Preliminary observation on the effects of Huoxuelishuimingmu Granules in treating corneal edema after phacoemulsification

AIM: To investigate the effects of Huoxuelishuimingmu Granules on corneal edema after phacoemulsification.<p>METHODS: Ninety cases with at least second degree corneal edema the first day after phacoemulsification were randomly divided into the routinely treated group and the Huoxuelishuimingmu Granules intervened group, 45 cases for each group. To the routinely treated group, Tobramycin and Dexamethasone Eye Drops, Compound Tropicamide Eye Drops and Recombinant Bovine Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Eye Drops were administered in turn during the treatment. While to the Huoxuelishuimingmu Granules intervened group, traditional Chinese medicines with the function of promoting blood circulation, alleviating water retention and removing nebula named Huoxuelishuimingmu Granules were additionally administered. The curative effects and the time taken for vanishment of corneal edema in each group were then observed. One week was counted as a course of treatment and curative effects were calculated after two courses.<p>RESULTS: The Huoxuelishuimingmu Granules intervened group showed a much higher clinical cure rate and took quite shorter time for vanishment of corneal edema compared with the group treated with routine drugs(<i>P</i><0.05 in both aspects), while no better total effective rate was observed(<i>P</i>>0.05). <p>CONCLUSION: Huoxuelishuimingmu Granules has a preferable clinical effect on corneal edema after phacoemulsification, shortening the duration of corneal edema and restoring the sight of patients in advance

Analysis of contrast sensitivity on examination for pilots

AIM: To study the influential factors of the contrast sensitivity function(CSF), we tested and investigated the CSF of navy pilots. METHODS: Totally 58 pilots(116 eyes)were examined by CSF under the nighttime, nighttime & periglare, daytime, daytime & periglare conditions for 5 spacial frequencies with OPTEC6 500 Vision Tester. RESULTS: From mean diagram of curves, the peak of CSF under the nighttime, nighttime & periglare conditions was at 3-6c/d, daytime, daytime & periglare conditions was at 6c/d. CONCLUSION: The distant CSF is better than the near CSF in navy pilots,the binoculus CSF is better than that of the single eye. The spatial characteristics of CSF in navy pilots were reflected by present study

Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on the expressions of Cox-2 and GST-Pi in rats with hepatocellular carcinoma risk

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and aggressive cancers worldwide, and the pathogenesis is very complicated at present. There is rare effective therapeutic measure, and the novel therapeutic strategies are urgently required to improve clinical outcome. Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) is reported to be with an anti-cancer activity. Objectives: This study was performed to explore the effect of EGb on expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) and glutathione S-transferase Pi (GST-Pi) in the pathogenesis of HCC risk. Methods: 120 Wistar rats were divided into three groups at random: normal control group (control group), HCC risk group without treatment (HCC risk group), HCC risk group treated with EGb (EGb group); n=40, respectively. The HCC risk in rat was induced by aflatoxin B1 injection. At the end of 13-week, 33-week, 53-week and 73-week, 10 rats in each group were killed and the relevant samples were collected. Results: The mRNA and protein expressions of Cox-2 and GST-Pi were measured by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical analysis and western-blot. When compared with those in control group in 73-week, the mRNA and protein expressions of GST-Pi in EGb group were weakened than those in HCC risk group in 73-week. However, the mRNA and protein expressions of Cox-2 in HCC risk group were increased than that of control group, and there was no statistical difference for mRNA and protein expressions of Cox-2 between HCC risk group and EGb group. Conclusion: EGb can regulate the expression of GST-Pi, but it can’t take an effect on the Cox-2 expression in the liver of HCC risk rats.Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb); Cox-2; GST-PiAfrican Health sciences Vol 14 No. 1 March 201

DCAF26, an Adaptor Protein of Cul4-Based E3, Is Essential for DNA Methylation in Neurospora crassa

DNA methylation is involved in gene silencing and genome stability in organisms from fungi to mammals. Genetic studies in Neurospora crassa previously showed that the CUL4-DDB1 E3 ubiquitin ligase regulates DNA methylation via histone H3K9 trimethylation. However, the substrate-specific adaptors of this ligase that are involved in the process were not known. Here, we show that, among the 16 DDB1- and Cul4-associated factors (DCAFs) encoded in the N. crassa genome, three interacted strongly with CUL4-DDB1 complexes. DNA methylation analyses of dcaf knockout mutants revealed that dcaf26 was required for all of the DNA methylation that we observed. In addition, histone H3K9 trimethylation was also eliminated in dcaf26KO mutants. Based on the finding that DCAF26 associates with DDB1 and the histone methyltransferase DIM-5, we propose that DCAF26 protein is the major adaptor subunit of the Cul4-DDB1-DCAF26 complex, which recruits DIM-5 to DNA regions to initiate H3K9 trimethylation and DNA methylation in N. crassa

