Establishing a novel lens opacities classification system based on ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) for pediatric cataracts: reliability and availability.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to develop and validate a lens opacities classification system based on ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) imaging to grade pediatric cataracts. METHODS: The study was conducted at Guangzhou Children's Hospital, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center. UBM images of patients at the hospital from September 2013 to November 2014 were used in this study. We summarized the characteristics of lenticular opacification in each of the following 4 zones: the anterior capsule (A); the cortex (C); the nucleus (N); and the posterior capsule (P). The UBM data and intraoperative videos were compared, and sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values were determined for our Lens Opacities Classification System based on UBM for Pediatric Cataracts (LOCS-UP) detection. Two physicians classified pediatric cataracts (anterior capsule, cortex, and posterior capsule) by extracting 146 images from the UBM database. Patients' data were recorded to calculate the kappa coefficients. The LOCS-UP was developed. RESULTS: Under this standard, all types of pediatric cataracts can be classified and acquired a code by the LOCS-UP. The LOCS-UP had the highest sensitivity (100%) and specificity (98.96%) in naming the anterior capsule and the lowest sensitivity (50%) and specificity (89.59%) in naming the posterior capsule. Its consistency at naming the anterior capsule was satisfactory (Kappa coefficient: 0.70), and it was also able to name the nucleus, cortex, and posterior capsule (0.56, 0.58, and 0.48, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: LOCS-UP could name pediatric cataracts by providing an unique digital encoding, which could reflect characteristics exactly for different local lens anomalies to all kinds of pediatric cataract patients. This method provides detailed and accurate information about Patients' lenses.

Ultrasound Biomicroscopy Detects Peters' Anomaly and Rieger's Anomaly in Infants.

AIM: Congenital corneal opacities (CCOs) are the major causes of early visual deprivation in infants. Balloon ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) examination is an effective method to diagnose CCO. However, whether it is suitable for children examination is still unknown. METHODS: 26 Peters' anomaly (PA) or Rieger's anomaly (RA) infants with congenital corneal opacities (CCO) (40 eyes) underwent UBM examinations to study their imaging features. RESULTS: Based on the results, they were divided into UBM Dx-Type I: Descemet's membrane (DM) and endothelium have heterogenous or discontinuous echo accompanied with corneal stroma echo-enhanced or shallow anterior chamber. Type II: Type I alteration plus abnormal strand of iris extended to the border of the posterior corneal defect or iridocorneal adhesion. Type III: Type I or II combined with the abnormal hyperechoic lens, lens luxation, or keratolenticular adhesion. Type IV: echoes of the DM and the endothelium are continuous, corneal stroma echo is enhanced, and an abnormal strand of peripheral iris extends to the prominent Schwalbe line, accompanied by iris stroma or pupil heteromorphism and a shallow or flat anterior chamber. CONCLUSION: UBM not only could accurately evaluate the anterior segment abnormalities in CCO infants but also would be a step forward for the management of PA- and RA-associated CCO.

[Effects of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae extracts on body temperature and weight gain of chickens in hot environment].

OBJECTIVE: To validate the decreasing body temperature effect of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae extracts (SZSE) on chickens in hot environment and study its functions of sunstroke and hot-stress prevention. METHODS: Ninety 1-day-old San-huang chickens were randomly divided into air-conditioning group, hot-treatment group,and SZSE group. The feed for SZSE group was added SZSE as 1 g/kg. The recta temperatures were recorded when chickens were 1, 14, 35 and 42 days old, and chickens were weighed when they were 35 and 56 days old. RESULTS: The body temperatures of SZSE group were remarkably lower than the hot-treatment group at 14th, 35th, 42th day (P<0.05), but the average daily weight gain was higher at 35th and 56th day. CONCLUSION: SZSE can decrease body temperature and increase weight gain of chickens in hot environment.

[CpG oligodeoxynucleotide enhances humoral and cellular immune responses against HBsAg in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To induce stronger humoral and cell mediated immune response against HBsAg and seek more effective methods to treat hepatitis B virus infection. METHODS: 21-mer phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) and its control ODN were synthesized and used as an adjuvant of HBsAg and commercial hepatitis B vaccine to enhance their immune responses against HBsAg. Four groups of 33 mice received 2 doses of the mixtures (1.67 microg HBsAg: 16.5 microg CpG ODN) at an interval of 15 days. Group A: HBsAg only, 7 mice; group B: HBsAg + CpG ODN, 10 mice; group C: commercial hepatitis B vaccine, 6 mice; group D: commercial hepatitis B vaccine + CpG ODN, 10 mice. Serum anti-HBs levels and cytotoxic T lymphocyte response (CTL) of splenocytes were assayed 15 days after the last vaccination. RESULTS: The mean absorbent values of blood anti-HBs in the 4 groups were 0.109, 0.435, 0.422 and 0.575, respectively. The rates of CTL response were 8.5%, 37.0%, 1.5%, and 28.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: (1) CpG ODN markedly improves humoral (anti-HBs) and cellular immune response (CTL) induced by HBsAg immunization. (2) There is a synergistic interaction between aluminum and CpG ODN in enhancing the humoral and cellular immune responses against HBsAg. Therefore, CpG ODN might be used to treat chronic hepatitis B virus infection after its safety and effectiveness have been confirmed.

[Reciprocal priming-boosting role of HBsAg and DNA vaccines].

OBJECTIVE: To evoke more effective humoral and cell-mediated immunization against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. METHODS: HBsAg-primed mice were boosted with HBs-DNA vaccine, and HBs-DNA-primed mice were boosted with HBsAg vaccine. Anti-HBs level was assayed by ELISA and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response was tested by lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) releasing method two weeks after the boosted immunization. RESULTS: Anti-HBs level and CTL responsive rate at the effector/target cell ratio of 100:1 were 0.38 and 36% in HBsAg/HBs-DNA vaccination group, 0.32 and 27% in HBs-DNA/HBsAg vaccination group, 0.48 and 1.5% in HBsAg/HBsAg vaccination group, 0.24 and 68% in HBs-DNA/HBs-DNA vaccination group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Priming with HBs-DNA vaccine followed by boosting with conventional HBsAg vaccine results in greater antibody response (F = 21.19, P < 0.05), and CTL response after HBsAg vaccination can be improved by boosting with HBs-DNA vaccine (F = 165.59, P < 0.05). It brings to better efficacy by combining HBsAg vaccine with HBs-DNA vaccine.