Diagnostic value of 3D Optical Coherence Tomography Multimode Images in the Diagnosis of Acute Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

BACKGROUND: Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) provides non-invasive, high-speed, high-resolution, three-dimensional cross-section imaging of the macula. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of the multimodal imaging technique of three-dimension (3D) optical coherence tomography (OCT) (3D-OCT) for the diagnosis and characterization of acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). METHODS: In this prospective clinical study 3D-OCT examinations of 82 cases with acute CSC were performed on the macular area, and the image characteristics were analyzed. Our study included a total of 87 eyes from 82 cases of CSC patients, 67 males and 15 females (mean age ± standard deviation (SD): 42.89 ±7.80 years old; age range: 27 to 56 years old. The 3D-OCT images were evaluated for the presence of subretinal fluid, subretinal space, fluctuation of the internal limiting membrane (ILM), folds of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE), retinal pigment epithelium detachment (PED), and flat irregular PED. The foveal thickness was measured using the manual caliper of OCT software. RESULTS: The OCT B-scan images showed 87 (100%) eyes had exudative retinal detachment (ERD), 38 (44%) had flat irregular PED, 36 (41%) had PED, 8 (9%) had subretinal turbidity structure, 2 (2%) had subretinal dot-like precipitates, 1 (1%) had focal choroidal excavation (FCE), and 1 (1%) eye had fluctuation of internal limiting membrane (FI). In the ILM-RPE thickness map, all eyes had a round or round like regular uniform domes. Fifty-seven (66%) domes were limited in the examination area and 30 (44%) domes were beyond the scope of this examination and only a partial section of the dome could be observed. In the en-face image, all eyes had a round or round-like black figure that corresponded with domes in the ILM-RPE thickness map. In RPE surface, 76 (87%) eyes had a shallow plate depression, 71(82%) had small focal uplift, and 1 (1%) eye had a focal concave feature. CONCLUSIONS: In the OCT ILM-RPE thickness, en-face image, and RPE surface maps, acute CSC exhibited specific imaging characteristics that can be helpful for reliable diagnosis and differential diagnosis of CSC.

Qishen Taohong Granule () as Adjuvant Therapy for Improving Cardiac Function and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To confirm the improvement of cardiac function and quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) via Chinese medicine (CM) Qishen Taohong Granule (, QTG).@*METHODS@#This study was a single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Seventy-six patients from 27 to 84 years old diagnosed with CHF New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or III in stage C were enrolled and randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to receive QTG or trimetazidine (TMZ), in addition to their standard medications for the treatment of CHF. The study period was 4 weeks. The primary outcomes included cardiac function evaluated by NYHA classification and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), as well as QOL evaluated by CHF Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Survival Scale (CHFQLS). The secondary outcomes included 6-min walking test (6MWT), CM syndrome score, symptom and sign scores and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). All indices were measured at baseline and the end of the trial.@*RESULTS@#At the 4-week follow-up period, the effective rate according to NYHA classification in the QTG group was better than that in the TMZ group (74.29% vs. 54.29%, P<0.05). But there was no significant difference in post-treatment level of LVEF between the two groups (P>0.05). The CHFQLS scores improved by 13.82±6.04 vs. 7.49±2.28 in the QTG and TMZ groups, respectively (P<0.05). Subgroup analysis of the CHFQLS results showed that physiological function, role limitation and vitality were significantly higher in the QTG group than in the TMZ group (15.76±7.85 vs. 7.40±3.36, P<0.05; 16.00±8.35 vs. 10.53±4.64, P<0.05; 15.31±8.09 vs. 7.89±4.60, P<0.05). Compared with TMZ group, treatment with QTG also demonstrated superior performance with respect to 6MWT, CM syndrome, shortness of breath, fatigue, gasping, general edema and NT-proBNP level. No significant adverse reactions or adverse cardiac events occurred during treatment in either group.@*CONCLUSION@#In addition to conventional treatments, the use of QTG as an adjuvant therapy significantly improved cardiac function and QOL in patients with CHF class II or III in stage C. [Registration No. ChiCTR1900022036 (retrospectively registered)].

The protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein suppresses hypoxia-induced atrial natriuretic peptide secretion mediated by the PI3K/Akt-HIF-1α pathway in isolated beating rat atria.

