AIM: To better reveal the changing process of macula area after photodynamic therapy (PDT), the changes of tomographic imaging on macular fovea optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) scan at different follow- up time points after treating age-related macular degeneration ( AMD) by PDT were investigated.
METHODS: This cohort study included 30 eyes of 26 patients diagnosed as AMD. The dosage of verteporfin was calculated according to manufacturer's instruction. All participants got FFA, ICG, OCT scan and best corrected visual acuity before and followed up for 2wk, 1, 2, 3mo after PDT. The standard five lines combined with 6 lines OCT scan covered key parts of lesion and the scan locations before and after were kept the same. The bilaminar foveal thickness (BFT), outer high reflectivity band thickness ( OHRBT ) , and the total area of intraretinal fluid ( IRF ) and subretinal fluid ( SRF ) were measured at different time points. The relationship between the changes and follow up time was analyzed. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS for windows version 13. 0.
RESULTS: There months after treatment, an improvement of 2 lines or better on the Snellen chart was achieved on 22 eyes, visual acuity of 3 eyes without significant change, 3 eyes got decreased, 2 cases lost follow up. The average macular thickness of improved 22 eyes before treatment was 722. 5±55. 6μm, 2wk after treatment, 708. 3±45. 3μm, 1mo, 584. 4±49. 3μm, 2mo, 430. 7±50. 2μm and 180. 6 ±36. 3μm at 3mo. The OHRBT before and after treatment respectively were 302. 3 ±50-2μm, 277. 5±42. 3μm, 202. 7±40. 1μm, 180. 6±35. 7μm, 100. 8±22. 9μm. The total area of both IRF and SRF was estimated as 0. 34±0. 12mm2 , 0. 25±0. 07mm2 , 0. 10±0-05mm2 , 0. 08±0. 04mm2 , 0. 05±0. 01mm2 .
CONCLUSION:SRF and retinal edema of patients with AMD were absorbed 1mo after PDT, and the BFT, OHRBT were significantly tend to be thin.

AIM: To investigate the primary culture method for coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs), and to establish the endoplasmic reticulum stress ( ERS) model in CASMCs of SD rats.METHODS:CASMCs were cultured by tissue explant method .The morphological characteristics were observed under optical micro-scope.The marker proteins of CASMCs , including α-SMA and SM-MHC, were identified by immunofluorescence tech-nique.The protein expression levels of BiP and CHOP , the marker molecules of ERS, were determined by Western blot . RESULTS:The spindle-shaped CASMCs climbed out from the edge of coronary artery tissues after 6 d, and formed the typical hill and valleygrowth pattern of CASMCs at 9~10 d.The result of immunofluorescence technique showed that α-SMA and SM-MHC were positively expressed .The results of Western blot showed that the protein expression of BiP and CHOP in TG ( 1 and 2 μmol/L ) treatment groups was increased compared with control group .Compared with control group, the protein expression of BiP and CHOP was significantly increased after 1 μmol/L TG treatment for 24 and 48 h. CONCLUSION:CASMCs can be successfully cultured by tissue explant method .ERS model of CASMCs was established by 1 μmol/L TG treatment for 24 h.

In recent years, high plasma homocysteine ( HHcy ) as an independent risk factor for coronary atherosclerotic heart disease ( CHD) has been widely received clinical attention.Some detection methods and clinical research for patients with CHD are constantly developing.Enzymatic cycling assay, the most commonly used method at present, represents important application value in the aspects of disease occurrence, severity prediction and therapeutic monitoring for CHD.

AIM: To examine the relationship between corneal lymphangiogenesis and hemangiogenesis after keratoplasty.METHODS: Nineteen human corneas were obtained from 19 patients undergoing a second corneal transplantation in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center in 2005. Blood and lymphatic vessels in human transplanted corneas were identified by lymphatic vessel endothelial receptor(LYVE-1) and platelet endothelial cell adhesion modecule-1(PECAM-1) immunohistochemistry, and double enzyme-histochemistry; then the association of corneal blood vessel counting (BVC) with lymphatic vessel counting (LVC) was examined.RESULTS: Corneal hemangiogenesis was present in 12 cases (63%), and lymphangiogenesis occurred in 5 cases (26%) of human transplanted corneas. In addition, corneal lymphangiogenesis was only present in vascularized corneas. LVC was strongly and positively correlated with BVC(r=0.725;P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Corneal lymphangiogenesis develops after keratoplasty, and strongly associates with hemangiogenesis.

