Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Program Evaluation

Background The dosage of verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) for central exudative chorioretinopathy(CEC) depends on the calculation formula of Treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration with Photodynamic Therapy Study Group(TAP)and Verteporfin in Photodynamic Therapy Study Group(VIP).Some local adverse responses or normal tissue damage have been noted under the standard dose of verteporfin during the treatment of CEC.So it is necessary to explore an appropriate therapeutic dosage of verteporfin.Objective This clinical study aimed to observe and compare the clinical efficacy and safety of different doses of verteporfin PDT for CEC.Methods Ninety eyes of 90 patients with CEC were enrolled in this study with the approval of the Ethic Commission of Affiliated Second Hospital of Nanchang University.Written informed consent was obtained before PDT.The patients were randomly divided into standard dose group,half dose group and 1/3 dose group.All of the patients received PDT.Standard dose(6 mg/m2),3 mg/m2 or 2 mg/m2 of verteporfin was applied in the three groups respectively,with the laser intensity 50 J/cm2.The patients were followed-up for 3 months.Repeat treating regimen was performed in the same way in the patient with fundus fluorescein leakage after initial PDT.Results The BCVA(logMAR) value was 0.44±0.36 after PDT in the standard dose group.Visual acuity improved in 20 patients (66.67％),stabilized in 8 patients(26.67％)and decreased in 2 patients (6.67％).The BCVA showed a significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative BCVA (t =6.719,P =0.000).CNV disappeared in 19 patients (63.33％),obviously improved in 7 patients (23.33％),partially disappeared in 3 patients (10.00％) and unchanged in 1 patient (3.33％).The central fovea thickness (CFT)value was significantly declined in postoperation compared with preoperation (t =5.758,P =0.000).Eight patients received secondary PDT with the recurrence rate 26.67％.In the half dose group,visual acuity improved in 18 patients(60.00％),stabilized in 11 patients(36.67％)and decreased in 1 patient (3.33％).CNV disappeared in 16 patients (53.33％),obviously improved in 8 patients (26.67％),partially disappeared in 5 patients (16.67％) and unchanged in 1 patient (3.33 ％).Significant difference was seen between the preoperative BCVA and postoperative BCVA(t=8.294,P =0.000).The decrease of C FT was significant in postoperation(t =8.493,P =0.000).Ten patients received secondary treatment with the recurrence rate 33.33％.In 1/3 dose group,visual acuity improved in 8 patients (26.67 ％),stabilized in 12 patients (40.00％),decreased in 10 patient (33.3％).CNV disappeared in 8 patients (26.67％),obviously improved in 8 patients (26.67％),partially disappeared in 6 patients (20.00％) and unchanged in 8 patient (26.67％).There was no significant difference between the preoperative BCVA and postoperative BCVA (t =0.536,P =0.596).The difference between preoperative CFT and postoperative CFT was insignificant(t =0.942,P=0.354).Fourteen patients received secondary PDT and 8 patients received three times with the recurrence rate 73.33％.Conclusions 3 mg/m2 verteporfin PDT for CEC shows a similar clinical efficiency and safety to 6 mg/m2 verteporfin.3 mg/m2 verteporfin PDT can decrease cost,but the effect of 2 mg/m2verteporfin PDT is not satisfacted.

Objective To observe the effects of fosinopril(FOS),a new generation angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor(ACEI),on protein and mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-?_1(TGF-?_1) of rat glomerular mesangial cell(GMC) induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS);to demonstrate the preventive mechanism against glomerular sclerosis by applying FOS.Methods The cultured GMC in classic way were divided into 3 groups:control group;LPS group;LPS+FOS group.TGF-?_1 concentration in GMC supernatant fluid was detected by ELISA;TGF-?_1 mRNA expression was determined by semiquantitative real-time RT-PCR.Results LPS group was obviously higher than control groups in TGF-?_1 secretion and mRNA expression,while LPS+FOS group decreased distinctively in TGF-?_1 secretion and mRNA expression compared with LPS group.Conclusions FOS has obviously inhibited on TGF-?_1 expression of rat GMC both at protein level and mRNA level,which reveals that it may be an important mechanism by FOS on restraining the development of glomerulosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) can result in intestinal mucosal barrier (IMB) dysfunction. This study was undertaken to demonstrate the effect of IGF-I on the intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with SAP and its possible mechanisms. METHODS: Seventy-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: a sham operation (SO group,n=24), a SAP group not treated with IGF-I (SAP group,n=24), and a SAP group treated with IGF-I (IGF-I group,n=24). SAP was induced in the rats by injecting 5.0％ sodium taurocholate into the biliary-pancreatic duct. The SO rats were given an infusion of normal saline instead. The rats in the IGF-I group underwent the SAP procedure and were given a subcutaneous injection of IGF-I at 30 minutes before the operation and at 3 hours after the operation. Eight rats in each group were sacrificed at 6, 12 and 24 hours after operation. Apoptosis of mucosal cells in the small intestine was determined by TUNEL. The levels of endotoxin and DAO and serum amylase were also measured. Pathologic changes in the small intestine were monitored. Changes of bax and bcl-2 mRNA expression in the small intestine were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The levels of serum amylase were lower in the IGF-I group than in the SAP group at all three time points (P<0.05). The levels of endotoxin in the IGF-I group were higher than those in the SAP group at 6 hours, but lower in the IGF-I group than in the SAP group at 12 and 24 hours (P<0.05). The levels of diamine oxidase were higher in the IGF-I group at 6 hours but lower than those in the SAP group at 12 and 24 hours. The pathological score of the small intestine was lower in the IGF-I group than in the SAP group, and the difference was statistically significant at 12 and 24 hours. The pathologic changes observed under electron microscopy were better in the IGF-I group than those in the SAP group. The apoptosis index of intestinal epithelial cells was significantly decreased in the IGF-I group compared with the SAP group. Compared with the SO group, the mRNA expression levels of bax were increased at each time point in the SAP group, and were significantly decreased in the IGF-I group as compared with the SAP group at each time point (P<0.05). The expression levels of bcl-2 were weak and not different between the SO group and the SAP group (P>0.05). They were significantly increased in the IGF-I group versus the SO and SAP groups (P<0.05). The ratio of bax and bcl-2 mRNA expression levels at each time point in the SAP group were significantly higher than those in the SO group, but they were obviously decreased in the IGF-I group. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous IGF-I seems to protect mucosal cells in the small intestine against SAP-induced apoptosis and could alleviate SAP-induced injury of the intestinal mucosa. The underlying mechanisms include enhanced mRNA expression of bcl-2 and inhibition of bax mRNA expression.

This paper is to report the analysis of the main chemical constituents of Shuanghuanglian injection powder and determination of their origin. The sample solution was analyzed by a Zorbax C18 column with a gradient mobile phase comprised of methanol and 0.25% acetic acid solution. Both UV and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detector were used simultaneously, -Q1-scan detection mode was evaluated for the identification of the LC peaks. To analyze the mass spectrum of every LC peaks, 43 molecular mass from the ion chromatogram of Shuanghuanglian injection powder were identified and among them, structure of 20 compounds were elucidated, and the data were sorted to the three component herbs, separately.
Chlorogenic Acid ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Forsythia ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; analysis ; Injections ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Powders ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

China ; Humans ; Occupational Health ; Solvents ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To construct transgenic mice tissue-specifically co-expressing human DAF/CD59 in the vascular endothelia and to investigate the ability to protect against human comple- ment-mediated attack.Methods Transgenic mice were generated by co-microinjection of hDAF/CD59 expression constructs driven by the human intercellular adhesion molecule-2(ICAM-2)promoter.PCR and Southern blot of genomic DNA were used to assess the presence of hDAF/CD59 in the genome of the founders,and the expression at protein level was measured by flow cytometry.Immunohistochemis- try was used to detect the distribution of hDAF/CD59.An ex vivo perfusion model was used to com- pare hearts from these hDAF/CD59 transgenic mice with hDAF hearts.Results After microinjection of genes,11 of 135 mice born were shown to be double-transgenic,and human DAF/CD59 were ex- pressed on the surface of leucocytes in 6 of the 11 DAF/CD59-integrated mice.Expression levels of 6 founders ranged from 80% to 95% of that in human leucocytes.Human DAF/CD59 were strongly expressed in the vascular endothelia of heart,kidney,with little or no positive staining observed in non- endothelial cells.Compared to hDAF hearts that maintained approximately 20% maximum work during perfusion with 20% human plasma,these endothelial-specific hDAF/CD59 hearts were further protected with work maintained at 40% of the maximum level during 60 min.Conclusion The intro- duced hDAF/CD59 genes have been integrated and specifically expressed in the vascular endothelia. The endothelial co-expression of hDAF/CD59 can provide greater protection against human complement-mediated attack than the expression of hDAF alone.

Objective To observe the expression of estrogen receptor(ER)? and ER? in the vaginal wall of women with anterior vaginal prolapse,and to investigate the relationships of ER subtypes with the development of pelvic organ prolapse(POP).Methods Seven premenopausal women and 33 postmenopausal women with anterior vaginal prolapse who underwent surgery in our hospital from July 1999 to July 2004 were analyzed.Nine premenopausal and 8 postmenopausal women with squamous carcinoma of cervix who underwent surgery served as controls.The expression of ER? and ER? in squamous epithelium (SE),lamina propria(LP)and muscular layer(ML)of anterior vaginal wall were studied by immunohistochemical staining.Results(1)Both ER? and ER? were expressed in SE,LP,ML of vaginal wall of premenopausal and postmenopausal women.(2)The expression of ER? was not significantly different in premenopausal and postmenopausal women;the expression of ER? was not significantly different in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with POP;however,it was decreased in postmenopausal women without POP(P

A new thermophilic fungus J18 isolated from the soil samples was identified as Paecilomyces thermophila. This strain produced effectively xylanase utilizing several lignocellulosic materials in the solid-state fermentation (SSF) , and wheat straw was the best carbon source. The results of single-factor-experiment showed that the wheat straw of particle size 0. 3 mm ~ 0.45 mm, initial moisture content of 83% , initial pH of 7. 0 and cultivation temperature of 50℃were the optimal conditions for xylanase production. Under the optimized conditions, it produced 18 580 U/g dry substrate after 8 days of cultivation. Therefore, xylanase production by Paecilomyces thermophila in SSF possess great potential for commercial applications.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of health education on controlling of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis(referred to as endemic fluorosis) in Guizhou,and to provide a scientific basis for development of control strategies.Methods A total of 37 counties were selected in Guizhou province,and 3 townships were chosen in each project county.Heath educational activities were carried out in the classes of grade 5 in the Central Primary School of each selected township.In the meantime,3 villages were chosen in each selected township where the health education for women of child-bearing age in the community was carried out.Survey on knowledge questionnaire of endemic fluorosis control was conducted among 30 students of grade 5 in the Central Primary School and 15 women of childbearing age of each selected township before and after the health educational activities.Results The knowing rate of endemic fluorosis control of pupils in all the 37 counties increased from 45.03％(14637/32505) to 89.79％(52898/58910),of women of child-bearing age increased from 38.97％ (5729/14700) to 76.55％(19198/25080) after the health education.ConclusionsThe knowing rate of endemic fluorosis control among pupils and women of child-bearing age is remarkably increased after implementing the health education projects.They have better life and health habits,and the project has reached desired goal.