Objective To study the correlation between pulse pressure(PP) and cardiovascular structure and function in aged patients with essential hypertension. Methods Forty-eight aged patients with essential hypertension were enrolled into the study and divided into the following two groups by the mean value of PP: PP

Background The condition of the sclera is associated with many ocular diseases.The measurement of human scleral thickness in vivo is helpful for us to understand the features of the sclera and related diseases.Objective The present study was to measure the anterior sclera thickness(AST) in patients with senile cataract and to analyze the relationship among AST and other associated ocular parameters.Methods This study was approved by the Ethic Commission of First Hospital of Peking University.Written informed consent was obtained from each individual prior to examination.One hundred and five senile cataract patients were recruited in this study.Central corneal thickness (CCT),corneal curvature (CCV) and axial length were measured using ultrasonic pachymeter,keratometer,and A-scan unit,respectively.The AST was measured at 2 mm posterior to the scleral spur in the temporal meridian using ultrasound biomicroscope (UBM).The differences of CCT,CCV,ocular axial length and AST between bilateral eyes and the different sexes were compared by the Paired test and independent sample t test.The correlations among various parameters were assessed by the Pearson linear correlation analysis.The differences of CCT and AST among different axial length groups were evaluated by one-way ANOVA.Results No significant differences were found in the CCT,CCV,axial length and AST between bilateral eyes (t =0.584,P =0.561 ; t =1.161,P =0.248 ; t =0.140,P =0.889 ; t =0.342,P =0.773).Temporal AST at 2 mm posterior to the sclera spur was (0.589 ±0.051)mm in the right eyes.An insignificant decline in CCT was found in the male group compared with the female group (right eyes:t =0.469,P =0.641 ; left eyes:t =0.465,P =0.643).However,compared with the female group,the increase of axial length,reduction of the mean CCV value and enhancement of the mean AST were observed(right eyes:all P＜0.01 ;left eyes:all P＜0.01).CCV showed a negative correlation with ocular axial length (r =-0.50,P＜0.01),but no significant correlation was found among age,CCT,ocular axial length and AST(P＞0.05).No remarkable differences were found in CCT and AST among the various axial length groups (CCT:F =0.998,P=0.372;AST:F=1.919,P=0.383).Conclusions In senile cataract patients,correlation is not found between AST and CCT;the increase of axial length is not associated with the thinning of the eyeball wall to a certain extent.Differences exist in some ocular parameters between different sexes.

Background A close relation between sclera thickness and glaucoma has been determined.Clinical features vary in different types of glaucoma patients,which hints that the scleral thickness might be distinct among these patients.Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the differences of central corneal thickness(CCT),anterior scleral thickness(AST) and axial length in glaucomatous patients.Methods This study was approved by the Ethic Commission of First Hospital of Peking University.Written informed consent was obtained from each individual prior to the examination.A retrospective descriptive study was designed.One hundred and sixty consecutive patients were recruited from March,2009 to November,2010 in First Hospital of Peking University,including 35 eyes with primary angle closure glaucoma(PACG) (35 cases),34 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma POAG) (34 cases),37 eyes with normal tension glaucoma(NTG) (37 cases)and 17 eyes of ocular hypertension OHT) (17 cases).Thirty-seven eyes of 37 subjects with incipient cataract served as the control group.CCT and ocular axial length were measured with ultrasonic pachymeter and A-scan unit,respectively,and AST at the temporal quadrant 2 mm posterior to the scleral spur was measured by ultrasonic biomicroscopy (UBM).The measuring parameters among different groups were compared by analysis of covariance,and the correlations of AST,CCT with ocular axial length were analyzed using Pearson linear correlation and linear regression.The differences and correlation of CCT,AST and AL among five groups were analyzed.Results The CCT values in PACG group,POAG group,NTG group,OHT group and control group were (535.54 ± 5.20),(550.47 ± 5.28),(521.61 ± 5.07),(575.75 ± 7.76) and (535.06± 5.06) μm,respectively,showing a significant difference among them (F =9.560,P =0.000),and the CCT value of OHT group was increased in comparison with POAG group,PACG group,NTG group and control group(all P =0.000).The CCT of the POAG group was thicker than that in the PACG group,NTG group and control group(P=0.046,0.000,0.040).No significant difference was found in CCT among NTG group,PACG group and control group(P=0.950,0.060).The AST values of PACG group,POAG group,NTG group,OHT group and control group were(0.593±0.050),(0.600±0.050),(0.592-±0.060),(0.610-±0.060) and(0.604±0.060) mm,respectively,showing a insignificant difference among them (F =0.700,P =0.590).The axial length in the patients with PACG was shorter than that of the POAG group,NTG group,OHT group and control group (all P =0.000).The Pearson correlation analysis showed significantly positive correlation between CCT and AST in POAG group and NTG group(r=0.445,P=0.008;r=0.400,P=0.014).Conclusions This study confirms that there is dissimilarity in CCT but not in AST among different types of glaucomatous patients.The changes of CCT and AST are consistent in POAG and NTG patients.

