AIM: To explore the characteristic of relaxation of porcine cornea after LASIKMETHODS: Usual LASIK was performed on fresh porcine corneas with stable intraoculer pressure (IOP) maintained through optic nerve irrigation. The ablation depth on stroma is 30%, 50% and 70% respectively. Then the dumbbell-shaped corneal strip specimens were cut and stored in 20% Human Albumin solution for use (4℃).Sip up the Albumin solution on specimens, and fixed them on homemade jig. Stress relaxation tests were erformed on Tytron250 Dynamics Experiment System. the loading speed was 385mm/min,extending ratewas 1.5, and relaxation time was 1 000s. The data werecollected electronically and automatically.RESULTS: In LASIK procedure, though a single flap-cutting can cause a little reduction of corneal stress relaxation (P＜0.05,P=0.49), the cornea may still remain its property of visco-elasticity. When ablation depth was 30% or more, corneal stress relaxation decreased to almost one half (P＜0.01).The change of corneal stress relaxation degree in vertical meridian specimen was lower than that in horizontal specimen, especially when ablation depth was 70%, and it's statistically significant (P＜0.001). In LASIK operation, the more depth the ablation, the more reduce the stress relaxation degree, and it's easy to cause deformation and creep deformation.CONCLUSION: The changes of the stress relaxation in verticai and longitudinal meridian specimens are similar, and slightly obvious in longitudinal specimen, especially in 70%ablation group.

Objective To investigate the incidence and relevant information of preterm birth and the outcomes of preterm infants delivered at various gestational weeks and for different causes. Methods Totally 955 women, who ended their pregnancies before term, and 1066 neonates of the previous mothers were enrolled in this survey, among 15 197 deliveries at Peking University First Hospital, Beijing Gynecological and Obstetric Hospital, Women's and Children's Hospital of Haidian District and Peking University Third Hospital, respectively, from December 1~(st), 2006 to May 31~(st), 2007. Results (1)Incidence of preterm birth: The overall incidence of preterm birth of the 4 hospitals was 6. 3% (955/15 197), and it was 8.1% (125/1549) in Peking University First Hospital, 13.1% (150/1142), which was the highest (P<0.01), in Peking University Third Hospital, 5.5% (369/6656) in Beijing Gynecological and Obstetric Hospital and 34.0% (311/5850) in Women's and Children's Hospital of Haidian District.The preterm birth rate at the two comprehensive hospitals was significantly higher than that of the two specialized hospitals [10.2% (275/2691) vs 5.4% (680/12 506), P <0.01]. (2) Gestational weeks at delivery: The incidence of preterm birth before 34 weeks was 28.5% (272/954) and the number changed to 71.5% (682/954)for those preterm deliveries after 34 weeks. However, this number varied among the 4 hospitals. Peking University First Hospital had the highest incidence of preterm birth before 34 weeks(P< 0.05), and the lowest was found in Women's and Children's Hospital of Haidian District(P<0.01), but no difference was found between Peking University Third Hospital and Beijing Gynecological and Obstetric Hospital. (3) Etiology of preterm birth: Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) accounted for the most proportion of all preterm birth cases, followed by iatrogenic preterm birth and spontaneous preterm birth. But the causes of preterm birth in the 4 hospitals were different. Peking University Third Hospital had a higher incidence of iatrogenic preterm birth than the others (P<0.01), and Peking University First Hospital had a higher incidence of preterm birth caused by PPROM and lower incidence of spontaneous preterm birth. The first four reasons of iatrogenic preterm birth were preeclampsia (143, 42.0%), fetal distress (58, 17.1%), placenta previa (43, 12.6%) and placenta abruption (33,9.7%). (4) Neonatal outcomes in different hospitals: The neonatal outcomes were quite different among the 4 hospitals due to different causes and different delivery weeks. The highest neonatal mortality rate was found in Beijing Gynecological and Obstetric Hospital (5.4%, 22/408) compared to that in Women's and Children's Hospital of Haidian District (1.3%,4/320) and Peking University Third Hospital (0. 6%, 1/170) (P< 0.01), but without any difference when compared to that in Peking University First Hospital (2.4%, 3/ 124) (P>0.05). (5) Neonatal outcomes at different gostational age: The recovery rate of preterm infants delivered at <32 weeks was lower than those delivered ≥32 weeks (P<0.01), and this number rose to 99. 6% in those delivered ≥34 weeks. More infants delivered <32 weeks were given up for treatment or died during the perinatal period than those delivered ≥32 weeks, with the neonatal mortality rate of 22.1% for those delivered at <32 weeks and only 0.3% for those delivered at ≥ 34 weeks (P<0.01). (6) Neonatal outcomes for various causes: The premature neonatal mortality rate for iatrogenic preterm births was higher than that of PPROM (4.9% vs 1.6%, P<0.05). But the neonatal recovery rates were similar among the PPROM, spontaneous and iatrogenic preterm birth group (P>0.05). Conclusions Preterm birth is associated with high perinatal mortality rate, especially for those delivered before 32 weeks which would be highlighted in prevention. Reduction of the iatrogenic preterm birth, combined with proper prevention of PPROM, is an important issue in decreasing the prevalence of preterm birth.

Cathepsin B from Helicoverpa armigera (HCB) belongs to the group of cysteine proteinases. HCB is proved being involved in the degradation of yolk proteins during embryonic development,which is an acidic preferring enzyme and is resistant to SDS. The expression of the proenzyme may offer a model for investigating the activation of the enzyme. The HCB gene was constructed into pPIC9K and expressed in Pichia pastoris KM71 strain . After induction by methanol, HCB was expressed and secreted into the medium. The molecular weight of the recombinant procathepsin B was determined as about 38 kDa. The expressed product was confirmed to be HCB by immunoblotting assay using specific rabbit anti-HCB polyclonal antibody. The activity of the product was assayed by in situ hydrolysis (gelatin-SDS-PAGE). These results showed that HCB with proteolytic activity was expressed in P. pastoris KM71. This proenzyme can be used for further research on the activation of the proenzyme or industrial production.

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture at acupoints selected according to rehabilitation medical theory on upper limb spasticity in the patient of poststroke.

METHODSSixty cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and an electro-stimulation group, 30 cases in each group. The acupuncture group were treated by acupuncture at the contralateral scalp motor region of the affected limb, Jiquan (HT 1), Chize (LU 5), Daling (PC 7) on the flexor side and Jianyu (LI 15), Tianjing (TE 10), Yangchi (TE 4) on the extensor muscle side of the affected limb; the electro-stimulation group were treated by electric stimulation. The two groups also were treated with necessary medical treatment and anti-spasm rehabilitation motor training. The course was 3 weeks. Modified Ashworth Scale for muscle spasm (MAS), modified Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) for upper limb motor function, and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) for ability of daily living were used for assessment of the therapeutic effect.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the spasm was significantly alleviated, the motor function of the upper limb and daily living ability were significantly increased (P<0.01) in the two groups; after treatment, BMI scores in the acupuncture group was very significantly superior to that in the electro-stimulation group. The total effective rate was 93.3% in the acupuncture group and 86.7% in the electro-stimulation group, with no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONProper acupuncture is an effective method for upper limb spasm in the patient of poststroke, and the therapeutic effect is better for mild-moderate spasm of the upper limb.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Spasticity ; therapy ; Stroke Rehabilitation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the frequency of JAK2V617F mutation in Chinese patients with chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and to study the relationship between JAK2V617F mutation and clinical characteristics.

METHODSJAK2V617F mutation was screened by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR).

RESULTSJAK2V617F mutation was detected in 277 of the 412 patients with MPN. The frequency of JAK2V617F mutation was similar among essential thrombocythemia (ET), idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) and chronic myeloproliferative disorders-unclassified (MPD-U) (P > 0.05), but it was significantly lower than that in polycythemia vera (PV) (P < 0.05). The presence of JAK2V617F was found to be significantly correlative with advanced age at diagnosis (P < 0.01) and with higher hemoglobin levels and higher leukocyte counts (P < 0.05). Significant difference was found in complication of vascular events between JAK2V617 positive and negative patients (P < 0.05). JAK2V617F positive MPD-U patients were more prone to progress into typical MPN compared with JAK2V617F negative MPD-U patients. The association between abnormal karyotype and JAK2V617F was not found in cytogenetical analysis of 301 patients.

CONCLUSIONThe presence of JAK2V617F in MPD-U is associated with the disease development. There is a correlation between JAK2V617F mutation in MPN and advanced age, higher leukocyte counts, hemoglobin level and vascular events.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemoglobins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; genetics ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; blood ; complications ; genetics ; Polycythemia Vera ; blood ; complications ; genetics ; Primary Myelofibrosis ; blood ; complications ; genetics ; Thrombocythemia, Essential ; blood ; complications ; genetics ; Thrombosis ; etiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of JAK2V617F and MPLW515L/K mutation in patients with slightly elevated platelets (BPC) or hemoglobin (Hb) not meeting the criteria of polycythemia vera (PV) or essential thrombocythemia (ET).

METHODSGenomic DNA from bone marrow or blood mononuclear cells was screened with allele specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) for JAK2V617F and MPLW515L/K mutation. The history of thrombosis was assessed retrospectively by patients files.

RESULTSOf 30 patients, 14 (46.7%) were positive for the JAK2V617F mutation, none of them had the MPLW515L/ K. Five of these 14 patients had a history of thrombosis. Follow-up results were available in 22 patients. Among them, 12 patients with JAK2V617F mutation turned out to be MPD in 6-24 months; only 2 out of 10 patients without this mutation evolved to MPD.

CONCLUSIONJAK2V617F mutation could be one of the diagnosis criteria of early MPD. No MPLW515L/K expression was found in early MPD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Thrombopoietin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

We investigated the causative agents of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in children in Beijing epidemic from April to June of 2007. Totally, 82 specimens (including throat swabs, rectal swabs and vesicular swabs) were collected from 51 patients with HFMD. All patients had typical skin lesions, but no neurological manifestations. These clinical specimens were directly tested by RT-PCR assay with three primer sets: universal enterovirus, CA16-specific and EV71-specific primers. Enterovirus, CA16 and EV71 were identified depending on the size of PCR products. The percentage of the specimens identified as positive for enterovirus was 70.6%. Of the 51 cases, 25 were positive for CA16, 4 were positive for EV71, and 7 were enterovirus positive of non-CA16 or EV71. The ratio among them was about 6:1:2. EV71 strains belonged to genotype C4 after sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.
Child, Preschool ; China ; Enterovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Female ; Genotype ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of transfection of agrin gene on the recovery of muscle function after a free neurovascular muscle transfer.

METHODSThe electrical gene transfection was performed when the gracilis muscle of the SD rat was completed free neurovascular transfer. The experimental group was treated with pCS2+ -agrin, the group with plasmid pCS2+ as the negative control and the group with normal saline as the frank control. The muscle function, expression of neural agrin and the junctional nAChR number was measured after the operation.

RESULTSAt 4, 5 and 10 weeks postoperatively, the pCS2+ -agrin group was significantly better than the control groups in muscle function (P < 0.05 ). The immunohistochemical staining showed an increasing deposition of the agrin protein near the endplate at 1 and 5 weeks after the operation, but decreasing remarkably to the level of control groups at 10 weeks postoperatively. The pCS2+ -agrin group was significantly more than the control groups in junctional nAChR number at every points of the time postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSTransfection of agrin gene in the transferred muscle may increase the early recovery of muscle function.

Agrin ; genetics ; Animals ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; Muscle, Skeletal ; transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of low-dose cyclophosphamide and prednisone (CP) metronomic chemotherapy on microvessel density of bone marrow, serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB)in multiple myeloma (MM) patients.

METHODS54 refractory or relapsed MM patients were treated with CP metronomic chemotherapy consisted of oral cyclophosphamide (CTX, 50 mg/d) and prednisone (Pred, 15 mg/d). Bone marrow and peripheral blood of each patient were collected before and 2, 4, 6 months after treatment. Among the 37 assessable patients, 30 cases were responsive with the response rate of 81.08%. Another 17 cases were follow-uped less than 6 months or failure to obtain serum samples or lost to follow-up. Microvessel density of bone marrow was measured by immunohistochemistry and serum VEGF/PDGF-BB expression was analyzed by ELISA in the 37 assessable patients.

RESULTS2, 4, 6 months following CP metronomic chemotherapy, microvessel densities of bone marrow in the responders were 33.1 ± 4.8/HP, 24.8 ± 3.7/HP, 19.7 ± 2.1/HP respectively; the expressions of VEGF were (394 ± 57) ng/L, (268 ± 32) ng/L and (217 ± 20) ng/L respectively; the expressions of PDGF-BB were (304 ± 31) ng/L, (274 ± 31) ng/L and (196 ± 22) ng/L respectively. After CP metronomic chemotherapy, there were significantly lower of microvessel density, VEGF and PDGF-BB levels than pretreatment \[MVD 48.5 ± 5.9/HP, VEGF (517 ± 60) ng/L, PDGF-BB (484 ± 60) ng/L\]in the responders (P < 0.01). While in the non-responders, after treated by CP metronomic chemotherapy for 2 months, microvessel density, the expression of VEGF and the expression of PDGF-BB were 32.5 ± 4.7/HP, 512 ± 39 ng/L and (452 ± 39) ng/L respectively. There were no significant changes of MVD, VEGF and PDGF-BB levels compared with pretreatment \[MVD 33.2 ± 5.6/HP,VEGF (498 ± 55) ng/L, PDGF-BB (488 ± 44) ng/L\] (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOur findings suggested that continuous low-dose CP metronomic chemotherapy could decrease microvessel density of bone marrow in MM patients. Furthermore, it down-regulated expression of serum VEGF and PDGF-BB to exert its anti-angiogenesis in MM.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvessels ; drug effects ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; blood ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; Prednisone ; administration & dosage ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

In order to clarify the chemical constituents of Si-Wu Decoction rapidly and holistically, we analyzed the ethanol extract of Si-Wu Decoction by UPLC/Q-TOF-MSE and UNIFI which based on traditional Chinese medicine database, the probable structures of 113 compounds were identified. The results show that this method can rapidly and effectively characterize the chemical compounds of Si-Wu Decoction and provide a new solution for identification of components from complex TCM extract.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Databases, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional