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Aim: Acute administration of methylene blue (MB) can reverse hypoxemia in patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS). We evaluated the effect of chronic MB administration in common bile duct-ligated rats, which develop HPS by 5 weeks after surgery. Methods: A total of 96 Sprague–Dawley rats were used, including 63 rats with common bile duct ligation (CBDL), 22 sham-operated rats and 11 normal control rats. MB (6 mg/kg) was injected s.c. once a day for 4 weeks. Evaluation of hemodynamics and intrapulmonary vascular dilatation (IPVD), as well as blood sampling for arterial blood gas analysis, were done under conscious and unrestrained conditions. Hemodynamics were assessed by the reference sample method using 141Ce-microspheres (15 µm in diameter), and IPVD was also determined by i.v. injection of these microspheres. Histological examination of the lungs was done with hematoxylin–eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining for von Willebrand factor or vascular endothelial growth factor. Results: Both the arterial oxygen tension and alveolar–arterial oxygen difference were significantly improved in MB-treated CBDL rats. The hyperdynamic circulation and splanchnic hyperemia seen in untreated CBDL rats were also alleviated by MB treatment. However, IPVD was not affected by MB. Histological examination of the lungs indicated that MB treatment reduced the proliferation of alveolar capillary vessels and angiogenesis, leading to improvement of arterial dysoxygenation. Hepatic synthetic and detoxification functions, as well as renal function, were not altered by MB treatment. Conclusion: Methylene blue may be a candidate treatment for HPS that does not cause deterioration of hepatic or renal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetylcholinesterase is indispensable for terminating acetylcholine-mediated neurotransmission at cholinergic synapses. In addition, there is evidence to suggest that acetylcholinesterase contributes to various physiological processes through its involvement in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. The effects of acetylcholinesterase depend on the cell type and cell-differentiation state, the modulation of expression levels, cellular distribution and binding with its protein partners. This minireview highlights recent progress that has advanced our understanding of the role of acetylcholinesterase in the process of cell proliferation and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Besides its role in terminating acetylcholine-mediated neurotransmission, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is found to be expressed and participate in the process of apoptosis in various cell types. However, the mechanisms underlying AChE up-regulation in neuronal cells remain elusive. Herein we demonstrated that glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) mediates induced AChE-S expression during apoptosis. In this study, A23187 and thapsigargin (TG) were employed to induce apoptosis in neuroendocrine PC12 cells. The results showed that exposure of PC12 cells to A23187 and TG up-regulated AChE activity significantly. The same treatment also led to activation of GSK3β. Two different inhibitors of GSK3β (lithium and GSK3β-specific inhibitor VIII) could block A23187- or TG-induced up-regulation of AChE activity, AChE-S mRNA level and protein expression. However, lithium could not inhibit the induction of AChE-R mRNA and protein under similar conditions. Taken together, our results show that GSK3β is specifically involved in the induction of AChE-S expression in PC12 cells during apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the clinical and epidemiologic profile of childhood alopecia areata, we performed a survey in which a total of 226 childhood patients less than 16 years old were enrolled. Statistical analysis and heritability were performed using EPI INFO 6.0, SPSS10.0, and the Falconer method. The median age of onset was 10 years. The majority of patients (84.96%) presented with limited alopecia. The male : female ratio was 1.4:1. Boys appeared to have more severe involvement. The earlier the age of onset, the greater the severity of the disease. Sixty-seven patients (29.65%) had previous episodes of alopecia areata. Greater severity and longer duration were seen in the relapsing patients than in the primary patients. Six patients (2.65%) had an associated disease. A positive family history was reported in 25 patients (11.06%). The prevalence figures for alopecia areata in first-, second-, and third-degree relatives of the probands were 2.87%, 0.40%, and 0.13%, respectively. The heritabilities of AA in first-, second-, and third-degree relatives were 51.20%, 46.25%, and 25.65%, respectively. It can be speculated that the effect of genetic factors is important in the occurrence of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentary disorder of the skin and hair which results from selective destruction of melanocytes. Serological typing and genotyping of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) have shown discrepancies in HLA associations with vitiligo in different ethnic populations. Methods Polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) method was used to analyze the distribution of HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 alleles among 187 patients with vitiligo and 273 healthy controls through Epi Info version 6 package (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA). Results The frequencies of HLA-DQA1*0302 (OR = 1.98, Pc < 0.01), -DQB1*0303 (OR = 3.14, Pc < 0.001), and -DQB1*0503 (OR = 3.36, Pc < 0.05) alleles were significantly increased in patients with vitiligo compared with controls, and HLA-DQA1*0501 (OR = 0.40, Pc < 0.01) allele frequency was highly decreased. HLA-DQA1*0302 (OR = 5.19, Pc < 0.001), -DQA1*0601 (OR = 2.95, Pc < 0.05), -DQB1*0303 (OR = 4.50, Pc < 0.001), and -DQB1*0503 (OR = 6.69, Pc < 0.001) alleles were positively associated, whereas HLA-DQA1*0501 (OR = 0.05, Pc < 0.001) allele was negatively associated with childhood vitiligo patients, and HLA-DQB1*0303 (OR = 2.76, Pc < 0.001) allele was positively associated with adult vitiligo patients compared with controls. The frequency of HLA-DQB1*0303 (OR = 3.72, Pc < 0.001) allele was significantly increased in localized vitiligo patients vs. controls, whereas HLA-DQA1*0302 (OR = 2.47, Pc < 0.01), -DQB1*0303 (OR = 2.67, Pc < 0.01), and -DQB1*0503 (OR = 4.46, Pc < 0.01) allele frequencies were significantly increased and -DQA1*0501 (OR = 0.27, Pc < 0.01) allele frequency was highly decreased in generalized vitiligo patients. Conclusions HLA-DQA1*0302, -DQA1*0601, -DQB1*0303, and -DQB1*0503 alleles could be susceptible alleles of vitiligo, while HLA-DQA1*0501 allele could be a protective allele in Chinese Hans. There may be different genetic backgrounds between vitiligo patients of childhood and adult, localized and generalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of the Kv1.3 K+ channel on the pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The expression of the Kv1.3 K+ channel in prostatic epithelia was detected using streptavidin/peroxidase immunohistochemistry in tissue samples from 75 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, including 42 with and 33 without chronic inflammation. All of the men were sampled in our hospital between January 2000 and December 2003. RESULTS There was strong and moderate immunostaining in 14 of the prostatic epithelial specimens with inflammation and in 21 from patients without inflammation, compared to 28 and 12 with low staining, respectively (chi-squared, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The expression of the Kv1.3 K+channel was lower in prostatic epithelial cells from patients with chronic inflammation than from those without. Opening the Kv1.3 K+ channel could promote the efflux of K+ from the cells, causing an increase in [K+] in the prostate cavity. The increase in [K+] can then infiltrate the stroma through the epithelial gap, exciting the nerve fibres and causing pain and other clinical symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess possible causes, clinical symptoms and improvements in treatment for chronic prostatitis in China. The study comprised 3000 patients with chronic prostatitis (aged 20–59 years), selected from urological clinics at province, city and county levels in Anhui (a province in mid-eastern China). Anonymous questionnaires were distributed which included 29 items to ascertain patient age, height, weight, educational background, personality, career, disease course, treatment status, prostatic fluid test and score of the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). In all, 2498 valid questionnaires were collected (response rate 83.3%); 78.2% of the patients were aged <40 years and there were fewer patients in groups of increasing age. Discomfort and pain in the pelvis was reported by 52.3%, pain on urination by 23.0%, sexual discomfort by 21.8%, urinary frequency by 65.8%, and voiding discomfort by 74.4%; 34.9% of men were satisfied with their previous treatment. In China there are fewer patients with chronic prostatitis as age increases. The main symptoms were voiding dysfunction, e.g. frequent urination. The prevalence of pain, e.g. on urination, was significantly less than documented in other parts of the world. Most patients had used antibiotics to treat their prostatitis; generally the effect of treating prostatitis was unsatisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of sexual dysfunction in Chinese men with chronic prostatitis. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 2000 men diagnosed as having chronic prostatitis using the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Index and analysis of expressed prostatic secretions. The survey was designed to elicit information about age, height, weight, occupation and history of disease and treatment. The erectile capacity of the men was assessed using the five-question version of the International Index of Erectile Function. Of the 2000 men with chronic prostatitis selected, 1786 completed the survey; the overall prevalence of sexual dysfunction in these patients was 49%. The prevalence of premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction accounted for 26% and 15%, respectively; 7.7% had both premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction. There was a negative correlation between prevalence and age, and with the duration of chronic prostatitis (both P < 0.001). The prevalence rate of sexual dysfunction in Chinese men with chronic prostatitis is high and related to age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses the identification of two novel mutations in the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene in Chinese patients.