Multi-component traditional Chinese medicines are an innovative research mode for traditional Chinese medicines. Currently, there are many design methods for developing multi-component traditional Chinese medicines, but their common feature is the lack of effective connection of the traditional Chinese medicine theory. In this paper, the authors discussed the multi-component traditional Chinese medicine design methods based on medicinal property combination modes, provided the combination methods with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine for the prescription combinations, and proved its feasibly with hypertension cases.
Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rats

Animals ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Male ; Metformin ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes that occur in T cell subsets, particularly involving the surface expression of programmed death 1 (PD-1), in response to pegylated (Peg)-interferon (IFN) a-2a therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODSTwenty-five patients with HCV genotype 1b chronic infection and 10 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. All the HCV patients received combination antiviral therapy of Peg-IFNa-2a (180 mug/week) plus ribavirin. At treatment weeks 0 (baseline), 4, 12, 24 and 48, the level of PD-1 protein expression on the surface of total peripheral CD8+ and CD4+ T cells was determined by flow cytometry and the level of PD-1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Independent student's t-test were used to compare mean values between the two groups, repeat measure variance analysis was used to compare mean values among multiple groups, and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess correlation significance.

RESULTSOver the course of antiviral therapy, the proportions of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells, as well as the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, increased (F = 81.23, 39.28, and 7.01 respectively; all P less than 0.01). In contrast, the PD-1 protein expression frequency on CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells significantly declined (F = 100.11 and 158.40 respectively; all P less than 0.01). The PD-1-mRNA expression level in PBMCs was: 1.40+/-0.26 at baseline, 1.30+/-0.27 at week-4, 1.14+/-0.18 at week-12, 1.06+/-0.26 at week-24, and 0.83+/-0.25 at week-48 (F = 20.09; P less than 0.01). A positive correlation existed between the PD-1 protein expression frequencies on CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells and the HCV RNA load detected at baseline (r = 0.82 and 0.75 respectively; all P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe ability of Peg-IFN-a-2a-based antiviral therapy to suppress HCV replication may involve reduction of PD-1 protein expression on the surface of CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; metabolism ; Young Adult

XYL1 gene,which encodes xylose reductase with dual coenzyme activity from Candida tropicalis,was transformed into Pichia pastoris X-33 by expression vector pGAPZB.The recombination strain was immobilized in Ca-alginate beads and fermentation characterization is studied using corn cob hydrolysates.Fermentation conditions were as follow:initial pH value 6.0,30℃,initial cell concentration of 20%,the Liquid volume of 28%,rotation speed 130r/min.The average xylitol yield was 37.5% on the optimum condition.This result is expected to provide a new alternative method for producing xylitol on a large scale by bioconversion.

BACKGROUNDOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is a high resolution noncontact imaging modality which can quantitatively detect the optic disc and retinal structure. This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic capability of parameters of the optic disc, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and ganglion cell complex (GCC) using a new technology called Fourier-domain OCT (FD-OCT) for early primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.

