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Aim: The aim of this study was to synthesize the self‐management theory, model and frameworks of patients with chronic heart failure, focusing on construction process, methods and existing problems. Background: Although the self‐management theories have been created and verified for those patients with chronic heart failure, no reviews have been performed to integrate these theories. Design: A scoping review of recent literature (without a date limit) was conducted. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed. If the study reported the construction of a self‐management theory, model or framework about chronic heart failure cases, it would be included in the review. Results: Fourteen studies were included, which could be categorized into situation‐specific theory, middle‐range theory and other theory models (including conceptual model, hypothetic regression model and identity description model). It also includes the update and validation of theories, the situation‐specific theoretical of caregiver contributions extended from situation‐specific theories and the nurse‐led situation‐specific theory in different contexts. Conclusion: Self‐management might contribute to start an education programme before patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) begin their chronic disease live as an individual. Our scoping review indicates that a series of self‐management theories, models and frameworks for CHF patients have been developed, but more studies are still needed to validate and support these theories according to their cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N6 medium, Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and NB medium were adopted in tissue cultures of Nipponbare (japonica) scutellum for performance comparison. Results indicated that, among the three kinds of culture media, the NB medium worked best in callus induction and gene transformation and was most suitable for tissue culture of Nipponbare scutellum. Based on this, the elicitor-encoding gene pemG1 from Magnaporthe grisea was introduced into the genome of Nipponbare via the Agrobacterium-mediated method. Transgenic rice plants were obtained. The integration, transcription and expression of pemG1 in rice were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Northern blot and Western blot, respectively. Genetic analysis showed that the transgenes were segregated normally in the progenies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the affecting factors of parapapillary gamma and delta zones and other fundus morphological features in high myopia., Methods: Seventy high myopia patients were included in this retrospective observational study and 47 patients were female. Patients were divided into three groups: no posterior staphyloma (no PS), PS with myopic traction maculopathy (PS with MTM), and PS without MTM using 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging and optical coherence tomography. MTM patients were further classified into three types [epiretinal membrane, macular hole, and macular retinoschisis (MRS)]. Diameters of the gamma and delta zones were measured among other morphometric variables using fundus photographs., Results: Of the 70 individuals (127 eyes), the mean age was 57.46±13.56y. In univariate analysis, morphological features changed most dramatically in PS with MTM patients, who had the largest gamma zone diameters, the largest disk-fovea distance (DFD) and disk-fovea angle, and the smallest angle kappa and vertical distance of temporal arterial arcade. However, their horizontal delta zone diameter was smaller than in the patients with PS yet without MTM. In multivariate analysis, with axial length (AL) and age adjusted, the horizontal diameter in the delta zone of the PS without MTM group was still significantly larger than in the PS with MTM group ( P =0.024). Comparing the three subtypes of MTM patients, the diameters of the gamma zone and DFD in MRS group were the largest., Conclusion: The characteristics of the gamma and delta zones change inconsistently in different stages of high myopia. These changes may be associated with anatomical changes caused by local traction. Factors such as PS, AL and age play an important role. These findings may provide a hint about the pathogenesis of traction in high myopia., (International Journal of Ophthalmology Press.)

Flavonoids are important active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine, mainly with cardiovascular, anti-liver injury, antioxidant, antispasmodic, and estrogen-like effects. These compounds have obvious effects on the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Macrophage-derived foam cells are the key medium in the process of atherosclerosis(AS). In plaque, allserum lipids, serum lipoproteins, and various pro-or anti-inflammatory stimulating factors, chemokines, and small bioactive molecules can significantly affect the macrophage phenotype and induce stronger pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that some flavonoids can be used for macrophages through different pathways and mechanisms, playing an anti-atherosclerosis effect to different degrees, including promotion of cholesterol efflux from macrophages, anti-foaming of macrophages, inhibition of secretion of inflammatory factors, and antioxidant modified low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL)-induced apoptosis of macrophages. Related gene regulation inclu-ded ATP-binding cassette transporter A1(ABCA1), ATP-binding cassette transporter G1(ABCG1), Toll-like receptor(TLR), and scavenger receptor(SR). In this article, we would review the recent research progress of flavonoids on anti-atherosclerosis effect me-diated by macrophage. It is expected to provide new treatment strategies for AS-related cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and provide research ideas and development directions for the use of related natural medicines and design of new products.

Aim: To investigate the association between a set of six candidate genes and the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in an urban community cohort of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study. The diabetic subjects were recruited from an urban community in Beijing and categorized into groups of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), or diabetic without any retinopathy (DWR) based on the fundus photography and duration of diabetes. Six candidate genes, including advanced glycation end product specific receptor ( AGER ), aldose reductase ( AKR1B1 ), inducible nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS ), pigment epithelium derived factor ( PEDF ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( TNF-α ), and paraoxonase 1 ( PON1 ), were chosen based on Meta-analysis of genetic association studies for DR and biochemical pathways implicated in DR progression. The allele and genotype distribution of 21 functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in those 6 candidate genes were investigated using MassARRAY genotyping system., Results: Among 1461 diabetic patients recruited from community, 569 were selected in following genotyping analysis, including 97 patients with PDR, 217 with NPDR, and 255 with DWR. For the promoter variant rs1051993 in AGER gene, the distribution of allele and genotype in PDR group differed from that in DWR group (allele: P =0.011; genotype: P =0.01). Compared with DWR, patients with PDR had lower frequencies of heterozygous genotype GT (9.8% for DWR, 1% for PDR, OR: 0.10, 95%CI: 0.01-0.72) and minor allele T (4.9% for DWR, 0.5% for PDR, OR: 0.10, 95%CI: 0.01-0.75). In multivariate model, the distribution of genotype for rs1051993 in PDR group was significantly different from that in DWR group (GT vs GG: OR: 0.07, 95%CI: 0.01-0.61, P <0.001). No association with DR was observed in other genotyped SNPs., Conclusion: The data suggest a significant association of the promoter variant rs1051993 in AGER gene with PDR in Chinese cohort with T2DM., (International Journal of Ophthalmology Press.)

Aim: To compare the differences and agreement of ocular biometric parameters in highly myopic eyes obtained by optical biometric measurement instruments, the OA-2000 and IOLMaster 500., Methods: Totally, 90 patients (90 eyes) were included. They were divided into high myopia group and control group. Ocular parameters, including axial length (AL), mean keratometry (Km), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and white to white (WTW), were obtained from the OA-2000 and IOLMaster 500., Results: For the control group, we applied Bland-Altman graphs to assess the 95% limits of agreement (LoA) for most parameters including AL, ACD, Km, and WTW (-0.24 to 0.29 mm, -0.22 to 0.45 mm, -0.39 to 0.31 D, and -0.90 to 0.86 mm, respectively). In high myopia patients, AL, ACD, Km values had wider 95% LoA (-0.34 to 0.32 mm, -0.36 to 0.34 mm, -0.57 to 0.47 D, respectively), except WTW (-0.80 to 0.68 mm). Differences were not statistically significant between these two instruments ( P >0.05)., Conclusion: Most parameters obtained by the OA-2000 and IOLMaster 500 are comparable, including the AL, ACD, and K values. Among them, the agreement of the high myopia patients is poor compared to the patients without high myopia., (International Journal of Ophthalmology Press.)

Aim: To investigate the relationship between insulin resistance (IR)/β-cell dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to explore further whether there were differences in the relationship among diabetic patients with higher and lower body mass index (BMI)., Methods: Cross-sectional study. A total of 1466 subjects with T2DM were recruited in a local Desheng Community of urban Beijing from November 2009 to June 2012 for the cohort of Beijing Desheng Diabetic Eye Study. Standardized evaluation was carried out for each participant, including questionnaire, ocular and anthropometric examinations, and laboratory tests. Seven fields 30° color fundus photographs were used for DR grading according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocols. Homeostatis Model Assessment (HOMA) method was employed for IR and β-cell function assessment., Results: After excluding those participants who were treated with insulin ( n =352) or had missing data of fasting insulin ( n =96), and further excluding those with poor quality of retinal photographs ( n =10), a total of 1008 subjects were included for the final analysis, 406 (40.3%) were men and 602 (59.7%) were women, age ranging from 34 to 86 (64.87±8.28)y. Any DR (levels 14 and above) was present in 278 (27.6%) subjects. After adjusting for possible covariates, the presence of any DR did not correlate with HOMA IR [odds ratio (OR) 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87-2.61, P =0.14] or HOMA β-cell (OR 0.71, 95%CI 0.40-1.26, P =0.25). After stratification by BMI, the presence of any DR was associated positively with HOMA IR (OR 2.46, 95%CI: 1.18-5.12, P =0.016), and negatively with HOMA β-cell (OR 0.40, 95%CI: 0.19-0.87, P =0.021) in the group of patients with higher BMI (≥25 kg/m 2 ). In the group of patients with lower BMI (<25 kg/m 2 ), the presence of any DR was not associated with HOMA IR (OR 1.00, 95%CI: 0.43-2.33, P =1.00) or HOMA β-cell (OR 1.41, 95%CI: 0.60-3.32, P =0.43)., Conclusion: The data suggest that higher IR and lower β-cell function are associated with the presence of DR in the subgroup of diabetic patients with higher BMI. However, this association is not statistically significant in diabetic patients with lower BMI.

