·α-crystallin is the predominant structural protein in the lens.lt is a member of small heat shock proteins ( sHSPs) which has the common functions of HSPs.lt also has anti-apoptotic activity etc.Recently, it has been proved to combine with the cellular membrane of retinal ganglion cells ( RGCs ) to enhance the survival of RGCs and the regeneration of axons, thereby partly restore visual function.But we haven’t come to a unified conclusion of the mechanism.This review is focused on structure and functions of α-crystallin, the protection function and mechanism of α-crystallin towards RGCs after the optic nerve injury.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; methods ; Auditory Cortex ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Magnetoencephalography ; Male ; Young Adult

To study the chemical constituents from the the deep-sea fungus Alternaria sp. F49. Seven compounds were isolated from the EtOAc extract by using silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS and HPLC methods. Based on the spectroscopic analysis, their structures were identified as (8R)-5-O-methyl-orcinotriol (1), orcinotriol (2), α-acetylorcinol (3), 3'-hydroxyalternariol 5-O-methyl ether (4), altenusiol (5), altenusin (6), and 5'-methoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3,4,3'-triol (7). (8R)-5-O-Methyl-orcinotriol (1) is a new phenolic compound which has never been reported in the literature. Compounds 4-7 showed strong DPPH free radical scavenging activity; whereas compounds 1-7 showed strong ABTS free radical scavenging activity.

Indeterminate dendritic cell tumor (IDCT) is a proliferation of CD1a+, S100+ and langerin- histiocytes with a generally benign course. Here, we describe a case of a 90-year-old male who developed skin lesions on his scalp mimicking angiosarcoma and lymphadenopathy. He died six months after the onset of skin lesions despite of months' radiotherapy. Pathological examination ruled out scalp angiosarcoma and showed a high Ki-67 index. The appearance of skin lesions and lymphadenopathy led to challenges in diagnosis and the development of a treatment plan.
Aged, 80 and over ; Dendritic Cells* ; Diagnosis ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Radiotherapy ; Scalp* ; Skin

Objective To investigate the prevalence of transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) co-infection in cervical smears of patients with cervical lesions in littoral of Zhejiang province and analysis of transmitted route.Methods Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was established.TTV DNA were tested by nPCR in cervical smears of 95 patients with cervical lesions and 55 healthy women,paired serum samples were available from 55 and 42 women,and their viral titer.The genotypes of 95 specimens of cervical cytology were detected with HybriMax.The phylogenetic group of TTV was determined by means of nPCR with N22 primers.Results The prevalence of TTV DNA in cervical smears of patients with cervical lesions and healthy women was 52.7% (29/55) and was comparable with that in paired serum sample (50%).Symptomatic women had significantly higher prevalence of TTV DNA in cervical smears (74.7%)than healthy controls (P=0.005).The TTV DNA prevalence in patient serum samples was 51%.The phyiogenetic groups of TTV serum isolates were concordant with those of TTV from cervical smears of the same subjects,and genotype was G1b.The TTV viral titer in cervical smears were 10 to 1000 times as high as in serum.The total infection rate of HPV was 98.9% in patients,and was 27.3% in healthy women.The frequently detected genotype was HPV16,18,33 of HSIL,and HPV6 of LSIL.The HPV positive study subjects had significantly higher TTV DNA prevalence than HPV negatives (P=0.02).Conclusion High prevalence of TTV in cervical smears suggests that sexual transmission is another mode of expansion of TTV infection among the population.The higher viral titer in cervical smears than in the respective serum samples might indicate active TTV replication in the female genital tract.Nevertheless,cooperation between TTV and HPV needs to be further investigated.

Background/Aims: Achalasia is a rare disease, but the incidence is increasing recently. Peroral esophageal myotomy (POEM) is an effective treatment.Regurgitation is a common symptom before and after POEM. Our aim is to investigate the factors related to preoperative and postoperative reflux symptoms. Methods: Our study was retrospective. The achalasia patients diagnosed by high-resolution manometry and gastroscopy were divided into reflux group and non-reflux group before and after POEM, respectively. General information, symptoms, POEM information, and manometric results were compared. Results: (1) Ninety-six of 130 patients had reflux symptoms before POEM. The lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) in the reflux group was significantly higher than the non-reflux group (P = 0.023), while integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) was similar. The reflux group had longer esophagus than the non-reflux group (P = 0.006). Reflux symptoms were not related to subtypes of achalasia.(2) Twenty-five of 84 patients had reflux symptoms after POEM. Postoperative Eckardt scores, LESP, and 4-second IRP (4sIRP) were significantly lower than the preoperative values (P < 0.001). The preoperative values and POEM information were similar between the postoperative 2 groups and there was no significant difference in the presence of preoperative reflux symptoms between 2 groups.The postoperative LESP and 4sIRP were similar between the 2 groups, however, the postoperative UESP was significantly higher in the reflux group than the non-reflux group (P = 0.042). The non-reflux group had more declines in Eckardt scores and LESP than the reflux group. Conclusions The reflux symptoms of achalasia patients without treatment were mainly due to food retention. The postoperative reflux symptoms were not the sign of the excessive relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter.

