Background Femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) inevitably injury keratocytes and corneal nerve fibers.The research report about postoperative morphological changes of corneal nerve regeneration and keratocytes in femtosecond LASIK is still rare.Objective The aim of this study was to observe the kinetic changes of keratocytes and corneal nerve in corneal flap after femtosecond LASIK.Method Femtosecond laser manufacture corneal flap of LASIK surgery was performed on 60 eyes of 30 patients with refractive error using both femtosecond laser system and excimer laser treatment system.The repair of corneal wound was examined by slit lamp microscope,and the morphology of keratocytes and corneal nerve were observed with confocal microscope 1 week,1month,3 months after surgery,respectively.Results No haze or flap folds were found under the slit lamp microscope from 1 week through 3 months after operation.One week after surgery,the corneal stromal cells at the interface of the corneal flap appeared to be a mild activation status in 42 eyes (70％),but the activated cells gradually reduced with lapse of time.Three months after surgery,mild activation state still was found in 7 eyes (12％).One week after surgery,independent,short (＜50 μm),curved subbasal nerve fibers were exhibited in 7 eyes (12％),and curved filamentous nerve fibers were discovered in 48 eyes (80％) one month after surgery.The nerve fiber length of subbasal nerve was ＞200 μm in 27 eyes (45％) and classes beaded structure appeared 3 months after operation but were still different with preoperative subbasal nerve fibers.One week after the operation,filaments or discontinuous nerve fibers could been seen in 46 eyes (77％) at theinterface,and long nerve fibers or filamentous nerves were visible around the terminal or periphery of nerve fibers in 49 eyes (82％) one month after surgery,and long nerve fibers or filaments of nerve fibers were visible in 57 eyes (95％) 3 months after the surgery.Conclusions Femtosecond LASIK cause wound reaction at cellular level.Corneal nerve fibers recover with the extension of time,but there are still some morphological differences 3 months after surgery from preoperation.

BACKGROUNDThere is no research, either at home or abroad, focusing on assessing the cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise tolerance in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), but the benefits of early exercise are well recognized. The goals of this study were to assess cardiopulmonary functional reserve in treated PE patients using the inert gas rebreathing method of the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), and to compare it with traditional methods.

METHODSCPET on the bicycle ergometer were performed in 40 patients with age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and pulmonary function matched. The first group was the PE group composed of 16 PE patients (5 male, 11 female) who were given the standard antithrombotic therapy for two weeks. The second group was composed of 24 normal individuals (10 male, 14 female). Both groups were evaluated by cardiac ultrasound examination, 6-minute walking test (6MWT), and CPET.

RESULTS(1) Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) in the PE group increased significantly compared to the control group, (34.81 ± 8.15) mmHg to (19.75 ± 3.47) mmHg (P < 0.01). But neither right atrial end-systolic diameter (RASD) nor right ventricular end-diastolic diameter (RVDD) in the PE patients had changed when compared with the controls. The 6-minute walk distance was significantly reduced in the PE patients compared with normal subjects, (447.81 ± 79.20) m vs. (513.75 ± 31.45) m (P < 0.01). Both anaerobic threshold oxygen consumption (VO(2)AT) and peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)peak) were significantly lower in patients with PE, while CO(2) equivalent ventilation (VE/VCO(2) slope) was higher; VO(2)AT (9.44 ± 3.82) ml×kg(-1)×min(-1) vs. (14.62 ± 2.93) ml×kg(-1)×min(-1) (P < 0.01) and VO2peak (12.26 ± 4.06) ml×kg(-1)×min(-1) vs. (23.46 ± 6.15) ml×kg(-1)×min(-1) (P < 0.01) and VE/VCO(2) slope 35.47 ± 6.66 vs. 26.94 ± 3.16 (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in resting cardiac output (CO) between the PE and normal groups, whereas peak cardiac output (peak CO) and the difference between exercise and resting cardiac output (ΔCO) were both significantly reduced in the PE group; peak CO (5.97 ± 2.25) L/min to (8.50 ± 3.13) L/min (P < 0.01), ΔCO (1.29 ± 1.59) L/min to (3.97 ± 2.02) L/min (P < 0.01). (2) The 6-minute walk distance did not correlated with CPET except for the VO2 peak in patients with PE, r = 0.675 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe cardiopulmonary functional reserve was reduced in patients with PE. CPET is an accurate, quantitative evaluation of cardiopulmonary functional reserve for PE patients.

Aged ; Exercise Test ; methods ; Exercise Tolerance ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology ; Pulmonary Embolism ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVEThis report aims to investigate the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways and induced antiviral activity in hepatocytes.

METHODSWe isolated primary hepatocytes from wild-type C57BL/6 mice and examined the expression of TLR by realtime RT-PCR. Hepatocytes were stimulated with TLR 1-9 agonists and the supernatants were harvested. The secretion of cytokines were tested by ELISA. The antiviral effectors in supernatants were assayed via virus protection assay (in EMCV system) and the control of HBV replication were assessed via Southern blotting (in HBV system).

RESULTSWe demonstrated that hepatocytes expressed TLR1-9. In accordance with these TLR expression profiles, hepatocytes responded to all TLR ligands by producing inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α or IL-6), to TLR -1,-3,-7 and -9 ligands by producing type I IFN (IFN-α or IFN-β). Only TLR 3 and TLR 7 agonists could stimulate the production of high amounts of antiviral mediators by hepatocytes in virus protection assay. By contrast, supernatants from TLR1, -3 and -4 directly stimulated hepatocytes and TLR 3, -7 and -9 transfected hepatocytes were able to potently suppress HBV replication.

CONCLUSIONPrimary hepatocytes display a unique TLR signaling pathway and can control HBV replication after stimulation by TLR agonists in mice. It may be helpful for the development of TLR-based therapeutic approaches against hepatotropic virus.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; physiology ; Hepatocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; Immunity, Innate ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptors ; immunology ; metabolism ; Virus Replication

BACKGROUNDMany recipients of implantable cardiac electronic devices have atrial fibrillation (AF) occurrences after device implantation, even if there is no previous history of AF, and some of the episodes are asymptomatic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in AF burden following early AF detection in patients treated with pacemakers equipped with automatic, daily Home Monitoring function.

METHODSBetween February 2009 and December 2010, the registry recruited 701 pacemaker patients (628 dual-chamber, 73 biventricular devices) at 97 clinical centers in China. Daily Home Monitoring data transmissions were analyzed to screen for the AF burden. In-office follow-ups were scheduled for 3 and 6 months after implantation. Upon first AF (i.e., mode-switch) detection in a patient, screening of AF burden by Home Monitoring was extended for the next 180 days.

RESULTSAt least one episode of AF was observed in 22.9% of patients with dual-chamber pacemakers and in 28.8% of patients with biventricular pacemakers. The first AF detection in a patient occurred, on average, about 2 months before scheduled follow-up visits. In both pacemaker groups, mean AF burden decreased significantly (P < 0.05) over 180 days following first AF detection: from 12.0% to 2.5% in dual-chamber and from 12.2% to 0.5% in biventricular pacemaker recipients. The number of patients with an AF burden >10% per month was significantly reduced over 6 months of implantation in both dual chamber (38 patients in the first month vs. 21 patients in month 6, P < 0.05) and biventricular (7 patients in the first month vs. 0 patient in months 4-6, P < 0.05) pacemaker recipients.

CONCLUSIONSAutomatic, daily Home Monitoring of patients treated with cardiac pacemakers allows early detection of AF, and there is a gradual and significant decrease in AF burden.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atrial Fibrillation ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pacemaker, Artificial ; adverse effects

Humans ; Stomach/pathology* ; Gastric Fundus/pathology* ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology* ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*

Objective To observe the effects of aerobic exercise on cardiac output during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods A total of 50 CHF patients ( echocardiography measured left ventricular ejection fraction ＜ 0. 49) were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into aerobic exercise group ( n = 25 ) and control group ( n = 25 ). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed. Patients of aerobic exercise group underwent aerobic exercise according to aerobic exercise prescription and exercise intensity is decided by anaerobic threshold before 10 J/s ( 1 minute before) of the oxygen consumption. After 6 supervised aerobic exercise training sessions in the hospital, patients were asked to perform the home-based aerobic exercise training. Patients in control group were required to maintain daily physical activities. CPET were reviewed 3 months later. Results Cardiac output(CO) ,peak CO, peak cardiac power output ( peak CPO), resting heart rate ( HR), heart rate at AT ( HR AT), HR peak, resting mean arterial pressure (MAP), peak MAP at baseline were similar between aerobic exercise group and control [(4. 2 ± 2. 0) L/min vs. (3. 3 ± 1.0) L/min, (6. 2 ± 2. 7 ) L/min vs. (5. 2 ± 1.8 ) L/min,( 1.8 ± 2. 9) L/min vs. (2. 0 ± 1.8 ) L/min, ( 1.3 ± 0. 5 ) J/s vs. ( 1.2 ± 0. 5 ) J/s, (76. 8 ± 13.5 ) beats/min vs. (73.4 ± 11.9 ) beats/min, ( 91.5 ± 11.3 ) beats/min vs. ( 92. 6 ± 12. 4 ) beats/min, ( 106. 0 ± 12. 9 )beats/min vs. ( 108. 3 ± 17.4) beats/min, (80. 8 ±9. 9)mm Hg( 1 mm Hg =0. 133 kPa) vs. (87. 6 ± 13.3)mm Hg, ( 98. 8 ± 12. 4 ) mm Hg vs. ( 102. 7 ± 13.9 ) mm Hg, all P ＞ 0. 05]. Compared to baseline, CO, peak CO, peak CPO, HR, HR AT, HR peak, MAP, peak MAP after 3 months were similar between aerobic exercise group and control( all P ＞ 0. 05 ). The differences between baseline and 3 months later expressed as △CO,△peak CO,△peak CPO, △HR, △HR AT, △HR peak, △MAP, △peak MAP were also similar between aerobic exercise group and control group [( - 0. 7 ± 2. 4) L/min vs. (0. 7 ± 2.0) L/min, ( 1.1 ± 2. 6 ) L/min vs.(1.4±2. 1)L/min,(0. 1 ±3.7)L/min vs. ( -0.2 ±2. 5) L/min, (0. 2 ± 1.0) J/s vs. (0.2 ±0.5)J/s,( - 0. 4 ± 7. 6) beats/min vs. ( 1.9 ± 9.9 ) beats/min, ( 3.4 ± 11.3 ) beats/min vs. ( - 2. 8 ± 7.6 )beats/min, (8. 9 ± 14. 5 )beats/min vs. (3.7 ± 14. 4)beats/min, (1.5 ± 12. 8 )mm Hg vs. ( - 1.3 ± 11.1 )mmHg,(6.4±18. 9)mm Hg vs. (1.3±12.3)mm Hg,all P＞0. 05]. Conclusion Three months aerobic exercise training did not improve cardiac output and related parameters during exercise in this cohort patients with CHF.

BACKGROUNDCardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with biventricular pacing improves cardiac function, functional capacity and quality of life in selected patients with heart failure. The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the intracardiac electrogram (IEGM)-based optimization method, QuickOpt(TM), in Chinese patients treated with CRT.

METHODSAortic time velocity integrals (AVTI) achieved at the sensed atrioventricular (AV), paced AV and interventricular (VV) interval settings recommended by both QuickOpt(TM) and standard echocardiographic optimization were measured in 101 patients. Consistency and the strength of the relationship between the two timing cycle optimization methods were assessed by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).

RESULTSThe ICC showed good agreement and correlation with what the AVTI achieved at the optimal sensed AV (ICC = 0.9683 (0.9535 - 0.9785)), paced AV (ICC = 0.9642 (0.9475 - 0.9757)) and VV (ICC = 0.9730 (0.9602 - 0.9817)) interval settings determined by the two optimization methods. The average time required by echocardiographic optimization and by QuickOpt(TM) were (78.32 ± 32.40) minutes and (1.98 ± 1.64) minutes respectively (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONThe QuickOpt(TM) algorithm provides a quicker, simpler and reliable alternative to the standard method for timing cycle optimization.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; methods ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; methods ; Female ; Heart Failure ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies

Objective To conduct bibliometric analysis of the relevant literature in the environmental field published from 1982 to 2018 collected by the Web of Science citation database and further explore the frontier research dynamics and hotspots in the environmental field. Methods The word "oil spill*" was used as the subject term for retrieval. A knowledge map of hotspots in oil spill research was built through software VOSviewer and the clustering relations between them were explored. The frequency and relevance of the keywords in the corresponding literature were obtained by the matrix of keywords built through the Thomson Data Analyzer （TDA） software. Results The four main research hotspots of marine oil spill pollution were oil spill numerical simulation and model prediction, oil spill exposure toxicity and risk assessment, oil spill component and source analysis and oil spill pollution characteristics and treatment. Conclusion The study analyzes the main content of the four research hotspots and the current research progress and provides scientific basis for further understanding of the mechanism of marine oil spill occurrence, migration and transformation, implementation of oil spill treatment and repair as well as more accurate assessment of eco-environment damage.
Accidents ; Bibliometrics ; Petroleum Pollution/adverse effects* ; Risk Assessment ; Software

Objective To explore the genetic background and structure of Urumqi Mongolians, the previously developed 39-AIM-InDels panel for ancestry inference was utilized in the present study. Methods The blood samples of 145 unrelated healthy Urumqi Mongolian individuals were collected and genotyped. The compositions of ancestry information of Urumqi Mongolians were studied with 17 different populations from three continents （East Asia, Europe and Africa） as reference populations. Then, multiple population genetics and bioinformatics analysis methods were applied, the Fst and DA values between matched populations were compared and analyzed, PCA analysis was performed and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The proportions of ancestry information components of Urumqi Mongolians were analyzed with Structure software, etc. Results The ancestry information components of Urumqi Mongolian group in different intercontinental populations accounted for 89%, 7%, and 3% of East Asian, European, and African populations, respectively. Compared with other intercontinental populations, Urumqi Mongolian group and East Asian populations have lower Fst and DA values, and they were in the same cluster in PCA analysis as well. In a phylogenetic tree, the Urumqi Mongolian group was in the same branch as East Asian populations. Conclusion Urumqi Mongolian group had relatively close genetic relationships with East Asian populations, and the proportion of its East Asian ancestry was about 89%.
Asian People/genetics* ; Forensic Genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Humans ; INDEL Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide