0.05),but all were lower than those of the control group(P

Objective To explore the correlative factors and management of secondary high intraocular pressure(IOP) after vitreoretinal surgery for proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR). Methods The data of 51 patients(54 eyes) with PDR after vitreoretinal surgery were collected.The incidence of secondary high IOP was obtained,and the correlative factors leading to high IOP were analysed.Besides,the therapeutic effects of management were observed. Results Twenty-six patients(26 eyes) experienced postoperative high IOP,with the incidence of 48.15%(26/54).It was revealed that the preoperative retinal detachment,the combined performance of crystal phacoemulsification,the practice of intraocular tamponade and the postoperative posterioruveitis were related to the occurrence of high IOP(P

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features, immunohistochemical findings, EBV and c-myc gene status of intra-abdominal non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma occurring in children.

METHODSSeventy-four cases of pediatric intra-abdominal non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma were retrieved from the archival file. The cases were classified according to the 2008 WHO classification. Tissue microarray including tumor tissues from all the 74 cases was produced. Immunohistochemical study (SP method) for CD20, CD3, CD79a, CD10, bcl-6, MUM1, bcl-2, CD43, CD38 and Ki-67 was performed. In-situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER) and fluorescence in-situ hybridization for c-myc gene were also carried out.

RESULTSAmongst the 74 cases studied, 65 of them (87.8%) were Burkitt lymphoma (BL), 4 cases (5.4%) were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and the remaining 5 cases (6.8%) showed features in-between DLBCL and BL (DLBCL/BL). The patients often presented with abdominal pain, abdominal masses, ileus and intussusception. The ileocecal bowel wall and mesenteric lymph nodes were commonly involved. The lymphoma cells were of high histologic grade and suggested an aggressive clinical behavior. The staining for CD20 and CD79a were positive in all of the cases, while CD3 was negative. The positive rates of CD10, bcl-6, bcl-2, MUM1, CD43, CD38 and EBER in BL were 96.9% (63 cases), 95.4% (62 cases), 0 (0 case), 23.1% (15 cases), 70.8% (46 cases), 96.9% (63 cases) and 41.5% (27 cases), respectively. Fifty-four cases carried translocation of c-myc gene. As for DLBCL, the positive cases of CD10, bcl-6, bcl-2, MUM1, CD43, CD38 and EBER were 3 cases, 2 cases, 3 cases, 2 cases, 2 cases, 2 cases and 0 case, respectively. One of these cases showed c-myc gene translocation. Amongst the 4 cases of DLBCL, 2 of them belonged to germinal center B-cell-like subtype, while the remaining 2 cases were of non-germinal center B-cell-like subtype. The expression rates of CD10, bcl-6, bcl-2, MUM1, CD43, CD38 and EBER in DLBCL/BL were 5/5, 4/5, 0, 3/5, 5/5, 3/5 and 0, respectively. Three of the cases were positive for c-myc gene translocation.

CONCLUSIONSThe majority of pediatric intra-abdominal non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma belonged to BL. They have characteristic clinical presentation and sites of predilection and are often associated with an aggressive clinical behavior. Thorough morphologic assessment, immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization play an important role in subtyping this group of lymphoid malignancy.

Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; CD79 Antigens ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genes, myc ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; RNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Translocation, Genetic

BACKGROUNDGlaucoma is mainly characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is believed to stimulate the regeneration of axons of retinal ganglion cells. The objective of our study was to detect the expression of CNTF in the retina of a rat glaucoma model with increased intraocular pressure (IOP).

METHODSThe rat glaucoma model was set up by electrocoagulating at least three episcleral and limbal veins. The location and the expression level of CNTF were detected at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days post-surgery by immunohistochemistry, semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSThe rat glaucoma model with chronic, moderately elevated IOP was successfully produced. A minimum expression of CNTF was found in the ganglion cell layer of the retinas of the control group, and temporally increased expression and intensity of CNTF were found in the experimental retinas.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of endogenous CNTF in the rat retina was found altered after the induction of ocular hypertension.

Animals ; Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; Densitometry ; Immunoblotting ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Ocular Hypertension ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retina ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

To identify adulterants from medicinal plants of Bletilla H. G. Reichenbach, the suitable candidate DNA barcoding of Bletilla was evaluated. In this study, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA, the LFY homologous gene intron 2 and chloroplast ycfl gene were amplified and sequenced from forty-one samples. The intra-specific and inter-specific divergences of Bletilla were calculated, and the identification efficiency was assessed using Barcoding Gap, NJ tree by K2P distance and BLAST1 method. The result showed the intra-specific divergence of nrDNA ITS and ycJfl (0.022-0.106 and 0.017-0.106) were obviously higher than the inter-specific divergence (0-0.012 and 0-0.015), and four species of Bletilla were also accurately distinguished in NJ trees. Whereas, there was no Barcoding Gap on LFY homologous gene intron 2, thus it cannot effectively identify species of Bletilla. Using NJ tree of nrDNA ITS and ycfl gene, powdery medicine and the adulterants of Bletilla were successfully unidentified. In conclusion, nrDNA ITS and ycfl can be used as a potential DNA barcoding to identify the medicinal plants in Bletilla and its adulterants. There were only three basic differences on nrDNA ITS between "Jujing baiji" and Bletilla striata of Lu'an in Anhui province, and two basic differences in ycfl. Based on morphological and molecular data, "Jujing baiji" could be recognized as the species of Bletilla striata.
Base Sequence ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Orchidaceae ; classification ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification

BACKGROUNDThe existing classifications for evaluating glaucoma filtering blebs rely mostly on external bleb characteristics and the postoperative control of intraocular pressure (IOP). Internal bleb structures are not carefully observed. This study aimed to analyze and compare glaucoma filtering bleb morphology using slit-lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography (SL-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), and to classify blebs according to results and intraocular pressure.

METHODSWe followed 29 eyes of 21 male patients and 40 eyes of 32 female patients who underwent glaucoma filtering surgery in Sixth People's Hospital of Shanghai, between 2002 and 2006. The blebs were imaged using SL-OCT and UBM and classified according to the intrableb morphology and control of IOP after surgery. A Fisher's exact test was used to compare the sensitivity for predicting a functioning bleb differed significantly between SL-OCT and UBM. A Fisher's exact test was also used for morphological analysis of the trabeculectomy blebs based on SL-OCT.

RESULTSIn the 69 eyes, there were 45 (65.2%) functioning blebs and 24 (34.8%) non-functioning blebs. We classified the blebs into four categories on the basis of SL-OCT images: diffuse, cystic, encapsulated and flat. Diffuse and cystic blebs were typically functional, whereas the other two types were always non-functional. The sensitivity of SL-OCT for predicting a functioning bleb was 92.7% (38/41 eyes) and specificity of predicting a non-functioning bleb was 83.3% (20/24 eyes). By contrast, sensitivity of UBM was 66.7% (30/45 eyes) and specificity was 75.0% (18/24 eyes). The sensitivity for predicting a functioning bleb differed significantly between the two techniques (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONSSL-OCT provides high-axial-resolution images of anterior segment structures. The non-contact approach of SL-OCT enables visualization of intrableb structures at any time after surgery. SL-OCT has greater sensitivity and specificity than UBM in evaluating filtering bleb function. The morphological classification supported the assessment of bleb function and could provide objective data for evaluating the outcome of antiglaucoma surgery or the need for a second procedure.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blister ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Conjunctiva ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Glaucoma ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; methods ; Trabeculectomy ; adverse effects ; methods

Objective To summarize the clinical manifestations of 46, XX ovotesticular disorder of sex development (DSD) caused by a NR5A1 heterozygous mutation. Methods The first case of 46,XX ovotesticular DSD was caused by a NR5A1 heterozygous mutation in China and was reported with a review of 11 similar cases in the literatures since July 2016. Results A 5. 6-year-old child raised as female was born with ambiguous genitalia. The left gonad was palpable in the inguinal region while the right one was located in abdomen. Gonadal histology showed both ovotestis. Vaginoscopy revealed a short, blind-ending vagina. No uterine was detected by laparoscopy. Repeated karyotype results were 46, XX with SRY gene negative. A heterozygous de novo mutation ( p. Arg92Trp) in the accessory DNA-binding region of NR5A1 gene was found in that child. Conclusions We reported for the first time in China a new phenotype caused by a NR5A1 heterozygous mutation-46,XX ovotesticular DSD. According to the review of literatures, such mutation seemed with incomplete penetrance. It could cause both 46, XX DSD and 46, XY DSD with varied manifestations. The possible underlying mechanism might relate to the impairment of the binding between the mutant protein and target DNA which might lead to a decreased inhibition of the male developmental pathway through downregulation of female antitestis genes.

ApxI is one of the most important virulence factors of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP). To study the immunogenicity of the ApxI, the complete coding sequence (3146bp) and its 5'-terminal 1140 bp fragment of the apxIA gene were separately cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a, and expressed in the E. coli BL21 (DE3) with induction by IPTG. The expression products, rApxIA and rApxIAN, were present in a form of inclusion bodies and showed the same immunological reactivity as natural ApxI (nApxI) in Western-blot analysis. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally immunized with the rApxIA, rApxIAN and nApxI respectively. The serum antibody levels of the rApxIAN immunized mice were significantly lower than those immunized with rApxIA or nApxI in an ApxI-specific ELISA, but serum neutralization test demonstrated that immunized mice with rApxIAN, rApxIA and nApxI could generate similar levels of antibodies neutralizing the hemolytic activity of the natural ApxI. The rApxIAN was able to elicite 80% protection rate against APP serovar 1 and 100% against serovar 2 when challenged at a dose of one LD50 after 2 weeks of boost immunization.
Actinobacillus Infections ; prevention & control ; Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae ; genetics ; immunology ; Animals ; Antibodies ; blood ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Bacterial Toxins ; genetics ; immunology ; Bacterial Vaccines ; immunology ; Cytotoxins ; genetics ; immunology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Hemolysin Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Inclusion Bodies ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Peptides ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; immunology

AIMTo investigate alterations of smooth muscle cells and collagen fibers in corpus cavernosum following cavernous neurectomy and its relation to the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1).

METHODSTen adult male SD rats (neurectomy group) were subject to a bilateral cavernous nerve (CN) resection aseptically under an operating microscope, with 6 sham-operated rats as the control. Fifteen weeks after the operation, the penile specimens were collected and prepared for quantitative-analyzing of ratio of smooth muscle to collagen fibers in corpus cavernosum with confocal microscopy, and for detecting the expression of TGF-beta1 by RT-PCR and western-blot.

RESULTSSmooth muscle cells that show red color after fluorescent-labeling with tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate-phalloidin and collagen fibers that produce green autofluorescence after paraformaldehyde fixation were clearly identified under the confocal microscope. Quantification of fluorescent intensity showed that the ratio of smooth muscle to collagen fibers in corpus cavernosum in neurectomy group was 0.265 +/- 0.125, which was significantly lower than that in sham-operated group (0.760 +/- 0.196, P<0.01). RT-PCR and western-blot analyses revealed a significantly higher expression of TGF-beta1 in the penile tissues of the neurectomy animals than that in sham-operated group.

CONCLUSIONBilateral ablation of CN can lead to fibrosis of corpus cavernosum, which may be related to an increased expression of TGF-beta1 induced by hypoxia in cavernous tissue after denervation.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apomorphine ; Blotting, Western ; Collagen ; metabolism ; DNA Primers ; Dopamine Agonists ; Fibrosis ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Male ; Muscle Denervation ; Muscle, Smooth ; pathology ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Penis ; innervation ; pathology ; Prostatectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is the most active fraction of compost organic matter. The presence of the redox-active functional groups in DOM allows it to act an electron shuttle to promote the electron transfer between microorganisms and terminal electron acceptors. In this study, the electron transfer capacities (ETCs) of compost DOM samples at eight different composting stages were determined by electrochemical method. The 2, 2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and Diquat dibro-mide monohydrate (DQ) were used to measured electron donating capacity (EDC) and electron accepting capacity(EAC) with working voltage 0.61 V/-0.49 V,respective. The evolution characteristics of the chemical structures and components were analyzed by combining the three-dimensional fluorescence spectra,fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and elemental analysis. The results showed that the electron donating capacity(EDC) of DOMincreased from 16.850 μmol e-/(g C) to 22.077 μmol e-/(g C), The corresponding electron accepting capacity (EAC) decreased from 1.866 μmol e-/(g C)to 1.779 μmol e-/(g C). The results of three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy show that the relative contents of humuc-likeand protein-like components gradually increased and decreased, respectively, during the composting process. The humuc-like components were the main contributor for the ETC of DOM. FTIR spectra shows that there was no significant change in the hydroxyl and carboxyl group contentsof DOM during composting, suggesting no contribution of these function groups to the ETC of DOM. The elemental analysis showed that the content of oxygen in the DOM increased during the composting process, while the sulfur-containing group may be dominated contributor forits ETC.