Aim: To present the rationale, design, methodology, and the baseline data of the Beijing Desheng Diabetic Eye Study (BDDES), and to determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and possible risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in an urban community of Beijing, China., Methods: Community-based prospective cohort study of persons diagnosed with T2DM aged 30y or older. The main variables of interest are the presence and progression of DR as determined by the standardized ETDRS grading of seven fields fundus photographs. The presence and severity of DR were analyzed for possible correlations to non-genetic and genetic dispositions., Results: A total of 1438 participants with data available for analysis, the prevalence of any DR was 35.4%. The prevalence of mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), moderate NPDR, severe NPDR, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy was 27.7%, 2.6%, 0.5% and 4.5%, respectively. By multiple logistic regression analysis, risk factors for the presence of any DR included male ( P =0.031), lower income level ( P =0.011), lower education background ( P =0.022), longer duration of diabetes ( P =0.001), younger age at diabetic onset ( P =0.001), higher systolic blood pressure ( P =0.007), higher glycosylated hemoglobin A1c levels ( P =0.001), high albuminuria ( P =0.03), and use of insulin ( P <0.001). For vision-threatening DR, four factors were significant: younger age at diabetic onset ( P <0.001), higher systolic blood pressure ( P =0.042), high albuminuria ( P <0.001), and use of insulin ( P <0.001)., Conclusion: The BDDES is the first large-scale ongoing cohort study of a Chinese urban population of persons with type 2 diabetes. Using standardized grading system comparable to large cohort studies from western populations, our baseline data shows that the prevalence of DR and major risk factors in this Chinese ethnic population are comparable to that found in the western population studies.

This study focuses on the protective effect of germacrone on human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) damaged by H2O2-induced oxidative stress and its possible mechanisms. The oxidative damage model was established by using 500 μmol•L⁻¹ H2O2 to treat HUVECs for 3 hours, and then protected with different concentrations of germacrone for 24 hours. The effect of germacrone on cell viability of HUVECs damaged by H2O2 was detected by MTT. The contents of PGI2, TXB2, ET-1, t-PA, PAI-1, TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by ELISA. The content of NO was detected by using nitrate reductase method. Colorimetry was used to detect NOS and GSH-Px. The contents of MDA, SOD and LDH were detected by TBA, WST-1 and microplate respectively. Apoptosis was observed by Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining. The mRNA expressions of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 in cells were detected by RT-PCR. The results showed that the cell damage rate was 52% after treated with 500 μmol•L⁻¹ H2O2 for 3 hours. The cell activity was increasing with the rise of germacrone concentration within the range of 20-200 mol•L⁻¹. Compared with normal group, the contents of PGI2, NO, T-NOS, t-PA, SOD, GSH-Px and Bcl-2 mRNA expressions were lower after damaged with H2O2. The contents of PAI-1, ET-1, IL-6, TNF-α, TXB2, LDH, MDA, Bax mRNA and Caspase-3 mRNA expressions were increased. Compared with model group, the contents of PGI2, NO, T-NOS, t-PA, SOD, GSH-Px and Bcl-2 mRNA expressions were increased after treated with germacrone. The contents of PAI-1, ET-1, IL-6, TNF-α, TXB2, LDH, MDA, Bax mRNA and Caspase-3 mRNA expressions were lower after treated with germacrone. According to Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining, compared with normal group, the cell membrane and the nucleus showed strong dense blue fluorescence, and the number of cells significantly decreased in model group. Compared with model group, blue fluorescence intensity decreased in drug group. The above findings demonstrate that germacrone may improve the effect on HUVECs damaged by H2O2-induced oxidative stress by resisting oxidation and inhibiting cell apoptosis., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

