Background The main mechanism of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the formation of retinal neovascularization. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) is primarily factor for DR. Objective The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of angelicae sinensis decoction for supplementing blood ( ASD), a kind of traditional prescription of Chinese herbal medicine, on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in vitreous and serum of STZ-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods Thirty-four SPF male SD rats were fed using high fat diet for 8 weeks and then the streptozocin of 25 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected to create the type 2 diabetic models. ASD (3.6 g/kg) and 10 mg/kg Gli of 5 mi were administered intragastrically from the 4th day of high fat die though 8 weeks respectively. Other 10 matched rats were used as normal control group. The body weight, blood glucose level ,triglycerides (TG) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were detected in 4 and 8 weeks after usage of drug. The vitreous and serum samples were obtained in the 8 th weeks for the VEGF detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This experiment comlied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission. Results The body weight and HDL in DM group were significantly lower than those of normal control group in 4 or 8 weeks ( P＜0. 01 ), but in ASD and Gli groups ,the body weight and HDL were higher than those of the DM group (P＜0. 05 ). the blood glucose level and TG were elevated in DM group compared with normal control group (P＜0. 01 ), but those in ASD group and Gli group were decreased in comparison with DM group ( P＜0.05 ). EIISA revealed that no significant differences were found in VEGF levels between normal control group and ASD group or Gli group (P＞0. 05 ), but in DM group, the serum VEGF level (147.65±4. 55 ng/L) was reduced and vitreous VEGF level (673.45± 100. 85 ng/L) was raised,showing the considerable differences (P＜ 0.05 ). No any correlation was found between serum VEGF level and vitreous VEGF level (r=0.314,P＞0. 05). Conclusion ASD can decrease the VEGF level in vitreous,implying that ASD postpone the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy in DM rat.

This study investigated the "homing" phenomenon in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The "homing" specificity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) by establishing an orthotopic implantation model in nude mice. EPCs harvested from the marrow cells were separated by density gradient centrifugation. Fluorescence microscope, flow cytometry (FCM) and double fluorescence staining with FITC-UEA-I and DiI-ac-LDL, were employed to identify the cells. 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) labelling and real-time PCR were used for detecting the expression of CD133 and chemokines to trace and observe the distribution of EPCs. Our results showed that the distribution rate of EPCs was obviously higher than that in other important organs and the negative control group. Detection of CD133 and chemokines yielded similar results in difference tissues. Our experiment confirmed that the chemotaxis of EPCs does exist in HCC. Moreover, HIF-1α, SDF-1 and VEGF might play important roles in the "homing" of EPCs in HCC. EPCs might be a potential candidate for targeting vector of HCC for gene therapy.

AIM: To analyze the composition, distribution and characteristics of the elderly primary ocular tumors.
METHODS: This was a retrospective study and all 504 cases with primary ocular tumors aged 60 years or older were collected in Shanxi Eye Hospital, during the year 2000- 2012. The onset age, location and pathological pattern were analyzed.
RESULTS: There were 346 cases of benign ocular tumors (68. 7%), and 158 cases of malignancy (31. 3%). Papillomas was the most common type of the benign with 83 cases (16. 5%), followed by a variety of inflammatory cysts and lesions with 69 cases ( 13. 7%) and 64 cases (12-7%) respectively. Among malignant tumors cases, eyelid basal cell carcinoma originated from epithelial was the most common with 72 cases (14. 3%), followed by skin appendages sources malignant tumors with 39 cases (7. 7%). Concerning the location of ocular tumors, there were 282 cases of eyelid tumor (56. 0%) occupied the first position followed by conjunctival tumor with 157 cases (31. 2%).
CONCLUSION: The prevalence and type of primary ocular tumor in elderly people are significant differences from the general population and children's, and the proportion of malignant tumors tended to increase along with the increase of age.

Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; surgery ; Ear Auricle ; transplantation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose ; injuries ; surgery ; Nose Neoplasms ; surgery ; Rhinoplasty ; methods ; Surgical Flaps

HBeAg is an ungranular secretory protein,which encoded by C gene of HBV DNA and it increases with the replication of HBV. So it is one of the markers of active replication of HBV in clinical diagnosis. HBeAg is important biologic raw materials which is widely used in preparation of related diagnostic articles with HBV infection serological detection. The technology of expression and purification of recombinant HBeAg is quite mature,which had successfully expressed the target protein in various expression systems. The key factors on HBeAg expression include important site mutation in precore region ,the choice of vectors,effects of RNA interference(RNAi)and so on. Therefore,in order to meet requirements of related diagnostic products,it need to improve expression level and purity of recombinant HBeAg and avoid cross-reaction with HBcAg. In a word,it showed that acquisition of high quality recombinant HBeAg could lay substantial foundation for improving diagnostic products,provide a reliable evidence for exploiting new type of therapeutic and preventive HBV vaccine and offer possibility of HBeAb detection methodological optimization.

Objective To investigate the effect of total flavonoids of Herba Epimodii (HEF) on the expression of core binding factor?1 (Cbfal) in the bone of ovariectomized rats.Methods Fifty-four female SD rats were allocated into 6 groups (9 in each): sham operation group,ovariectomized (OVX) group,OVX followed by three kinds of HEF doses(40,80 and 160 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1))and nilestriol (0.1 mg?kg~(-1)?week~(-1))for 12 weeks respectively.Bone mineral density (BMD) of whole body was determined by DEXA.The levels of osteocalcin (BGP) and estradiol (E_2) in serum were measured by radioimmunologic method.All rats were then sacrificed,and total RNA were directly isolated from the skull.Relative quantification of Cbfal mRNA expression was detected by real time quantitative PCR.Results Serum E_2 and BMD of whole body in the OVX group were lower than those in sham group significantly after 12 weeks (both P0.05).Relative quantification of Cbfal mRNA expression in the OVX group was significantly lower than that in sham group after 12 weeks (P

Objective To model the newborn hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in rats. Methods 25 7-day-old healthy Wistar rats were divided into control group (n=12) and model group (n=13). 2 h after ligating and mutilating the unilateral common carotid arteries, the rats in the model group were put into an airtighted box with the volume fraction of 8% oxygen and 92% nitrogen for 2 h. 4 weeks after operation, all the rats were assessed behaviorally and pathologically. Results The footprint repeat space of rats were larger and more instable in the model group than in the control group (P<0.05). The time the rats crossing the balance beam was longer in the model group than in the control group (P<0.05). The escape latency of the water maze test was longer in the model group than in the control group (P<0.05). The right brain became smaller than the contralateral. HE staining showed that the cells around impaired periventricle were swelling, and cell number was less than the contralateral. The neurons decreased, some degenerated and necrosis neurocytes appeared in the impaired side. Conclusion The model of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage has been established.

AIM: To compare the clinical effect, safety and visual outcome after laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK)using femtosecond laser or a mechanical microkeratome.

METHODS: By retrospective study, 120 cases(240 eyes)of myopia patients had refractive surgery from July 2016 to June 2017. There were 62 cases(124 eyes)were treated with traditional LASIK, and 58 cases(116 eyes)were treated with LASIK using femtosecond laser to create corneal flaps. Visual acuity,corneal flap thickness and aberration were evaluated at 1, 6 and 12mo.

RESULTS: The corneal flap was successfully made in all patients, and the operation was successfully completed. There were no obvious complications during and after the operation. There were no statistical differences between the two groups about visual acuity or refractive error after operation(P>0.05). However,the result of corneal flap thickness in the Femto-LASIK was better than the result in the traditional LASIK(t=26.67, P<0.01). In addition, the added values of spherical aberration, coma aberration and total higher-order aberrations in the Femto group were smaller than those in the traditional group(t=-4.16, -4.92, -22.19; P<0.01). The post operative surface regularity index(SRI)of traditional LASIK was higher than that of Femto-LASIK(0.31±0.09 vs 0.25±0.04; t=6.59, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Femtosecond laser made corneal flap is more accurate than lamellar knife flap. Aberrations of femtosecond laser flap LASIK surgery are smaller than the traditional LASIK.Femto-LASIK may provide relatively better visual quality. However, both of the different surgery can result in satisfactory visual acuity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological characteristics of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from the umbilical cord blood (UCB), and to evaluate their oncogenicity after long-term culture in vitro. METHODS: The mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from the UCB and cultured in MCDB131 medium supplemented with 20% FBS, VEGF and other growth factors. Morphology of the EPCs was observed, and the growth curve of the EPCs was investigated. Surface antigens of the EPCs were analyzed by the flow-cytometer. The capability of intaking the acetylated low-density lipoprotein (acLDL) of the EPCs was detected using fluoresencent chemical method. The vasoformative capability and genetic stability of EPCs were cultured in matrigel, and examined by karyotype analysis. The oncogenicity of EPCs was verified by the tumorigenesis test in athymic mouse and soft agar. RESULTS: EPCs were successfully derived from the UCB, and could be passaged to at least 42(nd) generation and had strong abilities of proliferation, acLDL intake and vasoformation, but there was not oncogenicity. They expressed endothelial cell-surface antigens and maintained normal karyotype. CONCLUSION The EPCs with proliferative potential can be isolated from the UCB. They can be passaged in long-term cultures without oncogenicity, and can maintain normal karyotype. The EPCs can be served as a new type of cells in cell and gene therapy.
Animals ; Antigens, Surface ; analysis ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; pharmacology ; Karyotyping ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the cost effectiveness of HIV testing strategy in hospitals from 2006 to 2010 in Guangzhou.

METHODSAccording to the HIV test strategy costs and the number of HIV patients found in Guangzhou, following aspects were calculated as the total cost of HIV testing strategy in hospitals from 2006 to 2010 of Guangzhou, the cost of finding each HIV patient, and the cost of obtaining one quality adjusted life year (QALY) using Markov model.

RESULTSThe total HIV test strategy costs increased from 11 106.98 thousand Yuan to 25 105.58 thousand Yuan, and 4599 HIV positive patients were found due to this strategy. The cost-effectiveness of HIV testing were different in hospitals from 2006 to 2010 in Guangzhou. The lowest cost-effectiveness ratio of HIV testing strategy was 11 810 Yuan per HIV positive patient, the highest was 23 510 Yuan, and the average was 16 070 Yuan. According to the Markov model result, 7.2855 QALYs could be gained per HIV patient on average via HIV testing strategy in 113 hospitals in Guangzhou, and the cost of obtaining one QALY was 2210 Yuan.

CONCLUSIONThe cost effectiveness ratio of HIV testing strategy in hospitals in Guangzhou was significantly lower than the standard of WHO recommended, and it was cost-effective to carry out the HIV testing strategy in Guangzhou.