AIM: To observe the changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness ( SFCT ) after intravitreal injections of ranibizumab ( IVR ) for macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion ( RVO) .
METHODS:Thirty-six eyes of 36 patients with macular edema secondary to RVO) were treated with 0. 5mg IVR monthly for 3mo and received additional IVR as needed over the following 1a period. SFCT of the all eyes ( the affected eyes with RVO and unaffected fellow eyes ) was measured by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography images before and after the IVR.
RESULTS: The mean SFCT of the affected eyes with RVO decreased from 246. 7±115. 0μm at baseline to 220. 5±102.0μm at 1mo (P<0.05), 198.3± 114.0μm at 6mo (P<0.01), 212. 6± 96. 0μm at 12mo (P<0. 01). Whereas the fellow eyes changed from 229. 4±108. 0μm at baseline to 226. 3±107. 0μm at 1mo (P>0. 05), 228. 6±127. 0μm at 6mo (P>0.05), 223.6±101.0μm at 12mo(P>0.05). There were statistically significant difference between affected eyes with RVO and unaffected fellow eyes.
CONCLUSION: The SFCT is decreased after IVR for macular edema secondary to RVO. IVR seems to affect the hemorheology of the choroid.

Objective To investigate the effects of bedside blinding method of active indwelling of nasojejunal tube combined with the nasogastric tube gastrointestinal decompression for patients with severe stroke.Methods 50 patients with severe stroke were selected and divided into two groups by using random number tables,which are the observation group and the control group,with 25 cases in each group.The patients in the observation group were treated with bedside blinding method of active indwelling of nasojejunal tube combined with the nasogastric tube gastrointestinal decompression,while the patients in the control group simply received bedside indwelling of nasogastric tube.The enteral nutritional goal -rate of target feeding volume on the 7th day and the 14th day after admission and trace the incidence of gastric stasis,the reflux and aspiration,the aspiration pneumonia in the patients of the two groups within 14 days and the situation of the days of mechanical ventilation,the days in ICU and the 30 -day mortality of patients were compared in the two groups.Results The enteral nutritional goal -rate of target feeding volume on the 7th day and the 14th day in the observation group were superior to those of the control group[The goal -rate of target feeding volume on the 7th day:88% vs.64%,χ2 =3.947,P =0.047;the goal -rate of target feeding volume on the 14th day:80% vs.52%,χ2 =4.367,P =0.037].Meanwhile the incidence of gastric stasis,the reflux and aspiration,the aspiration pneumonia in the patients of the observation group within 14 days were significantly lower than those in the patients of the control group within 14 days[The gastric retention rate:8% vs.56%(14 /25 ),χ2 =10.784,P =0.001;the reflux rate:0% vs.24%(6 /25),χ2 =4.735,P =0.03;the aspiration rate:8% vs.32%,χ2 =4.500,P =0.034;the incidence of aspiration pneumonia:24% vs.68%,χ2 =9.742,P =0.002].The days of mechanical ventilation and the days in ICU of the patients in the observation group are far less than those of the patients in the control group[The days of mechanical ventilation:(11.16 ±4.86)d vs.(13.72 ±3.67)d,t =-2.101,P =0.041;the days in ICU:(15.36 ±5.66)d vs.(18.72 ±2.99)d,t =-2.625,P =0.012].While there was no significant difference between the two groups on the 30 -day mortality(24% vs.32%,χ2 =0.397,P =0.529).Conclusion The bedside blinding method of active indwelling of nasojejunal tube combined with the nasogastric tube gastrointestinal decompression can significantly improve the enteral nutritional goal -rate of target feeding volume for patients with severe stroke and greatly reduce the incidence of gastric stasis,the reflux and aspiration,the aspiration pneumonia,and limit the days of mechanical ventilation and the days in ICU.Accordingly,it has the value of popularization in the clinical application.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of dl-tetrahydropalmatine(dl-THP) on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CC4) in mice.

METHODMice were administracted with dl-tetrahydropalmatine ip 20, 40 mg x kg(-1) daily for 9 d respectively, and then actue liver injury model was induced by 0.1% carbon tetrachloride ip 20 mL x kg(-1). The mice were killed 17 h after injection ip of CCl4, serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT and AST) activity were measured, and maleic dialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity in liver were detected.

RESULTdl-THP significantly reduced the level of serum ALT and AST, inhibited lipoperxidation in liver, while increased SOD activity in liver tissue. Degeneration of hepatocytes was obviously prevented in mice treated with dl-THP, and the liver histological structure was well maintained.

CONCLUSIONdl-THP has inhibitory effects on liver injury induced by CCl4 in mice. The mechanisms may be related with its effects of reducing lipid peroxidation product.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Berberine Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo examine the efficacy of Muscovite on acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats, and to research the mechanisms of intestinal mucosal protection.

METHODUlcerative colitis was induced in rats by intracolonic injection of 2 mL of 7% acetic acid. Rats were treated with three different doses of the Muscovite and SASP at random by intracolonic injecion, the normal saline was considered as control group. The rats were sacrificed and the colons were excised and opened longitudinally. Under a dissecting microscope, gross findings were observed and scored. MPO activity was assayed by spectrophotometry in colonic mucosa.

RESULTGross finding showed that multiple ulcer with diameter more than 1 cm, surrounded with erosion, erythematous and edema in the proximal colon in ulcerative coltis. The colon from Muscovite treatment group were histopatholgically normal, with slight erosion, erythematous and edema. The colon in SASP group had small ulceration and severe erosion and edema. The score of gloss change were significant lower in Muscovite groups than that in normal saline group (P < 0.01). There were necrosis and exfoliation of mucosa, multiple cystic dilation of mucosa gland, and large number of and inflammation attenuated in Muscovite groups. There nerutrophils and vessel infiltration in ulcerative colitis. The ulceration disappeared were erosion in mucosa and inflammatory cell infiltrating into submucosa in SASP group. Compared with normal saline group, the pathological scale were significant decreased in Muscovite and SASP groups (P < 0.05). The MPO activity was significant increased in colitis tissue compared with normal group (P < 0.001). After administrating with Muscovite or SASP, the level of MPO were significant decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMuscovite has the effect of mucosal protection by attenuating the inflammation of colonic mucosa and decreasing the activity of MPO.

Acetic Acid ; Aluminum Silicates ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; pathology ; Colon ; enzymology ; pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the clinical usefulness and safety of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) combined with probiotics in treating elderly patients with antibiotic associated diarrhea(AAD).Methods A total of 88 hospitalized elderly patients (≥65 years old) treated with antibiotics during August 2014 to August 2016 were included in this study. Patients were divided into control group(26 cases),probiotics group(30 cases)and combined group(32 cases).The control group was given maltodextrin as placebo intervention, the probiotics group was given the same dose of probiotics only, and the combined group was given SDF and probiotics treatment. The treatment was observed for 14 d. The incidence and the recurrence rate of ADD, the results of fecal culture and the incidence of adverse reactions were monitored in the three groups. Results The incidence of ADD was obviously lower in the combined group and the probiotics group than that of control group(6.25% vs.26.92%,6.67% vs.26.92%,P<0.05).The disease duration of diarrhea was shorter in the combined group than that of probiotic group[(3.53 ± 0.62)d vs.(4.39 ± 1.01)d,P<0.05],but no difference was found when compared with that of control group [(3.55 ± 0.65) d]. After 7-day intervention, Enterococcus counts was significantly deceased in probiotic group(P<0.05).There were no significant changes in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts in probiotic group after 14-day intervention. In the combined group, after 7-day intervention, Enterococcus counts decreased (P<0.05), and then started increasing until the 14-day(P<0.05).Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts increased with the time passed (P<0.05).The incidence rates of total adverse reactions were 6.25%,10.00% and 23.07% for combined group,probiotics group and control group,and with no significant differences between them.Conclusion The probiotics combined with SDF has a good clinical effect on preventing the occurrence of antibiotic associated diarrhea and shortening the course of diarrhea in the elderly.It has high safety and it can regulate the intestinal flore with high safety.

In this study, ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer-MS^E (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS^E) combined with UNIFI analysis platform was used to rapidly analyze and identify the metabolites of hederagenins 3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-L-arabopyranoside (Pulsatilla saponin D) and oleanolic acid 3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-L-arabopyranoside (Pulsatilla saponin B₇) and hederagenins 3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabopyranoside (Pulsatilla saponin BD) in plasma and colonic tissue of normal and ulcerative colitis (UC) rats. The database and analysis methods were established based on the precise molecular weight of compounds, retention time, neutral loss and reported data, and then the final data were obtained by comparing with the blank control group, combining with the deviation and the cracking rule of the compound. The results showed that the glucoses, hydroxylation and dehydroxylation, methylation and demethylation, dehydrogenation, decarboxylation and hydrolysis of saponin D, B₇ and BD occurred in the plasma and colon tissues of normal and UC model rats. This study will clarify the metabolic transformation of Pulsatilla saponins D, B₇ and BD in rats, determine the prototype components and their metabolites that enter the body, and whether colon injury will affect their metabolism in vivo, so as to explore the possible anti-colitis effective components in the prototype or metabolites of Pulsatilla saponins D, B₇ and BD. This experiment was approved by Animal Ethics Committee of Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University (approval number: Y202227).

Objective:Tacrolimus prolonged-release(PR) formulation is a new once-daily formulation of the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus,which is currently used in adult liver or kidney transplant patients,and is also gradually widely used in children with nephrotic syndrome.The present study was undertaken to preliminarily investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of tacrolimus PR in pediatric nephrotic syndrome recipients.Methods:This single-center open-label prospective study was performed in pediatric nephrotic syndrome recipients.Pharmacokinetic samples were collected from eight pediatric subjects with nephrotic syndrome from Department of Pediatric Nephrology in Peking University First Hospital between June and August 2011.They followed administration of single oral doses of tacrolimus PR formulation at 0.02 mg/kg (n =2),0.05 mg/kg (n =2) and 0.10 mg/kg (n =4).Blood samples were taken before the dose and 1,2,4,6,8,10,12 and 24 h after drug intake.No other medicines or interacting food or drinks were taken during the study period.Blood concentrations were measured using an enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique.Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using WinNolin Phoenix software Version 6.0 (Pharsight,Cary,NC,USA).Results:The pharmacokinetic data were best described by a non-compartment model.Pharmacokinetic parameters of tacrolimus PR formulation in the 3 ascending doses groups (0.02 mg/kg,0.05 mg/kg and 0.10 mg/kg) were as follows:the maxi mum drug concentrations (Cm=/D) were (1.7 ± 1.0) μg/L,(3.1 ± 1.9) μg/L,(8.0 ± 3.5) μg/L,respectively;Areas under the drug concentration-time curve (AUCo-∞/D) were (47.2 ± 47.1) h · μg/ L,(84.0 ± 13.1) h · μg/L,(175.6 ± 107.1) h · μg/L,respectively;Oral clearance rates were (0.8±0.9) L/(h·kg),(0.4±0.1) L/(h · kg),(1.9 ±1.3) L/(h · kg),respectively;Body weight normalized distribution volumes were (7.0 ± 3.4) L/kg,(12.4 ± 8.4) L/kg and (73.6 ± 68.6) L/kg,respectively.Both mean Cmax normalized level for the administered dose (Cmax/D) and mean AUC0-∞ normalized level for the administered dose (AUC0-∞/D) were higher in the 0.05 mg/kg dosage group than in the 0.02 and 0.10 mg/kg dosage group.There were two peaks in the drug concentrations in every dose group;a primary peak appeared at the end of about 2 h followed by a small secondary peak at h 12,which was more noticeable in the 0.10 mg/kg dose group than in the two lower dosages.Conclusion:The pharmacokinetic characteristics of tacrolimus PR formulation were initially explored in pediatric patients with nephritic syndrome.The data presented form a basis for subsequent larger scale studies on pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus PR formulation in nephritic syndrome children.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnosis and management of adrenal myelolipoma.

METHODSThe clinical data of 26 cases were analyzed retrospectively and the selected articles were reviewed. There were no specific clinical symptom and endocrine abnormality, except increasing catecholamine in 2 cases. All cases but two were diagnosed by B-model ultrasound scanning (B-US), CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

RESULTSTwenty-six cases were surgically treated, the diameter of the tumor was 5 - 10 cm, simple tumor resection was performed in 16 cases, and complete adrenal resection was performed in 10 cases. All the operated cases were proved by pathologists. The duration of follow-up was from 6 - 28 months after surgery. No recurrence was observed.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of adrenal myelolipoma could be established based on B-US, CT or MRI. The tumors whose diameter is larger than 5 cm in size should be removed.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Adrenalectomy ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelolipoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDUrethroplasty of complex urethral stricture is a difficult procedure, and there is no widely accepted standard approach described in the published literature. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of urethroplasty using lingual mucosa grafts (LMGs) for the repair of urethral strictures.

METHODSBetween August 2006 and April 2009, 92 cases of urethral strictures (length ranging from 2.5 cm to 18 cm, mean 6.5 cm) were treated using LMGs. Of the 92 patients, 38 with long-segment urethral strictures (9 - 18 cm) underwent dual LMG or LMG combined with foreskin flap or buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty.

RESULTSFollow-up was obtained for 3 - 33 months (mean 17.2 months) postoperatively. Complications occurred in 8 patients, including urinary fistulas in 4 patients; recurrent strictures developed in 4 patients at 3 - 4 months post-operatively. The remaining patients voided well postoperatively, with peak flows between 14.3 ml/s and 54.6 ml/s (mean 28.4 ml/s).

CONCLUSIONSThe tongue is an excellent source of graft material for the repair of anterior mucosal strictures. Dual LMG substitution urethroplasty can successfully treat longer, more complex urethral strictures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; transplantation ; Treatment Outcome ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male ; adverse effects ; methods ; Young Adult

Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) is valuable for clinical application, however, traditional ex vivo culture negatively affects long-term hematopoietic reconstitution ability. In the hematopoietic system, the expression of Notch receptors and their ligands has been widely reported. Active Notch signal inhibits the differentiation of HSCs while promotes their expansion, suggesting that ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells could be enhanced by manipulating Notch signal pathways. In this article the Notch signal pathways, Notch signal and maintenance of hematopoietic progenitor cells, Notch signal and expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells and molecular mechanism of Notch signal maintaining undifferentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells were reviewed.
Animals ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Receptors, Notch ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction