AIM:To analyze the characteristics of optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) in diabetic optic neuropathy ( DON ) retrospectively.
●METHODS:Retrospective study. A total of 175 cases of type ll diabetes with fundus lesions from Dec. 2013 to Dec. 2015 were selected and the clinical information was collected. These cases were diagnosed by consultation between Departments of Ophthalmology and Endocrinology in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiao Tong University. The results of body examination were recorded and cases were examined by color fundus photography, fluorescein fundus angiography ( FFA) and OCT. All these data were analyzed.
●RESULTS: A total of 49 cases ( 90 eyes, 25. 7%) were diagnosed DON through FFA which manifested abnormal fluorescence in optic papilla. Results of OCT showed:among 90 eyes of DON patients, 15 eyes ( 16. 7%) had normal optic nerve form; 20 eyes(22. 2%) of excavation of optic disc became smaller or disappeared, with prelaminar tissue and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) swelling;26 eyes (28. 9%) manifested optic cup deep and cup/disc ratio increasing;18 eyes (20. 0%) had tissue hyperplasia in the hollow or on the surface of optic disc; 11 eyes(12. 3%) had symptoms including vitreous traction optic papilla and optic disc rim rising. DON eyes which had similar fluorescence features could manifest different tissue morph by OCT.
●CONCLUSION: FFA defines DON by change of blood circulation in optic nerve. However, OCT can show differences of tissue morph of optic nerve that FFA fails to do. So OCT can manifest the causes and sites of optic neuropathy more clearly and also provide basis for treatment. The advantages of OCT are conducive to reviews and curative effect tracking among DON patients and these advantages including noninvasive, convenient, inexpensive and repeatable.

Objective To conduct morphological observation and gene identification of the strain of flagellate iso -lated from Cricetulus migratorius in the Xinjiang Research Center for Experimental Animals .Methods The ileocecal con-tents of C.migratorius were microscopically examined on direct smear with Wright-Giemsa staining , and the total RNA iso-lated from Xinjiang C.migratorius was extracted and 16S rRNA was amplified by PCR , and then sequenced .Furthermore the homology was compared and the phylogenetic tree was developed using MEGA 5.22 software.Results Morphological observation indicated that the isolated flagellate was Tritrichomonas muris.The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the Xinjiang C. migratorius isolate shared highly homology with that of other Tritrichomonas.Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that the 16S rRNA gene of Xinjiang C.migratorius isolate was classified into a subgroup with T.muris 16S rRNA (U85966.1), but was relatively distant relative from other related tritrichomonas.Conclusions The flagellate isolated from Xinjiang C. migratorius is identified to be T.muris by both morphological observation and 16S rRNA gene analysis.

It is one of the key points for modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicines to construct the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) base of Chinese materia medica (CMM).GAP helps to minimize contamination and improve the quality of CMM during the plantation and the production of Chinese crude drugs.In this article,the status and development of CMM production bases of GAP in Guangdong Province,China,are presented.The suggestions upon the problems during the development of GAP for Chinese crude drugs are also provided.

OBJECTIVETo improve the mini-modified semi solid rappaport vassiliadis most probable number (mini-MSRV MPN) method for Salmonella detection.

METHODSBased on the mini-MSRV MPN method,Buffered Peptone Water (BPW) was modified as one step enrichment medium and Modified Semi Solid Rappaport Vassiliadis (MSRV) medium was ameliorated as modified MSRV for Salmonella detection under standard Salmonella addition recovery. A total of 154 raw chicken samples, 48 swabs of pheasantry and 48 poultry dung samples were collected to compare the detection results of Salmonella by using improved mini-MSRV MPN, mini-MSRV MPN and regular most probable number (MPN) method.

RESULTSSalmonella recovery was < 2.7 MPN/g when the standard Salmonella addition was at the concentration of 0.9 CFU/g when the mini-MSRV MPN method was employed. If the standard Salmonella addition were at 9.0 and 90.0 CFU/g, the recoveries of bacteria were 10.1 and 94.0 MPN/g, and the average recovery rate was 112% and 104%, respectively. Salmonella detection rate of modified mini-MSRV MPN, mini-MSRV MPN and regular MPN method was 18.4% (46/250), 5.2% (13/250) and 6.0% (15/250), respectively. The detection rate was higher for modified mini-MSRV MPN method than of the other two methods (χ(2) values were 19.68 and 17.82, respectively, all P values < 0.05). The detection quantity of Salmonella (medians were 21.0, < 2.7 and < 3.0 MPN/g, respectively). The quantity detected by modified mini-MSRV MPN method was higher than that of the other two methods (both Z values were 5.71, both P values < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONModified mini-MSRV MPN method is an accurate method for foodborne Salmonella detection.

Animals ; Chickens ; microbiology ; Culture Media ; Food Contamination ; analysis ; Food Inspection ; methods ; Salmonella ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between adiponectin and beta-cell function in abdominal visceral obesity women.

METHODSNine abdominal visceral obesity women (VO), 9 normal subjects (C) and 7 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were enrolled in the study. Beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity were determined by hyperglycemic clamp, fasting serum adiponectin was assayed by ELISA and regional body fat was measured by MRI.

RESULTThe levels of first phase insulin release (FPIR), glucose disposal rates (GDR), insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and adiponectin were significantly elevated in control group compared with VO group and T2DM group. As compared with T2DM group, the levels of adiponectin, FPIR, second phase insulin release (SPIR) and maximum insulin release (INS(max)) increased significantly in VO group. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age, FPIR and GDR were positively correlated to adiponectin (B=0.145, 0.194, 0.277 respectively, all P<0.05), while waist-hip ratio was negatively correlated with adiponectin (B=-7.424, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe visceral obesity women have lower adiponectin levels, and hyperadiponectinemia may be the link with insulin secretion.