Genistein, an isoflavonoid that can inhibit protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) phosphorylation, has been shown to play pivotal roles in the signal transduction pathways of hypoxic disorders. In this study, we established a rat model of isolated beating atrium and investigated the regulator role of genistein and its downstream signaling pathways in acute hypoxia-induced atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion. Radioimmunoassay was used to detect the ANP content in the atrial perfusates. Western blot analysis was used to determine the protein level of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), and GATA4 in the atrial tissue. The results showed that acute hypoxia substantially promoted ANP secretion, whereas this effect was partly attenuated by the PTKs inhibitor genistein (3 µM). By Western blotting analysis, we found that hypoxia-induced increase in phosphorylation of Akt and transcriptional factors, including HIF-1α, were also reversed by genistein. The perfused HIF-1α inhibitors rotenone (0.5 µM) or CAY10585 (10 µM) plus genistein significantly abolished the enhanced ANP section induced by hypoxia. Additionally, the perfused PI3K/Akt agonist insulin-like growth factor 1 (30 µM) also abolished ANP secretion induced by genistein and inhibited expression of HIF-1α. In summary, our data suggested that acute hypoxia markedly increased ANP secretion by PTKs through the phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/HIF-1α dependent pathway.

Progress in understanding hepatic fibrosis and renal fibrosis based on the gut-liver-kidney axis / 药学学报

Fibrosis is a pathological process of abnormal hyperplasia and excessive deposition of extracellular matrix during the process of repair after tissue and organ damage. Injury/inflammation caused by variously chronic diseases is a major trigger for fibrogenesis. Fibrosis of the liver and kidney is a common organ fibrosis. Recently, the intestinal microbiota has been shown to be extensively involved in the development of liver and kidney diseases, which may follow from changes in the intestinal microbial composition and intestinal integrity. This promotes the development of liver and/or kidney fibrosis through endocrine, cell signaling and other pathways. This paper reviews the research progress in understanding liver fibrosis and kidney fibrosis based on the gut-liver-kidney axis, which may be helpful for providing new strategies and theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic and renal fibrosis.

Effect of C21 steroidal glycoside of Cynanchum auriculatum on liver and kidney fibrosis through TLR4 pathway / 中国中药杂志

The liver and kidney fibrosis model was established by thioacetamide(TAA) and unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO) in SD rats. The rats were randomly divided into three groups: model group, low and high-dose groups of C21 steroidal glycosides of Cynanchum auriculatum. Another blank control group was set. Four weeks later, serum was taken to detect the biochemical indexes of liver and kidney function. Urine protein and urine creatinine were detected by kits. Liver and kidney tissue samples were stained with HE and Masson staining, and hydroxyproline content was detected. Western blot was used to detect expressions of fibrotic proteins, inflammatory factors and TLR4 signaling pathways, so as to observe the preventive and therapeutic effects of C21 steroidal glycosides from C. auriculatum on hepatic and renal fibrosis and explore its molecular mechanism. Four weeks later, serum biochemical results showed that liver and kidney functions were seriously damaged, and pathological sections showed that inflammatory cell infiltration, decrease of parenchymal cells, and increase of interstitial fibrosis in liver and kidney tissues. The results showed that low and high doses(150, 300 mg·kg~(-1)) of C21 steroidal glycosides could significantly reduce the collagen deposition and the pathological changes of liver and kidney fibrosis compared with the model group. At the same time, we found that the expression levels of TLR4 and MyD88 signaling pathway proteins were significantly increased in the liver and kidney tissues of the model group, and a large number of NF-κB signaling pathway proteins migrated into the nucleus. On the contrary, the expression levels of TLR4, MyD88 signaling pathway proteins and the nuclear migration of NF-κB were significantly inhibited in the low and high dose groups of C21 steroidal glycosides from C. auriculatum. Therefore, it was speculated that the mechanism of C21 steroidal glycoside for preventive and therapeutic effect on hepatic and renal fibrosis was related to inhibit TLR4/MYD88/NF-κB inflammatory pathway, thus preventing hepatic and renal fibrosis.

Diagnostic Function of 3D Optical Coherence Tomography Images in Diagnosis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease at Acute Uveitis Stage.

BACKGROUND This study analyzed the macular 3D-OCT images of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) in uveitis, explored the characteristics of 3D-OCT images of the macular region of VKH, and assessed which characteristics contribute most to VKH diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS The 3D-OCT examination of 25 cases of VKH was performed on the macular area, and the image characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS Our study included a total of 50 eyes from 25 cases of VKH patients, 10 males and 15 females, aged 17 to 64 years, mean (39.44±11.60) years old. According to OCT B-scan images, 49 (98%) eyes had ERD, 49 (98%) eyes had nerve retinal edema, 36 (72%) eyes had endometrium-like structure (including cysts), 5 (10%) eyes had RPE folds, 35 (70%) eyes had changes in the internal septum, 49 (98%) eyes had RPE monolayer structure outside the ERD region. In ILM-RPE thickness, 49 (98%) eyes had retinal irregular thickening and 31 (62%) eyes had radial stripe changes. In ILM contour figure, 50 eyes (100%) showed exceptional uplift, 5 (10%) eyes had small focal uplift for PED on the RPE surface, and 48 (96%) eyes had wavy ups and downs. CONCLUSIONS In OCT B-scan imaging, the ERT, retinal edema of the retina, and the RPE monolayer structure outside the range are most likely to occur in VKH. The ILM-RPE thickness chart in 3D reconstruction showed irregular thickening of the retina. The ILM contour graph showed abnormal uplift, and RPE surface wavy ups and downs in VKH most likely to occur.

LncRNA-DANCR contributes to lung adenocarcinoma progression by sponging miR-496 to modulate mTOR expression.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as new and important regulators of pathological processes including tumour development. In this study, we demonstrated that differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA (DANCR) was up-regulated in lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) and that the knockdown of DANCR inhibited tumour cell proliferation, migration and invasion and restored cell apoptosis rescued; cotransfection with a miR-496 inhibitor reversed these effects. Luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-496 directly modulated DANCR; additionally, we used RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays to further confirm that the suppression of DANCR by miR-496 was RISC-dependent. Our study also indicated that mTOR was a target of miR-496 and that DANCR could modulate the expression levels of mTOR by working as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA). Furthermore, the knockdown of DANCR reduced tumour volumes in vivo compared with those of the control group. In conclusion, this study showed that DANCR might be an oncogenic lncRNA that regulates mTOR expression through directly binding to miR-496. DANCR may be regarded as a biomarker or therapeutic target for ADC.

Influences of platelet distribution width on the prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer / 国际肿瘤学杂志

Objective To investigate the influences of platelet distribution width (PDW) on the prognosis of nasopharyngeal cancer patients.Methods A total of 186 patients with nasopharyngeal cancer from January 2009 to December 2013 in our hospital were selected.The patients were aged from 48 to 79 years old,with an average age (61.8 +8.2) years old.The age,gender,lung function,liver function,body mass index (BMI),smoking,drinking,histological type and staging of patients were recorded.The patients were followed up after discharge,and the mean follow up period was 28 months (12-36 months).The terminal event was nasopharyngeal cancer related death or the end of follow up.The best threshold of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the overall survival rate of PDW was tested,and the patients were divided into ≥ best threshold group and ＜ best threshold group.The prognostic factors were analyzed by single factor analysis and Cox multiple regression analysis.Results The best threshold of ROC curve for the overall survival rate of PDW was 16.4％.The patients were divided into PDW≥ 16.4％ group and PDW ＜ 16.4％ group.There were no statistically significant differences in age (t =0.712,P =0.478),gender (x2=0.044,P =0.834),BMI (t =0.593,P =0.554),smoking (x2 =0.063,P =0.802),drinking (x2 =0.555,P =0.456),forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC,t =1.711,P =0.089),alanine transaminase (ALT,t =1.756,P =0.081),histological type (x2 =0.259,P =0.879) and staging (Z =2.443,P =0.486) between the two groups.Results of single factor analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in age (x2 =4.611,P =0.032),gender (x2 =3.952,P =0.047),smoking (x2 =5.564,P =0.018),FEV1/FVC (x2 =4.321,P=0.038),staging (x2 =6.021,P =0.014) and PDW (x2 =4.511,P =0.034) between the two groups.Cox risk model of multifactor analysis showed that the elderly (≥60 years,x2 =5.429,P =0.020),male patients (x2 =4.648,P =0.031),smoking (x2 =18.453,P ＜0.001),Ⅲ-Ⅳ staging (x2 =9.612,P =0.002) and PDW ≥ 16.4％ (x2 =6.008,P =0.014) were independent prognostic factors in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer.Conclusion The degree of PDW in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer affects the prognosis of patients,and the patients with PDW ≥ 16.4％ have the better prognosis.

Techniques and methods evaluation on pharmaceutical stability of liposomes / 药学学报

Liposomes as a drug carrier is easy to form aggregation and cause drug leakage in vitro. In addition, the degradation and elimination in vivo happens frequently to reduce its delivery activity. Development and application of liposomes are restricted by the instability. The appropriate techniques and methods are great important in the study of pharmaceutical stability of liposomes. In this paper, the techniques and methods are reviewed on pharmaceutical stability evaluation of liposomes, which was done from physical, chemical and biological stability for the difference in stability of liposomes. The research strategies for establishing the stability evaluation system and improving the value of liposomes have been discussed to make full therapeutic advantage of it.

Progress of application of ionic liquid in extraction and separation of biological samples / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To review the recent application of ionic liquid in extraction and separation of biological samples.

Effect on expression of macrophages ferroportin and ferritin in mouse alveolar macrophages by mycobacterium tuberculosis / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To discuss the change of ferritin ( Fn) and ferroportin expression quantity and time-related feature in the alveolar macrophages of mice , infected with different virulence of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis infected .Methods:The prepared bacte-ria of H37Rv or BCG were injected intravenously into the mice tails .On the day 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15, the lavage fluids were collected and the alveolar macrophages were obtained from each group of mice .The expression of FPN and Fn were detected with ELISA and /or Western blot analysis .Results:The expression of Fn in the group of either H 37Rv or BCG infected mice was decreased on the day 7, 9 and 11, and was lowest on the day 7, which showed significantly statistical difference compared to that on the other days (P<0.05).The expression of FNP in the infected mouse macrophage was decreased gradually , which was obvious on the day 5. The expression levels reached to the lowest on the day 7 and 9.The expression was much lower than that in the negative control group (P<0.05).Conclusion:The expression of Fn and FPN in macrophages isolated from lungs of mice infected with Mycobacterium tu -berculosis H37Rv or BCG become decreased , and there is no difference between these two infected mouse groups .

Correlation study between Mycobacterium tuberculosis PhoPR two-component system and pathogenicity of different virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To explore the correlation between Mycobacterium tuberculosis PhoPR two-component system and the pathogenicity of different virulent MTB by analysing the expression levels difference of PhoP gene and PhoR gene in BCG ,H37Ra, H37Rv and XJ-MTB respectively.Methods:Total RNA extracted from four different virulent MTB strains and the integrity of total RNA were identified by using agarose gel electrophoresis.The expression of PhoP gene and PhoR gene were quantified by using SYBR Green I FQ-PCR.The expression levels difference of these genes were compared in different virulent MTB strains .Results: The relative expression levels of PhoP gene in between four different virulent MTB strains from high to low were XJ -MTB(9.05),H37Rv(1.00), H37Ra(0.25),BCG(0.08) respectively ,and the expression levels difference of PhoP gene were statistically significant in different virulent MTB strains ( P＜0.05 );the relative expression levels of PhoR gene in four different virulent MTB strains from high to low were XJ-MTB(5.72),H37Rv(1.00),H37Ra(0.18),BCG(0.07) respectively,and the expression levels difference of PhoR gene were sta-tistically significant in different virulent MTB strains ( P＜0.05 ).The expression levels of PhoP gene and PhoR gene at XJ-MTB were statistically significant difference compared with BCG ,H37Rv,H37Ra respectively (P＜0.05);the expression levels of PhoP gene and PhoR gene at H37Rv were statistically significant difference compared with BCG ,H37Ra respectively (P＜0.05);the expression levels of PhoP and PhoR gene at BCG were not statistically significant difference compared with H 37Ra (P>0.05).Conclusion:Significant expression levels difference of PhoP gene and PhoR gene are confirmed in different virulent MTB strains .Therefore,the Mycobacterium tuberculosis PhoPR two-component system is correlated with the pathogenicity in different virulent MTB strains.

Correlation study between prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein (Pup)-proteasome and drug resistance of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To study the correlation different drug-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates of prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein ( Pup )-proteasome of Pup, Dop, PafA, Mpa gene expression level and mycobacterium tuberculosis Pup-proteasome system with Xinjiang region widely popular drug-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical isolates resistance.Methods:Total RNA of Mtb was extracted from cultured Mtb during the logarithmic phase in drug-susceptible strains in Xinjiang region,the clinical strains drug sensitive to INH,RFP,SM and EB respectively,and multidrug-resistant(MDR) strains.And then the purity of total RNA was identified.The expressing of Pup-proteasome relevant gene( Pup,Dop,Mpa,PafA) were quantified using SYBR GreenⅠqRT-PCR which aimed at finding the correlation between Mtb Pup-proteasome system and drug resistance of Mtb clinical isolates widespread in Xingjiang region by analyzing the expression of Pup, Dop, PafA, Mpa gene among different isolates.Results:Compared with the drug-senstive clinical isolates, mRNA expression level of Pup, Mpa gene was down-regulated in resistant M.tuberculosis clinical isolates INH ( INH-MTB) ,RFP ( RFP-MTB) ,SM ( SM-MTB) and EB ( EB-MTB) ,mRNA expression levels of genes in Dop and PafA was higher in resistant M.tuberculosis clinical isolates,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with MDR strain, the expression of Pup, Dop, Mpa gene were up-regulated different in the resistant M.tuberculosis clinical isolates isolates ,the expression of PafA gene was down-regulated different,the difference was statistically significant( P<0.05).Conclusion:The differentially expressed gene of Pup、Dop、PafA、Mpa gene in sensitive strains,INH-MTB,RFP-MTB,SM-MTB,EB-MTB and MDR strains.The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Pup-proteasome system.Therefore,the Pup-proteasome system have association with the drug resistance of Mtb strains widespread in Xinjiang region.

[Synthsis and photoluminescence properties of low-T(g), photorefractive polymers of double function].

A group of low-T(g) photorefractive polymers of double function with carbazole and p-nitrodiazencarbazole called P-2, P-3 and P-4 were synthesized by means of different proportional diazonium salts being diazo-coupled with the poly [bis(6-carbazolhexyloxy)] phosphazene(P-1). P-2, P-3 and P-4 were characterized by 31P NMR, 1H NMR, IR, UV-Vis, GPC, TG and DSC. The result showed that P-2, P-3 and P-4 have good heat stability (T(d) approximately 300 degrees C) and a lower glass transition temperature (T(g) approximately 30-40 degrees C). Their fluorescence properties were studied by photoluminescence and the result showed that P-1 has a stronger fluorescence properties and fluorescence intensity. P-2, P-3 and P-4 have varying degrees of quenching after nitro joining. The fluorescence properties were related with numbers of carbazole and nitro and their molecular space structure.

Correlation study between Mycobacterium tuberculosis PhoPR two-component system and drug resist-ance of widespread clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To explore the correlation between Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( MTB ) PhoPR two-component system and drug resistance of MTB clinical isolates widespread in Xinjiang region by analyzing the expression of PhoP gene and PhoR gene among different isolates .Methods Total RNA of MTB was extracted from drug-susceptible strains , the strains only resistant to a single first-line anti-TB drugs (INH, RFP, SM and EB) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, respectively.The purity of total RNA was checked by agarose gel electrophoresis .The expressions of PhoP gene and PhoR gene were quantified by using SYBR Green I qRT-PCR and the differences of their gene expression in different isolates were ana-lyzed.Results Compared with the drug-susceptible strains of MTB, the expression of PhoP gene was up-regulated for about 1.48 times in MTB strains resistant to RFP (RFP-MTB) and 2.74 times in MDR strain (P<0.05).Compared with MDR strain, the expressions of PhoP gene in the isolates resistant to INH (IN-HMTB), RFP (RFP-MTB), SM (SM-MTB) and EB (EB-MTB) were down-regulated for 0.70, 0.50, 0.25 and 0.21 times respectively.The expressions of PhoR gene were down-regulated for 0.36, 0.54, 0.35 and 0.19 times, respectively (P<0.05).The expressions of PhoR gene in the isolates of INH-MTB, RFP-MTB, SM-MTB and EB-MTB were up-regulated for 6.33, 4.56, 2.34, 1.85 and 9.06 times, respectively as compared with the drug-susceptible strains (P<0.05).Conclusion Significant differences of PhoR gene and PhoP gene expressions were observed among drug-susceptible strains , INH-MTB, RFP-MTB, SM-MTB, EB-MTB and MDR strains.Therefore, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis PhoPR two-component system is asso-ciated with the drug resistance of MTB strains prevalent in Xinjiang region .

Effects of culture medium of amniotic cells on NO and NOS in retina tissues in vitro / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective To observe the effects of culture medium of a mn iotic cells on NO and NOS in retinal tissues of rabbits in vitro in order to pro vide a protective method for antioxidation in retina transplantation. M ethods Thirty adult healthy rabbits (30 right eyes) were divided into 3 groups. Group Ⅰ: fresh retinal tissue; group Ⅱ: routine culture medium; group Ⅲ: culture medium of amniotic cells. The retinal tissues in group Ⅱ and Ⅲ we re cultured in the corresponding culture medium for 1 week. The content of NO an d NOS in retinal tissues in the 3 groups were determined. Results Compared with group I, the content of NO and NOS of group Ⅱ increased obvio usly (t=3.821, 3.854; P0.05) . Conclusion Culture medium of amniotic cells may remove free r adicals and enhance the ability of antioxidation.