Background Retinal neovascularization (RNV) occurs in multiple eye diseases,which can lead to bleeding and retinal detachment.Therefore,inhibition of pathological RNV is becoming crucial to the treatment of ocular diseases.Research has shown that α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) inhibits retinal angiogenesis during physiological development;however,the effects of α-MSH on pathological RNV remain unknown.Objective This study was to investigate the effects of intravitreal injection of α-MSH at different concentrations on pathological RNV in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR).Methods Forty healthy clean C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into OIR+0.33 μg/μl α-MSH,OIR+ 1.67 μg/μl α-MSH,OIR+3.30 μg/μl α-MSH,OIR,and normal control groups at postnatal day 7 (P7),with 8 pups in each group.The α-MSH intervention groups and OIR group were exposed to high oxygen (75 ±2)％ for 5 days,then maintained under normal air condition for another 5 days;whereas the normal control group was raised under normoxia for 10 days.Retro-orbital injection of high molecular weight fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-dextran) was performed on P17 mice.The retina whole mounts were prepared to reveal retinal vasculature and quantify relative area of vessel obliteration.The mouse eyeballs were subjected to paraffin sections and hematoxylin-eosin staining,and the average number of pre-retinal nuclei per section was quantified.Results FITC-dextran labeled retinal whole mounts showed that the relative vessel obliteration area in normal control,OIR,OIR+0.33 μg/μl α-MSH,OIR+ 1.67 μg/μl α-MSH,and OIR+3.30 μg/μl α-MSH groups were (0.00±0.00) ％,(23.01 ±3.39) ％,(18.14±7.20) ％,(15.64±7.07) ％,and (7.62±6.52) ％,respectively.There was a statistical significance in the relative avascular area among the groups (F=19.635,P＜0.05).The relative avascular area in the OIR group was significantly higher than that in the OIR+3.30 μg/μl α-MSH group (t=4.293,P＜0.01).The results of histopathological examinations showed that the average number of pre-retinal nuclei per section in normal control,OIR,OIR+0.33 μg/μl α-MSH,OIR+1.67 μg/μl α-MSH,and OIR+3.30 μg/μl α-MSH groups were 0.00±0.00,11.45 ±4.26,6.35 ±2.34,4.96 ± 1.79 and 1.03 ± 1.25,respectively.There was a statistical significance in the average number of pre-retinal nuclei per section among the groups (F =147.87,P＜0.05).The average number of pre-retinal nuclei per section in the OIR group was significantly higher than that in the OIR+0.33 μg/μl α-MSH,OIR+ 1.67 μg/μl α-MSH,and OIR+3.30 μg/μl α-MSH groups,the differences between the groups had statistical significances (all at P＜0.001).Conclusions α-MSH reduces the relative area of vessel obliteration and the average number of pre-retinal nuclei in the retinas of OIR mouse model.The inhibitory effects of α-MSH on the pathological RNV are dose-dependent.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the endoscopic management of petrous apex cholesterol granuloma through trans-sphenoid sinus-clivus approach. METHOD: One case of right-side petrous apex cholesterol granuloma were undertaken surgical treatment through trans-sphenoid sinus-clivus approach, then the possibility of any other approach and their advantages and disadvantages were analyzed. RESULT: The operation was success without any complications. Patient's hearing was recovered and tinnitus vanished. The patient was discharge from hospital at the third day after operation, and followed up for four month without recurrence. CONCLUSION Trans-sphenoid sinus clivus endoscopic management of petrous apex cholesterol granuloma is effective and safe. The operators can monitor internal carotid artery then to access to the diseased region with reducing risk.
Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; surgery ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Granuloma ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Sphenoid Sinus ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of endoscopic resection without arterial embolism for nasopharyngeal angiofibroma and the strategy of decreasing the bleeding during the operation.

METHODSThe clinical data of twenty-five cases of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma were retrospective analyzed, including 3 cases of Radowski stageIIa, 5 cases of stageIIb, 4 cases of stageIIc and with 13 cases of stage IIIa. All cases did not receive the arterial embolism, and controlled hypotension were adopted under endoscopic transnasal approach during the tumor resection. Two cases were added the labiogingival incision. During the operation, under the opening vision, cutting out the outside of the infratemporal fossa, and the pterygoid process to adequate exposure the pterygopalatine fossa and infratemporal fossa.Early recognition of anatomical landmarks and establish the safety plane, along the periphery of the tumor to proceed with micro-separation, early blocking tumor nutrient vessels, en bloc resection of the tumor and some other ways to reduce bleeding and tumor resection.

RESULTSAmount of bleeding during operation was 600-1500 ml, none of them had internal carotid artery injury and intracranial injury or some other complication.Follow-up 2-3 years was available in all patients, except 1 case with residual of tumor surrounding the optic nerve, the other 24 cases had no residual tumor and relapses.

CONCLUSIONSThe preoperative occlusion and artery ligation may not be needed.Surgical technique is the key to reduce blood loss, and it is feasible to have endoscopic resection of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma with proper operating technique.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiofibroma ; surgery ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the expressions of histone lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and cell proliferation-associated antigen Ki-67 in high-grade glioma and their influences on prognosis. Methods: Sixty-five cases of grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ glioma confirmed by pathology from January 2011 to June 2017 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were selected. Immunohistochemistry (SP method) was used to detect the expressions of LSD1, MGMT and Ki-67 in pathological specimens. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by long-term follow-up. The relationships between the three markers and pathological grade, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Results: The overall positive rates of LSD1, MGMT and Ki-67 in the 65 high-grade glioma specimens were 70.8% (46/65), 60.0% (39/65) and 100.0% (65/65), respectively. There were no significant differences in the expressions of LSD1 and MGMT in grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ glioma (χ²=1.588, P=0.208, χ²=0.013, P=0.908). Ki-67 expression (+ ), (+ + ), (+ + + ) in grade Ⅳ glioma were observed in 18, 19 and 11 cases, respectively. Ki-67 expression (+ ), (+ + ) in grade Ⅲ glioma were observed in 11, 5 cases, and 1 case was (+ + + ), and the difference in expression intensity between the two groups was statistically significant (Z=-2.083, P=0.037). Log-rank test showed that the positive expressions of LSD1, MGMT and Ki-67 were negatively correlated with the PFS of patients with high-grade glioma (χ²=12.217, P=0.007; χ²=4.446, P=0.035; χ²=12.536, P=0.002), also were negatively correlated with OS (χ²=11.708, P=0.008; χ²=6.637, P=0.010; χ²=11.807, P=0.003). Grade Ⅳ patients were more likely to have relapse progression than grade Ⅲ patients (χ²=6.573, P=0.010), and OS was shorter (χ²=3.974, P=0.046). Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that the expressions of LSD1 (HR=1.361, 95%CI: 1.094-1.694, P=0.006; HR=1.406, 95%CI: 1.117-1.771, P=0.004) and Ki-67 (HR=1.703, 95%CI: 1.175-2.468, P=0.005; HR=1.778, 95%CI: 1.209-2.616, P=0.003) were the independent prognostic risk factors for PFS and OS of patients with high-grade glioma. Correlation analysis results showed that the expression of MGMT was positively correlated with the expression of LSD1 (r=0.406, P=0.001). Conclusion LSD1, MGMT and Ki-67 have higher positive expression rates in high-grade glioma. MGMT is a prognostic factor for high-grade glioma, and LSD1 and Ki-67 can be used as independent predictors of prognosis for high-grade gliomas.

BACKGROUND:Pretreatment with moxibustion is a preventive treatment in traditional Chinese medicine.Pretreatment with moxibustion at the onset of prodromal symptoms can significantly reduce the symptoms and delay the onset of many diseases,but the exact mechanism remains to be studied. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanism of SIRT1/FoxO3 pathway in moxibustion pretreatment to ameliorate oxidative stress injury in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model rats. METHODS:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group,model group,moxibustion pretreatment group,and moxibustion pretreatment+EX527(SIRT1 inhibitor)group,with 12 rats in each group.The moxibustion pretreatment group was given moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at Baihui,Dazhui,and Zusanli before modeling,three moxa-cones per acupoint,once a day for 7 days.In the model group,moxibustion pretreatment group and moxibustion pretreatment+EX527 group,the rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion was made by suturing of the middle cerebral artery 30 minutes after the last moxibustion.After 2 hours of cerebral ischemia,the middle artery suture was removed and the rats were reperfused for 12 hours.In the sham-operated group,only the common carotid artery,internal carotid artery,and external carotid artery were dissected without suturing the middle cerebral artery.In the moxibustion pretreatment+EX527 group,EX527(15 mg/kg)was given intraperitoneally 30 minutes before each moxibustion.After 12 hours of reperfusion,the rats were scored for neurological deficits,and the cerebral infarct volume was calculated by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining method.The levels of oxidative stress factors in the infarcted tissues were detected by the kit method,and western-blot method was used to detect the expression levels of SIRT1,FoxO3,p-FoxO3 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the ischemic area of the cerebral cortex. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 12 hours of reperfusion,the neurobehavioral score in the model group was significantly higher than that in the sham-operated group(P＜0.01),while the score in the moxibustion pretreatment group was significantly lower than that in the model group(P＜0.01)and moxibustion pretreatment+EX527 group(P＜0.05).There were no obvious infarct foci in the brain tissue of the sham-operated rats,but obvious ischemic foci were observed in the right side of the brain tissue of the rats in the model group(P＜0.01).The right infarct volume in the moxibustion pretreatment group was significantly reduced compared with the model group(P＜0.01),while the right infarct volume in the moxibustion pretreatment+EX527 group was significantly enlarged compared with the moxibustion pretreatment group.After 12 hours of reperfusion,the level of malondialdehyde was significantly elevated(P＜0.01)and the expression of superoxide dismutase was significantly decreased(P＜0.01)in the model group compared with the sham-operated group.The levels of malondialdehyde was significantly decreased(P＜0.01,P＜0.05)and the expression of superoxide dismutase was significantly increased(P＜0.01,P＜0.05)in the moxibustion pretreatment group compared with the model group and the moxibustion pretreatment+EX527 group.Western blot results showed that the expression levels of SIRT1,FoxO3,p-FoxO3,and brain-derived neurotrophic factor proteins were significantly higher in the model group compared with the sham-operated group(P＜0.01);compared with the model group,the expression levels of SIRT1,FoxO3,and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were significantly higher in the moxibustion pretreatment group(P＜0.01),and p-FoxO3 expression was significantly lower(P＜0.01);compared with the moxibustion pretreatment+EX527 group,the expression levels of SIRT1,FoxO3,and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were elevated in the moxibustion pretreatment group(P＜0.05),and no statistically significant difference was found in the p-FoxO3 expression(P＞0.05).To conclude,moxibustion pretreatment can significantly improve neurological function in rats after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion,and the mechanism may be related to the activation of SIRT1/FoxO3 pathway to reduce oxidative stress injury in the rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.

BACKGROUND:It was found that moxibustion can inhibit the inflammatory factors in the serum of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury,resist oxidative stress,inhibit cell apoptosis,and effectively reduce cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of different moxibustion intervention time on the expression levels of nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like protein 3 inflammasome(NLRP3),cysteine aspartase(caspase-1),apoptosis-related speck-like protein,exfoliatin-D protein,interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury,and to explore its action mechanism. METHODS:SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(n=9)and operation group(n=36).The model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion in the operation group.After successful modeling,the rats in the operation group were further divided into model group,moxibustion 10-minute group,moxibustion 15-minute group and moxibustion 30-minute group,with 9 rats in each group.Rats in the moxibustion 10-minute,15-minute and 30-minute groups were given moxibustion at"Baihui,Dazhui and Zusanli",respectively,once a day for a total of 7 days.The neurological deficits of rats were evaluated by LONGA method.The cerebral infarction was observed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining.The pathological changes of brain tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The contents of interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 in serum of rats in each group were detected by ELISA.Immunohistochemistry and western blot assay were used to detect the expression levels of NLRP3,caspase-1,apoptosis-related spot-like protein and gasdermin D in the ischemic cortex of rats in each group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the sham operation group,the neurological deficit score of the model group was significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the neurological deficit score of the moxibustion groups was significantly reduced(P<0.01).Compared with the sham operation group,the infarct volume of the model group was significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the infarct volume of the moxibustion groups was significantly reduced(P<0.01);the infarct volume of the rats was smallest in the moxibustion 30-minute group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the contents of inflammatory factors interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 in the serum of rats in the moxibustion groups were decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the moxibustion 10-minute group,the contents of inflammatory factors in the serum of rats in the moxibustion 30-minute group were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the expression of NLRP3,apoptosis-related spot-like protein,Caspase-1 and gasdermin D protein in the ischemic cortex of the moxibustion groups was significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the moxibustion 10-minute and 15-minute groups,the expression of protein in the moxibustion 30-minute group was significantly decreased(P<0.05).It is concluded that moxibustion at Baihui,Dazhui and Zusanli can reduce cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury,among which moxibustion for 30 minutes has the best effect,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of pyroptosis mediated by NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway.

Objective To compare the protective effects of pharmacological batch RC28.E1 and pilot batch RC28.E2 on retinal vascular endothelial cells ( RF/6A) under the stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). Methods RF/6A cells were divided into normal control group, VEGF + FGF group and RC28.E1 groups with different concentrations. The optimal concentration of RC28.E1 was determined by cell counting kit.8 (CCK.8) method. Cells were divided into normal control group,VEGF+FGF group, RC28.E1 group,RC28.E2 group,conbercept group and FGF trap group,and cultured with serum.free culture medium, serum.free culture medium containing VEGF+FGF,serum.free culture medium containing VEGF+FGF+RC28.E1, serum.free culture medium containing VEGF+FGF+RC28.E2,and serum.free culture medium containing VEGF+FGF+conbercept,serum.free medium containing VEGF+FGF+FGF trap,respectively. Cell proliferation rate was measured by CCK.8 method, cell migration ability was detected by Transwell test, and tube formation ability was detected by Matrigel assay. Results The cell proliferation rate of 0. 080 mg/ml RC28.E1 group was significantly lower than that of VEGF+FGF group (P<0. 05). The cell proliferation rate of RC28.E1 group,RC28.E2 group and FGF trap group were significantly lower than that of VEGF+FGF group (P<0. 05). The number of migrated cells in RC28.E1 group,RC28.E2 group,conbercept group and FGF trap group were significantly lower than that in VEGF+FGF group (P=0. 000). The numbers of meshes formed by retinal vascular endothelial cells in RC28.E1 group,RC28.E2 group, conbercept group and FGF trap group were significantly lower than that in VEGF+FGF group ( P=0. 003,0. 001, 0. 009,0. 018). The number of tube formation in FGF trap group was significantly higher than those in RC28.E1 group,RC28.E2 group, conbercept group and normal control group ( P = 0. 014, 0. 000, 0. 008, 0. 014 ). Conclusions Under the stimulation of VEGF+FGF,the inhibitory effect of RC28.E on the proliferation of retinal vascular endothelial cells is greater than that of conbercept,and its inhibitory effect on the tube formation is superior to that of FGF trap. There is no significant difference in the effects of different batches of recombinant decoy receptor innovative drugs on retinal vascular endothelial cells.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of peritoneal protein clearance (Pcl) for cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.Methods:Eligible PD patients were prospectively enrolled from January 2014 to April 2015 in the PD Center of Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. All patients were followed up until death, withdrawing from PD, transferring to other centers, or the end of study period (October 1, 2018). The patients were divided into high Pcl group and low Pcl group by the median Pcl, and the differences of related indicators between the two groups were compared. A multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of Pcl. The Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used to compare the cumulative survival rates of patients between the two groups. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to estimate the risk of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality in relation to Pcl in PD patients.Results:A total of 271 patients were enrolled, with 135 males (49.8%), age of (56.92±0.84) years old and a median PD duration of 38.77(19.00, 63.10) months. There were 70 patients (25.8%) comorbiding with diabetes and 81 patients (29.9%) with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The median Pcl of this cohort was 67.93(52.31, 88.36) ml/d. Compared with the low Pcl group (Pcl<67.93 ml/d), the high Pcl group (Pcl≥67.93 ml/d) had older age, and greater proportion of CVD, body mass index (BMI), pulse pressure, brain natriuretic peptide, mass transfer area coefficient of creatinine (MTACcr), and lower serum albumin (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in gender, dialysis duration, proportion of diabetes, proportion of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker, proportion of continuous ambulatory PD, high sensitivity C reactive protein, fluid removal including 24 h urine volume and 24 h ultrafiltration, and residual renal function between the two groups (all P>0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum albumin ( β=-0.388, P<0.001), BMI ( β=0.189, P<0.001), and MTACcr ( β=0.247, P<0.001) were independently related to lg(Pcl). During the study period, 55 patients experienced one or more cardiovascular events and 39 patients had cardiovascular mortality. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, cardiovascular mortality in the high Pcl group was higher than that of low Pcl group (Log-rank χ2=6.902, P=0.009). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that, high lg(Pcl) was an independent influencing factor of cardiovascular events in PD patients ( HR=7.654, 95% CI 1.676-34.945, P=0.009). Conclusions:Serum albumin, BMI and MTACcr are independently associated with Pcl, and Pcl is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events in PD patients.

Objective To compare the protective effects of pharmacological batch RC28-E1 and pilot batch RC28-E2 on retinal vascular endothelial cells (RF/6A) under the stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF).Methods RF/6A cells were divided into normal control group,VEGF + FGF group and RC28-E1 groups with different concentrations.The optimal concentration of RC28-E1 was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method.Cells were divided into normal control group,VEGF+FGF group,RC28-E1 group,RC28-E2 group,conbercept group and FGF trap group,and cultured with serum-free culture medium,serum-free culture medium containing VEGF+FGF,serum-free culture medium containing VEGF+FGF+RC28-E1,serum-free culture medium containing VEGF+FGF+RC28-E2,and serum-free culture medium containing VEGF+FGF+ conbercept,serum-free medium containing VEGF+FGF+FGF trap,respectively.Cell proliferation rate was measured by CCK-8 method,cell migration ability was detected by Transwell test,and tube formation ability was detected by Matrigel assay.Results The cell proliferation rate of 0.080 mg/ml RC28-E1 group was significantly lower than that of VEGF+FGF group (P＜0.05).The cell proliferation rate of RC28-E1 group,RC28-E2 group and FGF trap group were significantly lower than that of VEGF+FGF group (P＜0.05).The number of migrated cells in RC28-E1 group,RC28-E2 group,conbercept group and FGF trap group were significantly lower than that in VEGF+FGF group (P=0.000).The numbers of meshes formed by retinal vascular endothelial cells in RC28-E1 group,RC28-E2 group,conbercept group and FGF trap group were significantly lower than that in VEGF+FGF group (P =0.003,0.001,0.009,0.018).The number of tube formation in FGF trap group was significantly higher than those in RC28-E1 group,RC28-E2 group,conbercept group and normal control group (P =0.014,0.000,0.008,0.014).Conclusions Under the stimulation of VEGF + FGF,the inhibitory effect of RC28-E on the proliferation of retinal vascular endothelial cells is greater than that of conbercept,and its inhibitory effect on the tube formation is superior to that of FGF trap.There is no significant difference in the effects of different batches of recombinant decoy receptor innovative drugs on retinal vascular endothelial cells.

This review introduces a qualitative methodology called institutional ethnography (IE) to healthcare professionals interested in studying complex social healthcare systems. We provide the historical context in which IE was developed, and explain the principles and terminology in IE for the novice researcher. Through the use of worked examples, the reader will be able to appreciate how IE can be used to approach research questions in the healthcare system that other methods would be unable to answer. We show how IE and qualitative research methods maintain quality and rigour in research findings. We hope to demonstrate to healthcare professionals and researchers that healthcare systems can be analysed as social organisations, and IE may be used to identify and understand how higher-level processes and policies affect day-to-day clinical work. This understanding may allow the formulation and implementation of actionable improvements to solve problems on the ground.