Objective To evaluate the risk factors of myasthenic crisis(MC) after thymectomy for myasthenia gravis (MG) Methods A retrospective study was conducted in 84 patients with MG from July 1995 to December 2009. The following factors were evaluated: sex, age, history of preoperative myasthenic crisis, Osssrmen classification, use steroid hormones and anticholinesterase drugs before operation, operation methods, operation time, thymoma, pathology, transfusion, course of disease, postopertive lung infection,etc. Multivariate logistic regrossion analysis was used to find the predictors of postoperative myasthenic crisis. Results Twenty-four patients(28.6%) developed myasthenic crisis after thymectomy. Statistics showed that history of preoperative myasthenic crisis, Ossermen classification, operation methods, operation time were related to postoperative myasthenic crisis. Conclusion Preoperative myastheric crisis, Ossermen classification≥I b, traditional operation methods, long opertion time are the independent risk factors for myasthenic crisis after thymectomy.

Objective To explore the feasibility and efficiency of minimally invasive video-assisted thy-roidectomy on thyroid microcarcinoma, and sum up the experiences. Methods 9 patients with thyroid microcarci-noma who underwent the minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy from Jan 2006 to Feb 2009, were retro-spectively studied. Results All of the patients, except 1 case converting to open thyroidectomy, underwent the minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy successfully. The subcutaneous hydrops occurred in 1 patient. The skin burns around the incisions occurred in 1 patient. There were no complications of recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries, neck hematoma, hypocalcemia, or superior laryngeal nerve injuries. The follow-up period of 15 cases were from 3 months to 37 months. There were no evidences of recurrence and metastasis by both postopera-five ultrasonic/CT examination and radioiodine scintigraphy. Conclusions The minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy is safe and feasible (similar to the traditional thyroidectomy), of gratifying cosmetic results, for low-risk differentiated thyroid microcarcinoma without lymph node metastasis. For the median-risk or high-risk, more patients, comparative studies and long follow-ups are necessary to draw definitive conclusions in terms of its recurrence and survival rate.

Background Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide;while the different types of glaucoma is vary from different region. Objective Present study was to survey the prevalence and types of glaucoma among peasants of Uigur adults in Kuche county and offer the basis for the prevent and treatment of glaucoma in Uigur nationanlity. Methods 4191 Uigur peasants aged 40 years or above were collected in Kuche county for the survey of prevalence and types of glaucoma by randomized cluster sampling in March and April of 2009. The subjects were grouped into 40-,50-,60- and ≥70 years groups according to the distribution of age. The disease history of glaucoma, regular eye examination, funds examination and measurement of the anterior chamber depth, gonioscope were performed in the all subjects. Darkroom prone test and mydriasis test were carried out in suspicious glaucomous patients. The depth of periphery anterior chamber was assessed based on van Herick' s criteria, and the width of chamber angle was graded based on Scheie' s method. The standardized training was performed. This survey approved by Xinjiang Medical Ethics Committee, all subjects signed the informed consent before the examination. Results 4191 of 4873 subjects finished all the examinations with the response rate 86%. All the subjects showed a good compliance. The prevalence of glaucoma was 3. 79% , and the prevalence of primary angle-closed glaucoma(PACG) .primary angle-open glaucoma (PAOG) and secondary glaucoma was 2.22% ,0.26% and 1. 31% respectively, showing a significant difference among the different types of glaucoma( P<0. 05). The prevalence of glaucoma was elevated with aging (χ2 - 116. 69 ,P<0. 05) and presented a high rate in male subjects compared with female ones(χ2 = 7. 34, P<0. 05 ). Bilateral blindness was found in 19.75% glaucoma peasants, in which 25.3% glaucoma peasants received anti-glaucoma surgery. The distribution of visual acuity of patients was of significant difference among different age groups(χ2 = 37. 69 ,P<0. 05 ) . Conclusions The prevalence of the glaucoma among Uigur peasants in Kuche county was higher than most area no matter inland or overseas. PACG still is the common type in those people.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effeet of rapamycin, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), on mTOR and eukaryotic initiation factor-4E(eIF-4E)expression in coxsac-kievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced rat myocardial cells and to investigate the role of mTOR/eIF-4E signal pathway in viral myocarditis. METHODS: To construct a cell model of viral myocarditis with primary cultured myocardial cells. Myocardial cells infected by CVB3 were treated with 10 nmol/L rapamycin according to the cell toxicity test. The mTOR and eIF-4E expressions of cells were determined by RT-PCR and Western Blot. RESULTS: Rapamycin inhibited the degeneration of CVB3-induced myocardial cells. Expressions of mTOR and eIF-4E mRNA or protein in CVB3-induced myocardial cells were significantly upregulated compared with the control group (P < 0.05), and rapamycin (10 nmol/L) inhibited the upregulation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Rapamycin can downregulate the expressions of mTOR and eIF-4E in CVB3-induced myocardial cells, suggesting that mTOR/eIF-4E signal transduction may play an important role in viral myocarditis.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E ; biosynthesis ; Myocarditis ; metabolism ; virology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Protein Kinases ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

OBJECTIVEThis study examined the effect of rapamycin, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), on eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF- 4E) expression in rat myocardial fibroblasts infected by Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) in order to identify the drug target for treatment of viral myocarditis.

METHODSPrimary cultured rat myocardial fibroblasts were treated with CVB3 with multiplicity of infection (MOI=0.5 PFU/cell). The experiment consisted of four groups in which the cultured rat fibroblasts cells were treated with CVB3, rapamycin (10 nM) and CVB3 + rapamycin or placebo (control). Experimental model of CVB3-infected myocardial fibroblasts was confirmed by detection of CVB3 mRNA expression with RT-PCR and observation of morphological changes of the infected cells with microscopy. eIF-4E expression was determined by both RT-PCR and Western Blot methods.

RESULTSMorphological changes were found in the fibroblasts treated with MOI 0.5 PFU/cell of CVB3 by transmission electron microscope and the viral particles were found in the cytoplasm. CVB3 mRNA was expressed in CVB3-infected fibroblasts after 1, 2, and 3 days after infection and 2 days after passage. The gray scale values of the eIF- 4E /beta -actin in the control, the CVB3, the rapamycin and the CVB3+rapamycin groups were 0.73 +/- 0.07, 0.87 +/- 0.03, 0.32 +/- 0.03 and 0.56 +/- 0.04 respectively detected by RT-PCR, and were 0.79 +/- 0.09, 1.35 +/- 0.12, 0.55 +/- 0.04, and 0.62 +/- 0.07 respectively detected by Western blot. EIF- 4E expression in the CVB3 group was higher than that in the control group. Both the rapamycin and the CVB3+rapamycin groups had lower eIF- 4E expression than the control and the CVB3 groups.

CONCLUSIONSCVB3 can infect myocardial fibroblasts and up-regulate the eIF- 4E expression in rat myocardial fibroblasts. Rapamycin can inhibit eIF- 4E expression and may be a potential medicine for treatment of viral myocarditis. It was suspected that mTOR/eIF- 4E signal pathway in rat myocardial fibroblasts might play an important role in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E ; genetics ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; virology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Myocarditis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVEIntra-ventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is one of the most serious complications of preterm infants. Significant numbers of the surviving infants with severe IVH go on to develop post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH). The management of PHH remains a very challenging problem for both neonatologists and pediatric neurosurgeons. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the use of Ommaya reservoirs and serial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage in the management of a series of neonates with PHH.

METHODBetween January 1, 2003 and December 30, 2005, 15 consecutive newborn infants with IVH grades III to IV, complicated with progressive ventricular dilatation, underwent placement of an Ommaya reservoir. CSF was intermittently aspirated percutaneously from the reservoir. The amount and frequency of CSF aspiration were based on the clinical presentation and the follow-up results of serial cranial ultrasonograms or CT scans. The changes of CSF cell counts and chemistries were also followed. Patients whose progressive ventricular dilatation persisted despite serial CSF aspiration through Ommaya reservoir eventually had ventriculo-peritoneal shunts (V-P shunt) placed. All the patients were followed up in the outpatient clinic after discharge from the hospital and the neurodevelopmental outcomes were evaluated through 18-36 months of age.

RESULTA total of 15 infants were included in this series. Of them, 11 were preterm infants who were at gestational ages of 29 to 34 weeks and 4 infants were full-term. All of the 4 full term infants presented with progressive ventricular dilatation after suffering from the intra-cranial hemorrhage (3 infants were due to vitamin K deficiency and 1 was due to birth trauma). Thirteen infants had grade III IVH, and 2 had grade IV IVH based on initial cranial ultrasonographic and CT scans. The mean age when IVH was diagnosed was (9 +/- 1) days in preterm infants and (22 +/- 7) days in full-term infants; the mean age when Ommaya reservoir was placed was (18 +/- 11) days in preterm infants and (31 +/- 7) days in full-term infants. All the infants tolerated the surgical procedure well. The Ommaya reservoir was tapped for an average of (21.5 +/- 4.6) times per patient. The mean CSF volume per tap was (10.2 +/- 1.3) ml/kg. The values of CSF protein, glucose and cell counts slowly reached normal levels at approximately 3 - 5 weeks after the placement of the reservoir. The velocity of head circumference increase per week was less than 1 cm in 13 patients in 1 - 4 weeks after the placement of the reservoir and the size of ventricles decreased gradually. By 12 - 18 months, 12 infants had normal size ventricles, and 1 patient still had mild ventricular dilation at 36 months. Two infants developed progressive hydrocephalus after serial CSF aspiration through Ommaya reservoir. One infant had a V-P shunt placed at 2 months of age and another infant died at 3 months of age at home after parents refused further therapy. Complications consisted of reservoir leaking and CSF infection at 16th day of placement in one patient after repeated tapping. By the end of 18 - 36 months of follow-up, 11 of 14 infants were considered normal, two patients had mild impairment in neurodevelopmental outcome (both had spastic bilateral lower limbs paresis, and one of whom also had amblyopia) and the other had seizure disorder.

CONCLUSIONThe results from this series indicate that the placement of an Ommaya reservoir is relatively safe in newborn infants and is useful in the initial management of neonates with PHH and may be beneficial in improving their neurodevelopmental outcomes. A multicenter randomized trial may be needed to further validate the results of this report.

Cerebral Hemorrhage ; complications ; therapy ; Cerebral Ventricles ; Drainage ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; etiology ; therapy ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Subdural Effusion ; etiology ; therapy

Objective To investigate the association between maternal food group intakes during pregnancy and the risk of infantile eczema in a Chinese population. Methods A prospective birth cohort study was conducted and 523 women were recruited at 20-28 weeks of pregnancy in Guangzhou from 2017 to 2018. A validated 81-item quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess maternal dietary intakes during the past month. Food items were divided into ten food groups according to the Chinese Dietary Guidelines. Offspring were followed up at 6 months by the symptom questionnaire of eczema. Multivariate Logistic regression model was conducted to evaluate the association between maternal food group intakes during pregnancy and the risk of infantile eczema. Results The cumulative incidence of eczema at 6 months was 51.8%. Maternal consumption of poultry was higher in the eczema group (27.62±25.20 g/d) than the control group (22.03±22.63 g/d, P=0.022). Comparing to the lowest quantile (Q1), higher maternal intake of poultry (Q4) and fish (Q3) were significantly associated with an increased risk of infantile eczema (OR=2.71, 95% CI=1.24-4.81; OR=2.38, 95% CI=1.23-4.59, respectively) after multivariate adjustment. Conclusion Higher intakes of poultry or fish during pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of infantile eczema in Chinese population.

Objective: To observe the expression of retinal proteins in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) mice and to explore the possible molecular mechanism of autoimmune uveitis. Methods: Twelve female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into model group and normal control group, 6 mice in each group.In the model group, the EAU model was established by subcutaneous injection of human interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) 651-670.The fundal change of EAV mice was assessed by direct ophthalmoscope, OCT and histopathological staining.At 18 days after immunization, the retinas of the two groups were taken for retinal protein extraction, protein restriction enzyme digestion, mass spectrometry detection, data analysis, and bioinformatics analysis.This study was approved by the experimental animal Ethics Committee of Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital (TJYY2018070113). The feeding and use of experimental animals follow the ARVO statement. Results: The EAU mouse model was successfully established.At 10 days after immunitation, the retina of EAV mouse was damaged.At 18 days after immunization, retinal edema and infiltration of inflammatory cells into vitreous were observed.Proteomic results showed that a total of 4 458 proteins were identified in this study, of which 522 were differentially-expressed proteins (fold change>1.5, P<0.05). Among these differentially-expressed proteins, 147 proteins including Stat1 and Stat3 were up-regulated and 375 proteins including Gucy2f and Rho were down-regulated.These differentially-expressed proteins were closely related to platelet activation, integrin signaling, T cell activation, the phototransduction cascade, Toll-like receptor and so on. Conclusions EAU is related to the abnormal expression of Stat1, Stat3 and other proteins, as well as the abnormal regulation of platelet activation and integrin signal pathway.

Objective To study the distribution of sleep duration in mid－pregnancy women and examine its association with prehypertension ( PHT) ． Methods In the baseline survey of a prospective cohort study，943 women in mid－pregnancy were recruited in Guangzhou，China in 2017－2018． A standardized questionnaire was used to assess demographic characteristics，sleep duration and other lifestyles． We obtained maternal blood pressure values，weights，heights，and medical histories from medical records． Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between sleep duration and PHT． Ｒesults The average daily sleep duration of women in mid －pregnancy was ( 10. 41 ± 1. 67 ) hours，and it was negatively related to age and educational level． Overall，98. 33% of pregnant women had a daily sleep duration ≥ 7 h and the distribution was related to passive smoking． The average night time sleep duration was ( 9. 48±1. 21 ) hours，and it was negatively related to age and educational level． The daytime sleep duration was ( 0. 93 ± 0. 69 ) hours，and it was positively associated with physical activity． The average bedtime was( 22 ∶ 42 ± 1．24) ，and it was positively associated with passive smoking． The prevalence of PHT was 9. 61%． We did not observe any significant association between sleep duration and PHT． Conclusions The mid－pregnancy women in Guangzhou had relatively long sleep duration， and it differed by maternal age，educational level，physical activity，and passive smoking． There was no significant association between sleep duration and PHT．

Objective To compare the differences in the hypertension prevalence among children aged 7-12 in Guangzhou based on different references of hypertension. Methods A total of 7698 children aged 7-12 years old in Guangzhou were recruited by stratified cluster random sampling method. Demographic information such as gender and age was collected by questionnaire. Children’s height, weight, and blood pressure were objectively measured. There were five references for diagnosing children’s hypertension: Mi 2010, Mi 2017, Ma 2017, America 2004, and America 2017 reference. Results Based on the references above, the prevalence of hypertension for children aged 7-12 in Guangzhou reached a very high level. The prevalence of hypertension, high systolic blood pressure (SBP) and high diastolic blood pressure (DBP) based on Mi 2017 reference were all higher than those based on Mi 2010 reference, but both of them were distinctly higher than Ma 2017 reference. Compared with Mi 2010 reference, the agreement of diagnosis of high SBP and high DBP were both higher for Mi 2017 than those for Ma 2017. The agreement of high SBP was higher between Mi 2017 and America 2017 than that between Ma 2017 and America 2017 (Kappa: 0.846 vs. 0.727). Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension in children aged 7-12 in Guangzhou reachs a very high level. The prevalence of hypertension based on Mi 2017 reference is the highest and follows with America 2017 reference, and the agreement between them is excellent. Compared with Mi 2010 or America 2017 reference, the agreement for Ma 2017 is lower than that for Mi 2017 reference, respectively.