AIM:To investigate the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer ( RNFL ) thickness and the macular ganglion cell complex ( GCC ) thickness in primary open angle glaucoma ( POAG ) eyes and to compare them with normal control eyes, and to evaluate the diagnostic ability of peripapillary RNFL thickness and macular GCC thickness in POAG.
●METHODS:This was a cross-sectional study consisting of 56 POAG patients. The control group consisted of 60 normal subjects (60 eyes) were matched in terms of age, sex, diopter and axial length. The peripapillary RNFL thickness and the macular GCC thickness of POAG eyes and normal control eyes were measured and compared by RTVue-100 optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) . To assess the diagnostic utility of peripapillary RNFL thickness and macular GCC thickness in POAG, receiver operating characteristic curves ( ROC ) and areas under the ROC ( AUC) were used.
●RESULTS:The POAG eyes had a thinner peripapillary RNFL and macular GCC than the control eyes at all the regions ( P < 0. 001 ). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the peripapillary RNFL thickness and macular GCC thickness was significantly thinner in association with the POAG diagnosis. ROC and AUC analysis showed that the best AUC parameters were C/D (AUC=0. 936; 95% Cl=0. 903, 0. 964) and superior RNFL thickness (AUC=0. 910;95% Cl=0. 889, 9. 455). The AUC of nasal RNFL thickness, inferior RNFL thickness, temporal RNFL thickness, superior GCC thickness, inferior GCC thickness, and average GCC thickness were all above 0. 8 with a good diagnostic value.
●CONCLUSION:The peripapillary RNFL thickness and macular GCC thickness in POAG eyes are thinner than that of normal control eyes. Decreased peripapillary RNFL thickness and macular GCC thickness may be associated with POAG. The peripapillary RNFL thickness and macular GCC thickness have a good diagnostic value.

Objective To evaluate the influence of respiration on the radiation dose distribution within target volume in radiotherapy with film dosimetry. Methods Radiation of 50 MU was delivered by a square, round, ellipse, dumb bell, or female shaped filed to the films within a moving or motionless Respiration Motion Phantom respectively, the dose distributions for the two motion status were measured and compared. In order to further verify the impact of respiration, a plank phantom was used on different shifting value: 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 cm, respectively. A square, round, or eUipse-shaped filed was used for irradiation and the distributions in different status were measured and compared with film dosimetry. Iso-dose line comparison, NAT(Normalized Agreement Tests) and γ comparison were used for the comparison of dose distributions. Fs can be an index to reflect the variability of the areas that surrounded by iso-dose lines. (FS90, FS50, FS25 delegates the ratio of the areas that surrounded by 90 %,50 %,25 % iso-dose hne in different situation respectively). Results (1) Compared with motionless situation, the FS90 in horizontal movement situation became small and the FS25 became large. As the displacement became larger, the FS90 became larger and the FS25 became smaller. FS in vertical movement situation, square and dumb bell fields changed while the others didn't have a change. (2)γ and NAT comparison: In the horizontal movement situation, compared with the static phantom, Pγ < 60 % and PNAT < 75 %. Under vertical movement situation, Pγ were less than 85 % for the square, round, dumb bell and female shaped fileds. In the plank phantom verification, Pγ and PNAT became smaller as the movement became larger. Conclusions The respiration can impact on the dose distribution within the target volume in radiotherapy, leading to a smaller area of higher dose level and an expanded area of lower dose level. The influence will become more significant with larger movement of the target.

Abstract?AIM: To investigate the influence on blood-retina barrier after intense light exposure in rats.?METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into light exposure group and control group. Rats in light exposure group were exposed in white light (10000lux, 12h on-off, continuing 1-14d) .Rats in control group were only exposed in natural light.The eyes of the rats in the two groups were removed when the rats in light exposure group acceptted intense light after 1, 3, 7 and 14d.We observed the change of retinal structure using hematoxylin-eosin ( HE ) staining, and observed the change of retinal ultrastructure using electron microscope.We quantified the change of retinal vascular permeability using laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscope and spectrophotometry after perfusion of Evans-blue, to evaluate the change of blood-retinal barrier.?RESULTS: At 1d after intense light exposure, the retinal ultrastructure of rats changed, such as denaturation of photoreceptor cells and falling of membranous disc outer segment and thinning of the outer nuclear layer thickness, and so on;and the longer the rats exposure to intense light, the more serious change of the retinal ultrastructure were found.At 3d later, photoreceptor cells began apoptosis.At 14d later, the outer nuclear layer became thinner obviously, and the number of cells reduce obviously.At 1d after intense light exposure, EB leaked from the retinal vascular, and at 14d later the leaking of EB was more obvious.?CONCLUSION: The photoreceptor cell of the outer nuclear layer of retina will degenerate and apoptosis, and the outer nuclear layer will be thinner, and the structure and function of blood-retinal barrier will be destroied, if the eyes of rats exposed in intense light.

OBJECTIVETo observe anti-atherosclerotic effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Granule (XZU) and Danlou Tablet (DT) on blood lipids, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signal pathway in atherosclerosis (AS) model rats, and to explore their potential mechanisms.

METHODSForty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Atorvastatin group, the DT group, the XZG group, 8 in each group. Rats in the normal control group were fed with basic forage for 12 weeks, while rats in the other four groups were fed with high fat forage plus intraperitoneal injection of vitamin D3 to build AS model. Then rats in the model control group, the Atorvastatin group, the DT group, the XZG group were administered with normal saline, Atorvastatin suspension (0.18 mg/mL), DT suspension (45 mg/mL), and XZG (1 g/mL) by gastrogavage for 8 successive weeks, respectively. After intervention serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, and PDGF were detected by ELISA. Pathological changes in thoracic aorta were observed by HE staining. Protein expression levels of ERK1/2 and pERK1/2 in thoracic aorta were measured by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, serum TC, TG, LDL-C, PDGF levels, and expression levels of ERK1/2 and pERK1/2 significantly increased (P <0. 05) in the model control group. HE staining showed irregular intimal thickness, accumulated endothelial foam cells, lipids deposited, disarranged media VSMCs, forming typical AS plaque. Compared with the model group, TC and PDGF levels decreased in all medicated groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Serum levels of TG and LDL-C significantly decreased in the Atorvastatin group and the DT group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Expressions of ERK1/2 and pERK1/2 significantly decreased in the Atorvastatin group, the DT group, and the XZG group (P < 0.01). HE staining also showed typical AS plaque in three medicated groups, but with reduced pathological degree of endometrial hyperplasia and plaque area.

CONCLUSIONSXZG and DT could reduce the plaque area and attenuate pathological degree of AS in model rats, thereby postponing the progress of AS. Its mechanism might be achieved through reducing serum lipids and release of PDGF, inhibiting ERK signal pathway activation and VSMC proliferation.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; Lipids ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tablets

Objective To analyze the changes of clinical and pathological features in the patients of IgA nephropathy with anemia.Methods Four hundred and nine patients of IgA nephropathy diagnosed by renal biopsy were classified into two groups:IgA nephropathy with nonanemia (group 1) and IgA nephropathy with anemia (group 2).Changes were studied retrospectively between the groups.Results Serum hemoglobin level was correlated with the clinical parameters of IgA nephropathy.Companed to group 1,changes in group 2 were as followed:serum creatinine increased,eGFR decreased,proteinuria increased; the global sclerosis,segmental sclerosis,crescents and tubulointerstitial lesions worsened.The glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions were negatively correlated with serum hemoglobin and eGFR,but positively correlated with serum uric acid and proteinuria (P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that anemia was an independent risk factor for the tubulointerstitial lesion.Conclusion Clinical feature and pathological damages in the patients of IgA nephropathy with anemia are more serious than those with non-anemia.

BACKGROUND:Most stroke patients affected walking dysfunction. Virtual reality-enhanced body weight-supported treadmil training has been proposed as a strategy for gait training of cerebral infarction subjects.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality-enhanced body weight-supported treadmil training on lower limb motor function in subacute cerebral infarction patients.
METHODS:Twenty cerebral infarction patients (within 3 months of onset) were randomly divided into experiment group (virtual reality-enhanced body weight-supported treadmil training) and control group (conventional physiotherapy). Three-dimensional gait analysis in lower limb motor function was carried out before and after 3-week gait training. Intergroup and intragroup comparisons in the fol owing parameters were done before and after training:walking speed, cadence, step time, single limb support time (%), double limb support time (%), nonparetic swing (%), step length, pace, range of motion in the lower limb, functional ambulation category, Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the lower limbs and Brunel Balance Assessment.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:No significant differences in patient’s gender, age, course of disease, affected. side, walking speed, functional ambulation category, Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the lower limbs and Brunel Balance Assessment were detected between the two groups before training (P>0.05). Fugl-Meyer Assessment and functional ambulation category were improved in patients of the two groups after training (P<0.05). The improvement in walking speed, cadence, step time in affected side, step time in healthy side, single limb support time in affected side (%), nonparetic swing (%), pace, step lengths in affected and healthy sides were better in the experimental group than those in the control group.

Objective To predict a value of ischemia modified albumin (IMA) levels for assessing secondary cerebral infarction in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) in anterior circulation.Methods 105 patients with TIA in anterior circulation admitted to the hospital within 3 hours were retrospectively studied.Combined with ABCD2 score,the correlations of IMA levels at 3 h,6 h and 12 h with secondary cerebral infarction after anterior circulation TIA were analyzed.Results IMA level was 75.28 u/L within 3h after TIA,and the sensitivity and specificity of TIA in anterior circulation were 66.7％ and 76.2％ respectively.In the total of 105 patients,16 cases (15.2％) suffered from secondary cerebral infarction within 7d,and 21 cases (20.0％) within 8～30d.The serum IMA levels were (87.43±19.89)U/L,(63.88±12.51)U/L and (61.21±12.28)U/L at 3h,6h and 12h after TIA,respectively.A simple analysis showed that there was a linear correlation between the IMA level and ABCD2 scores (P=0.000,r=0.666).Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the increased IMA level within 3h,and moderate to high ABCD2 score were the risk factors for secondary cerebral infarction after TIA in anterior circulation (P=0.012,0.041).Conclusions Early detection of IMA has a clinical value similar to ABCD2 score to predict secondary cerebral infarction in patients with TIA in anterior circulation.

Objective To determine the impact of fluorine and aluminum,and both action combined on the number of rat osteoclasts and bone resorption cultured in vitro and to explore its mechanisms.Methods The osteoclasts and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) isolated from long bone of new born rats were cultured,respectively,in TC199 medium (containing 10％ fetal bovine serum) with fluoride,aluminum and fluoride combined with aluminum.The osteoclasts were inoculated in 96-well culture plate and ivory slice,BMSCs in 6-well culture plate,and culture medium was changed after 2 hours incubation.The cells were divided into control group,fluoride group,aluminum group and fluoride combined with aluminum group; the doses of sodium fluoride were 0,1.0 × 10-4,0,1.0 × 10-4 mol/L and the doses of aluminum chloride were 0,0,1.0 × 10-5,1.0 × 10-5 mol/L,respectively.Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining positive cells were counted under light microscope after TRAP staining on the 5th day and the pit formed in ivory slices were measured by histomorphometry after staining with toludine blue.The expression of osteoprotegerin(OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR in BMSCs after 8 h treatment.Results ① Fluoride,aluminum and the interactive effects of fluoride and aluminum all had impact on the numbers of osteoclasts (F =7.15,6.56 and 7.98,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).The numbers of osteoclasts in fluoride group,aluminum group and fluoride combined with aluminum group[(136.9 ± 22.99),(135.4 ± 23.5),(163.0 ± 24.4) per well] were higher than that in the control group[(92.5 ± 22.1) per well,all P ＜ 0.05].② Fluoride,aluminum and the interactive effects of fluoride and aluminum all had impact on the resorption pit area on ivory slices(F =10.47,12.64,14.29,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).The resorption pit area on ivory slices in fluoride group,aluminum group and fluoride combined with aluminum group[(0.242 ± 0.031),(0.293 ± 0.026),(0.333 ± 0.016)mm2 per slice] was higher than that in the control group [(0.088 ± 0.030)mm2 per slice,all P ＜ 0.05].③Fluoride,aluminum and the interactive effects of fluoride and aluminum all had impact on the expression ratios of RANKL/OPG in BMSCs (F =8.15,15.38,23.59,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).The expression ratios of RANKL/OPG in BMSCs in fluoride group,aluminum group and fluoride combined with aluminum group [(193.98 ± 137.93)％,(326.11 ± 176.78)％,(599.84 ± 275.82)％] were higher than that in the control group[(100.00 ± 56.02)％,all P ＜ 0.05].Conclusions Both fluoride and aluminum can cause increase in the number of osteoclasts in vitro and promote cell differentiation and bone resorption activity,which may be related to increased expression ratio of RANKL/OPG mRNA in BMSCs.The stimulating effects of fluoride on osteoclasts differentiation and bone resorption is enhanced by aluminum.

Objective To determine the effects of fluoride on osteoclasts's quantity and bone resorption function in vitro and its mechanisms. Methods The osteoclasts and bone marrow stromal cells(BMSCs) isolated from long bone of new born rats were cultured respectively in TC199 medium (containing 10% fetal bovine serum) with fluoride. The osteoclasts were inoculated in 96-well culture plate and ivory slice, BMSCs were inoculated in 6- well culture plate, respectively, medium were changed after 2 hours incubation. They were divided into control group, low-dose fluoride, medium-dose fluoride and high-dose fluoride groups, the doses of sodium fluoride were 0,2.5 × 10-5,5.0 × 10-5,10.0 × 10-5 mol/L, respectively. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP) staining positive cells were counted under light microscope after TRAP staining on the 2nd and the 5th day and the pit formed in ivory slices were measured by histomorphometry after staining with toludine blue. The expression of receptor activator of NK-κβ ligand(RANKL) and osteoprotegerin(OPC) was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative (337.5 ± 70.5), (447.5 ± 43.4), (472.9 ± 34.8), (475.3 ± 24.3)/well in the control group, the low-dose, mediumdose and high-dose fluoride groups, respectively. The differences were statistically significant between these groups and the control group (all P < 0.05). After in vitro culture for 5 days, the numbers of osteoclasts were (92.5 ± 22.1), (123.0 ± 26.4), (135.5 ± 22.2), (136.9 ± 23.0) per well in the control group, the low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose fluoride groups, respectively. The differences were statistically significant between these groups and the (0.088 ± 0.030), (0.100 ± 0.018), (0.152 ± 0.015), (0.242 ± 0.031 )mm2 per piece in the control group, the lowdose, medium-dose and high-dose fluoride groups, respectively. The values of medium-dose and high-dose fluoride BMSCs in the control group, the low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose fluoride groups were 100.00 ± 56.02, 144.95 ± 97.21,223.25 ± 184.48,193.98 ± 137.93, respectively. The values of medium-dose and high-dose fluoride groups were significantly higher than that of control group (all P < 0.05). Conclusions Fluoride can cause increase in the number of osteoclasts in vitro and promote their cell differentiation and bone resorption activity, which may be related to increased expression ratio of RANKL/OPG mRNA in BMSCs.

Objective To evaluate the association of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA),diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the ABCD2 score assessments with secondary cerebral infarction after transient ischemic attack (TIA).Methods Intracranial vascular MRA,cranial DWI and ABCD2 score were retrospectively analyzed in 162 cases with TIA.The impact of TIA on survival time was assessed using the univariate Kaplan-Meier curve by Log-rank test.Hazard ratio (HR) and 95 ％ confidence interval (CI) of secondary cerebral infarction after TIA predicted by MRA,DWI and ABCD2 score were analyzed by Cox multivariable regression.Results Among the 162 patients with first attack of TIA,86 cases (53.1 ％) developed cerebral infarction within 90 d,of which 22 cases (13.6％) developed secondary cerebral infarction within 0 7 d,27 cases (16.7％) within 8～30d and 37 cases (22.8％) within 31-90 d.Single factor analysis by Kaplan-Meier curve showed that moderate to severe intracranial vascular stenosis diagnosed by MRA,positive DWI and moderate to high ABCD2 score were obviously related to cerebral infarction after first attack of TIA (all P＜0.001 or 0.01).Cox multifactor risk model indicated that age ≥70 y,moderate to severe intracranial vascular stenosis,positive DWI,moderate to high ABCD2 score were the risk factors for secondary cerebral infarction within 90 d after TIA (HR=1.782,2.245,1.964,1.204,95％CI:1.171-2.256,1.627 3.097,1.273-3.031,1.050-1.381,respectively,P＜0.05,0.01 or 0.001).Conclusions Intracranial artery stenosis examination may be more valuable than DWI and ABCD2 score in evaluating the outcome of TIA.