Objective To determine the correlation between aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) and optic neuropathy in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).Methods The clinical and biochemical data of 53 patients with NMOSD diagnosis based on AQP4-Ab level in Changhai Hospital between January 2010 and October 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.According to optic neuropathy occurrence,the NMOSD patients were divided into optic neuropathy and non-optic neuropathy groups.Clinical and biochemical characteristics were compared between the two groups.According to the serum AQP4-Ab levels,the NMOSD patients were divided into AQP4-Ab seropositive and seronegative groups.The incidence of optic neuropathy was compared between the two groups.The correlation between optic neuropathy and AQP4-Ab levels was analyzed.Results Between the optic neuropathy and non-optic neuropathy groups,no significant differences in sex,age at onset,disease course,serum alanine aminotransferase levels,protein levels in cerebral spinal fluid,IgG index,and oligoclonal band were observed (P ＞ 0.05).However,statistically significant differences were found in frequency,superficial sensory impairment,serum creatinine level,and serum AQP4-Ab level (P ＜ 0.05).Between the AQP4-Ab sempositive and semnegative groups,a statistically significant difference in the incidence of optic neuropathy was observed (F =4.93,P ＜ 0.05).The incidence of optic neuropathy positively correlated with AQP4-Ab levels (r =0.297,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion NMOSD patients with AQP4-Ab seropositivity could be prone to optic neuropathy,and the correlation may be beneficial to early diagnosis,therapy,and monitoring of NMOSD.

Objective To observe the expression of axon guidance cues Slit2 and Robo4 in lung tissue of rat with acute lung injury (ALI) and explore the function of Slit2 and Robo4 in ALI.Methods Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly (random number) divided into control group (n =24) and ALl group (n =24).ALI model was reproduced by cecum ligation and puncture (CLP).The control group only experienced a simulated operation without CLP.Both groups were further divided into 3 subgroups with 8 rats in each subgroup:12 h,24 h,and 48 h subgroups.artery blood gas analysis,lung tissue wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio,lung histopathologic changes,pulmonary microvascular permeability were observed.The serum tumor nocrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The expression of Slit2 and Robo4 mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The expression of Slit2 and Robo4 protein in lung tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry.Date were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with SPSS version 13.0 software.Statistical significance was established at a P value of less than 0.05.Results Compared with the control group,in ALI rats at different time points,partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) decreased significantly,lung W/D weight ratio and pulmonary microvascular permeability,the serum TNF-α increased significantly (all P ＜ 0.05),histopathology of lung revealed signs of injury.The expression of Slit2 mRNA in lung tissues was decreased markedly after CLP compared with control group [(0.56±0.13) vs.(0.87±0.05),F=41.39,P＜0.05,(0.42±0.10) vs.(0.85±0.07),F=93.54,P＜0.05,(0.26±0.08) vs.(0.89 ±0.09),F=227.05,P＜0.05].but there were no significant difference in expression of Robo4 mRNA in lung tissue between ALI group and control group [(0.86±0.07) vs.(0.83±0.05),F=0.695,P＞0.05,(0.82±0.05) vs.(0.89±0.08),F=2.061,P ＞ 0.05,(0.86 ± 0.08) vs.(0.86 ± 0.05),F =0.035,P ＞ 0.05].Immunohistochemistry study showed Slit2 protein was mainly expressed on the extracellular surface of vascular endothelial cells,while lung epithelial cell nuclei and endochylema.Robo4 protein was only expressed on the extracellular surface of vascular endothelial cells.Compared with the control group,expression of Slit2 protein in lung tissue in ALI group decreased markedly [(0.37 ± 0.05) vs.(0.45 ± 0.07),F =6.82,P ＜ 0.05,(0.32±0.06) vs.(0.47±0.09),F=23.54,P＜0.05,(0.28±0.07) vs.(0.46±0.06),F=28.01,P ＜ 0.05].As good as RT-PCR,there were no significant difference in expression of Robo4 protein in lung tissue between two groups [(0.53±0.04) vs.(0.52±0.05),F=0.155,P＞0.05,(0.53± 0.09) vs.(0.50±0.05),F=0.498,P＞0.05,(0.55±0.06) vs.(0.56±0.07),F=0.073,P ＞ 0.05].Conclusions Lung tissues of control group rats express Slit2 and Robo4.The decreased Slit2 mRNA and protein expressions in the lung tissue of rat with ALI caused by CLP may be associated with the occurrence of ALI.

Objectives To explore the correlation between the cerebrospinal fluid protein and facial paralysis in pa?tients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Methods Clinical and biochemical data of 111 patients with GBS in depart?ment of neurology from January 2005 to September 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. According to facial paralysis, GBS patients were divided into the facial normal and paralysis groups. Their clinical and biochemical characteristics were compared between the two groups. According to level of cerebrospinal fluid protein, GBS patients were divided into cerebrospinal fluid protein normal, mild high and severe high groups. Incidences of facial paralysis were compared among these three groups. The correlation between the cerebrospinal fluid protein and facial paralysis was analyzed. Results There was no significant difference in gender, age, respiratory infection and other clinical symptoms (P>0.05), whereas there were statistically significant differences in cerebrospinal fluid protein, immunoglobulin G, and cerebrospinal fluid albumin/serum albumin ratio between the facial normal and paralysis groups (P<0.05). Among the three groups by differ?ent levels of cerebrospinal fluid protein, there were statistically significant differences in the incidence of facial paralysis (F=3.48,P=0.03). Cerebrospinal fluid protein was positively correlated with facial paralysis (r=0.288,P<0.01). Conclu? sions The incidence of facial paralysis is associated with the levels of cerebrospinal fluid protein. Thus, cerebrospinal flu?id protein may be helpful in monitoring of GBS patients with facial paralysis.