Abstract?AlM: To observe the anterior chamber angle shape of patients with diabetic retinopathy ( DR) at different stages using OCT, and to explore a more sensitive and accurate glaucoma preventing measure.?METHODS: A total of 613 cases of DR patients were divided into proliferation phase group ( 353 cases ) and background phase group ( 260 cases ) , another 100 cases of patients with only diabetes were selected as control group. OCT was used to detect the anterior chamber angle related parameters, including angle opening distance ( AOD) , trabecular-iris space area ( TlSA) , angle recess area ( ARA ) , anterior chamber depth ( ACD ) and anterior chamber angle ( ACA) .?RESULTS: There were significant difference among AOD500, AOD750, TlSA500, TlSA750, ARA500 and ARA750 of control group, proliferation phase group and background phase group ( P< 0. 01 ). The proliferation phase group was the lowest, AOD500, AOD750, TlSA500, TlSA750, ARA500 and ARA750 were 0. 60 ± 0. 22mm, 0. 78 ± 0. 39mm, 0. 22 ± 0. 12mm2 , 0. 45 ± 0. 19mm2 , 0. 29 ± 0. 18mm and 0. 46 ± 0. 15mm, respectively. There were significant difference among ACA500, ACA750, ACD500 and ACD750 of control group, proliferation phase group and background phase group ( P< 0. 01 ). The proliferation phase group was the lowest, ACA500, ACA750, ACD500 and ACD750 were 30. 29o ± 8. 19o, 21. 20o ± 7. 40o, 2. 32 ± 0. 23μm and 2. 52±0. 16μm, respectively. ln addition, ROC results indicated that all these indices exert significant difference on evaluating the stage of DR. ?CONCLUSlON: Anterior chamber angle shape detected using OCT can reflect the change of retinopathy. OCT is an accurate and simple technique for detecting DR staging.

AIM: To observe the changes in expression and activity of the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) during hepatic stellate cells (HSC) activation, and to study the roles of MEF2A in the process of HSC activation. METHODS: Cultured HSC was isolated from male sprague-dawley rat liver on plastic dishes and were used as model of activation. The freshly isolated (0 day) and cultured HSC at time points of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th day were collected. Expression of MEF2A mRNA was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. MEF2A and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA, a marker for activated HSC) were tested by Western blotting. Meanwhile, the MEF2A DNA binding activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA). RESULTS: The expression of MEF2A mRNA was small amounts in the freshly isolated HSC and increased gradually after culture on plastic dishes. Western blotting revealed that the freshly isolated HSC expressed very low levels of MEF2A and α-SMA. The proteins of MEF2A and α-SMA were increased gradually in the process of HSC activation. Increased MEF2A protein was correlated with α-SMA. EMSA revealed that MEF2A DNA binding activity was increased gradually during HSC activation. CONCLUSION: In the process of HSC activation, expression and activity of MEF2A are increased gradually, indicating a role in HSC activation.

Objective To evaluate the in vitro activity of seven imidazole antifungals against clinical isolates of common Candida species.Methods According to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) microdilution method M27-A3,the in vitro activity of luliconazole,ketoconazole,miconazole,econazole,clotrimazole,sertaconazole and bifonazole was determined among 183 clinical isolates belonging to 5 species of Candida.Results The minimal inhibitory concentration range was 0.03-8 (geometric mean:0.067) mg/L for ketoconazole,0.03-16 (geometric mean:0.071 ) mg/L for miconazole,0.03-8 (geometric mean:0.207) mg/L for econazole,0.03-8 (geometric mean:0.061 ) mg/L for clotrimazole,0.03-16 (geometric mean:0.187) mg/L for sertaconazole and 0.03 -＞16 (geometric mean:1.050) mg/L for bifonazole. Luliconazole exhibited a superior activity against the 5 species of Candida in vitro,with the MIC range being 0.03-8 mg/L,geometric mean MIC 0.087 mg/L,MIC50 0.06 mg/L and MIC90 0.5 mg/L,respectively.However,some Candida isolates were identified to be relatively insensitive to these tested antifungals,including luliconazole.Conclusion All the tested imidazole antifungals,except for bifonazole,show an excellent activity against Candida species in vitro,but there exist a few Candida strains with relative insensitivity.

AIM: To investigate the apoptosis and molecular mechanism of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells induced by ginsenoside Rh4.METHODS: Human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells were treated with ginsenoside Rh4 at doses of 10, 20 and 40 μmol/L, and the inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rh4 on HepG2 cell viability was measured by MTT assay.The apoptotic rate of HepG2 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry.The morphological changes of the HepG2 cells were observed by Hoechst 33258 and TUNEL staining.The expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and caspase-9 was determined by Western blot.RESULTS: Ginsenoside Rh4 promoted apoptosis of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner.TUNEL and Hoechst 33258 staining showed that the cells appeared obvious shrinking, swelling and rupture after treated with ginsenoside Rh4 for 24 h.The results of Western blot showed that with the increasing concentrations of ginsenoside Rh4, the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 increased, while anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 decreased gradually.CONCLUSION: Ginsenoside Rh4 induces apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells, and the main mechanism may be related to down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and caspase-9.

Objective To evaluate three-dimentional (3D) reconstruction technique and methylene blue staining in precise anatomic hepatectomy.Methods The clinical data of 12 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who were admitted to the Chinese PLA General Hospital from February 2009 to August 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.The 3D reconstruction of the liver tumor and intrahepatic vessels were done based on the computed tomography data and magnetic resonance imaging data.The portal vein supplying the tumor and its anatomic relationship with adjacent vessels were evaluated.Precise anatomic hepatectomy was performed guided by sustained methylene blue staining.Results The accurate rate of 3D model of the portal triad was 12/12.The shape of target segments observed after methylene blue staining was consistent with the results of 3D evaluation.Two patients received hemihepatectomy,3 received lobectomy,5 received monosegmentectomy or subsegmentectomy,2 received multisegmentectomy.The mean tumor diameter,operation time,blood loss,postoperative hospital stay and complication rate were 5.6cm (2.5-16.0 cm),(150±24)minutes,(236±25)ml,(10±3)days and 2/12,respectively.After a median follow-up of 14 months,tumor recurrence was found in 2 patients,and 1 of them died of tumor progression.Conclusions The 3D reconstruction may contribute to precise evaluation of the anatomic relationship between the tumor and its adjacent vessels.The 3D technique combined with sustained methylene blue staining may significantly improve the accuracy of anatomic hepatectomy.

Objective To study the correlation between ABO blood groups and leukemia and lymphoma, and the regional difference. Methods A case-control study had been conducted. The distribution of ABO blood groups was investigated in leukemia patients, lymphoma patients and controls, respectively. Also ABO blood group distribution of leukemia and lymphoma were compared in different areas. Results The distribution of ABO blood groups between patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and health person was significantly different (χ2 = 21.23, χ2 =8.36, χ2 = 9.39,P <0.05). There were regional differences in the ABO blood groups distribution of leukemia and lymphoma,especially ABO blood groups were significantly different in leukemia patients (χ2 = 50.65, P <0.05).Conclusion ABO blood groups might be a genetic susceptible factor of leukemia and lymphoma, but the geography might be a major influential factor.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inhibiting effects of the root of Mallotus apelta (Lour.) Muell.-Arg. on duck hepatitis B virus (D-HBV) in vivo. METHODS: Forty nestling ducks with congenitally infection of D-HBV detected by PCR were randomly divided into five groups: untreated group, lamivudine-treated group, and high-, medium- and low-dose root of Mallotus apelta-treated groups. The ducks in the lamivudine-treated group were fed lamivudine with a dose of 50 mg/kg once. Ducks in the three-dose Mallotus apelta-treated groups were treated with different doses of decoction of this herbal medicine for 21 days respectively. The serum content of D-HBV DNA was determined by quantitative real-time PCR technique before and 7 days after the treatment, and on the 7th, 14th and 21st day of the treatment. Liver biopsy was also executed before and after the treatment to observe the histopathological changes. RESULTS: Lamivudine showed a rapid inhibiting effect on D-HBV DNA, but this effect didn't last long, and the serum level of D-HBV DNA increased again after treatment. The serum level of D-HBV DNA dropped markedly in the high- and medium-dose Mallotus apelta-treated groups on the 14th and 21st day. Low-dose Mallotus apelta revealed no obvious inhibiting effect on D-HBV. After treatment, the inhibiting effect in the root of Mallotus apelta-treated group continued as compared with that in the untreated group. The histopathological changes of liver tissues showed that the inflammation in the high-dose root of Mallotus apelta-treated group was weakened as compared with that in the lamivudine-treated group. CONCLUSION: The root of Mallotus apelta has therapeutic effect on D-HBV. It can restrain the duplication of D-HBV in vivo. Although this effect is weaker than that of lamivudine, it continues longer. Thus this herbal medicine is an effective, safe and economical drug for hepatitis B.

The temperature of platelet intracellular ice crystal formation (IIF) is one of the most important physical parameters to instruct platelet cryopreservation. In this study, the range of temperatures for platelet IIF was measured by means of biological and physical methods. All platelet samples were graded cooling, and two samples of per 5 degrees C decrease were thawed by 2 different ways: 37 degrees C directly (T 37 degrees C) and 37 degrees C after keeping in liquid nitrogen (LN) for 2 hours. The phosphatidylserine (PS) positive rate, plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration and platelet aggregate rate were measured in all samples. The heat release graphs of platelets cryopreserved with or without 5% DMSO were also measured by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The results showed that the PS positive rates and aggregate rates in platelets and plasma LDH concentrations gradually increased in T 37 degrees C group and decreased in LN group until the arrival of -35 degrees C, and then there were no further changes of the 3 parameters. A small second heat release peak was detected at about -35 degrees C in the platelet samples cryopreserved without DMSO. It is concluded that the temperature of intracellular ice crystal formation in platelet is from -30 to -40 degrees C (-35 degrees ).
Blood Platelets ; physiology ; Blood Preservation ; Cryopreservation ; Crystallization ; Humans ; Temperature

ObjectiveTo dynamically observe the paradoxical effect (inhibitory at low concentratin but promotive at high concentration) of caspofungin and micafungin across Candida species in vitro.MethodsA broth microdilution testing was performed following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI) M27-A2 document to observe the paradoxical effect of caspofungin and micafungin across 85 Candida strains.The growth of Candida was observed on a daily basis for 7 days.ResultsAt 48 hours,the prevalence of paradoxical growth in C.albicans,C.glabrata,C.parapsilosis,C.tropicalis,C.dubliniensis and other species of Candida was 90％,20％,41.7％,37.5％,33.3％ and 28.6％ respectively after caspofungin treatment,and 5％,0,0,25％,33.3％and 0 respectively after micafungin treatment.The concentration range of caspofungin required for the paradoxical growth of C.albicans,C.glabrata,C.parapsilosis,C.tropicalis,C.dubliniensis and other species of Candida was 4-16,8-32,8-32,2-8,2-8,8-32 μg/ml respectively,and that of micafungin for the paradoxical growth of C.albicans,C.tropicalis and C.dubliniensis was 4-16,4-32 and 1-8 μg/ml,respectively.After 48 hours,the prevalence of paradoxical growth still increased in C.parapsilosis,C.glabrata,and other species of Candida following caspofungin treatment,and in C.albicans and C.glabrata following micafungin treatment.ConclusionsThe occurrence,and time of occurrence,of paradoxical effect of echinocandins is Candida speciesand drug-specific.The prevalence of paradoxical effect is higher for caspofungin than for micafungin,which seems unrelated to their MICs against Candida species.

Objective To discuss the clinical application of percutaneous transhepatic removal of gall-stone technique in treating common bile duct (CBD) stones.Methods Between January 2013 and January 2015,a total of 25 patients with CBD stones underwent lithotomy procedure via percutaneous transhepatic route.First,under ultrasound or fluoroscopy guidance percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) was performed with subsequent placement of an 8 F rsheath;then,a balloon of 8-12 mm diameter was employed to dilate the papilla;mechanical lithotripsy was adopted when the stone size exceeded 12 mm;finally,through guide-wire exchange technique the stone-retrieval balloon was used to push the stones into the intestinal tract through the sphincter of duodenal papilla.Results The reasons to receive percutaneous transhepatic removal of gall-stone technique in the 25 patients included previous gastrointestinal surgery (n=18),endoscopic treatment failure (n=3),unwilling to receive endoscopic treatment (n=3),and other reasons (n=1).Successful removal of stones was accomplished in all 25 patients.After the treatment,complications occurred in 3 patients (12％),including fever (n=2) and liver abscess formation (n=1).The patients were followed up for 0.5-3 years;two patients died of tumor recurrence and metastasis,and one patient developed recurrence of common bile duct stones.No reflux cholangitis occurred.Conclusion For the treatment of CBD stones,percutaneous transhepatic removal of gall-stone technique carries higher technical success rate with lower incidence of complications,therefore,this technique can be used for the patients who are not suitable for endoscopic treatment or in whom endoscopic treatment failed.