OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effects of Berberine Capsule (BC) on patients with mild hyperlipidemia.

METHODSTotally 102 mild hyperlipemia patients were recruited. All patients were suggested to have proper diet and physical activity as basic therapy for 1 month of run-in period. Totally 97 patients completed it. Then they were randomly assigned to the berberine group (the treatment group, 49 cases) and the placebo group (the control group, 48 cases). Patients in the treatment group took BC 300 mg, while those in the control group took placebo 300 mg, thrice per day for 3 successive months. Then placebos and BC were interrupted for 2 months (as washout period). All subjects received only diet control and physical activity during washout period. After washout period, placebos and BC were re-administered to all patients in the same way for 3 months. Body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C were assessed after run-in period, washout period, at month 1, 2, 3 after the first therapy, at month 1, 2, 3 after second treatment, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the end of run-in period, TG, TC, and LDL-C decreased, and HDL-C increased in the treatment group (P < 0.05) after first 3 months of treatment. Compared with 3 months after the first therapy, TG, TC, and LDL-C increased and HDL-C decreased in the treatment group after washout period (P < 0.05). Compared with the end of wash- out period, TC and LDL-C decreased in the treatment group at month 2 after second treatment (P < 0.05); TG, TC, and LDL-C decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and HDL-C increased (P < 0.05) at month 3 after second treatment. Compared with the control group at month 3 after second treatment, TG, TC, and LDL-C all decreased, and HDL-C increased in the treatment group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBC was effective in improving blood lipid level in mild hyperlipidemia patients.

Berberine ; therapeutic use ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Body Mass Index ; Capsules ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; Lipids ; blood

Aged ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Sinus ; pathology ; Female ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Humans ; Middle Aged

Background Orthokeratology has been proved to temporarily alter the equivalent sphere,but its effects on visual quality deserve attention.Objective The present study was to investigate the visual quality after overnight orthokeratology in pre-adolescent myopes.Methods Written informed consent was obtained form each subject prior to entering into this series.A descriptive study design was used.One hundred and fifty eyes of 76 teenagers aged (14.90± 1.24)years with low and moderate myopia (-2.79 ± 0.82)D were included in the study.Fitted with Ortho-K contact lens,the lens was wore every night for over 8 hours.Subjective refraction,uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA),contrast sensitivity function,corneal-topography,and aberrometry were examined before,1 week and 3 months after the initiation of orthokeratology.Visual quality was generally evaluated by comparing before wearing,1 week and 3 months after wearing using the National Eye Institute refractive error quality of life instrument (NEI-RQL-42TM).All the procedures were performed by the same clinician.Results Spherical equivalent refractions were (-0.33± 1.02) D and (-0.26 ± 0.60) D 1 week and 3 months after orthokeratology,showing significant decline in comparison with (-2.79±0.82) D of before orthokeratology (P =0.001,0.001).However,no considerable difference was seen between 1 week and 3 months after orthokeratology (P=0.161).Contrast sensitivity function was significantly different in all spatial frequencies before wearing,1 week and 3 months after wearing,and those of 1 week and 3 months after wearing were significantly lower than those of before wearing (1 week:3 cpd P =0.001,6 cpd P=0.001,12 cpd P＜0.05,18 epd P＜0.05 ;3 months:3 cpd P=0.001,6 cpd P=0.001,12 cpd P＜0.05,18 cpd P＜0.05).There was no significant change in contrast sensitivity function between 1 week and 3 months of orthokeratology (P＞0.05).Flat K,steep K and corneal eccentricity (e) were significantly reduced (P =0.000),and surface asymmetry index (SAI) and surface regularity index (SRI) were significantly improved after orthokeratology in comparison with before orthokeratology (both P =0.001).Root mean square (RMS) of total higher-order,third-order and fourth-order aberrations were significantly increased (P＜0.05),but RMS of whole aberration and second-order aberrations significantly decreased after orthokeratology (P＜ 0.05).There were no significant changes in the fifth-order,sixth-order and seventh-order aberration among pre-wear,1 week and 3 months after orthokeratology.Scales of dark to bright,nocturnal driving,glare,visual fluctuate and halo were lower than those before orthokeratology (P＜0.05).The scales of visual fluctuate between 1 month and 3 months after orthokeratology had significant differences (P＜0.01),while the rest of the scales had no significant differences (P＞0.05).Conclusions Orthokeratology can reduce myopic diopter 1 week after orthokeratology.The overnight wearing of fitted orthokeratology can decrease contrast sensitivity and increase corneal surface irregularity and RMS of third-order and fourth-order.Compared with spectacles,orthokeratology reduces subjective visual quality,especially nocturnal quality.

· Vascular endothelial growth factor is indispensable inducing factor in retinalangiogenesis. After the retinal neovascularization of proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PDR ) patients, it can cause fibrovascular membrane formation, epiretinal membrane fibrosis increased, resulting in traction retinal detachment with further aggravate the condition. The recent research suggests that cytokines promote fibroblast proliferation, movement, adhesion, and secretion of extracellular matrix functions in the diabetic state of the environment changes to profibrogenic state, resulting in the accumulation and fibrosis of extracellular matrix. This paper reviewed the status quo of the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor and fibrosis-related cytokine.

Herpes simplex virusⅠ(HSVⅠ) regulating the pathway of transcription and translation modify in host cell is a very systematic and complicate system. A clear understanding of the concrete mechanisms of infection will greatly help to comprehend the virus replication and the interaction with the host cell. By the analysis of 2-DE, the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H2 in human fetal liver cell represent distinction after the HSVⅠinfection.Utilization of Northern blot and Western blot technologies verified the expression of hnRNP H2 in different stage of virus infection is varied.

Adult ; Burnout, Professional ; Female ; Humans ; Life Change Events ; Middle Aged ; Occupations ; Professional Competence ; Work ; psychology ; Young Adult

Aim: Clone and characterize of the 5′- flanking region of the nitrate reductase (NR) gene derived from Dunaliella salina(D. salina). Methods : The genomic DNA from D. salina was respectively digested with BamHI, EcoRI, HindIII, Pst I, Sal I and Xba I. A genomic walking cassette was ligated to the ends of the digested DNA fragments, and then genomic walking libraries comprising BL, EL, HL, PL, SL and XL were constsucted. The 5′- flanking region of the NR gene from genomic walking libraries of D. salina was amplified by LA-PCR. The DNA sequences were analyzed with the software - Promoter Predictions. Isolated 5′-flanking regions fused to the GUS gene were tested for transient expression in the alga. Results: A single specific PCR product of about 1200bp in length from the HL library was generated. Also, several conserved motifs, such as CAAT-box, GAGA-box were found, which are related to regulation of transcription, and the putative binding sites of transcriptional factors such as EBP, EFII, NF-E1 and LV. BLAST showed that the DNA sequences shared high homology with 5′-upstream region of the NR gene from Dunaliella viridis. The isolated 5′-flanking regions were able to strongly drive GUS reporter gene expression, suggesting that it contains the promoter elements necessary for the transcription of the NR gene. The expression pattern of the GUS gene and the NR gene were similar, both ware induced by nitrate and repressed by ammonium. Conclusion: The cloned 5′- flanking sequences of NR gene derived from D. salina might be a specific promoter with the ability to“switch on or off” an expression of the heterologous gene in transgenic D. salina.

·AIM: To detect the effect of CTGF on the apoptosis in the diabetic retina with small interfering RNAs (siRNA) targeting with CTGF. ·METHODS: A total of 60 rats were divided into six groups including control group, diabetic 4,8,12,16 weeks group, and interference group. Diabetic rats were induced by STZ intra-peritoneal. At 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks after diabetic setting up, retinas were obtained from control, diabetic rats and diabetic animals treated by intravitreal injection of CTGFsiRNA to suppress the expression of CTGF mRNA. Retinal cells apoptosis was detected by Tunnel staining and mRNA expression of CTGF was analyzed by RT-PCR.·RESULTS: The levels of CTGF and the apoptosis in the retinas of diabetic rats were significantly higher than those in the controls. Apoptosis occurred at 4 weeks after a diabetic model setting up, became serious with the diabetes developing, while CTGF elevated at 8 weeks. The cell apoptosis counts increased to 25.8cells/mm2 at 24 weeks of diabetes. SiRNA-mediated inhibition of CTGF mRNA resulted in a significant decrease in apoptosis. Significant correlations were found between CTGF and apoptosis in the retina.·CONCLUSION: These results suggest that CTGF might be involved in retinal cells apoptosis which is a characteristic of early diabetic retina. siRNA targeting CTGF seems to have the advantage of ameliorating retinal cells lost.

AlM: To introduce a new color pediatric visual acuity chart and its clinical application.
METHODS:The color pediatric visual acuity chart was designed based on principle of visual angle. The optotype on the color chart had graphics. The progression rate of optotype size between 2 lines was 10 10 and 1. 2589. A regular geometric progression of optotype sizes and distribution was employed to arrange 8 lines with 11 optotype on the color chart. The testing distance was 3m. The visual acuity score could be recorded as logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution notation or decimal notation. The reliability of naked distant measurements with this new chart was tested in one eye of 100 children (4 ~ 6 years old) taking the Chinese national standard logarithm visual acuity chart standard.
RESULTS: The color pediatric visual acuity chart and logarithmic chart controls, visual acuity test results that in the two groups had no significant difference (t=1. 2671, P> 0. 05 ). Two sets of vision data existed positive correlation (r= 0. 924, P<0. 01). Cooperation rate was 100%, the recognition rate was more than 90%.
CONCLUSlON:Children are easier to accept used new color pediatric visual acuity chart to inspect vision. New chart is reliability and apply to children's vision screening.

Objective To explore genes expression of adiponectin receptors during differentiation of SW872 preadipocytes. Met-(hods) SW872 preadipocytes were cultured in vitro and induced to differentiate by 0.6 mmol/L oleic acid. During the progress of diffe-(rentiation), the morphological changes of SW872 cells were observed and the differentiation rate was assayed by oil-red O staining. Adiponectin receptors mRNA was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction during differentiation of SW872 preadipocytes. Results 1.After stimulated by 0.6 mmol/L oleic acid for 72 hours, almost all SW872 cells were differentiated,and there were lots of fat droplets in the cells.2.There were adiponectin receptors genes expressions in SW872 preadipocytes.After 72 hours,and the levels of adiponectin receptor(AdipoR) 1 mRNA and AdipoR 2 mRNA were markedly increased up to 2.54 and 4.09 times,respectively. Conclusion There are AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 genes expressions in fat cells and the expressions are differentiation-dependent.