Objective To investigate the impact of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin on the expression of pigment epithelial derivative factor (PEDF) mRNA and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA in adult retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro. Methods The changes of cellular viability before and after PDT were assessed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolum (MTT) colorimetric assay. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted to detect the expression of PEDF and VEGF mRNA in RPE cells before and after PDT. Results PDT caused the death of RPE cells. The cellular mortality was positively correlated with the power of photocoagulation and the concentration of verteporfin. Conclusion PDT could downregulate the expression of PEDF and VEGF mRNA in adult RPE cells in vitro, which may relate to the cure or relapse of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane after PDT. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 256-260)
Objectives To evaluate the effect of metrinidazole treatment after conventional hemorrhoidectomy pain in patients with third and fourth degree hemorrhoids. Methods We searched the Cochrane Library (Issue 1 2009), PubMed (1966 to March 2009), EMbase (1974 to March 2009), SCI (1974 to March 2009), CBM (1978 to March 2009), CNKI (1994 to March 2009), and VIP (1989 to March 2009) to identify randomized controlled trials or quasi- randomize controlled trials of metronidazole versus placebo for treating post hemorrhoidectomy pain. We evaluated the quality of the included studies by using the Handbook 4.2.6 recommend standards and analyzed data using the Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2.10. Results We included seven randomized controlled trials or quais-randomized controlled trials (n=553). Meta-analyses showed that there were statistical differences between metronidazole and placebo in pain after hemorrhoidectomy and the use of an additional dose of analgesia. Conclusions The current evidence shows that metronidazole relieves the pain after conventional hemorrhoidectomy and reduces the additional used of analgesics. Further high quality, large sample randomized controlled trials should be carried out.
Objective To explore the activity of Ca2 + -activated K+ ( KCa) inairwaysmoothmuscle cells( ASMCs) in a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD) , and to observe the effect of 11, 12-Epoxyeicosatrienoic acid( 11, 12-EETs) on the KCa channel of ASMCs. Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a COPD group and a normal control group. The rats in the COPD group were exposed to cigarette smoking in a relatively closed chamber to induce COPD. The ASMCs were isolated from small bronchi using an acute enzymatic digestion method. In the symmetrical high K+ solution,the KCa currents were separated with inside-out configuration using the patch clamp technique. The activity of KCa currents in ASMCs between the COPD group and the normal group were compared and the effect of 11, 12-EETs on KCa channel was recorded. The opening probability( Po) , opening time( To) and closing time ( Tc) of the KCa were measured. Results Compared with the normal group, Po of KCa in the COPD rats was much shorter ( 0. 084 ±0. 028 vs 0. 198 ±0. 029, P lt; 0. 01) , To was shorter [ ( 0. 732 ±0. 058) ms vs ( 1. 648 ±0. 152) ms, P lt; 0. 01] and Tc was longer[ ( 12. 259 ±2. 612) ms vs ( 6. 753 ±1. 237) ms, P lt;0. 01] . 11, 12-EETs can evoke the activity of KCa currents of ASMCs in the COPD rats while Po was increased( 0. 227 ±0. 059 vs 0. 084 ±0. 028, P lt; 0. 01) , To was much longer[ ( 2. 068 ±0. 064) ms vs ( 0. 732 ±0. 058) ms, P lt; 0. 01] , and Tc was shorter [ ( 4. 273 ±0. 978) ms vs ( 12. 259 ±2. 612) ms, P lt;0. 01] .Conclusions The results suggest that the decreasing of KCa activity plays an important role in the development of COPD. 11,12-EETs can directly evoke the activity of KCa channel in COPD rats, thus relax the airway smooth muscles.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Chinese angelica decoction (CAD) versus conventional treatment (CT) for chronic urticaria (CU). Methods Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, The Cochrane Library, SCI, EMbase, VIP, CNKI and CBM to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on CAD treating CU from inception to July 2011. Two reviewers independently screened articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data and evaluated the quality of the included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0.2. Results A total of 11 RCTs involving 1081 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis demonstrated that compared with the CT group (antihistamine therapy), CAD seemed higher in the cure rate (OR=2.36, 95%CI 1.80 to 3.10, I2=22%, Plt;0.000 01), improvement rate (OR=4.56, 95%CI 2.65 to 7.87, I2=0%, Plt;0.000 01), and lower in the relapse rate at the third month after the treatment (OR=0.43, 95%CI 0.22 to 0.82, I2=0%, P=0.01). No study reported the quality of life and severe adverse reactions after CAD treatment. Conclusion Current evidence shows CAD may be superior to CT in treating CU patients. However, due to lack of enough high-quality studies, CAD has to be further studied by conducting more strictly-designed, multicenter, large-scale and double-blind RCTs.
Objective?To investigate the current status of new clinical medical postgraduate students on their learning goals and expectation of employment, and to provide the evidence and suggestions for improving the management of medical postgraduates’ training. Methods?We designed the questionnaire to investigate the current status of learning goals and expectation of employment of new clinical medical postgraduate students of Lanzhou University. We issued 164 questionnaires and took back 164 ones, among which 157 were effective, with the effective rate of 95.7%. Results?(1) The proportion of the postgraduates with working experience was less than 50%, and most of these worked in the municipal and county hospitals. (2) The 78.3% of them considered that clinical and research abilities were of the same importance. (3) The 65.6% of them expected to get Medical Science Degree; (4) The 96.8% of them wanted, after graduation, to engage in clinical work or the work in which clinical affairs and research were equally important, and only 3.2% hoped to engage in research-oriented work; (5) Although clinical skills and research capabilities of the first-year medical postgraduates were very poor at their entrance to the graduate school, their expectations of employment were very high. Conclusion?(1) The improvement and innovation of medical postgraduates’ clinical and research training are urgently needed. (2) The publicity and supporting policies should be enhanced for Clinical Medicine Degrees, and the postgraduates should be guided to comply their own expectations with social needs properly.
Objective To systematically analyze the randomized controlled trials that compare tissue-engineered skin (TES) with conventional treatment for chronic diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) in terms of effectiveness and utilization.Methods We searched the electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CBMWeb, CNKI, and VIP) in order to compare the efficiency and safety between TES and conventional treatment (CT) in the patients with DFU. In addition, we manually searched reference lists from original studies and review articles.Results Seven trials were included, which were all randomized controlled trials and had a duration of DFU over 6 weeks. There were 880 participants that met inclusion criteria in all studies, and all patients underwent pre-treatment procedures and were treated by TES (human skin equivalents, living skin equivalents or bioengineered skin, such as Graftskin, Dermagraft and Graftjacket) for 12 weeks. All trials had two groups: the treatment group and the control group, but the two trials divided the treatment groups into 3 different dosages and 2 different ulcer allocation subgroups, respectively. Meta-analysis results showed significant differences in the rate of complete wound closure (Plt;0.0001, 95%CI 0.08 to 0.20) and in the occurrence of complications and severe adverse events (P=0.008, 95%CI – 0.06 to – 0.01) between TES treated patients and conventionally treated patients. Conclusion The review shows TES improves completed closure of DFU compared with CT, and it is more effective in reducing side effects.
Objective To explore the effect of vitamin E (VE) on subclinical atherosclerosis (AS) in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods Eighty-five newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients without AS were divided into two groups [VE group (n =43) and control group (n =42)] according to the random numeration table. All the patients received comprehensive intervention including the control of blood glucose, blood pressure, blood lipid and body weight and anti-platelet drugs. VE capsule (200 mg/d) was added to VE group (n =41) to evaluate its effects on the incidence of subclinical AS after one year intervention. Results Three patients withdrew during one year follow up. No significant differences of age, sex, baseline body mass index, waist to hip ratio, blood lipid, blood pressure, 24 h urinary albuminuria, insulin resistance index, high sensitive C-reactive protein level, intima-medial thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery, femoral artery and common iliac artery were found between VE group and control group (Pgt;0.05). The decrease of IMT of common carotid artery in VE group after one year intervention was more significant than that in control group (Plt;0.05), whereas the other metabolic parameters mentioned above showed no significant differences between the two groups (Pgt;0.05). The incidence of subclinical AS was significantly higher in VE group(26.8%, 11/41) than that in control group (7.3%, 3/41) (Plt;0.05). Conclusions One year VE supplementation with multifactorial intervention has no beneficial effect on subclinical AS in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients.