?AIM:To evaluate the incidence and clinical properties of dry eye after phacoemulsification in age-related cataract patients.?METHODS: Samples were collected from 145 age -related cataract patients (145 eyes).Dry eye was analyzed at 0, 7, 30, 90 and 180d after phacoemulsification by 1 ) Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire ( OSDI ) , 2 ) tear meniscus height ( TMH ) , 3 ) corneal fluorescein staining, 4) tear film break-up time (BUT), 5)SchirmerⅠtest( SⅠt) .?RESULTS:The symptoms and signs of dry eye, such as narrowing of TMH, shorting of BUT, decreasing of SⅠt, cornea staining by fluorescein, occurred as early as 7d post-phacoemulsification and were measured by OSDI questionnaire and 4 additional clinical tests.Over the six-month observation the severity of dry eye peaked at 30d and then gradually relieved.? CONCLUSION: The severity of dry eye after phacoemulsification peaked at 30d and gradually improved over time. Considering the characteristics of ocular surface for aged people ophthalmologists should pay more concern on evaluating the occurring of dry eye after phacoemulsification so as to improve the life quality of these people.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for postoperative arytenoid dislocation.
Methods From September 2003 to August 2013, the records of 16 patients with a history of postoperative arytenoid dislocation were reviewed. Patients matched in terms of date and type of procedures were chosen as the controls (n=16). Recorded data for all patients were demographics, smoking status, alcoholic status, preoperative physical status, airway evaluation, intubation procedures, preoperative laboratory test results, anesthetic consumption and intensive care unit stay. For arytenoid dislocation cases, we further analyzed the incidences of the left and right arytenoid dislocation, and the outcomes of surgical repair and conservative treatment. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, and were compared using the chi-squared test. Continuous variables were expressed as means±SD and compared using the Student’s unpaired t-test. To determine the predictors of arytenoid dislocation, a logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis.
Results Sixteen patients with postoperative arytenoid dislocation were enrolled, with a median age of 52 years. Most postoperative arytenoid dislocation patients (15/16, 93.75%) received surgical repair, except one patient who recovered after conservative treatment. None of the postoperative arytenoid dislocation patients were smokers. Red blood cell (P=0.044) and hemoglobin (P=0.031) levels were significantly lower among arytenoid dislocation cases compared with the controls.
Conclusions Non-smoking and anemic patients may be susceptible to postoperative arytenoid dislocation. However, neither of them was independent risk factor for postoperative arytenoid dislocation.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of huatan jiangqi capsule (HJC) on the expression levels and functions of multi-drug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) in the bronchial epithelial cells of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model rats, and to explore the mechanism of HJC for treating COPD.

METHODSTwenty-four male wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, and HJC group. Except the normal control group, the COPD rat model was established in the rest groups using quantitative stimulation with tobacco, SO2, and caroid aerosol rebreathing method. The indices of the post-treatment lung functions, the cell counts of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the pathological features of the lung tissue were observed. The concentration of LTC, in lung tissues was also examined by ELISA. The expression of MRP1 of the pulmonary tracheal epithelium was detected using immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTS(1) The pulmonary compliance, the forced expiratory volume at 0. 3 second (FEV 0.3%)/the forced vital capacity (FVC), the peak expiratory flow, the maximum mid expiratory flow decreased more significantly in the model group than in the normal control group (P < 0.05). The aforesaid pulmonary function indices obviously increased in the HJC group when compared with the model group (P < 0.05). (2) The air inflammation was aggravated with obvious emphysema in the model group. The inflammation and emphysema occurred in the HJC group in a milder degree. (3) Compared with the normal control group, the levels of LTC4 significantly increased in the lung tissue of the model group and HJC group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the levels of LTC4 significantly decreased in the lung tissues of the HJC group (P < 0.05). (4) Compared with the normal control group, the protein expression of the bronchial epithelial MRP1 significantly decreased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the protein expression of the bronchial epithelial MRP1 were significantly enhanced in the HJC group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHJC could effectively alleviate the lung inflammation, postpone the occurrence and development of COPD possibly through effecting the functions and expressions of MRP1 in COPD rats.

Animals ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Male ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Forty batches of Lonicerae Japonica Fse i collected extensively and prepared as the test solution. Their chromatographic fingerprints and anti-influenza virus IC50 value (half maximal inhibitory concentration) were determined respectively. Then Unscrambler software was used, and spectrum-efficient correlation analysis was done for chromatographic fingerprints data and IC50 data by partial least squares regression method, to establish spectrum-efficient correlation model for anti-influenza virus of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos. Then the other 10 batches of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos were used to verify the model and explore the adaptability of this spectrum-efficient correlation model based on partial least squares regression method. The mathematical model obtained R2 of 0.969489 and RM-SEC of 0.070691 for calibration set; R2 of 0.959042 and RMSECV of 0.084005 for cross validation set. The verification experiment results showed that the relative error between the predicted values and measured values was within 10% in all 10 hatches, and within 5% in 80% of them. The results showed that the established spectrum-efficient correlation model could be used to evaluate the biological activity of anti-influenza virus of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos by determining its HPLC fingerprints.
Antiviral Agents ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Orthomyxoviridae ; drug effects

Objective To investigate the effect of leptin on the tolerance of cultured rat brain astrocytes to ischemia and hypoxia.Methods The brain astrocytes isolated from neonatal SD rats,after purification and identification,were incubated in serum-and glucose-flee medium in the presence of 5%CO2+95%N2 for 90 min to induce isehemic and hypoxic injury. RT-PCR was performed to detect the expressions of the leptin receptors Ob-Ra and Ob-Rb in the cells, and colorimetry was used to measure the content of malonaldehyde(MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity in the cell supematant.The expression level ofglial fibrillary acidicprotein(GFAP)in the cells was detected with fluorescence immunocytochemistry.Results Ischemic and hypoxic exposure of the cells induced obvious cell necrosis.Compared with the cells without the exposure,significantly decreased Ob-Rb expression(0.52±0.01 vs 1.32±0.01,P<0.05)and increased MDA,LDH and GFAP levels(709.68±47.16 vs 516.13±29.08,3.94±0.36 vs 1.81±0.21,and 0.122±0.016 vs 0.057±0.006,respectively,P<0.05) occurred after the exposure,whereas the expression level of Ob-Ra underwent no significant changes(3.87±0.13 vs 3.96±0.24,P>0.05). Compared with the exposed cells,the leptin-treated cells showed a significant reduction in MDA levels(3.94±0.36 vs 3.19±0.25,P<0.05) with significantly increased GFAP expression(0.057±0.006 vs 0.109±0.008, P<0.05)after the exposure, and the cells maintained basically intact cell morphology.Conclusion With neuroprotective effects against ischemic neuronal injuries,leptin canimprove the tolerance of rat brain astrocytes to ischemia and hypoxia.

OBJECTIVETo rapidly and sensitively detect the four virulence-associated factors of Streptococcus suis, a multiplex PCR was developed.

METHODSIn the process of this reaction, four distinct DNA targets were amplified. One target was based on the serotype 2 (and 1/2) specific cps gene and the others were based on Streptococcus suis mrp, epf (epf*) and sly gene, encoding the MRP, EF(EF*) and Sly proteins of Streptococcus suis. 72 isolates, which including 48 strains of Streptococcus suis and 24 strains of negative control, and 49 clinical specimens were detected by the multiplex PCR assay.

RESULTSAll PCR products were detected by electrophoresis on 1.2% agarose gels. With the 48 Streptococcus suis strains, the positive detection rates of cps2+, mrp+, epf+, epf*+ and sly+ were 16/48, 14/48, 12/48, 3/48 and 26/48,respectively. The results were confirmed by bacteriological examination. There were no specific amplification products including 49 clinical specimens and 24 negative control strains.

CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrated that multiplex PCR was a highly specific and sensitive diagnostic tool for the detection of virulence-associated factors of streptococcus suis.

Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Streptococcus suis ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Virulence Factors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression and the CpG island methylation status of tumor suppressor gene p15 after exposure to 1,4-benzoquinone (1,4-BQ) in primary cultivated C57BL/6J mouse bone marrow cells in vitro.

METHODSThe mouse bone marrow cells were isolated in vitro. The effect of 0, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 20, and 40 µmol/L 1,4-BQ on cell viability (CKK-8) was detected. 0, 0.1, 1, 10 µmol/L 1,4-BQ were used to intoxicate the mouse bone marrow cells for 24 h; Real-time PCR was employed to analyze the mRNA expression level of p15; The bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) was used to look into the methylation status of CpG islands in p15 promoter region.

RESULTS1,4-BQ exhibited dose-dependent toxicity to mouse bone marrow cells, and the LC(50) was 8.3 µmol/L (95%CI: 4.6 - 10.6 µmol/L). The mRNA expression of p15 in 10 µmol/L group was only equivalent to 43% of control group. Compared with control group, the decrease of p15 mRNA expression in1 and 10 µmol/L concentration were obvious, and the differences had statistical significance (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). BSP sequencing results were same between the exposure groups and control group, the 56 CpG sites on CpG islands remained in the state of unmethylated.

CONCLUSIONmRNA expression of p15 gene decreases after exposure to 1,4-BQ, but the CpG islands methylation status in promoter is not affected, suggesting that methylation does not participate in 1,4-BQ-mediated p15 gene expression decrease, other effect mechanisms still need to be investigated.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Benzoquinones ; toxicity ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; CpG Islands ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Environmental Exposure ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the sensitivity and specificity of Procleix HIV/HCV RNA diagnostic assay.

METHODSHIV antibody positive or suspected positive plasmas of blood donors were collected from different provinces and detected with HIV antibody ELISA and HCV antibody ELISA. Samples positive for HIV by ELISA were confirmed by using HIV Blot. All the plasma samples were detected with Procleix HIV/HCV assay, HIV-1 discriminatory assay and HCV discriminatory assay, respectively.

RESULTSAll 74 samples positive for both HIV and HCV antibody were positive and 5 samples negative for both HIV and HCV antibody were negative when detected using Procleix HIV/HCV assay; 82 of 84 supplemental HIV antibody positive samples and 6 of 12 supplemental indeterminate samples were positive for HIV RNA, and all 7 HIV antibody negative samples were negative for HIV RNA when detected by using Procleix HIV discriminatory assay. Seventy of 81 HCV antibody positive samples and 4 of 22 HCV antibody negative samples were positive for HCV RNA when detected by using Procleix HCV discriminatory assay.

CONCLUSIONThis reagent is more sensitive and could be used in blood screening, thereby can reduce both HIV and HCV transmission of blood in window period of HIV and HCV infection.

Blood Donors ; HIV Infections ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; virology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; virology ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of aldose reductase (AR) on expression of fibronectin and collagen IV in cultured rat renal mesangial cells (MsC).

METHODSAR expression plasmid vector (pCDNA3-AR) was constructed by restriction endonuclease digestion and ligation procedures. Stable expression of AR in MsC was established by Lipofectin transfection. Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to verify the transfection efficiency. Expression of fibronectin and collagen IV proteins were analyzed using Western blot.

RESULTSExpression of fibronectin and collagen IV in naive MsC treated with TGF-beta1 was upregulated in comparison to that of the untreated naive MsC (P < 0.01). MsC transfected with pCDNA3-AR showed a remarkable increase of expression of fibronectin and collagen IV (P < 0.01). Aldose reductase inhibitors (Sorbinil and Zopolrestat) significantly inhibited the expression of fibronectin and collagen IV in naive MsC (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOverexpression or inhibition of AR activity significantly alters the expression of fibronectin and collagen IV proteins in cultured rat MsC, suggesting that AR plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of glomerulosclersis.

Aldehyde Reductase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Benzothiazoles ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type IV ; metabolism ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Imidazolidines ; pharmacology ; Mesangial Cells ; metabolism ; Phthalazines ; pharmacology ; Plasmids ; Rats ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo establish a national reference panel for HIV RNA diagnostic reagents.

METHODSSera from patients with HIV infection and healthy blood donors were collected and tested for HIV and HCV antibodies and HBsAg by using ELISA. The HIV antibody positive samples with ELISA were confirmed with HIV Blot 2.2 (Genelabs). The quantitative samples for HIV RNA were calibrated with the WHO HIV RNA standard. The stability of the panel was evaluated with acceleration method.

RESULTSAfter screening and calibration, 8 negative samples, 8 positive samples, 3 quantitative samples, 6 sensitivity samples and 5 samples for linear analysis were composed of the national reference panel for HIV RNA. The convinced international units (IU) for the quantitative samples were obtained by seven independent calibration and the logarithm of international units for the quantitative samples (b1-b3) were less than x +/- s. The results showed that this panel may stabilize for 4 days at 4 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONA national reference panel for HIV RNA reagents has been established. It may provide the basis for evaluating HIV RNA diagnostic reagents.

Blood Donors ; Calibration ; Drug Stability ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; HIV Infections ; blood ; virology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; blood ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; standards ; RNA, Viral ; standards ; Reference Standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity