Background Corneal parameters (such as curvature,thickness,etc) are essential to the diagnosis of corneal related diseases,contact lenses fitting and corneal refractive surgery.Objective The aim of this study was to assess the repeatability and accuracy of corneal parameters obtained by RTVue Fourier-domain optical coherence topography (FD-OCT).Methods In this prospective study,77 eyes of 43 subjects with the refraction from-1.25 D to-10.00 D and astigmatism ＜2 D were enrolled in keratorefractive surgery center,Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College.The anterior and posterior corneal curvature in 3 mm central zone (Ranterior and Rposterior),the ratio of posterior and anterior curvature (Rposterior/Ranterior),corneal central thickness (CCT),total corneal power(Knet),the simulated corneal power (Sim K),the anterior and posterior corneal power (Kanterior,Kposterior)were measured by FD-OCT.Corneal power (Km) was obtained by Topolyzer topography based on Placido ring.Three consecutive scans were acquired in every tested eye.Repeatability of FD-OCT measurement was assessed using the coefficient of variation CV),Cronbach Alpha and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).Repeated measure ANOVA was used to analyze the differences among SimK,Knet and Km.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analysis the correlation between SimK and K Knet and Km,SimK and Km.The agreement between Sim K and K Knet and Km,SimK and Km was assessed by Bland-Altman plots analysis.All the subjects understood the purpose of this investigation and written informed consent was obtained prior to the medical examination.Results The Ranterior,Rposterior,Rposterior/Ranterior,Kanterior,Kposterior,Sim K,Knet and CCT were (7.691 ±0.302) mm,(6.532±0.276) mm,0.849±0.014,(48.97±1.92)D,(-6.13±0.26)D,(43.95±1.72) D,(42.95±1.68) D and (545.20± 35.04) μm,respectively.The CV of all parameters was less than 1％.The Cronbach Alpha and ICC were both more than 0.9 except 0.802(ICC)of the Rposterior/Ranterior.SimK was (0.27±0.34) D higher than Km,and Knet was (0.73±0.37) D lower than Km.SimK was (1.01 ±0.11) D higher than K and all the differences showed a statistical significance (P＜0.001).There were close positive correlations between SimK and Km,Knet and Km,SimK and Knet(all r ≥ 0.976,P＜0.001).The Bland-Altman analysis showed a poor agreement between SimK and Km,Knet and Km,SimK and Knet.Conclusions The RTVue FD-OCT measuring corneal curvature and CCT performes good repeatability.The Sim K obtained by RTVue FD-OCT is slightly greater than that obtained by corneal topography,and the Rposterior/Ranterior obtained by RTVue FD-OCT is slightly lower than that from Gullstrand model eye.These results offer a basis for establishing a more accurate standardized model eye.

Cerebellum ; surgery ; Cystadenoma, Papillary ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Epididymis ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genital Neoplasms, Male ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Keratin-7 ; metabolism ; Kidney ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; von Hippel-Lindau Disease ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Objective To compare blood pressure control in community hypertensive patients with different management methods.Methods Two neighborhood committees in a community of Pudong were selected as study area using cluster sampling method.A total of 5 166 residents aged ≥35 y were screened for blood pressure; the subjects with high blood pressure and had antihypertensive medication in last 6 months were included,and patients with secondary hypertension was excluded.The patients who entered community hypertension management program and got medication from community were included in community group; those who did not enter in community management program and/or not get medication from community were included in non-community group.Self-designed questionnaire was used for investigation.The medication compliance,awareness of hypertension risk factors and high blood pressure control were compared between two groups.Results Among 5 166 residents 4 763 were surveyed for hypertension with a response rate of 92.2％ and hypertension prevalence rate of 23.2％ (1 105/4 763).Among 1 012 patients with drug treatment for more than 6 months,there were 878 cases in community (86.8％) and 134 cases (13.2％) in non-community group.There were no significant differences in gender,age,education,working condition between community group and non-community group (P ＞ 0.05).44.3％ (389/878) patients in community group had a history of high blood pressure ＞ 10 y and that was 56.7％ (76/134) in non-community group (P =0.011) ; 28.6％ (251/878) patients in community group were at high risk for risk stratification and that in non-community group was 47.8％ (64/134) (P ＜0.001).The awareness of hypertension risk factors in community group and non-community group was 83.9％ and 95.5％,respectively (P ＜ 0.001).The medication compliance and blood pressure control rates in two groups were 93.2 ％ and 84.3 ％ (P ＜ 0.001),68.6％ and 51.5 ％,respectively (P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion The outcomes of hypertension management in terms of medication compliance and blood pressure control in community group are better than those in non-community group.

Objective:To investigate the incidence of asthma and the characteristics of acute attacks in children aged 3-14 in different administrative areas of Wuxi, and to analyze the correlation of asthma with the outdoor environmental factors.Methods:A total of 10 175 children aged 3-14 were randomly selected from 5 different administrative regions in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province for childhood asthma epidemiological survey from January to December in 2017.Results:The complete questionnaires were collected from 8 318 children with a response rate of 81.70%.There were 6 734 valid questionnaires.Asthma occurred to 259 children, and the prevalence rate was 3.84%.The prevalence of asthma in male and female children was 4.89% (163 cases) and 2.82% (96 cases), respectively.The ratio of male patients to female patients was 1.70∶1.00, and the difference was significant ( χ2=19.72, P<0.01). Children were most prone to suffer from asthma attacks at the turn of seasons (87/259 cases, 33.59%). The frequency of asthma was the lowest from June to August (9/259 cases, 3.47%). Among 244 cases attacked by acute asthma, the prevailing time period of acute attacks was irregular in 88 patients (36.07%), bedtime in 64 cases (26.23%). In different regions of the city, the lowest prevalence rate of asthma was found in Binhu District (50/1 830 cases, 2.73%), the highest prevalence rate of asthma was found in Xinwu District (71/1 502 cases, 4.72%), the difference between the highest and lowest prevalence rates of asthma was significant ( χ2=13.19, P<0.05). In terms of the air quality in different admi-nistrative regions of Wuxi, the nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) concentration, the carbon monoxide (CO) concentration, PM 10 and PM 2.5 in Binhu District were lower than other 4 regions.In different seasons in Wuxi city, the sulfur dioxide(SO 2) concentration, the NO 2 concentration, the CO concentration, PM 10 and PM 2.5 from June to August were significantly lower than those in other months.The prevalence of asthma in children in different administrative districts of Wuxi was weakly positively correlated with the SO 2 concentration, the NO 2 concentration and PM 10 ( r=0.10, P<0.01; r=0.22, P<0.01; r=0.06, P<0.01, respectively). The prevalence of asthma was weakly negatively associated with the ozone(O 3) concentration ( r=-0.06, P<0.01). Acute asthma attacks were weakly positively correlated with the SO 2 concentration ( r=0.22, P<0.01), the NO 2 concentration ( r=0.28, P<0.01), the CO concentration ( r=0.23, P<0.01), PM 10 ( r=0.18, P<0.01) and PM 2.5 ( r=0.18, P<0.01), and weakly negatively correlated with the O 3 concentration ( r=-0.40, P<0.01). Conclusions:The prevalence of asthma in Wuxi is higher in boys than in girls, and the frequency of asthma attacks is related to the season.The SO 2, NO 2, CO, PM 10, PM 2.5 and O 3 concentration affect the prevalence and acute attacks of asthma.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of osthole (Ost) on adrenocortical function in Y1 mouse adrenocortical tumor cells.

