AIM: To compare the difference of corneal curvature, astigmatism, central corneal thickness and anterior chamber depth between the Pentacam anterior segment analyzer and anterior segment optical coherence tomography(AS-OCT)in young myopic preoperative and senile cataract patients.

METHODS: Prospective clinical study.Totally 64 preoperative examinations(124 eyes)and 61 senile cataract patients(85 eyes)were selected. Pentacam and AS-OCT were used to measure the people's parameters of the ophthalmic anterior segment. Paired sample t-test was used to compare the differences of the two devices' measurement results of the two groups. The correlation of the obtained data was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. The consistency of the measurement results was analyzed by Bland-Altman plot analysis.

RESULTS: There were significant differences in measuring steep Keratometry(Ks), flat Keratometry(Kf)and mean Keratometry(Km)between the two devices of myopia(P<0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference in the cataract group(P>0.05). The astigmatic parameters J₀, central corneal thickness(CCT), and anterior chamber depth(ACD)measured by the devices and there were statistically significant differences between the two devices(P<0.05)while there was no significant difference in the measured astigmatic parameters J₄₅(P>0.05). The results of Ks, Kf, Km, J₀, J₄₅, CCT and ACD measured by the two devices in both groups were linearly related(P<0.001). The Bland-Altman plot analyses showed that the two devices had comparable results for J₀, J₄₅, CCT and ACD. The consistency of Ks, Kf and Km measured by the myopia group was good, while the consistency of Ks, Kf and Km measured by the cataract group was poor.

CONCLUSION: Pentacam and AS-OCT measurements of the ophthalmic anterior segment are consistent with astigmatic parameters, CCT and ACD, and can be used interchangeably. The consistency of Ks, Kf and Km is affected by age related factors, and Pentacam is preferred.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT(1)R), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA and protein expressions and nitric oxide (NO) content in the rat glomeruli in response to leptin stimulation.

METHODSThe glomeruli isolated from male SD rats were stimulated with 3 nmol/L leptin for 2 h. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to analyze the mRNA and protein expressions of AGT, AT(1)R and eNOS in the glomeruli, and nitrite concentration in the glomeruli was measured by nitrate reductase assay.

RESULTSIn comparison with the control group, exposure to leptin increased the mRNA levels of AGT, ATR(1) and eNOS in the isolated glomeruli by 2.69-/+0.17, 3.77-/+0.16 and 2.56-/+0.29 folds (P=0.024, 0.018 and 0.044), and their protein levels by 2.06-/+0.10, 2.67-/+0.08 and 1.61-/+0.13 folds (P=0.021, 0.015 and 0.032), respectively. The NO production in the glomeruli was also increased by 2.77-/+0.14 folds (P=0.000) following leptin exposure.

CONCLUSIONLeptin exposure of isolated rat glomeruli directly causes activation of the internal renal renin-angiotensin system and enhanced NO production, suggesting that leptin plays a role in the pathogenesis of maladaptation in renal hemodynamics in obesity.

Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Kidney Glomerulus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Leptin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the reasonable dosage for paraplatin according to different dosage calculations.

METHODSA prospective, randomized, single-blinded study on 54 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with paraplatin was conducted. Patients were divided to 2 groups. In group A, paraplatin dosage was calculated according to patients' body surface, and in group B, it was calculated according to the area under the curve (AUS). Hematological toxicity, response rate and survival rate in the two groups of patients were compared.

RESULTSNeutropenia in group A and group B was seen in 77.8% and 37.0% (P < 0.05), and thrombocytopenia in 18.5% and 3.7% (P > 0.05) of patients, respectively. Hemoglobin decrease was seen in 48.2% of patients in both groups. The average quantity of paraplatin given in one cycle of treatment was 535.93 +/- 106.71 mg and 398.52 +/- 71.72 mg (P < 0.01) respectively. The average time interval between treatment cycles was 27.04 +/- 5.30 d and 22.85 +/- 2.80 d (P < 0.05). The response rate and survival rate of patients in group A and B were 22.2% versus 48.2% (P < 0.05), and 40.7% versus 44.4% (P > 0.05) respectively, but the median survival time was identical (12 months) in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONNSCLC patients given paraplatin with dosages calculated on the basis of AUC have higher response rate and less severe hematological toxicity than those given paraplatin with dosages on the basis of body surface. However, the median survival time and survival rate have no statistical differences between the two groups of patients.

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Area Under Curve ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; Prospective Studies ; Single-Blind Method ; Survival Rate ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; surgery ; Hemiarthroplasty ; methods ; Hip Dislocation ; surgery ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and significance of B and T lymphocyte weakening factor (BTLA) in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). METHODS: Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of BTLA and its ligand HVEM mRNA in 11 patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and 11 normal donors. Flow cytometry was used to detect expression of BTLA and its HVEM on the cell surface of peripheral blood T lymphocytes and γδ T cells. RESULTS: The median values of BTLA and its ligand HVEM mRNA expression in peripheral blood of patients with CMML were 0.009% and 559.4%, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of normal controls (0.053% and 1031%)(P<0.001). The expression level of BTLA and HVEM on cell surface of peripheral lymphocytes was not significantly different from that in normal controls (P=0.3031 and 0.2576), however, the proportion of peripheral blood T lymphocytes in patients with CMML (median: 37.73%) was significantly lower than that in controls (median 69.23%)(P=0.0005). The expression of BTLA on the surface of γδ T cells in peripheral blood of patients with CMML (median: 23.26%) was significantly lower than that of the controls (median: 52.64%) (P<0.05), and there was no significant abnormality in HVEM expression (P=0.2791). CONCLUSION The expression of BTLA and its ligand HVEM, the proportion of T lymphocytes and the expression of BTLA on the surface of γδ T cells in patients with CMML are reduced. The effects of these abnormalities on T cell function and prognosis and efficacy of patients need to be further observed.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical efficacy and toxicity of CLAT protocol (cladribine, cytarabine and topotecan) for treating patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R-AML).

METHODSA total of 18 patients with R-AML (median age 37 years, range 18 to 58 years; male n = 16, female n = 2) were treated with CLAT protocol, which consisted of cladribine 5 mg/m(2)/d, i.v. on days 1-5, cytarabine 1.5 g/m(2)/d, i.v. on days 1-5, topotecan 1.25 mg/m(2)/d, i.v. on days 1-5 and G-CSF 300 µg/d subcutaneous injection on day 6 until neutrophile granulocyte recovery.

RESULTSOut of 18 patients 2 died of severe infection before the assessment. Among 16 evaluated patients, 10 (55.6%) achieved complete remission (CR), and 2 (11.1%) achieved partial remission (PR), the overall response rate was 66.7%, the rest 4 patients did not respond (NR). The median overall survival time and DFS for the CR patients was 9.5 months (95%CI: 6.7-16.64) and 9.5 months (95%CI: 6.1-16.7) respectively. The 1 year OS and DFS rates were 45% and 46.9%, respectively. All patients developed grade 4 of granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia, the median duration was 13 (range 2 to 21) days and 12 days (range 2 to 21), respectively, all patients developed infection, 2 patients died of severe infection. The most common non-hematological side effects included nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, aminotransferase or bilirubin elevation and were grade 1 to 2.

CONCLUSIONThe CLAT protocol seems to have promising for the treatment of refractory AML patients, and patients well tolerated. This CLAT protocol offers an alternative treatment for R-AML patients who received severe intensive treatment, especially with anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Agranulocytosis ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cladribine ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Remission Induction ; Thrombocytopenia ; Topotecan ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult