Animals ; Female ; Fluorosis, Dental ; blood ; etiology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sinoatrial Node ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Sodium Fluoride ; poisoning ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab ( avastin ) injection in patients with exudative age related macular degeneration ( AMD) .
METHODS: The records of patients treated with intravitreal injection of 1. 75mg bevacizumab for AMD were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were evaluated by complete ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein and/or indocyanine green angiography. Observation was made on the best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA) , intraocular pressure, and the changes of lens, vitreous, central retinal thickness (CFT) and total macular volume (TMV), at 1d, 3d, 7d, 1mo and 6mo after the treatment and then compared with those of pre - operation. Repeated treatment with intravitreous bevacizumab occurred if there were signs of persistent or recurrent exudation. And all cases were followed up at least 6mo. An intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1. 75mg) was given once every 6wk.
RESULTS:All 50 eyes of 48 patients with the average of 58±20. 46 years old were included. The mean baseline of BCVA and CFT were 0. 82±0. 53, and 364. 97±151. 83μm respectively. Although there was no significant decrease in mean CFT and TMV one week after the injection, the mean BCVA had significant improvement. At the last visit of 9. 7mo follow - up, BCVA, CRT and TMV showed significant improvements over baseline values. BCVA was improved by at least two lines in 32 eyes (64%),remained stabilization in 18 eyes (36%) at the last visit. A total of 98 injections were performed and the average number of injections was 1. 98 for each eye in the group. About 50%of re - injections gained at least two lines of vision improvement one week postoperatively. There were no serious adverse events during the treatment.
CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab ( avastin ) injection for managing CNV due to age-related macular degeneration is safe and few side effects. Intravitreal avastin associated with improvement in visual acuity ( VA ) , which can reduce macular edema and choroidal neovascularization leakage. But a prolonged treatment effect needs further observation.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab injection in patients with macular edema (ME) induced by retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
● METHODS: The records of patients treated with intravitreal injection of 1. 75mg bevacizumab for ME induced by RVO were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were evaluated by complete ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography ( OCT) and fundus fluorescein angiography ( FFA ), etc. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, the change of lens and vitreous, central foveal thickness (CFT) were observed at 1, 2, 3, 6mo after treatment and compared with before treatment. Repeated treatment with intravitreous bevacizumab occurred if there were signs of persistent or recurrent exudation. All the cases were followed up at least 6mo. An intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1. 75mg) was given at 6wk intervals.
●RESULTS: Fifty patients (56 eyes) with the average of (57±18. 56) years old were included. The mean baseline of BCVA, CFT were (logMAR0. 82±0. 63), (626. 5±178. 0)μm respectively. Although there was no significant decrease in mean CFT at 1wk after injection, the mean BCVA had significant improvement. Followed up at mean 10. 26 ± 5. 87mo, BCVA, CFT showed significant improvements over baseline values. The statistics of CFT at 1, 2, 3mo after injection were significant differences compared with before injection in each of the three groups. CFT at 1, 3, 12mo after injection were (365. 11±23. 212) μ m, (333. 42± 35. 526) μ m, (267. 6 ± 116. 8) μ m, which had a significant difference ( P < 0. 001), namely macular retinal thickness was thinner obviously that before treatment, ME was improved obviously. CFT was no significant difference at each time point after injection in the group of BRVO-ME and CRVO- ME (P> 0. 05). OCT image showed that after injection macular retinal thickness was becoming thinner. FFA showed that after injection macular fluorescein leakage decreased. BCVA was improved by at least two lines in 48 eyes (86%),remained stable in 8 eyes (14%) at the last visit. A total of 112 injections were performed and the average number of injections was 1. 96 in the group. About 50% of reinjections gained at least two lines of vision improvement at 1wk following the retreatment. There was no serious complications during the treatment.
●CONCLUSlON: lntravitreal injection of bevacizumab can improve visual acuity (VA) of RVO (CRVO and BRVO) in patients with ME, relieve ME, reduce the leakage of CNV, and repeated treatment is better. But a prolonged treatment effect needs further observation. There are no serious ocular and systemic complications occurred in our study.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic experience of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and to analyze the pathological features and prognostic factors of GIST.

METHODSThe clinicopathological and follow-up data of 181 patients with GIST admitted in Renji Hospital between January 1999 and December 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. All the cases were grouped according to Fletcher's risk scheme. Life table and COX regression model were used to evaluate the prognostic factors.

