China ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Laboratories ; statistics & numerical data ; Occupational Health ; Quality Control

Animals ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Blood Circulation ; physiology ; Blood Physiological Phenomena ; Lymph ; chemistry ; physiology ; Lymphatic System ; physiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rheology

· AIM: To summarize the clinical features of Chinese primary congenital glaucoma and to investigate the discrepancies of the clinical features between the Chinese and Indian patients.congenital glaucoma patients were reviewed. The clinical features were summarized as several quantifiable clinical parameters and the severity of the disease was evaluated. Both the quantified clinical features and severity were statistically compared with those of the Indian patients, which were cited from the previous published articles.included in the study. In Chinese patients, sex ratio (male to female )was about 2:1, family history was presented in 3 patients (7.5%) and consanguinity was found in one patient (2.5%). The main symptoms and signs observed in Chinese patients spanned a wide spectrum of manifestations. The most frequent signs noted on the initial examination were enlarged eyeball (42.5%) and decreased visual acuity (35.0%). Compared with Indian patients, Chinese patients had a later onset, a delayed diagnosis, more severe corneal changes and more severe optic nerve damages (P＜0.01). The combined tabeculectomy and trabeculotomy operation was preferred by both Chinese and Indian doctors whereas a higher proportion of Indian patients received the combined operation (P＜0.01). The proportions of the severity grade were different between Chinese and Indian patients. Most Chinese patients were in the severe grade while most Indian patients were in the very severe grade (P＜0.01).patients were sporadic and non-consanguineous.Compared with Indian patients, Chinese patients had a relative later onset, a delayed diagnosis and treatment.More attempts are needed in Chinese PCG prevention and treatment.

Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Yixintai Granule (YG) on mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 in renal medulla of chronic heart failure (CHF) rabbits.

METHODSCHF rat model was established by ear marginal vein injection of adriamycin. Successfully modeled rabbits were divided into the model group, the high (8.4 g/kg), middle (4.2 g/kg), and low dose (2.1 g/kg) YG group, and the Furosemide group (2 mg/kg). Besides, a normal control group was set up. Equal volume of physiological saline was administered to rabbits of the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. YG at different doses was administered to rabbits of the 3 YG groups by gastrogavage. The intervention lasted for 4 weeks, once per day. After treatment the urine volume and pathomorphological changes of renal medulla tissue were observed. mRNA and its protein expression levels of AQP2 were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the urine volume decreased significantly, mRNA and protein expression levels of renal medulla AQP2 increased significantly in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the urine volume increased significantly, and mRNA and protein expression levels of renal medulla AQP2 decreased significantly in all medicated groups (all P < 0.01). Compared with the low dose YG group, the urine volume significantly increased and the mRNA expression level of renal medulla AQP2 significantly decreased in the middle and high dose YG groups (all P < 0.01). The expression level of AQP2 protein significantly decreased in the high dose YG group (P < 0.01). Pathological changes of the renal medulla was the most obviously seen in the model group. But they were alleviated to various degrees in all medicated groups. They were more obviously attenuated in the middle and high dose YG groups.

CONCLUSIONYG could improve CHF possibly through down-regulating mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 in renal medulla, and elevating the urine volume.

Animals ; Aquaporin 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To probe into the effects of fluoride on metal elements in the testis tissue of male rats, and provide experimental basis to further research for reproductive toxicity of fluoride. Methods Thirty-two healthy male Wistar rats, weighting 150 - 180 g, were randomly divided into 4 groups, normal sodium(control) by intragastrie administration for 90 days, and body weight was observed daily. After the last intragastric administration, all rats were killed by cervical dislocation. The contents of calcium(Ca), ferri(Fe), zincum(Zn),cuprum(Cu ) and magnesium(Mg) in the testis tissue were measured by atomic absorption speetrophotometry.Results After 30 days exposure, the difference of body weight between groups was statistically significant(F=3.884, P < 0.05). The body weight in low- and medium-dose groups[(235.00 :t: 14.56), (235.44 ± 24.99)g] were significant increased than high-dose group[(206.00 ± 18.16)g, all P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference of body weight between the groups at 0, 60 and 90 days(F = 0.501, 0.578, 1.893, all P > 0.05). The difference of Ca, Zn and Mg levels among four groups was statistically significant(F = 6.630, 6.844, 5.333, all P < 0.05). The content of Ca of the low-dose group[(56.15 + 4.21 )mg/kg] decreased than that of the control group[(77.57 ± 6.66)mg/kg, P < 0.05];the content of Zn of the low-, medium- and high-dose groups[(4.80 ± 0.55), (4.56 ± 0.33),(5.46 ± 0.79 )mg/kg] deceased than that of the control group [(7.16 ± 0.28 )mg/kg, all P < 0.05];the content of Mg of the high-dose group [(32.44 ± 1.53 ) mg/kg] decreased than that of the control group [(42.54 ± 8.07 ) mg/kg,all P < 0.05]. The difference of testis Fe and Cu between four groups was not statistically significant(F = 1.324,0.207, all P > 0.05). Conclusion Chronic fluorosis can affect the levels of metal elements in rat testis and damage the reproductive system.

Objective To investigate the chromosome damage in peripheral lymphocytes of underground gold miners.Methods Conventional method and cytokinesis-block micronuclens assay were used to analyze frequency of chromosome aberrations and micronucleus in peripheral lymphocytes in 58 gold miners,respectively.Results Frequencies of chromosome-type aberrations,ehromatid-type aberrations and total aberrations were higher in the miners than those in the control group(0.72%,0.41%,1.16% vs 0.14%,0.18%,0.33,X2=44.322,9.501,50.476,P＜0.01).Both micronucleated cell rate and micronucleus rate were higher in the miners group than those in the control group(10.8‰ and 11.6‰ vs 8.7‰ and 9.0‰,X2=8.672,12.546,P＜0.01).Frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and micronucleus proportionally increased with underground working years.Compared with those miners who had worked underground 6 years or shorter,both frequencies were statistically higher among the miners who had worked underground for more than 21 years(P＜0.05).No difference was found among other groups of working years(P＞0.05).Compared with the control group,both frequencies increased in the miner group,and the differences were statistically significant(X2=2.395,P＜0.05 for chromosomal aberrations and X2=2.319,P＜0.05,respecfvely).The common types of chromosome aberrations were acentrie fragments,while chromatid break and dicenrics were subordinate.Conclusions Chromosomal damages were observed in the gold workers who exposed high radon in the underground mining.

Objective To investigate the changes in the expression of GABAAα1, receptors in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Methods Nine male Wistar rats weighing 200-210 g were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n = 3 each): control group (group C) , sham operation group (group S) and neuropathic pain group (group P). Neuropathic pain was induced by chronic constrictive injury. The right sciatic nerve was exposed and 4 loose ligatures were placed on the sciatic nerve at 1 mm intervals with 3-0 chromic catgut. In group S, the right sciatic nerve was exposed but not ligated. The thermal and mechanical pain threshold was measured at 1 d before and 1,4,7, 10 and 14 d after operation. The animals were then sacrificed and the mPFC was removed. The expression of GABAAα1, receptors in mPFC was determined by Western blot. Results Compared with C and S groups, thermal and mechanical pain threshold were significantly decreased and the expression of GABAAα1, receptors was up-regulated in group P ( P ＜ 0.01) . There was no significant difference was in the thermal and mechanical pain threshold and expression of GABAAα1 receptors between C and S groups (P ＞ 0.05). Conclusion Up-regulation of GABAAα1 receptor expression in mPFC may be involved in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain in rats.

Objective To quantify the validity and reliability of the Hong Kong version of the functional test for the Hemiplegic Upper Extremity (FTHUE-HK).Methods Forty-two stroke patients were studied.Patients were assessed twice within one week using the FTHUE-HK,the upper extremity component of Fugl-Meyer movement assessment (FMA) and the modified Barthel index (MBI).The test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability of the FTHUE-HK were thus quantified.The FTHUE-HK's validity was evaluated according to the correlation between the FTHUE-HK,FMA and MBI results.Results Significant correlations between the three assessments were demonstrated(P≤0.01).The intra-and inter-class correlation coefficients were 0.983 and 0.985 respectively.Conclusion The FTHUE-HK is a simple and useful assessment of the upper extremity function of stroke patients with good validity and reliability.

AIM:To observe the influence of erythropoietin (EPO) on eryptosis and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in erythrocytes under stimulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2),.and to explore its related mecha-nism. METHODS:The erythrocyte suspension (1%) was cultured in vitro and divided into 3 groups:control group (C group,the culture medium was PBS),H2O2group (H group,the culture medium was PBS containing H2O2at final con-centration of 100 μmol/L) and EPO group (E group,the culture medium was PBS containing H2O2at final concentration of 100 μmol/L and EPO at final concentration of 2×104U/L). The erythrocytes were collected at 24 h and 60 h. The eryptosis was detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V staining. The production of ROS and intracellular calcium ion con-centration (Ca2+]i) were also analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS:The eryptosis in C group was increased as the in-cubating time extended. The eryptosis in H group was higher than that in C group (P<0.01),while that in E group was lower than that in H group(P<0.01). Meanwhile,ROS production andCa2+]iwere higher in H group than those in C group (P<0.01), but those were lower in E group than those in H group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION:EPO inhibits eryptosis induced by H2O2and its mechanism may be related to antioxidant effect and change of Ca2+]i.