Abdominal Fat ; Adiponectin ; blood ; Adult ; Female ; Glucose Clamp Technique ; Humans ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; blood ; physiopathology

Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; blood ; diagnosis ; virology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance of liver function and autoantibodies in patients with acute or chronic drug-induced liver injury.

METHODS51 patients with drug-induced liver injury were divided into acute drug induced liver injury group and chronic drug induced liver injury group, liver function and autoantibodies were compared between these two groups.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference (P more than 0.05) in alanine aminotransferase [(412.1+/-387.5) U/L and (376.0+/-319.7) U/L], aspartate aminotransferase [(352.5+/-457.9) U/L and (198.8+/-142.7) U/L], total bilirubin [(109.7+/-104.80)micromol/L and(102.4+/-135.7)micromol/L], direct bilirubin [(66.4+/-73.3)micromol/L and (61.2+/-72.1)micromol/L], alkaline phosphatase [(133.4+/-50.1) U/L and (147.4+/-97.3) U/L], gamma-glutamyltransferase [(139.9+/-134.1) U/L and (180.6+/-227.9) U/L], and albumin [(41.3+/-4.9) g/L and (39.8+/-5.3)g/L] between these two groups, however, the level of globulin [(25.1+/-5.3) g/L and (28.6+/-5.1) g/L] was significantly different between these two groups (P less than 0.05). The titers of Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and smooth muscle antibody (SMA) were less than or equal to 1:320 in patients with acute drug induced liver injury. The titers of ANA, antimitochondrial antibody (AMA), and SMA were more than or equal to 1:320 in most of the patients with chronic drug induced liver injury.

CONCLUSIONLiver function has no value in the diagnosis of acute or chronic drug induced liver injury. High titer autoantibodies are found in patients with chronic drug induced liver injury.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; blood ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; blood ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Microsomes ; immunology ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo understand the distribution of hepatitis B virus genotype in Guangxi and its clinical significance.

METHODSNested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used for amplification of HBV DNA in sera of asymptomatic carrier (ASC) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and patients with different liver diseases from southern and northern Guangxi. Specimens from 161 subjects were positive for HBV DNA and HBV genotype was determined by using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, direct sequencing or cloning sequencing.

RESULTSThe prevalence of genotype A was 3.7% in all samples and that of genotype B, C and D was 21.7%, 72.7% and 1.2%, respectively. No other genotypes (such as genotype E, F, G, H) were found. The prevalence of genotype C showed an increasing trend in ASC, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) group; in contrast, the prevalence of genotype B showed an opposite trend, although no statistically significant difference was observed, except between ASC and HCC (P=0.05). The HBeAg positive rate was higher, and the anti-HBe positive rate was lower in patients with chronic genotype C infection than in those with genotype B (P<0.05 for both). Liver function test (ALT) abnormality was more severe in genotype C group than in genotypes A and B groups having acute or chronic infection (P<0.01 for all comparisons). The prevalence of genotype C in southern Guangxi was higher than that in northern Guangxi. In contrast, the prevalence of genotype B in southern Guangxi was lower than that in northern Guangxi.

CONCLUSIONS1. The predominant HBV genotypes in Guangxi were genotypes B and C. The major genotype in southern Guangxi was genotype C; while that in northern Guangxi was genotype B, which implied that the distribution of HBV genotype C was consistent with the incidence of HCC in Guangxi. 2. Genotype C maybe associated with development of severe liver diseases including HCC. 3. Genotype A,D and B+C were mostly found in acute, hepatitis and chronic hepatitis group.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; virology ; Carrier State ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; virology ; Liver Neoplasms ; virology ; Male ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Animals ; Antibodies, Protozoan ; analysis ; Antigens, Protozoan ; analysis ; Asthma ; blood ; parasitology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Toxoplasma ; immunology ; Toxoplasmosis ; blood

AIM:To establish the hypoxia induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition(EndoMT)model of endothelial cells, and to investigate the effect and mechanism of Pirfenidone(PFD)on inhibiting the subretinal fibrosis progression.

METHODS: Primary cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC), 4-7 passages were used for experiments after cell identification. CoCl₂ induced hypoxia to establish the transformation model of endothelial cells into fibroblasts. CCK-8 was performed to detect cell proliferation rate and chose the optimal drug concentration. All cells were divided into 4 groups: control group(FBS-free), CoCl₂(200μmol/L)group, CoCl₂+0.3mg/mL PFD group, CoCl₂+0.6mg/mL PFD group. The protein expression of CD31, VE-cadherin, α-SMA, FSP1, p-p38 and p38 were detected by Western blot. Double immunofluorescence labeling method was used to observe the CD31/α-SMA expression. Wound healing assay detected the cell migration. The q-PCR was applied to detect the mRNA levels of TGF-β1 and SNAI1.

RESULTS: Compared with CoCl₂ group, PFD increased cell proliferation rate and inhibited cell migration significantly under hypoxia(P<0.05). PFD decreased the protein expression of the mesenchymal markers α-SMA and FSP1, and increased the protein level of the endothelial markers CD31 and VE-cadherin(P<0.05). Double immunofluorescence results showed that PFD could reduce the expression of α-SMA and increase the level of CD31(P<0.05). In the process of EndoMT, the p38 protein expression level was stable(P>0.05). PFD down-regulated significantly the high protein expression of p-p38, and high mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and SNAI1 compared with control group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the 0.3 and 0.6mg/mL PFD groups in all results above.

CONCLUSION: PFD can inhibit the formation of fibrosis in endothelial cells. TGF-β/p38MAPK signaling pathway might be one of the mechanisms that PFD regulates EndoMT progression. PFD will be expected to become a potential new sight on the treatment of subretinal fibrosis.