AIM:By analyzing optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) characteristics of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and comparing the differences of CSC between OCTA and indocyanine green angiography(ICGA), to explore if OCTA can substitute ICGA for diagnosis of CSC patients, and guide the treatment of photodynamic therapy (PDT).METHODS: We reviewed 30 eyes of 30 patients with CSC, who were diagnosed by fluorescein angiography (FFA) and ICGA at Beijing Tongren Eye Center from November 2015 to March 2016.All patients underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, intraocular pressure, slit-lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscope, color fundus photography, FFA, ICGA and OCTA.FFA and ICGA were captured by Spectralis HRA + OCT (Spectralis HRA + OCT;Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany).OCTA was performed by RTVue XR Avanti device (OptovueInc, Fremont, CA) with 6mm×6mm Angio Retina mode.The software (version 2017.100.0.1;OptovueInc) automatically segmented the tissue into four layers, the characteristics of choriocapillaris layer were analyzed.At the same time, the differences between OCTA and ICGA images were compared among CSC patients.The maximum diameters and areas of both choroidal hyperperfusion in ICGA and high flow signal in OCTA were measured.Then, the paired t test was used to analyze the differences between the maximum diameter and area of OCTA and ICGA measurement.RESULTS: Among 30 cases, high blood flow signals of OCTA were clearly visible in 27 cases, namely the coarse grain region;the inner low flow signals surrounded by high blood flow signals were seen in 21 cases;the outer low flow signals surrounding high blood flow signals were seen in 7 cases.High blood flow signals of OCTA were corresponded with the choroidal hyperperfusion of ICGA images;among these 30 cases, there were low reflection shadows in choroidal hyperperfusion with ICGA for 22 cases, for 21 cases out of these 22 cases, low flow signals inside of high flow signals of OCTA could be seen;9 out of 30 cases, there were low reflection halo outside of choroidal hyperperfusion of ICGA, and 7 out of these 9 cases, low flow signals outside of high flow signals of OCTA could be seen;still for those 30 cases, leakage point in late ICGA could be seen with 14 cases, however, special flow signals in OCTA could not be seen for them.For ICGA, the maximum diameter of choroidal hyperperfusion was 1.589±0.295mm, whose area was 0.705±0.131mm2;while for OCTA, the maximum diameter of high flow signal was 1.576±0.293mm, whose area was 0.745±0.138mm2.By using paired t test, there was no statistical difference between the maximum diameter of choroidal hyperperfusion in ICGA and the maximum diameter of high flow signal in OCTA, nor difference between the area of ICGA and OCTA.CONCLUSION: The high flow signals can be clearly visible in OCTA, which are corresponded with choroidal hyperperfusion in ICGA.OCTA can substitute ICGA for diagnosis of CSC patients, and guide the treatment of PDT.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study showed that the activation of local renin-angiotensin system in heart and vessels contributed to hypertension and cardiovascular remodeling. However, whether oxygen free radical plays an important role in this process is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the interventional effects of Ebselen, a kind of anti-oxidative drug, on rats administered by Nw-Nitro-L-arginine methyl easter (L-NAME) (L-NAME), inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) for a long term, and probe into the role of oxygen free radicals (OFR) in hyper- tension and cardiovascular remodeling of NO-deficient rats. DESIGN: A randomized grouping and controlled animal trial. SETTING: Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Institute of Cardiology, Nanchang University. MATERIALS: The experiment was completed from January 2002 to March 2003 at the Animal Experimental Lab, Institute of Cardiology, Nanchang University and the Key Molecular Medical Lab of Jiangxi Province. Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided to three groups according to the random number table method: normal control group (n=8), L-NAME group (n=8), L-NAME + Ebselen group (n=8). METHODS: ①Normal control group: The rats could eat and drink routinely, and they were administrated by skim milk ball (net weigh = 4 g) before feed every night. ② L-NAME group: The rats received L-NAME in the dose of 50 mg/kg mixed in one skim milk ball everyday before feed every night. ③ L-NAME + Ebselen group: The rats were admin istered by one skim milk ball (net weigh = 2 g) mixed with L-NAME (50 mg/kg) and one skim milk ball (net weigh = 2 g) mixed with ebselen (30 mg/kg). The systolic blood pressure (SBP) was detected before LNAME was given and at the ends of the 1st, 2nd, 4th,6th and 8th weeks respectively. The rats were killed under anesthesia at the end of the 8th week, the plasma and homogenate of myocardium of apex were taken to detect the biochemical indexes, the other heart tissues were used for the histological detections. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: ① Dynamic changes of blood pressure were observed. The levels of NO and malondialdehyde (MDA), activities of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in plasma and myocardium of apex were measured. The production of superoxide anion and the levels of angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor (AT1R) protein expression in myocardium of apex were determined. ③ The pathomor- phological indexes were determined. RESULTS: All the 24 rats were involved in the analysis of results without deletion. ① SBP: At the ends of the 1st, 2nd, 4th 6th and 8th weeks, SBP elevated gradually in the L-NAME group, which were significantly higher than those in the control group at the same time (P ＜ 0.05-0.01). At the end of the 8th week, the SBP was significantly lower in the L- NAME + Ebselen group than in the L-NAME group (P ＜ 0.05). ② Bio chemical indexes in plasma and homogenate of myocardium of apex: The NO level and SOD activity in myocardial tissue were significantly lower in the L-NAME group than in the normal control group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01), but significantly higher in the L-NAME + Ebselen group than in the L- NAME group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01). The production of superoxide anion, ACE activity and level of AT1R expression were all significantly higher in the L-NAME group than in the normal control group (P ＜ 0.05), but signifi- cantly lower in the L-NAME + Ebselen group than in the L-NAME group. ③ Pathomorphological indexes: The ratio of cardiac mass to body mass, thickness of left ventricle and ratio of thickness to lumen diameter of small artery were all significantly higher in the L-NAME group and L- NAME + Ebselen group than in the normal control group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01), and the thickness of left ventricle and ratio of thickness to lumen diameter of small artery were significantly lower in the L-NAME + Ebselen group than in the L-NAME group (P ＜ 0.05) CONCLUSION: Ebselen, an anti-oxidative drug, enable to attenuate the development of hypertension and cardiovascular remodeling in NO-deficient rats. By activating renin-angiotensin system (RAS), OFR may accelerate the formation of hypertension and cardiovascular remodeling, and the increased production of OFR may contribute to the development of cardiovascular remodeling. It is indicated that RAS may play an important role in the development of hypertension and cardiovascular remodeling induced by NO-deficiency

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnostic value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

METHODSTwenty healthy volunteers and fifty patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy underwent DTI in the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Ningbo University from January 2014 to April 2015. Healthy volunteers served as controls. Fifty patients were divided into three groups (group A , B, C) according to cervical MRI scan standard. Group A (17 cases) had only the dura mater spinalis compressed; Group B (23 cases) showed the cervical spinal cord compressed, but no high signal in it; Group C (10 cases) had the cervical spinal cord compressed with high signal in the same level. The average apparent diffusion coefficients(ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA)values in these examinee were analyzed and all subjects were performed fiber tracking.

RESULTSThere was no statistically significant differences in ADC and FA values in C2/C3, C3/C4, C4/C5, C5/C6, C6/C7 of control group (P>0.05). The average ADC and FA values in control group were (0.875 +/- 0.096) x10(3) mm2/s and 0.720 +/- 0.051, respectively; compared with group A,there was no statistically significant difference; compared with group B and C, there was significant difference; comparison among group A, B, C, there was significant differences.

CONCLUSIONDTI can early and accurately quantify the changes of microstructure in cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Fiber tracking can show the damage range of spinal cord lesions.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Cervical Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Spondylosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult

To summarize Professor LIU Feng-bin's clinical experience and theoretical thoughts on chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), the study group designed a retrospective study on his case series and expert interview. First of all, the data of CAG patients treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine between 2009 and 2013, e. g. herbs, diseases, syndrome type, prescription amount and number of herbs, was collected and processed. The statistical description and binary logistic regression were used to determined the syndrome type, initial basic remedy and modification. During the statistics, a complete and sub-group analysis was performed simultaneously. After the expert interview, the syndrome type and medication were finalized. As a result, a total of 228 CAG patients aged at (50.30 ± 10.18) were collected, including 151 males (66.23%). Of them, the TCM diagnosis and syndrome type were extracted from the information of 157 patients, including 115 cases with gastric stuffiness, 23 cases with gastric pain, 19 missing cases, 2 cases with spleen-stomach weakness syndrome, 57 cases with spleen deficiency and dampness-heat syndrome, 18 cases with spleen-stomach disharmony syndrome, 23 cases with syndrome of liver depression syndrome, 21 cases with liver qi invading stomach syndrome and 26 qi and yin deficiency syndrome, respectively. All of the 228 patients used totally 104 herbs, while the subgroups with 157 patients used 94 herbs. The most frequently used 15 herbs used in each groups were analyzed to determine the initial basic remedy and modification. Subsequently, based on the information of the sub-groups with 157 patients, with the syndrome type as the dependent variable, the logistic regression analysis was made on the most frequently used 32 herbs, in order to determined the modification in herbs for different syndrome types. After experts reviewed and modified, they believed the main causes of CAG were dietary irregularities, moodiness and weak constitution; the pathogenesis of CAG was spleen deficiency with qi stagnation, heat depression and blood stasis in the stomach meridian. The above six syndrome types and 12 herbs were determined, including Pseudostellariae Radix, Poria, Atractylodismacrocephalae Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus, Sepiae Endoconcha, Arecae Pericarpium, Aurantii Fructus, Perillae Caulis, Herba Hedyotis Diffusae, Scutellariae Barbatae Herba, Curcumae Rhizoma. This study summarized Professor LIU Feng-bin's clinical experience and theoretical thoughts of chronic atrophic gastritis based on clinical practice data and expert interview, with a rigorous design and good scientificity and practicability.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate whether pantoprazole (PPZ), a proton pump inhibitor,could reverse the transmember pH gradient by inhibiting vacuolar H+-ATPase so as to increase the sensitivity of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC7901 to antitumor drugs and to evaluate the optimal time of drug administration, dosage of PPZ and the possible mechanism. Methods Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining were used to determine the expression and intracellular distribution of vacuolar H+-ATPase in human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC7901 with or without PPZ pretreatment. 2', 7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein, acetoxymethyl ester (BCECF-AM) fluorescent probe was used to measure the intracellular pH value of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC7901 which pretreated with different dose and time of PPI. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and annexin V-fluorescent isothiocyanate-propidium iodide double staining were performed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects and apoptosis of cells treated with antitumor drugs combined with PPZ. Adriamycin (ADR) was used as probe to estimate drug accumulation and retention with PPZ pretreatment. Results After 24 hours, the expression of vacuolar H+-ATPase in cells pretreated with PPZ of 10 μg/ml (1.19±0.03) or 100 μg/ml (0. 70±0.03) was significantly lower than that in blank control (1.53±0. 05), but this expression was increased by pretreatment with PPZ of 1 μg/ml (2.29 +0.06, P<0.05). The inhibitory effects of PPZ (10 μg/ml) on vacuolar H+-ATPase was observed at 6 hours (0.32±0.02)and 12 hours (0. 13±0.02). And it could alter the intracellular distribution of vacuolar H+-ATPase at 24-hours. The intracellular pH value in cells pretreated with PPZ of 10 μg/ml (7.44±0. 09 ) or 100 μg/ml (7.31 ± 0. 06) was significantly decreased in comparison with untreated cells (7.51±0.05, P< 0. 01). After administration of anti-tumor drugs, the viability in SGC7901 cells pretreated with PPZ for 24 hours (58.71%±1.18 %) was significantly lower than that in cells untreated with PPZ (74. 33% ± 1.77%, P<0.05), while thetotal and early apoptotic rates in former cells(80.81% ±1. 16% and 77.52 %±1.13 %, respectively) were significantly higher than those in later cells (26. 42%±1.19% and 23. 18% ±0.92%,respectively,P < 0. 01). And the ADR releasing index in cells treated with PPZ (20, 50 and 100 μg/ml) for 24 hours was obviously lower than that in the blank control (0. 164±0. 013, 0. 162±0.015, 0. 152±0. 012 vs 0. 277±0. 011, respectively, P<0. 01). Conclusion The sensitivity of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line to antitumor drugs may be increased by pretreatment with PPZ.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Male ; Morphine ; adverse effects ; Morphine Dependence ; metabolism ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; metabolism ; Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 ; metabolism

The present study was carried out to determine the role of histamine H(1) and H(2) receptors in the generation of basic respiratory rhythm. Neonatal (aged 0-3 d) Sprague-Dawley rats of either sex were used. The medulla oblongata slice containing the medial region of the nucleus retrofacialis (mNRF) and the hypoglossal nerve rootlets was prepared and the surgical procedure was performed in the modified Kreb's solution (MKS) with continuous carbogen (95% O(2) and 5% CO(2)), and ended in 3 min. Respiratory rhythmical discharge activity (RRDA) of the rootlets of hypoglossal nerve was recorded by suction electrode. Thirty medulla oblongata slice preparations were divided into 5 groups. In groups I, II and III, histamine (5 μmol/L), H(1) receptor specific antagonist pyrilamine (10 μmol/L) and H(2) receptor specific antagonist cimetidine (5 μmol/L) was added into the perfusion solution for 15 min separately. In group IV, after application of histamine for 15 min, additional pyrilamine was added into the perfusion for another 15 min. In group V, after application of histamine for 15 min, additional cimetidine was added into the perfusion for another 15 min. The discharges of the roots of hypoglossal nerve were recorded. Signals were amplified and band-pass filtered (100-3.3 kHz). Data were sampled (1-10 kHz) and stored in the computer via BL-420 biological signal processing system. Our results showed that histamine significantly decreased the respiratory cycle (RC) and expiratory time (TE), but changes of integral amplitude (IA) and inspiratory time (TI) were not statistically significant. Pyrilamine induced significant increases in RC and TE, but changes of TI and IA were not statistically significant. Cimetidine had no effects on RC, TE, TI and IA of RRDA. The effect of histamine on the respiratory rhythm was reversed by additional application of pyrilamine but not cimetidine. Taken together, with the results mentioned above, histamine H(1) receptors but not H(2) receptors may play an important role in the modulation of RRDA in the medulla oblongata slice preparation of neonatal rats.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cimetidine ; pharmacology ; Female ; Histamine ; pharmacology ; Histamine H1 Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Histamine H2 Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Hypoglossal Nerve ; physiology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; physiology ; Pyrilamine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Histamine H1 ; physiology ; Receptors, Histamine H2 ; physiology ; Respiration

To investigate the effects of nikethamide on the generation and modulation of rhythmic respiration of neonatal rats and the role of 5-HT(2A) receptor in this course, experiments were performed on the transverse medullary slices of neonatal rats (both sexes, 1-3 d) in vitro. The slices containing the medial region of the nucleus retrofacialis (mNRF) with the hypoglossal nerve rootlets were prepared in which the respiratory-related rhythmic discharge activity (RRDA) was recorded from the hypoglossal nerve rootlets by suction electrode. The possible role of nikethamide on RRDA was investigated by administration of an agonist of 5-HT(2A) receptor, 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI), and an antagonist of 5-HT(2A) receptor, ketanserine, dissolved in modified Krebos solution (MKS). Thirty slices were randomly divided into five groups: Group 1: the slices were perfused with different concentrations of nikethamide (0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 μg/mL), and the most effective concentration was selected; Group 2: the slices were perfused with DOI (40 μmol/L); Group 3: the slices were perfused with ketanserine (40 μmol/L); Group 4: the slices were perfused with ketanserine + DOI; Group 5: the slices were perfused with nikethamide, then perfused with nikethamide + ketanserine after washout of nikethamide. Nikethamide increased RRDA in transverse medullary slices at 0.5-7 μg/mL, and 5 μg/mL was the most effective concentration. DOI increased RRDA with prolonged inspiratory time (TI), increased integral amplitude (IA), and shortened respiratory cycle (RC). Ketanserine decreased RRDA with shortened TI, decreased IA and prolonged RC. Ketanserine + DOI had no significant effects on RRDA. The effects of nikethamide on RC and IA were totally and partially reversed by additional application of ketanserine, but the effect of nikethamide on TI was not influenced by ketanserine. It is proposed that nikethamide increases RRDA partly via 5-HT(2A) receptors.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; drug effects ; physiology ; Nikethamide ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A ; metabolism ; Respiration ; drug effects ; Respiratory Center ; physiology ; Serotonin

Many Chinese drugs (CHD) have showed their significant effects of integral immune-regulation, and lots of researches have conducted in recent years for exploring their mechanism from different levels, like cytological, molecular and genetic levels. In this paper, the relation between immune-regulation of CHD and Toll-like receptors/nuclear factor-kappaB (TLRs/NF-kappaB) signaling pathway was introduced in brief based upon the achievements of previous researches. It was pointed out that the two are closely related, to explore mechanism of CHD in this way is meaningful not only for further deepening the theoretical understanding of CHD's pharmacological immunoregulation, but also be practically facilitate for enhancing therapeutic efficacy of CHD and developing new CHD.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; immunology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Toll-Like Receptors ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of Dynesys system for the treatment of multiple segment lumbar degenerative disease.

METHODSA total of 28 patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease treated with Dynesys system from December 2008 to May 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 16 males and 12 females, aged from 27 to 75 years old with an average of 49.1 years. Thirteen patients with multiple segmental lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion, including L3-L5 in 7 cases, L2-L4 in 1 case and L4-S1 in 5 cases. Fifteen patients with multiple segmental lumbar spinal stenosis, including L3-L5 in 10 cases, L4-L5 in 4 cases and L2-S1 in 1 case. The symptoms of lumbago and (or) intermittent claudication in all patients were treated with conservative treatments for more than 6 months and these methods did not work. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to analyze the lumbar and leg pain, imaging data were used to measure the intervertebral space height and intervertebral motion of fixed segment and upper adjacent segment, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to evaluate the clinical effect.

RESULTSAll operations were successful and the patients were followed up from 38 to 65 months with an average 50.6 months. At final follow-up, ODI and VAS of the low back pain and leg pain were (25.10±6.52)%, (1.25±0.70) points and (1.29±0.89) points, respectively and were decreased compared with preoperative (P<0.05). Postoperative intervertebral space heights were increased and intervertebral motions were decreased in fixed segment compared with preoperative (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in intervertebral space heights and intervertebral motions of upper adjacent segment between preoperative and postoperative (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONDynesys system may obtain long-term clinical curative effect in treating multiple lumbar degenerative disease. It can partially preserve the intervertebral motions of the fixed segments, have little effect on adjacent segments. The long-term clinical effect of Dynesys still need longer time follow-up observation.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; pathology ; surgery ; Joint Instability ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Visual Analog Scale