Aim: To assess the correlation between choroidal thickness (CT) and the early stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetic patients., Methods: We divided 83 diabetic patients (51-80 years of age; 50 females) into non diabetic retinopathy group (NDR) and mild/moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) group, and compared them with 26 non-diabetic control subjects (51-78 years of age; 16 females). Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and parafoveal choroidal thickness (PFCT) were measured using enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Ocular health status, disease duration, body mass index, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were recorded., Results: The mean ages of the NDR, NPDR, and control groups were 68.0±6.9y, 67.8±6.4y, and 65.1±6.3y, respectively ( P =0.17). Pearson correlation of the right and left eyes for the control subjects was 0.95 and for the NDR subjects was 0.93. SFCT for the right eyes of the controls was 252.77± 41.10 µm, which was significantly thicker than that of the right eyes in NDR group (221.51±46.56 µm) and the worse eyes of the NPDR group (207.18±61.87 µm; ANOVA, P <0.01). In the diabetic patients pooled together, age was the only variable significantly associated with SFCT (multiple linear regression analysis, P =0.01)., Conclusion: CT decreased significantly in the NDR and mild/moderate NPDR eyes compared with the control eyes. Age is significantly associated with SFCT in the diabetic patients. Diabetic choroidopathy may be present before clinical retinopathy.

Aim: To detect the association between macular pigment optical density (MPOD), which reflects the antioxidant ability of retina, and diabetic retinopathy (DR) and to investigate the correlated factors of MPOD., Methods: Totally 435 subjects of urban Chinese were recruited to the study and divided into 3 groups: non-diabetes mellitus controls (NDM), diabetic patients without retinopathy (DWR), and patients with early stage of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR). Demographic and lifestyle characteristics were ascertained by questionnaire. A food-frequency questionnaire, general physical and ophthalmic examinations were completed for all participants. MPOD was measured by heterochromatic flicker photometry. Foveal thickness was measured by optical coherence tomography. The difference of MPOD among 3 groups was analyzed by analysis of covariance. The correlation analyses of MPOD with the candidate influence factors were assessed using the generalized estimating equations (GEE) model., Results: Of the 435 participants, 34 could not perform the MPOD measurements. Final analysis included 401 subjects, including 48 were in DR group, 134 in DWR group, and 219 in NDM group. MPOD was not significantly different among DR (0.49±0.21), DWR (0.45±0.21), and NDM (0.49±0.17) groups ( P =0.24) after adjustment for fasting plasma glycemia, central foveal thickness, green vegetables, Chinese wolfberry, carotene and vitamin E. For all the 401 participants included, MPOD was positively associated with central foveal thickness (E=0.0007, P =0.001), Chinese wolfberry (E=0.0345, P =0.01), and green vegetables (E=0.0596, P <0.001) intake., Conclusion: The data suggest that MPOD level is not statistically significantly influenced by the onset of diabetes or early stage of DR in the studied population. MPOD level is positively associated with thicker central foveal thickness and higher intake of foods containing carotenoids.

Aim: To investigate the pattern of diurnal variations of choroidal thickness of macular region of healthyindividuals., Methods: A prospective study of 32 healthy female subjects was conducted. Each subject underwent 1) a questionnaire on daily schedule, 2) the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire (PSQI), and 3) ocular examinations including an eye dominance test, fundus photography, and sequential optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, on two separate days at five fixed 3h time intervals. Choroidal thickness was measured by two masked graders., Results: A significant diurnal variation of choriodal thickness at fovea (P<0.001), at 500 µm nasal (P<0.001), temporal to fovea (P=0.01) or 1500 µm nasal to fovea (P=0.001) was observed. The median choroidal thickness peaked at 11:00 at fovea (P=0.01), at 500 µm nasal (P=0.009) and temporal (P=0.03) to fovea. The median amplitude of foveal choroidal thickness was 20.5 µm (13, 31) and 20.0 µm (12.5, 28.2) for the first and second series of measurements, respectively. The greater amplitude of foveal choroidal thickness was associated with thickner initial foveal choroidal thickness [0.05 (0.03, 0.08), P=0.01], dominant eye [10.51 (4.02, 14.60), P=0.04] in the multivariate linear regression., Conclusion: Our data show a significant diurnal variation of the choroidal thickness at fovea, at 500 µm nasal and temporal to fovea and 1500 µm nasal to fovea. Thicker initial foveal choroidal thickness and being dominant eye may influence the amplitude of foveal choroidal thickness.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a cohort of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Methods: Community-based observational cohort study. There were 1131 participants recruited from November 2009 to September 2011 in Desheng community in urban Beijing. Patients diagnosed T2DM were recruited and underwent a standardized evaluation consisting of a questionnaire, ocular and anthropometric examinations and laboratory investigation. The presence and severity of DR were assessed by seven fields 30° color fundus photographs. Subjects were then classified into groups with no DR, any DR, or vision-threatening DR. CRP was analyzed from serum of study subjects., Results: A total of 1007 patients with T2DM were included for analysis, including 408 (40.5%) men and 599 (59.5%) women. The median CRP level was 1.5 mg/L for women and 1.1 mg/L for men (P=0.004, OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.18-0.74). After adjusting for possible covariates, higher levels of CRP were associated with lower prevalence of any DR (P=0.02, OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.35-0.89), but not associated with vision-threatening DR (P=0.62, OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.28-2.14). After stratification by sex, the inverse association between CRP and DR was found to be statistically significant in men (P=0.006, OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.16-0.73), but not in women (P=0.58, OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.29-1.16)., Conclusion: The data drawn from a Chinese population with T2DM suggest that increasing CRP levels may be inversely associated with development of DR.

Aim: To measure the macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in healthy Chinese people and patients with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD)., Methods: Cross-sectional population based study. Demographic and lifestyle characteristics were ascertained by questionnaire. A food frequency questionnaire was completed for all participants. Participants underwent general physical and ophthalmic examinations and MPOD was measured by heterochromatic flicker photometry. Foveal architecture was measured by optical coherence tomography., Results: MPOD of 225 participants (122 healthy and 103 early AMD) was 0.48±0.18. Patients with early AMD (0.52±0.19) tended to have higher MPOD levels than healthy people (0.47±0.17), but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.06). Participants with carrot or corn oil intake every week tended to have higher levels of MPOD (P=0.002 and 0.008 respectively) while those with corn intake had relatively lower level of MPOD (P=0.01). MPOD increased with the center foveal thickness (P=0.01)., Conclusion: Our findings show that there is no statistically significant association between MPOD and early AMD in the studied population. MPOD is related to center foveal thickness and diets would influence MPOD levels.

Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XFZYD) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China over one hundred years. But its effect on antioxidant and drug-metabolizing enzymes are unknown. This study was to observe the effects of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XFZYD) on the activities of antioxidant and drug metabolism enzymes (DMEs) in liver of rats. Male SD rats, treated with XFZYD at the dosage of 3.51, 7.02 and 14.04 g x kg(-1) per day for 15 days, serum were collected, tissue fluid, cytosols and microsomes isolated from liver tissues were prepared by centrifugation according to the standard procedure, the activities of antioxidant enzymes and drug-Metabolizing Enzymes were determined by UV-V is spectrophotometer. In serum, the activities of AST was not significantly affected by the treatment with XFZYD, at the high- est dose, the levels of ALT, Cr and BUN were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). GPX were significantly increased at the dose of 7.02, 14.04 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05), CAT were significantly increased at the highest dose (P < 0.05). T-SOD was not significantly af- fected by this treatment. In the liver tissue, GPX was significantly increased at the dose of 3.51, 7.02 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05), GST, CAT and T-SOD were not significantly affected following this treatment. In cytosols, GST was significantly increased at the dose of 3.51 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05), T-SOD was remarkable induced at the dose of 3.51 and 7.02 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05). In microsomes, XFZYD had no significant effect on Cytochromeb5, NADPH-Cytochrome P450 reductase, CYP3A, CYP2E1 and UGT, XFZYD significantly in- duced GST at the dose of 3.51 and 7.02 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05), and the level of GSH were significantly increased by XFZYD at the dose of 3.51, 7.02 and 14.04 g kg(-1) (P < 0.05). These findings suggest XFZYD can induce the activities of GPX, CAT, SOD, GST and increase GSH level in liver of rats, which indicate XFZYD may have detoxification and antioxidant functions.

