Aberration and contrast sensitivity comparison of aspherical and monofocal and multifocal intraocular lens eyes.

Background: Higher-order aberrations and contrast sensitivity were evaluated in patients who underwent phacoemulsification cataract extraction followed by implantation of aspherical, monofocal or multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) replacements.

Methods: In this comparative trial, 124 patients with an average age of 66.8+/-5.

Increased epithelial and serum expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in gastric cancer: potential role of MIF in gastric carcinogenesis.

Aims: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is implicated in tumorigenesis. This study was conducted to determine whether MIF expression is associated with gastric pathology and whether MIF expression is increased in malignant gastric cells in vitro.

Materials And Methods: Patients with a normal gastric mucosa, Helicobacter pylori infected gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric adenocarcinoma were included.

[Effects of airway epithelium injury on the transdifferentiation of sub-epithelial fibroblasts and its role in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma].

Objective: To address the possible role of injured airway epithelium in initiating transdifferentiation of sub-epithelial fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and accelerating cell proliferation in sub-epithelial fibroblasts, which may be involved in airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma.

Methods: Human primary cultured sub-epithelial fibroblasts were co-cultured with human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) which were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus mechanical scratch prior to co-culture. The procedure was also performed in the presence or absence of endothelin (ET) receptor A inhibitor (BQ123), transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) neutralized antibody, respectively or simultaneously, followed by immunostaining, Western blotting and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation respectively to detect alpha-SMA expression and cell proliferation in the co-cultured sub-epithelial fibroblasts.

[A comparison of the velopharyngeal closure after palatoplasty between with or without velopharyngeal muscular reconstruction].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of palatoplasty with or without velopharyngeal muscular reconstruction on the velopharyngeal closure under the lateral radiography.

Methods: The lateral radiographs and cephalometric analysis were taken in sixty-two patients with cleft palate and velopharyngeal insufficiency, 32 repaired with velopharyngeal muscular reconstruction and 30 with modified von Langenbeck's procedure (non-reconstructive group).

Results: In patients with velopharyngeal muscular reconstruction, the velopharyngeal competence, the reductive rate of nasopharynx, the distance reduction in lower part of the mobile nasopharynx during phonation and the distance in middle part of mobile nasopharyngo in rest were superior to that without velopharyngeal muscular reconstruction, and there were variform PPW eminence-soft palate contact in velopharyngeal closure.

[Alpha 2 megaloglobulin inhibits the activation of rabbit platelet by Chinese Agkistrodon acutus venom].

An in vitro study of alpha 2-mengaloglobulin (alpha 2MG) in the inhibition of the activation of washed rabbit platelet by Chinese Agkistrodon acutus venom (CAAV) was reported. Results showed that CAAV induced aggregation rate of washed rabbit platelet was positively related to the CAAV concentration, and the maximal aggregation rate was 43.8 +/- 9.