Idiopathic macular hole is a full - thickness defect of retinal tissue involving the anatomic fovea and affecting central visual acuity and quality of life in elder patients. Recent evidence showed that the alterations of choroidal blood flow and choroidal thickness are associated with the formation of macular holes. Enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI SD-OCT) enables in vivo measurement of choroidal thickness and may provide new insight into the understanding of pathogenesis of idiopathic macular hole. In this article, we reviewed current studies on the relationship between choroidal thickness measured by optical coherence tomography and the pathogenesis of idiopathic macular hole.

Background Optic neuropathy is one of the diabetic eye complications.Rosiglitazone,a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ(PPARγ) agonist,plays a very important role in arresting the pathogenesis and development of diabetes.However,the role of PPARγ in diabetic optic neuropathy is unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the protective effect of rosiglitazone against diabetic optic neuropathy and its mechanism.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group,diabetic group and rosiglitazone group,with 10 rats for each group.Diabetic models were induced by injecting 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin via the caudal vein,and rosiglitazone(5 ng/[kg· d])was used in the rats of the rosiglitazone group by intragastric administration every day for four weeks.At the end of the experiment,the fasting blood sugar(FBS) was tested in all the animals.The level of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in the blood plasma was detected by ELISA.Optical neural tissues were obtained from the rats of each group,and Lauck fast Blue myelin stain was used to examine the morphology of the optical myelin.The expression of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) mRNA and protein in the optic nerve was detected by real time PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results The levels of FBS,blood plasma VEGF,NCAM mRNA and protein in the optic nerve were significantly different among the control group,diabetic model group and the rosiglitazone group after the administration of 5 nmg/(kg · d) rosiglitazone for 4 weeks (F =6.12,P＜0.01 ; F =5.14,P＜0.05 ; F =4.75,P＜0.05 ; F =4.87,P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the level of FBS significantly increased in the diabetic model group(t =2.26,P＜O.05),and that in the rosiglitazone group significantly declined in comparison with the diabetic model group(t=2.08,P＜0.05).The optic nerve exhibited a normal morphology in the control group as revealed by the Lauck fast Blue myelin staining;however,severe demyelination of the optic nerve and proliferation of glial cells were found in the diabetic model group,and mild demyelination of the optic nerve and proliferation of glial cells were seen in the rosiglitazone group.Blood plasma VEGF was(28.76±4.21)ng/L in the control group and(134.28±11.36)ng/L in the diabetic model group,showing a significant difference between them (t=2.36,P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the model group,the blood plasma VEGF was significantly lower in the rosiglitazone group ([42.67 ± 5.83] ng/L) than that in the diabetic model group (t =2.17,P＜ 0.05).Expression of NCAM mRNA and protein in the optic nerve significantly decreased in the diabetic model group compared with the control group(t =2.21,t =2.58,both at P＜0.05);while those in the rosiglitazone group were significantly elevated in comparison with the diabetic model group(t =2.19,t =2.67,both at P＜O.05).Conclusions Rosiglitazone can protect optic nerve from damage in diabetic rats mainly by downregulating blood plasma VEGF level and upregulating NCAM expression.

AIMTo analyse the main impurity of caderofloxacin.

METHODSThe impurity of caderofloxacin was analysed and determinated by RP-HPLC/ESI/MS with a Zorbax SB-C18 (150 mm x 4.6 mm ID, 5 microns) column. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.5% acetic acid solution (17:83). A compound was synthesized: 1-cyclopropyl-8-(difluoromethoxy)-6-fluoro-1, 4-dihydro-7-(1-piperazinyl)-4-oxo-3-quinoline carboxylic acid (DMCA). Its HPLC chromatogram, UV and MS spectrum were compared with those of the impurity in caderofloxacin.

RESULTSThe molecular weight of the impurity was 14 less than that of caderofloxacin. It means the impurity was a CH2-group less than caderoflixacin. The tR, UV and MS of DMCA were the same as those of the impurity in caderofloxacin.

CONCLUSIONBased on the tR (HPLC), UV and MS, the impurity of caderofloxacin is confirmed as DMCA.

Anti-Infective Agents ; chemistry ; Carboxylic Acids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Contamination ; Fluoroquinolones ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Piperazines ; chemistry ; Quinolines ; analysis ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between a polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase with Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) in Chinese population.

METHODSThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique was used to detect a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs1801131, at the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in both 158 patients with NSCL/P and 192 healthy individuals. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for genotypic distributions was estimated by the goodness-of-fit test. The UNPHASED program was applied to perform the association analysis.

RESULTSThe genotypic distribution of A1298C was not deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both controls and patients. No association was found between cleft lip with or without palate (CL/P) and controls. There was significant difference of cleft palate only (CPO) and the healthy individuals (χ(2) = 4.256, P = 0.039). The frequency of AC + CC genotype was higher in control group than that in CPO group (OR = 0.8, 95%CI = 0.381 - 1.683), 26 among 100 healthy individuals carried AC + CC genetypes, which were carried by 22% of CPO patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe polymorphism of MTHFR A1298C may be involved in the occurrence of non-syndromic cleft palate only in Chinese population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cleft Lip ; genetics ; Cleft Palate ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to observe the coexistence of periodontal bacteria DNA (Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella. forsythensis) in coronary atheromatous plaques and subgingival plaques in patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft.

METHODSCoronary atheromatous plaque and subgingival plaque samples were obtained from 51 patients and examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique with specific primers for periodontal bacteria.

RESULTSP. gingivalis (33%), T. forsythensis (31%), P. intermedia (18%) and F. nucleatum (12%) were detected while A. actinomycetemcomitans was negative and not found in coronary atheromatous plaques; T. forsythensis (84%), F. nucleatum (78%), P. intermedia (59%), P. gingivalis (39%) and A. actinomycetemcomitans (22%) were detected in subgingival plaque samples. Coexistence of periodontal bacteria DNA in coronary atheromatous and subgingival plaque samples was evidenced in 32 patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe coexistence of T. forsythensis, F. nucleatum, P. intermedia, P. gingivalis in coronary atheromatous plaques and the subgingival plaque samples in CAD patients could suggest a potential role for periodontal pathogenic bacteria in atherosclerosis disease process.

Adult ; Aged ; Bacteroides ; isolation & purification ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; microbiology ; surgery ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Dental Plaque ; microbiology ; Female ; Fusobacterium nucleatum ; isolation & purification ; Gingiva ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Heart Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; surgery ; Heart Ventricles ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography

In order to detect coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitor in patients with severe hemophilia A (HA) and preliminarily study the genetic mutation in patients with inhibitor positive. Totally 58 patients with HA (FVIII: C < 1%) were enrolled. FVIII: C activity was measured by one-stage coagulation assay. FVIII inhibitor was screened by using APTT method and FVIII inhibitor in screened positive patients with HA was quantitatively analyzed by using Bethesda method. Using genomic DNA as template, 12, 14, 16 exons of FVIII in screened positive patients were amplified, and the mutations of amplified products were detected by direct sequencing. The results indicated that the FVIII inhibitor could be detected in 4 patients (6.9%) from 58 HA patients, no gene mutations in 12, 14, 16 exons of FVIII were found. It is concluded that the positive rate of FVIII inhibitor in HA patients is lower than that reported in literature. The causes of inhibitor production needs to further investigate.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Coagulation Factor Inhibitors ; isolation & purification ; Blood Coagulation Tests ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Exons ; Factor VIII ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Hemophilia A ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the location of the anterior border of facets and the posterior border of vertebral bodies in lower cervical spine,and to provide a quantitative data to evaluate the correct length of transarticual screws in lower cervical spine during procedure.

METHODSOne hundred standard lateral X-ray films and fifty CT films on cervical spine were used to measure the distance of the anterior border of facets and the posterior border of vertebral bodies in lower cervical spine. HS, HM and HI were defined as parameters, which means the distance between the anterior border of the superior (HS), median (HM) and inferior (HI) part of facets and the posterior border of corresponding vertebral bodies. The value will be negative if the anterior border of the facet located before the vertebral body.

RESULTS'HS > HM > HI' was found in all facets in lower cervical spine. The anterior border of the facet in C(3,4) located before the posterior border of the vertebral body of C3. The anterior border of C(4,5) and C(5,6) was inclined to posterior. The anterior border of C(6,7) located after the posterior border of the vertebral body of C6. The pattern of HS increased from C(3,4) to C(6,7), the minimal (0 +/- 0.25) mm and the maximal (2.91 +/- 1.05) mm. The tendency of HM raised from C(3,4) to C(6,7), the minimal (-1.57 +/- 0.53) mm and the maximal (1.54 +/- 0.39) mm. The pattern HI added from C(3,4) to C(6,7), the minimal (-2.03 +/- 0.40) mm and the maximal (1.08 +/- 0.70) mm.

