Objective To determine whether pupil response to dilute tropicamide could be used as a diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods Pupil diameters of both eyes were measured simultaneously by an infra red automatic pupil diameter recorder and analyzer every 0 1 second for 30 minutes after instillation of 0 01% tropicamide to one eye and normal saline to the other. Three groups of patients were studied: 52 patients with AD, 33 with vascular dementia (VD), and 58 elderly controls. The percent change in pupil diameter of the treated eye was examined automatically by the analyzer. After finding the cut off point for differential diagnosis by receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC), its sensitivity, specificity and Kappa coefficient were calculated. Results Mean percent change in diameters of the treated eye showed a trend of fastest maximum dilation in AD group, and was significantly different from other groups at all the measurement time points after 10th minute instillation. The difference was most significant at the 18th minute after instillation, and 15% was used as a cut off point, the sensitivity was 0 81,specificity 0 79 0 82, and Kappa coefficient 0 62 0 67. Conclusions Pupil dilation test could be used as a screening method in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, or as a tool for differential diagnosis between AD and VD.

Objective To explore the relationship among HBV load ,IFN-? and IL-4 in sera from patients with CHB.Methods Fluorescence quantitative PCR(FQ-PCR) was used to detect quantity of HBV DNA,and ELISA was used to determine contents of IFN-? and IL-4.According to HBV DNA quantity(copies/ml),the patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB) were divided into high(≥10 7/ml),middle(10 6～10 5/ml) and low (

Objective To explore the clinical value of squamous cell carcinoma associated antigen (SCC) and tumor specific growth factor (TSGF) in cervical carcinoma. diagnose. Methods The serum samples of SCC and TSGF were collected from 40 health volunteers, 56 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) patients and 101 squamous cell cervical cancer patients. SCC and TSGF amount were measured by MEIA and biochemistry olorimetry method respectively, and were compared. Results The mean level of serum SCC and TSGF in the cervical cancer group was (6.95 ± 1.23) ng/mL and (81.0 ± 16.3)U/mL respectively, significantly higher than that in the CIN group and control group. The sensitivity and accuracy of combining SCC with TSGF in diagnosing cervical carcinoma were 91.1%and 87.4% respectively, both higher than allying SCC or TSGF alone. Conclusions SCC and TSGF levels are helpful in the diagnosis of cervix carcinoma. The combined determination can improve the sensitivity and accuracy of cervical carcinoma diagnose.

Objective To investigate the concentration of homocysteine (Hcy) and related factors of hyperhomocyste-inemia (hHcy,Hcy≥15μmol/L) among non-hypertensive people aged between 40-70 in Tianjin. Methods Non-hyperten-sive community residents aged 40-70 years were enrolled randomly from May 2011 to December 2012 in six districts in Tian-jin. Plasma Hcy was assessed by enzyme cycling method. Factors related to hHcy were analyzed in multivariate logistic re-gression models. Results Our study included 874 participants (mean age is 57 ± 6 years, 25.5%of all are males) and the con-centration of Hcy was 12.0 μmol/L. The OR (odds ratio)(95%CI; P)for hHcy were 1.048(1.015,1.083; P=0.004), 4.191 (2.359,7.448;P<0.001), 1.280(0.896,1.829;P=0.175), 0.460(0.259,0.816;P=0.008)respectively for age, male, smoking, exercise, and the odd ratio for hHcy were 0.290(0.179, 0.469;P<0.001), 0.168(0.092,0.309;P<0.001)for consumption of vegetable and fruits 250-500 g/d and>500g/d, compared with<250 g/d. Conclusion Male and age were adverse factors for hHcy, consumption of vegetable and fruits, and exercise were positive factors.

Objective To explore the impact and change regularity of Oncomelania hupensis snails and vegetation in the marshlands of Poyang Lake caused by the impoundment of the Three Gorges Project. Methods By using the methods of stratified systematic sampling and pinpoint navigation,the succession of vegetation was observed and the distribution of O. hupensis snails was investigated in a period of 8 years on 4 typical marshlands in Poyang Lake. The regularity of changes in vegetation and O. hu-pensis snails was analyzed on the marshlands at high,medium and low elevations,respectively. Results After the impoundment of Three Gorges Project,the average flooding days of these 4 marshlands in 2004 and in 2008 were reduced of 74.8 and 65.8 days compared with those in 2002,the year just before the impoundment of the project,respectively. The change of spatial distribution pattern and the succession of dominant species of vegetation on the marshlands of Poyang Lake have taken place since 2005,and several vegetations showed a trend of moving toward the center of the lake. The hygrophilous vegetation has degenerated and gradu-ally been replaced by mesophily meadow in the marshland area above 14 m elevation. Carex,Phalaris arundinacea and Polygo-num appeared in large area and expanded slowly towards the center of the lake on the marshland below 14 m elevation. O. hupensis snails were mostly found under the Carex association. The tendency of decreasing in density of snails and of migration of snail habi-tats towards low terrain was observed. Conclusions The impoundment of Three Gorges Project has had a significant impact on hy-drological regimes,and a new succession of vegetation has taken place in the marshlands of Poyang Lake. O. hupensis snails and the mesophily vegetation show a trend of migrating slowly to the areas of low elevation in the marshlands.

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological features and prognostic factors for thymoma with myasthenia gravis (MG).Methods The clinical and pathological data of 126 patients with thymoma and MG confirmed by postoperative pathological examination from 2008 to 2014 were analyzed retrospectively.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates;the log-rank test was applied for univariate prognostic analysis;the Cox regression model was applied for multivariate prognostic analysis.Results The numbers of patients who received the follow-up visits at 3 and 5 years were 88 and 45,respectively (the patients who were admitted before the end of October 2011 and the end of October 2009).The 3-and 5-year survival rates were 97.9％ and 91.8％,respectively.The 3-and 5-year survival rates for patients with WHO types A+AB+B1 +B2 and B3 were 98.6％/95.2％ and 90.6％/92.9％,respectively (P=0.764),and those for patients with Masaoka stages Ⅰ-Ⅱ and Ⅲ-Ⅳ were 98.6％/95.2％ and 97.4％/72.7％,respectively (P=0.791).The 3-and 5-year survival rates for patients with complete and partial resection were 97.8％/91.7％ and 100.0％/50.0％,respectively (P=0.964),and those for patients with complete resection alone and complete resection+postoperative radiotherapy were 96.8％/93.1％ and 100.0％/94.7％,respectively (P=1.000).Conclusions The major treatment modality for thymoma with MG is complete resection followed by radiotherapy according to the specific circumstances after surgery.Complete resection,postoperative radiotherapy,WHO type,and Masaoka stage may be associated with prognosis.

Objective To evaluate the changes of platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) and vascular endo-thelial growth factor(VEGF) in infectious and autoimmunity diseaases. Methods The growth factors were measured by ELISA in 149 patients for seven times in different periods,and the levels and duration were compared. Results PDGF was (6.32±2.54) μg/ml and (2.57±1.65) μg/ml (P<0.05), and VEGF was (179.5±53.30) ng/ml and (221.4±70.04) ng/ml(P<0.05) in the two groups before treatment;There was statistical significance in dif-ferent time points between groups and within groups for PDGF(P<0.05) and significant difference for time chan-ging to the peak and changed duration between two groups for VEGF(P<0.05). For the two groups,the peak time of PDGF were (2.6±1.1) and (5.4±3.3) days;The peak time of VEGF were (2.4±0.7) and (7.2±3.3) days respectively(P<0.05 for each). However in the two groups, the change duration were (6.7±3.1) and (15.4±6.1) days for PDGF and (8.1±3.4) and (16.7±7.2) days for VEGF (P<0.05 for each). Conclu-sions There is significant difference for serum levels of PDGF and VEGF and the level change duration as well in the two groups, which maybe correlated with inflammatory nature and outcome.

Objective To explore the relationship between vegetation and the distribution of Oncomelania snails inside and outside the embankments of Poyang Lake region. Methods The plantation and Oncomelania snails were surveyed at 4 villages and their related marshlands in Yugan, Nanchang and Jinxian counties by the stratified systematic sampling method. The investigation was targeted to the vegetation species,height,coverage and frequency of plantation and synchronously to the distribution of snails and infection of snails in marshland of high, middle and low altitudes,adjacent beaches as well in cultivated and waste land inside embankment. The relationship between vegetation dominant association and the distribution of snails in those area was analyzed. Results The vegetation inside and outside the embankment were remarkably diverse. Inside the embankment, the species of vegetation varied greatly and distributed randomly,and no snail was found. While outside the embankment,the distribution of vegetation characterized an unregulated annulus or patch. Plant's association types were distinct on marshlands. The snails mainly distributed in areas at 15-17 m altitude,closely related to the species of vegetation. The coverage of dominant plants,Carex cinerascen and Miscanthus sacchariflorus showed a quadratic curve correlation with the density of snails. Conclusions In the Poyang Lake region,plants and snails are impacted by common environmental factors,which then lead to their close association in distribution. It might be attributed to integrated impacts of changes in ecological factors that Oncomelania snails disappear gradually in areas inside embankment after construction of embankment.

Objective To develop an oligonucleotide array to detect single nucleotide mutations in 23S rRNA gene.Methods Primers and probes targeting A2142G.A2143G and C2182T mutations in 23S rRNA gene were designed tp develop an oligonucleotide array.Samples were performed by an asymmetric PCR and the PCR products were hybridized with the specific DNA microarray chips.Non fluorescence-labeled PCR products were cloned into T vectors.The results of oligonucleofide array were confirmed by direct DNA sequencing and evaluated by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC).Results The results obtained from oligonucleotide microarray were identical to those of direct sequencing.In 54 Helicobacter pylori samples,oligonucleotide microarray indicated that no A-to-C transition at 2142 was found,and the mutant rate of A2143G was 11.11 % (6/54),the mutant rate of C2182T was 12.96% (7/54).A2143C,A2143T,C2182A and C2182G mutations were not found.The other specimens were wild-type.All the above results were the same as that of MIC tests.Conclusions The oligonucleofide microarray is a reliable and accurate genotyping assay for clarithromycin-resistance of Helieobaeter pylofi.It is high-throughput screening method for gastric mucosa and improve the application of strategy for personalized therapy.

Objective To explore the characteristics of the flow velocity waveform of superior vena cana (SVC) in a rat model with chronic monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension by echocardiography.Methods The chronic pulmonary hypertension model was developed by monocrotaline solution (60 mg/kg) injection into the abdominal cavity in 32 SD rats.Eight rats with the placebo injected served as controls.An examination of the flow velocity waveform of SVC was performed by Doppler echocardiography via supraclavicular fossa before and 28-day after the injection.The pulmonary arterial systolic pressure was measured by pressure-guided micro-catheter 28-day after the injection both in the control and the pulmonary hypertension model group.Results Chronic monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension was successfully developed in 29 rats.The flow velocity waveform of SVC showed that the ratio of the maximum reverse peak flow velocity due to atrial contraction (VAR) to the maximum systolic peak flow velocity (Vs) and VAR increased dramatically 28-day after the monocrotaline solution injection in both sides of SVC (P ＜0.01), while only the Vs of the right SVC significantly decreased (P ＜0.05).Conclusions The changes of VAR/Vs ratio and VAR in rat model with chronic monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension suggested that the changes of flow velocity waveform of SVC have indicating features in reflecting pulmonary hypertension.