·AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide(TA) as treatment for macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion(RVO).·METHODS: The study group consisting 30 patients (30 eyes) with RVO combined with macular edema received intravitreal 4mg TA. Changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure(IOP), examination with slit-lamp microscope, fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography(OCT) were observed during the follow-up. Statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS 12.0 software.·RESULTS: The visual acuity(VA) of all patients was significantly improved and the central macular thickness (CMT) was significantly relieved. There was no correlation between course, age, CMT before injection and the type of RVO. There was positive correlation between visual acuity before injection and after injection.·CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of TA is an easy-operated and safe therapy. After injection, macular edema can be rapidly relieved. VA at baseline is the predictor for the prognosis of VA. Some patients experience recurrence of macular edema between 3 to 6 months after injection.

Objective To investigate the current status and influencing factors of work engagement in emergency nurses, put forward a feasible strategy, improve the emergency department nurses work engagement for the emergency department to build effective human resource management to provide the reference. Methods A total 226 emergency nurses from 8 hospital of first-class in Tianjin city were recruited by the convenience sampling method and investigated with a self designed, the Medical Personnel′s Work Engagement Questionnaire. Results The total score of Medical Personnel′s Work Engagement Questionnaire was 111-166(137.32 ± 12.48) points and the scores were the highest in interpersonal concordance (4.20 ± 0.46) points and the lowest in work vigor (3.01 ± 0.61) points. Variance analysis and multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender, employment category and number of years as an emergency nurses were the influencing factors of work engagement, which could explain 51.3%of the variance. Conclusions Work engagement emergency of nurses is at a relatively moderate-to-high level, through establishing an effective incentive mechanism, increasing social benefits, accelerating the construction of emergency specialist nurse training system and paying attention to occupational development, work engagement level and quality of emergency medical care can be improved.

Seven compounds were isolated from fermentation extract of cave-derived Metarhizium anisopliae NHC-M3-2 by silica gel, semi-preparative HPLC and other chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated by UV, IR, MS and NMR methods as 2,3-dehydroindigotide G (1), (-)-regiolone (2), naphtho-γ-pyrone (3), indigotide G (4), indigotide B (5) destruxin A (6) and destruxin B (7). Compound 1 is a new glycoside naphthopyranone compound. The anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity of these compounds was evaluated. The EC₅₀ and CC₅₀ of compound 3 against HBV were 4.5 μmol·L^-1 and 92.3 μmol·L^-1, respectively. This is the first report of the antiviral activity of compound 3.

The present study aims to investigate the lignan constituents from Sambucus williamsii and their proliferation effects on osteoblast-like UMR106 cells. Seven compounds were isolated and purified by macroporous resin D101, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, Toyopearl HW-40, ODS column chromatographies and Preparative HPLC(C-18). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods as threo-guaiacylglycerol-beta-0-4'-conifery ether (1), lirioresinol A (2), 1-hydroxypinoresinol (3), 5-methoxybalanophonin (4), balanophonin (5), 5-methoxy-trans-dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (6), and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (7). Compounds 3-7 were obtained from this genus for the first time. The proliferation effects of all isolated compounds on osteoblast-like UMR106 cells were determined. Compounds 1-7 (1 x 10(-12)-1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1)) increased UMR106 cell proliferation to some extent.
Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Lignans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Sambucus ; chemistry

0.05).In group Ⅱand Ⅲ,the carotid artery IMT was thicker and the amount of plagues were larger than those in group Ⅰ(P

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of prevalence on hypercholesterolemia and borderline high cholesterol of Chinese residents aged 20 years and above.

METHODSTo detect the total fasting plasma cholesterol in 48 299 subjects among 20 year-olds and above.

RESULTSWithin a certain age range, the prevalence of both hypercholesterolemia and borderline high cholesterol increased with age, but there was a decreasing trend after 60-years of age in some regions. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia increased to 12.53% in over 70 year-olds group from 1.36% in urban 20-year-olds, and increased to 5.15% from 60-year-olds group comparing to 0.98% of the 20-year-old group in rural areas. When comparing to the 20-year-old age group, the prevalence of borderline high cholesterol of the 70 age group in urban and rural increased by 4.4 and 4.2 times, respectively. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in each age group in urban were higher than that of in rural areas. In Rural I, it was higher than that of in Rural II , Rural III and Rural IV. The prevalence rates of both hypercholesterolemia and borderline high cholesterol of the males in the less than 50 year-olds group were higher than that in females, which was quite different from the group older than 50 years of age. As to borderline high cholesterol, similar result was also noticed.

CONCLUSIONWithin a certain age range, there was a trend that the prevalence of both hypercholesterolemia and borderline high cholesterol increased with age and related to regions which were classified by economic status. A distinct difference between males and females also existed.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; epidemiology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

To investigate the effect of hepatitis B virus X protein(HBx) on CtBP-interacting protein(CtIP) which is an important repair factor of DNA double strand break damage in HepG2 cells induced by bleomycin. A HBx stably expressing HepG2 cell line and a control HepG2 cell line with empty vector transfected were established. After the double strand break (DSB) damage occurred, the mRNA and protein levels of CtIP were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot assay respectively, cell cycle profiles and apoptotic cell death were determined by a flow cytometry, and the position of CtIP in cells was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. It showed that HepG2 cells transfected with hepatitis B virus X gene could stably express HBx protein. After being induced by bleomycin, the percentage of apoptotic cell was 16.90%+/-0.89% in HBx stably expressing HepG2 cell line and 15.30%+/-0.86% in control cell line, respectively (q = 2.074, P is more than to 0.05). While the percentage of death cell was 8.71%+/-0.74% in HBx stably expressing HepG2 cell line and 4.90%+/-0.46% in control cell line, respectively (q = 7.126, P is less than to 0.01). The two cell lines manifested the increase of G2/M arrest and significant difference existed between the two cell lines. HBx down regulated the expression levels of CtIP and its mRNA. The CtIP level was 0.66+/-0.04 in HepG2-HBx cell and 0.73+/-0.05 in HepG2-vec cell, respectively (t = 2.314, P is less than to 0.05). The relative mRNA level was 1.00+/-0.06 in HepG2-HBx cell and 1.23+/-0.08 in HepG2-vec cell, respectively (t = 2. 732, P is less than to 0.05). We also found that CtIP was concentrated in the cell nucleus. The research suggests that HBx may affect DNA-repair pathways by disrupting the expression of CtIP.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlations between MELD score and left ventricular function in patients with end-stage liver disease.

METHODSA total of 92 patients who prepared for orthotopic liver transplantation from January 2002 to May 2008 were enrolled in this study. Of these Patients, 75 were males and 17 were females, and the mean age was 50.3+/-9.5 years; 85 were cirrhosis, 7 were cirrhosis with primary liver cancer. Preoperative information, including biochemical parameters, coagulation parameters, indicators of hepatitis virology, two-dimensional echocardiography and electrocardiogram were collected. According to MELD (the Model for End-stage Liver Disease) scoring system, these subjects were categorized into three groups: MELD score is less than or equal to 9 points (31 cases, 33.7%); 10 is less than or equal to MELD score is less than or equal to 19 points (45 cases, 48.9%); MELD score is more than or equal to 20 points (16 cases, 17.4%). The relationships between MELD score and classification and cardiac function were determined by chi-square test, analysis of variance, rank sum test and correlation analysis, et al.

RESULTSMELD score was significantly correlated with left atrial diameter (LAD), interventricular septum thickness (IVST), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), aortic flow (AF), cardiac output (CO), QRS interval (QRSI) and corrected QT interval (QTc) (r = 0.317, 0.341, 0.228, 0.387, 0.325, 0.209 and 0.347, respectively; P value less than 0.01, respectively); except QRSI, these variables and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) were also correlated with INR (a MELD component) (r = 0.282, 0.319, 0.322, 0.435, 0.275, 0.320 and 0.237, respectively; P value less than 0.01, respectively); LAD, LVEDD, AF, CO and QTc were correlated with serum total bilirubin (r = 0.241, 0.219, 0.357, 0.246 and 0.253, respectively; P value less than 0.05, respectively); IVST and E/A ratio (A blood flow [from left atrium to left ventricular] velocity ratio between early diastole [E wave] and late diastole[A wave] ) were correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.216 and -0.343; P value less than 0.05 and 0.01); the proportion of E/A is less than or equal to 1 in all subjects was 46.7% (43/92), and 48.4% (15/31), 35.6% (16/45) and 75.0% (12/16) in each group, besides, there was statistically significant difference between 10 is less than or equal to MELD score is less than or equal to 19 points group and MELD score is more than or equal to 20 points group (X2 = 7.359, P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONSThere are different degrees of left ventricular structure, function and electrophysiological changes in patients with end-stage liver disease, these anomalies also will be increased with the MELD score increasing.

Adult ; End Stage Liver Disease ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Liver Failure ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Liver Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVETo explore methods of preventing and reversing rejection after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK).

METHODSSeventeen patients performed SPK operation from Sep, 1999 to Sep, 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Immunosuppression was achieved by triple regimen consisting of cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)/azathioprine and steroid. 2 patients were treated with Dalizumab, the other three patients used OKT3 as immune induction.

RESULTS1 patient experienced the accelerated rejection, the pancreas and kidney grafts were resected because of failure of conservative therapy. 8 patients experienced renal acute rejection, 2 cases suffered from pancreas acute rejection at the same time. All these patients received daily high dose pulse steroid for 3 days. OKT3 was administered in 2 patients with steroid resistance rejection. All the grafts were successfully rescued.

CONCLUSIONSReasonable application of immunosuppression after SPK operation and adoption of systemic measures which can reduce sensitivity of high risk receptor before SPK operation are the effective methods of preventing and treating rejection.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Azathioprine ; administration & dosage ; Cyclosporine ; administration & dosage ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; surgery ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; administration & dosage ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Kidney Transplantation ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas Transplantation ; immunology ; Prednisolone ; administration & dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVEThe pathophysiology of beta-thalassemia is the imbalance of the alpha and non-alpha globin chain which leads to a series of clinical symptoms of hemolytic anemia. Scientists continuously try to explore gene-activated drugs to increase the level of non-alpha globin chain or decrease the level of alpha globin chain in the treatment of beta-thalassemia. To probe into the effects on globin-gene expression of meisoindigo (Me) in cultured erythroid cells derived from peripheral blood, so as to provide the theoretical basis for applying Me in the treatment of beta-thalassemia.

METHODSBy using the two-step liquid culture of erythroid progenitor cells and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and by using alpha mRNA as an inner control, the level of gamma mRNA and beta mRNA in cultured erythroid cells derived from peripheral blood of 11 patients with severe beta-thalassemia and 6 normal volunteers were measured under the effect of different concentration (2.5 micro mol/L, 5 micro mol/L and 10 micro mol/L) of Me.

RESULTS(1) No statistic significance was found in the ratio of beta/alpha mRNA by Me in cultured cells from both normal individuals and beta-thalassemia. (2) Me can significantly increase the ratio of gamma/alpha mRNA and (beta + gamma)/alpha mRNA (that is non-alpha/alpha mRNA) in cultured cells from normal individuals and beta-thalassemia. The ratio of gamma/alpha mRNA was increased 0.31 - 0.45 times and the ratio of non-alpha mRNA/alpha mRNA increased 0.21 - 0.32 times in Me induced cells from normal individuals. No significant result was observed among the different concentrations of Me (2.5 micro mol/L, 5 micro mol/L and 10 micro mol/L) in normal individuals. With the increasing of Me concentrations, the ratios of gamma/alpha mRNA and alpha/alpha mRNA were increased in cultured cells from beta-thalassemia. The ratio of gamma/alpha mRNA was increased 0.33 - 1.17 times and the ratio of non-alpha/alpha mRNA increased 0.25 - 0.89 times in Me induced cells from beta-thalassemia. There was no significant difference between the concentrations of 2.5 micro mol/L and 5 micro mol/L concentration in beta-thalassemia. However, there was significant difference between the concentrations of 10 micro mol/L and the concentrations of 2.5 micro mol/L and 5 micro mol/L in beta-thalassemia. (3) The increase of the ratio of gamma/alpha mRNA and non-alpha/alpha mRNA in beta-thalassemia was higher than that in normal individual with induction by Me with a higher concentration (10 micro mol/L).

CONCLUSIONMe can raise the ratio of gamma/alpha mRNA and non-alpha/alpha mRNA in cultured erythroid cells derived from peripheral blood of both normal individual and beta-thalassemia in the level of transcription, which can improve the imbalance of the alpha and non-alpha globin chain. So Me has a latent value in the therapy of beta-thalassemia.

Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Globins ; genetics ; Humans ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; Infant ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction