Background Abnormality of intraocular pressure (IOP) leads to ocular shape change and functional damage.Previous study on the influence factors of IOP mostly focus on eye tissue,but the research of systemic affecting factor is lack.Objective This study was to survey the distribution of IOP and its association with the systemic factors in Chinese population.Methods A cross-section study was designed in this study.The subjects were enrolled from the government employees physical check-up cohort in Guangzhou.IOP was measured using non-contact tonometry.The height,weight and blood pressure were measured based on a presupposed standard protocol.Fundus and slit lamp examinations were performed by trained ophthalmologists.Frequency-doubled perimetry was carried out in the subjects with the suspicious optical disc abnormality,and abnormal perimetry result and operated eye were rejected in the survey.The operative history was learned by questionnaire.Stata 11.0 was used for the data analysis.Results Total 7763 subjects finished all the examination,including 4213 male and 3550 female.Four hundred and fifteen subjects were excluded due to previous intraocular surgery and glaucoma,and the clinical data of the right eyes of 7348 subjects who were eligible for the protocol were brought into statistical analysis.The mean IOP was (15.6±2.8) mmHg in the subjects,and that in the male and female subjects was (15.6±2.8) mmHg and (15.7±2.8) mmHg,respectively,showing a statistically significant difference (t =2.415,P =0.016).A good consistence was found in the IOP between the right eyes and the left eyes (r=0.830,P＜0.001).The IOP value in the subjects presented with a near normal distribution.IOP value was gradually decreased with the increase of age.Multivariate regression suggested a negative correlation between IOP and age or gender (P＜0.001) as well as a positive correlation between IOP and body weight index (BMI),systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure (P ＜0.001).Conclusions Similar to other studies in East Asia population,IOP is associated with age,gender,BMI,systolic and diastolic blood pressure in this survey.

A 2,4 -dichlorophenol degrading Pseudomonas strain GI241-1 was isolated from a soil sample. The dienelactone hydrolase gene, designated as dcpD which encodes dienelactone hydrolase involved in transforming cis-2-chloro-dienelactone into 2-chloromaleylacetic acid, was cloned from this bacterium strain. The gene cloning strategy was to construct genomic library after location of its neighbouring gene by Southem blot and to screen the aim transformant by dot blotting. Sequencing results showed that length of dcpD is 702bp. The sequence of dcpD and the deduced amino acid are different from the relative sequences registered in the GenBank.

Objective To study the expression of PI3K and MMP-7 in esophageal carcinoma and the rela-tionship between the expression of PI3K and MMP-7 and carcinogenesis and progression of esophageal carcinoma. Methods PI3K and MMP-7 expression were detected in 24 normal esophageal mucosa,94 primary tumor tissues with SP immunohistochemistal method. Results There were significant differences of PI3K and MMP-7 expressions between esophageal carcinoma and normal mucesa epithelium ( all P < 0.01 ) [71.28% (67/94) vs 4.17% ( 1/24 ) and 52.13% (49/94) vs 0% (0/24)]. There were significant correlations between PI3K expression and the degrees of differentiation,invasive depth,clinical staging and the metastasis of lymph node (all P <0.01 ). The positive ex-pression rate of MMP-7 had the relationship with metastasis of lymph node (P < 0.05 ), the degrees of differentiation ( P < 0.05 ) invasive depth ( P < 0.01 ), and clinical staging( P < 0.05 ) . There was a positive relationship between PI3K and MMP-7 expression in this study (r = 0. 232 ,P = 0.025). Conlusions PBK and MMP-7 play an impor-tant roles in carcinogenesis and progression of esophageal carcinoma and can be used as valuable biomarkers to eval-uate biological characteristics in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and safety of a new method of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(NOTES) -totally transtracheal endoscopic thyroidectomy(TTET) .Methods:Three miniature swines and 6 beagle dogs were underwent TTET.Under general anesthesia,special designed endotracheal tube with 2-channel was used and endoscope and instruments were inserted through the respective channel.Incision of tracheal anterior wall was accomplished and partial or subtotal thyroidectomy was performed.Finally,the defects in the trachea were sutured with ENDO STITCH instrument.Results:Partial thyroidectomy was successfully accomplished on 3 pigs and subtotal thyroidectomy was done on 6 dogs.No serious complications such as anoxia,asphyxia,airway obstruction and death occurred during the operation.Animals were sacrificed 2h after the procedure and incision of trachea was found to be closely sutured.There were no subcutaneous emphysema and haematoma formation.Conclusion:Preliminary experimental results showed the feasibility and safety of TTET.Transtracheal access maintains the integrity of cervical tissues and achieves an optimal cosmetic outcome.TTET may open up a new field of NOTES on thyroid surgery.

Objective To analyze the relationship between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level and complexity of coronary artery lesions in patients with coronary stenosis by angiography. Methods The data of clinic and coronary angiogram (CAG) were retrospectively collected in 929 patients with established coronary stenosis by coronary angiography at Peking University Third Hospital from January 2009 to January 2011. The patients were grouped according to SYNTAX score, and the relationship between FPG level and SYNTAX score were analyzed using bivariate, Multivariate stepwise regression and logistic regression analysis. Results ①929 patients were devided into three groups:47 cases into low risk group (score<22), 189 into moderate risk group (score≥22 and<33) and 639 into high risk group (score≥33). Intergroup analysis showed that age (P=0.000), FPG level [5.20 (4.70,6.30) mmol/L, 5.70 (4.90,7.15) mmol/L, 5.80 (5.30,7.60) mmol/L, P=0.000], proportions of FPG abnormality [283 (40.8%), 100(52.9%), 28(59.6%), P=0.001] and patients with diabetes history (P=0.003) were increased along with SYNTAX score elevated.②Correlation analysis showed correlativity (r=0.167, P=0.000) between SYNTAX score and FPG. In non-diabetes history subgroup, correlation between SYNTAX score and FPG remained signiifcant (r=0.149, P=0.000). However, in diabetes history subgroup, the correlation was not significant. ③ Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed an independent correlation between FPG and SYNTAX score (β=0.452, P=0.002). In non-diabetes history subgroup, the correlation remained significant (β=1.039, P=0.000).④ When moderate-high risk group serve as dependent variable, and age, gender, CAD risk factors and FPG serve as independent variables, logistic regression analysis screened out two variables:age (whole group:OR 1.033, 95%CI 1.017 ~ 1.049, P=0.000;non-diabetes history subgroup:OR 1.039, 95%CI 1.020 ~ 1.059, P=0.000) and FPG (whole group: OR 1.114, 95% CI 1.038 ~ 1.195, P=0.003; non-diabetes history subgroup:OR 1.299, 95%CI 1.088 ~ 1.387, P=0.001). Conclusions FPG is likely to relfect complexity of coronary artery lesions and predict SYNTAX score in patients with coronary stenosis, especially in patients without diabetes history.

BACKGROUNDChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous and complex disease of which the pathogenesis remains largely unknown. Many factors could influence COPD development and progression. One of them is the genetic risk factor. A severe hereditary deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin is the best genetic proof. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of beta2-adrenergic receptor (β(2)AR) result in single amino acid substitution. Two loci had been extensively studied and found that they could change the function of β(2)AR. Two SNPs consist of substitutions of glycine for arginine at amino acid position 16, glutamic acid for glutamine at position 27. Many studies proved that polymorphisms at position 16 and 27 altered the lung function of COPD patients or the patient's susceptibility to the development of COPD. However, there was no exclusive conclusion. Therefore, a meta analysis was done to investigate the effect of polymorphisms in the β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene on the risk of COPD and lung function.

METHODSComprehensive searches of MEDLINE, Embase, Ovid, HighWire, Cochrane Library, and Chinese databases (CBMdisc, VIP, CNKI, and Wanfang data) from January 1980 to September 2011 were performed, using the keywords: COPD OR chronic obstructive pulmonary disease AND adrenoreceptor OR adrenergic receptor AND polymorphism OR mutation OR variation. Case-control research or cross sectional studies in which diagnosis of COPD met the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines; all the studies reported the ADRB2 genotype at position 16 or 27. Outcomes measured were genotype frequency and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV(1)%) in both the case and control.

RESULTSTwelve case-control studies and eight cross-sectional studies were included. Compared to the control (n = 1225), neither Gly/Gly (n = 527) nor Arg/Arg (n = 422) homozygotes at position 16 demonstrated increased susceptibility to COPD, with odds ratios (ORs) of 0.95 (95%CI (0.68, 1.31), z = 0.33, P = 0.740) and 0.82 (95%CI (0.52, 1.28), z = 0.88, P = 0.381), respectively. Similar results were obtained for position 27, with ORs of 0.97 (95%CI (0.77, 1.23), z = 0.21, P = 0.833) for Glu/Glu homozygotes (n = 357) and 0.82 (95%CI (0.53, 1.29), z = 0.85, P = 0.393) for Gln/Gln homozygotes (n = 704) (control = 1183). In patients with COPD, Arg/Arg homozygotes (n = 41) had a similar FEV1% compared with Gly/Gly homozygotes (n = 102) (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.88, 95%CI (-0.85, 2.62), z = 1.00, P = 0.319). The genotype distribution was different between Caucasian and Asian populations (all P < 0.05 except the genotype Arg/Gly) for both position 16 and 27.

CONCLUSIONSPolymorphisms of ADRB2 at positions 16 and 27 did not change the risk of COPD nor affect lung function or disease severity. The genotype distribution for these polymorphisms was different between Caucasian and Asian populations.

Case-Control Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; physiology ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 ; genetics ; Respiratory Function Tests

Objective To evaluate the short-term efficacy and toxicity of the combination of gimeracil and oteracil porassium ( S-1 ) and cispla-tin in the treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma.Methods Fifty-six patients with advanced gastric carcinoma were randomly divided into two groups with 28 cases in each group.Experimental group was treated with S-1 (60 mg bid d1 -d21) combined with cisplatin (60 mg· m-2 iv d1-d3) with 4 weeks as a cycle.While control group was treated with oxaliplatin (130 mg· m-2 iv d1), tegafur (600 mg· m-2 iv d1-d5), calcium folinate ( 120 mg · m-2 iv d1 -d5 ) with 3 weeks as a cycle.Short-term efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated after three cy-cles.Results The tumor response rate of experimental group and control group was 75.0%and 42.9%(P<0.05).Besides, compared with the con-trol group , the occurrence of gradeⅢ-Ⅳadverse reactions in experimental group were apparently lower.Conclusion The regimen of S -1 combined with cisplatin has shown a better efficacy in the treatment of patients with ad-vanced gastric carcinoma , and the toxicity is relatively mild and tolerable .

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of six-slice coronal reformations in patients with acute midepigastric pain. Methods A total of 974 patients with acute midepigastric pain were included in this study and divided into group A(coronal reformation)and group B(non-coronal reformation).For group A,reconstructed coronal and oblique-coronal images were acquired.A comprehensive diagnosis was made based on coronal reformations and axial planes.Anatomical nomenclature was adopted,including kidney-ureter plane,abdominal aorta plane,superior mesenteric artery plane,ascending colon-appendix plane,stomach-cholecyst plane and colon-small intestine plane.For group B,the diagnosis was made based on axial planes.Finally,a comprehensive analysis was made,missed cases in these two groups were counted and compared,and statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software(version SPSS V17).Results For group A,the missed diagnosis was made in 12 cases(1.23%)and it was 53 cases(6.58%)for group B.There was a statistically significant difference between two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion Combined with axial planes or oblique coronal reformations,six-sclice coronal reformation can reduce the the rate of missed diagnosis of acute midepigastric pain.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) dispensing is the final step of TCM used for clinical treatment, the stability of TCM dispensing is the guarantee of good clinical effect. Establishment of effect-constituent equivalence for Chinese herbal pieces based on clinical efficacy, can not only guarantee the stability of TCM dispensing, but also relate to the precision of clinical effect. This study chose Coptidis Rhizoma as the model, established effect-constituent equivalence of Coptidis Rhizoma, based on the effect-constituent index already established by our research group, and taking into consideration of homogeneity of clinical dosage and compliance of decoction, the uniformity of dispensing for different specification of Coptidis Rhizoma decoction pieces was studied. This research model was then applied to guide the specification-optimization of Coptidis Rhizoma and its clinical dispensing. The result indicated, effective constituent equivalence could reflect the fluctuation of specification, dosage and decoction to the fluctuation of efficacy; Optimized Coptidis Rhizoma decoction pieces had the characteristic of high homogeneity as for clinical dispensing, good compliance as for decoction, and high effective constituent equivalence. In conclusion, effective constituent equivalence could improve relevance of methods of TCM dispensing control to clinical effect. Preparated Superior-standard Decoction Pieces based on effective constituent equivalence was featured by good quality and a good practice of adjustable dosage, which could promote the development of TCM decoction pieces toward precision medicine.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Therapeutic Equivalency

OBJECTIVETo study the morphology of the soft palate in normal humans with digital radiography and to provide the references for therapy of the cleft.

METHODS106 normal people were involved. The morphology of the soft palate was observed with digital cephalometry.

RESULTSAll static images of soft palate could be divided into six types: Shuttle-shaped, crescent-shaped, strip-shaped, S-shaped, hamulus-shaped and anomalous shaped. The dynamic image was knee-shaped.

CONCLUSIONThe morphology of the soft palate is varied.

Cephalometry ; Cleft Palate ; Humans ; Palate, Soft