Objective To study the impact of sodium arsenite(NaAsO2) exposure on melanoma cells A375 (hereinafter referred to as the A375) and G361 (hereinafter referred to as the G361) pigment production and tyrosinase (TYR) activity and the differences of pigment metabolism capacity between the cell lines.Methods A375 and G361 cells were exposed to sodium arsenite at concentrations of 0.0(control),0.1 and 1.0 μmol/L for 72hours.Cell viability was measured by Alamar Blue assay.Melanin levels and TYR activity were measured at the same time.Results After exposure for 72 hours,the cells of 0.1 μmol/L dose groups of both of the two cell lines [A375:(103.32 + 1.26)％; G361:(104.10 + 1.76)％] showed a slightincrease of proliferation without significant differences compared with those of the control[A375:(100.00 ± 1.08)％; G361:(100.00 + 1.79)％,all P ＜ 0.05] ;while cell viability of the 1.0 μmol/L dose group of both of the two cell lines[A375:(75.32 ± 1.59)％; G361:(78.26 ± 2.10)％] were significantly lower than those of the control (all P ＜ 0.05).Melanin levels of G361 cell line [(7.19 ± 0.35),(7.34 ± 0.83),(8.19 ± 0.86)pg/cell] were significantly higher than that of A375[(4.35 ± 0.72),(4.54 ± 0.01),(4.60 + 0.59)pg/cell,all P ＜ 0.05] in all the three groups.TYR activity of G361 cell line [(54.13 ± 1.21),(54.56 ± 0.21),(56.25 ± 0.85)Bq] were also markedly higher than that of A375 cell[(42.00 ±0.21),(42.90 ± 0.54),(42.91 ± 0.01)Bq,all P ＜ 0.05] in all the three groups.The melanin levels and TYR activities of both of the two cells lines showed an increase tendency along with increased doses of arsenic exposure,but without significant differences when compared with those of the three groups (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Arsenic related pigment disorder may be associated with increased melanin levels and TYR activities induced by arsenic exposure; individual difference of pigment metabolism may be associated with different basal melanin levels and TYR activity between different individuals.

Objective To retrospective analyze the treatment of hallux valgus with the procedure of osteotomy of the base of the first metatarsal, combining with osteotomy of the base of the second and/or third metatarsal(s), and to study the indications and effects of this procedure. Methods 35 cases 56 hallux valgus feet were treated by operative procedure from January 1994 to December 2003. 26 cases 43 feet underwent the operative procedure of osteotomy of the base of the first metatarsal, 9 cases 13 feet with painful callus under the second and/or third metatarsal(s) head underwent osteotomy of the base of the first, second and/or third metatarsal(s). The axial and lateral films of all feet with loading were taken before and after operation. The change of anatomic indexes and AOFAS of the patient postoperatively were recorded and analyzed. Results In the group with osteotomy of the base of the first metatarsal, AOFAS score was 47.6?5.8 preoperatively, and 84.3?5.7 postoperatively. In the group with osteotomy of the base of the first, second and/or third metatarsal(s), AOFAS score was 44.7?5.7 preoperatively, and 85.7?4.5 postoperatively. There were significant differences between the preoperative and postoperative rontgenographic index and AOFAS in each group. Conclusion The operative procedure is effective. The operative procedure of osteotomy of the base of the first metatarsal can get good result in moderate and severe hallux valgus patients. Osteotomy of the second and/or third metatarsal(s) were recommended in cases with painful callus under the second and/or third metatarsal(s). Normal forefoot appearance and function can be restored by the procedure to reestablish the transverse arch.

The initial study of the tumour DNA fingerprints using MYO minisatellite DNA probe wascarried out,and then,by means of DNA recombinant techniques,the fragment of MYO min-isatellite DNA probe obtained from plasmid pUC19-MYO was inserted into plasmid pGEM-4Z containing RNA polymerase promotor,thus a sub-clone refferred as pGEM-4Z-MYOwas constucted.That made an offer of the conditions of preparing RNA probe in order to in-cerase the sensitivities of DNA fingerprinting and laid a foundation for raised the efficiency of de-tecting the polymorphism of the minisatellite DNA.

Colitis, Ulcerative ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

Action Potentials ; Animals ; Female ; Male ; Nifedipine ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Ureter ; drug effects ; physiology ; Urination ; drug effects ; Vitamin K 3 ; pharmacology

A total of 906 subjects with no history of diabetes who had undergone coronary angiography were included in this study and categorized into four groups according to the level of fasting plasma glucose (FPG):≤5.5 mmoL/L,5.6-6.0 mmol/L,6.1-6.9 mmoL/L,and ≥ 7.0 mmol/L.Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was defined as ≥ 50％ reduction of lumen diameter at least in one major coronary artery.The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was defined by the Gensini score.The clinical data,laboratory indexes,and coronary angiography results were compared among various groups.The risk factors for the prevalence and severity of angiographic CAD were analyzed.The results showed that the prevalence of angiographic CAD,the number of diseased vessels,and the Gensini score were increasing with increasing FPG levels among four groups (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The FPG level was significantly correlated with angiographic CAD (P =0.004) and the Gensini score (P =0.010),suggesting that FPG was an independent risk factor for the prevalence and severity of angiographic CAD.

·AIM: To study the tear function changes in patients with pterygium before and after pterygium transposition.·METHODS: Twenty eyes of 20 patients were enrolled in this study.Schirmer I test and tear break-up time (BUT) were evaluated in patients before and after pterygium transposition.·RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the results of Schirmer I test before and after the surgery.The results of BUT were not significantly different before and up to 4 weeks after surgery. However, BUT prolonged significantly 6 weeks after surgery (P<0.05).·CONCLUSION: Pterygium transposition can improve the tear film function in patients with pterygium.

Cerebellar Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Medulloblastoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery

Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases ; diagnosis

Background The main cause of X linked juvenile retinoschisis is mutation of RS1 gene.The phenotype of X linked juvenile retinoschisis is associated with the mutation types of RS1 gene.However,the relationship of genotype and phenotype of X linked juvenile retinoschisis is unclear.Objective The present study was to survey the clinical phenotype of X-linked juvenile retinoschisis in twelve Chinese families with eleven different mutations in the XLRS1 gene. Methods Complete ophthalmic examinations with slit lamp biomicroscopy,fundus examination and Dhotography were carried out in 28 affected males.Ganzfeld electroretinography (ERG),fundus fluorescein angiography,A and B-scan standardized echography and optical coherence tomography(OCT)were also performed in some patients.The coding regions of the XLRS1 gene that encodes retinoschisin were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and analyzed by the single strand conformation polymorphism(SSCP)assay.The RS1 gene mutations were determined by direct sequencing in an automated sequencer.Written informed consent wasobtained prior to the survey. Results The 28 affected males showed a typical foveal schisis with or without peripheral retinoschisis.The typical response to white single flash ERG was seen with a reduction of the b-wave amplitude and a relative preservation of the a-wave amplitude.causing a reduced b/a ratio in the male patients.A total of eleven different XLRS1 mutations in 12 families were identified,four of these mutations,including one frameshift mutaion(22 del T)of exon 1,Asp145His,Arg156Gly and Trp163X mutations of exon 5,were first described in this survey.One non-disease-related polymorphism(NSP),or the 576C to T(Pro192Pro)change of exon 6 was also newly reported herein.In the families with a frameshift(22 del T)mutation of exon 1,a splice donor site mutation(IVS1+2T