RESULTSOut of 181 tumors, 107(59.1%) were located in stomach, 51 (28.2%) in intestine and 23(12.7%) in colorectum or other sites. Distant metastases,including liver metastases were found in 7 patients intraoperatively. Tumor size ranged from 0.5 to 30 cm with the mean of 7.02 cm. The positive rate of CD117 was 94.5% (171/181) and that of CD34 was 86.2% (156/181). One hundred and seventy-six patients underwent complete resections, including multi-organ resections in 26 patients. The other patients underwent palliative operations. The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates of 181 patients were 95.2%, 87.9% and 78.5% respectively. Univariate analysis revealed age, tumor size, primary organ of tumor, mitotic count, Fletcher's classification and multi-organ resection were associated with survival rate. No significant difference of sex was existed among groups. COX hazard proportional model revealed that advanced stage and large tumor size indicated worse prognosis. Eight patients with high risk of recurrence and 3 patients with recurrence and metastasis were stable after receiving imatinib therapy.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of GIST depends on endoscope and CT. Fletcher's classification is simple and effective to evaluate GIST behavior and prognosis. Surgical resection is still the main therapy for GIST and targeted therapy will play a more important role for prognosis in the future.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of the Thr241Met polymorphism of X-ray cross-complementing group 3 (XRCC3) gene with genetic susceptibility to aflatoxin B1(AFB-1)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)in Guangxi population.

METHODSWe conducted a hospital-based case-control study, including 257 HCC cases and 711 controls without cancers or liver diseases. The XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism was analyzed by PCR.

RESULTSThe XRCC3 genotypes XRCC3-Thr/Met or XRCC3-Met/Met were related with an elevated risk of HCC. The risk of HCC was associated with the number of mutant Met copies (adjusted OR were 2.20 and 8.56 for XRCC3-Thr/Met and Met/Met, respectively); moreover, there seemed to be combined effects for HCC risk between the variant genotypes and AFB1-DNA adduct levels from peripheral blood leukocytes (adjusted OR was 2.34 to 20.44, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThese results suggested that XRCC3 polymorphism may be associated with the risk of AFB1- related HCC among the Guangxi population, and interacts with AFB1 exposure in the development of HCC induced by AFB1.

Aflatoxin B1 ; toxicity ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; chemically induced ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo design an animal model to study the facial transplantation of allografts in rabbits.

METHODSLivid blue rabbits and New Zealand white rabbits was applied as experiment animal, to harvest hemifacial composite-tissue flap based in the common external carotid artery with the branch of the external mandibular artery and auricularis magna artery, then allotransplantation was performed with the livid blue rabbits as recipient while new Zealand rabbits as donor, the immunosuppressive agent comprised ciclosporin, azamun and prednisone. 25 couples of rabbits were divided three groups. Group A, 5 couples of rabbits, no administered immunosuppressive agent and the artery anastomosis with end-to-end. Group B, 10 couples of rabbits, administered immunosuppressive agent and the artery anastomosis with end-to-end. Group C, 10 couples of rabbits, administered immunosuppressive agent and the artery anastomosis with end-to-side. Postoperative, to observe the survive ratio of animal and composite-tissue flap, verified the practicability of model further.

RESULTSThe blood supply of hemifacial composite-tissue flap is rich after allotransplantation. The survive ratio wasn't different with different procedure of the external carotid artery anastomosis.

CONCLUSIONSThis is a successful model of composite face flap transplantation in the rabbits.

Animals ; Facial Transplantation ; Models, Animal ; Rabbits ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo study the role of herpes simplex virus type 1 ( HSV-1 ) in facial paralysis by developing an experimental animal model of viral facial paralysis.

METHODSBoth sides of posterior auricular branch of facial nerve were anatomies and incised in 66 mice. The HSV-1 was inoculated into right ear branch and fetal bovine serum was inoculated into left ear branch as control. The symmetry of mouse face was observed and scored. The temporal bones were serially sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The extratemporal facial nerves were stained with osmium tetroxide. HSV-1 DNA in bilateral facial nerve, brain stem, trigeminal ganglion and spinal cord was detected by the polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSTwenty-eight (42. 42%) mice developed right facial paralysis between 2 and 5 days after inoculation. Continuing 3-6 days, the facial paralysis recovered spontaneously. Thirty-eight mice had no signs of facial paralysis. Compared with the left, nerve swelling, inflammatory cell infiltration were manifested in right temporal facial nerve of paralyzed mice. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the facial nerve to the facial canal ( FN/FC ) was significantly higher than that on the control side (P < 0.01). Demyelinated nerve fibers were seen in the right extratemporal facial nerve. Not only in paralyzed mice, but also in non-paralyzed mice, HSV DNA was detected in some nerve tissues.

CONCLUSIONSInoculating HSV-1 into posterior auricular branch of facial nerve can produce an acute and transient facial paralysis in mice. The possible pathophysiologic mechanism of the facial paralysis is viral invasion and transportation from distal branch to main trunk. Then the viral facial neuritis causes facial paralysis.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Facial Nerve ; virology ; Facial Nerve Diseases ; virology ; Female ; Herpes Simplex ; physiopathology ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

With the application of gE gene deleted pseudarabies virus (PRV) vaccine worldwide, a corresponding differential diagnosis based on gE glycoprotein is needed in the project of PRV eradication. In this study, PRV gE gene without signal and transmembrane region was amplified by PCR and cloned into pGEX-6P-1, generated pGEX-gE. After transformation of BL21 with pGEX-gE, an expressed fusion protein(about 63kD) was identified by SDS-PAGE. The recombinant proteins are produced as inclusion bodies. By changing the inductive conditions, the formation of inclusion bodies was inhibited and tended to increase the percentage of soluble recombinant protein. The antigenic reactivity of the recombinant protein was confirmed by Western blotting with polyclonal antibodies against PRV. Using purified recombinant tgE as antigen, an ELISA was developed to detect sera of PRV infected pigs and sera of pigs immunized with gE-deleted PRV vaccine. The total of 400 serum samples collected from field were comparatively tested with the tgE-ELISA and a commercial competitive ELISA based on monoclonal antibody against gE, the results indicated that the coincidental rate between the two tests is about 94%.
Animals ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Herpesvirus 1, Suid ; immunology ; Pseudorabies ; diagnosis ; Pseudorabies Vaccines ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Swine ; Vaccination ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome 9p21 and P16(INK4A)(CDKN2A) expression on the prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).

METHODSA total of 51 cases with GISTs were characterized by immunohistochemistry and evaluated for LOH at 9p21 by microsatellite analysis in 4 markers(D9S1751, D9S1846, D9S942 and D9S1748). Associations of LOH at 9p21 and P16(INK4A) expression encoded by CDKN2A with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in GISTs were analyzed.

RESULTSThe frequency of 9p21 LOH was 37.0% (10/27) at D9S1751, 37.5%(12/32) at D9S1846, 42.1%(16/38) at D9S942 and 24.2%(8/33) at D9S1748. The overall frequency of LOH at 9p21 was 63.3%(31/49). In 21 samples of 51 GISTs(41.2%), P16 expression was not detected. Loss of P16 expression was 60%(12/20) in high risk group and 23.5%(4/17) in very low and low risk groups(P<0.05). The 5-year overall survival rate of p16-negative patients was 70.8%, while in P16-positive patients it was 92.0%(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLOH at 9p21 is a frequent event in GIST. Loss of CDKN2A gene at 9p21 may contribute to the progression and malignant transformation of GIST. P16 expression in GIST is associated with prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged

Pregnancy is a critical stimulator of bone mineral resorption.We used to find the MTHFR gene polymorphisms are related with blood lead levels among pregnant women.Pregnancy-stimulated bone turnover may be associated with MTHFR gene polymorphisms too.In this article,we aimed to determine the relationship between MTHFR gene polymorphisms and bone turnover rates among the pregnant women.The participants including pregnant and non-pregnant women were selected and recruited during their routine prenatal or physical examination from July to October in 2012.A total of 1000 participants,including 250 pregnant women in the first,second,and third trimesters and 250 non-pregnant women,were enrolled in the study.Finally,after excluding 27 participants unable to provide blood samples,973 eligible participants (i.e.,234,249,and 248 pregnant women in the first,second,and third trimesters,respectively,and 242 non-pregnant women)were included in the research.The MTHFR gene 1298CC homozygote carriers were more susceptible to yield higher plasma homocysteine levels than the 1298AA/AC carriers,with standardized coefficients of 0.086 (P＜0.05) and 0.104 (P＜0.01) of all the participants and the pregnant women,respectively.The MTHFR gene 1793AA homozygote carriers more likely showed higher plasma osteocalcin levels (standardized β=0.091,P＜0.01) than the 1793GG/GA carriers among all the subjects.Plasma homocysteine levels were positively correlated with blood lead levels among the participants and the pregnant women with standardized coefficients of 0.320 (P＜0.01) and 0.179 (P＜0.01),respectively.Plasma osteocalcin levels were positively associated with blood lead levels among pregnant and non-pregnant women with standardized coefficients of 0.084 (P＜0.05) and 0.125 (P＜0.01),respectively.In conclusion,homocysteine and osteocalcin contents in plasma are associated with the MTHFR gene A1298C polymorphism and blood lead levels among pregnant women.The MTHFR gene A 1298C polymorphism-related homocysteine is a possible risk factor for increased blood lead levels among Chinese women.