AIM: To investigate the quality of life in adults with strabismus and evaluate the improvement in quality of life after treatment.
METHODS: In this prospective study, forty-five adults with a diagnosis of strabismus conform to the inclusion and exclusion standard were selected in our hospital from October 2013 to May 2014, as experimental group and 45 normal adults were enrolled as control group. A Chinese Adult Strabismus-20 questionnaire was used to evaluate the differences of quality of life between patients with strabismus and normal adults, and to evaluate the differences of quality of life in patients with strabismus preoperative and 6mo postoperative.
RESULTS:The scores of quality of life in adult patients with strabismus preoperative and 6mo postoperative were statistically significant lower than those of normal adults (P< 0. 01). In 6mo postoperative, the scores of quality of life statistically significant increased than preoperative ( P<0. 01).
CONCLUSION: Strabismus can decrease the quality of life in psychosocial and visual functional for adults and the surgical treatment can improve quality of life in patients with strabismus.

AIMTo investigate the role of endothelin-1 in the pathogenesis of neurogenetic pulmonary edema.

METHODSThe levels of endothelin-1 in plasma and lung were measured in rats which suffered from diffuse brain injury on Marmarous' model. The changes of endothelin-1 in the lungs were also detected using an immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSAfter heavy diffuse brain injury in rats, the levels of endothelin-1 in plasma and lung began increasing at 1 hour, and peaked at 6 hour. Though a little declining at 24 hour, it maintained a higher level within 48 hours (P < 0.05). Pulmonary pathology showed that after brain injury there were congestion, swelling in pulmonary microvessels with broadened pulmonary interstitial tissue, and leucocyte infiltration was dominated by neutrophils and monocytes from 1 hour on, which peaked at 6 hour. More serious congestion, swelling and protein effusion in pulmonary alveoli were observed at both 24 h and 48 h. Immunohistochemically, endothelin-1 had more significant expression and higher levels of OD in the experimental groups than that in the control's, the most significance of which was at 6 hour.

CONCLUSIONThe inflammatory injury mechanism caused by endothelin-1 may play an important role in neurogenic pulmonary edema.

Animals ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Edema ; etiology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe amplitude changes of low frequency fluctuation in brain spontaneous nervous activities induced by needling at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel, and to preliminarily explore the possible brain function network of Hand Taiyin Lung Channel.

METHODSBy using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), 16 healthy volunteers underwent resting-state scanning (R1) and scanning with retained acupuncture at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel (acupuncture, AP). Data of fMRI collected were statistically calculated using amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF).

RESULTSUnder R1 significantly enhanced ALFF occurred in right precuneus, left inferior parietal lobule, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus. Under AP significantly enhanced ALFF occurred in right precuneus, bilateral superior frontal gyrus, cerebellum, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus, and so on. Compared with R1, needing at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel could significantly enhance ALFF in right gyrus subcallosum and right inferior frontal gyrus. Significant decreased ALFF appeared in right postcentral gyrus, left precuneus, left superior temporal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and so on.

CONCLUSIONNeeding at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel could significantly change fixed activities of cerebral cortex, especially in right subcallosal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, and so on.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

AIMTo study preventive and therapeutic effect of zinc sulfate on lung injury during superior mesenteric artery occlusion (SMAO) shock and their mechanism of action.

METHODSModel of rabbit SMAO shock was made. The effect of zinc sulfate on the malondialdehyde (MDA) in erythrocyte membrane and plasma, oxidase (XOD) in plasma, superoxide dismutase (SOD) in erythrocyte and MDA, SOD and pulmonary surfactant (PS) in lung tissues homogenate were observed.

RESULTSThe administration of zinc sulfate decreased MDA and XOD, prevented the reduction of SOD and PS, and alleviated lung injury.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that lung is injured during SMAO shock and zinc sulfate possesses preventive and therapeutic effect, through stabilized membrane.

Animals ; Female ; Lung ; metabolism ; Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; pathology ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Shock ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Zinc Sulfate ; therapeutic use

AIMTo explore the effects of shenmai (Chinese transitional medicine) injection on lipid peroxidation in the lung following with ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of limb.

METHODSThe models of I/R injury of limb were constructed in rabbits. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in into and out-flowing pulmonary blood (IPB, OPB) and lung tissue were measured, as well as the effects of shenmai injection were observed.

RESULTSCompared with sham group, the activity of SOD in IPB, OPB and lung tissue were decreased, and the content of MDA was increased after 4 h ischemia followed by 4 h reperfusion. SOD increased and MDA decreased significantly by icy shenmai injection 30 min before reperfusion. The correlation analysis indicated that MDA was negatively correlated with SOD .

CONCLUSIONOxygen free radicals metabolic confusion of lung occurred in the course of I/R, shenmai injection can alleviate lipid peroxidation, get rid of free radicals and inhibit the damage of lung.

Animals ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Extremities ; blood supply ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Lung ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of acupuncture at the whole points of Hand Jueyin pericardium meridian on the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of healthy people in resting state (R1) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

METHODSTotally 16 healthy subjects received structure scan of T1 and T2. Then two fMRI scans were conducted for each participant. fMRI included the resting-state scan (R1; the scanning time was 8 min 6 s), the stimulating-acupoint scan (AP; the scanning time was 8 min 6 s). fMRI data acquisition from structure scanning and function scanning were processed with format conversion and statistical analysis.

RESULTSUnder R1 state, brain regions with activated ALFF signals included bilateral superior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, precuneus, superior temporal gyrus, and cingulate gyrus. Under the AP state, brain regions with activated ALFF signals were bilateral superior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, left fusiform gyrus, precuneus, posterior cingulate, and declivis. Compared with R1 state, obvious difference of ALFF signal areas of the brain caused by acupuncture at pericardium were: bilateral cuneus, precuneus, left posterior cingulate gyrus, right middle occipital gyrus, and right occipital lingual gyrus.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at the whole points of Hand Jueyin pericardium meridian could significantly change inherent activity states of the cerebral cortex, especially in bilateral superior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, and precuneus.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Brain ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Pericardium

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of dual-tracer PET imaging in Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods For this study,we enrolled 11 patients who were diagnosed clinically with AD and 7 age-matched healthy controls who underwent 11 C-PIB and 18 F-FDG PET brain imaging in the same period.Visual evaluation was used to observe the distribution of tracers.ROI technology and brain metabolism analysis software were used to quantify the uptake levels of PIB and FDG.Results Compared with that in HC group,FDG imaging pattern in AD group was presented as focal hypometabolism in posterior cingutate,superior frontal lobe,inferior frontal lobe, superior parietal lobe and lateral temporal lobe.PIB retention was mainly in bilateral superior frontal lobe,inferior frontal lobe,superior parietal lobe,lateral temporal lobe and posterior cingulate gyrus in images of equilibrium phase.The two FDG imaging results were basically in agreement with each other.Conclusion PIB with combined FDG PET imaging can provide more accurate information in diagnosis of AD.Further study is needed to confirm the effectiveness and practicability of this technology.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of kinetic rectification acupuncture in treating acute facial neuritis. Method Sixty patients with acute facial neuritis were randomized to observation and control groups. The observation group received kinetic rectification acupuncture and the control group, conventional acupuncture alone. Acupuncture was given five times a week, five times as one course. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after three courses of treatment. Result The total efficacy rate was 93.3% in the observation group and 73.3% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The latencies and amplitudes of the frontal muscle, orbicularis oculi muscle and quadrate muscle of upper lip improved in the two groups after treatment and had statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences (P < 0.01). There were statistically significant differences in the pre-/post-treatment difference values of the latencies and amplitudes of the frontal muscle and orbicularis oculi muscle (P<0.01) and no statistically significant difference in the pre-/post-treatment difference values of the latency and amplitude of the quadrate muscle of upper lip (P>0.05) between the two groups. Conclusion Kinetic rectification acupuncture has a marked therapeutic effect on acute facial neuritis. This study provides a particular therapeutic method for clinical practice.

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on the lung injury following with limbs ischemia /reperfusion (LI/R).

METHODSThe models of LI/R injury were constructed in rabbits. The blood from right external jugular vein and left common carotid artery, into and out-flowing pulmonary blood (IPB, OPB) respectively. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) in IPB and OPB and lung tissues were measured, as well as total nitric oxide synthase (tNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lung tissues were detected in different groups. The effects of IPC on the lung injury were observed.

RESULTSCompared with sham and before ischemic, the activity of SOD decreased and the content of MDA and NO increased after 4 h ischemia followed by 4 h reperfusion in IPB, OPB and lung tissues. The activity of tNOS and iNOS in lung tissues increased remarkably as well, there was statistical significance (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). SOD increased and MDA, NO, tNOS, iNOS decreased significantly by IPC before ischemia/reperfusion. The correlation analysis indicated that MDA was negatively correlated with SOD and was positively correlated with MDA, NO, iNOS (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOxygen free radicals metabolic confusion of lung occurred in the course of LI/R, IPC could strengthen the resistance of peroxidation in lung and had protective effects on the lung injury following with LI/R.

Animals ; Extremities ; blood supply ; Female ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Lipid Peroxidation ; physiology ; Lung Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDThe cellular plasma membrane represents a natural barrier to many exogenous molecules including magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent. Cell penetrating peptide (CPP) is used to internalize proteins, peptides, and radionuclide. This study was undertaken to assess the value of a new intracellular MR contrast medium, CPP labeled diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid gadolinium (Gd-DTPA) in molecular imaging in vitro.

METHODSFluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC) and Gd-DTPA respectively labeled with CPP (FITC-CPP, Gd-DTPA-CPP) were synthesized by the solid-phase method. Human hepatic cancer cell line-HepG2 was respectively stained by FITC-CPP and FITC to observe the uptake and intracellular distribution. HepG2 was respectively incubated with 100 nmol/ml Gd-DTPA-CPP for 0, 10, 30, 60 minutes, and imaged by MR for studying the relationship between the incubation time and T(1)WI signal. The cytotoxicity to NIH3T3 fibroblasts cells was measured by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction assay (MTT).

RESULTSThe molecular weights of CPP labeled imaging agents, which were determined by MALDI mass spectrometry (FITC-CPP MW = 2163.34, Gd-DTPA-CPP MW = 2285.99), were similar to the calculated molecular weights. Confocal microscopy suggested HepG2 translocated FITC-CPP in cytoplasm and nucleus independent with the incubation temperature. MR images showed HepG2 uptaken Gd-DTPA-CPP had a higher T(1) weighted imaging (T(1)WI) signal, and that the T(1)WI signal intensity was increasing in a time-dependent manner (r = 0.972, P = 0.001), while the signal intensity between the cells incubated by Gd-DTPA for 60 minutes and the controlled cells was not significantly different (P = 0.225). By MTT, all concentrations from 50 nmol/ml to 200 nmol/ml had no significant (F = 0.006, P = 1.000) effect on cell viability of mouse NIH3T3 fibroblasts, compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONSThe newly constructed CPP based on polyarginine can translocate cells by carrying FITC and MR contrast agent Gd-DTPA, and the intracellular concentrations are readily detectable by MR imaging, suggesting a new way for MR molecular imaging.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; Contrast Media ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Peptides ; metabolism