Background/Aims: Achalasia is a rare disease, but the incidence is increasing recently. Peroral esophageal myotomy (POEM) is an effective treatment.Regurgitation is a common symptom before and after POEM. Our aim is to investigate the factors related to preoperative and postoperative reflux symptoms. Methods: Our study was retrospective. The achalasia patients diagnosed by high-resolution manometry and gastroscopy were divided into reflux group and non-reflux group before and after POEM, respectively. General information, symptoms, POEM information, and manometric results were compared. Results: (1) Ninety-six of 130 patients had reflux symptoms before POEM. The lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) in the reflux group was significantly higher than the non-reflux group (P = 0.023), while integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) was similar. The reflux group had longer esophagus than the non-reflux group (P = 0.006). Reflux symptoms were not related to subtypes of achalasia.(2) Twenty-five of 84 patients had reflux symptoms after POEM. Postoperative Eckardt scores, LESP, and 4-second IRP (4sIRP) were significantly lower than the preoperative values (P < 0.001). The preoperative values and POEM information were similar between the postoperative 2 groups and there was no significant difference in the presence of preoperative reflux symptoms between 2 groups.The postoperative LESP and 4sIRP were similar between the 2 groups, however, the postoperative UESP was significantly higher in the reflux group than the non-reflux group (P = 0.042). The non-reflux group had more declines in Eckardt scores and LESP than the reflux group. Conclusions The reflux symptoms of achalasia patients without treatment were mainly due to food retention. The postoperative reflux symptoms were not the sign of the excessive relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter.

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique in diagnosis of variant Ph chromosome translocation (VT) and Ph chromosome-negative chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML).

METHODSNine CML patients with VT and 2 Ph chromosome-negative CML patients confirmed by R banding were assayed with dual color-dual fusion BCR/ABL probe by FISH.

RESULTSThe 9 patients with VT involved chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 12, 13, 15, 17 and 21 besides chromosomes 9 and 22, and some of them showed recurrent aberrations; FISH results were positive and the signal feature was 2R2G1Y. The 2 Ph-negative CML patients had normal karyotypes; FISH was positive and the signal feature was 1R1G2Y and 1R1G1Y respectively.

CONCLUSIONFISH can provide better diagnosis for CML with VT and Ph-negative CML. Abnormal karyotype and marker gene changes can be assessed based on the signal feature of the positive cell. So FISH is a complementary method to banding technique in diagnosis of CML.

Adult ; Aged ; Chromosomes ; genetics ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic, Atypical, BCR-ABL Negative ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Philadelphia Chromosome ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

Adult ; Aged ; Autoimmune Diseases ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Insulins ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism of dutasteride inhibiting fertility by studying its effects on the expressions of the epididymal epithelial junction proteins Claudin1 and β-catenin in rats.

METHODSSixteen 3-month-old SD male rats were equally divided into an experimental and a negative control group to be treated intragastrically with dutasteride at 40 mg/kg per day and the same dose of solvent, respectively, for 14 consecutive days. Then, the sperm motility and morphology of the rats were detected by computer-assisted sperm analysis, the serum levels of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) measured by ELISA, changes in the tight junction of epididymal cells observed under the transmission electron microscope, the protein and gene expressions of Claudin1 and β-catenin determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, and the conception rate of the mated female rats calculated.

RESULTSDutasteride significantly suppressed the serum DHT level, sperm motility, and fertility of the rats (P <0.05). Interspaces between epididymal epithelial cell tight junctions were observed, the volume of epididymal fluid obviously increased, and the expressions of Claudin1 and β-catenin gene and protein remarkably downregulated in the experimental rats (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONDutasteride can significantly inhibit the fertility of male rats by reducing the serum DHT level, suppressing Claudin1 and β-catenin expressions, and damaging epididymal epithelial cell junctions.

Animals ; Azasteroids ; pharmacology ; Claudin-1 ; metabolism ; Dihydrotestosterone ; blood ; Dutasteride ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Fertility ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Junctions ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; blood ; Urological Agents ; pharmacology ; beta Catenin ; metabolism