Objective To discuss the technical points, safety and clinical effectiveness of DSA-guided percutaneous acetabuloplasty (PA) for the treatment of acetabular metastases. Methods Fifteen patients, including 6 males and 9 females, with acetabular malignant metastases were enrolled in this study.A total of 19 lesions were detected. The lesions were 13 - 25 mm in size (mean 19 ± 4 mm), the dose of PMMA used for per lesion was 5 - 13 ml (mean 8.2 ± 2.3 ml). All patients complained of greater or less degree of pain in their hips, 8 patients had to use walking stick, 4 patients showed limping although they could walk independently and three patients could not walk alone. DSA-guided percutaneous acetabuloplasty was performed in all patients and follow-up after the procedure was conducted for 1 - 12 months. Visual analogue score (VAS), walking state score and analgesic dosage taken by the patients were used for the evaluation of the clinical effectiveness. The complications were analyzed. All the data obtained were statistically analyzed with paired samples t test and analysis of variance by using SPSS12.0 statistical software.Results The procedure was technically successful in all patients. Pain rating evaluated by the VAS decreased from a mean of 7.8 before surgery to a mean of 4.2 in 24 hours after surgery (P < 0.01 ), which further decreased to 2.5 in one month (P < 0.01 ), while walking state score increased from a mean of 1.5before surgery to a mean of 2.5 in 24 hours after surgery (P < 0.01 ). The analgesic dosage taken by the patient was reduced in 14 patients and remained the same in one patient. The bone cement leakage into paraacetabular soft tissues occurred in three cases and peripheral vascular exudation of acetabulum was observed in three cases with no obvious clinical symptoms. Conclusion As a safe, reliable and minimally-invasive technique, DSA-guided percutaneous acetabuloplasty has excellent anti-pain effect in treating acetabular metastases. This therapy can markedlyimprove the patient's walking ability and the quality of life.

Objective To assess the application of three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography (3D-DSA) in evaluation of ruptured intracranial aneurysm after clipping and to discuss the different variable use of vol-ume rendering(VR), gradient rendering (GR) and maximum intensity projection (MIP). Methods From January 2011 to December 2012 , 88 patients with 92 ruptured intracranial aneurysms were treated with clipping using titani-um clips in our hospital and followed up by both 2D-DSA and 3D-DSA. Residual aneurysms , Clips place, clips and parent arteries and stenosis of parent arteries were evaluated by volume rendering (VR), gradient rendering (GR) and maximum intensity projection (MIP). Results Among 92 clipped aneurysms, 23 residual aneurysms were found by 3D-DSA. Residual aneurysms were recorded according to the Sindou grade: 15 of gradeⅠ, 3 of gradeⅡ, 4 of grade Ⅲand 1 of grade Ⅳ. Three patients of grade Ⅲand 1 of grade Ⅳwith residual aneurysms were retreated by clipping or coiling, and 1 patient of grade Ⅲ was dead with rupture of residual aneurysm. The clips and number of clips were clearly visualized , and relationship between the clips and the aneurysms was well demonstrated by VR, GR and MIP images. VR, GR images showed the remnants clearly. Three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography did not showed accurate details of the stenosis of parent arties which required an analysis of 2D-DSA. Conclusion Three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography can be used for definite evaluation of resid-ual aneurysms after clipping, especially by VR, GR images. It is helpful to manage the residual ruptured aneurysms.

Objective To investigate the indication and result of parental artery occlusion, embolization with coils, stents in treatment of the traumatic carotid artery pseudoaneurysm. Methods There were six patients with traumatic carotid artery pseudoaneurysm including three patients of cavernous pseudoaneurysm combined with carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF), two with simple traumatic carotid artery pseudoaneurysm and one with traumatic carotid artery pseudoaneurysm that was found after CCF embolization with detachable balloon. The treatment included balloon occlusion for CCF and traumatic carotid pseudoaneurysm in one patient, coil embolization in three and intenal carotid artery balloon occlusion in two. The Clinical manifestations, imaging data, choice of treatment, clinical efficacy, follow-up data and literatures were analyzed to discuss the indications for three treatments. Results There was no cerebral ischemia or surgically-related complication. No epistaxis occurred. The eyeball protrusion restoration was found in three patients and intracranial bruit vanishing in three. Vision was improved one patient after half a year follow-up. The pupils shrank in three patients during follow - up. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed no recurrence of pseudoaneurysm. Conclusions Endovascular treatment is the preferred choice of treatment for traumatic carotid artery pseudoaneurysm. The occlusion or parent artery balloon occlusion can be used when the pseudoaneurysm is combined with CCF. Coil embolization can be used for shoes with narrow neck, stent technology combined with coil embolization for those with wide neck and the covered stent for the rock section of the internal carotid artery.

Objective To compare the differences of disease spectrum between patients with brain trauma injury (TBI) in the high altitude areas and those in the plain areas.Methods The front page information of medical records of local TBI patients admitted to military hospitals from 2001 to 2007 was extracted from the Chinese Trauma Database.Ten military hospitals from high altitude areas (high altitude group) and 10 military hospitals with the same hospital level from plain areas (plain group) were selected and the patients in the two groups were compared for their differences in general condition and disease spectrum.Results High altitude group displayed a larger proportion of male patients (P＜0.01),a lower age (P＜0.01),a smaller proportion of patients with Han nationality (P＜0.01),asmaller proportion of emergency patients (P＜0.01),a larger proportion of critically ill patients (P＜0.01),a lower median of hospital days (P＜0.01),a lower operation rate (P＜0.01),as compared with the plain group.The injury of the patients with TBI in turn were intracranial organ injury (excluding those with skull fracture),open wound of head,neck,and trunk,skull fracture,injury of nerves and spinal cord.The orders of TBI disease spectrum of the high altitude and plain groups were the same,but the disease compositions of the two groups had significant difference (P＜0.01).Conclusions Thereexist significant differences in demographics,admission status and disease spectrum of TBI patients inhigh altitude and plain areas.However,the current clinical treatments of TBI in high altitude areas are usually with reference to the experience in plain areas,which is worthy of paying attention by relevant departments.

Objective To explore the human brain spleen tyrosine kinase(Syk)expression and its correlation with CyclinD1 level.Methods Forty-six glioma samples,confirmed by pathology and performed surgical resection in our hospital from January 2005 to January 2010,including 13 of grade I,9 of grade Ⅱ,5 of grade Ⅲ and 19 with glioblastoma multiforme of grade IV,were chosen; another 5 normal brain tissues from patients with cerebral trauma were chosen as controls.RT-PCR was employed to detect the mRNA levels of Syk and CyclinD 1; and their correlation was analyzed.Results As compared with the normal brain tissues,gliona tissues of grade Ⅰ,l,Ⅲ and IV enjoyed significantly lower mRNA level of Syk and obviously higher mRNA level of CyclinD 1(P＜0.05).The mRNA level of Syk was significantly decreased with the increase of pathological grades,while the mRNA level of CyclinD1 was in the opposite position (P＜O.05); Expression level of Syk in gliomas was negatively significantly correlated with that of CyclinD1(r=-0.832,P--0.000).Conclusion Decreased or missed Syk expression in glioma might suggest that it may have a tumor suppressor gene function,which might be related to decreased expression of CyclinD 1 in glioma.

Identification of the stages of smoking cessation among smokers is essential to improve the rate of smoking cessation. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and factors associated with stages of smoking cessation across the demographic distribution of adult smokers in Malaysia. Data were derived from a population-based study among Malaysian adults aged 18 years and above. Face-to-face interviews were carried out by trained staff using a validated questionnaire to obtain data related to smoking from 4,288 selected respondents. Of 4,288, 438 respondents are current smokers. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with stage of smoking cessation. Approximately 60% (n=269/438) of the current smokers were in the pre-contemplation stage and 40% (n=169/438) were in the contemplation and preparation stages of smoking cessation. The proportion of pre-contemplators was higher among smokers with higher levels of nicotine addiction (71.3%), lower education attainment (71.4%), and those who were single/widowed/divorced (66.9%). Multivariable analysis showed that males, and those who reported low to high level of nicotine addiction were more likely to be in the pre-contemplation stage whilst those in the older age groups were more likely to be in the advanced stage of smoking cessation. The study revealed that the majority of current smokers in Malaysia had no intention to quit smoking within 6 months. Specific interventions targeting males, young adults and smokers with low to high nicotine addiction should be introduced to ensure the smokers proceed to the advanced stage of smoking cessation.