CONCLUSIONDuring the implantation of the transarticular screws, the tip of the screws should be 0-2 mm before the posterior border of the vertebral body of C3 at C(3,4), 0-2 mm after that of C4 at C(4,5), 0.5-2.5 mm at C(5,6) and 1-3 mm at C(6,7). The quantitative location between the anterior border of facets and the posterior border of the corresponding vertebral bodies can offer an indirect method to evaluate the correct length of transarticual screws in lower cervical spine during procedure.

Cervical Vertebrae ; chemistry ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Zygapophyseal Joint ; chemistry ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo discuss the impacts of moxibustion for regulating spleen and stomach function on the survival quality of the patients of end stage renal disease (ESRD) with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

METHODSOne hundred and nine cases of uremia with MHD from 3 hemodialysis centers were randomized into an observation group (58 cases) and a control group (51 cases). The regular hemodialysis and conventional medication were used in the two groups. In the observation group, on the basis of the common treatment, moxibustion was applied to Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), 2-3 times a day, the treatment of 4 weeks made one session. Totally, 3 sessions were required and the follow-up lasted for 3 months. KDQOL-SF (kidney disease quality of life short form,KDQOL-SFTM 1. 3) was adopted for the questionnaire investigation on survival quality before treatment, after treatment and at the end of follow-up separately in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the survival quality scores in terms of physical functioning (83.62+/-13.27 vs 79.32+/- 22. 17), general health (58. 88+/- 20.24 vs 48.82+/-20.89) and vitality (77.07+/-15.56 vs 70. 59+/-22.61) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0. 05). In comparison before and after treatment in the same group, the survival quality scores in terms of physical functioning, general health, vitality and symptoms/problems were all improved in the observation group (all P<0. 05). At the end of follow-up, the survival quality scores in terms of physical functioning, general health, mental health, social functioning, vitality, effects of kidney disease and cognitive function were higher in the observation group as compared with those in the control group (all P<0. 05). In comparison of the results at the end of follow-up with those before treatment, the survival quality scores in terms of vitality, symptoms/problems and cognitive function in the observation group were improved (all P< 0. 05). The differences were not significant in all of the 19 fields of survival quality evaluation before and after treatment, and after follow-up in the control group (all P>0. 05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion for regulating spleen and stomach function improves the survival quality of the patients with hemodialysis in terms of physical functioning, general health and vitality, which benefits the psychological condition of the patients, resulting in the improvements of the survival quality in the fields of mental health, social functioning, effects of kidney disease and cognitive function.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life ; Renal Dialysis ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Stomach ; physiopathology

The effects of diclazuril on the bursa of Fabricius (BF) structure and secretory IgA (SIgA) expression in chickens infected with Eimeria tenella were examined. The morphology of the BF was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, while ultrastructural changes were monitored by transmission electron microscopy. E. tenella infection caused the BF cell volumes to decrease, irregularly arranged, as well as, enlargement of the intercellular space. Diclazuril treatment alleviated the physical signs of damages associated with E. tenella infection. The SIgA expression in BF was analyzed by immunohistochemistry technique. The SIgA expression increased significantly by 350.4% (P<0.01) after E. tenella infection compared to the normal control group. With the treatment of diclazuril, the SIgA was relatively fewer in the cortex, and the expression level was significantly decreased by 46.7% (P<0.01) compared with the infected and untreated group. In conclusion, E. tenella infection in chickens induced obvious harmful changes in BF morphological structure and stimulated the expression of SIgA in the BF. Diclazuril treatment effectively alleviated the morphological changes. This result demonstrates a method to develop an immunological strategy in coccidiosis control.
Animals ; Bursa of Fabricius/anatomy & histology/*parasitology ; Chickens ; Coccidiosis/drug therapy/metabolism/parasitology/*veterinary ; Coccidiostats/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Eimeria tenella/*physiology ; Female ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/*genetics/metabolism ; Male ; Nitriles/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Poultry Diseases/*drug therapy/genetics/metabolism/parasitology ; Triazines/administration & dosage/*adverse effects