Objective: To investigate the association of diabetic self-management with the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus., Methods: Cross-sectional study. Recruited patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Desheng community of urban Beijing between November 2009 and May 2011. All patients were surveyed using a standardized questionnaire and underwent detailed ophthalmic examination. Patients were classified into DR group or diabetic without retinopathy (DWR) group according to the grading of fundus color photographs using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) standard grading protocol. In the DR group, proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) was further defined. The overall levels of diabetes self-management in the study population were assessed and compared for the differences between DR and DWR, PDR and NPDR groups., Results: One thousand one hundred patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited. The prevalence of DR was 32.1% (353/1100) in the study population. Sixty-three percent (652/1035) of patients had glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level less than 7.0%. The majority of patients (85.4%, 916/1072) conducted a diet control, 77.3% (827/1070) exercised, 56.0% (609/1088) monitored blood glucose regularly, 56.8% (416/733) detected HbA1c more than once every six months, 71.7% (762/1062) had ophthalmologic examination after the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and 47.9% (525/1097) had mydriatic check-up. Increased risk of DR was associated with longer duration of diabetes (more than 10 years) (OR = 3.90, 95% CI:2.97-5.51, P < 0.05), higher HbA1c level of ≥ 7.0% (OR = 3.23, 95% CI:2.44-4.28, P < 0.05), insulin therapy (OR = 4.82, 95% CI:3.55-6.57, P < 0.05), male gender (OR = 1.41, 95% CI:1.08-1.84, P < 0.05), lower level of education (OR = 1.90, 95% CI:1.39-2.62, P < 0.05), lower monthly income (OR = 1.46, 95% CI:1.12-1.91, P < 0.05), lower obedience to diet control (OR = 1.72, 95% CI:1.22-2.43, P < 0.05), no exercise (OR = 1.42, 95% CI:1.04-1.94, P < 0.05), change of therapeutic protocol during the last five years (OR = 1.78, 95% CI:1.32-2.41, P < 0.05), and family history of diabetes (OR = 1.35, 95% CI:1.01-1.78, P < 0.05). Increased risk of PDR was associated with the diagnosis age of diabetes (OR = 0.92, 95% CI:0.89-0.95, P < 0.05), longer duration of diabetes (more than 10 years) (OR = 4.54, 95% CI:1.95-12.32, P < 0.05), and insulin therapy (OR = 4.85, 95% CI:2.34-10.90, P < 0.05). In the multifactor logistic regression model, male gender (OR = 2.21, 95% CI:1.57-3.11, P < 0.05), lower level of education (OR = 1.98, 95% CI:1.33-2.94, P < 0.05), lower monthly income (OR = 1.66, 95% CI:1.15-2.39, P < 0.05) ,longer duration of diabetes (more than 10 years) (OR = 2.46, 95% CI:1.77-3.41, P < 0.05) ,HbA1c ≥ 7.0% (OR = 2.24, 95% CI:1.64-3.07, P < 0.05) and insulin therapy (OR = 3.38, 95% CI:2.38-4.8, P < 0.05) were associated with higher risk of DR. The diagnosis age of diabetes (OR = 0.94, 95% CI:0.91-0.98, P < 0.05) and insulin therapy (OR = 3.49, 95% CI:1.47-8.27, P < 0.05) were associated with PDR., Conclusion: Higher risk of DR is associated with longer duration of diabetes,insulin therapy, higher HbA1c level, male gender, and lower level of education, whereas higher risk of DR is also associated with lower obedience to diet control and less exercise, which suggest that lower level of diabetic self-management increased the risk of DR.

Objective: To investigate the association of three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the upstream of the complement factor I (CFI) gene with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Chinese population., Methods: Case-control study. Patients with early or late stages of AMD and healthy control subjects were recruited. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral venous blood. Genotyping for SNP rs10033900: T > C, rs13117504: C > G and rs2285714: C > T in the upstream of the CFI gene was determined by using a method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction enzyme digestion and direct sequencing. Statistical analysis was performed using the R statistical analysis package., Results: A total of three hundreds and seventy nine participants were enrolled in the study, including 119 patients with exudative AMD, 120 patients with early AMD and 140 control individuals without AMD. Frequency of the minor allele C of rs10033900 in exudative AMD, early AMD and control groups were 17.4% (40/230), 22.5% (54/240) and 29.3% (82/280), respectively. Significant association of rs10033900 was detected with exudative AMD (χ(2) = 9.82, P = 0.002, OR = 0.57, 95%CI: 0.36 - 0.88), but not with early AMD (χ(2) = 3.08, P = 0.079). Frequency of the minor allele G of rs13117504 in exudative AMD, early AMD and control groups were 38.6% (91/236), 54.2% (130/240) and 51.8% (145/280), respectively. Significant association of rs13117504 was detected with exudative AMD (χ(2) = 9.03, P = 0.003, OR = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.39 - 0.82), but not with early AMD (χ(2) = 0.29, P = 0.59). No association was detected between rs2285714 and exudative AMD (χ(2) = 0.72, P = 0.31) or between rs2285714 and early AMD (χ(2) = 2.30, P = 0.13)., Conclusion: The minor allele of rs10033900 and rs13117504 in the CFI gene may have a protective role against the risk of exudative AMD.

