Background There are two types of different questionnaires in dry eye diagnosis.But the associations about two questionnaires or questionnaire and clinical examination are still unclear.To effectively quantize the symptoms is helpful for a correct diagnosis of dry eye disease.Objective This survey was to evaluate the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) and Ocular Surface Disease Index(OSDI) questionnaire for the diagnosis of dry eye and investigate the correlation between the clinical examinations and questionnaires. Methods A perspective cohort study was designed.Sixty-six patients were enrolled in this study.This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Peking University First Hospital,and written informed consent was obtained from each subject before any ocular examination.SPEED-based and OSDI-based questionnaires were used to score the dry eye symptom and grouped according to severity of complains.Corneal fluorescence staining,tear film breakup time(BUT),Schirmer I test and tear film interferometry were performed in all patients.The correlations between two questionnaires scores and their association with clinical examinations were evaluated.Results The negative correlations were found between the SPEED-based score or OSDI-based score with BUT value(r=0.390,P=0.001 ;r=-0.395,P=0.001 ),but no significant correlations were seen between the SPEED-based score or OSDI-based score with Schirmer test( r=-0.081,P=0.515; r=-0.080,P=0.525)and tear film interferometry score(r=0.158,P=0.204;r=0.219,P=0.077).The BUT was significantly prolonged in mild symptom group compared with serious group(t=2.339,P=0.022),but no significant difference was seen in Schirmer Ⅰ test and tear film interferometry scores using SPEED-based questionnaire ( t =0.404,P =0.687 ; t =- 0.947,P =0.347 ) ; while the positive fluorescence staining rate between two groups was significantly different (x2 =0.164,P =0.685 ).When using OSDI-based questionnaire,significant difference in BUT was seen among mild,moderate and serious symptom groups ( F =11.871,P =0.000 ),and BUT in mild symptom group was delayed in comparison with moderat and serious groups( P=0.000,0.000).No significant differences were found in Schirmer Ⅰ test,tear film interferometry scores and fluorescence staining rate among three groups(F=1.432,P =0.246; F =2.799,P =0.068; x2 =6.026,P =0.050).SPEED score showed a positive correlation with OSDI score ( r =0.697,P =0.000 ). Conclusions Both OSDI and SPEED are effective tools for the evaluation of symptoms of dry eye.The two types of questionnaires are consistent in symptoms evaluation.

Objective This article was aimed to take exploratory evaluation on the scientific research performance of provincial key disciplines in a medical university,and to provide a scientific basis for the discipline evaluation related topics.Methods This paper took 29 provincial key disciplines in a medical university as the evaluation system.We calculated the scientific research performance of key disciplines.Data envelopment analysis (DEA) method was used to evaluate the scientific level of performance,while the use of TOPSIS and gray correlation analysis method to rank the efficiency of its research,and the results obtained by the three methods was used for statistical correlation analysis.Results According to the results calculated by DEA Method,there were 18 DEA efficient units and 11 non-DEA efficient units.While in this 11 non-DEA efficient units,8 of them needed to reduce re source inputs and the other 3 units needed to increase research outputs.Meanwhile there were significant positive correlations between evaluation results of TOPSIS Method andGrey Correlation Analysis Method with Data Envelopment Analysis Method,respectively [the correlation coefficient:rs 1 =0.797(P =0.000); rs 2=0.583(P =0.007); rs 3-0.536(P =0.003)].Conclusions Compared to TOPSIS Method and Grey Correlation Analysis Method,DEA Method not only could evaluate the ef fectiveness of discipline,but also provide evidence to improve the non-DEA efficient units.

Objective To highlight the characteristics of pulmonary sequestration (PS) with combination of practical experience and review of literature. Methods One patient with PS confirmed by biopsy was described and the relevant literatures of 279 cases were reviewed. Results PS can be divided into two types: intralobar type and extralobar type. The percentage of intralobar type is about 78.5%, intralobar type is 13.3%, other unreported is 8.2%. Clinically, PS was often combined by repeated pulmonary infection. The mis-diagnose rate is 72.8%. Etrograde arteriography or enhanced CT scan could find the abnormal artery, from which we can make correct diagnosis. The diagnose rate is 100%. Conclusion For patients with above clinical and X-ray symptoms, PS should be considered. Enhanced CT or retropgrade arteriography examination should be done as soon as possible. Timely diagnosis and surgery treatment are important for curing this kind of disease.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tirofiban,a platelet glycoproteinⅡb/Ⅲa Inhibitor,in percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)of patients with acute non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarct(NSTEMI).Methods:A total of 114 patients with acute NSTEMI were enrolled in the trial from Sep.2005 to Jan.2007;they were randomly divided into 2 groups:tirofiban group(n=57)and placebo group(n=57).Patients in tirofiban group were given tirofiban for 24 h after PCI.All patients were routinely given heparin,aspirin and clopidogrel before CPI.The composite occurrence of death,myocardial infarction(MI),need for target vessel revascularization(TVR)after PCI,and the adverse effects(hemorrhage and thrombocypenia)were compared between the 2 groups.Results:One(1.8%)patient had angina pectoris and the other(1.8%)developed subacute thrombus in control group within 24 h after PCl;there was no such event in the tirofiban group.Two(3.6%)patients developed angina pectoris and 2(3.6%) developed subacute thrombus within 30 days after PCI in control group;one patient(1.8%)in birofiban group developed angina pectoris and one patient in birofiban group developed subacute thrombus.Each group had one case(1.8%)of upper digestive tract bleeding during hospitalization.No intracranial hemorrhage,skin/ mucosa hemorrhage,thrombocytopenia,or-death occurred in the 2 groups.Intravenous tirofiban treatment reduced the composite occurrence of death of NSTEMI patients after PCI(P

0.05).3.Under light microscope, there was no change of the glomeruli detected in all of the LMWH-treated groups compared with the controls,while congestion and swel-ling in part glomeruli of group RSV were observed significantly. 4.Under electron microscope,glomerular structures of the LMWH-treated groups were almost normal compared with the control, while extensive foot process effacement was observed in group RSV under an electron microscope. 5.RSV RNA signal expressed weaker in the LMWH-treated groups than in group RSV.Conclusions Positive charged RSV destroys the glome-rular filtration barrier through its electrostatic interaction with the negative charged heparan sulfate(HS) of GBM. LMWH, as the analog of HS, charged with anion, competes with GBM HS to combine with RSV to keep the glomeruli from being infected and destroyed, and then reduce the proteinuria.

OBJECTIVETo observe the differential effect of joint ultrasound on the syndrome differentiation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by observing the high frequency ultrasound performances among inactive stage and different syndromes in active stage.

METHODSTotally 83 RA patients in the active stage were assigned to the dampness heat syndrome group (DHS, 59 cases)and the cold dampness syndrome group (CDS, 24 cases) according to Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome typing. Besides, 20 RA patients in the remission stage were recruited as the control group (abbreviated as the remission group). By using high frequency ultrasound and power Doppler ultrasound technology, a comparative observation of synovitis, tenosynovitis, synovial blood flow, and bone erosion in the 2nd-5th metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, wrist joints, knee joints, the second and the fifth metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints (a total of 24 joints) was performed in all patients. Correlation analyses were performed between the ultrasound performance, laboratory indices, and the disease activity. Ultrasound data of each RA patient were analyzed by their total scores. Χ2 test was used for enumeration data. The measurement data was expressed as x ± s. One-way ANOVA was used for data of normal distribution, while non- parametric test was used for data of non-normal distribution. Correlation analysis of two variables was performed for clinical indicators and ultrasound indicators. Its significance was detected using Pearson correlation.

