Objective To measure and conduct statistic analysis of normal eyes by Pentacam. Methods Two hundred and twenty-one healthy people (442 eyes) underwent examinations of Pentacam, and they were divided into 5 groups by age: <40 years old group (50 people, 100 eyes), 40-49 years old group (50 people, 100 eyes), 50-59 years old group (50 people, 100 eyes), 60-69 years old group (50 people, 100 eyes) and >70 years old group (21 people, 42 eyes). Results With the increase of age, there were significant differences in chamber volume, chamber angle and anterior chamber depth among age groups (P<0.05). In elder age groups, there were significant differences in these parameters between males and females (P<0.01). Conclusion Anterior segment parameters are significantly correlated with age. After 60 years old, the anterior segment parameters become significantly different with gender.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) in treatment of symptomatic uterine leiomyoma among Chinese reproductive age women.Methods From April 2010 to April 2012,80 premenopausal women with symptomatic leiomyoma volunteered to participate in this prospective study in Department of Outpatient of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.Among 23 reproductive aged patients with size of uterus less than 16th gestational weeks,2.5 to 10 cm of diameter of myoma,less than 10 myomas and expressing symptoms clearly were treated by MRgFUS.Treatment data,non-perfused volume ratio (NPVR) and adverse events were recorded.After treatment,patients were followed up at 1 week,1,3,6,12 and 24 months,respectively.Patients at initial screening and each time of the follow-up filled out uterine fibroid symptoms quality of life (UFS-QOL),which include symptoms severity score (SSS) and health-related quality of life (HRQL).The volumes of leiomyoma and uterine were evaluated on MRI before and after the treatment (at 6 and 12 months,respectively).Before operation,routine blood test were performed on all patients,anemia patients at 3 months and 1 year after treatment were checked with blood test.Results (1) Treatment data and adverse events:the mean therapeutic temperature was (69 ± 7) ℃,the mean treatment time was (144 ±62) min,the mean NPVR was (62 ±23)％.Adverse events included mild erythema(1/23),abdominal cramp(8/23),vaginal discharge (5/23),and leg numbness (4/23).(2) The rate of secondary surgery:one patient was treated by myoectomy and hysterectomy within one year following up and 4 patients chose surgical treatment during the second-year follow-up.(3) Volume change:the volumes of leiomyoma before the treatment and 6,12 months after the treatment are 75.6 (P25 =43.8,P75 =128.9),52.3 (P25 =23.8,P75 =111.2),45.9 (P25 =26.3,P75 =71.7) cm3,respectively; and the volumes of uterine before the treatment and 6,12 months after the treatment are 270.0 (P25 =208.4,P75 =390.3),216.4 (P25 =151.1,P75 =290.0),200.0 (P25 =149.1,P75 =267.6) cm3,respectively.Both leiomyoma and uterine volumes decreased significantly after treatments (P ＜ 0.01).(4) UFS-QOL change:the symptoms severity score (SSS) before the treatment and 3,12 months after the treatment are (34 13),(22 ± 11),(19 ± 12),which decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.01).The health-related quality of life (HRQL) before the treatment and 3,12 months after the treatment are (74 ± 15),(82 ± 13),(89 ± 10),which increased dramatically (P ＜0.01).(5) Hemoglobin(HGB) change:eleven patients suffered from anemia before treatments,the mean HGB before treatment was (87 ±6) g/L and were (106 ± 14) g/L 3 months after treatment,(112 ± 10) g/L 12 months after treatment.The HGB was increased significantly after treatments (P＜0.01).Conclusions MRgFUS is a safe and effective non-invasive management for symptomatic uterine leiomyoma in short-term follow up.But there is additional treatment ratio after MRgFUS.

Objective A scientific evaluation of hospital culture with the Dimension organizational culture model, in view of features of China's general public hospitals.Methods Based on Denison model, according to the characteristics of the public general hospitals in China, the authors developed a tool for organizational culture assessment (TOCA) by using the survey data from 87 hospitals in three provinces from the East, Central, and West areas in China.Results This tool, an evaluation scale, comprises the four cultural characteristics of direction, consistency, participation, and adaptability, as well as 13 cultural dimensions of social responsibility and competitive consciousness. The tool is tested as having good internal reliability and validity.Conclusion The TOCA provides hospital administrators with a tool for hospital culture evaluation, diagnosis and improvement.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Bushen Wenyang Huayu Recipe (BSWYHYR) on nerve growth factor (NGF) and transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor I (TRPV1) in experimental endometriosis (EMT), and to explore its mechanism for treating EMT-induced pain.

METHODSTotally in-bred line BALB/c 75 female mice were divided into five groups, i.e., the sham-operation group, the model group, the high dose BSWYHYR group, the low dose BSWYHYR group, the gestrinone group, 15 in each group. Writhing response was observed in each group. Serum contents of NGF were detected using ELISA. Expression levels of NGF and TRPV1 in uterus and ectopic foci were detected using immunohistochemical staining SP and Western blot. mRNA expression levels of NGF and TRPV1 in uterus and ectopic foci were detected by Real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe serum NGF content in the model group was higher than that in the sham-operation group (P < 0.01), and there was positive correlation between NGF and the writhing frequency (r = 0.574, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, serum levels of NGF significantly decreased in the 3 treatment groups (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, mRNA and protein expression levels of NGF and TRPV1 increased significantly in the model group (P < 0.01). Protein expression levels of NGF and TRPV1 decreased significantly in the 3 treatment groups, when compared with the model group (P < 0.01). mRNA expression levels of NGF and TRPV1 decreased most in the high dose BSWYHYR group (P < 0.01). NGF in uterus and ectopic foci was positively correlated with protein and mRNA expression levels of TRPV1 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNGF and TRPV1 participated in the occurrence of pain in EMS. BSWYHYR played an important role in inhibiting EMT-induced pain through reducing the up-regulation of NGF on TRPV1.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Pain ; RNA, Messenger ; TRPV Cation Channels ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Uterus

OBJECTIVETo investigate the nephrotoxic effects of methyl cantharidimide tablets on urinary protein and enzymes in Beagle dogs.

METHODBeagle dogs were randomly divided into negative control group(blank tablet), methyl cantharidimide tablets group (6.11,12.21, 24.42 mg x kg(-1)), continuously 30 days of oral adminiStration, once a day. The drug and control group were collected and determined fresh urine in 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of the administration; Serum urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Crea), total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) as well as sodium, potassium, chloride electrolyte were determined on 15 and 30 days of the administration; Urine albumin (mAlb), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin( NGAL), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), clusterin, beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), alpha1-microglobulin (alpha1-MG), alanine aminopeptidase( AAP) and im- munoglobulins IgG were tested on 15 and 30 days of the administration.

RESULTCompared with the control group, urine protein and white blood cells was significantly increased in each dose group. On 15 days of the administration, mAlb were higher in each dose group, KIM-1, NGAL, clusterin, NAG and AAP were significantly higher in high-dose group, while the middle and low dose group had no significant difference, as well as blood SCr and BUN no obvious abnormalities. On 30 days, mAlb, KIM-1, clusterin, NAG, AAP were increased in each dose group, appearing dose-effect relationship, beta2-MG and NGAL levels were significantly increased in high-dose group. Contents above indicators were increased with significant dose and time relationship, and serum BUN, Scr were correlated, suggesting that urine mAlb, KIM-1, clusterin, NAG and AAP indicators that can sensitively respond the changes of proteins and enzymes in urine.

CONCLUSIONMethyl cantharidimide tablets has a renal toxicity, urine mAlb, KIM-1, clusterin, NAG and AAP can be used as the early nephrotoxic biomarkers of methyl cantharidimide tablets.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; urine ; Dogs ; Female ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; Male ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Tablets ; adverse effects ; Urine ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of the treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids with MR guided focused ultrasound surgery(MRgFUS)in China. Methods Twenty five selected patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids underwent MRgFUS treatment in our perspective clinical study. Immediately after treatment the patients accepted pelvic enhanced MRI scans, and recorded the non-perfused volume(NPV)and calculated the non-perfused volume ratio(NPV%). We recorded the symptom severity score(SSS) and standard SSS change(ΔSSS)of the patients before, during and 1 week after treatment together with 1, 3, 6, 12 months and several years follow-up. The patients accepted pelvic enhanced MRI scans in the follow-up of 12 months after treatment,and recorded the volume and the volume change(ΔV) of fibroids. We observed the adverse reactions during the treatment and the follow-ups. Wilcoxon test or t test and Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. Results Totally 31 fibroids of 25 patients were completed the treatment. Twenty two patients completed the 12 months follow-up and 15 patients completed the long-term follow-up which was during 34 to 66 months, median follow-up duration was(55 ± 11)months. The NPV was 4.5 to 295.0 cm3, median was 37.0 cm3. The NPV%was 6%to 94%, average was(64 ± 23)%. According to our follow up, the standard SSS continued to decline. Compared with screening standard SSS, all the follow-up standard SSS had significant difference(P<0.05), except for that of the first week. Among all the follow up, only the standard SSS change of 1 week after the treatment had a correlation with NPV%(r=0.552,P=0.005), and the others had no significant correlation with NPV%(P>0.05). The uterine fibroids volume decreased in the 12 months follow-up, which had a significant difference with the volume before treatment(P<0.05). And there was also correlation between the fibroids volume change and NPV(r=0.587,P=0.017). There was no correlation between the volume or volume change and standard SSS or standard SSS change(all P>0.05). None serious adverse effects occurred in all cases. Conclusion MRgFUS is a safe and effective way to treat uterine fibroids.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of citalopram on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and proto-oncogene protein (C-fos) and cell apoptosis in frontal cortical neurons of rat after stress.

