AIM:To observe the effects of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) on thioltransferase (TTase) expression and activity in human lens epithelial cells.
METHODS: Human lens epithelial cells B3 ( HLE B3 ) were treated with 1. 5mg/mL AGEs - BSA as the experimental groups cultured by fetal bovine serum of volume fraction 10% dulbecco modified eagle medium ( DMEM) and bovine serum albumin ( BSA) was added at the same concentrations as the negative control. The level of reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) was evaluated. Cells were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4d and total RNA or protein was extracted. TTase mRNA levels were detected by qRT-RCR. TTase expression was detected by Western blot and its activity was measured.
RESULTS: Compared with the control group, AGEs-BSA up-regulated the expression of ROS (P<0. 01), ROS content increased in a time-dependent manner. BSA had no effects on ROS expression. The expression of TTase increased after treatment with AGEs-BSA for 1d, peaked at 2d (nearly 5. 06-fold increase, P<0. 01), then decreased gradually. No change was observed between BSA and control group (P>0. 05). Similarly, TTase activity peaked at 3d (nearly 2. 01-fold increase, P<0. 01). Western blot test found that TTase protein expression was increased
gradually, starting from the 3d TTase expression was reflected that there was statistically significant difference compared with control group (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION:AGEs-BSA significantly increases the production of ROS in human lens epithelial cells, and it then induces the oxidative stress which may promote the expression of TTase and enhances the activity of TTase.

Objective To evaluate the prognosis of acute stroke by APACHEⅢ scoring system on and analyze some correlating factors.Methods 136 patients with acute stroke received APACHEⅢ scoring every day in the first week of their admission of hospital.All patients were divided into different groups respectively: death group and alive group according to the outcome of disease,midline group and non-midline group according to the location of illness,large-focus group and small-focus group in terms of volume of cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction.Results APACHEⅢ scores of death group,midline group and large-focus group show significant differences from those of the other groups(alive group,non-midline group and small-focus group).The former is much higher than that of the latter.The highest accuracy can be observed when predicted mortality is 0.4.Conclusion The APACHEⅢ scoring system is a valuable reference for evaluating the severity and prognosis of acute stroke.

The authors discussed the development of the assistive devices and service in China and overseas by analyzing the calssification, function, demand and difference between China and other countries.

The authors discussed the relationship between assistive devices and persons with disability by giving examples such as physical and living conditions of persons with disability, rehabilitation process and conditions, etc., to show the importance of assistive devices to persons with disability.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic value of high-resolution microendoscopy for early esophageal cancer.Methods A total of 60 patients,who underwent esophageal endoscopy,were included in this study.The therapeutic value of high-resolution microendoscopy was investigated with reference to pathological results as golden standard.Results Diagnostic sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy of microendoscopy for high grade dysplasia/early cancer were 81.22％,94.12％,81.82％,94.12％,91.11％,respectively.Diagnosis of severe dysplasia/carcinoma with high-resolution microendoscopy was highly consistent with that of pathology (K =0.760).Conclusion The high-resolution microendoscopy is of high diagnostic value for early esophagus cancer.

Objective To evaluate the clinical esthetical effect in the cervical margin of the porcelain fused to metal crown restoration.Methods 225 cases with the porcelain fused to metal crown were observed.The evaluator examined these restorations for cervical color,marginal fit,and gingival state.(Results 53) cases of restoration changed in the cervical color.The method and the tooth preparation volume,the procedure and the material,which were all closely relevant to the cervical color change.(Conclusion Using)the correct method,improving the procedure and choosing the proper material would reduce the cervical color change.

Objective To study the method for preparing the polyamine cotton fiber loaded with Cu2+ and to test the antibacterial effect of the cotton fiber. Methods The natural cotton fiber was treated through basification, epoxygenation, alkene amination and Cu2+ adsorption. 8 kinds of microorganisms were used for the bacteriostasis test. Results The modified fibers showed a good antimicrobial effect to gram-negative bacteria and the bacteriostasis value achieved 6. The minimal sterilization concentrations of the Cu2+-diethylene triamine cotton fiber, Cu2+-triethylene tetramine cotton fiber and Cu2+-tetraethylene pentamine cotton fiber were 12 mg/ml, 14 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml respectively. The antibacterial process of the cotton fiber included two parts, adsorption and sterilization. The acting site was on the cell membrane. A positive relationship was seen between the concentration of antibacterial cotton fiber and the dissolved rate of bacteria. Conclusion The metal ion fiber shows an excellent performance of broad-spectrum antibacterial effect, especially to gram-negative bacteria and may be the "contact killing" is the acting manner of the antibacterial cotton fiber.

Objective To evaluate the clinical experience in the treatment of the bladder cancer with holmium laser. Methods From June 2001 to June 2002, a total of 34 cases of transitional cell bladder carcinoma, including 30 male and 4 female, with clinical stage T 1 to T 2a and grade I to Ⅱ, were treated with holmium laser. A 550um end firing fiber was delivered through 21 Fr cystoscopy and power(1 to 1.5 J) was delivered at 15 to 40 pulses per second. Results Bladder tumors were resected easily in 26 cases with holmium laser. In 7 cases it was supplemented with TURBT. Only in one case, holmium laser treatment was given up because of continuous bleeding. The patient was then treated with partial cystectomy. Laser operating time ranged form 5min to 60min, mean 20min. Side effects such as uncontrollable bleeding, perforation of bladder, and obturator nerve reflection were not found. 30 cases were followed up for 3 to 12 months, and tumor recurrence were found in 3 cases. Conclusion Holmium laser resection of bladder tumors is a safe, effective, simple method with less side effects. But the field of vision will be obscure unless continuous irrigation is given during operation.