Biomechanical assessment of brain dynamic responses due to blast-induced wave propagation

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) due to blast-induced wave propagation are not well studied owing to limited published literatures on the subject. This study demonstrates the utilization of a head-helmet model and investigates the effect of using a faceshield with different configurations of laminate composites of polycarbonate and aerogel materials. The model validation is performed against studies published in the literature. The processes of blast wave propagation in the air and blast interaction with the head are modeled by a Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) multi-material finite element method (FEM) formulation, together with a fluid-structure dynamic interaction algorithm. The effectiveness of the different faceshield configurations when exposed to a frontal blast wave with one atmosphere (atm) peak overpressure is evaluated. Results show that the helmet with faceshield can delay the transmission of blast waves to the face and lower the skull stresses and intracranial pressures (ICP) at the frontal and parietal lobes in the first 1.7 ms. Faceshields with a combination of polycarbonate and aerogel layers perform better than the fully polycarbonate ones. It is also revealed that the single 0.6 mm thick aerogel layer in the 3-layer configuration and two layers of 0.6 mm thick aerogel in the 5-layer configuration are the most effective. The paper provides insights into the interaction mechanics between the biological head model and the blast wave

Ameliorating Adriamycin-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease in Rats by Orally Administrated Cardiotoxin from Naja naja atra

Previous studies reported the oral administration of Naja naja atra venom (NNAV) reduced adriamycin-induced chronic kidney damage. This study investigated the effects of intragastric administrated cardiotoxin from Naja naja atra venom on chronic kidney disease in rats. Wistar rats were injected with adriamycin (ADR; 6 mg/kg body weight) via the tail vein to induce chronic kidney disease. The cardiotoxin was administrated daily by intragastric injection at doses of 45, 90, and 180 μg/kg body weight until the end of the protocol. The rats were placed in metabolic cages for 24 hours to collect urine, for determination of proteinuria, once a week. After 6 weeks, the rats were sacrificed to determine serum profiles relevant to chronic kidney disease, including albumin, total cholesterol, phosphorus, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine. Kidney histology was examined with hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, and Masson’s trichrome staining. The levels of kidney podocin were analyzed by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence. We found that cardiotoxin reduced proteinuria and can improve biological parameters in the adriamycin-induced kidney disease model. Cardiotoxin also reduced adriamycin-induced kidney pathology, suggesting that cardiotoxin is an active component of NNAV for ameliorating adriamycin-induced kidney damage and may have a potential therapeutic value on chronic kidney disease

Observation of Surface Plasmon-coupled Directional Fluorescence Using Thin Iron Films

【中文摘要】表面等离子体耦合定向荧光 (Surface plasmon coupled directional fluorescence, SPCDF)是新近发展起来的一种表面增强荧光检测技术,其原理可理解为表面等离子体共振吸收的逆过程.目前,应用于SPCDF检测的表面金属层多集中于金和银两种金属 .将研究基底扩展到其它金属 , 探讨新基底下的检测特性已成为研究热点. 本文报道了以纳米铁膜为基底的 SPCDF检测方法.以荧光素和卟啉为例 , 探讨了 SPCDF信号的特性, 在固定角度下检测了荧光素 -卟啉双荧光团体系的 SPCDF信号 , 并应用于全血样品的分析 .【Abstract】The observation of surface plasmon-coupled directional fluorescence(SPCDF) on thin iron films was presented. SPCDF from thin iron films was p-polarized with a directional emission angle of 70°. Fluorescein and meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine(TPPS) were used as a model system of dual fluorophores. Using 25 nm thin iron films,the SPCDF signals of the two fluorophores were observed at a fixed angle just by one scan. The SPCDF signals of Fluorescein and TPPS added to whole blood were identified clearly,eliminating the background interference of blood effectively. Thin iron films have been proven to be new materials for SPCDF detection,promoting a new mode to observe the enhanced fluorescence signals of different fluorophores by one scan. They should be useful for tracking the labled systems of multi-fluorophores in biological applications

Critical theory and tourism

La posición de la Teoría Crítica somete a juicio a las teorías y perspectivas que velan por lo dominador y la tendencia de explotar a otros como algo natural en los seres humanos. Para el turismo este tipo de teorías sirven para reflexionar no sólo sus contextos conflictivos, sino las tendencias alienantes y enajenadoras de la actualidad. La crítica no se conforma con determinados objetivos, es una “espiral” que no tiene fin, y que para los estudios del turismo esa espiral debe representar la crítica continua, siendo así un proyecto de transformación y cambio teóricoThe position of Critical Theory is against theories and perspectives that ensure the dominator and the tendency to exploit others as something natural in human beings. For tourism this type of theories are used to reflect not only their conflict contexts, but alienating and isolating trends of today. Criticism does not comply with agreed targets is a "spiral" that has no end, and that studies of tourism that should represent the critical spiral continues, making it a project of transformation and change theor