METHODSTwenty four healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8): control group, stress group (treated with saline, ig) , experimental group (treated with Citalopram 4 mg/kg x d for 28 days, ig). Rats were forced to swim to establish chronic stress model. The protein expression levels of PCNA and C-fos were tested by immunohistochemistry assay. TUNEL assay was used to test cell apoptosis. Nikon image analysis software was used to determine the number of positive cells in each index.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the stress group showed a smaller amount of PCNA-positive cells, a larger number of C-fos positive cells, and the volume of positive cells was significantly reduced. Compared with the stress group, the PCNA positive cells were increased significantly, the C-fos positive cells and TUNEL positive cells were decreased significantly, nuclear condensation phenomenon in frontal cortical neurons and the staining was significantly lighter in experimental group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCitalopram significantly antagonize PCNA, C-fos protein expression and cell apoptosis of rat prefrontal cortical neurons caused by chronic stress, which might be the one of mechanisms of citalopram for prevention and treatment of psychosis caused by chronic stress.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Citalopram ; pharmacology ; Frontal Lobe ; cytology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Physiological

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differential gene expression profile of the lung tissues in experimental silicosis rats and to screen for and identify the key signal transduction pathways in pulmonary silicotic fibrosis.

METHODSA total of 80 rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 40) and silica-instilled group (n = 40). Each group was equally divided into five subgroups, and each subgroup was treated at 1, 7, 14, 21, or 28 d. Intratracheal instillation was used to give 1 ml of silica suspension (50 mg/ml) in the silica-instilled group and normal saline in the control group. Silicotic nodules and type I and III collagen were observed through hematoxylin and eosin staining and Sirius red staining, respectively. Differentially expressed genes in pulmonary silicotic fibrosis were selected by the rat whole-genome gene expression RatRef-12 BeadChip (Illumina, USA), and a fold change cutoff was applied. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was also used to verify differentially expressed genes. Through bioinformatics databases such as Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), preliminary research was performed on the biological pathways of differential genes, key biological signal transduction pathways were identified, and key differentially expressed genes in each pathway at different time points were searched for.

RESULTSA total of 2694 genes were differentially expressed and changed dynamically. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that 141 signal transduction pathways were involved in the development and progression of pulmonary silicotic fibrosis, among which 48 pathways were more significant than others (P < 0.01), with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway exceptionally significant. The differentially expressed genes interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R), tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in the MAPK pathway were up-regulated at different time points after silica instillation. The results of real-time PCR showed that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was over-expressed at 4 time points and under-expressed at 1 time point compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe MAPK signal transduction pathway plays a very important role in the development of pulmonary silicotic fibrosis. Both IL-1R and TNFR may play major roles during inflammation phase through the P38/Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway, and TGF-β may have important function through the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in the formation of fibrosis.

Animals ; Gene Expression ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; Silicosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology

This study is to report the evaluation of the micromeritic properties of LubriTose AN, which is expected to provide preliminary theoretical basis for the direct compression technology. From the aspects of flowability, compressibility and dilution potential, the angle of repose, flow velocity, the Carr' index, tensile strength, elastic recovery, yield pressure and the lubricating ability of LubriTose AN were determined. Also, model drugs were selected to investigate the dilute potential under the desirable compressing performance. Compared to the physical mixtures, the flowability of LubriTose AN was better, and the deformation mechanism was the same with anhydrous lactose, both brittle deformation. The compressibility and compaction of LubriTose AN was slightly better than that of physical mixtures under low and moderate pressure. The dilution potential of LubriTose AN were high for most of hydrophobic drugs. The lubricate ability was desirable under different rotational speeds. LubriTose AN is an excellent co-processed excipient, which is helpful for the promotion and improvement of the tablet manufacturing level.
Drug Compounding ; Elasticity ; Excipients ; chemistry ; Glycerides ; chemistry ; Ibuprofen ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Lactose ; chemistry ; Lubricants ; chemistry ; Lubrication ; Particle Size ; Pressure ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVETo compare the knee osteoarthritis (OA) models in rabbits by different concentrations of papain and provide data for exploring pathogenesis and treatments of this disease.

METHODSSixty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of 15 each and given injections into the right knee on days 1, 3 and 5 including intra-articular injections of 2%, 5% or 10% (w/v) papain and 0.03 mol/L L-cysteine at the dose of 0.1 ml/kg (experimental groups). The 0.9% NaCl (w/v) with a dose of 0.1 ml/kg were injected intra-articularly into the right knees of rabbits in the control group. The rabbits were sacrificed at 2, 4, 6 weeks respectively after the initiation of papain injection and these OA models were evaluated through recording the width of knee joint, performing the morphological observation and histological evaluation of articular cartilage and synovium.

RESULTSThe degenerative changes were demonstrated in knee joints of rabbit in all experimental groups, such as thinner articular cartilage, fibrillation and destroyed cartilage matrix, and inflammation, proliferation, and degeneration of the synovial tissue. All these changes were much worse with increased concentration and prolonged observation time.

CONCLUSIONDifferent severity of OA are established through intra-articular injections of 2%, 5% or 10% papain and 0.03 mol/L L-cysteine at the dose of 0.1 ml/kg. These models are of the characters of short period and a good reproducibility.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Papain ; toxicity ; Rabbits