicator system was constructed with 5 primary indicators ( hospital environment , medical procedures , attitude, and quality of care and patient rights ) and 25 secondary indicators ( convenient hospital environment , auxiliary facilities , reasonable arrangement , clearly mark, convenient appointment , simple procedures, short time, the attitude of medical staff, solutions of medical dispute , medical technology , treatment, medical equipment , medical expenses, respect, patient privacy, etc.).Conclusion:A patient satisfaction evaluation indicator system has been established based on patients′experience of medical services in the study , which may be applicable to measure patients′satisfaction and to improve medical services in hospitals .

OBJECTIVE: To explore expression of β-catenin and NF-κB signaling pathway in synovial tissue of rats with different degrees of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: Forty-eight SPF male rats weighed (200±20) g were randomly divided into three groups, namely model group (32 rats), sham operation group (8 rats) and control group (8 rats). KOA model rats were established by Hulth method, and 8 rats were killed at 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks respectively after modeling, in order to establish KOA model rats with moderate, early, mild and severe degree. Sham operation group was only cut off capsule of knee joint and suture to exclude interference factor, control group was untreated. Behavior, synovial hyperplasia and cartilage degeneration of rats among each group were observed. Expression of NF-κB and signaling pathway and β-catenin in synovial tissue of rats were detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS: KOA rat model was successfully established, and synovial hyperplasia was observed in KOA model at mild and early degree, and then gradually decreased; while cartilage degeneration in the early moderate and severe KOA model was significantly expressed, and gradually aggravated with time. The results of PCR showed that expression of β-catenin in 4-week group (8.57±0.46) and 8-week group (4.23±0.09) were higher than those in control group (<0.05); expression of TLR-2 in 2-week group (12.04±4.02) and 4-week group (8.54±2.13) were higher than those in control group(<0.05), and TLR-4 in 2-week group(5.04±0.93), 4-week group (3.29±0.58) and 8-week group (1.63±0.12) were higher than those in control group; expression of NF-κB was significantly higher in 2-week group (10.15±2.04), 4-week group (15.97±4.17), 8-week group (7.69±1.48) and 12-week group (6.70±1.58) than that in control group (<0.05), and expression of IL-1β was significantly higher in 4-week group (2.79±0.25) and 8-week group (2.46±0.32) than that of control group (<0.05). CONCLUSIONS On the RNA expression level, both of β-catenin and NF-κB signaling pathways are involved in synovial inflammation in KOA model rats, and they play a regulatory role in expression of IL-1β, degeneration of KOA.
Animals ; Inflammation ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; beta Catenin

Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Animals ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; methods ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) from HLA-matched sibling donor (MSD allo-HSCT) for severe aplastic anemia (SAA).

METHODSThe clinical data of 41 SAA patients received MSD allo-HSCT from May. 2003 to Aug. 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. 24 patients were male, 17 were female. Median age was 23 (5 - 43) years old. 28 patients had SAA-I, 9 had SAA-II, and 4 had post-hepatitis aplastic anemia. 17 patients received allogeneic bone marrow (BM) transplantation (allo-BMT), and 24 received allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation (allo-PBSCT). The conditioning regimens: 20 patients received cyclophosphamide (CY) + anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) + fludarabine (Flu), 21 received CY + ATG + Flu+ cytarabine (Ara-C) ± busulfan (Bu)/melphalan (Mel). Prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD): 25 patients received cyclosporine (CSA) plus short-term methotrexate (MTX), 16 received tacrolimus (FK506) plus short-term MTX. The median number of infused CD34(+) cells were 3.48 (2.39 - 4.80)×10(6)/kg in allo-BMT and 2.95 (1.27 - 5.98)×10(6)/kg in allo-PBSCT, respectively.

RESULTSHematopoietic reconstitution was observed in all 41 patients (100%). The median time of neutrophils (ANC) reached to 0.5×10(9)/L and platelets (PLT) reached to 20×10(9)/L were 14 (10 - 23) days and 19 (8 - 38) days, respectively. 12 patients developed acute GVHD (aGVHD), out of which 11 developed grade I-II aGVHD, and one developed grade IV. 2 patients occurred chronic GVHD (cGVHD), out of which one with local cGVHD and the other with extensive. 4 patients occurred graft rejection (GR), all of them recovered haemopoiesis and survived after donor PBSC infusion. 5 patients (12.2%) died, out of which one died of extensive cGVHD, and 4 died of invasive fungal infections (IFI). Median follow-up time was 23 (3 - 79) months. 36 patients survived. 5-year estimated overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), and transplant-related mortality (TRM) was (81.1 ± 9.0)%, (68.4 ± 11.0)%, and (18.9 ± 9.0)%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that lover OS had significant correlation with receiving PBSCT, occurrence of aGVHD, the number of infused CD34(+) cells no more than 2.5×10(6)/kg, the number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion before transplant more than 30 U and occurrence of IFI after transplantation (P = 0.034, 0.001, 0.006, 0.000, 0.001, respectively). Occurrence of aGVHD had significant correlation with the disparity between donor and recipient ABO blood groups, the number of PLT transfusion more than 100 U, and the number of RBC transfusion more than 30 U before transplantation, the number of infused CD34(+) cells no more than 2.5× 10(6)/kg (P = 0.019, 0.038, 0.005, 0.005, respectively). The occurrence of GR had significant correlation with the number of PLT transfusion more than 100 U before transplantation (P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONMSD allo-HSCT is an effective therapy for patients with SAA. Lower number of blood transfusion before transplantation, use of BMT, more number of infused CD34(+) cells can effectively prevent and treat aGVHD and IFI after transplantation, which may improve the efficacy of MSD allo-HSCT for SAA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; HLA Antigens ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the functional parameters of the small airways and clinical characteristics between patients with typical asthma (TA) and cough-variant asthma (CVA).

METHODSForty-three newly diagnosed asthmatic patients were enrolled, including 15 with TA and positive bronchial provocation test [TA BPT(+)], 12 with TA and positive bronchial dilation test [TA BDT(+)] and 16 with CVA, and 27 healthy subjects served as the control group. All the subjects were required to complete data acquisition, asthma control test, asthma control test scale, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, airway resistance and pulmonary function tests, BPT or BDT.

RESULTSThe interval from onset to a definite diagnosis of TA BDT(+) was longer than that of TA BPT(+), while that of CVA was the shortest (P=0.022). The pulmonary functional parameters of TA BDT (+) was significantly lower than those of the other 3 groups (P<0.05). MMEF, MEF, MEF, and MEFin patients with TA BDT(+), TA BPT(+) and CVA were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The resonant frequency, respiratory impedance, resistance at 5 Hz, resistance at 20 Hz, and reactance at 5 Hz were significant higher in patients with TA BDT (+) than in the control subjects, while these parameters showed no significant differences among TA BPT (+), CVA and control groups. The airway resistance in TA BPT(+), CVA, and control groups increased after BPT, and the patients with TA BPT(+) showed greater changes in airway resistance than those in CVA and control groups. In CVA patients, FeNO showed a strong positive correlation with respiratory impedance (r=0.523, P=0.038), resistance at 5 Hz (r=0.542, P=0.030), and resistance at 20 Hz (r=0.524, P=0.037), and the airway responsiveness showed a strong positive correlation with resistance at 20 Hz (Rho=-0.512, P=0.043).

CONCLUSIONCVA is the early stage of TA, and CVA, TA BPT(+), and TA BDT(+) may represent different stages of asthma. Uncontrolled, prolonged CVA may evolve into TA BPT (+), whose further progression can cause damages of the pulmonary function and small airway function and leads eventually to TA BDT (+).