Objective: To investigate the association between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene locus rs1799752 insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus., Methods: Case-control study. Type 2 diabetes patients were recruited and assigned into DR group, which included proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) group or diabetes without retinopathy (DWR) group. Volunteers without diabetes from the same community were recruited as the control group. PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis methods were adopted to determine the rs1799752 I/D polymorphism genotypes of the ACE gene. The frequency of genotypes and alleles was compared among the various groups., Results: Four hundred and twelve diabetes patients: (207 subjects of DR, including 53 subjects of PDR and 205 subjects of DWR) and 97 non-diabetic control subjects were included in the study. The frequencies of the I and D alleles of ACE rs1799752 polymorphism were 54.1% and 45.9%, respectively, in the DR group, 52.8% and 47.2% in the PDR group, and 48.0% and 52.0% in the DWR group. There were no statistical differences between DR and DWR groups (χ(2) = 3.02, P > 0.05) or between PDR and DWR groups (χ(2) = 0.77, P > 0.05). Moreover, there were no statistical differences in the distribution of the ACE genotypes between DR group (II 25.1%, ID 58.0%, DD 16.9%) and DWR group (II 22.0%, ID 52.2%, DD 25.9%) (χ(2) = 4.92, P > 0.05) or between PDR group (II 20.7%, ID 64.2%, DD 15.1%) and DWR group (χ(2) = 3.19, P > 0.05). No statistical differences were found in the frequencies of the I and D alleles, and the distributions of I/D genotypes between diabetic group and the control group (χ(2) = 0.25, 4.98; P > 0.05). In the multiple regressions model including clinical factors such as the age of onset of diabetes, urinary albumin, insulin usage, creatinine, glycated hemoglobin, fast glucose, and the use of ACE inhibitor, no association was found between ACE gene polymorphism and DR (OR = 0.80, 95%CI: 0.59 - 1.09) or PDR (OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 0.78 - 1.93)., Conclusion: There is no association between ACE rs1799752 gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and DR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To study the inhibitory effect of total saponins of the root and rhizome of Panax notoginseng (PNS) on drug metabolism enzyme CYP3A in rat livers and its kinetic analysis., Method: Microsome enzyme was prepared by differential velocity centrifugation. Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum velocity (Vmax) of CYP3A, 50% inhibitory concentration of PNS on CYP3A, and the inhibition type and the inhibition constant of CYP3A (Ki, Kis) of PNS on CYP3A were calculated by Lineweaver-Burk and the low of semi-effect-probit., Result: Total saponins of the root and rhizome of panax notoginseng inhibited CYP3A activity, with IC50 of 689.54 mg x L(-1). Compared with the substrate aminopyrine, CYP3A showed Km of 0.036 mmol x L(-1) and Vmax of 21.01 micromol min(-1) x g(-1). Total saponins of the root and rhizome of panax notoginseng showed a mixed inhibition on CYP3A, with the inhibition constants of 247.79 mg x L(-1) (Ki) and 321.79 mg x L(-1) (Kis)., Conclusion: Total saponins of the root and rhizome of panax notoginseng have a significant effect on CYP3A activity in rat livers.

Aim: To compare the efficacies of one-day quadruple therapy and seven-day triple therapy in Chinese patients., Methods: Sixty consecutive patients with nonulcer dyspepsia and confirmed H pylori infection were randomized to receive either omeprazole 40 mg, amoxycillin 1 g, and furazolidone 100 mg, all twice a day for 7 d or omeprazole 20 mg (at breakfast and dinner), amoxicillin 1 g, furazolidone 200 mg, and colloidal bismuth subcitrate 220 mg four times for only one day. H pylori status was determined before and at least 5 weeks after therapy by endoscopy with antral and corpus biopsies for rapid urease test and histology., Results: H pylori eradication was successful in 66.67% (20/30) patients in the 7-d group and in 36.67% (11/30) patients in the 1-d group (P = 0.037). Side effects were induced by the treatment in 13.3% (4/30) patients of each group, but these were all self-limiting, short-lasting, and did not require any specific treatment., Conclusion: The one-day quadruple therapy is less effective than the one-week regimen in curing H pylori infection in Chinese patients.

Objective: To observe the effects of ginkgolides on gene expression of hepatic cytochrome P-450 in rats., Method: Sprague-Dawley rats were administered ginkgolides (100 mg x kg(-1) body weight) through oral gavage once daily for four consecutive days. The level of gene expression in liver tissues was analyzed by competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (competitive RT-PCR)., Result: A single and prospective band of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2B1/B2, CYP2C11, CYP2E1, CYP4A1 and cyclophilin was observed after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) when the reactive system of reverse transcription (RT) had no target RNA, which confirmed the competitor had a specific capacity to bind to the CYP or cyclophilin primer. CYP1A1 mRNA was not dectectable in the livers of untreated control rats and ginkgolides-treated rats. The levels of CYP2C11 and CYP2E1 were not changed by ginkgolides treatment. In contrast, the levels of gene expression for CYP1A2 and CYP2B1/B2 were decreased, however, the levels of gene expression for CYP3A1 and CYP4A1 in ginkgolides group were distinctly increased compared with the control., Conclusion: A specific effect of ginkgolides on cytochrome P-450 gene expression was observed in this investigation. Ginkgolides had various effects on different cytochrome P-450 isoforms.

Aim: To investigate the effects of scutellarin (Scu) on liver function after brain ischemia/reperfusion in Wistar rats., Methods: Rats were pretreated with Scu for 7 d and then subjected to a brain ischemia/reperfusion injury induced by a middle cerebral artery occlusion. The levels of nitric oxide (NO), xanthine oxidase (XOD), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum or liver tissues and the activities of antioxidant enzymes and cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases (CYPs) in liver tissues after brain ischemia/reperfusion were determined., Results: In vehicle-treated rats, XOD, ALT, and AST activities (P<0.01) in serum and the MDA level (P<0.05) in liver tissues were all elevated but were significantly reduced (P<0.05) by Scu pretreatment. The NO levels in serum and liver tissues were decreased (P<0.01) dramatically in vehicle-treated rats and returned to the levels in the sham-operated animals when pretreated with Scu. SOD (P<0.05) and GSH-PX (P<0.01) activities in cytosol fraction were increased significantly by Scu pretreatment. Furthermore, a loss of CYP3A activity (P<0.01), but no changes of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP2E1 activities in liver were observed after brain ischemia/reperfusion in rats. Scu had no effect on them., Conclusion: These results demonstrated that pretreatment with Scu could attenuate hepatocellular damage elicited by brain ischemia/reperfusion in rats and this protection is in major part by its antioxidant activity.

Aim: To investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) and tanshinone (Tan) on cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes and glutathione transferase (GT) in rats., Methods: Several CYP-dependent reactions were monitored in liver and kidney microsomes of male rats treated ig with GbE and Tan daily for 10 d. The activity of GT, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in the tissues were also determined., Results: CYP1A1, 1A2, and 2B1 activities in the liver were all significantly increased (2-9.5 fold) by pretreatment with GbE or Tan (P<0.01). An induction (1.4 fold) of CYP 2E1 activity was observed at the higher dose of GbE treatment (P<0.01), but a reduction (1.9 fold) after Tan administration (P<0.01). Whereas GbE could induce CYP3A (1.6 fold) (P<0.01) but Tan had no effects. Furthermore, the activities of CYP 1A1 (5.6-8.9 fold) and 1A2 (2.6 fold) in the kidney were induced by GbE (P<0.01). The activity of GT in rat liver receiving Tan was significantly increased (P<0.05) and a dramatic reduction in the activity of GT in the kidney was observed in the GbE-treated group (P<0.01). In addition, the GbE treatment markedly decreased the levels of MDA and NO in the tissues of rats (P<0.01)., Conclusion: The modulation of CYP isozymes by GbE and Tan may result in altered metabolism of coadministered drugs. In addition, GbE is an active antioxidant and nitric oxide inhibitor in vivo.

Aim: To investigate whether poly (oleic/linoleic acid dimer: sebacic acid)-getamicin [Poly(OAD/LOAD:SA)-gentamicin] delivery system was useful to treat chronic osteomyelitis., Methods: Drug delivery system consisted of gentamicin sufate dispersed in a copolymer containing oleic/linoleic acid dimer (OAD/LOAD) and sebacic acid (SA) in a 1:1 weight ratio. The gentamicin release from [Poly(OAD/LOAD:SA)-gentamicin] was tested in water, 0.9 % saline, and phosphate buffer 0.1 mol/L., Results: The gentamicin concentration peak was found on d 2, then slowly decreased, considerable amount of gentamicin was still released on d 50. From d 2 to d 50, the gentamicin concentration in the releasing fluids was from 59 to 42128-fold and 1.8 to 1314-fold of the MIC for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were strongly inhibited by the releasing fluids for 50 d. The gentamicin release and anti-bacterial activity in the three media were similar, only in 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer, from d 2 to d 14 it was lower., Conclusion: Poly(OAD/LOAD:SA)-gentamicin was useful to treat chronic osteomyelitis.

Objective: To review the effects of the active components of Chinese herbs on drug metabolizing-enzymes., Method: Relevant research papers reported in recent years were consulted and studied., Result: The drug metabolizing-enzymes cytochrome P450 and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase and glutathione S-transferase were inhibited or induced by the flavonoids, furocoumarins, and the active components extracted from salvia miltiorrhiza and hypericum perforatum, and so on, which therefore slowed or sped metabolism of other drugs in vivo and in vitro., Conclusion: Much attention should be paid to the metabolic interaction of the Chinese herbs when coadministered with other drugs.