Anatomic characteristics of the lacrimal sac and adjacent bony structures-a computed tomographic-dacryocystography research.

Aim: To describe the anatomic characteristics of the lacrimal sac and its adjacent bone structures and to provide surgical recommendations for endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR).

Methods: This retrospective comparative study involved 118 sides with complete nasolacrimal duct obstruction and 83 unaffected sides from 126 patients. Computed tomographic-dacryocystography (CT-DCG) scans were performed before lacrimal surgery, and image reconstruction was used to obtain continuous 0.

Validation of an 8-item Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS-8) for people with schizophrenia in China.

Background: The 24-item Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS) is the most widely-used and well-validated tool for measuring recovery for people with mental illness. The current study aims to assess the reliability and validity of an 8-item short form of RAS (RAS-8) among a Chinese sample of people living with schizophrenia.

Methods: A sample of 400 people living with schizophrenia were recruited for scale validation.

The polyamidoamine-mediated inhibition of bcl-2 by small hairpin RNA to induce apoptosis in human lens epithelial cells.

Purpose: To investigate whether apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) can be induced with the polyamidoamine (PAMAM)-mediated inhibition of bcl-2 (b-cell lymphoma 2) by small hairpin RNA (shRNA).

Methods: HLECs (SRA01/04) were transfected with the fifth generation of PAMAM (PAMAM G5) by bcl-2 shRNA. At 24, 48, and 72 h after transfection, the transfection rate was measured by flow cytometry.

alpha-Lipoic acid alters post-translational modifications and protects the chaperone activity of lens alpha-crystallin in naphthalene-induced cataract.

Purpose: To evaluate whether alpha-lipoic acid (LA) inhibits lens opacity of naphthalene-induced cataract by altering post-translational modifications (PTMs) and protecting the chaperone activity of alpha-crystallins.

Methods: Forty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control, naphthalene, and naphthalene plus LA. Cataracts were induced by oral administration of 1 g naphthalene/kg body weight/day.

[Inhibition of bcl-2 by shRNA to induce apoptosis in human lens epithelial cells].

Objective: To investigate whether apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells (HLEC) can be induced by inhibition of bcl-2 shRNA.

Methods: It was an experimental study. Two pairs of oligonucleotides were synthesized and inserted into plasmid PGCsi to generate shRNA eukaryotic expression vectors, named P1 and P2.