METHODSTwo groups of patients, early perimetric damage POAG and normal subjects were included in this observational cross-sectional study. All patients underwent FD-OCT and visual field examination in addition to full ophthalmic examinations. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were studied for all parameters. The sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing between normal and early glaucomatous eyes, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AROC) and positive, negative likelihood ratios were evaluated for all the single parameters and selected combined parameters using arbitrary cutoffs.

RESULTSThirty-four eyes of 34 early POAG patients and 42 eyes of 42 normal subjects were analyzed. Cup/disc (C/D) vertical ratio presented the best sensitivity and positive likelihood ratio for selected specificities (95% and 85%) which were 79.4% and 88.2%, 33.4 and 7.4, respectively. Among all single parameters, the C/D vertical ratio demonstrated the highest AROC which was at 0.930. The average thickness of circumpapillary RNFL on 3.45 mm showed the highest AROC among all of the peripapillary RNFL parameters. The sensitivity at selected specificity and AROC of GCC were not as high as C/D vertical ratio and RNFL AT on 3.45 mm. When the C/D vertical ratio, RNFL AT on 3.45 mm, and rim area were combined using a logistical diagnostic model, the AROC was raised to 0.949 but not significantly different from the top single parameter, C/D vertical ratio.

CONCLUSIONSThe key parameters obtained by FD-OCT were able to show the significant differences of optic discs, thickness of RNFL and GCC between POAG patients and normal subjects. According to sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio and AROC, the top three parameters from FD-OCT for early diagnosis of POAG were C/D vertical ratio, RNFL AT on 3.45 mm, and the rim area.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; methods

OBJECTIVEThe information on the ultrasonographic features of pediatric intussusception complicated by intestinal necrosis is limited at present. This study aimed to investigate the ultrasonographic findings of this disorder in children in order to provide references for selecting a right means of reduction in clinical practice.

METHODSThe ultrasonographic findings of 48 children with intussusception complicated by intestinal necrosis and who underwent operative reduction between 2004 and 2006 were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe type of intussusception was closely correlated to the development of intestinal necrosis and the ileo-ileo-colonic intussusception was the most common one resulting in intestinal necrosis. The bowel wall of the invaginated segment was obviously thickened and the center of the invaginated segment was often accompanied with swollen lymph node and appendix caecalis. The intussusceptional fluidify, the expanding of distal segment accompanied with the thickened bowels wall, and weakening or disappearance of enterokinesia were the appearances of necrosis of most of bowel walls. The secondary intussusception was an important factor resulting in intestinal necrosis, and sound image of primary lesion was found in some patients. Seroperitoneum was a common manifestation in all of infants with intussusception complicated by intestinal necrosis.

CONCLUSIONSThere are some obvious sonographic characteristics of intussusception complicated by intestinal necrosis in children. The means of intussusception reduction may be selected according to ultrasonographic characteristics.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestines ; pathology ; Intussusception ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Necrosis ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo explore the vascular structure of the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator with the four-dimensional computed tomography (CT) angiography.

METHODS10 abdominal specimens harvested from fresh cadavers were cannulated with trocar and injected with contrast medium in the deep inferior epigastric artery at different levels, including the deep inferior epigastric artery, its bifurcations, the lateral or medial large perforators. During the perfusion of the contrast medium in the flap, the flap was scanned by three-dimensional CT (four-dimensional defined as three dimensional CT plus time). The CT data were sent to CT workstation and the images were processed and reformatted.

RESULTSThe deep inferior epigastric artery perforator terminates in the subdermal vascular plexus, with bifurcating superior to the Scarpa fascia and under the skin. The anastomosis in the abdominal midline occurs in the subdermal vascular plexus. The blood flow distributes in two ways, one is the subdermal vascular plexus, the other is the existed vascular structure. The zone overlying the rectus muscle in the pedicle side has the best blood supply, the other adjacent zone on the ipsilateral side of the abdomen, the zone overlying the contralateral rectus muscle and the zone lateral to the contralateral rectus muscle has declining perfusion.

CONCLUSIONSThe four-dimensional CT is a useful method to study the vascular structure of the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator in the superficial fascia.

Abdominal Wall ; blood supply ; Angiography ; methods ; Epigastric Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Male ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply