Background Light-induced retinal damage models vary as many influence factors,herein the modeling method is difficult to copy.It is necessary to establish the grading standardization of retinal damage after retinal light exposure.Objective This study was to improve the modeling method and establish a grading standardization for light-induced retinal damage in rat.Methods Twenty-four SPF 8-10 week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and 6 eyes for each group.The rats were exposed to light intense of 5000 lx for 1,2,3 hours respectively in 3 groups,and other 6 rats served as the normal group.Full-field light exposure experiment was performed for each individual rat separately,and an annular illumination box was used tO ensure the experimental rat moving in a single direction and exposing the right eye in 5000 lx light surrounding during experimental duration.Ganzfeid electroretinogram(ERG)was recorded from the experimental rats at the fifth day after light exposure,and the animals were then sacrificed for histopathology observation to evaluate the retinal thickness change.All procedures which involved animals adhered to the ARVO Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research.Results After exposing to intensity light for 1,2,3 hours,the b-wave amplitudes of rod response,maximal mixed response,oscillatory potential in scotopic ERG as well as cone response,20 Hz flicker response of photopic ERG were significant declined as lapse of light exposure time(F=71.690,P=0.000；F=56.250,P=0.000；F=23.610,P=0.000：F=27.130,P=0.000；F=27.030,P=0.000)and lowed by 26.2％,52.5％,70.7％,24.4％,39.3％,58.1％respectively at the end of experiment.Meanwhile,the b-wave latencies of rod response,maximal mixed response in scotopic ERG as well as cone response of photopic ERG were evidently different among different groups (F=1.370,P=0.282；F：0.800,P=0.508；F=11.840,P=0.000；F=2.080,P=0.136).Light induced retinal damage located mainly at the temporal retina area.After intensity light exposure for 1,2,3 hours,the thickness of outer nuclear layer at the superior temporal retina attenuated by 11.3％,25.6％and 72.5％,respectively(P<0.05).A significant difference was seen in mean thickness of outer nuclear layer at superior temporal retina among different groups(F=410.27,P=0.000). Conclusion A standardized grading method for light-induced retinal damage is recommended.The continuous illumination in a intensity of 5000 Ix for 1,2,3 hours can induce the mild,moderate or severe retinal damage respectively at temporal retina.

Background Pupillary light reflex has been widely used in the diagnosis and evaluation of visual system and nervous system diseases.However,in animal experiments,functional evaluation of the visual system and nervous system needs more advanced technology and are affected by many factors.Objective This study was to explore the use of the dynamic pupillometer in evaluating pupillary light reflex and to discuss the influence of brightness of stimulate on relevant curve parameters in C57BL/6 mouse.Methods Ten healthy SPF male C57BL/6 mice were collected in this experiment.White light of five luminance levels (2,8,32,128,256 cd/m2) was used to stimulate the mice following a 2-hour dark adaptation.The stimulation was given at the 60-second intervals,for a duration of 100 ms at every stimulation.An infrared camera and video capture card were used to capture digital images during the measuring process in a scotopic environment,at a speed of 60 frames per second.Measuring outcome was saved in the*.AVI format.A software that was developed by our group was used to determine pupil diameter and output pupillary light reflex curve offline.Pupil initial diameter (R1),constriction amplitude (CA),constriction velocity (CV),latency (T1),time for maximum velocity (T2),time for maximum constriction (T3),time for maximun con-striction to 10.1％ R1 re-dilation (RT)and re-dilation velocity (RV)were assessed,and the correlations between luminosity and measuring parameters were analyzed using the Spearman rank correlation.The use of animals followed the Regulations for thd Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results R1 values showed no statistically significant difference among the 5 different luminosity groups(F=1.117,P=0.361).A positive linear correlation was found between stimulating luminosity and CA(r=0.508,P＜ 0.01),but negative correlations were seen between stimulating luminosity and CV or RV (r=-0.625,-0.609,P＜0.01).T1 and T2 values in the 5 different luminosity groups were not statistically significant (F =0.202,P =0.936 ; F =1.584,P =0.195).The different levels of stimulating luminosity showed positive linear correlations with T3 and RT values (r =0.791,0.609,P＜ 0.01).Conclusions The dynamic pupillometer can quantitatively measure the pupillary light reflex of C57BL/6 mice.The pupillary light reflex dynamic curve parameters of mouse were affected by stimulus luminosity levels.These outcomes offer a basis for the application of the dynamic pupillometer system for measuring pupillary light reflex in animal models.

Anemia ; chemically induced ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pyrophosphatases ; genetics ; Ribavirin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

ObjectiveTo study the imaging characteristics of SPN of adenocarcinoma (ASPNs) on 18F-FDG PET/CT.MethodsThe morphological and metabolic features of 35 ASPNs on FDG PET/CT were retrospectively reviewed.SUVmax (SUV) was measured and ΔSUVmax was calculated according to ΔSUVmax =(SUVmax on delay imaging - SUVmax on early imaging)/SUVmax on early imaging × 100％.Statistical analysis was performed by software SPSS 11.5 using t-test,analysis of variance and Fisher exact test.Results( 1 ) Fifteen ASPNs (42.86％,15/35) presented as nodular pattern on FDG PET imaging,while 20 (57.14％,20/35) as lamellar,cloudy or ill-defined patterns.The SUVmax of these ASPNs followed a descending order of nodular,lamellar,cloudy and ill:defined on both early and delay imaging (F =30.696 and 24.758,both P＜0.001).(2)There were 54.29％ (19/35) ASPNs with SUVmax ≥2.5 and 45.71％ (16/35) ASPNs with SUVmax ＜2.5.(3) Of 35 ASPNs,24(68.57％ ) were solid nodules and 11(31.43％) were ground glass nodules with SUVmax =4.54 ±2.69 and 1.30±0.87,respectively (t =-5.234,P ＜O.001 ).(4) The SUVmax of ASPNs on delay FDG imaging (4.22 ±3.52) was significantly higher than that on early imaging (3.49 ±2.72) (t =-4.021,P ＜0.001 ).However,SUVmax was dependent on SUVmax on the early imaging:when SUVmax ≥2.5,ΔSUVmax was positive in 94.74％ (18/19) of ASPNs; while SUVmax ＜2.5,ΔSUVmax was positive in 56.25％ (9/16) of ASPNs (P =0.013).(5) Of 31 ASPNs with cell differentiation data,there were 10/17 well-differentiated ASPNs and 13/14 poorly-differentiated ASPNs with positive ΔSUVmax ( P =0.045 ).The average SUVmax of well-differentiated ASPNs was significantly lower than that of poorly-differentiated ASPNs ( 1.70 ± 1.51 vs 4.91 ± 2.69,t =- 3.951,P ＜ 0.001 ).Conclusions The morphological and metabolic features of ASPNs are diversified.It is common for ASPN to present with SUVmax ＜ 2.5.ΔSUVmax may be helpful for differentiating malignant from benign SPNs.

α-HgS is the main component of traditional Chinese medicine cinnabar, while β-HgS is the main component of Tibetan medicine Zuotai. However, there was no comparative study on the dissolution and absorption in gastrointestinal tract and bioaccumulation in organs of mercury in Cinnabar, Zuotai, α-HgS and β-HgS. In this study, the dissolution process of the four compounds in the human gastrointestinal tract was simulated to determine the mercury dissolutions and compare the mercury dissolution of different medicines and the dissolution-promoting capacity of different solutions. To explore the absorption and bioaccumulation of cinnabar and Zuotai in organisms, mice were orally administered with clinical equivalent doses cinnabar and Zuotai. Meanwhile, a group of mice was given α-HgS and β-HgS with the equivalent mercury with cinnabar, while another group was given β-HgS and HgCl2 with the equivalent mercury with Zuotai. The mercury absorption and bioaccumulation capacities of different medicines in mice and their mercury bioaccumulation in different tissues and organs were compared. The experimental results showed a high mercury dissolutions of Zuotai in artificial gastrointestinal fluid, which was followed by β-HgS, cinnabar and α-HgS. As for the mercury absorption and bioaccumulation in mice, HgCl2 was the highest, β-HgS was the next, and a-HgS was slightly higher than cinnabar. The organs with the mercury bioaccumulation from high to low were kidney, liver and brain. This study is close to clinical practices and can provide reference for the clinical safe medication as well as a study model for the safety evaluation on heavy metal-containing medicines by observing the mercury dissolution, absorption, distribution and accumulation of mercury-containing medicines cinnabar and zuotai.
Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mercury ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Mercury Compounds ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Mice ; Solubility

OBJECTIVETo investigate the early prognostic values of arterial lactate and base excess (BE) in patients with paraquat poisoning.

METHODSSeventy-five patients with paraquat poisoning were divided into sudden death group (n = 10) who died within 24 h after admission, recent death group (n = 31) who died more than 24 h after admission, and survival group (n = 34). Arterial lactate and BE were measured on admission and at 24 h after admission. The prognostic values of arterial lactate and BE were analyzed.

RESULTSThe arterial lactate measured on admission was significantly higher in the sudden death group than in the recent death group and survival group (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in arterial lactate between the recent death group and survival group (P = 0.309). The BE measured on admission was significantly lower in the sudden death group than in the recent death group and survival group, and it was significantly lower in the recent death group than in the survival group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). At 24 h after admission, the recent death group had a significantly higher arterial lactate (P < 0.01) and a significantly lower BE (P < 0.01), as compared with the survival group. The logistic regression analysis showed that the two indices were significantly associated with prognosis (P < 0.01). On admission, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCs) of arterial lactate and BE for predicting death were 0.692 and 0.787, respectively, and the cut-off values were 3.25 mmol/L and -1.75 mmol/L, respectively; the AUCs of arterial lactate and BE for predicting sudden death were 0.995 and 1, respectively, and the cut-off values were 7.1 mmol/L and -12.8 mmol/L, respectively. At 24 h after admission, the AUCs of arterial lactate and BE for predicting death were 0.743 and 0.822, respectively, and the cut-off values were 2.15 mmol/L and -5.55 mmol/L, respectively.

CONCLUSIONArterial lactate and BE have certain values in predicting the death, especially the sudden death, in patients with acute paraquat poisoning.

Adult ; Aged ; Arteries ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; diagnosis ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anatomic feature of the canal isthmus of mandibular permanent incisors by Micro-CT.

METHODSThirty-three mandibular permanent incisors with two canals were selected through the radiograph in proximal view. These teeth were then scanned using Micro-CT and reconstructed. The scanning layer thickness was 20 microm. We observed the apical 6 mm of the 33 roots, and 300 sections were gained each tooth, giving a total of 9900 sections. The numbers of canals at each level in the apical 6 mm were recorded. The numbers of sections showing isthmuses at each level of the root canals were recorded too. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square statistic to test the null hypothesis that location of the sections in each of the apical 6 mm and presence of the isthmus were independent. The minimum root canal wall thickness was measured in each of the apical 6 mm of the roots.

RESULTSIsthmuses were found to be present at all levels with prevalence from 10.0% to 85.5%. The Chi-square test indicated a significant difference in the distribution of isthmuses with section (P = 0.0O1). The incidence of isthmuses was higher at the apical 3-6 mm level, and the highest incidence (85.5%) was at 5 mm level. There were many more sections containing complete isthmuses (49.7%) than those containing partial isthmuses (4.5%). The thickness of the minimum root canal was less than 0.5 mm.

CONCLUSIONThe mandibular incisors have a high incidence of isthmus and are narrow in proximal direction. Debridement of the isthmus is a major challenge during surgical and nonsurgical root canal treatment.

Dental Pulp Cavity ; Humans ; Incisor ; Mandible ; Molar ; Tooth Apex ; X-Ray Microtomography

OBJECTIVETo investigate changes in serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and their significance in children with left-to-right shunt congenital heart disease (CHD) associated with heart failure (HF).

METHODSTwenty healthy children (control group), 20 children with HF, without basic heart disease (HF group), 20 children with left-to-right shunt CHD, without HF (CHD group), and 30 children with left-to-right shunt CHD associated with HF (CHD+HF group) were included in the study. These groups were compared in terms of serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels. According to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification, the CHD+HF group was further divided into NYHA-II, NYHA-III and NYHA-IV subgroups and the subgroups were compared in terms of serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels. The correlation of serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels with serum cTnI level in the CHD+HF group was analyzed.

RESULTSThe CHD group showed decreased serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels compared with the control group (P<0.01). The CHD+HF group showed a significantly decreased serum IGF-1 level compared with the control group (P<0.01) and CHD group (P<0.05). The HF group had significantly increased serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels compared with other groups (P<0.01). The NYHA-II subgroup had the highest serum IGF-1 level and the NYHA-IV subgroup had the lowest serum IGF-1 level (P<0.01). In the CHD+HF group, serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were negatively correlated with serum cTnI level (r=-0.692, P<0.05; r=-0.530, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSerum IGF-1 level can be used as an objective condition evaluation indicator for CHD, and low serum IGF-1 level is a risk factor for HF. This also provides a clinical basis for treatment of HF using exogenous IGF-1.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; blood ; Heart Failure ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; analysis ; Male ; Troponin I ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors affecting clinical therapeutic effect on acute tetramine poisoning.

METHODSUsing Logistic regression to analyze the relationships among the degree of tetramine poisoning, time of onset, time of admission, exposure history, sex, age, unithol, gastric lavage, etc with the death of poisonded patients.

RESULTSThe fatality rate of patient with tetramine poisoning who got gastric lavage was less than that who did not (5.85% vs 38.00%, P < 0.01). In patients who got gastric lavage, the fatality rates were increased with the degree of tetramine poisoning (control: 0%, mild poisoning: 3.07%, severe poisoning: 9.14%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in fatality between using unithol and not using patients (7.22% vs 8.25%, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUnithol has no significant influence of clinical therapeutic effect on tetramine poisoning patients and dose not reduce the fatality rate of patient with tetramine poisoning, but gastric lavage and the degree of tetramine poisoning do. Logistic regression analysis showed that gastric lavage is the main factor affecting the therapeutic effect on tetramine poisoning.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antidotes ; therapeutic use ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; poisoning ; Child ; Female ; Gastric Lavage ; methods ; Humans ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Poisoning ; mortality ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Unithiol ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo assess a multi-center study effectiveness of clinical pathways based on integrative medicine (IM) for chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.

METHODSA combined method of historical control study and clinical study on concurrent control was used. After the standard management for clinical pathways was carried out in four hospitals at home, the effects on hospitalization days, medical expenses, clinical efficacy, patient satisfaction, and quality of life were assessed.

RESULTSResults of non-concurrent historical control study showed that: the hospital stay was significantly shorter in the pathways group than in the retrospective group (12.59 days vs 18.44 days), and the total cost of hospitalization was significantly reduced in the pathways group (yen 9 051.90 vs yen 11 978.40), showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Moreover, the effect on the heart function was better in the pathways group than in the retrospective group (the markedly effective rate: 45.60% vs 21.90%; the total effective rate: 96.80% vs 86.10%), showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Results of clinical study on concurrent control showed that the hospital stay was significantly shorter in the pathways group than in the control group (11.19 days vs 13.21 days), showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The average total cost of hospitalization was significantly lower in the pathways group than in the control group (yen 8 656.80 vs yen 11 609.70), showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). As for clinical efficacy of Chinese medical syndrome, the total effective rate was higher in the pathways group than in the control group (97.10% vs 93.62%), showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The markedly effective rate of heart function was better in the pathways group than in the control group, showing statistical difference (49.30% vs 38.30%, P < 0.05). The overall satisfaction was higher in the pathways group than in the conventional group (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the mortality within 3 months after discharge from hospital, and the readmission rate due to heart failure between the two groups (P > 0.05). But there was statistical difference in the quality of life (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe pathway could shorten the hospitalization time, decrease the cost of hospitalization, improve the clinical efficacy, improve patients' quality of life and satisfaction, therefore, it could be spread nationwide.

Chronic Disease ; Critical Pathways ; Heart Failure ; nursing ; therapy ; Hospitalization ; economics ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Length of Stay ; Patient Satisfaction ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome