Background The scarring of conjunctival filtering blebs after glaucomatous surgery is a leading cause of operation failure.Exploring the balance between matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in conjunctival filtering bleb is very important for the study on pathogenesis of postoperative scarring.Objective This study was to evaluate the role of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in wounding healing of subconjunctival tissue after filtering surgery in rats.Methods Sixty-three clean male SD rats were divided into normal control group and postoperative 1-day,3-day,5-day,7-day,14-day and 28-day group.The drainage tube was monocularly implanted into the anterior chamber of the rats to establish the filtering surgery models,and the operative response of the eyes was examined under the slit lamp microscope.The animals were sacrificed in corresponding time points,and the frozen sections of eyeballs were prepared,and the expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in conjunctival and subconjunctival tissues were detected using immunofluorescence technique.Western blot was employed to assay the dynamic expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 proteins in conjunctival and subconjunctival tissues in different groups.The use and care of the rats complied with the Instruction Notions with Respect to Care for Laboratory by State Ministry of Science and Technology.Results Filtering blebs were formed in all the operated eyes 1 day after surgery and remained for 7-17 days,with the average survival time of 12 days.Western blot assay revealed that the expression levels of MMP-2 protein in the filtering blebs of the normal control group were 121.67 ±4.37,and the expressions were gradually elevated from the postoperative 3-day group (183.67±5.61) until the postoperative 7-day group (230.50±8.48) and then gradually declined till the postoperative 28-day group (172.33 ± 8.43),showing a significant difference among the groups (F=280.18,P＜0.05).In addition,the expression levels of TIMP-2 protein in filtering blebs of the normal control group were 102.50 ±6.25.The expression levels were gradually raised in postoperative 3-day group (162.67±7.00) and peaked in the postoperative 5-day group (232.00± 11.03),and then the levels gradually reduced till the postoperative 28-day group (150.50±6.41),with a significant difference among the groups (F =145.34,P ＜ 0.05).Immunofluorescent staining showed that MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were weakly expressed in the conjunctival epithelium of the normal rats,while in the operated rats,strong fluorescence for MMP-2 and TIMP-2 was seen in both conjunctival epithelium and subconjunctival tissues of filtering blebs.Conclusions The expression trends of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in the filtering blebs are consistent to the fibrosis process of conjunctival tissue,indicating that MMP-2 and TIMP-2 participate in the scar formation of conjunctival filtering bleb after glaucoma filtering surgery.

Background: and Purpose Collateral circulation is considered an important factor affecting the risk of stroke, but the factors that affect collateral circulation remain unclear. This study was performed to identify the factors associated with collateral circulation, especially blood lipids. Methods: The study involved patients who had undergone digital subtraction angiography and were confirmed as having severe unilateral stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA). We classified the collateral circulation status of each patient as good (Grade 3 or 4) or poor (Grade 0, 1, or 2) according to the grading system of the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/American Society of Interventional Radiology. We collected data on patients’ characteristics and identified the factors that affect collateral circulation. Results: This study included 212 patients. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration and a complete anterior half of the circle of Willis were independent protective factors for good collateral circulation, whereas elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and serum creatinine concentrations were independent risk factors for good collateral circulation. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61–0.76) for HDL-C and 0.69 (95% CI, 0.62–0.76) for Lp(a). A binary logistic regression model analysis of the joint factor of HDL-C and Lp(a) yielded an AUC of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.71–0.84). Conclusions In patients with severe unilateral ICA stenosis or occlusion, the combination of HDL-C and Lp(a) is a useful predictor of collateral circulation.

Objective:To explore the clinical features and managements of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection after kidney transplantation.Methods:The authors reviewed medical history, laboratory values, imaging studies, treatment options and clinical outcomes of two confirmed hospitalized cases of COVID-19 after kidney transplant in February 2020. Both cases were middle-aged males and confirmed as COVID-19 at 11 or 12 months after transplantation. They both presented initially with moderate-to-low fever, cough and fatigue. Chest computed tomography (CT) hinted at multiple peripheral patchy ground glass opacities or patchy exudation and in bilateral multiple lobular and subsegmental with obscure boundary. Both had varying degrees of renal function and cardiac insufficiency.Results:In case 1, the dose of immunosuppressants was tapered while a higher dose of glucocorticoids was prescribed during treatment. In case 2, the dose of immunosuppressants was not tapered and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) performed thrice in the early disease course due to renal insufficiency and hyperkalemia. Both cases received oxygen inhalation, lopinavir/ritonavir, oral abidor and interferonα-2b antiviral therapy, antibiotics treatment. Both cases were cured.Conclusions:The clinical manifestations and diagnosis of COVID-19 patients after kidney transplantation are not significantly different from those of other people. However, early renal function and heart function abnormalities occur. How to adjust the immunosuppressant in the treatment course of severe COVID-19 after renal transplantation should be further explored.

Objective:To clarify the relationship between interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 gene polymorphisms and autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD).Methods:Literature search was conducted through databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Embase, Wanfang Database and VIP.com, and domestic and foreign literatures related to IL-6, IL-10 gene polymorphisms and AITD were included in the study. The time limit was from the self-built of the databases to July 2021. Meta-analysis was performed with STATA 16.0 software, the odds ratio ( OR) and 95% confidence interval ( CI) were used as effect indicators, random-effect or fixed-effect model was selected according to the heterogeneity results, and the source of heterogeneity was explored through subgroup analysis. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's test. Results:Finally, 19 literatures were included, all in English. There were 12 studies on IL-6 genes and 11 studies on IL-10 genes, including 4 studies on both IL-6 and IL-10 genes. In the whole population, the loci associated with AITD were IL-6 -174 G/C site (GG vs CC + GC: OR =1.94, 95% CI = 1.01 - 3.76), IL-6 -572 G/C site (GG + GC vs CC: OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.29 - 0.84; GG vs CC + GC: OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.60 - 0.96; GG + CC vs GC: OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.49 - 0.81), IL-10 -819 T/C site (TT + TC vs CC: OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.01 - 3.34; T vs C: OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.00 - 2.51), and IL-10 -1 082 A/G site (AA + AG vs GG: OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.64 - 0.92; AA vs GG + AG: OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.16 - 3.58; A vs G: OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.61 - 0.94). The results of subgroup analysis showed that in Asian population, the loci associated with AITD were IL-6 -174 G/C site (GG vs CC + GC: OR = 4.61, 95% CI = 1.11 - 19.23; G vs C: OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.44 - 0.97); IL-6 -572 G/C site (GG vs CC + GC: OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.41 - 0.99; GG + CC vs GC: OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.38 - 0.94); IL-10 -819 T/C site (TT + TC vs CC: OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.48 - 4.25; T vs C: OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.05 - 3.46); and IL-10 -1 082 A/G site (AA + AG vs GG: OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.52 - 0.84; AA vs GG + AG: OR = 2.83, 95% CI = 1.54 - 5.21; A vs G: OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.53 - 0.82). Conclusion:IL-6 -174 G/C, IL-6 -572 G/C, IL-10 -819 T/C and IL-10 -1 082 A/G polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to AITD, especially in Asians.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of occupational stress on abnormity of serum total cholesterol and triglyceride in male steel workers. METHODS: A total of 3 957 male steel workers from an iron and steel group company were selected as study objects by judgment sampling method. Occupational stress was measured by the Chinese version of Job Content Questionnaire. The serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured using fasting venous blood. RESULTS: Among the 3 957 workers,the detection rate of occupational stress was 56. 8%,and 55. 0% of them showed high social support. The abnormal rates of total cholesterol and triglyceride were 21. 8% and 40. 9%,respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that workers with high social support had high risk of abnormal total cholesterol and abnormal triglyceride than workers with low social support( P < 0. 05) after adjusting for confounding factors such as age,education level,marital status,body mass index,smoking and drinking alcohol,tea. The odds ratio of abnormal total cholesterol in occupational stress workers was 1. 17 times of that of non-occupational stress workers. No association was found between occupational stress and abnormal triglyceride( P > 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Occupational stress may be associated with abnormity of total cholesterol in male steel workers. Social support is an important influences factor to the abnormity of total cholesterol and triglyceride in male steel workers.