Background Auto-fluorescence(AF)imaging is a new non-invasive fundus examining technology.It is now playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis of retinal diseases.Using a confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope microscope(cSLO),two types of AF can be obtained:melanin-related near-infrared fundus auto-fluorescence(NIA)and lipofuscin-related fundus auto-fluorescence(FAF).Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome between NIA and FAF in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).Methods FAF,NIA imaging and fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)were performed on 28 eyes of 23 subjects using a cLSO.AF images were evaluated and compared with angiographic findings.Written informed consent was obtained before the initiation of this study.Results In 17 eyes of 15 cases with acute CSC,the leakage points on the FFA image showed three kinds of AF patterns:(1)hyper-AF,including FAF hyper-AF in 2 eyes(11.76％)and NIA hyper-AF in 4 eyes(23.53％).(2)Non-AF,including FAF non-AF in 10 eyes(58.82％)and NIA non-AF in 13 eyes(76.47％).(3)Normal AF,including normal AF of FAF in 5 eyes(29.42％).The AF in the retinal serous detachment area showed two kinds of characteristics:(1)hypo-AF,including 12 eyes(70.59％)with FAF hypo-AF and 10 eyes(58.82％)with NIA hypo-AF.(2)hyper-AF,including 5 eyes(29.41％)with FAF hyper-AF and 7 eyes (41.18％)with NIA hyper-AF.In 11 eyes of 8 cases with chronic CSC,the leakage on the FFA also showed an absence of AF.However,AF-absent areas also partly appeared in the non-leakage area of FFA.In NIA,the non-AF areas were often more visible than that in FAF.Serous detachment areas in chronic CSC usually displayed multiple AF forms,including granular-like non-AF,hyper-AF and hypo-AF,and the abnormal AF areas were often greater than that of the corresponding abnormal fluorescent area in FFA.Conclusions AF can be used to detect the functional status and metabolic activity of RPE in CSC eyes.

Background The early diagnosis and treatment is vital for the age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Previous examining methods were fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)and optical coherence tomography (OCT).However,a new diagnostic technique,fundus autofluorescence(FAF),is applying in ophthalmology.objective This study was to observe the FAF characteristics of atrophic AMD. Methods Thirty-nine eyes of 28 patients with atrophic AMD were diagnosed and collected in our hospital and classified based on the criteria of Chen Song.FAF was performed by a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope(Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2,HRA2).Characteristics of FAF images were compared with FFA images or color fundus photographs.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to the examination. Results Areas with abnormal increased or decreased FAF signals were consisted or unconsisted with funduscopically visible alterations.Seven manifestations of FAF were found in the eyes with preatrophic stage of atrophic AMD,including slight change,focal increase pattern,patchy pattern,linear pattern,lacelike pattern,reticular pattern,and speckled pattern.In atrophic stage of atrophic AMD,geographic atrophy showed a well-defined hypoautofluorescence area;while non-geographic atrophy showed a ill-defined hypoautofluorescence area.There were three abnormal FAF patterns(focal,band and diffuse)in the junctional zone of geographic atrophy and diffuse pattern in the junctional zone of non-geographic atrophy. Conclusion FAF imaging is helpful for the diagnosis of atrophic AMD as a new non-invasive technique.

Objective To investigate the effects of GGNBP2 on proliferation,migration and invasion of human gli-oma U251 cells and the potential mechanism. Methods U251 glioma cells were transfected with lentiviral vector carrying GGNBP2 to establish a stable overexperssion of GGNBP2 in U251 cell line. After verification of the efficiency of transfec-tion by real-time PCR, Western Blot, PCR and CCK-8 were applied to detect the proliferation of U251 cells. The Tran-swell chamber assay was applied to measure the migration and invasion of human U251 glioma cells. Western blot was applied to measure protein levels of AKT, p-AKT, PCNA and MMP9. Result The stable U251 glioma cell line overex-pressing GGNBP2 was successfully established. Compared with the control group, overexpression of GGNBP2 significant-ly inhibited the proliferation(P<0.05),invasion(57±6 vs. 203±6,205±7,F=512.4,P < 0.05)and migration (74±7 vs. 254±14,248±13,F=242.5,P<0.05) of U251 cells. The protein expression levels of p-AKT (F=45.4, P<0.05), PCNA (F=348.5, P<0.05) and MMP-9 (F=88.7, P<0.05) in GGNBP2 group were markedly decreased compared with the control group. Conclusion GGNBP2 may suppress the proliferation, invasion and migration of glioma though down-regulation of p-AKT, which in turn inhibits PCNA and MMP-9 expression.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus(GEFS+ ). Methods The data of one family with GEFS+ were retrospectively analyzed by studying clinical manifestations, physical examinations, electroencephalogram(EEG), 24 hours dynamic EEG monitoring, et al. Some of the patients were examined by CT. Results Ⅳ 12, her chief complaints when admitted to hospital were frequent spasm for 3 days. She began to appear febrile seizures (FS) from 8 months after birth, and frequent generalized tonic - clonic FS appeared during that time. There were 36 people in 5 generations of the family including 14 patients (8 males and 6 females) ,aged from 4 years and 5 months to 82 years. FS presented in 8 cases (Ⅱ 2, Ⅲ1, Ⅲ4, Ⅲ6, Ⅳ1, Ⅳ11, Ⅳ17, Ⅴ2),febrile seizures plus(FS +) in 4 cases ( Ⅳ2, Ⅳ12, Ⅳ13, Ⅳ14), ES + and absence seizures in 1 case ( Ⅴ1 ), uncertain type in 1 case (Ⅰ2). The results of EEG indicated that 12 cases were normal and 4 cases with FS+ and 1 case with absence seizures had epileptic discharges. Apart form Ⅳ13, Ⅳ14 who were treated with magnesium valproate, the dosage for the other patients decreased, or medicine terminated or without medicine, and all the patients had no recurrence of seizures. The intelligence, movement development and neurological examinations of the family were all normal. Head CT scan of 3 cases were normal. Conclusions GEFS+ is autosomal dominant inheritance disease with conspicuous genetic heterogeneity and phenotypic heterogeneity. The apprehension of GEFS+ plays an important role in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of epilepsy in childhood.

Objective To analyse the follow-up of one family with generalized epilepsies with febrile seizures plus (GEFS +).Methods We conducted a family with GEFS + by sexs,ages, seizure manifestation,electroencephalogram (EEG),and so on.Results There were 36 people in 5 generations of the family in all,including 14 patients(8 cases were male and 16 cases were female).Their ages were from 4 years and 5 months to 8 years.There were 8 cases febrile seizures (FS),4 cases with FS + and 1 case with FS + and absence seizures in 13 patients except 1 case without adequate knowledge.The Results of ECG indicted that 12 cases were normaland 4 cases with FS + and 1 case with absence seizures had epileptic discharges.Conclusions GEFS + is a common kind of inherited epilepsic syndrome and occur in childhood.So it is greatly important for epileptic children to know GEFS +

Objective To identify histopathologic correlates for the various MRI appearances of breast fibroadenomas.Methods Thirty-eight fibroadenomas in 33 patients(aged 24—57 years)examined with gadolonium-enhanced MR imaging were observed for signal intensity on T_2-weighted images,contrast enhancement,shape,and internal septation,and these findings were correlated with histopathologic findings.All cases underwent surgery and were proved by pathology.Results(1)The lesion shape was lobular,or round in 34 of 38 fibroadenomas(89.5%).(2)The signal intensity on T_1-weighted images was less than or equal to that of fibroglandular tissue in all cases.The signal intensity on T_2-weighted images was highly varible:high T_2 signal intensity was associated with more myxomatous stromal(mean myxoid-sclerotic index value of 1.9),higher stromal cellularity(mean stromal cellularity index value of 2.2); Fibroadenomas with low T_2 signal intensity had stromal that was nearly uniformly sclerotic(mean myxoid- sclerotic index values of 2.8)and low stromal cellularity(mean stromal-cellularity index value of 1.2). Significant differences were found between these two groups,x~2=11.267 and x~2=10.415(P0.05).The degree of contrast enhancement was proved to be related to ages of patients.The enhancement was more intensely in younger patients.(5)Internal septations were identified within nine of 33 enhancing fibroadenomas (27.3%)and appeared to correlated with collagenous bands at histopatholigic analysis.Conclusions Fibroadenomas demonstrate marked histopathologic variability.The resultant variability in the MR appearance correlated with the degree of myxomatous or sclerotic and stromal cellularity.Lobulation and internal septation,which appear to reflect intrinsic growth patterns of fibroadenomas,may provide more reliable information for distinction.Familiarity with the diagnostic features would facilitate to make the differential diagnosis correctly.

Objective The construction of suicide plasmid vector could be used to make mutation of pgm gene which attenuates the virulent of Brucella melitensis strain 16, the research may lay a foundation for the development of novel live attenuated vaccines. Methods Sucrose sensitive gene as forward screening sign and fusion sequences of kanamycin resistance gene were constructed based on plasmid pucl9; pucS1.6K suicide plasmid vector was established by modifying pgm gene with fusion sequences of kanamycin resistance gene (insertion mutation); pgm gene mutation of Brucella melitensis strain 16 was obtained by electro transformation and mutation was confirmed by PCR amplification. Results The results showed that the identified Brucella melitensis strain 16 pgm gene was inactivated after insertion of kanamycin resistance gene, and the mutant pgm gene DNA fragment length was approximately 3525 bp, in line with expectations, Brucella pgm gene mutant melitensis strain 16 was successfully constructed. Conclusions The construction of suicide plasmid vector and precise mutation of Brucella melitensis strain 16 is successful, the study is not only provided an effective technology platform for constructing mutants of Brucella but also lays a foundation for the development of novel live attenuated vaccines.

To investigate the cardioprotective effect of formononetin (FMN) on no-reflow (NR) after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion and its molecular mechanism based on integrated pharmacology and experimental verification, firstly, human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and myocardial NR rats were used to confirm the estrogenic activity and the effect of alleviating NR of FMN, respectively. Male SD rats were divided into Sham, NR, FMN (20 mg·kg^-1) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 5.0 mg·kg^-1) groups, which were administered once a day for one week, the experiment was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM-LAEC2019095). The pharmacological analysis and in vivo study of NR rats were integrated to reveal the mechanism of FMN improving NR. The results showed that FMN had estrogenic effect and reduced NR by improving cardiac structure and function, reducing NR, ischemic myocardial area and pathological injury of cardiomyocytes. Integrated pharmacology predicts that the mechanism of FMN improving NR is mainly related to phosphatidyinositol-3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signal pathway. Phytoestrogens play a role in cardiovascular protection mainly by activating G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). GPER is also an important regulator in the upstream of PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. This study found that FMN can significantly activate GPER, p-PI3K, p-Akt and phospho-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS). It has good binding ability with GPER and eNOS protein. In this study, through the integration of pharmacology and experimental evaluation, it is revealed that FMN activates PI3K/Akt/eNOS signal pathway by activating GPER, thus significantly improving NR.

BACKGROUNDFundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging is a fast and noninvasive technique developed over the last decade. The authors utilized fluorescent properties of lipofuscin to study the health and viability of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-photoreceptor complex. Observing the intensity and distribution of FAF of various retinal diseases is helpful for ascertaining diagnosis and evaluating prognosis. In this study, we described the FAF characteristics of cystoid macular edema (CME).

METHODSSixty-two patients (70 eyes) with CME were subjected to FAF and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) by a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2 (HRA2)). Characteristics of FAF images were compared with FFA images.

RESULTSFAF intensity in normal subjects was highest at the posterior pole and dipped at the fovea. All cases of CME showed fluorescein dye accumulated into honeycomb-like spaces in macular and formated a typical petaloid pattern or atypical petaloid pattern in the late phases of the angiography. Sixty-one eyes with CME on FAF images showed mild or moderate hyperautofluorescence petaloid pattern in fovea, the FAF patterns of these CME was perfectly corresponding with shape in their FFA images; nine eyes with CME secondary to exudative age related macular degeneration (AMD) showed expansion of the hypoautofluorescence without petaloid pattern in macula.

CONCLUSIONFAF imaging can be used as a new rapid, non-invasive and ancillary technique in the diagnosis of the majority of CME, except for AMD and small part of other fundus diseases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; methods ; Fluorescence ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Lipofuscin ; metabolism ; Macular Edema ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious chronic disease with high incidence, poor prognosis, and a variety of complications. Indoxyl-sulfate (IS) and p-cresol sulfate (PCS) are two typical gut-derived uremic toxins, which are produced by the co-metabolism of intestinal microbes and the host. With the progression of CKD, gut-derived uremic toxins such as IS and PCS accumulate in patients with CKD and thereafter accelerate the progression of CKD. Gut microbiota is closely related with CKD, and targeting gut microbiota to regulate gut-derived uremic toxins synthesis and metabolic pathways may be a promising strategy to delay the progression of CKD. In this paper, the relationship between gut microbiota, gut-derived uremic toxins, and CKD was analyzed, and the strategy to delay the progression of CKD by targeting gut microbiota and uremic toxins metabolism pathway was proposed.