?A great number of miRNAs have been shown to play critical roles in pathological angiogenesis, the oxidative stress response, immune response and inflammation, all of which have been shown to have important roles in the pathogenesis and progression of age- related macular degeneration ( AMD) . Here we reviewed the pathological processes involved in AMD and the roles of miRNAs in these processes, and discussed potential miRNAs-based therapeutics for AMD.

OBJECTIVETo provide quantitative foundation for the diagnosis of atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation by analyzing the various imaging features of normal atlanto-axial joints in neutral position and rotary functional position on the MSCT images.

METHODSForty-one normal volunteers were examined by CT on the atlanto-axial joint in neutral position and rotary functional position. By the observation and measurement of atlanto-dental interval (ADI), lateral atlanta-dental space (LADS), VBLADS and rotating angle of atlas on dentate (RAAD), the imaging manifestations and anatomical characteristics were analyzed and compared. In order to compare VBLADS and RAAD and make a correlation analysis between different age groups, 51 normal volunteers were divided into two groups: age younger than 45 years old group and age older than or equal to 45 years old group.

RESULTSThe dens in neutral position deviated in an angle range of (3.22±0.89)°. The articular facets of lateral atlantoaxial joint in rotary functional position had rotatory displacement and the range of the relative rotation angle was (33.85± 2.79)°. Through the correlation analysis of matching data, it could be concluded that there was no correlation between atlantoaxial relative rotation angle and VBLADS within a certain range. There were statistically differences of atlantoaxial relative rotation angle in rotary functional position between two groups.

CONCLUSIONMSCT imaging in rotary functional position can clearly show the anatomical structure and rotation function of a normal atlanto-axial joint, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the diagnosis of atlanto axial rotatory subluxation.

Adult ; Aged ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; methods ; Rotation

砄bjective: To investigate the role of Candida species in burning mouth syndrome (BMS) in a Chinese cohort. Methods: The studied population comprised 52 BMS patients and 37 healthy controls. An oral rinse technique was used to detect the candidal carriage. The isolates were identified using API 20C AUX Candida identification kit.Results: Candida was found in 3 out of 37 of the controls(8.1%) and in 10 out of 52 BMS patients(19.2%). 25 strains of Candida were isolated from the 10 Candida positive BMS cases, 22 out of the 25 strains were Candida albicans while 3 were Candida prarapsilosis . 7 strains of Candida were isolated from the 3 Candida positive controls and all the 7 were Candida albicans . Conclusion: Candida infection may play a role in the development of BMS, especially in the type 1 subtype.

Objective To study the relationship between serum leptin and thyroid function by investigating the change of serum leptin concentration in children with abnormal thyroid function (hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism).Methods The levels of serum leptin was determined by radio-immunoassay(RIA) in 20 cases of hyperthyroidism, 17 cases of hypothyroidism, 25 cases of normal controls, respectively .Meanwhile, the serum levels of free triiodothyronine(FT 3), free thyroxine(FT 4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) were measured by micro-particle-chemiluminescence immunoassay.Results The levels of serum leptin in hypothyroidism group before treatment was significantly lower than that of normal control groups (P0.05).Conclusions The levels of serum leptin in hypothyroidism markedly descend and no change in the hyperthyroidism. Thyroid hormone can promote the secretion of serum leptin eligibly.

AIM:To investigate the influence of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) on the proliferation of neural stem cells in peri-infarction cortex of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model rats .METHODS: Male SD rats (n=48) were randomly divided into sham group , ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group, RNA interference group and nega-tive interference group .The rat middle cerebral artery was blocked to establish focal cerebral I /R model ( ischemia for 1 h and reperfusion for 7 d).Lentivirus vector of HMGB1 shRNA was used to suppress the HMGB1 protein expression in the rat brain.The effect of RNA interference was evaluated by the methods of double-immunofluorescence labeling of HMGB 1/GFAP and Western blotting .The proliferation of neural stem cells in the peri-infarction cortex was assessed by double labe-ling of BrdU/nestin.RESULTS: The protein expression of HMGB1 in I/R group was much higher than those in sham group (P<0.05).RNA interference effectively inhibited the HMGB1 expression (P<0.05).Double labeled BrdU/nestin positive cells in I/R group were more than that in sham group (P<0.05).The double labeled BrdU/nestin positive cells were significantly decreased in RNA interference group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury promotes the proliferation of neural stem cells in peri-infarction cortex by increasing HMGB 1 protein level .

AIM:To compare the synthesis efficiency of n3 and n6 very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid ( VLC-PUFA ) by overexpressing ELOVL4 protein, providing guidance for treating Stargardt-like macular dystrophy (STGD3).
METHODS:To establish recombinant adenovirus with the ELOVL4 protein and green fluorescent protein, transferred into cultured PC12 cells. The cells were divided into 3 groups: PC12, PC12 + Ad- GFP and PC12 + Ad-ELOVL4, former two groups serve as controls. ELOVL4 gene expression was quantified by qRT-PCRs. ELOVL4 protein was analyzed by Western - Blot ( WB ) . The transduced cells were treated with both EPA and AA (1:1). After 48h of incubation, cells were collected, total lipids extracted and fatty acid methyl esters prepared and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry ( GC-MS) .
RESULTS:When supplemented together, 20:5n3 (EPA) and 20:4n6 ( AA) were efficiently taken up at almost the same amounts in the PC12 cells regardless of ELOVL4 expression. The ELOVL4-expressing cells elongated both EPA and AA to a series of n3 and n6 VLC-PUFAs. From 20:5n3/EPA, 34:5n3 and 36:5n3 account for 0. 71% and 1.6%, respectively. From 20:4n6/DHA, 34:4n6 and 36:4n6 were only 0. 46% and 0. 61%, respectively. The total relative mol% of n3 VLC-PUFAs synthesized from EPA was almost two times that of n6 VLC-PUFAs synthesized from AA.
CONCLUSION: ELOVL4 protein preferentially elongates n3 PUFA to VLC - PUFAs over n6 PUFA. Dietary supplementation of appropriate n3/n6 PUFAs may provide STGD3 patients with some therapeutic benefits.

To assess the postoperative outcomes of piggyback implantation using Acrysof Toric intraocular lens ( lOL ) in high myopia combined with corneal astigmatism.
●METHODS: Sixty patients who had phacoemulsification with lOL implantation due to high myopia, cataract and corneal astigmatism from January 2010 to June 2013 were randomly divided into observation group (piggyback Toric lOL implantation, both an Acrysoft lQ Toric lOL and a minus foldable acrylic three piece lOL were implanted in the capsular bag, n= 30) and control group (foldable lOL implantation, n = 30). Postoperative follow - up went on 6mo. lnformation collected included uncorrected visual acuity ( UCVA), lOL position, residual astigmatism and complications.
● RESULTS: The UCVA increased from 3. 52 ± 0. 03 preoperatively to 4. 78±0. 01 at 6mo postoperatively in the observation group, from 3. 51±0. 03 preoperatively to 4. 30± 0. 13 at 6mo postoperatively in the control group. The observation group's postoperative UCVA was better than that of the control group. There was statistically significant difference ( t = 3. 612, P < 0. 05 ). The preoperative corneal astigmatism was 2. 97 ± 0. 87 (1. 70 -4. 27) D in the observation group and 2. 92 ± 0. 97 (1. 50 -4. 90)D in the control group. The postoperative residual astigmatism was 0. 48 ± 0. 23 ( 0. 25 - 1. 00 ) D in the observation group and 2. 87 ± 1. 11 (1. 00 - 5. 20) D in the control group. There was statistically significant difference postoperatively (t = - 11. 995, P < 0. 05) between the two groups. No complications occurred.
●CONCLUSlON: Piggyback implantation using Toric lOL can help to solve the problem of no matching Toric lOL power for the high myopia combined with corneal astigmatism at the current stage. lt improves the UCVA and reduces the astigmatism after the cataract surgery.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors and clinical characteristics of liver injury in patients with sepsis and to provide a reference for early recognition, early diagnosis, early intervention, and improve the survival rate of patients.Methods:The clinical data of sepsis patients admitted to the department of general intensive care unit (ICU) of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from July 2014 to October 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the occurrence of acute liver injury, patients with sepsis were divided into the liver injury group and the non-liver injury group, and the differences of demographic data, history, history of primary diseases, laboratory indicators on the first time of admission, treatments, the severity of the disease and other indicators were compared and analyzed. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for sepsis-related liver injury.Results:A total of 527 patients with sepsis were enrolled, and 129 patients with acute liver injury, accounting for 24.48%. Compared with the non-liver injury group, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), serum MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), total bile acid (TBA), serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), lactic acid (Lac), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) in liver injury group were significantly increased [APACHEⅡ score: 23.00±10.40 vs. 16.10±8.10, SOFA score: 9.17±4.29 vs. 5.90±3.12, pro-BNP (ng/L): 5 500.0 (1 166.0, 16 865.0) vs. 1 377.2 (448.8, 6 136.5), CK-MB (U/L): 23.0 (13.0, 55.0) vs. 18.0 (13.0, 31.0), TBA (μmol/L): 5.0 (2.4, 12.9) vs. 2.6 (1.4, 4.9), SCr (μmol/L): 146.0 (75.0, 222.0) vs. 71.0 (52.0, 125.8), BUN (mmol/L): 13.4 (8.8, 20.2) vs. 7.9 (4.9, 11.6), Lac (mmol/L): 2.0 (1.4, 4.4) vs. 1.4 (1.0, 2.2), LDH (μmol·s -1·L -1): 6.43 (3.76, 11.99) vs. 4.55 (3.38, 6.63), CRP (mg/L): 113.0 (61.8, 201.0) vs. 95.0 (37.3, 170.1), PCT (μg/L): 3.8 (1.0, 23.3) vs. 0.8 (0.2, 6.4)], prothrombin time (PT), international standard ratio (INR) and activated partial thrombin time (APTT) were significantly longer [PT (s): 19.4±7.6 vs. 16.0±4.0, INR: 1.7±1.0 vs. 1.3±0.5, APTT (s): 54.0±25.8 vs. 44.1±15.1], plasma fibrinogen (FIB), platelet count (PLT), albumin (ALB), and cholesterol (CHOL) were decreased [FIB (g/L): 4.2±2.3 vs. 4.9±1.8, PLT (×10 9/L): 116.3±74.3 vs. 182.7±108.6, ALB (g/L): 25.4±5.5 vs. 27.6±5.5, CHOL (mmol/L): 2.5±1.2 vs. 3.2±1.3], the probability of shock was significantly increased (91.47% vs. 59.19%), and the duration of shock was prolonged [days: 5.0 (2.0, 9.0) vs. 1.0 (0.0, 3.0)], positive rate of microbial culture (81.40% vs. 71.11%), probability of occurrence of drug-resistant bacteria (67.44% vs. 47.99%) were significantly higher, mechanical ventilation time [days: 6.0 (2.0, 12.7) vs. 2.4 (0.0, 6.9)], continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) time [days: 1.2 (0.0, 5.0) vs. 0.0 (0.0, 0.0)], the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay [days: 9.0 (5.0, 18.0) vs. 7.0 (3.0, 13.0)] were significantly longer, 28-day mortality was significantly higher (80.62% vs. 28.89%), and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Further Logistic regression analysis showed that PLT decline, PT prolongation, CRRT duration, shock duration and 28-day mortality were correlated with sepsis-related liver injury [odds ratios ( OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were 0.992 (0.987-0.998), 3.103 (1.507-6.387), 1.198 (1.074-1.336), 1.196 (1.049-1.362), and 0.213 (0.072-0.633), respectively, all P < 0.05]. Conclusions:Prolonged PT and decreased PLT are independent risk factors for sepsis complicated with liver injury. The long duration of CRRT, long duration of shock, and high mortality are independent clinical characteristics of patients with sepsis-related liver injury.

Objective To investigate the effects of intra-articular hyaluronan(HA)injection on the expression of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein(COMP)in synovium of strenuous running rats,and investigate the possibility of predicting the effectiveness of HA based on COMP in synovium.Methods 36 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group,strenuous running group and strenuous running group and HA injection group.Strenuous running group and HA injection group were intra- articularly injected with HA once a week for 5 consecutive weeks.The histological changes of synovium of knee joint was examined by H.E.staining and immunohistochemical expression of COMP in three groups after 6 weeks' strenuous running.Results Synovial inflammation was less severe in strenuous running and HA injection group than strenuous running group(t =7.15,P ＜0.01).The immunohistochemical expression of COMP in rats'synovium of knee joint in strenuous running and HA injection group was significantly lower than that in rats'synovium in strenuous running group(t = 6.30,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Intra- articular HA injection suppressed synovitis,and the expression of COMP in synovium could be used to predict the effectiveness of HA.

Objective To discuss the effects of the changes of sex hormone levels on quality of life and nutritional status in middle-aged and elderly hospitalized men.Methods A total of 150 male patients (aged 45-90 years) were divided into 3 groups according to age:45-59-year (the middle-aged group),60-79 year (the elderly group),and over 80 year (the old old group) (n=50,each group).Levels of serum testosterone,follicle stimulating hormone (FSH),and luteinizing hormone (LH)were detected.The questionnaire (SF-36) and micro-nutrient assessment table (MNA) were conducted.Results Serum testosterone level was significantly lower in the old old group than in the elderly group and middle-aged group [(10.5±2.5) pmol/L vs.(13.1±2.0) pmol/L and (15.6±3.2) pmol/L,respectively,P＜ 0.05].Levels of FSH and LH were significantly higher in the old old group than in the elderly group and middle-aged group [(15.5±7.7)U/L vs.(12.7±5.1)U/L and (9.5±2.9)U/L,(9.8±3.7)U/L vs.(7.8±3.2)U/L and (5.4±2.0) U/L,respectively,P＜0.05].The 8 health latitude scores of SF-36 scale and nutritional status scores were significantly lower in the old old group than in the elderly group and middle-aged group (all P＜0.05).Relation analysis sho wed that age had a negative correlation with serum testocterone level (r=-0.389,P＜0.05),and had positive correlations with the levels of serum FSH and LH (r=0.427,r=0.520,both P＜0.05).After adjusting for age,serum testocterone level was positively correlated with physical functioning,role of physical activity,body pain,general health,vitality,mental health and nutritional status in SF-36 health scale (all P＜0.05),and had no obvious correlation with social function and emotional function health dimensions (all P＞0.05).Conclusions The sex hormone levels are changed with age,which can seriously affect the health state in middle-aged and elderly hospitalized men.