0.05). But the mean light sensitivity at central 10? eccentricity were significantly decreased 3 months after photocoagulation (P

Objective To observe the clinical characteristics of patients with macular branch retinal vein occlusion (MBRVO) and the changes of the area of foveal avascular zone (FAZ). Methods The data of 69 eyes of 69 patients with MBRVO , who had been diagnosed by ophthalmoscopy, slit-lamp examination and fluorescein angiography, were retrospectively studied. The relationship of locations between artery and vein on the obstructive site, and the characteristics of fundus pictures, retinal vasculature changes and the complications were analyzed. In 69 patients with MBRVO, 36 had the course of disease for more than 3-6 months, of whom the area of FAZ was compared with that of 30 healthy people. Results In 69 patients, superior MBRVO occurred in 45 eyes (65.22%), and inferior MBRVO occurred in 24 eyes (34.78%). Most of the arteries were anterior to the veins at the obstructive site. Four clinical types of MBRVO were found, and the main complication was macular edema. There was a significant difference in area of FAZ between patients with MBRVO and healthy people (P

Objective To prepare a radiofrequency (RF) ablation probe guided by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and to evaluate its efficacy and safety. Methods A modified 19-gauge needle ( Olympus) was used, which was electrically insulated with shrink tubing, with the tip of lcm naked. The insulation was tested, and the current signal was stable. Three rabbits were anesthetized with 8% chloral hydrate ( 3 ml/kg) intraperitoneally, fixed on the dissecting table. A standard neutral pad was applied to the thigh of the rabbit to complete the electrical circuit, both the pad and the needle electrode connected with RF generator. After anesthesia was ready, the needle was advanced through the gastric wall into the liver. Ablations were performed three times in the same zone. Extent and tissue lesion were measured after ablation. Results Ablation could be successfully performed by the needle electrode, with brown lesions surrounded by normal hepatic tissue. The mean diameter of the ablated zone in the liver was 1.0 cm× 1.2 cm. After ablation,specimens along the passage were subjected to NADH staining, and no lesions were found. HE and NADH staining showed no viable cells in the central ablation area. Conclusion With the advance of the technology and selection of materials, an EUS-guided needle electrode can be made. This preliminary animal trial demonstrates that radiofrequency ablation can be performed effectively and safely by using this EUS-guided needle electrode.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of enema with Chinese medicine Changduqing combined with plasma exchange for treatment of endotoxemia in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted, and 68 patients with acute-on-chronic hepatic failure who were hospitalized from January 2009 to June 2012 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were randomly divided into treatment and control groups, 34 cases in each group. The patients in control group were treated with plasma exchange combined with western medicine comprehensive treatment such as protecting liver, reducing enzyme, removing jaundice, and in cases with hepatitis B, antiviral therapy was added. The treatment in patients of treatment group was the same as that in the control group, but additionally Changduqing enema of TCM decoction was given(ingredients: radix et rhizoma ginseng 10 g, flos magnolia officinalis 6 g, radix et rhizoma rhei 6 g, fructus aurantii immaturus 6 g, radix paeoniae rubra 10 g),twice a day combined with 3-4 times of plasma exchange treatment, once every 72 hours. The course of treatment of both groups was 4 weeks. The changes of total bilirubin (TBil), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), albumin(ALB), prothrombin activity(PTA), endotoxin, the improvement of clinical symptoms and signs such as lacking in strength, poor appetite, abdominal distension, oliguria, bleeding tendency, hepatic encephalopathy, infection and ascites were observed before and after treatment, and the survival rate in 24 weeks of follow-up was also investigated.Results Before treatment, the comparisons of TBil,ALT, ALB and PTA between the two groups were of no statistically significant differences(allP>0.05); compared with those before treatment, the levels of TBil and ALT were obviously decreased, and PTA was markedly increased after treatment in both groups, the degree of change being more prominent in treatment group〔TBil(μmol/L): 89.6±52.3 vs. 124.6±64.4, ALT(U/L):52.4±32.1 vs. 98.3±42.5, PTA:(53.8±11.5)% vs.(41.2±10.2)%, allP<0.05〕. The ALB levelsbefore and after treatment of both groups showed no significant difference(bothP>0.05). After treatment, the endotoxin(kU/L) in both groups were decreased in inchoate, developing and fully-developed stages and the descent being more significant in treatment group(inchoate stage: 0.094±0.015 vs. 0.109±0.032, developingstage: 0.102±0.019 vs. 0.146±0.062, fully-developed stage: 0.124±0.022 vs. 0.196±0.074, allP<0.05). The 24-week survival rates of developing and fully-developed stages in patients of both groups were lower than the rate in patients of inchoate stage, and the rates of treatment group in inchoate and developing stages were remarkably higher than the rate in control group〔inchoate stage: 94.1%(16/17) vs. 83.3%(15/18), developed stage: 85.7%(12/14) vs. 42.9%(6/14),bothP<0.01〕.ConclusionEnema with TCM Changduqing combined with plasma exchange for treatment of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure can remove bilirubin, ameliorate endotoxemia, elevate PTA level and increase the survival rate of patients in 24 weeks of follow-up.

Objective To observe the time characteristics of acute aortic dissection (AAD) in Urumqi and its peripheral areas in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and to explore the effect of meteorological conditions on the onset of AAD.Methods Retrospective analysis of the related data of the adult AAD patients diagnosed by imaging examination, and admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from March 2010 to July 2016 was performed. The onset time, the contemporaneous meteorological data, including daily minimum, average, and the highest temperature, daily average air pressure, daily average relative humidity, daily precipitation, daily average wind speed, daily maximum wind speed, and sunshine duration per day were collected. Analysis of concentrated distribution trend of the AAD onset was done by circular distribution statistics. Meteorological conditions were compared between the AAD day and no AAD day. The changes of air temperature 5 days before onset were observed.Results A total of 379 patients were enrolled, with 307 male and 72 female. The ratio of male to female was 4.19:1, the average age was 52.27±12.18; and the underlying diseases was hypertension (about 58.05%); the incidence sites were Urumqi and Changji city. ① The incidence of AAD in Urumqi and its peripheral areas had clear concentrated trend, and the peak period of AAD corresponded to January 1st to 2nd (homogeneity testr = 0.104,r0.05 = 0.009,P < 0.05). ② The minimum, mean and maximal atmospheric temperatures on the AAD day were lower than no AAD day [℃: 4.10 (-9.55, 14.60) vs. 7.75 (-6.70, 16.20), 14.10 (-1.50, 25.00) vs. 17.50 (0.60, 26.78), 8.50 (-6.22, 19.45) vs. 12.10 (-3.60, 20.90), allP < 0.05], sunshine duration was significantly shorter than no AAD day [hours: 8.50 (4.60, 10.70) vs. 8.90 (5.50, 11.50), P< 0.01], and atmospheric pressure were higher than no AAD day [kPa: 91.24 (90.66, 91.75) vs. 91.12 (90.62, 91.61), 19.11 (18.99, 19.22) vs. 19.09 (18.98, 19.19), bothP < 0.05]; there were no significant differences in the incidence of daytime temperature difference, average relative humidity, precipitation, average wind speed, and maximum wind speed between the two groups. ③ the peak period of AAD occurrence was December (38 cases), which was followed by January (36 cases); and there were 26 cases of each month in May, June, July, and September, which were lower than the rest of months. It was shown by the temperature distribution that the minimum average temperature was in January (-12.46 ℃), followed by December (-9.03 ℃); the maximum average temperature was in July [(24.59±3.21)℃], followed by August [(23.14±3.64)℃]. ④ The patients was sorted according to the quartile of daily mean temperature, into < -5.2 ℃, -5.2-10.7 ℃, 10.7-20.4 ℃, and > 20.4 ℃ groups, and each group had 104, 99, 98, 78 cases of AAD, respectively. The number of AAD in lowest temperature group was 1.33 times of the highest temperature group. In the 45-59 and 60-74 years, the number of AAD in lowest temperature group was higher than that in the highest temperature group (50 vs. 36, 26 vs. 13). In patients with hypertension, the number of AAD in lowest temperature group was higher than that in the highest temperature group (60 vs. 44). ⑤ The maximum air temperature, mean air temperature of the day from 5 days before to the onset day of AAD, and the lowest temperature from 3 days before to the onset day of AAD display slowly decrease trends, but there was no significant difference in daily temperature.Conclusions The incidence of AAD in Urumqi and its peripheral areas was concentrated from January 1st to 2nd of each year. When the temperature was lower than -5.2 ℃, AAD were more likely to attack. The 5 days changes of temperature and daily temperature before the attack were relevant with onset of AAD. It was speculated that the weather conditions such as air temperature may affect patient who has a past history of cardiovascular disease to attack AAD.

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; MART-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Medulloblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanocytes ; pathology ; Melanoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Neurilemmoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nevus of Ota ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To establish a stable model of rat orthotopic left lung transplantation using direct suture of vessels and bronchi. Methods Ten Sprague Dawley (SD) rats weighted 250 to 350 g were used as lung donors and recipients respectively. Airway and pulmonary vessels were reconstructed microsurgically using continuous running suture technique. Survival time were recorded and donor lungs were checked by autopsy. Results All 10 rats received left lung transplantation were weaned from ventilator successfully. Both of cold ischemia time and warm ischemia time were about 40 minutes. The total procedure took about 130 minutes. Autopsy was used to check the patency of anastomotic sites. No thrombosis or air leak was found. Conclusions Direct microsurgical surture can be used to establish an experimental model of orthotopic left allograft lung transplantation in rats. This method is proved to be stable, reliable and similar to clinical practices.

Objective To investigate the role of r-aminobutyric acid B receptor in the development of liver fibrosis.Methods Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups including a control group,a model group,a baclofen group,and a CGP35348 group.Liver fibrosis was then induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).Baclofen and CGP35348 treatment were carried out after the formation of liver fibrosis,followed by complete extraction of the eyeball to obtain blood sample to test liver function.Liver tissue specimens were cut and stored for histological staining,histochemistry,real-time polymerase chain-reaction (RT-PCR),and western blot analysis.Results Histological staining indicated that the degree of liver fibrosis was more severe in the CGP35348 group than in the baclofen group (P＜0.001).The levels of alanine transaminase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT),total bilirubin (TBil),and direct bilirubin (DBil) were significantly lower in the baclofen group than in the CGP35348 group (P＜0.01).The levels of ALT,AST,GGT,TBil,and DBil were significantly higher in the CGP35348 group than in the model group (P＜0.05).Immunofluorescence results show that the hepatic cell migration was inhibited in the baclofen group.Western blot results showed that the expression levels of α-SMA protein were significantly lowered in the baclofen group when compared to that of the CGP35348 group and model group (P＜0.01).Conclusion GABAB receptor might play a role in the liver protection by inhibition of migration of hepatic cells in liver fibrosis.Further studies into the mechanism behind this function are further needed and may be a potential source of future anti-fibrotic treatment.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence and severity of acute high-altitude disease(AHAD) are determined by the speed entering the highland, the altitude of highland and seasons. The association between obesity and AHAD has not been fully investigated.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between obesity and acute high-altitude in people exposed rapidly to the highland.DESIGN: Comparative observation.SETTING: Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA and Department of Cardiology, Tibetan General Hospital of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: The experiment was conducted at the Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Tibetan Military Area Command of Chinese PLA in August 2006. Totally 82 Henan subjects aged 28-45 years were selected from the male workers constructing the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and their managers with acute high-altitude exposure. They had never been to the highland before, and all agreed to the detection.METHODS: ①Every subject completed the AHAD self-report questionnaire at sea level and 12 hours and 24 hours after ascending high-altitude. The items in the questionnaire included symptoms of headache, gastrointestinal symptoms,fatigue or weakness, dizziness, and insomnia. Each symptom was graded from 0-3 with 0 as no symptoms, 1 as mild symptoms, 2 as moderate symptoms, and 3 as severe symptoms and a total score of 15. A score of 4 or more could by identified as AHAD. ②The height and body mass were measured to calculate the body mass (BMI). Those with BMI≥28 kg/m2 served as the obesity group [n =39, mean age (35±8) years], and those with BMI of 18.5-23.9 kg/m2 as the normal body mass group [n =43, mean age (35±8) years]. ③Arterial blood was taken to evaluate arterial oxygen saturation (SO2), arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) and arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2) at baseline and 24 hours after ascending high-altitude. ④The measurement data was compared by t test.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BMI, vital capacity of lungs, SO2, PaO2 and PaCO2 levels of obese and normal people.RESULTS: Totally 39 obese people and 43 normal people were involved in the result analysis. ①AHAD score: No symptom was reported at sea level in all participants (scored 0), but the AHAD scores in the obesity group were significantly higher than those in normal group 12-hour and 24-hour after ascending high-altitude. ②Blood gas analysis:At sea level, there were no statistical differences in the levels of SO2, PaO2, and PaCO2 between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).But 24 hours after ascending high-altitude, SO2 and PaO2 of the obesity group were much lower than in the normal group (P＜ 0.01), and PaCO2 was significantly higher than in the normal group (P＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Obese men are more vulnerable to high-altitude hypoxia than people with normal body mass. Obesity is an important risk factor for the development of acute high-altitude disease.

Objective To seek a new method to identify viability of myocardium by adenosine stress echocardiography combined with quantitative tissue velocity imaging(QTVI)and tissue tracking(TT).Methods Fifteen healthy canines were selected to establish the models of acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion by ligating anterior descending branch of coronary artery for 90 minutes and then releasing the artery to get reperfusion.After reperfusion.peak velocity in systole(Vs),peak velocity in isovolumic contraction(VIVC)and the displacement in systole(Ds)were measured on anterior wall and anterior septum at baseline.The 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining was set as a"gold standard"for defining the viable and non-viable groups.The sensitivity and specificity of assessing myocardial viability were determined with QTVI and TT.Comparison of variables between viable and non-viable group was made by using t test.One way analysis of variance and LSD-t test were used to estimate the significance of differences in different states.Results Compared with baseline,Vs,VIVC and Ds decreased significantly(P＜0.01)after reperfusion in both viable and non-viable group.After administration of adenosine,Vs and Ds increased(P＜0.05),but VIVC didn't change significantly compared with that before administration of adenosine in viable group(P＞0.05).Variables in non-viable group didn't change significantly after administration of adenosine(P＞0.05).By receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis for predicting myocardial viability,when a cutoff value of △Vs(%)rate was 17.9,the sensitivity and the specificity was 78.6%and 81.1%,respectively,and when the cutoff value of △Ds(%)rate was 18.4,the sensitivity and the specificity was 75.0%,83.6%,respectively.Combined △Vs(%)with △Ds(%),the sensitivity and specificity to prediction of myocardium viability could reach 94.6%and 68.0%,respectively.Conclusions When the viability of myocardium after myocardial infarction is assessed by using the method of adenosine stress echocardiography with QTVI and TT,the sensitivity and the specificity are greatly enhanced.