Heritable changes in gene expression are regarded as epigenetics,which do not involve coding sequence modifications.The study of ophthalmology epigenetics is a rapidly growing area in biomedical research.Epigenetic mechanisms principally include DNA methylation,histone modification,chromatin remodeling and noncoding RNA.Aberrant DNA methylation and histone modification are linked to a number of age-related disorders,such as cancer,autoimmune and others.In recent years,the modulations of epigenetic changes on the pathogenesis of eye disorders and their roles in therapeutic interventions are drawing more and more attention,and these studies deepen the understanding of relevant diseases.Since the epigenetic alterations are reversible,modifying epigenetic marks contributing to eye diseases provide a new approach to the development of disease prevention,diagnosis and therapies.Herein we discuss the roles of epigenetic changes in eye disease development,hoping that ophthalmologists and researchers pay attention to these researching cues in pathogenesis of eye disorders caused by genetic expression alterations in response to environmental changes,importantly,to the implication for relevant eye disease therapy and prevention.

Objective To investigate whether TNF-α can promote, but TGF-β can reduce Gli2 expression in primary leukemia cells. Methods (1)Western blot was used to detect Gli2 protein expression in leukemic cells. (2)Primary leukemia cells were treated with TGF-β1 or TNF-α,and expressions of Gli2 and TGF-βR were detected. (3)Primary leukemia cells were treated with TGF-β1,TNF-α or/and SIS3, and Gli2 protein expression was detected. Results (1)The primary leukemia cells could express Gli2 protein. (2)Significant reduction of Gli2 mRNA was observed in 1 ~ 10 ng/mL TGF-β1-treated primary leukemia cells for 12 ~ 24 h, No significant differences of Gli2 mRNA was found between the control group and TNF-α group. (3)Protein expresson of TGF-βRⅠand TGF-βRⅡ in 5 ng/mL TNF-α-treated primary leukemia cells for 24 h was higher than that of the control group. (4)Gli2 portein expression was lower in TGF-β1 with or without TNF-α-treated primary leukemia cells for 24 h than that in the control group, and Gli2 portein expression in the TGF-β1 plus TNF-α group was lower than that in TGF-β1 group. Conclusion Combinations of TGF-β and TNF-α can efficiently inhibit Gli2 expression than TGF-β alone in primary leukemia cells.

Objective To study the clinical and pathological features of periodic paralysis.Methods The clinical and pathological data of 9 patients with periodic paralysis were analyzed.Results The clinical manifestation of 9 patients were consistent with the general manifestation of periodic paralysis.The typical tubular aggregates in many fibers were observed in 4 cases of 7 patients with skeletal muscle biopsy.A few degenerating fibers were observed,while necrotic fibers and regenerating fibers were not found.Electromicroscope showed Honeycomb appearance in tubular aggregates of cross section,which was filled with glycogen granule.Conclusions According to the clinical manifestation and the laboratory examination,periodic paralysis can be clinical diagnosis.The tubular aggregates in many fibers are important pathological characteristic of periodic paralysis.In electromicroscope analysis,tubular aggregates may be compose of transverse tubular system or sarcoplasmic reticulum expansion.

Objective To make hiatal hernia(HH) children grow and develop well by making correct early diagnosis and reducing misdiagnosis.Methods Reviewing clinical data of 12 patients with HH,including clinical character,X-ray diagnosis,correct examination,treatment and prognosis.Results Of 12 patients,9 cases were left HH,and 3 cases were right HH.All of them had internal expectant treatment;4 of them had operation.All of them had a good prognosis.Conclusions X-ray radiograph is a chief method of diagnosis of hiatal hernia.It is important to choose a specific position properly during radiograph examination.

By means of searching the ancient and modern literature,this study mainly investigated the etiology and pathogenesis of IBD,summarized the rules of acupoint selection and the experimental mechanism of the moxibustion treatment for IBD,providing the basis and theoretical evidence of acupoint selection and moxibustion therapy for clinical practice and studies.Ancient literatures were retrieved in TCM database system,while modern literatures in Pubmed,CNKI and VIP database from January,2005 to January,2016.Finally,comprehensive analysis was implemented among the selected literatures.It was found that the pathogenesis of IBD was associated with exogenous evils,diet,emotion,and fatigue during chronic diseases in TCM.The treatments of acupuncture and moxibustion for IBD should consider both the primary symptoms and root causes by regulating functional activity of Zang and Fu and also warming and nourishing the spleen and stomach.On this basis,acupoint selection mainly focused on the stomach meridian with the functions of invigorating spleen and stomach,elevating clear qi and descending turbid,recovering the bowel function and strenthening the body and antidiarrhea.Modern research upon the scientific basis of TCM indicated that moxibustion stimulated the thermoreceptors around the acupoints leading to the increased degranulation of mast cells.Immune factors were impacted with the regulation of transcriptional activators in the bowel for repairing mucosal barrier and preventing intestinal fibrosis in IBD.In conclusion,moxibustion was effective on warming and nourishing spleen and stomach and regulating the function activity of bowel for the prevention and treatment of IBD.Achievements were made in the mechanism researches on IBD based on the TCM theory.However,some profound mechanisms need in-depth exploring.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; pathology ; Orbit ; pathology ; Paranasal Sinuses ; pathology ; Skull Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of parathyroid hormone and estrogen on alveolar bone metabolism of castrated female rats.

METHODSSixty-six female Wistar rats which were healthy and 4 months old were divided into two groups, with group SHAM (n = 18) and group ovariectomy (OVX) (n = 48). After 8 weeks of ovariectomy, the osteoporosis model was confirmed by examing 8 ovariectomized and sham-operated rats. The rest 10 rats in group SHAM were the control group (group A). The rest 40 rats in group OVX were divided into ovariectomized group (group B), ovariectomized and treated with estrogen (group C), ovariectomized and treated with parathyroid hormone (group D), ovariectomized and treated with estrogen and parathyroid hormone (group E) at random with 10 in each group. Group A and B injected physiological saline (1 mL x kg(-1)), group C injected estradiol benzoate (10 microg x kg(-1)), group D injected parathyroid hormone (20 microg x kg(-1)), group E injected parathyroid hormone (20 microg x kg(-1)) and estradiol benzoate (10 microg x kg(-1)). The intraperitoneal injection were maken every other day to rats in each group, which continued for 8 weeks. The bone mineral density (BMD), bone histomorphology and serum Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured after therapy.

RESULTSAfter 8 weeks of ovariectomy, the lumbar BMD of ovariectomized rats were significantly declined compared with those of the sham-operated rats (P < 0.05). Eight weeks later after the drug use, the BMD, %Tb.Ar, Tb.Th, Tb.N in group C, D, E were slightly elevated compared to group B, especially the group E (P < 0.05). Serum calcium and phosphorus values did not change significantly (P > 0.05). ALP values in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIntermittent application of parathyroid hormone in small doses can increase alveolar BMD of castration rats and improve their bone structure. And it can have synergy effects on the treatment of osteoporosis if it is used combining with estrogen.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone Density ; Estradiol ; analogs & derivatives ; Estrogens ; Female ; Osteoporosis ; Ovariectomy ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To investigate the correlation between Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and the risk,severity and prognosis of sepsis in Chinese patients of Han nationality.Methods One hundred and three Han nationality patients who developed sepsis after surgery,aged 18-80 years,were enrolled in the sepsis group,and 114 Han nationality patients without sepsis after surgery,aged 18-80 years,were enrolled in the control group.Venous blood samples were taken from the peripheral vein and three SNPs in TLR4 gene,rs10759932,rs11536889 and rs2737190,were genotyped by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry analysis.Correction for Logistic regression analysis was made to eliminate the effects of sex,age,underlying diseases and operation methods.The correlation between genotypes of SNP and occurrence of sepsis,organ dysfunction,septic shock and death from sepsis was analyzed.The odds ratio (OR) and 95％ confidence interval (Cl) were calculated.Results Compared with the control group,there was a significant difference in genotype frequency ratios of rs10759932 (P ＜ 0.05),but there was no significant difference in genotype frequency ratios of the other two SNPs in sepsis group (P ＞ 0.05).There was correlation between rs10759932 and the occurrence of sepsis,and the variant allele (CT + CC genotypes) of rs10759932 increased the risk of sepsis (OR =1.86,95％ Cl 1.17-2.97,P ＜ 0.05).There was no correlation between the three SNPs and sepsis-related organ dysfunction,septic shock and death from sepsis (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion There is correlation between the variant allele of TLR4 rs10759932 and the increase in risk of sepsis after surgery in Chinese patients of Han nationality.

Objective To investigate the metabolic changes in free fatty acids in the livers of obese rats with type 2 diabetes.Methods Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group(Con group) and diabetes mellitus group(DM group),with 15 in each group.Rats in Con group and DM group were fed with normal diet and high-fat diet,respectively.Eight weeks later,OGTT and ISI test were performed to identify insulin resistance.Then the insulin-resistant rats received intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozocin(STZ) to induce type 2 diabetes.After giving high-fat diet further for six more weeks,8 rats of each group were sacrificed and artery blood and liver sample were obtained for further analysis.The mRNA levels of diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1(DGAT1),carnitine palmitoyltransferaseⅠ(CPTⅠ),palmitoyl-CoA oxidase(ACOX1),D-bifunctional protein(DBP) and L-bifunctional protein(LBP),which were involved in fatty acids metabolism,were evaluated by RT-PCR.The protein level of DBP was evaluated by Western blotting Peroxisome fatty acids ?-oxidation was measured by spectrophotometry.Free fatty acids in blood and liver were determined by gas chromatography.Oil red staining was used to determine the fat accumulation in liver.Results The mRNA expressions of DGAT1,CPTⅠ,ACOX1 and LBP increased(P

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the cognitive function of rats with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) and its possible mechanism.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group of 10 and an operation group of 30.Permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) was conducted to introduce a model of CCH in the operation group,which was further divided into a model group,an EA 4 w group and an EA 1 w group,each of 10.The EA 4 w group was given 2/100 Hz dilatational wave EA for 4 weeks,and the EA 1 w group was provided with the same EA for one week.A Morris water maze was used to assess the rats' cognitive functioning,and a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to detect the expression of JAK2/STAT3 mRNA in all the rats' brains.Results Compared with the sham operation group,the rCBF in the operation group had decreased significantly after BCCAO,and it was significantly lower than before the operation.Compared with the model group,the escape latency improved significantly from the 3rd day in the EA 4 w group,and from the 5th day in the EA 1 w group.The targeted quadrant residence time of the EA 4 w group was prolonged significantly.JAK2/STAT3 mRNA expression decreased significantly only in the EA 4 w group.Compared with the EA 1 w group,the escape latency of the EA 4 w group had decreased significantly by the 5th day,with the target quadrant residence time significantly prolonged,and JAK2 mRNA had decreased significantly as well.Conclusion EA can improve cognition in CCH,at least in rats,and especially with early intervention.This may be achieved through inhibiting excessive activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway,reducing brain injury.