Cornea is the major refractive components of the eye. As a viscoelastic tissue, cornea exhibits complicated biomechanical properties: non - linear elasticity, anisotropy and viscoelasticity. The biomechanical properties play an important role in keeping the normal structureand function. Changes in biomechanical properties are always earlier than the clinical symptoms. So quantitative measurement of the biomechanical properties benefits the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Different methods to measure the biomechanical properties of cornea were reviewed in detail, including classic ex vivo destructive tests, commercially available in vivo measuring methods and other emerging methods with the potential for clinical application but not validated for in vivo measurement. The operating principles, advantages as well as limitations of these methods were also described.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; complications ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; complications

Objective · To observe the clinical outcomes of a modified laterally moved and coronally advanced flap combined with a connective tissue graft (CTG) for the treatment of severe Miller class Ⅱ or class Ⅲ isolated recession defects. Methods · Three patients with initial defect depths of more than 5 mm and malposition in some teeth were enrolled and underwent a modified laterally moved and coronally advanced flap combined with CTG. Recession depth (RD), keratinized tissue height (KTH) of both donor and adopted site, pocket depth (PD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) at baseline and follow-up one-year after treatment were documented. Root coverage rate (RC) was calculated and visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate patient's satisfaction degree. Results · The mean RDs at baseline and followup were (5.3±0.5) mm and (0.3±0.5) mm. The mean RC at follow-up was (93.3±9.4)% and two cases had complete root coverage. The KTHs at adopted and donor sites were (0.3±0.5) mm and (6.0±0.8) mm at baseline and (4.3±0.5) mm and (5.7±1.3) mm at follow-up, respectively. PD and CAL were decreased from (1.7±0.5) mm and (7.0±0.8) mm at baseline to (1.3±0.5) mm and (1.3±1.2) mm at follow-up, respectively. The VAS value was 9.0±0.8 and subjective evaluation of patients was improved significantly at one-year follow-up, including root sensitivity and aesthetics. Conclusion · The modified laterally moved and coronally advanced flap with CTG has ideal clinical outcomes and satisfaction degree for the treatment of patients with severe recession defects that lack keratinized tissue and combine with buccal malposition.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of DNA methyltransferases(DNMT)and clinical prognosis in children with acute leukemia(AL).Methods The mRNA expressions of DNMT1,DNMT3A,DNMT3B,p15,mdrl were measured in 56 AL children and 20 normal controls by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerse chain reaction.Results In 56 cases of children with AL,the positive rate of DNMT1 was 73.2%(41/56);the positive rate of DNMT3A was 67.9%(38 /56);the positive rate of DNMT3B was 64.3%(36/56).Thirty-one cases showed positive expressions of the 3 DNMT simultaneously,4 cases with negative expressionss imultaneously,21 cases with at least 1 positive expression of the DNMT,positive rate of p15 was 19.6%(11/56);positive rate of mdrl was 28.6%(16/56),all 3 simultaneous expressions of the 3 DNMT in AL children were significantly higher than those in normal controls(P

Objective To screen the arsenic content situation of drinking water in lower reaches of Yellow River and survey the amount of threatened people drinking high arsenic water and the condition of endemic arsenism.Methods Four counties of Yuncheng,Jiaxiang,Dongchangfu and Boxing were selected to colleft the water samples by CroOSS-sectional survey method.The water arsenic content wag determined by semi-quantitative rapid kit.All water samples having arsenic were re-determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry.And the nurober of threatened people who drinking high arsenic water were investigated.Results In 4765 water wells screened,303 water samples had contained arsenic,arsenic content of 35 samples Was≥0.030 mg/L,12 samples were exceeding the international standard (arsenic content≥0.050 ms/L),they distributed in 3 counties of Dongchangfu,Yuncheng and Jiaxiang.The residents drinking water wells of arsenic content≥0.030 mg/L were surveyed by epidemiological investigation.And in the 28 villages 13 032 residents and 11 Bu8picious patient8 wlere checked out.Conclusion The wells with excesive water arsenic content are existing in the lower reaches of Yellow River and people suspicious of endemic arsenism need to be further identified.

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of Ghrelin and high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in the serum and the intestinal tissue of sepsis model rats, and to evaluate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST36) on the expression of HMGB1 and Ghrelin.

METHODSForty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the sham-operation (sham), the cecal ligation and puncture group (CLP), the CLP + EA at Zusanli (ST36) group (EA), and the CLP + Ghrelin receptor blocking agent + EA group (GHSRA), 12 in each group. A sepsis rat model was prepared by CLP. The incision of the abdominal wall was immediately sutured along the ventral midline for rats in the Sham group. In the EA group EA at Zusanli (ST36) was performed 20 min after CLP surgery with the constant voltage (2 - 100 Hz, 2 mA) for 30 min. In the GHSRA group, Ghrelin receptor blocking agent, [D-Arg1, D-Phe5, D-Trp79, Leu11]-substance P (700 nmol/kg), was administered through intravenous injection immediately after CLP, and 20 min later, EA at Zusanli (ST36) was performed in the same way as for rats in the EA group. Blood samples were withdrawn 12 h after CLP. The serum levels of Ghrelin and HMGB1 were detected using ELISA. Ghrelin expressions and the number of Ghrelin immunopositive cell in the jejunum were determined by immunohistochemistry. HMGB1 contents of the jejunum tissue were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with the Sham group, the number of serum immunopositive cells and the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum tissue significantly increased and levels of Ghrelin and the expression rate of immunopositive cells significantly decreased in the CLP group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CLP group, the number of serum immunopositive cells and the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum tissue significantly decreased, but levels of Ghrelin and the expression rate of immunopositive cells significantly increased in the EA group (P < 0.05). Compared with the EA group, the number of serum immunopositive cells and the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum tissue significantly increased in the GHSRA group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference in levels of Ghrelin between the two groups (P > 0.05). The serum level of HMGB1 was negatively correlated with Ghrelin in the Sham group, the CLP group, and the EA group (r = -0. 528, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSEA at Zusanli (ST36) could inhibit the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum of septic rats, and promote the expression of Ghrelin. The expression of HMGB1 was inhibited by Ghrelin receptor blocking agent, which suggested that the anti-inflammation of EA at Zusanli (ST36) might be associated with Ghrelin.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Ghrelin ; metabolism ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sepsis ; metabolism

By a orthogonal experiment, the influence of different ratio of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers on imperatorin, isoimperatorin and psoralen contents and yield of Glehnia littoralis were studied. The results showed that root dry weight and the yield of G. littoralis increased when reasonably applied phosphorus fertilizer combined with potassium fertilizer within a certain range. And the influence of phosphorus fertilizer was greater than that of potassium fertilizer. The optimal value of root dry weight and yield achieved at both P2O5 360 kg x hm(-2), K2O 270 kg x hm(-2) and P2O5 360 kg x hm(-2), K2O 180 kg x hm(-2). The effects of different phosphorus and potassium treatments on the content of imperatorin, isoimperatorin and psoralen in G. littoralis were determined, which shows that the content increased with the moderate increase of phosphorus and potassium. And the effects of phosphorus fertilizer were more significantly. The isoimperatorin content achieved the largest value at P2O5 360 kg x hm(-2), K2O 270 kg x hm(-2), also a larger content of imperatorin and psoralen. The imperatorin content is the largest when applied P2O5 360 kg x hm(-2), K2O 180 kg x hm(-2), and the isoimperatorin content was higher as well. So that the treatment of P2O5 360 kg x hm(-2), K2O 180 kg x hm(-2) are suitable for promote to the agricultural production, which could improve the quality and yield of G. littoralis.
Agriculture ; Apiaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Coumarins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; metabolism ; Fertilizers ; analysis ; Phosphorus ; analysis ; metabolism ; Potassium ; analysis ; metabolism

Objective To seauch the ideal management for gross hematuria in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).Methods ADPKD patients who were ever hospitalized and followed up in our department since 1993 were enrolled in the study.Demographic and clinical data were colloected,such as gender,age of gross hematuria,level of renal function,causative factors,management strategies,duration of gross hematuria,blood platelet count,activated partial thromboplastin time,prothrombin time,international normalized ratio,size of kidney cyst and so on.ADPKD patients were divided into different groups according to causative factors or management.The clinical data were compared among groups.Results A total of 905 ADPKD patients were screened,among whom 279 patients ever had gross hematuria (male/female:150/129),One hundred and forty-six patients had integrated therapeutic process records,while only 101patients could provide relevant laboratory examination results.In these 101 patients,gross hematuria was found in any stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD); the average eGFR was (56.4±44.1) mml·min-1 ·(1.73 m2)-1; the duration of gross hematuria was (8.8±8.0) d; no significant difference between male and female in duration of gross hematuria existed [(8.2±7.3) d vs (9.5±8.8) d,P=0.426]; coagulation parameters were all normal.The platelet count was also normal in 91 patients.Duration of gross hematuria among groups divided according to different causative factors was significantly different (P＜0.05).The patients in bed rest group had significantly shorter duration of gross hematuria compared with other groups (P＜0.05).The platelet count,prothromhin time and international normalized ratio were all at similar level in different groups.Conclusions The causative factors in ADPKD patients with gross hematuria should be confirmed as the first step of management strategies.Bed rest is the key point in management.Antifibrinolytic agent is a proper choice in the cases receiving bemostatic drugs.It is unnecessary to use antibiotic agent for prevention.

Objective To study the changes of insulin- like growth factor- 1(IGF-1)in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in children with viral encephalitis (VE).Methods The IGF-1 levels in blood and CSF were determined before treatment by ELISA in 25 children who admitted with VE, including 15 cases with severe VE and another 10 cases with mild VE, 10 children served as con-trols. Results Before treatment, the blood IGF-1 levels in VE group were significantly lower than those of controls, but the CSF IGF-1 levels were significantly higher than those of controls(P0.05), but the blood IGF-1 levels in serve VE group were significanfly lower than those of mild VE group and controls(P

Objective To study the effects of different glucocorticasteroid(GCS) inhalation regimens for remissive children with asthma. Methods Three hundred and twenty - three patients with moderate asthma were enrolled on a 12 - week randomized parallel group remissive treatment after a 4 - week baseline treatment. During the baseline treatment terbutaline sulfate 250 ?g tid a day and bud esonide 200 ?g twice a day were given, and oral bronchodilators were used if necessary. The remissive treatment were composed of budesomde inhabit ion 100 ?g once a day (group A), 100 ?g twice a day(group B) and 200 ?g once a day(group 0). Patients subsequently returned to the clinic for 3 additional clinic visits (4,8 and 12 weeks) or telephone visits . On every clinic visit, the daytime and nocturnal time seventy score were recorded and spirometry was conducted in patients who were capable of performing the maneuver. Results Ultimately, 323 children were enrolled on the baseline treatment and 281 (87%) children achieved clinical remission. The rate of compliance decreased gradually during the remissive treatment, but in group B(P