Relationship between serum bilirubin levels and optic neuritis.

BACKGROUND: Bilirubin is the end product of heme catabolism and has strong antioxidant properties. Serum bilirubin levels are reported to be reduced in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO). The pathophysiology of optic neuritis (ON) resembles that of MS; however, the role of endogenous bilirubin in ON is unclear. The aim of this study is to measure serum bilirubin levels in patients with ON, and to investigate the correlation between ON and serum antioxidant status of bilirubin. METHODS: Serum levels of bilirubin were measured in 42 patients with ON, 50 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 48 patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and 48 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Serum total bilirubin (Tbil), direct bilirubin (Dbil) and indirect bilirubin (Ibil) levels in patients with ON were significantly lower than those in the healthy controls. However, no statistical significance was found between levels in the ON and MS, ON and NMO, and MS and NMO groups. In patients with ON, serum Tbil, Dbil, and Ibil levels were lower in those with recurrence or those with ON for a longer duration (≥ 1 year). Moreover, Tbil, Dbil, and Ibil concentrations were lower in patients with papillitis than in those with retrobulbar type ON, but the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Low antioxidant status may exist in patients with ON. But serum levels of Tbil, Dbil, and Ibil did not correlate with clinical presentations, such as recurrence, duration of disease and subtypes of ON. Low antioxidant status already existed in MS or NMO patients before systemic symptoms appeared.

[Broad-area vertical cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers].

Based on the broad-area vertical cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers (VCSOA) of 970 nm, the amplifier gain and bandwidth characteristics were experimentally investigated and analyzed in the reflection mode. For 970 nm broad-area VCSOA operated in reflective mode, the maximum gain amplification of 24.8 dB and optical bandwidth of 0.14 nm (25 GHz) were reached when the injection current was 57% of threshold current and the signal input power was 0.7 W. The experimental gain value was larger than the theoretical value, due to many modes existing in VCSOA. Each mode had relative gain amplification, so the experimental gain value was larger than the theoretical value. This kind of broad-area VCSOA was improved not only in optical gain but also in saturated input power. The authors optimized the structure design of the wide area VCSOA of 970 nm. The simulation results showed that the improvement of the gain and bandwidth of the semiconductor laser could be obtained by appropriately reducing the DBR reflectivity of the emitting laser on the vertical cavity surface.

[Effect of angiotensin II on pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and insulin-like growth factor 1 gene expression in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) on pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) mRNA expressions in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUVSMCs). METHODS: In the presence or absence of Ox-LDL, HUVSMCs were cultured with Ang II of 10(-5) mol/L for 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h, or with Ang II at the concentrations of 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5), and 10(-4) mol/L for 24 h, after which the cells were then collected to detect PAPP-A and IGF-1 mRNA expressions in the cells using RT-PCR. RESULTS: At the concentration of 10(-5) mol/L, Ang II showed a time-dependent effect in inducing PAPP-A and IGF-1 mRNA expressions, which began to increase at 12 h of culture and reaching the highest level at 24 h. Ang II also dose-dependently induced PAPP-A and IGF-1 mRNA expressions, and 10(-5) mol/L Ang II induced the highest expression levels of the two genes. Ox-LDL exposure significantly further increased the expression levels of PAPP-A and IGF-1 mRNA in the cells regardless of the Ang II concentration or duration for cell treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Ang II can time- and dose-dependently induces PAPP-A and IGF-1 mRNA expression in HUVSMCs and is responsible for inducing platelet activity and inflammatory reaction in acute coronary syndromes, and the effects of Ang II can be enhanced by Ox-LDL.

[A cross-sectional investigation on eating disorders in 1486 female students from universities, senior high schools and junior high schools in Chengdu].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of eating disorders and its correlated factors in female students of universities, senior high schools and junior high schools. METHODS: A total of 1486 female students took part in the study. They were sampled by optimum distributing delaminating grouping method, representing the female students in 6 universities and 8 high schools in the 5 urban areas in Chengdu. Participants completed the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), Body Mass Index-based Silhouette Matching Test (BMI-SMT), Self-rating Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory and a self-administered questionnaire in the class time. We performed the t test and logistic regression to analysis the data. RESULTS: The estimated total prevalence of eating disorders in the female students was 3.32%. 17 years old (7.16%) was the easiest age to develop eating disorders while in senior high school (5.21%) showing the highest prevalence rate. There were differences between the eating disorders tendency group and none eating disorders tendency group in cognitive warp (P = 0.009) and expectation warp (P = 0.000) of BMI-SMT. The related factors of eating disorders were: concerning about the idol at media, non-harmonious parental relationships and being abused in childhood, body dissatisfaction factor of EDI, interoceptive awareness factor of EDI and anxiety. CONCLUSION: The total prevalence of female students' eating disorders in Chengdu was high and more attention should be paid to them on their mental health.

[Association of immune response to hepatitis B vaccine with HLA-DRB1*02, 07, 09 genes in the population of Han nationality in Guangdong Province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between immune response to hepatitis B vaccine and HLA-DRB1*02, 07, 09 genes in the population of Han nationality in Guangdong Province. METHODS: A total of 1 400 healthy college students of Han nationality from Guangdong Province were recruited in this study, who received standard courses of vaccination with recombinant hepatitis B virus vaccine at month 0, 1 and 6. Eight weeks after the final vaccination, the serum levels of anti-HBs antibody was examined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Detection of HLA-DRB1*02, 07, 09 alleles were performed with PCR using sequence-specific primers in 118 individuals who failed to produce or produced insufficient antibodies (nonresponders or weak responders), 100 normal responders and 45 strong responders. RESULTS: The frequency of HLA-DRB1*07 in nonresponders or weak responders was significantly higher than that in normal or strong responders (15.25% vs 3.44%, P<0.05), while the frequency of HLA-DRB1*02 was much lower (5.08% vs 17.9%, P<0.05). The frequency of HLA-DRB1*09 showed no obvious difference between the 2 groups (19.49% vs 17.9%, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Failure or deficiency in the response to HBV vaccine is associated with the HLA-DRB1*07 gene, while HLA-DRB1*02 gene is related to the normal vaccination process or overreaction. Definite relation of HLA-DRB1*09 to the response to HBV vaccine is not found.