Vortex vein engorgement and different shapes of venous drainage systems in polypoid choroidal vasculopathy vs. age­related macular degeneration on indocyanine green angiography.

There are differences in vortex vein engorgement and appearance in polypoid choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and healthy eyes. The present study aimed to use indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) to find a simple, clinically meaningful method for evaluating the filling degree of vortex veins in various eye diseases. Participant clinical characteristics were recorded. The number of vortex veins (NVV), central vortex vein diameter (CVVD), mean root area of the vortex vein (MRAVV), mean diameter of the thickest peripheral branch (MDPTB), subfoveal choroidal thickness and percentage of vortex vein anastomosis (PVVA) were obtained by marking the vortex veins on ICGA. The proportion of subretinal haemorrhage and the numbers and types of vortex veins in each quadrant were counted separately. The CVVD and MDPTB were significantly increased in the PCV compared with those in the AMD group (P<0.05). The CVVD, MRAV, and PVVA were significantly increased in the PCV compared with those in the healthy group (P<0.05). The type IV vortex vein (complete with ampulla) proportion was the lowest while the type I (vortex vein absent) proportion was the highest in the PCV group (P<0.001). NVV in the inferior-temporal region was increased in the PCV compared with that in the AMD group (P=0.034). Subretinal haemorrhage occurred in the inferior temporal choroid in 47.62% of examined eyes in PCV group, and in the superior temporal choroid in 23.81% of the PCV group, with significant differences between the quadrants (P<0.001). Vortex vein engorgement and shape differed significantly between PCV, AMD and healthy eyes. The vortex vein branches in PCV eyes were significantly dilated in the posterior pole; moreover, the peripheral choroid and the lower proportion of type IV vortex veins may be pathognomonic for PCV.

A Hyper-cross-linked Polynaphthalene Semiconductor with Excellent Visible-Light Photocatalytic Performance in the Degradation of Organic Dyes.

Hyper-cross-linked polynaphthalene nanoparticles (PNNs) capable of catalyzing the degradation of organic pollutants upon exposure to visible light have been developed. The nascent and metal-free PNNs with a porous structure, high specific surface area, and narrow bandgap are chemically and thermally stable in the catalytic system, which make it promising as a kind of excellent photocatalytic material compared to conventional photocatalysts. The photocatalytic activity of the as-obtained PNNs exhibits remarkable photocatalytic performance for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl blue (MB) under the irradiation of visible light. The easy preparation, high catalytic activity, and recyclability of the PNNs open new opportunities in the visible-light-promoted degradation of organic pollutants.

Palladium nanoparticles decorated mesoporous carbon spheres as catalyst for reduction of 4-nitrophenol.

Two kinds of polyaromatics with mesoporous have been synthesized from aromatic hydrocarbons using anhydrous zinc chloride as the Friedel-Crafts catalyst and chloromethyl methyl ether as a cross-linker, after the Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) decorated on the mesoporous carbon spheres (Pd@CSs) have been prepared by simply mixing the as-prepared polyaromatics (polynaphthalene or polypyrene) with PdCl2, reducing the Pd2+ to Pd0 by using NaBH4, followed by thermal treatment at 600 degrees C for 5 h in nitrogen atmosphere. The synthesized PdNPs have a uniform size distribution with an average size smaller than 15 nm and they can be loaded on the highly mesoporous carbon microspheres. Structural of the resulting Pd@CSs were carried out using FE-SEM, HR-TEM, X-ray differaction, dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The resulting Pd@CSs have been investigated as a catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, showing the Pd@CSs have high catalytic reactivity and recyclability.

Noncovalent functionalization of carbon nanotubes by fluorescent polypeptides: supramolecular conjugates with pH-dependent absorbance and fluorescence.

Fluorescent cut single-walled carbon nanotube (CSWCNT) were prepared by simply mixing CSWCNT with water soluble rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) conjugated poly(3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) and poly(L-tyrosine) to form highly stable product with good dispersity in buffer solution. The optical absorbance and fluorescence spectra of the resulting fluorescent CSWCNT display interesting pH-dependent optical properties, emitting strong fluorescence only in acidic environment. Considering the extracellular pH of tumor tissue is acidic, the pH-sensitive conjugates have advantages to sense tumor cells selectively, enabling it to be utilized as a biosensor for detecting cancer cells. The protocol employed to functionalize the CSWCNT with Rh6G conjugated polypeptides in aqueous solution is proven to be direct, fast and easily scalable.

Expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 in diabetic retinopathy.

BACKGROUND: Neovascularization can cause vision loss in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and may be affected by many factors. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a potent stimulator of angiogenesis. The study was aimed to investigate the expression of SDF-1 and its correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the eyes with diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: The levels of SDF-1 and VEGF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the vitreous of 41 eyes of 41 patients with PDR and 12 eyes of 12 patients with idiopathic macular hole (IMH). Vitreous fluid samples and fibrovascular preretinal membranes were obtained at vitrectomy. SDF-1 and VEGF were localized using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The vitreous concentration of VEGF was significantly higher in eyes with PDR ((2143.7 +/- 1685.21) pg/ml) than in eyes with IMH ((142.42 +/- 72.83) pg/ml, P < 0.001). The vitreous level of SDF-1 was also significantly higher in eyes with PDR ((306.37 +/- 134.25) pg/ml) than in eyes with IMH ((86.91 +/- 55.05) pg/ml, P < 0.001). The concentrations of both VEGF and SDF-1 were higher in eyes with active PDR than in eyes with inactive PDR. Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) could decrease the SDF-1 levels in the vitreous of PDR patients. The vitreous concentration of SDF-1 correlated with that of VEGF in eyes with PDR (r = 0.61, P < 0.001). The costaining of SDF-1 and VEGF was confined to the vascular components in preretinal membranes. CONCLUSIONS: SDF-1 protein is highly expressed in both the vitreous and preretinal membranes of PDR patients; SDF-1 may be correlated with VEGF in angiogenesis in PDR.

Specific IgG activity against diarrheagenic bacteria in bovine immune milk and effect of pH on its antigen-binding activity upon heating.

Bovine colostrum and milk antibodies of calving and lactating cows immunized with a multivalent vaccine consisting of whole cells of three different species of pathogenic bacteria including four strains of enterotoxigenic Escherischia coli, five strains of enteropathogenic Esch. coli, three strains of enteroinvasive Esch. coli, two strains of Samonella typhi, and one strain each of Shigellia dysenteriae, Sh. sonnei and Sh. flexneri were generated, respectively. A significantly elevated activity and titre of specific IgG from bovine immune colostrum were seen for only 5 days after calving of immunized cows, however, the levels of specific IgG could be obtained continuously from the milk of immunized lactating cows until the 11th week of the entire experiment period. Subsequently, we observed that the high specific IgG activity in immune milk was relatively stable under pH 5.0-7.0 at 37 degrees C. Of importance, we identified that the specific IgG preserved its biological function for high antigen-binding activity at pH 5.5-6.5 for 30 min of heat treatment at 70 degrees C and for 350 s at 72 degrees C. Our findings suggest that the specific IgG from milk antibodies of immunized lactating cows may be used as an abundant source of hyper-immune products for prevention of multibacteria-induced diarrhea, however, the effect of pH on its antigen-binding activity upon heating should be carefully considered and designed.

Specific IgG activity of bovine immune milk against diarrhea bacteria and its protective effects on pathogen-infected intestinal damages.

Bovine milk antibodies of lactating cows immunized with a multivalent vaccine consisting of whole cells of 17 strains of pathogenic diarrhea bacteria were generated. Using an in vitro mimicked intestine pH environment, we demonstrate that strong activity of their specific IgG may be recovered through the gastrointestinal tract to prevent pathogen-infected intestinal damages, thereby potently inhibiting pathogen-induced diarrhea. This is supported by histological and ultrastructural evidence that specific IgG may effectively abolish pathogen-induced cellular dysfunction of small intestinal mucosa, including tight junctions, brush border, enterocytes, goblet cells, etc. Normal IgG from non-immunized milk is incapable of eliciting the same consequences as specific IgG. Furthermore, we also noticed that specific IgG exerts an effective protection by enhancing splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity in pathogen-infected mice. Our findings indicate that the specific IgG from milk antibodies of immunized lactating bovine may be exploited in therapies for prevention of multibacteria-induced diarrhea.

Caspase-dependent retinal ganglion cell apoptosis in the rat model of acute diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Neural apoptosis is generally believed to be mediated by two distinct pathways, caspase-dependant and caspase-independent pathways. This study investigated the apoptotic pathways involved in retinal ganglion cells in acute diabetes in rats. METHODS: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by a peritoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Expression and localization of caspase-3 and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) proteins in the retina of diabetic rats was examined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry analyses. Terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and immunofluorescent staining specific for caspase-3 and AIF were applied to analyze for apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells. In addition, a caspase-3 inhibitor DEVD-CHO was injected intravitreally to further determine the apoptotic pathways of retinal ganglion cells triggered in acute diabetes. RESULTS: Two weeks after induction of diabetes, a significant increase in caspase-3 protein expression and localization occurred in the nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, and inner plexiform layer of the retina. Four weeks after the onset of diabetes, the increase in caspase-3 expression was profound eight weeks postinduction of diabetes (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, no AIF protein expression was detected in this study. In addition, intravitreal administration of the caspase-3 inhibitor DEVD-CHO reduced apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells by its direct inhibitory action on caspase-3. CONCLUSION: Caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways may be the main stimulant of STZ-induced retinal ganglion cell apoptosis in acute diabetes.

[Comparison of digital radiography and conventional X-ray in the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule with receiver operating characteristic analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare digital radiographs with conventional radiographs in the detection of solitary pulmonary nodules. METHODS: Thirty patients with solitary pulmonary nodule and 30 cases without pulmonary nodules were enrolled in the study. The existence of solitary pulmonary nodule was confirmed by chest computed tomography (CT) as well as biopsy. All patients examined by both digital radiography (group A) and conventional radiographs (group B) were reviewed by four experienced chest radiologists and four residents. Assessment was performed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the images in both groups. RESULTS: (1) Observer performance of the experienced radiologists in group B (Az=0.838) was superior to that in group A (Az=0.816) (P<0.05) in detection of solitary pulmonary nodule. For the residents, observer performance in group B (Az=0.842) was superior to that in group A (Az=0.712) (P<0.05). (2) There was no difference between the two groups (P=0.272), for the judgement of benign or malignant solitary pulmonary nodule. CONCLUSIONS: Digital radiographs is superior to conventional radiographs in detection of solitary pulmonary nodule. However, there was no significant differences in discrimination between benign and malignant solitary pulmonary nodules in the two groups.

[Mammographic findings of gynecomastia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the features of gynecomastia displayed by mammography. METHODS: Twelve patients with gynecomastia were examined with a high-performance GITTO-TECH mammograph (IMS Company, Italy), and the results were compared with those obtained from pathological examination. RESULTS: The 12 cases were pathologically confirmed as gynecomastia, 10 of which were also identified by mammography while 2 misdiagnosed as male breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of gynecomastia can be established when typical features are presented in mammography, and fine needle aspiration biopsy can be performed when possible for discrimination from male breast cancer.

[Clinical observation on treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction by fu'an liquid for retention enema in children with critical illness].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of Fu'an Liquid (FAL) for retention enema in treating gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction of children with critical illness. METHODS: Eighty-nine patients were randomly divided into two groups, 52 in the treated group and 37 in the control group. Conventional therapy of western medicine was given to both groups and to the treated group FAL was given additionally. Plasma endothelin (ET) level was measured during admission, GI dysfunction occurrence and after treatment, and the therapeutic effect as well as the recovery of GI condition were observed. RESULTS: The total effective rate of FAL in treating GI dysfunction was 84.62%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (62.17%) (P < 0.05). In the treated group, 34 cases were treated successfully, 16 died and the other 2 abandoned, the mortality rate being 30.77%, while in the control group, the corresponding numbers were 16, 18, 3 and 48.65%. The mortality rate in the treated group was lower than that in the control group (chi 2 = 4.64, P < 0.05). Level of ET in both groups was higher than normal range during admission (P < 0.01), it further increased when GI dysfunction occurred (P < 0.01), and decreased when successfully treated, the decrease was quicker in the treated group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In children with critical illness, ET level would increase when the patient was complicated with GI dysfunction. FAL for retention enema could reduce the ET level effectively, promote the recovery of patients from GI dysfunction, so as to play a definite role in enhancing the successful rate of rescue.