ABSTRACT
Context: The eye lens grows throughout life by the addition of new cells inside the surrounding capsule. How this growth affects the properties of the lens is essential for understanding disorders such as cataract and presbyopia. Aims: To examine growth of the human lens in the Indian population and compare this with the growth in Western populations by measuring in vitro dimensions together with wet and dry weights. Settings and Design: The study was conducted at the research wing of a tertiary eye care center in South India and the study design was prospective. Materials and Methods: Lenses were removed from eye bank eyes and their dimensions measured with a digital caliper. They were then carefully blotted dry and weighed before being placed in 5% buffered formalin. After 1 week fixation, the lenses were dried at 80 °C until constant weight was achieved. The constant weight was noted as the dry weight of the lens. Statistical Analysis Used: Lens parameters were analyzed as a function of age using linear and logarithmic regression methods. Results: Data were obtained for 251 lenses, aged 16–93 years, within a median postmortem time of 22 h. Both wet and dry weights increased linearly at 1.24 and 0.44 mg/year, respectively, throughout adult life. The dimensions also increased continuously throughout this time. Conclusions: Over the age range examined, lens growth in the Indian population is very similar to that in Western populations.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Aged , Eye/growth & development , Humans , Lens, Crystalline/anatomy & histology , Lens, Crystalline/growth & development , India , Tertiary Care CentersABSTRACT
Objective To study the preventive and therapeutic effects of ginkgo biloba extract 761 on disused skeletal muscle atrophy by observing its effects on the wet weight, protein content and contraction of the gastrocnemius of fixed hindlimb in rats. Methods 24 SD rats were divided into blank group, contrast group and experimental group. Their right hind limbs were fixed for 4 weeks with plastic plaster from metatarsus to 1 cm up the knee. The knee joint was fixed in 100? flexion and the ankle joint in 60? plantar flexion. Rats in the contrast group were perfused with 3mL distilled water, and rats in the experimental group were perfused with ginkgo biloba extract 761 (120 mg/kg, 14 mg/mL). The whole gastrocnemius muscle of the right hindlimb was dissected 4 weeks later to measure its contract tension, wet weight and protein content. Results Compared with the blank group, single maximal contraction, maximal tetanus, wet weight and protein content of the gastrocnemius muscle in the contrast and experimental groups decreased significantly (P
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the possible effects of hepatocyte growth factors (HGF) on prevention and therapy of disused gastrocnemius atrophy in rats by observing their effects on the wet weight and contractile function of the gastrocnemius of fixed hind limbs. Methods Twenty-four Wister male rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a contrast group and an experimental group. Their right hind limbs were fixed for four weeks with plastic piaster from metatarsus to 1 cm up the knee. Their knee joint was fixed in 100?flexion and their ankle joint in 60?plantar flexion. Rats in the contrast group were injected with 0. 2 mL of normal saline, and rats in the ex- perimental group were injected with HGF (10 mg/kg, 10 mg/mL). Their whole gastrocnemius of the right hind limb was dissected four weeks later to measure its contractile function and wet weight. Results Compared with the blank group, single maximal contraction, maximal tetanus, and wet weight of the gastrocnemius in the contrast and experimental groups decreased significantly (P＜0. 05), and fields of electric stimulation also decreased signifi- cantly (P＜0. 05). Compared with the contrast group, single maximal contraction, maximal tetanus, and wet weight of the gastrocnemius in the experimental group were significantly superior (P＜0.05), and fields of electric stimulation significantly increased. Conclusion Since after a local injection of HGF, the contractile function and wet weight can be significantly increased, HGF may have a preventive effect on disused atrophy.