Background Researches showed that microperimetry can exhibit more tiny visual function damage than conventional perimetry in glaucomatous eyes.However,the study on fixation stability of glaucoma is still rare until now.Objective This study was to compare the correlation between microperimetry Maia (Macular Integrity Assessment) and Humphrey perimetry,and to investigate the changes of the fixation stability in glaucoma patients with hemifield defect.Methods This study proposal was approved by Medical Ethic Committee of Peking University First Hospital.A cross-sectional study was performed under the informed consent of each subject.Thirtyfive eyes of 35 glaucoma patients with hemifield defect by 24-2 Humphrey perimetry were included in Peking University First Hospital from December 2013 to March 2014,and 30 eyes of 30 normal volunteers served as controls.Both Humphery (10-2) and Maia (expert 10-2) were performed on the subjects respectively and the correlation of the results between Humphery (10-2) and Maia (expert 10-2) were analyzed.Then the patients with normal hemifield on Humphrey were assigned to Maia normal group and Maia abnormal group.Fixation stability differences were compared between glaucoma group and normal control group,and between Maia normal group and Maia abnormal group.Results The moderately positive correlation was found in the mean sensitivity between Maia microperimetry and Humphrey perimetry (r=0.403,P =0.001),and the average threshold of Maia microperimetry was moderately positive correlated with the mean defect (MD) of Humphrey perimetry in glaucoma patients (r=0.438,P =0.008).The fixation stability parameter P1 was (67±17)％ and (87±10)％,and that of P2 was (70±16)％ and (88±9)％;the 63％ bicurve elipse area (BCEA) was (5.08±1.55) °2and (2.21±0.60) °2,and the 95％ BCEA was (14.74± 6.04) °2 and (2.86 ± 1.17)°2 in the glaucoma group and normal control group,respectively,showing significant decreases of P1 and P2 and increases of 63％ BCEA and 95％ BCEA in the glaucoma group compared with the normalcontrol group (t=-5.604,-4.831,9.885,11.086,all at P=0.000).In Maia normal group and Maia abnormal group,the P1 was (79±8)％ and (63±17)％,the P2 was (81±10)％ and (67±16)％,the 63％ BCEA was (3.19±0.65)°2 and (5.70±1.22)°2 and the 95％ BCEA was (9.10±2.60)°2 and (19.35±5.01)°2,respectively.Compared with the Maia normal group,the P1 and P2 were significantly lower,and 63％ BCEA and 95 ％ BCEA were higher in the Maia abnormal group (t=-2.468,P=0.019;t=-2.371,P=0.024;t =5.514,P=0.000;t=5.575,P=0.000).Conclusions Maia microperimetry and Humphrey perimetry yield a good correlation for glaucomatous macular function examination.In addition,Maia microperimetry showed that fixation stability decreased in glaucoma patients with hemifield defect.

OBJECTIVETo study effective method of showing the microvascular architecture of human and rabbit skin flaps.

METHODSAccording to endogenous alkaline phosphatase activity, Gomori-Takamatsu method and NBT/BCIP method were used to observe the microvascular architecture.

RESULTSBoth methods had capability to demonstrate the microvascular architecture of the human skin flap, whereas the examining results of rabbits were negative.

CONCLUSIONSGreat difference of endogeneous alkaline phosphatase activity exists in different animals. Gomori-Takamatsu method and NBT/BCIP method are useful in study of microvascular architecture of human skin flaps.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Humans ; Male ; Microcirculation ; anatomy & histology ; Rabbits ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Fixatives ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Tissue Fixation ; methods

AIMTo study the pharmacokinetic process about the concentration in rat plasma of the alkaloids from processed seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica with RP-HPLC method.

METHODSHypersil BDS C18 column was used and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water at the flow rate of 0.8 mL.min-1. The UV detection wave length was 254 nm.

RESULTSThe concentration-time data of strychnine, brucine, strychnine N-oxide and brucine N-oxide were all in accordance with an open two-compartment model after i.v. alkaloids. Their parameters were as follows: T1/2 alpha were (8 +/- 5), (4 +/- 3), (6.2 +/- 1.7) and (3.0 +/- 0.8) min, T1/2 beta were (262 +/- 125), (416 +/- 131), (285 +/- 50) and (342 +/- 141) min, CL were (17 +/- 4), (21 +/- 12), (1.9 +/- 1.8) and (2.8 +/- 1.1) mL.min-1, Vc were (1.4 +/- 0.5), (1.7 +/- 1.1), (0.24 +/- 0.16) and (0.23 +/- 0.06) L.kg-1, Vd were (6.0 +/- 1.2), (12 +/- 7), (0.8 +/- 0.6) and (1.5 +/- 0.6) L.kg-1, AUC were (57,578 +/- 25,578), (35,240 +/- 15,616), (93,088 +/- 22,375) and (177,712 +/- 120,110) h.microgram.L-1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method is a good reference for pharmacokinetics in human bodies.

Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Cyclic N-Oxides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Hot Temperature ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Strychnine ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Strychnos nux-vomica ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Objective To explore the incidence rate of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among the elderly which transferred to Alzheimer disease (AD) and to analyze the related influencing factors. Methods 10 urban communities were selected through stratified cluster sampling as the research sites where 361 patients with MCI were screened from 1 942 residents aged over 60 years old. Questionnaires and laboratory assays were used to collect data from subjects, including characteristics of demographic, life style, medical history, Alzheimer-associated neuronal thread protein,(AD7C-(NTP)), amyloid β-protein 42(Aβ42) and amyloid β-protein 40(Aβ40), etc. Patients with MCI were followed up for three years to determine whether they progressed to AD. Results 121 of 361 patients of MCI converted to AD, and the incidence rate of MCI to AD was 9.49% person-years. According to the results of Logistic regression analysis model, elder (80-89 years) (OR=3.651,95% CI:1.295-10.297, P<0.001),female (OR=2.603,95% CI:1.136-5.966, P<0.001), heavy drinking(OR=1.479,95% CI:1.343-1.627, P<0.001), increased ADL score (OR=1.790, 95% CI:1.443-2.220, P=0.031) and smoking (OR=1.157,95% CI:1.091-1.224, P<0.001) were the risky factors of the transition of MCI to AD. The increase of Moca score (OR=0.766,95% CI:0.681-0.861, P<0.001) was the protective factor of the transition. Conclusions We should strengthen our monitor on elder female MCI patients, and promote healthy lifestyles among the elders, encouraging them to actively participate in physical exercises and reading, in order to delay patients' transition of MCI to AD.

Introduction:Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) sporadically develop abnormal adenoids. Nasopharyngeal adenoids are usually included in the gross tumor volume (GTV) but may have different therapeutic responses than tumor tissue. Therefore, distinguishing adenoids from tumor tissue may be required for precise and efficient chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy. We characterized nasopharyngeal adenoids and investigated the therapeutic responses of NPC and nasopharyngeal adenoids using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Methods:MRI data from 40 NPC patients with a coexisting adenoid mass before and after treatment were analyzed. The features of the adenoid masses, including location, striped appearance, size, interface, symmetry/asymmetry, and cysts, were evaluated. Treatment response were scored according to the World Health Organization guidelines.
Results:A striped appearance was observed in 36 cases before treatment and in all cases after treatment. In these 36 cases, the average GTVs including and excluding the uninvolved adenoids were 19.8 cm3 and 14.8 cm3, respectively. The average percentage change after excluding the uninvolved adenoids from the GTV was 31.0%. Stable disease in the adenoids was identified in 27 (96.4%) of 28 patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, while NPC clearly regressed. Partial adenoid responses were identified in 33 (82.5%) of 40 patients at 3 months after chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy, whereas complete tumor responses were achieved in all patients. Six months after treatment, the adenoids continued to atrophy but did not disappear, and tumor recurrence was not found.
Conclusions:Nasopharyngeal adenoids and carcinoma tissue in NPC patients can be distinguished by using MRI and have different responses to chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy. These findings contribute to better delineating the GTV of NPC, based on which spatially optimized strategies can be developed to render precise and efficient chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy. Additionally, we observed a clear difference in the responses of these two tissue types to current therapies. This finding may reduce or avoid unnecessary biopsies or overtreatment.

Adult ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; etiology ; Hepatitis C ; complications ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate two single nucleotide polymorphism sites of the promoter region in T cells immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain protein-3 (TIM-3) and detect their relationship with allergic asthma in a population of adult Hans from Hubei province of China.

METHODSThe polymorphisms were detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and allelic specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR). The genotype and allele frequencies were calculated and analyzed.

RESULTSThe genotype frequencies of CC, CT and TT in -1541 C/T polymorphism were 0.961, 0.039 and 0 respectively in the healthy population and were 0.935, 0.065 and 0 respectively in the allergic asthma population. No significant difference in genotype and alleles frequencies was found between the allergic asthma patients and control subjects (P=0.314, P=0.321). The genotype frequencies of GG, GT and TT in -574 T/G polymorphism were 0.992, 0.008 and 0 respectively in the healthy population and were 0.941, 0.059 and 0 respectively in the allergic asthma population. There was significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies between the allergic asthma patients and control subjects (P=0.046, P=0.048).

CONCLUSIONThere are polymorphism sites of the promoter region in TIM-3 , and one of these sites, the -574 G/T polymorphism site, may be associated with allergic asthma in the population of adult Hans from Hubei province of China.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Asthma ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2 ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Population ; Receptors, Virus ; genetics

Aged ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; complications ; Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND:Osteoporosis is often accompanied by sarcopenia and an increased risk of fractures from falls.Recent studies have indicated a close relationship between lipid metabolism and sarcopenia.Abnormal lipid metabolism may directly impact muscle physiological function and metabolism. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship between lipid metabolism and sarcopenia and evaluate their causal relationship using Mendelian randomization. METHODS:Mendelian randomization was used to explore the causal relationship between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,triglycerides,and muscle mass.Research data from genome-wide association studies were used and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to verify the reliability of the results.Approximate indicators of muscle mass,including trunk lean mass and appendicular lean mass,were used as outcome measures. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The study found a negative correlation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides with muscle mass,while no correlation was observed between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and muscle mass.The results of the sensitivity analysis indicated a robust causal relationship.Using Mendelian randomization,this study provides evidence of a causal relationship between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides and muscle mass.This finding deepens our understanding of the effects of lipids on sarcopenia and has important clinical implications for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia and osteoporosis.