Effect of Huazhuo Jiedu Shugan Prescription on Learning， Memory， and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β Signaling Pathway in Epileptic Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effects of Huazhuo Jiedu Shugan Prescription （HZJDSG） on learning， memory， and the expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/glycogen synthase kinase-3<italic>β</italic> （GSK-3<italic>β</italic>） pathway-related proteins in epileptic rats， and to explore its possible mechanism. Method:Forty-eight SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group， a model group， a sodium valproate （0.19 g·kg^-1） group， and low- （2.7 g·kg^-1）， medium- （5.4 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose （10.8 g·kg^-1） HZJDSG groups， with eight rats in each group. The normal group received 0.9% sodium chloride solution （0.035 g·kg^-1） by intraperitoneal injection， and the other five groups received pentetrazol （PTZ） at the same dose to induce a chronic epilepsy model for a total of 14 times. The drug groups received corresponding drugs and the normal group and the model group received 0.9% sodium chloride solution at the same volume once a day for 28 days. During the drug intervention period， epilepsy was maintained in each modeling group by intraperitoneal injection of PTZ on day 7， 14， 21， and 28. The behavioral changes of rats were observed by Morris water maze and the pathomorphological changes of rat hippocampal neurons by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The protein expression of phosphorylation Akt（p-Akt）and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> was detected by immunohistochemistry and the protein expression of PI3K， Akt， p-Akt， GSK-3<italic>β</italic>， and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> by Western blot. Result:Compared with the normal group， the model group showed prolonged platform finding time （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， reduced number of platform crossings （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， structural damage of neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus， down-regulated protein expression of p-Akt and p-GSK-3<italic>β </italic>in the CA1 region of the hippocampus （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， and reduced relative expression of PI3K， p-Akt， and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> in the hippocampus （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group， the sodium valproate group and the HZJDSG groups showed shortened platform finding time （<italic>P</italic><0.01） and improved neuronal structure in the CA1 region of the hippocampus， while the sodium valproate group and the high- and medium-dose HZJDSG groups exhibited increased number of platform crossings （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， up-regulated protein expression of p-Akt and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> in the CA1 region of the hippocampus （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， and elevated relative expression of PI3K， p-Akt， and p-GSK-3<italic>β</italic> （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:HZJDSG can improve the learning and memory of epileptic rats， and its antiepileptic effect may be achieved by the activation of PI3K/Akt/GSK-3<italic>β</italic> pathway-related proteins.

SHMT1 C1420T polymorphism contributes to the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: evidence from 7309 patients / 癌症

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 1 (SHMT1) is a key enzyme in the folate metabolic pathway that plays an important role in biosynthesis by providing one carbon unit. SHMT1 C1420T may lead to the abnormal biosynthesis involved in DNA synthesis and methylation, and it may eventually increase cancer susceptibility. Many epidemiologic studies have explored the association between C1420T polymorphism and the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but the results have been contradictory. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The meta-analyses were conducted to evaluate the effect of SHMT1 C1420T polymorphism on NHL risk. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to measure the strength of the association.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eight studies encompassing 3232 cases and 4077 controls were included. A statistically significant association was found between SHMT1 C1420T polymorphism and NHL risk under the allelic comparison (T vs. C: OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.17); a borderline association was found between SHMT1 C1420T polymorphism and NHL risk under the homozygote model (TT vs. CC: OR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.00-1.39) and the dominant model (CT+TT vs. CC: OR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.00-1.21).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SHMT1 C1420T polymorphism may be associated with NHL risk, which needs to be validated in large, prospective studies.</p>

Plasma microRNA profiling in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients reveals miR-548q and miR-483-5p as potential biomarkers / 癌症

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which play a role in tumorigenesis, may also serve as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers. However, studies on human miRNA profiles in plasma from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients are in their infancy. Here, we used microarrays to perform systematic profiling of human miRNAs in plasma from NPC patients. We subsequently used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) to validate miRNAs with aberrant expression that could serve as potential biomarkers. By comparing the plasma miRNA profiles of 31 NPC patients and 19 controls, 39 of 887 human miRNAs were found to be aberrantly expressed. Considering the fold change and P value, miR-548q and miR-483-5p were validated in 132 samples from 82 NPC patients and 50 controls. Moreover, high expression of miR-548q and miR-483-5p was further found in 3 NPC cell lines and clinical biopsy tissues from 54 NPC patients and 22 controls. Our results revealed that miR-548q and miR-483-5p are potential biomarkers of NPC. Combining the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses of these 2 miRNAs, an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.737 with 67.1% sensitivity and 68.0% specificity were obtained, showing the preliminary diagnostic value of plasma miRNAs. Moreover, most NPC patients with a poor outcome exhibited high expression (> median) of miR-548q (70.6%) and miR-483-5p (64.7%) in tissue samples, indicating their prognostic value. The high expression levels of miR-548q and miR-483-5p in plasma, cell lines, and clinical tissues of NPC patients indicate that their roles in NPC should be explored in the future.

Detection of early glial responses in the retina,optic nerve and optic chiasm in acute ocular hypertension rat model / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background Glial cells perform specialized function in many aspects of the development,homeostasis,and function of neurons.Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)and glia interactions are critically important in glaucomatous neurodegeneration.However,the precise mechanisms of glial activation and ganglion cells damage are still remained unclear. Objective This study was to assess the early responses of glial cells in the retina,optic nerve and optic chiasm in rat models of acute high intraocular pressure (IOP),and to examine the expression of nestin,a neuronal progenitor marker,in the reactive glias. Methods Acute high IOP of 110 mmHg was induced in the right eyes of 6 clean adult female Wistar rats by infusing normal saline solution into the anterior chamber for 60 minutes.Three normal matched Wistar rats were used as controls.The rats were sacrificed by overanaesthesia and sections of retina,optic nerve and optic chiasm were collected on 3 days and 7 days after the injection.Rat retina was examined by Nissl staining to illustrate the gross structure changes.Loss of axons of RGCs in the optic nerve was assessed by immunostaining of β Ⅲ-tubulin.Double labeling of glia] fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and nestin was performed in sections of retina,optic nerve and optic chiasm to evaluate the glial responses.The use of the animals complied with Statement of Animal Ethic Committee of Peking University Third Hospital. Results In control rats,GFAP-positive glial cells were observed in the retina,optic nerve and optic chiasm,where only weak positive response for nestin was noticed.Three days after acute IOP elevation,thickness of inner plexus form layer was significantlydecreased in comparison with the control rats.A loss of 46％ RGCs was found in the rats with ocular hypertension.Obvious increase of GFAP expression was displayed in the retina,and processes of GFAP-positive glia cells extended into outer retina accompanied with significant up regulation of nestin.Axons in the optic nerve demonstrated a tendency of degeneration.Nestin expression increased significantly in the GFAP-positive glias in the optic nerve.Cross-sectional area of optic chiasm corresponding to the injured retina decreased relative to its countcrpart.Astrocyte like GFAP and nestin-colabeled glials were observed in this part of optic chiasm.The pathological changes of the retina,optic nerve and optic chiasm in hypertensive eyes aggravated on 7 days. Conclusions Acute ocular hypertension induce early onset of RGCs loss and axon degeneration.Neuronal injury is accompanied with glial reaction.Reactive glial cells express neuronal progenitor markers.The structural changes of the optic nerve and optic chiasm occur simultaneously with the high IOP.

Long-term intraocular pressure fluctuation of primary angle closure disease following laser peripheral iridotomy/iridoplasty / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Many studies indicated that short-term and long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuations in primary open angle glaucoma patients might lead to glaucomatous progression. However, seldom study has evaluated the long-term fluctuation of IOP in primary chronic angle closure diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term IOP fluctuation of primary angle closure diseases and its associations following laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) with or without laser peripheral iridoplasty.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 158 patients with primary angle closure suspect (PACS, n = 21), primary angle closure (PAC, n = 81) and primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG, n = 55) had been treated by LPI with or without laser peripheral iridoplasty and followed up for more than 12 months. IOP was measured with Goldman applanation tonometer. Multivariate linear regression with generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression models was used to evaluate the association of long-term IOP fluctuation (maximum IOP minus minimum IOP) with gender, age, baseline IOP, baseline peripheral anterior synechia (PAS), baseline vertical cup/disc ratio (VCDR), baseline mean deviation (MD), need for IOP-lowering medications.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IOP fluctuation during follow-up in PACS, PAC and PACG groups were (4.83 ± 2.90), (5.67 ± 3.35), and (9.40 ± 7.14) mmHg, respectively. IOP fluctuation was strongly correlated with baseline IOP (r = 0.356, P < 0.001), PAS (r = 0.374, P < 0.001). IOP fluctuation was higher in patients with higher baseline IOP (0.18 mmHg per unit increase, 95%CI: 0.05 - 0.31 mmHg).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Long-term IOP fluctuation in PACG group was larger than that in PACS or PAC group. Eyes with higher baseline IOP were observed to have larger long-term IOP fluctuation.</p>

Assessment of vision-related quality of life in Chinese glaucoma patients by utility analysis / 中华实验眼科杂志

BackgroundThe influence of glaucoma on the quality of life in patients is of increasing concern for ophthalmologists in recent years. However,some studies demonstrated that different types of questionnaires about quality of life have various disadvantages. Therefore, to accurately and fully assess the influencing factors of quality of life in glaucoma patients is very important. ObjectiveThe present study was to survey the self-reported visionrelated quality of life(QOL) in glaucoma patients by means of utility analysis and to tentatively analyze its influencing factors. Methods Patients with glaucoma were recruited from a single tertiary ophthalmic department. Standard face-to-face interviews were conducted. Utility values of linear rating scale ( RS ) and time trade-off ( TTO ) were calculated to evaluate the self-reported vision-related QOL of the patients. The correlations of the utility values with the patients' general and ophthalmologic characteristics were also analyzed. This survey was approved by the Ethic Committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital. Oral informed consent was obtained from the subjects before the study.ResultsA cross-sectional study was designed. A total of 86 glaucoma patients were enrolled in this study with 62 male and 24 female, with a mean age of 44. 67 years old. The mean utility values measured by RS and TTO were 0. 62± 0. 19 and 0. 77 ± 0. 12, respectively, and no evidential correlation was found between these two values ( r =0. 074, P=0. 499 ). The RS value was associated with daily visual acuity,mean deviation(MD) of visual field and the history of trabeculectomy. Neither daily visual acuity nor MD showed a significant correlation with the TTO value. Age, work status and educational background contributed to higher utility value for the TTO method. After adjusting for age, work status and educational level,patients with visual acuity in the worse-seeing eye better than 0. 3 showed a higher TTO value than those with less than 0. 3. Conclusions Utility analysis possesses the advantages of convenience and sensitivity. RS utility value is easily affected by the Objective visual status and surgery history in glaucomatous patients,which reflects the subjective assessment of patients'visual quality. However, TTO value is primarily associated with age,work status and education level rather than visual function in glaucoma patients,which is therefore subjective assessment of the disease-related quality of life. These Results indicate that visual function impairment is not a determining factor for the QOL of glaucoma patients.

Roles of Pediatric Critical Illness Score and Pediatric Risk of Mortality Score in Children with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and the Correlation between Them / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the prognostic value of pediatric critical illness score(PCIS)and pediatric risk of mortality score(PRISMⅢ)and the accuracy for evaluating the state of children with acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).Methods Seventy-one cases hospitalized children from 29 days to 14 years old of Hebei ARDS cooperation group were selected during the 13 months between 2005 and 2006.All cases were confirmed according to ARDS diagnostic standard.For prospective studies,the patients were scored simultaneously with PCIS and PRISMⅢ at different times:when the patients entered PICU,when the patients were in the worst situation in PICU,when the patients were diagnosed as ARDS and when ARDS was serious.The data were performed by using Logistic regression etc.Results Values of Logistic regression were P