Wilson’s disease is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism. The resultant accumulation of copper primarily damages the liver and brain, resulting in hepatic, neurological and psychiatric symptoms. There have been many recent studies advancing the understanding of Wilson’s disease in Asia. There are indications that the incidence of Wilson’s disease in parts of Asia may be relatively high. Many genetic studies have identifi ed various hot spots in theATP7B gene in a variety of the Asian populations. Screening of these hotspot mutations may thus be useful in confi rming the diagnosis. Despite the advances in treatment, lack of familiarity by the health care profession resulting in late diagnosis, and poor access to treatment particularly among those from the developing economies remain areas of major concern.

Background Corneal alkali burn is a common cause of corneal neovascularization(CNV).Researches demonstrated that aquaporin 1(AQP1) plays key role in neovascularization of tumor tissue.So it is speculated that AQP1 participates in pathogenesis and development of CNV.ObjectivePresent study aims to investigate the expression of aquaporin 1(AQP1) in cornea after alkali burn and explore its role in corneal neovascularization.MethodsCornea neovascularization (CNV) models were established by putting a filter paper (the size of 3 mm in diameter immersed 1mol/L NaOH solution) on cornea for 20 seconds in the left eyes of 25 adult Sprague Dawley rats.The fellow eyes were treated using the filter paper with normal saline solution as normal control group.Corneal new blood vessel was evaluated under the slim lamp biomicroscopy once per day,and area of new vessel was calculated.The animals were sacrificed and corneal samples were obtained in day 1,4,7,14,21 after corneal alkali burn.The expression of AQP1 and VEGF in corneas were detected by immunochemistry,and the relative expression level of AQP1 mRNA in rat cornea was determined using RT-PCR.ResultsThe corneal neovascularization grew at the second day and reached the largest area at the fourteenth day after corneal alkali burn.The expression of VEGF protein (gray value) in corneal sample was significantly elevated from the first day through the fourteenth day after corneal alkali burn in comparison with control group(t_(1d)=12.410,t_(4d)=29.428,t_(7d)=16.030,t_(14d)=13.321,P＜0.05),and then the expression level declined till twenty-one day without obvious difference in comparison with control group(t_(21d)=1.587,P＞0.05).The expression of AQP1 protein showed the same tendency with that of VEGF protein(t_(1d)=7.623,t_(4d)=15.293,t_(7d)=18.291,t_(14d)=14.483,t_(21d)=6.381,P＜0.05).The dynamic change expressions of AQP1 and VEGF showed a significant positive correlation(r=0.834,P＜0.05).The expression of AQP1 mRNA (A value)was weaker in control group but considerably increased after alkali burn with the peak value in the seventh day,showing a significantly difference between day 1,4,7,14 and control group(t_(1d)=3.491,t_(4d)=10.690,t_(7d)=12.936,t_(14d)=10.767,t_(21d)=8.594,P＜0.05).ConclusionThe level of AQP1 expression is markedly related to inflammatory CNV in rat cornea after alkali burn.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Methyl Ethers ; analysis ; Workplace

To clarify the effects of zinc on the proliferation and apoptosis of cultured human retinal pigment epithelia (RPE) and the expression of caspase-3 in RPE cells. The effect of Zinc on the proliferation of RPE were examined with MTT method. TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptosis of RPE cells. Caspase-3 was detected by immunohistochemistry. A concentration of zinc higher than 0.001 microM could inhibit the proliferation of RPE. And the relationship between concentration of zinc higher than 10 microM and growth prohibition rate of RPE cells was dose-dependent. All concentrations of zinc including 0.001 microM enhanced the expression of caspase-3 of RPE. But only the concentration of zinc higher than 0.01 microM could induce apoptosis of RPE. It is concluded that zinc could enhance the expression of caspase-3 of RPE cells and induce apoptosis of RPE cells. Caution should be taken when using zinc supplements for the treatment of ARMD patients without deficiency of zinc.
Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases/metabolism ; Cell Division/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Pigment Epithelium of Eye/*cytology ; Zinc/*pharmacology

The incidence of systemic fungal infections have increased dramatically, moreover, drug resistance including either primary (intrinsic) or secondary (acquired) resistance, becomes one of the main reasons accounting for the failure of treating invasive fungal infections in the past decades. Nowadays, clinically available antifungal drugs are limited and their combination in antifungal therapy was not effective. It is expected to be a new strategy to synergistically sensitize antifungal drugs against drug-resistant fungi by using new small molecules. Based on the study in our research group and the reported work of others, we reviewed the research of the natural products which have synergistic effect with the antifungal agents against drug-resistant fungi. This review focused on the resource, structure, pharmacological activity, and action mechanism of the compounds, as well as somewhat in common, and would provide theoretical base for seeking new drug against drug-resistance fungi.
Antifungal Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Biological Products ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Fungi ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo improve the diagnosis and treatment of penile metastasis from rectal carcinoma.

METHODSWe reported a case of penile metastasis secondary to rectal adenocarcinoma, reviewed the relevant literature, and discussed the common origins, clinical features, pathogenic mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

RESULTSThe patient was a 54-year-old male, with metastatic penile tumors secondary to rectal adenocarcinoma, with serious adhesion to the surrounding tissue and metastasis to the liver. As treatment, we performed colostomy to relieve voiding difficulty, followed by combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and levofolinate. The patient died 10 months later as a result of systemic failure.

CONCLUSIONPenile metastatic malignancy has a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis and combined and individualized therapies may improve the quality of life, relieve pain and prolong the life of the patient.

Adenocarcinoma ; secondary ; therapy ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Penile Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology

BACKGROUND:Due to the differences of sport events and individual metabolic characteristics of athletes, it is difficult to establish uniform biological indexes for training monitoring. Current individual evaluation is a longitudinal analysis relying on experience or numerical variation width, which is less objective.OBJECTIVE: To explore the individual function assessment and monitoring by monitoring blood biochemical indexes and brain function indexes in elite gymnasts, in order to accurately reflect the body changes resulting from training loads. METHODS:Thirty gymnasts from the Chinese national gymnastics team preparing for London Olympic Games were enroled in this study and monitored from the last winter training until the London Olympic Games. The blood biochemical indicators and brain function indicators were measured and assessed individually according to according to the principle of quality control (alert value=mean±SD, and controled variable=mean±2SD). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Under the relatively uniform test conditions, it is feasible to individualy assess the blood biochemical and brain function indexes of elite gymnasts in accordance with the principle of quality control, which is more accurate and objective to reflect the body changes under training load and the current state of athletes. In addition, the combined monitoring of blood biochemical indexes and brain function indexes is more comprehensive to evaluate the body function and status of elite gymnasts.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of colonoscopy for patients with chronic diarrhea.Methods Data of 2449 patients with chronic diarrhea who underwent colonoscopy from January,1999 to December,2008 were reviewed.A total of 2110 patients who underwent colonoscopy screening for health checkup during the same period were used as controls.The rates of clinic-relevant abnormal endoscopic findings and negative finding were compared between two groups.Results Lesions with clinic significance were found in 44.1％ of patients with chronic diarrhea (1080/2449) and in 41.7％ of controls (870/2110,x2 =2.756,P =0.097).Compared with controls,incidence of non-IBD and noninfectious colitis (x2 =58.578,P ＜ 0.001),IBD (x2 =59.609,P ＜ 0.001),malignant tumor (x2 =21.649,P ＜0.001),terminal ileitis (x2 =6.275,P =0.012),infectious colitis (x2 =17.019,P ＜0.001),intestinal tuberculosis (x2 =7.021,P =0.008),melanosis coli (x2 =6.040,P =0.014) and parasitic infection (x2 =4.245,P =0.039) were all significantly higher in patients with chronic diarrhea.However,incidences of adenomatous polyps (x2 =14.124,P ＜ 0.001),non-adenomatous polyps (x2 =33.427,P ＜0.001) and diverticular disease (x2 =9.921,P =0.002) were significantly higher in the control group.There was no significant difference in incidences of the benign tumor (x2 =1.627,P =0.202) and angiodysplasia (x2 =0.231,P =0.631) between the two groups.The overall screening rate of colonic polyps,diverticulosis,and vascular lesions was 37.3％ in chronic diarrhea group.Conclusion Colonic polyps,diverticulitis,benign tumors and angiodysplasia may not be the causes of chronic diarrhea.Etiology of more than 1/3 patients with chronic diarrhea remains unknown after colonoscopy.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a palliative regimen of computed tomography (CT)-guided 125I seed im-plantation combined with chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer. Methods:A total of 21 patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, who received 125I seed implantation and chemotherapy, were retrospectively analyzed. Out of the 29 lesions detected, 25 lesions were suitable for 125I seed implantation. Treatment planning system (TPS) was implemented preoperatively to determine the number and dis-tribution of 125I seeds. Under CT guidance, 125I seeds were implanted into the recurrent lesions using the TPS. Within 3 d of 125I seed im-plantation, liposomal paclitaxel was administered by intravenous infusion on day 1 and carboplatin by infusion via the feeding artery of tumor on day 2. Chemotherapy was repeated on a 21-day schedule. Efficacy and complications were evaluated during follow-up. Re-sults:After two cycles of chemotherapy, out of the 25 recurrent lesions that underwent 125I seed implantation, four lesions showed com-plete remission, 14 with partial remission, three with stable disease, and four with progression of disease. The objective response rate was 72%, and the pain relief rate was 82.4%. Karnofsky's performance status scores increased dramatically (P=0.019). The median pro-gression-free survival time was 6.8 months, median overall survival time was 14.2 months, and the 1-year survival rate was 42.9%. He-matologic toxicity and gastrointestinal reactions were the primary adverse conditions. No severe radiation complications and treat-ment-related deaths were observed in all patients. Conclusion:CT-guided 125I seed implantation combined with chemotherapy is active and well-tolerated in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. This combined treatment cannot only significantly enhance the objective re-sponse rate, but also leads to remarkable improvement in cancer-related symptoms.

Objective To explore the effect of mirror therapy in conjunction with task-oriented training on the upper extremity function of post-stroke patients and the possible mechanisms. Methods Twenty-one post-stroke patients were randomly assigned to a treatment group (10 patients) or a control group (ll patients).The patients in the treatment group were given conventional rehabilitation therapy and mirror therapy in conjunction with task-oriented training for 4 weeks.The control group was given only the same conventional rehabilitation treatment as the treatment group and upper extremity task-oriented training for 4 weeks.Both groups trained 1 h/d,5 d/week.Upper-extremity motor ability was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and the Hong Kong version of the functional test for the hemiplegic upper extremity (FTHUE-HK).Ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) was assessed using the Barthel Index (BI) pre-treatment and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. Results At the 2nd week and 4th week evaluations,the FMA,FTHUE-HK and BI scores in both groups had all significantly increased compared with pretreatment.The average FMA score in the treatment group increased significantly more than in the control group at week 2,but by the 4th week both FMA and FTHUE-HK scores in the treatment group significantly exceeded those in the control group.There was no significant difference between the two groups in the improvement of their average BI scores. Conclusions Implementing mirror therapy in conjunction with task-oriented training is efficacious.It may promote upper-extremity motor ability in patients with hemiparesis soon after stroke,but there is no definite improvement in ADL ability.