Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of retrobulbar injection with triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for macular edema caused by retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Design Retrospective case series. Participants 21 eyes of 21 patients with macular edema caused by RVO. Methods Retrobulbar injection with TA 40 mg was performed on 21 eyes. The visual acuity, intraocular pres-sure, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and macular central thickness under the optical coherence tomography (OCT) were recorded and analyzed before and after treatment. The follow-up duration was 6-11 months. Main Outcome Measures The visual acuity and the macular central thickness of OCT. Result Visual acuity was improved at the end of follow-up in 16 eyes (76.2%) and unchanged in 5 eyes (23.8%). Macular central thickness was (287.55±121.70) μm at the end of follow-up and (617.23±185.58) μm before treatment. The difference was statistically significant(P=0.000). After treatment, the comparison of visual acuity and macular central thickness be-tween CRVO patients and BRVO patients, as well as between ischemic RVO patients and non-ischemic RVO patients had no significant difference (P>0.05). In patients of course less than 6 months, the visual prognosis after treatment is better than that of before treatment (P=0.011, 0.01), while in patients of course more than 6 months, no difference of vision could be detected before and after treatment (P= 0.583). The result of FFA showed decrease of fluorescein leakage. During follow-up, intraocular pressure of all patients was in the nor-real range. Recurrence of macular edema was found in 8 eyes 2 to 6 months after treatment. Conclusions Retrobulbar injection with TA is a safe, effective, and easy method to treat macular edema caused by RVO. Early treatment can get better efficacy. (Ophthalmal CHN, 2009, 18: 254-256)

Objective To explore the diagnosis,treatment and pathology of malignant brain tumor in children.Methods The clinical data of 61 children with malignant brain tumor were reviewed,including their age distribution,diagnosis,operation route(according to the position of the brain tumors),chemotherapy [using bischloro-nitrosourea(BCNU),teniposide(VM-26) and temozolomide]and radiotherapy (part and whole brain irradiation,three diamensions conformal therapy,gamma knife and X-kinfe).Results Of 61 cases,which including 37 boys and 24 girls whose mean age was 11.3 years,24 cases were supratentorial tumors and 37 cases were infratentorial.Forty-five tumors received total or subtotal recession,10 cases with major recession,and 6 cases with partial recession.After operation,39 cases (63.9%) received radiotherapy,and 29 cases (47.5%) with chemotherapy.Follow-up of 49 cases were achieved,in which 22 cases died and 27 cases survived.Conclusions Surgical removal is still the chief treatment for malignant brain tumor in children.The exairesis profect should be formulated according to the specificity of each case.Radiotherapy methods should be related to post-operational images(CT or MRI).And it was different from the brain tumors in adult.It is good to prolong survival duration for some chosen cases with optimal chemotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm, Residual ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Racemases and Epimerases ; metabolism ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of health education on controlling of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis(referred to as endemic fluorosis) in Guizhou,and to provide a scientific basis for development of control strategies.Methods A total of 37 counties were selected in Guizhou province,and 3 townships were chosen in each project county.Heath educational activities were carried out in the classes of grade 5 in the Central Primary School of each selected township.In the meantime,3 villages were chosen in each selected township where the health education for women of child-bearing age in the community was carried out.Survey on knowledge questionnaire of endemic fluorosis control was conducted among 30 students of grade 5 in the Central Primary School and 15 women of childbearing age of each selected township before and after the health educational activities.Results The knowing rate of endemic fluorosis control of pupils in all the 37 counties increased from 45.03％(14637/32505) to 89.79％(52898/58910),of women of child-bearing age increased from 38.97％ (5729/14700) to 76.55％(19198/25080) after the health education.ConclusionsThe knowing rate of endemic fluorosis control among pupils and women of child-bearing age is remarkably increased after implementing the health education projects.They have better life and health habits,and the project has reached desired goal.

Objective To investigate the daily total fluoride intake in relating to the prevalence of skeletal fluorosis in two villages in Jiangsu Province,in order to provide the scientific evidences for the control and prevention of endemic fluorosis.Methods Adults sampled from a high-fluoride Village,Wamiao,and a low-fluoride Village,Xinhuai,were surveyed in this study according to the fluoride concentration in their household shallow well.The average daily total fluoride intake from difierent sources and the skeletal fluorosis were investigated in each subject.Then the subjects from two villages were allocated into five subgroups(＜2.00,2.00～,3.00～,4.00～,≥5.00 mg/d),the relation fluoride intake and prevalence of osteofluorosis was analyzed.Results The prevalence of skeletal fluorosis in Wamiao Village was 31.06%(41/132),but no skeletal fluorosis case(0/35)was found in Xinhuai Village.According to the daily total fluoride intake,subjects with higher daily total fluoride intake tended to associated with a higher prevalence of skeletal fluorosis in a significant dose-response relationship(regression equation:y=2.624-6.855x+3.424x2:r=0.997).The benchmark dose lower limitation of daily total fluoride intake with 95% confidencewas 2.50 mg/d calculated according to this dose-response relationship,the reference dose(RfD)was 2.50 mg/d.In Wamiao Village a significant difference was also found between daily total fluoride intake in 41 subjects[(5.09±1.20)mg/d]with X-ray detectable skeletal fluorosis and in 91 subjects[(3.08±1.12)mg/d]without X-ray detectable skeletal fluorosis(t=-9.32,P＜0.01).Conclusions These findings indicate that the daily total fluoride intake has a significant dose-response relationship with the prevalence of skeletal fluorosis in an endemic fluorosis area associated with high-fluoride drinking water;and the RfD in this study was lower than that in the national standard of"Chinese hygienic standard for daily total fluoride intake(WS/T 87-1996)"(3.50 mg/d).

OBJECTIVEThe best approach for blood pressure (BP) measurement in children remains controversial, especially on the choice of Korotkoff phase 4 (K4) vs. Korotkoff phase 5 (K5) for diastolic BP (DBP) and to compare the differences between K4 and K5 in school-aged children and their predictions to hypertension in adult.

METHODSThe "Beijing children and adolescents BP study" cohort population consisted 2505 school-aged children aged 6 to 17 at baseline survey in 1987, when datum of systolic BP (SBP), DBP measured using K4 and K5, were collected respectively. Among them, 412 individuals with 220 males and 192 females at age of 23-37 years old, were successfully followed up and invited to take part in a clinical examination including anthropometric measurements, SBP and DBP recordings, and a questionnaires in 2005. Method for the BP measurements at both baseline and followed-up was by auscultation with a standard sphygmomanometer. Child hypertension at baseline was diagnosed according to the age-specific cutoffs recommended by the World Health Organization in 1996 (WHO 1996). Adult hypertension was diagnosed according to the China Guideline for Hypertension Prevention and Control issued in 2005. Partial correlation coefficients were calculated to describe the association of K4 and K5 in childhood with SBP and DBP level in adulthood. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the impact of choice of K5 and K4 as DBP in childhood on prediction to the hypertension in adulthood. Potential confounders such as gender and adult-height were controlled for.

RESULTSAt baseline, the prevalence rates of hypertension were 5.0% with DBP measured using K4, and 2.4% with DBP measured using K5, respectively. The geometric mean difference value of K4 minus K5 (K4 - K5) was (10.1 +/- 1.7 mm Hg) (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) for the 2505 school-aged children, and decreased as age increased. There was no significant difference regarding the values of K4 - K5 between males and females in all age groups except for children who at pubertal stage. The distribution of K4 - K5 value across age groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001), 59.6%, 60.5%, 56.3% and 45.1% of children who aged 6-9 years, 10-12 years, 13-15 years, and 16-17 years with their K4 - K5 value over 10 mm Hg. K4 in childhood was better correlated to both SBP and DBP in adulthood than K5. In general, K4 seemed to be superior to K5 in predicting hypertension in adulthood. The odds ratios of hypertension in adulthood were 1.69 (95% CI: 1.11-2.00), 1.45 (1.05-2.02), 2.18 (1.37-3.47), and 1.66 (1.07-2.59) with each 5 mmHg increasing of K4 measured in children aged 6-9 years, 10-12 years, 13-15 years, and 16-17 years, respectively. The agreement diagnosis between child hypertension and adult hypertension was higher for childhood DBP measured using K4 (20.2%) than that using K5 (12.8%).

CONCLUSIONThere was significant difference between K4 and K5 in Chinese children and adolescents. Choice of diastolic Korotkoff blood pressure could affect DBP tracking from childhood into adulthood. K4 seemed superior to K5 when using auscultator technique to measure DBP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Male

Objective To investigate the effects of 3 different ventilation methods,including conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV),high frequency oscillatory ventilation(HFOV) and partial liquid ventilation (PLV),on the changes of inflammatory factors and pulmonary surfactant associated protein A (SP-A) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in newborn piglets with acute lung injury(ALI).Methods Twenty-four newborn piglets,no more than 3 days old,were enrolled.After ALI made with saline lavage(38 ℃,35 mL/kg),newborn piglets were randomly assigned to 4 groups:control group (n =6,no ventilation),CMV group(n =6),HFOV group(n =6),and PLV group(n =6).Piglets were sacrificed after being ventilated for 24 h.Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin-8 (IL-8),interleukin-1 (IL-1) and SP-A in BALF were measured quantitatively by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results In 3 groups using different ventilation methods,the population mean of TNF-o,IL-8,IL-1 and SP-A were statistically different (all P =0.000).SP-A in PLV group and HFOV group were higher than that in CMV group (all P ＜ 0.05),while IL-8,IL-1 and TNF-α in PLV group were lower than those in CMV group (all P ＜ 0.05),IL-8 and TNF-α in PLV group were lower than those in HFOV group (all P ＜ 0.05),IL-8 and TNF-α in HFOV group were lower than those in CMV group (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Pulmonary inflammatory reaction was different in 3 ventilation groups.Compared with CMV and HFOV,PLV attenuated inflammatory reaction,so it could increase the expression of SP-A and decrease the degradation of SP-A.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Lupus Recipe (LR) on IL-6 and IL-10 secretion of splenic cells in vitro in lupoid model mice and on anti-dsDNA antibody.

METHODSChronic graft-versus-host disease model was used in the experiment. The model mice were divided into four groups, the model group was un-treated and the other three groups treated with LR, prednisone and combined treatment (prednisone + LR) respectively. The serum level of ds-DNA antibody, the ConA induced splenic cell proliferation in mice's splenic cell culture as well as the IL-6, IL-10 level in the supernatant of culture were determined after treatment and compared with those of normal controls.

RESULTS(1) The splenic cell proliferative reaction in the model group splenic cells was obviously higher than that of the normal control (P < 0.05); but that in the three treated groups was different from the control insignificantly (P > 0.05); (2) The serum anti-dsDNA in the model group was higher than that in the normal control, 1.75 +/- 0.25 vs 1.20 +/- 0.21 (P < 0.01), while the difference in comparison of the treated groups with the normal control was insignificant, (P > 0.05); (3) Splenic cell IL-6 and IL-10 secretion in the model group induced by ConA was higher than those in the treated groups and the controls significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLR reveals the effect of immunosuppressor, which could inhibit the activation of T- and B-cells, reduce the Th2 cytokine formation and auto-antibody production so as to treat lupus erythematosus effectively.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; immunology ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-10 ; biosynthesis ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate root canal curvatures of human maxillary first premolars in buccolingual directions.

METHODSOne hundred extracted permanent maxillary first premolars were used. After access preparation, a K-file was inserted into the canals and gently advanced until it reached the apical foramen. Then standardized periapical radiovisiography (RVG) images were taken from mesiodistal direction. The angle of curvature was determined according to the method described by Schneider. The radiu of curvature and length of the curved part of the root canal were calculated.

RESULTS1) The total 50.00% (88/176) of root canal curves were in buccolingual directions, and 53 curves were showed in apical 1/3 of root region. 11.93% (21/176) of S-shaped canals were detected, and the first curves were mostly showed in middle 1/3 of root region, the secondary curves were totally showed in apical 1/3 of root region. 2) There was no difference of curvatures between buccal and lingual root canals, but the secondary curves of S-shaped canals were more complicated than other root canals. 3) There was no correlation between the angle of curvature and the radius of curvature (r=0.002, P>0.05), but significantly correlation between the angle of curvature and length of the curved part of the root canal (r=0.489, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe occurrence of curved root canals in buccolingual directions may be high in human maxillary first premolars, and the curvatures of S-shaped canals were more complicated than others.

Bicuspid ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Humans ; Root Canal Therapy ; Tooth Root

OBJECTIVETo estimate the diagnostic potential of the dental operating microscope used for locating the second mesiobuccal canal (MB2) orifice in maxillary first molars.

METHODS120 extracted maxillary first molars were used, all the access cavities were prepared and fixed on the dental study model. MB2 orifices were examined with naked eye and under a dental operating microscope (DOM). The examination was repeated by another dentist with the same methods. Then Indian ink was injected into the pulp chamber and all the teeth were treated to be transparent to determine if it had a real MB2.

RESULTSThe sensitivity and accuracy of the DOM group were 0.78 and 0.76, higher than 0.61 and 0.65 of the naked eye group (P<0.05). The correspondency of Kappa index between observers by naked eye and DOM was 0.701 and 0.819, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe use of DOM can increase the detection rate of MB2.

Dental Pulp Cavity ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Microscopy ; Molar