ObjectiveTo evaluate the ability of high resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 3.0 tesla to depict the characterization of human carotid arterial vessel wall and detect atherosclerotic lesions ex vivo in comparison to histopathologic results. MethodsEighteen carotid arteries obtained from 9 elderly donors underwent fat-suppressed T1 - and T2-weighted MR imaging at 3.0 tesla MR system with a mouse coil. Corresponding histological sections were obtained for the comparison. Correlation between MR images and histopathologic slices was obtained by Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient.Cohen K was computed to quantify the agreement between MRI and histopathologic findings.Results Lumen area,intima and media area measured on fat-suppressed T2-weighted images showed stronger correlation with the corresponding histopathologic slices [ MRI vs.histopathology:( 27. 53 ± 6. 77 ) mm2 vs.( 25.83 ±6. 69 ) mm2, r2 ＝ 0. 91,P2 ＝ 0. 024, ( 12.31 ± 3. 31 ) mm2 vs.( 12. 28 ± 3.71 ) mm2, r2 ＝ 0. 70, P2 ＝ 0. 020,Median 12. 29 mm2(Min 1.12 mm2, Max 33.18 mm2) vs.Median 11.62 mm2(Min 0.89 mm2, Max 32. 84 mm2 ), r2 ＝ 0. 74, P2 ＝ 0. 016, respectively]. The Cohen K score between the MR imaging and American Heart Association classifications was 0. 74, which corresponds to a good agreement. Conclusions 3.0 T high-resolution multi-sequence MRI can clearly show the structure of ex vivo carotid artery wall and allow quantitative assessment.Fat-suppressed T2Wimaging has a greater advantagein presenting atherosclerotic lesions.

Background Activation of serum complement system is involved in the pathological process of uveitis and open angle glaucoma.Pathogenesis and pathological characteristics of Posner-Schlossman syndrome (PSS) are similar to uveitis and open angle glaucoma.However,etiology of PSS remains unelucidated.The activation complement in PSS patients' serum is rarely reported.Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the activation of serum complement in PSS patients for PSS pathogenesis.Methods A prospective case-controlled study was designed.The peripheral blood simples of 79 PSS patients were collected from Shenzhen Eye Hospital during December 2013 to December 2015,and the peripheral blood simples were obtained from 83 unrelated healthy blood donors as healthy control group.Immuno-scatter turbidmetry was adopted to detect the common activated components in complement pathway in each group including complement C3 (a vital intersection molecule in the three pathways),C4 (the vital molecule both the complement classical and lectin pathways),split products C3a,soluble membrane attack complex (sC5b-9),C 1q (complement classical pathway),L-ficolin (complement lectin pathway),complement factor Bb (complement alternative pathway),IgG,IgA and IgM.The correlation between serum C3a content and sC5b-9 content in PSS group was analyzed.The serum contents of fabric binding protein 2 (FCN2) (a marker of serum classical pathway),factor Bb (a marker of complement alternative pathway),C3a (the common activation products of three complement activation pathways),and sC5b-9 were assayed by ELISA.This research protocal was approved by Shenzhen Eye Hospital and written informed consent was obtained from each PSS patient prior to any medical examination.Results Compared with normal control group,the serum levels of C3,C4,C3a,sC5b-9,C1q,FCN2,IgG,IgA and IgM were significantly higher in PSS group (Z =-4.743,-2.913,-1.985,-2.620,-2.062,-2.500,-7.010,-6.327,-3.652,all at P ＜ 0.05).The serum complement factor Bb level was 13.87 (9.24,32.00) μg/ml in PSS group,which was significantly lower than 20.51 (12.90,33.50) μg/ml in normal control group (Z =-2.515,P =0.012).Serum C3a content was positively correlated with the serum sC5b-9 content in PSS group (rs =0.832,P＜0.001).Conclusions The serum complement system is activated in PSS patients.Complement alternative pathway,classical pathway and lectin pathway might all be involved in the activative process of complement system.

Background Lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) is a progressive disease,whose clinical features are varied in different stages.It is rarely be reported that clinical findings of different stages and factors of promoting the occurrence and development on LCD in a family.Objective The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of the pedigree and clinical features of different stages in a LCD family,and further to discuss its influence factors.Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in this study.A Chinese family with LCD was enrolled in Shenzhen Eye Hospital from 2015 to 2016.Questionnaires for disease-related history,visual acuity measurement,ocular anterior segment examination and color photography were carried out for all the members of the family.In addition,anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT),laser scanning confocal microscope and corneal endothelium microscope were used to observe the morphology of corneal stroma and changes of corneal endothelial cells.The pedigree chart was drawn by Cyrillic2.1 software and analyzed based on Mendel law.Results This family included 5 generations of 73 members.Patients with LCD were found in each generation with similar morbidity in different gender,which followed the law of autosomal dominant inheritance.Eleven patients were found in 49 members related with Ⅲ1 of this family with the prevalence rate of 22.45％ and onset age at 21-50 years old,and the course of disease was 3-34 years.All of the members had no systemic disease except for two patients (Ⅲ 1 and Ⅲ 5) with hypertension.In the early stage of LCD,some bifurcate striolae appeared in the patients' corneal stroma without symptoms for many years.In the progressive stage,there was corneal irritation symptom accompanying with vision's decrease in the eyes with LCD.The bifurcate striolae were increased,widened and interwoven into lattice lines that the boundaries gradually became fuzzy,then corneal macula was formed because of recurrent corneal infiltration,and eventually resulted in corneal leucoma.High reflection corresponding to the pathologic region was showed by laser scanning confocal microscope and AS-OCT.No significant differences were found in corneal endothelial cell density and the percentage of hexagonal cells between LCD patients and normal phenotype families (t =1.887,P=0.075;t=-0.719,P =0.481).Penetrating keratoplasty was performed in a patient with corneal opacity and serious corneal opacity occurred near the surgical incision one year after the surgery.One patient was diagnosed as LCD 2 years after laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis.One patient was a welder.Conclusions LCD is autosomal dominant inheritance in the family.The clinical manifestations of LCD in the early,progressive and late stage can be seen in the pedigree,which offers a reference for ophthahnologists.Corneal surgery and lesion may induce the onset or aggravation of LCD.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the relevant platelet parameters and the thromboelastographic in-dexes with the the occurrence and development of diabetic vascular complications so as to early find the high-risk group of vascular complications or early patients .Methods According to the WHO diagnostic criteria for diabetes ,268 patients with diabetes and 80 retired people with the physical examination (normal control group) were selected as the research subjects .268 cases were divided into the group A(HbA1c <6 .2% without vascular complications) the group B(HbA1c >6 .5% without vascular complications) and the group C(HbA1c >8 .0% with vascular complications ) .The Siemens ADVIA2120 fully automatic blood analyzer was adopt-ed to detect the platelet parameters of mean platelet volume (MPV) ,platelet distribution width(PDW) ,large-platelet(L-PLT) , MPM and mean platelet concentration(MPC);The TEG@ 5000 coagulation analyzer was adopted to perform the thromboelastogra-phy for detecting the values of R ,K ,Angle A and MA .All obtained data were statistically analyzed .Results L-PLT in the group B and the platelet parameters in the group C had statistical differences compared with the normal control group (P<0 .05) .The val-ues of R ,K ,Angle A in the group B and the values of R ,K ,Angle A and Ma in the group C had statistical differences compared with the normal control group (P<0 .05) .Conclusion Relevant platelet parameters and the thrombelastogram detection have the important significance to help to the clinical diagnosis of diabetic angiopathy ,guide the treatment and the condition monitoring ;the thrombelastogram is more sensitive than the detection of the relevant platelet parameters in early finding the patients with diabetic angiopathy .

Objective To analyze and explore the value of 3 T high resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging for identifying the activity of Takayasu arteritis. Methods Twenty-six consecutive patients with Takayasu arteritis underwent 3.0 T high resolution MR vessel wall imaging on supraortic vessels (according to the classification of Lupi-Herrea , type Ⅰ and Ⅲ were included). Sixteen patients were in active phase and 10 in inactive phase based on the Kerr criteria. The MR vessel wall imaging appearances of Takayasu arteritis were compared between the active phase and inactive phase cases. Results Wall thickening was demonstrated in all involved arteries. There were statistically significant differences between active phase and inactive phase cases in MR appearances including multi-ring thickening of vessel wall (75/80 and 18/50), arterial inner wail enhancement (50/80 and 19/50), obscurity of perivascular fat (55/80 and 18/50,X<'2>=50.39,7.41,13.40,P<0.01). There was also a statistically significant difference in the thickness of carotid artery wall between the two groups [ (3.8±0.2) mm vs (2.5±0.8) mm]. Conclusion 3 T high resolution MR vessel wall imaging is valuable for identifying the activity of Takayasu arteritis.

BACKGROUND: Multiwaled carbon nanotubes can accelerate the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, and exert a therapeutic effect on steroid-induced necrosis of femoral head (SNFH). OBJECTIVE:To investigate the function of multiwaled carbon nanotubes in the establishment of a rabbit model of SNFH. METHODS:Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into three groups. In treatment group, 16 rabbits were given intraglutealy injection of dexamethasone (2.5 mg/kg) every day and injection of 1 mL liquor of multiwaled carbon nanotubes (0.1 g/L) into the bilateral femur medulary space every week. In model group, 16 rabbits were given intraglutealy injection of dexamethasone (2.5 mg/kg) every day and injection of 1 mL normal saline into the bilateral femur medulary space every week. In control group, four rabbits were given intraglutealy injection of 2 mL normal saline every day and injection of 1 mL normal saline into the bilateral femur medulary space every week. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Four weeks after hormone injection, the trabeculae began to exhibit a smal amount of thinner fractures, an accumulation of fatty tissue in the bone marrow were obvious, bone marrow fat cels became bigger and microvascular thrombosis appeared in the model group, while there was no positive histopathological manifestation in the treatment group. This indicates that the multiwaled carbon nanotubes can extenuate pathological damage to the femoral head to a certain extent.

Objective:To investigate the survival prognosis of patients with primary liver cancer and its influencing factors.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 3 106 patients with primary liver cancer who had health insurance for special illness in the Chongqing Malignant Tumor Treatment System from January 2000 to August 2018 were collected. There were 2 559 males and 547 females, aged (60±13)years, with a range from 19 to 95 years. Observation indicators: (1) demographic characteristics; (2) clinical treatment and pathological examination; (3) follow-up and survival; (4) analysis of prognostic factors. Follow-up using telephone interview, outpatient or inpatient reexamination was preformed to detect survival of patients. Follow-up was done once every 3 months within the first year and once a year thereafter up to December 2018. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represent as M (range). Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages. Survival analysis was done after excluding missing data of follow-up. The survival rate was calculated and survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method. The prognostic factors were analyzed after excluding missing data of follow-up, pathological type, and TNM staging. The log-rank test was used for univariate analysis, and COX proportional hazard model was used for multivariate analysis. Results:(1) Demographic characteristics: of the 3 106 patients with primary liver cancer, the number of males and females (gender), cases with age < 30 years, from 30 to 44 years, from 45 to 59 years, from 60 to 74 years, ≥75 years, cases of Han nationality or other ethnic groups, cases being married or other status (marital status), cases with occupation as enterprise unit staff and (or) workers, public institution personnel and (or) civil servants, freelancers and (or) self-employed entrepreneurs, unemployed, company staff, and other professionals were 2 559, 547, 35, 362, 1 131, 1 163, 415, 3 053, 53, 2 896, 210, 880, 342, 130, 101, 124, and 1 529, respectively. (2) Clinical treatment and pathological examination: of the 3 106 patients with primary liver cancer, cases with hospitalization time < 10 days, from 10 to 19 days, from 20 to 29 days, ≥30 days, cases without surgery or with surgery, cases with hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, hybrid type and other pathological types, cases of stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ of TNM staging were respectively 771, 1 312, 661, 362, 915, 2 191, 836, 63, 24, 29, 28, 90, 624. There were 2 183 out of 3 106 patients without pathological data and 2 335 without TNM staging data. (3) Follow-up and survival: of the 3 106 patients with primary liver cancer, 2 561 were followed up for 3.0-96.0 months, with a median follow-up time of 27.6 months. The 2 561 patients had survived for 1.0-96.0 months, with a median survival time of 24.7 months. The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates were 63.2%, 42.3%, 29.5%, respectively. (4) Analysis of prognostic factors: results of univariate analysis showed that age, marital status, occupation, hospitalization time, surgical treatment, pathological types, and TNM staging were related factors for prognosis of patients ( χ2=31.820, 6.752, 39.100, 120.889, 226.700, 10.452, 48.602, P<0.05). Results of multivariate analysis showed that being married, hospitalization time no less than 30 days, surgical treatment were independent protective factors for prognosis ( hazard ratio=1.463, 0.572, 0.575, 95% confidence interval: 1.044-2.049, 0.413-0.793, 0.438-0.755, P<0.05), stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ of TNM staging were independent risk factors for prognosis of patients ( hazard ratio=3.941, 5.036, 95% confidence interval: 1.687-9.211, 2.237-11.335, P<0.05). Conclusions:Patients with primary liver cancer have poor prognosis. Being married, hospitalization time no less than 30 days, and surgical treatment are independent protective factors for prognosis, stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ of TNM staging are independent risk factors for prognosis.

Background Posner-Schlossman syndrome (PSS) is often recurrent and is a cause of blindness.The etiology of PSS remains to be elucidated.It is reported that there is a certain association between pathogenic microorganisms and PSS in rather small samples.Objective This study was to analyze the related serum antibody levels of cytornegalovirus (CMV),herpes simplex virus (HSV),rubella virus (RV),helicobacter pylori (HP) and anti-streptolysin O (ASO) and provide a clue for the study on pathogenesis and therapy of PSS.Methods A prospective cases-controlled study was carried out in Shenzhen Eye Hospital from December,2014 to December,2016 under the approval of Ethic Committee of this hospital and informed consent of each subject prior to initial of any medical examination.Peripheral blood samples were collected from 82 PSS patients as the PSS group and 100 age-and gender-matched healthy blood donors as the normal control group.The positive rates of serum CMV IgG,CMV IgM,HSV IgG,HSV IgM,RV IgG,RV IgM,HP IgG and HP IgM in the subjects were detected by indirect ELISA,and the positive rate of serum ASO antibody was determined by immuno-scatter turbidmetry.Results The positive rates of serum CMV-IgG,CMV-IgM,HP-IgG,HP-IgM and ASO antibody were 22.0％,17.1％,22.0％,17.1％ and 17.1％ in the PSS group,which were significantly higher than 5.0％,0.0％,10.0％,2.0％ and 7.0％ in the normal control group (x2 =11.726,18.496,4.943,12.766,4.479,all at P＜0.05).The positive rates of serum HSV-IgG,HSV-IgM,RV-IgG and RV-IgM in the PSS group were not significantly different from those in the normal control group (x2 =3.305,0.986,0.898,0.503,all at P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions CMV,HP and hemolytic streptococcal infection may participate in the occurrence and development of PSS.

The application of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) can be limited due to a lack of compatible protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequences in the DNA regions of interest. Recently, SpRY, a variant of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9), was reported, which nearly completely fulfils the PAM requirement. Meanwhile, PAMs for SpRY have not been well addressed. In our previous study, we developed the PAM Definition by Observable Sequence Excision (PAM-DOSE) and green fluorescent protein (GFP)‍-reporter systems to study PAMs in human cells. Herein, we endeavored to identify the PAMs of SpRY with these two methods. The results indicated that 5'-NRN-3', 5'-NTA-3', and 5'-NCK-3' could be considered as canonical PAMs. 5'-NCA-3' and 5'-NTK-3' may serve as non-priority PAMs. At the same time, PAM of 5'-NYC-3' is not recommended for human cells. These findings provide further insights into the application of SpRY for human genome editing.
CRISPR-Associated Protein 9/metabolism* ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; DNA ; Gene Editing/methods* ; Humans ; Streptococcus pyogenes/metabolism*