Objective To study the effectiveness of alkaline electrolyzed water (AEW)in the cleaning of medical instruments and its corrosive effect on metal. Methods Medical instruments of solid smooth,solid with gear or tube were cleaned with AEW adding ultrasonic washing,cleaning efficacy were compared with conventional method, AEW without pulsing ultrasonic washing and control group,corrosive effect of AEW on metal immersed in AEW was tested. Results Cleaning efficacy of solid smooth,solid with gear or tube instruments were significantly differ-ent among four groups(F= 10.868,14.268,6.146,respectively,all P<0.05). For solid smooth instruments, cleaning with AEW adding ultrasonic and cleaning without ultrasonic had a better effect than conventional cleaning (both P<0.005);For solid with gear instruments,AEW adding ultrasonic cleaning obviously had a better effect than conventional cleaning and AEW without ultrasonic cleaning(both P<0.001 );For tube instruments,cleaning efficacy of three cleaning methods were not significantly different (all P>0.05). AEW had no corrosive effect on stainless steel and copper. Conclusion The cleaning efficacy of AEW on solid smooth,solid with gear instruments is su-perior to conventional cleaning method,and can achieve better effectiveness if ultrasonic cleaning is added.

The effects of rapamycin on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in in vitro cultured human lens epithelial cells (LECs) and cell cycle were investigated in order to provide the theoretical basis for the development of new inhibitory drugs for clinical prevention and treatment of after-cataract. The cultured LECs of second and third passages were collected and treated with rapamycin. The LECs were transferred into 96-well culture plates and divided into 6 groups, and each group was set to have 8 duplicate wells. In the negative control group, the LECs were given culture medium only, and in the blank control group, only culture medium was given. In the four rapamycin-treated groups, different concentrations (20, 40, 60 and 80 ng/mL) of rapamycin were given. After treatment for 24, 48 and 72 h, the absorbance (A) values in each well were determined by MTT assay. The cell cycles of all groups were detected by using flow cytometry. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RFQ-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax respectively. MTT assay showed that rapamycin could inhibit proliferation of LECs in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry revealed that rapamycin could block the conversion of LECs from G1 phase to S phase, resulting in the increase of cells in G(1) phase and the decrease of the cells in S phase. RFQ-PCR indicated that rapamycin could down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA, but up-regulate the expression of Bax mRNA, suggesting it could induce apoptosis of LECs. Western blot demonstrated that rapamycin could suppress the expression of Bcl-2 protein, but promote the expression of Bax protein. It is concluded that rapamycin could inhibit proliferation of LECs probably not only by blocking the progression of cell cycle, but also by promoting the induction of apoptosis.

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) gene Arg16Gly polymorphism and essential hypertension (EH) in elder (≥60 years old).Methods150 old healthy controls and 115 old patients with EH (all of them without kin relation) were selected to test genotype of β2-AR by the technique of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-PFLP).ResultsThe frequencies of three genotypes (Arg/Arg, Arg/Gly and Gly/Gly) were 22.81%, 53.51% and 23.68% in the EH group and 27.33%, 67.33% and 5.33% in the controls respectively. The frequencies of Arg and Gly allele were 49.56 % and 50.44% in the EH group, and 61.00% and 39.00% in the controls. There was a significant difference in distribution of alleles/genotypes between EH group and controls ( P<0.05).Conclusionβ2-AR Arg16Gly gene polymorphism is possibly associated with hypertension in this study population.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology

This study was to localize the position of spinal center of sympathetic nerve which controls the pulmonary circulation in pithed rat model. The sympathetic preganglionic fibers arising from C7-T10 spinal segments were stimulated electrically in succession. During stimulation the pulmonary vascular rcsistance(PVR) was increased in all segments tested, most significantly in C7-T4(about 28% above control value) which was obviously higher than that of Ts-T10. In constract, the systemic vascular resistance(SVR) increased more remarkably when lower segments were stimulated. The higher the stimulated spinal segments, the larger the ratio of APVR/ASVR. The data showed that the spinal center of sympathetic nerve which regulates the vasomotion of pulmonary circulation is located in the segments C7-T4.

0.05) found between two groups. Hypoxia did not stimulate ECs to release endothe-lium-derived contracting factors (EDCFs), and the contracting effects of HPEC (16.4%)and HAEC (20%) were similar to that of NPEC and NAEC. These results indicated thatEDCFs released from endothelial cells of pulmonary artery and aorta can induce contrac-tion of PSMC directly and that hypoxia did not increase the release of EDCFs from ECs.

Hypoxic vasoconstriction was studied in isolated rings of pig intrapulmonary(PA) with or without endothelium. Arterial rings were suspended in modified Krebs' bic-arbonate solution for isometric recording. Hypoxia was induced by changing the bubblinggas mixture in the chamber from, 95% O_2-5%CO_2 to 95%N_2-5%CO_2. When PA ringswere prestimulated with phenylephrine (PE, 2?10~(-6) mol/L), hypoxia could induce contrac-ctions in PA (0.86?0.09g, n=12). Removal of the endothelium decreased the hypoxicontractions of PA significantly (tension increment 0.11?0.03g, n=12, P

Objective To observe the degree of choriocapillary ectasia (CCE) and sub-foveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) with different activity and discuss their relations.Methods Forty eyes of 40 CSC patients were recruited.The activity of CSC was determinate by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA).There were 23 eyes with active CSC (active-CSC group),and 17 eyes with inactive CSC (inactive-CSC group).All eyes in both groups were examined with optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA),and the CCE area of the choriocapillary layer was measured within a 3 mm× 3 mm zone centered on the central fovea of macula.Ectasia was classified based on CCE area,more than 66％ of examination area was high ectasia,and 33％-66％ as medium ectasia,below 33％ as low ectasia.SFCT was measured with frequency domain optical coherence tomography.The relationship between CCE degree,SFCT and CSC group was analyzed.Results Among the 23 eyes of active-CSC group,there were 5 eyes of low ectasia,12 eyes of medium ectasia,6 eyes of high ectasia.Among 17 eyes of inactive-CSC group,there were 11,4,2 eyes of low,medium and high ectasia respectively.Active-CSC group had more advanced degree of ectasia than that in inactive-CSC group(Z=-2.472,P=0.013).SFCT of active-CSC group and inactive-CSC group were (418.13±-126.15),(429.76±105.80) μm respectively,the difference was not significant (t=-0.308,P=0.760).SFCT in eyes with low ectasia,medium ectasia,high ectasia were (419.13±105.60),(381.00±125.12),(515.13±67.68) μm respectively.The difference among the three group was statistical significant (F=4.106,P=0.025).SFCT in eyes of high ectasia was obviously thicker than low ectasia and medium ectasia,the difference was statistical significant (P=0.007,0.048);the SFCT difference between low ectasia and medium ectasia did not appear statistical significance (P=0.326).There was no linear relation between SFCT and CCE degree (r=0.247,P =0.124).Conclusions Active-CSC eyes has more advanced CCE degree than inactive-CSC eyes,but SFCT is the same between the two groups.High ectasia eyes have thicker SFCT.

The effects of sodium salicylate on the expression of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) during oxidative stress in tissue-cultured human lens epithelial cells were investigated. Cultured human lens epithelial cells (HLB-3) were divided into 3 groups: control group (group A), oxidation injury group (group B) and sodium salicylate group (group C). Apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells cultured in vitro was induced in the presence of 150 micromol/L H2O2. Cells viability and the expression of HSP27 were analyzed. Viability of the cells was measured by methyl thiazole tetrazolium (MTF) chromatometry. The expression of HSP27 in HLB-3 cells was detected by using immunohistochemistry and image analysis system. Sodium salicylate could induce the expression of HSP27, and the cells viability in group C was significantly higher than in group B (0.2667+/-0.01414 vs 0.2150+/-0.01080, P=0.012<0.05). The average gray value of HSP27 in group B was less than that in group C (P=0.000<0.05). The increased expression of HSP27 by sodium salicylate might play an important role in the protection of hydrogen peroxide-induced injury of human lens epithelial cells, suggesting that sodium salicylate could suppress, at least in part, the apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is affected by various related factors, which can manifeste in patients with simple diabetes mellitus. However, which of these factors are involved in the occurrence of DPN in diabetic patients?OBJECTIVE: To analyze the risk factors for DPN in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.DESIGN: A hospital-based one-to-one pair-matched case-controlled investigation.SETTING: School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 111 outpatients or inpatients with DPN (DPN group) were recruited from the Metabolic Disease Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from December 2002 to November 2003, including 53 males and 58 females. Inclusive criteria: Diagnosed according to the diagnostic standards for diabetes mellitus recommended by American Diabetes Association (ADA) in 1997; Typing for type 2 diabetes mellitus according to the program by ADA in 1997; Decline or disappearance of achilles tendon reflex, knee tendon reflex, etc.; Decline or disappearance of pain sensation and thalposis; Decline or disappearance of diapason vibration sense. Meanwhile, 111 outpatients or inpatients with simple diabetes mellitus were selected as the control group. Informed consents were obtained from all the subjects.METHODS: The patients were investigated at admission or in the outpatient department with self-designed questionnaires, including more than 80 items of general information, past history, family history, etc. The results of laboratory examinations were recorded. The data were catalogized and input into computer. Multivariate conditional logistic regression was used to establish main effect equation for analyzing the risk factors for DNP.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk factors for DNP.RESULTS: All the 111 patients with DNP and 111 patients with simple diabetes mellitus were involved in the analysis of results. The protective factors for DNP included higher educational level, intensive treatment, coronary heart disease and tea drinking. The risk factors for DNP included longer duration of diabetes mellitus, poor situation of blood sugar control, treating with insulin, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, history of diabetic ketonemia, more meat intake before diabetes mellitus, vertigo, dryness of skin, hypertension, history of injury, history of smoking, higher waist-to-hip ratio, higher level of blood cholesterol. The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the following factors were significantly associated with DPN: longer duration of diabetes mellitus, treating with insulin, vertigo, more meat intake before diabetes mellitus, alcohol drinking and history of injury (operation, frostbite, etc.).CONCLUSION: DPN is related to various risk factors, such as longer duration of diabetes mellitus, treating with insulin, vertigo, alcohol drinking, more meat intake before diabetes mellitus, history of injury, etc., which all can increase the risk of diabetic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients and physicians should pay more attention to these risk factors during the course of prevention and treatment.