Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Energy Metabolism ; genetics ; Growth Hormone ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Longevity ; genetics ; Metabolism ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; genetics

Animals ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; metabolism ; physiology ; Mice ; Transcription Factors ; biosynthesis

Animals ; Drosophila ; genetics ; Drosophila Proteins ; genetics ; Genome, Insect ; Hedgehog Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Obesity ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

AIM: To investigate the antioxidant effect of hydralazine under hypoxia-induced damage on retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells and the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this effect.METHODS: Human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells were used to investigate the effect of hydralazine on oxidative stress, including tert-butyl hydroxyperoxide (t-BHP), H2O2, sodium azide (NaN3), and hypoxia induced cell damage. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay.RESULTS: When ARPE-19 cells were treated with oxidative stress induced by ROS, hydralazine showed concentration-dependent protection against t-BHP, H2O2 and hypoxia induced cell damage but not NaN3. Nitric oxide (NO) was not involved in this effect.CONCLUSION: Hydralazine showed antioxidant potential against oxidative stress induced damage in ARPE-19 cells. These effects might be caused through scavenger of ROS. Thus, hydralazine could be used for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Animals ; Cell Division ; Drosophila melanogaster ; cytology ; enzymology ; Female ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; enzymology ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of two surgical techniques for controllong nasal width after Le Fort I osteotomy.

METHODSFifty-five patients who received the Le Fort I osteotomy have been included in this study. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. The experimental group received extraoral ABS, and the control group received traditional intraoral ABS. 3D photos of the patient's face were taken before operation and at postoperative 3 months. Alar width was measured on the 3D photos. Data was reported as means and standard deviations, and statistic analysis was done by using student t test.

RESULTSCompared with presurgical data, G. lat-G. lat increased by (2.66 +/- 1.47) mm, Al-Al increased by (2.20 +/- 1.22) mm and Sbal-Sbal increased by (1.30 +/- 1.33) mm in experimental group. G. lat-G. lat increased by (1.38 +/- 1.29) mm, Al-Al increased by (1.06 +/- 0.95) mm and Sbal-Sbal increased by (0.36 +/- 1.33) mm in the control group. There was significant difference between two groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe surgical technique of ABS is the most important factor for determining the postoperative alar width. Both techniques have better effect on the Sbal-Sbal width control than the G. lat-G. lat and Al-Al width control. Traditional intraoral ABS can more effectively control the alar width. Both techniques cannot completely control the alar base widening after Le Fort I osteotomy.

Face ; Humans ; Nose ; anatomy & histology ; Nose Deformities, Acquired ; surgery ; Osteotomy, Le Fort ; adverse effects ; Photography

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of proliferation effect induced by (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 on retinal pigmented epithelial cells(ARPE-19).METHODS: Human retinal pigmented epithelial cells(ARPE-19) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to investigate the effect of (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 on cell growth,and their mechanisms of proliferative action by using ERK、 AKT、PI3K、Protein kinase C (PKC)and Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors.RESULTS: (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 dose-dependently increased ARPE-19 cell proliferation,but not on HUVECs. When treated with proliferative inhibitors,H7(5μmol/L)、hypericin(20μmol/L)、PD98059(2μmol/L)、LY294002(50μmol/L)、SH-5 (10μmol/L) and L-NAME (100μmol/L),the proliferative effect was reduced by H7、hypericin、PD98059 and LY294002,but not by SH-5 and L-NAME.CONCLUSION: (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 can induce cell proliferation through MAPK and PI3K dependent pathway. KEYWORDS: age-related macular degeneration; (R,R)-XY-10; (S,S)-XY-10; ARPE-19 cells; human umbilical vein endothelial cells; proliferation

OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in people with epilepsy (PWE), and confers medical and seizure-related consequences when untreated. Positive airway pressure, the gold-standard for OSA management, is limited by tolerability. As serotonin is involved respiratory control and amelioration of seizure-induced respiratory events, this study aims to determine whether serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) may represent a potential therapeutic option. METHODS: A retrospective study of 100 PWE and OSA ≥18 years of age was conducted. The primary outcome measure was OSA severity as function of SRI use, with rapid eye movement (REM)-related OSA as a secondary outcome. RESULTS: Older age and depression were more common in those taking an SRI. There was no association between SRIs and OSA severity. However, the SRI group was less likely to have REM-related OSA. CONCLUSIONS: In PWE and OSA, SRI use is associated with reduced risk of REM-related OSA, and may represent a potential management strategy.
Depression ; Epilepsy ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; Serotonin ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Sleep, REM

INTRODUCTIONIntensive care unit (ICU) prognostic models are predominantly used in more developed nations such as the United States, Europe and Australia. These are not that popular in Southeast Asian countries due to costs and technology considerations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the suitability of the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) IV model in a single centre Malaysian ICU.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA prospective study was conducted at the single centre ICU in Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) Malaysia. External validation of APACHE IV involved a cohort of 916 patients who were admitted in 2009. Model performance was assessed through its calibration and discrimination abilities. A first-level customisation using logistic regression approach was also applied to improve model calibration.

RESULTSAPACHE IV exhibited good discrimination, with an area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.78. However, the model's overall fit was observed to be poor, as indicated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test (Ĉ = 113, P <0.001). Predicted in-ICU mortality rate (28.1%) was significantly higher than the actual in-ICU mortality rate (18.8%). Model calibration was improved after applying first-level customisation (Ĉ = 6.39, P = 0.78) although discrimination was not affected.

CONCLUSIONAPACHE IV is not suitable for application in HSA ICU, without further customisation. The model's lack of fit in the Malaysian study is attributed to differences in the baseline characteristics between HSA ICU and APACHE IV datasets. Other possible factors could be due to differences in clinical practice, quality and services of health care systems between Malaysia and the United States.

APACHE ; Adult ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Malaysia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Theoretical ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tertiary Care Centers

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Blindness ; rehabilitation ; Bonding, Human-Pet ; Culture ; Dogs ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Singapore