AIM: To explore the value of frequency threshold optical coherence tomography(OCT)in the diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma optic nerve injury.

METHODS: Eighty patients with early primary glaucoma who were admitted to the hospital between January 2018 and March 2020 and 100 healthy subjects were selected as the study subjects. Patients with primary open angle glaucoma were divided into early group, middle group and late group. OCT was used to measure the thicknesses of upper, lower, nasal, bitemporal peri-papillary retinal nerve fiber layer(pRNFL)and upper and lower macular ganglion cell complex(mGCC)in each group. The mean deviation(MD)of visual field was determined through perimetry. The OCT parameters and perimetry parameters were compared among groups. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between OCT parameters and visual field defects, and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to calculate the value of OCT parameters in diagnosing primary open angle glaucoma.

RESULTS: There were 24 cases, 39 cases and 17 cases in the early group, middle group and late group, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in pRNFL and mGCC among 3 groups(P<0.05).The upper, lower, average pRNEL and the upper, lower, and average mGCC of patients in the early group of a third-class hospital were significantly lower than those of the control group, and the parameters of pRNFL and mGCC in each position of the mid-stage and late group were significantly lower than those of the control group. The upper, lower, nasal pRNFL, average pRNFL, upper, lower and average mGCC of the late group of glaucoma patients were significantly lower than those of the early group and the middle group. The indicators of the middle group were significantly lower than those of the early group(P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that pRNFL and mGCC parameters were negatively correlated with glaucoma severity(P<0.05)ROC curve analysis showed that the areas under the curves of the upper, lower, nasal, bitamporal and average pRNFL for diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma optic nerve injury were 0.693, 0.846, 0.676, 0.579 and 0.844, respectively. The areas under the curves of upper, lower and average mGCC for diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma optic nerve injury were 0.542, 0.677 and 0.676 respectively. The area under the curve of average pRNFL combined with average mGCC for the diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma optic nerve injury was 0.883.

CONCLUSION:The pRNFL and mGCC measured by OCT are closely related to the degree of primary open angle glaucoma optic nerve injury. Both have high diagnostic value for glaucoma and can be used clinically for diagnosis and condition assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of plasma exosomal microRNA (miRNA) in systemic sclerosis (SSc), and to investigate its clinical significance. METHODS: A total of 20 patients who were initially diagnosed with SSc and did not receive medication in Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Meizhou People' s Hospital from January 2020 to January 2022 were recruited, as well as 15 healthy individuals whose gender and age matched with those of the SSc patients. Plasma exosomes were isolated using ultracentrifugation method. The expression levels of exosomal miR-34-5p, miR-92-3p and miR-142-3p were detected by quantative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Correlations between the expression levels of exosomal miRNAs and clinical characteristic were analyzed by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test. RESULTS: The mean age of 20 patients with SSc was (52.6±12.6) years, including 7 males and 13 females. Among the 20 SSc patients, 13 cases were diagnosed as limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) and 7 cases were diagnosed as diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) according to the extent of skin involvement. According to the findings of high resolution chest CT, 7 of 20 SSc patients were diagnosed with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and 13 SSc patients were diagnosed with non-ILD. The expression levels of exosomal miR-34-5p, miR-92-3p and miR-142-3p were significantly elevated in the SSc patients compared with those in the healthy controls group (P=0.003, P=0.000 1, and P=0.016, respectively). Compared with the SSc patients without ILD, the expression levels of miR-34-5p and miR-142-3p were significantly lower in the SSc patients with ILD (P=0.037 and P=0.015, respectively). The expression levels of exosomal miR-34-5p and miR-142-3p showed negative correlation with ILD (r=-0.48, P=0.031 and r=-0.55, P=0.011, respectively), and arthritis (r=-0.46, P=0.040 and r=-0.48, P=0.032, respectively). The expression levels of exosomal miR-142-3p showed a negative correlation with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r=-0.55, P=0.012). CONCLUSION Plasma exosomal miR-34-5p, miR-92-3p and miR-142-3p were dysregulated in SSc. The dyregulation of exosomal miR-34-5p and miR-142-3p showed correlation with SSc associated ILD (SSc-ILD).
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Clinical Relevance ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Scleroderma, Systemic/genetics* ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial

Objective: To explore the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) based radiomics model in predicting the pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) of breast cancer. Methods: In this retrospective study, 91 patients who had received NAC and had pathological response results were collected in Meizhou people′s hospital from January 2016 to August 2018. A primary cohort consisted of 63 patients and an independent validation cohort consisted of 28 patients. The patients were divided into pCR group of 23 cases and non-pathological complete response (Non-pCR) group of 68 cases. All the patients underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) before NAC. A list of radiomics features were extracted using the A.K software and the corresponding radiomics signature was constructed. Logistic regression was used to develop the prediction model. The predictive ability of the model was tested by using the area under the curve (AUC) of ROC analysis. Results: The discrimination performance of radiomics signature yielded a AUC of 0.750 in the primary dataset and a AUC of 0.789 in the validation dataset. The model that incorporated estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and radiomics features was developed, and had an AUC of 0.859 in the primary dataset and an AUC of 0.905 in the validation dataset. Conclusion The radiomics predictive model, which integrated with the DCE-MRI based radiomics signature, ER and PR, can be used as a promising and applicable adjunct approach for predicting the pCR to NAC of breast cancer.

Traditional or folk medicine, a multi-discipline subject, has gained much attention from all over the world at present. Based on the previous literatures, the overview on the recent advance of folk medicine used by Hakka was summarized. The key questions of folk medicine used by Hakka were also highlighted. It could be considered as a very important part of traditional Chinese medicines.
China ; ethnology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Objective: To study the more safe and accurate guidance scheme of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: CBCT was regularly performed on 87 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Meizhou People's Hospital from November 2014 to August 2015. For each patient, 10 times CBCT scans were obtained pre-treatment. All the setup errors were obtained and analysed on the orientation X (left and right), Y (head and foot) and Z (vertical) axis. Results: With the increase of the number of CBCT scans, there was no statistically significant difference among the mean setup errors of the 10 times scans in X (left and right) and Y (head and foot) directions (all P > 0.05). And there was no statistically significant difference among the mean setup errors of 6 times scans in Z (vertical) direction, but from the beginning of the 7th, the systematic error in Z direction was increasing, the system error of the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th time was 0.140, 0.292, 0.461, and 0.640 mm. Moreover, the difference of the mean systematic errors among the first 7 times was statistically significant (H = 15.232, P = 0.019), and the differences of the mean systematic errors among the first 8, 9 and 10 times were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Conclusions Non-consecutive scans of CBCT could reduce the systematic and random errors. The appropriate frequency of application of CBCT based on the change law of setup errors is an ideal CBCT guidance scheme for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of BIRC6 in renal cancer tissues and investigate the effect of BIRC6 silencing on apoptosis and autophagy of 786-O cells. METHODS: Twenty surgical specimens of renal cancer tissues and adjacent renal tissues were collected from Meizhou People's Hospital between February, 2016 and December, 2018 for detection of BIRC6 protein expression using immunohistochemistry. Renal cancer 786-O cells were transfected with a control small interfering RNA (siRNA) or BIRC6 siRNA RESULTS: The expression of BIRC6 protein was significantly higher in renal cancer tissues than in the adjacent renal tissues. Western blotting showed that siRNA-mediated silencing of BIRC6 significantly lowered the expression of BIRC6 in 786-O cells. In the cells with BIRC6 silencing, treatment with 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL 5-FU resulted in significantly higher proliferation inhibition rates than in the cells transfected with the control siRNA ( CONCLUSIONS Interference of BIRC6 mediated by siRNA can inhibit autophagy and promote 5-FU-induced apoptosis to enhance the sensitivity of 786-O cells to 5-FU.
Apoptosis ; Autophagy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins/genetics* ; Kidney Neoplasms/genetics* ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo introduce percutaneous hollow screws for treatment of the vertical sacrum longitudinal fracture and evaluate the preliminary therapeutic outcomes.

METHODSFrom January 1999 to December 2006, 24 cases with vertical sacrum longitudinal fractures inchuded 15 males and 9 females were treated by percutaneous hollow screws, with an average age of 35 years ranging from 18 to 61 years. Accordng to Denis'classification of sacral fracture, there were 6 cases of type I, 11 of type 1 and 7 of type II.

RESULTSThe operation lasted for 30 to 65 minutes (averaged 48 minutes). All of them were followed up for 3 to 36 months (averaged 18.6 months). According to improved effective standard of pelvic trauma, the result of radiography was excellent in 18 cases, good in 5 and poor in 1, and the clinical evaluation was exellent in 16, good in 8.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of the vertical sacrum longitudinal fracture with percutaneous hollow screws is a comparatively reliable method and has the advantages of more precise with few postoperative complications and allows the patient early mobilization.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Radiography ; Recovery of Function ; Sacrum ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Spinal Fractures ; complications ; surgery ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the effect of skin soft tissue expansion on repair of large area of scars on extremities. Methods: Twenty-five patients with large area of scars on extremities were admitted to our department from June 2007 to October 2014. There were 14 males and 11 females, aged 4 to 36 years. Operations were performed under local infiltration anesthesia or general anesthesia. In the first stage, 1 to 5 cylindrical expanders with capacities of 250 to 600 mL were placed at left or right sides or at upper or lower parts of the scars. In the second stage, scars of 21 patients were repaired with expanded transverse propulsive and lateral flaps, and scars of 4 patients were repaired with expanded perforator flaps whose pedicles were perforators of brachial artery, superior ulnar collateral artery, or posterior interosseous artery according to areas and shapes of the scars. The secondary wound areas ranged from 13 cm×7 cm to 34 cm×18 cm after dissolution or excision of scars. The areas of flaps ranged from 13 cm×7 cm to 20 cm×12 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly. The flaps after operation and follow-up of patients were observed and recorded. Results: All expanded flaps survived after operation. And the superficial distal part of flap whose pedicle was perforator of posterior interosseous artery in one patient was with necrosis, and other flaps survived well. During follow-up of 3 to 15 months after operation of the second stage, color and texture of flaps were similar to surrounding skin, while extremities of donor sites were thinner and auxiliary incisional scars formed after expansion. Conclusions Expanded flap is a good way to repair large area of scar on extremities. Bilateral skin of scar is the first choice of donor site of expanded flap. If there isn′t enough skin for expanding on bilateral sides, expanded perforator flap designed at upper or lower part of the scar is another choice to repair the scar.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has indicated that graphite carbon nanoparticles have a strong adsorbability. While, when the concentration is effectively controlled, graphite carbon nanoparticles also have well compatibility and sensitizing effect. OBJECTIVE: To observe the morphology of graphite carbon nanoparticles, and to investigate the effects of graphite carbon nanoparticles on cell proliferation and ultramicrostructure.METHODS: Graphite carbon nanoparticles (0.5 g) were put in 100 mL triple distilled water to obtain graphite carbon nanoparticle mother liquid after oscillation and microfiltration. HepG2 cells, L02 cells, HI7702 cells, and 3T3 cells in the logarithmic phase were adjusted to the concentration of 5×10~7/L and inoculated in 6-well culture plate with 0.5 mL per well. Thereafter, the cells were cultured with RPMI-1640 culture media (1.5 mL) containing fetal bovine serum, penicillin, and streptomycin. The original culture solution was removed after 24 hours. The 1-5 wells were considered as the experimental group, and 25, 10, 7.5, 5, 0.25 mg/Lgraphite carbon nanoparticles (2.0 mL) were respectively added into each well; while, the sixth well was considered as the blank control group without graphite carbon nanoparticles. The cells in the blank control group were cultured for 24 hours. Particle diameter was measured using atomic force microscopy; morphology was observed using electron microscope; effect of different concentrations of graphite carbon nanoparticles on cell number was detected using hemacytometry under optic microscope; the effect of 7.5 mg/L graphite carbon nanoparticles on ultramicrostructure was observed under transmission electron microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Graphite carbon nanoparticles were around and 20 nm diameter. Compared with the blank control group, cell numbers except HepG2 cells were increased, especially the effect of 7.5 mg/L graphite carbon nanoparticles was greatest (P < 0.05). Transmission electron microscope indicated that graphite carbon nanoparticles were distributed into cells, including cytoplasm, nucleus, and mitochondrion; while, subcellular structure damage and cell apoptosis and necrosis were absent. Graphite carbon nanoparticles have no side effects on in vitro cultured cells and can promote cell proliferation, showing a dose-dependence correlation, especially the concentration of 7.5 mg/L.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is closely related to the occurrence and development of benign and malignant diseases of the pancreas. Mitochondrial membrane of the respiratory chain electron transfer and energy transfer plays an important role in maintaining normal cellular function. When the respiratory chain was disrupted, the oxidative stress was increased in the cell, and produced a large number of oxide intermediate products which target mitochondrial protein, DNA, etc, lead to mitochondrial dysfunction finally induced acute pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and other diseases. In addition, mitochondrial homeostasis plays an indispensable role in maintaining the normal function of islet cells. This paper reviewed the research status of mitochondrial dysfunction in pancreatic diseases.