Effects of orthokeratology on biological parameters and visual quality of adolescents with low-grade corneal astigmatism myopia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of orthokeratology on biological parameters and visual quality of adolescents with low-grade corneal astigmatism myopia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, a total of 41 myopic adolescents were prescribed with orthokeratology glasses in our hospital from February 2018 to March 2019 and voluntarily cooperated with relevant examinations before and after wearing orthokeratology lenses. Patients' uncorrected distant visual acuity (UCVA-D), uncorrected near visual acuity (UCVA-N) and naked eye near stereoacuity before wearing glasses, 1 month, and 3 months after wearing glasses were observed. The corneal astigmatism of patients was observed. The corneal endothelial cell density was observed. The dynamic adjustment function (NP, AF, NRA, PRA) values of patients were observed. The comparison of biological indexes in different time periods was observed. The changes of corneal curvature before wearing orthokeratology lens, 1 month and 3 months after wearing orthokeratology lens were observed. RESULTS: There were significant changes of patients 1 month after wearing orthokeratology lenses (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between 3 months after wearing the orthokeratology lenses and 1 month after wearing the orthokeratology lenses (p < 0.05). Patients' NCAV-D and UCVA-N were recorded by a conversion method of 5 points. There were differences in the NCVA-D, NCVA-N, naked eye near stereoacuity before, 1 month, and 3 months after wearing glasses (p < 0.05). By observing patients' biological indicators and dynamic adjustment, it was found that there were statistically significant differences in NP, AF, BRA and PRA before wearing the glasses, 1 month and 3 months after wearing the glasses (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of orthokeratology can greatly correct myopia patients' vision, improve their stereoscopic vision, control the progression of myopia, and improve their eye regulation, which is of high safety and great short-term effect.

The function of microRNA-34a in osteoarthritis.

AIM: To discuss the effects and mechanism of microRNA-34a in cell apoptosis induced by osteoarthritis. METHODS: Collection of the normal and osteoarthritis synovial tissues and measurements of the miRNA-34a and TGIF2 gene expression. In the cell experiment, the cells were divided into Control, Blank and miRNA inhibitor group. The cell proliferation and apoptosis of the different groups were measured by MTT and flow cytometry and the TGIF2 protein expression in the different groups was evaluated by WB assay. The correlation between TGIF2 and miRNA-34a was analyzed by Double luciferase experiment. RESULTS: Compared with normal synovial tissues, the miRNA-34a gene expression was significantly up-regulated and TGIF2 gene expression was significantly suppressed in osteoarthritis synovial tissues (p < 0.001, respectively). The cell proliferation was significantly depressed and the cell apoptosis rate was significantly increased in miRNA inhibitor group compared with the Control group (p < 0.001, respectively). Using the WB assay it was shown that the TGIF2 protein expression of miRNA inhibitor group was significantly suppressed compared with that of Control group (p < 0.01). By Double luciferase assay, TGIF2 gene was one target gene of miRNA-34a. CONCLUSION: miRNA-34a could induce osteoarthritis synovial cell apoptosis via regulation of TGIF2 in vitro (Fig. 6, Ref. 29).

miRNA-31 over-expression improve synovial cells apoptosis induced by RA.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects and mechanism of miRNA-31 in synovial cells apoptosis induced by RA. METHODS: The miRNA-31 gene expressions were extracted from synovial tissues of normal and RA patients by RT-PCR and H et E staining. The synovial cells of RA patients were isolated and randomly divided into Control, Blank and miRNA groups. The cell apoptosis of difference groups were measured by flow cytometry; the TNF-α and IL-1ß concentrations of difference groups were measured by Elisa assay; TLR4 and NF-κB proteins expressions were measured by WB assay and the correlation between TLR4 and miRNA-31 were evaluated by double luciferase target experiment. RESULTS: The miRNA-31 gene expression was significantly suppressed in RA tissues (p<0.001); Compared with control group, the cell apoptosis rate of miRNA group was significantly suppressed (p<0.001); TNF-α and IL-1ß concentrations were significantly down-regulation in culture fluid (p<0.001, respectively) and TLR4 and NF-κB proteins expressions were significantly depressed (p<0.001, respectively) in miRNA group. By double luciferase target experiment, the TLR4 was a target gene of miRNA-31. CONCLUSION: miRNA-31 is a key role in synovial cells apoptosis induced by RA (Fig. 7, Ref. 23).

Clinical use of homograft stored by vitrification.

Using 20% DMSO and 6% propylene glycol in Kreb' Ringer phosphate solution as cryopotective agent for homograft vitrification storage, the viability of stored homograft (79.2%) was higher than that of slow cooling storage (59.7%). About 540000 cm2 of vitrified homograft were used to cover the wounds after excision of burn eschar in 135 patients with major burns. The take-rate was over 94%. The cryopreservation of skin by vitrification can improve the viability and quality of skin and save time and cost.

Gas chromatographic determination of mexiletine in human plasma with flame ionization detection after reaction with carbon disulphide.

A gas chromatographic method for the determination of mexiletine in human plasma is described. Mexiletine was simultaneously extracted and derivatized with carbon disulphide for separation and quantitation on a glass column (1.5 m x 3 mm i.d.) packed with 1.5% OV-1 coated on 80-100 mesh Shimalite W (201D). The method required only 0.5 mL of plasma and could detect as little as 10 ng of mexiletine. It has been applied to the study of the pharmacokinetics of mexiletine in healthy volunteers.