METHODSY1 mouse adrenocortical tumor cells were taken as subjects in this experiment. In 10.0%, 1.0%, and 0.1% serum DMEM-F12 medium, Y1 cells were treated with 1, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 micromol/L Ost for 24 and 48 h. 0.1% Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) was taken as negative control group and 1 mmol/L (Bu) 2cAMP as positive control group. Cell growth morphology was observed under inverted microscope. Contents of corticosterone were tested by ELISA. Expression levels of steroids synthase such as Star, Cyp11a1, Cyp21a1, Hsd3b2, Cyp11b1, Cyp11b2, Cyp17a1, and Hsd17b3 mRNA were detected by Real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).

RESULTSY1 cell proliferation was obviously inhibited by 100 and 200 micromol/L Ost, and its inhibitory effect was more significant in 0.1% serum medium. Compared with the negative control group, gene expressions of Star, Cyp11a1 , Cyp21a1, Hsd3b2, Cyp11b1, Cyp17a1, and Hsd17b3 were significantly enhanced in the posi- tive control group (P < 0.05). Y1 cell corticosterone levels significantly increased in 50 micromol/L Ost treatment group after 24-and 48-h intervention (P < 0.05). Contents of corticosterone increased more obviously in 25 and 50 +/- mol/L Ost treatment groups after 48-h intervention, as compared with 24-h intervention (P < 0.01). After 24-h intervention, expression levels of Star, Cyp21a1, and Hsd3b2 genes were significantly up-regulated in 25 and 50 lLmol/L Ost groups (P < 0.05). Star gene expression was further enhanced after 48-h intervention (P < 0.05). However, Ost showed no effect on Cyp11a1 (P > 0.05). Additionally, gene expressions of Cyp11b1 and Cyp17a1 were significantly enhanced by 10, 25, and 50 pLmolIL Ost after treatment for 24 and 48 h (P < 0.05). Ost showed no obvious effect on Cyp11b2 and Hsd17b3 expressions.

CONCLUSIONOst could regulate adrenal cortex function and promote corticosterone synthesis and secretion through strengthening gene expressions of steroidogenic enzymes.

Adrenal Cortex ; drug effects ; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; pathology ; Animals ; Corticosterone ; biosynthesis ; Coumarins ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Objective A resistin binding peptide (RBP) was selected by phage display in our previous work. Studies had shown that RBP could antagonize the role of resistin on the lipid metabolism and endocrine function of adipose tissue, but whether RBP affects the insulin secretion of pancreatic cells is still unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of RBP on basal insulin secretion in RINm5F insulinoma cells. Methods The cell viability was measured by 3-[4,5-dimethyhhiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetra-zolium bromide (MTT) cytotoxicity assay. The supernatants were assayed for insulin content by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Reverse transcriptase-PCR assay and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) involved in insulin secretion. Cytosolic Ca2+, the trigger of insulin exocytosis, was analyzed with the fluorescent probe FURA-3/AM. Results RBP did no effect on the cell viability with a concentration of 10-8-10-12mol/L of 2 hours intervention. But it stimulated basal insulin secretion of RINm5F cells, accompanied by up-regulated increased expression of GLUT2 and elevated concentration of cytosolic Ca2+. Conclusion RBP could stimulate basal insulin secretion without affecting the cell viability.

OBJECTIVEAn improved tracheal intubation method was used in preparation of myocardial infarction model in the mouse for increasing the success rate.

METHODSThe mice were intubated by an improved trachea cannula through oral cavity. The left anterior thoracotomy performed. The myocardial infarction model was made by legating the left anterior descending coronary artery in mouse. The color of heart was observed, and electrocardiogram was recorded. The survival rate and pathologic change were observed after two weeks of operation.

RESULTS40 myocardial infarction model mice were made by improved trachea cannula. The color of ventricles anterior wall had got madder red, and ST stages were raised on II leads of electrocardiogram in all of model mice. After two weeks, 27 mice were survival. The survival rate was 87.1% except for accidental death during operation. The heart chamber expanded and ventricular wall became thin in myocardial infarction mice by eyes. After pathological sections were stained, by HE cardiac muscle fibers ruptured or lysed. There were some of necrosis of myocardiac cells and many of infiltration of inflammatory cells.

CONCLUSIONApplication of an improved tracheal intubation method simplified operation of tracheal intubation during preparation of myocardial infarction model in the mouse. The trauma was tinier than the other one, and achievement ratio of the model preparation was improved.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; methods ; Male ; Mice ; Myocardial Infarction

Objective: To investigate the effect of the endoscopic selective varices devascularization (ESVD) for the esophageal gastric varices bleeding (EGVB) in children. Methods: The clinical data of the patients diagnosed with EGVB and treated with ESVD from January 2018 to March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The effects, safety and complications of ESVD were evaluated. Results: There were five patients (including 2 males and 3 females, age ranged from 4 to 7 years) in the study. No rebleeding was found at the first follow-up on one week post operation. Three patients were treated with the endo-therapy at the twice follow-up (3 months after surgery): 2 patients had ESVD again and 1 patient had resection under endoscopy due to stenosis caused by surgical scar. After the second procedure, there was no rebleeding but one patient had abdominal pain caused by mesenteric thrombosis, cured with low molecular weight heparin. Conclusion The ESVD for EGVB is safe and effective, but the long-term curative effect should be further studied.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of atorvastatin on the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) mRNA and its protein in hypertrophic myocardium in rats. METHODS: Suprarenal abdominal aortic coarctation was performed to create the pressure overload induced left ventricular hypertrophy model in rats. RESULTS: Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: (1) normal control group (Group A); (2) normal control group treated with atorvastatin [(5 mg/(kg.dd), Group B]; (3) sham group (Group C); (4) atorvastatin given orally by gastric gavage for 4 weeks [5 mg/(kg.dd),Group D]; (5) vehicle group (Group E). Stained pathological section was observed under light microscope to measure cardiomyocyte diameter transversa and collagen volume fraction. ACE2 mRNA and its protein expression were detected by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot. Compared with Group A,B, and C, the left ventricular mass index, cardiomyocyte diameter transversa and collagen volume fraction in Group E increased statistically (P< 0.01), ACE2 mRNA and its protein expression also elevated remarkably (P< 0.01). Compared with Group E, the above mentioned indexes in Group D reduced significantly (P< 0.01). CONCLUSION ACE2 mRNA and its protein expression increase significantly in hypertrophic myocardium in rats; atorvastatin can attenuate cardiac hypertrophy due to pressure overload in rats effectively, and part of this anti-hypertrophy effect may be attributed to decrease ACE2 mRNA and protein expression.
Animals ; Aorta ; Atorvastatin ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; etiology ; metabolism ; Ligation ; Male ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo determine the molecular mechanisms linking intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) to adult type 2 diabetes mellitus, the effect of IUGR on the hepatic post-receptor insulin-signaling pathway was investigated in the adult offspring.

METHODSThe IUGR model was prepared by maternal protein-malnutrition. Western blotting analysis was undertaken to assess hepatic expression of insulin receptor substrate (IRS-2), phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K), protein kinase B (PKB), phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3 in 8-week-old male IUGR rats.

RESULTSThe basal levels of PI-3K protein decreased in IUGR rats compared with normal controls (p<0.01), whereas GSK-3beta protein level significantly increased in IUGR rats (p<0.01). Both PKB and phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 protein levels significantly decreased in the liver of IUGR rats compared with normal controls (p<0.01)). After insulin administration, phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 significantly increased to 182% of basal level in control rats(p<0.01); However, phosphorylation of PKB which responded to insulin was markedly blunted in IUGR rats compared with controls and only increased to 123% of basal level (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe level of PI-3K and PKB and phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 expression decreased in the liver of IUGR rats, whereas the levels of GSK-3beta protein increased. It may contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in the IUGR rats.

Animals ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; analysis ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; analysis ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; analysis ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; physiology