Background Lowing intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only effective treating method in glaucoma.Making sure the change of optic disc parameters and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFLT) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients after IOP reduced can provide objective evidence for evaluating the effect of lowing-IOP on the function of optic nerve.Objective The present study was to evaluate the change of optic disc parameters and RNFLT in POAG patients after trabeculectomy,and analyze the affecting factors of image parameters.Methods A serial case-observational study was adapted.Forty eyes of 39 patients with POAG underwent trabeculectomy were recruited in the study.IOP was examined and perimetry was performed before operation and 2 weeks,1 month,3 months,6 months and 1 year after surgery.Optical parameters and RNFLT were measured using Heidelberg retina tomography (HRT) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in above-mentioned time points.The correlations between lowing-IOP range or disease severity and optical disc parameters or mean RNFLT (mRNFLT) were analyzed by Pearson linear correlation.Results Mean IOP of the 40 eyes was (32.77±8.64) mmHg before operation and (12.45 ±3.65) mmHg,(13.05±3.90) mmHg,(13.42± 3.33) mmHg,(14.22± 2.60) mmHg and (14.74±2.46)mmHg 2 weeks,1 month,3 months,6 months and 1 year after operation,with a significant difference among various time points (F=13.73,P =0.00).However,no significant difference was seen in the mean defect of perimetry among the different time points (F=1.02,P=0.41).The cup area (CA),cup/disc area ratio (C/DAR),cup volume (CV),mean cup depth (MCD),cup shape measurement (CSM),horizontal C/D,vertical C/D,rim area (RA),rim/disc area ratio (R/DAR),height variation contour (HVC),rim volume (RV),mRNFLT,RNFL cross sectional area (RNFLA) were gradually improved after operation in comparison with before operation.One year after operation,RV,CSM,mRNFLT,RNFLA were still increased,but vertical C/D was reduced after operation than that of before (P＜0.05).No significant differences were found in the whole mRNFLT and superior quadrant mRNFLT,inferior quadrant mRNFLT,nasal quadrant mRNFLT and temporal quadrant mRNFLT among before and after operation (F=1.63,P=0.16; F=0.51,P=0.77; F=1.44,P=0.20;F=1.02,P=0.32; F=1.31,P=0.30).Positive correlations were found between lowing-IOP range and the improvement of RV,CSM,vertical C/D (r =0.45,P =0.02; r=0.41,P=0.04; r=0.58,P=0.00),and negative correlations were seen between absolute value of MD and the improvement of RV,CSM 1 year after operation (r=-0.43,P=0.03; r=-0.62,P=0.00).Conclusions Reduction of IOP after trabeculectomy results in the reversal of optic disc parameters.The improvement of the optic disc parameters may be a protective factor for progression of glaucomatous optical nerve damage.

ObjectiveTo study the effect of head acupuncture combined with rehabilitation techniques on movement function of upper limbs after stroke.Methods80 patients with stroke were divided randomly into four groups, group 1 for head acupuncture and rehabilitation techniques, group 2 for rehabilitation techniques, group 3 for head acupuncture and group 4 for control. Fugl Meyer Assessment(FMA) and Facility Assessment For Function of Upper Limbs were applied to assess movement function before and after treatment.ResultsThe scores of FMA and Facility Assessment For Function of Upper Limbs rised more significantly in group 1,2, and 3 than group 4 (P<0.01) and group 1 outgo group 2,3 yet(P<0.05).Conclusions Head acupuncture combined with rehabilitation techniques can improve the movement function of upper limbs of the stroke patients.

Objective To observe the clinical curative effect and side-effect of MMF plus corticosteroid hormone compared with cyclophosphamide(CTX)plus corticosteroid hormone for idio-focal segmental glomerular sclerosis(I-FSGS).Methods Thirty patients with I-FSGS confirmed by renal biopsy in the Nephrology Department,the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2004 to 2006 were randomly divided into two groups-15 patients in each group:MMF combined with corticosteroid hormone as therapy group,and CTX combined with corticosteroid hormone as control group.The two groups were compared on urine protein in 24 hours,serum albumin and creatinine clearance rate(Ccr).Results There were significant differences(P

Objective To monitor the quality changes of iodized salt and analyze its impact factor in Chongqing between 2001 and 2009. Methods Salt samples were collected according to the east, west, south,north and center locations in iodized salt production, wholesale and household sectors. Two units in iodized salt production and wholesale segment were sampled from north, south, east and west places and only 1 unit was sampled from the central place. Nine samples were collected every month in each place. If the place had less than 9 units, and then taken all the units. About resident household, 2 townships were sampled from north, south, east and west places, and 1 township was sampled from the central place, then 20 samples were collected from each township. Iodine content was detected by oxidation-reduction assay. The index of mean iodine, qualified rate from factories and wholesale, coverage rate and taking rate of qualified iodized salt in residents were calculated.Significance was analyzed by trend test, analysis of variance and X2 test. Results The qualified rate of iodized salt from the manufacturers was 92.9%(13/14) in 2001 and the rate was 100.0% each year from 2002 to 2009. The qualified rates of iodized salt from the wholesale were 88.7%(282/318) - 99.8%(431/432). The rates of 2001 and 2002 were lower than that of other years(X2 = 4.98 - 45.69, all P< 0.05 or < 0.01). The coverage rate and taking rate of qualified iodized salt in residents were 94.2% (11 154/11 841 ) - 98.9% ( 14 061/14 217), 83.5% (9 887/11 841 ) -95.8% (13 449/14 039), respectively. The rates showed an increasing tendency (F = 9.27, 26.39, all P < 0.05).The districts(counties) with qualified iodized salt consumption rate > 90% kept increasing. The mean iodine from the manufacturers and wholesale were 29.71 - 36.25, and 31.26 - 36.13 mg/kg, respectively. The iodine level showed a descending trend(F = 35.45, 140.59, all P < 0.01 ). The mean iodine level from the inhabitants were 28.84 - 30.98 mg/kg which remained stable (F = 3.05, P > 0.05 ). The iodine level from manufacturers, wholesale to inhabitants showed an descending trend(F = 38.46 - 671.23, all P < 0.01 ). Conclusions The surveillance results of iodized salt shows an increasing tendency in quality of iodized salt, eoverage rate and taking rate of qualified iodized salt. Factors that affect the quality of iodized salt is that the enterprise does not add iodine to salt strictly by the standard.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis and secondary multiple organ failure in critically ill patients are the major cause of death, but the pathogenesis of sepsis is not clear, especially the dysfunction of the immune system. In this paper, we review the response and regulation of the immune system and the functions of a variety of inflammatory mediators in sepsis. DATA SOURCES: Studies were identified by searching MEDLINE and PubMed for articles using the keywords "sepsis", "immune response", and "inflammatory mediator" up to October 2010. Additional papers were identified by a manual search of the references from the key articles. RESULTS: This systematic review was conducted of: 1) the immune response; 2) immune regulation; 3) inflammatory mediators; 4) high-mobility group box 1 protein; 5) the complement system; and 6) the autonomic nervous system. There are no therapeutic approaches available for sepsis that target inflammatory response; the mortality of sepsis has not been significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Sepsis is complex and dynamic, and it has a group of heterogeneous syndromes. Since different patients with sepsis have different etiology, susceptibility, and responses, treatment should be prescribed individually.

The effects of dietary supplementation with Clostridium butyricum on growth performance and humoral immune response in Miichthys miiuy were evaluated. One hundred and fifty Miichthys miiuy weighing approximately 200-260 g were divided into five groups and reared in 15 tanks with closed circuiting culture system. The animals were fed 5 diets: basal diet only (control) or supplemented of the basal diet with C. butyricum at doses of 10(3) (CB1), 10(5) (CB2), 10(7) (CB3) or 10(9) (CB4) CFU/g. Compared with the control, the serum phenoloxidase activity was significantly increased by the supplementation (P<0.05), acid phosphatases activity was increased significantly (P<0.05) at the doses of 10(9) CFU/g. Serum lysozyme activity peaked at dose of 10(7) CFU/g and in the skin mucus at dose of 10(9) CFU/g. Immunoglobulin M level in the serum and skin mucus was increased except at dose of 10(3) CFU/g (P<0.05). The growth at the dose of 10(9) CFU/g was higher than that of the control (P<0.05). It is concluded that supplementation of C. butyricum can mediate the humoral immune responses and improve the growth performance in Miichthys miiuy.
Animal Feed ; microbiology ; Animals ; Antibody Formation ; physiology ; Clostridium butyricum ; immunology ; Dietary Supplements ; microbiology ; Fishes ; growth & development ; immunology ; Probiotics ; administration & dosage

Calcium ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of interferon-α (INF-α) on the apoptosis of the mouse podocyte cell line MPC5 induced by hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein. METHODS: MPC5 cells were transfected with the pEX plasmid carrying the HBx gene. RT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of HBx at different time points. MPC5 cells were divided into 4 groups: control group (MPC5 cells cultured under normal conditions), INF-α group (MPC5 cells cultured with INF-α), HBx group (MPC5 cells induced by HBx), and HBx+INF-α group (MPC5 cells induced by HBx and cultured with INF-α). After 48 hours of intervention under different experimental conditions, flow cytometry was used to measure the apoptosis of MPC5 cells, and quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of slit diaphragm-related proteins (nephrin, CD2AP, and synaptopodin) and the cytoskeleton-related protein transient receptor potential cation channel 6 (TRPC6). RESULTS: MPC5 cells transfected by pEX-HBx had the highest expression of HBx mRNA at 48 hours after transfection (P<0.05). Compared with the control, INF-α and HBx+INF-α groups, the HBx group had a significant increase in the apoptosis rate of MPC5 cells (P<0.05). Compared with the control and INF-α groups, the HBx group had significant reductions in the mRNA and protein expression of nephrin, synaptopodin, and CD2AP and significant increases in the mRNA and protein expression of TRPC6 (P<0.05). Compared with the HBx group, the HBx+INF-α group had significant increases in the mRNA and protein expression of nephrin, synaptopodin, and CD2AP and significant reductions in the mRNA and protein expression of TRPC6 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS INF-α can inhibit the apoptosis of podocytes induced by HBx, possibly through improving the abnormal expression of slit diaphragm-related proteins (CD2AP, nephrin, and synaptopodin) and cytoskeleton-related protein (TRPC6) induced by HBx.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Hepatitis B virus ; Interferon-alpha ; Mice ; Podocytes ; Trans-Activators

OBJECTIVETo develop a screening program for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) carriers, and to assess the carrier frequency and detection rate in Shanghai region.

METHODSQuantitative analysis of the SMN1 gene by real-time PCR was developed using specimens from 15 SMA patients and 76 SMA parents from 38 affected nuclear families. A pilot screening was carried out for 1741 asymptomatic pregnant women. Frequencies of SMN1 alleles were determined with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

RESULTSForty five out of the 1741 women were identified as SMA carriers by the presence of single copy of SMN1. The frequencies of no copy, 1 copy, 2 copy and 3 copy alleles were 1.37 U+00D7 10-2, 9.45 U+00D7 10-1, 2.80 U+00D7 10-2 and 1.27 U+00D7 10-2, respectively. The adjusted SMA carrier frequency was 1:35 with a detection rate of 94.49%. For those with a negative screening result, individuals with 3 copies carried a higher residual risk.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of SMA carriers in Shanghai region is similar with that in Caucasian populations. Carrier screening has high detection efficiency. An effort should be made to further distinguish SMN1 gene copy numbers for those with more than 2 copies, since accurate determination of 2 and 3 copy allele frequencies is essential for post-screening genetic consulting.

Alleles ; Female ; Gene Dosage ; Gene Frequency ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Pilot Projects ; Pregnancy ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein ; genetics

Anemia ; etiology ; Erythema ; etiology ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Fever ; etiology ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; Infant