RESULTSCompared with the remission group, the severity degree of synovitis, tenosynovitis, synovial blood flow, and bone erosion significantly increased in the DHS group (P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in ESR, CRP, anti-CCP, DAS28 score, and the positive rate of RF (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in the severity degree of synovitis and synovial blood flow, and DAS28 score in the CDS group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CDS group, there was statistical difference in the four ultrasound indices (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), ESR, CRP, anti-CCP, DAS28 score, and the positive rate of RF in the DHS group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in G, IgG, IgA, or IgM among the three groups (P > 0.05). There existed positive correlation between ESR and the synovitis degree, synovial blood flow, and bone erosion in the DHS group (r = 0.444, 0.397, 0.486, P < 0.05).There existed positive correlation between ESR and the synovitis degree, bone erosion, and synovial blood flow in the DHS group (r = 0.378, 0.270, P < 0.05). There existed positive correlation between the DAS28 score and the synovitis degree and synovial blood flow in the DHS group (r = 0.304, 0.351, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe inflammation degree was the most severe in RA patients of DHS. High frequency ultrasound could provide better evidence for Chinese medical syndrome differentiation of RA patients.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; ultrastructure ; Syndrome ; Synovitis ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

AIM: To analyze the effect of pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) on nitrogen monoxide (NO) and expression of cysteine-containing, aspartate-specific proteases-3 (caspase-3) in retinal tissues of model rats with optic nerve crush injury.METHODS: A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into the blank control group, model group and PEDF group, with 20 rats in each group.Except the blank control group, the optic nerve crush injury rat models were established in the other groups, and left eyeballs were taken as samples.After successfully modeling, the model group were treated with intravitreal injection of 5μL of balanced salt solution while PEDF group were treated with intravitreal injection of 5μL of PEDF (0.2μg/μL).Two weeks later, the retinal tissues were collected, and changes of shape were observed under microscope after HE staining.The changes of NO level were measured by colorimetry assay, the expression of caspase-3 mRNA and caspase-3 protein was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western-blot.RESULTS: HE staining showed that retinal tissues of the blank control group arranged neatly and clearly.Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) arranged in a monolayer, and cells were oval, uniform in size and distribution, the cell nuclei were clear, closely arranged, with clear boundaries.The retinal tissues of the model group were sparse in shape, RGCs showed vacuolar changes, the overall number of cells was reduced, and cell nuclei of residual RGCs showed pyknosis and uneven staining.RGCs in PEDF group were with slightly edema and arranged closely, and the degree of injury was significantly milder than that in the model group.Levels of Caspase-3 mRNA and protein and NO levels in the three groups showed the model group > PEDF group > blank control group (all P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The application of PEDF can down regulate the expression of Caspase-3 and NO in rates with optic nerve injury and reduce RGCs injury.

Objective: To observe the effects of nutrients-compound supplementation (NS) on cognitive function. Method: Forty six young male volunteers were randomly divided into 2 groups, NS and control (CT). NS group was supplemented with nutrients-compound while CT group received placebo for 60 d.The cognitive function of all volunteers were examined by 《CHANG-AN Handbook of Group Intelligence Test》 and Wechsler Memory Scale(WMS). Their vitamin status was assessed by 4-h load test at the end of experiment. Results : The vitamin nutriture of NS group was significantly better than that of CT. Many achievements of cognitive test of NS group were obviously increased compared to that before supplementation or that of CT. The visual responding time was shortened in 3 tests and the error number was decreased in 1 test of NS group, while no significant change was observed in CT group. Conclusion: Supplementation with the nutrients-compound is beneficial to improvement of cognitive function such as learning, memory and understanding.

BackgroundEndostatin (ES) is currently the strongest endogenous angiognesis inhibitor,and it can inhibit the occurrence of neovascularization.Various studies demonstrated that the poly RGD sequence can enhance the function of the ES gene.ObjectiveThis study was to evaluate the use of gene therapy of modified ES for alkaline burn-induced corneal neovascularization (CNV).MethodsOne hundred and two clean SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group,the pCI empty vector group,the pCI-ES group,and the pCI-RGDRGDES group.Corneal neovascularization models were established by placing a piece of 3 mm filter paper with 1 mol/L NaOH at the central cornea for 40 seconds.3 μg of the pCI blank vector,ES-tranfected pCI blank vector,or RGDRGD-ES-transfected pCI vector was injected into the superior bulbar conjunctiva after the alkali burn twice at 1-week intervals.Area of CNV and edema of the cornea in the various groups of rats were examined daily under the slit lamp biomicroscope.1,4,7 and 14 days after operation,the rats were sacrificed by the excessive anesthesia method and corneal tissues were obtained to evaluate pathological changes.The expression of CD34 in vascular endothelial cells was detected by immunochemistry to calculate the corneal neovascular density.The expressions of VEGF mRNA and Flk-1 protein in the corneas were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis.The use and maintenance of animals followed the Statement of ARVO.Results Seven to fourteen days after corneal alkali-burning,the corneal neovascular area was smaller in the pCI-ES group and pCI-RGDRGD-ES group compared with the normal control group and pCI blank vector group (P＜0.05,P＜0.01 ),and nevascular area in the pCI-RGDRGD-ES group was smaller than that in the pCI-ES group (P＜0.05).The expression level of CD34 was significantly lower in the pCI-ES group and pCI-RGDRGD-ES group than that in the normal control group and pCI blank vector group (P＜0.05,P＜0.01 ),and the expression level of CD34 was further declined in the pCI-RGDRGD-ES group compared with the pCI-ES group (P＜0.05 ).Compared with the normal control group and pCI vector group,the expressions of the Flk-1 protein and VEGF mRNA were decreased in the pCI-ES group and pCI-RGDRGD-ES group on the fourth day after corneal alkali-burning (P＜0.01,P＜0.05 ),and those in the pCI-RGDRGD-ES group were less than the pCI-ES group (P＜ 0.05,P＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions Subconjunctival injection of both ES and modified RGDRGD-ES genes result in significant suppression of CNV in vivo,and modified RGDRGD-ES appears to be more effective than native ES.The main mechanism of ES in inhibiting neovascularization is to downregulate the expression of VEGF and Flk-1.

Objective To analyze monitoring results of iodized salt and distribution characteristics of problem areas with non-iodized salt in Gansu province during 2001 - 2009 and to provide a basis to develop countermeasures to iodine deficiency disorders. Methods According to the criterion of "The National Scheme of Iodized Salt Surveillance", two levels of monitoring were carried out on production and wholesale-level(during 2001 -2007) and household-level(during 2001 - 2009). Salt iodine was determined by direct titration method (GB/T13025.7-1999), and Sichuan salt or special salt was determined with an arbitration method. Criteria for qualified iodized salt was (35 ± 15)mg/kg(20 - 50 mg/kg), and for non-iodized salt was ＜ 5 mg/kg. Results During 2001 - 2007, a total of 4900 salt samples at production and wholesale-levels were examined, with a qualification rate of 97.80% (4792/4900). Non-iodized salt rates were all below 5% in Gansu province, consumption rate of qualified iodized salt was higher than 90% after 2003. During 2001 - 2009, cities(states) with non-iodized salt problems appeared 23 times, with Linxia accounting for 39.1%(9/23), Wuwei accounting for 21.7%(5/23). During 2001 -2009, counties(districts) with non-iodized salt problem appeared 123 times, including 68 times of ethnic minorities and state poverty counties, accounting for 55.3%(68/123). During 2001 - 2005 and 2006 - 2009, ethnic minorities and state poverty counties were accounting for 49.4%(44/89) and 70.6%(24/34) in counties with non-iodized salt problem. Conclusions The quality of iodized-salt at production and wholesale level is satisfactory in Gansu province, household consumption rate of qualified iodized salt have reached national standard for eliminating iodine deficiency disorders. But ethnic minorities and state poverty counties are main regions with non-iodized salt problem,these areas will be the key areas of prevention of iodine deficiency disorders in Gansu province in the future.