AIM:To explore the relationship and molecular mechanism between microRNA-21(miR-21) and Schwann cells ( SC) following peripheral nerve injury.METHODS: The mRNA expression of miR-21 and phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten ( PTEN) in animal model were detected by real-time PCR.The over-ex-pression of miR-21 and inhibition of miR-21 expression in the Schwann cells according to transfection of lentiviral vectors were performed, the nonspecific miRNA was used as a negative control ( NC) .The cell apoptosis was measured by flow cy-tometry.The mRNA expression of miR-21 and PTEN in the cells was detected by real-time PCR.The protein expression of PTEN and cleaved caspase-3 was determined by Western blot.RESULTS: The level of miR-21 was significantly higher and the mRNA level of PTEN was significantly lower in the model of nerve injury than those in control group.miR-21 over-expression decreased the number of apoptotic Schwann cells compared with NC-SC.The mRNA expression of PTEN was down-regulated by over-expression of miR-21.The protein expression of PTEN and cleaved caspase-3 was down-regulated by over-expression of miR-21 (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: miR-21 may play an important role in the peripheral nerve injury through inhibiting apoptosis of Schwann cells by down-regulating the expression of PTEN.

Objective To investigate the clinical application of ultrasound biomicroscopy in the treatment of congenital corneal opacities.Methods Medical records of 20 eyes (15 patients) with congenital corneal opacity treated at our hospital from July 2004 to November 2011 were retrospectively reviewed.Best corrected visual acuity testing,intraocular pressure testing,slit-lamp anterior segment examination,fundus examination,slit-lamp microscopic photography,B scan examination,and ultrasound biomicroscopy were performed for analysis of complications of congenital corneal opacity and selection of surgical approaches.Results The ultrasound biomicroscopic examination showed that 5 eyes had no Descemet's membrane and corneal endothelium,20 eyes had anterior synechia,5 eyes had aniridia,3 eyes had loss of lens cortex,13 eyes had cataract,14 eyes had closed angle,and 3 eyes had pupillary membrane.14 of 20 eyes received surgical treatment,including penetrating keratoplasty combined with cataract extraction and trabeculectomy (5 eyes),penetrating keratoplasty combined with pupil angioplasty (3 eyes),penetrating keratoplasty combined with cataract extraction (3 eyes),penetrating keratoplasty combined with trabeculectomy (2 eyes),and lamellar keratoplasty (1 eye).Conclusions Ultrasound biomicroscopy is important to guide the diagnosis and treatment of congenital corneal opacity.

Objective:To compare the durability of resin-based root-surface coating material and all-in-one self-etching adhesive on root surface in vitro.Methods:Human extracted premolars or molars with intact roots were selected.The cementum was removed using a periodontal scaler to expose root dentin. The root surface was coated with an acid-resistant nail varnish,leaving a window of 3 mm ×3 mm on the exposed dentin.The window was covered with either PRG Barrier Coat (PRG)or Clearfil S3 Bond (CS3).After water aging for 14 d,specimens were immersed in acid buffer at pH 4.5 for 4 d and the demineralization buffer was changed every 24 h.Then the specimen was split longitudinally through the center of the ‘window’and the cross-sectional surface was observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM).After fixed and dehydrated,the prepared samples were coated with platinum.The coating mate-rial,root dentin and the interface was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM).The thickness of the coating material was measured on the SEMimages.Regarding toothbrush wear test,coronal dentin-disks were prepared and covered with PRG and CS3,respectively.After storage in water for 24 h,the specimen was subjected to the toothbrush wear tester for 100,200,300,500,700,1 500 brushing cy-cles.A slurry of fluoride toothpaste (1 ∶2 ratio of toothpaste and deionized water by weight)was used and the brushing load was 300 N.The surface microstructure of remaining coating material was analyzed using SEM.The wear depths were determined by a profilometer.Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 20.0 by one-way ANOVA.The level of significance was at 0.05.Results:Application of PRG Barrier Coat produced a coating layer of (47.1 ±27.3)μm,while CS3 presented a thin film of (5.7 ± 2.1)μm in thickness.The exposed dentin was hermetically sealed and no obvious gap was observed at the interface in both PRG and CS3 groups.There was no dentin demineralization observed in both groups after water aging.The wear depths of PRG and CS3 increased along with the numbers of brushing cycles. PRG wore at a significant lower pace than CS3 did (P <0.05).Conclusion:PRG coating resin had similar performances as CS3 on protecting root dentin from demineralization after water aging.What’s more,PRG demonstrated a higher toothbrush wear resistance than CS3.We concluded that PRG Barrier Coat contained S-PRG filler may be an effective coating material for protecting exposed root from both chemical and mechanical challenges.Further studies should be carried out to evaluate the long-term reli-ability of the rootsurface coating materials under the clinical setting.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and current treating status from atrial ifbrillation (AF) patients with different gender in 20 emergency departments.
Methods: A total of 2015 consecutive AF patients from 20 emergency departments nationwide from 2008-11 to 2011-10 were retrospectively investigated. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Female group,n=1104 and Male group,n=911. The baseline clinical characteristics and current treating status were compared between groups, the risk of stroke in non-valvular atrial ifbrillation (NVAF) patients was evaluated by CHADS2 score and the factors affecting walfarin application were studied by Logistic regression analysis.
Results: Compared with Male group, Female group had the elder age (69.11 ± 12.96) years vs (67.67 ± 13.63) years,P=0.015, lower body mass index (BMI) (23.24 ± 3.73) kg/m2 vs (23.89 ± 3.47) kg/m2,P=0.000, more patients combining with heart failure (39.7% vs 34.6%,P=0.019), more patients with valvular heart disease (26.6% vs 12.4%,P=0.000). In contrast, Male group had more smokers (41.4% vs 5.1%,P=0.000), more patients combining with coronary artery disease (45.1% vs 39.1%,P=0.007) and more patients with previous history of myocardial infarction (9.5% vs 5.5%,P=0.001). The average CHADS2 score was higher in Female group than Male group (2.0 ± 1.4) vs (1.8 ± 1.4),P=0.008 and the proportion of patients with CHADS2 score ≥2 was higher in Female group than Male group (58.0% vs 51%,P=0.005). There were 407 patients of valvular heart disease with AF and 167 (41%) of them received walfarin treatment including 119 female and 48 male,P=0.713; 1608 NVAF patients with CHADS2 score≥ 2 and 105 of them received anticoagulation therapy including 54 female and 51 male,P=0.636.
Conclusion: The clinical characteristics and current treating status are different by gender from AF patients in 20 emergency departments in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the standard value of foot tapping test (FTT) in healthy population and FTT for lower extremity motor function in patients with cervical compressive myelopathy. METHODS: Totally 124 patients [68 males, (58.49±14.60) years old; 56 females, (57.55±18.27) years old] diagnosed of cervical myelopathy and 160 healthy volunteers [80 males, (45.43±17.98) years old; 80 females, (45.2±17.47) years old] participated in our study. The patients who underwent surgery were evaluated both before and 1 year after the surgery. We performed FTT and Grip and Release Test and evaluated with the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for cervical myelopathy. RESULTS: The value of FTT was (22.23±2.53) in myelopathic patients, significantly lower than (33.23 ±3.17) in the healthy group (decreasing with age) (P<0.05). The value of FTT was positively correlated with the lower extremity motor function of modified JOA score and the value of Grip and Release Test. In the patients who underwent surgery, the value of FTT was (22.23±2.53) preoperatively and was improved to (28.48±1.99) at one year postoperatively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The FTT score has been improved by surgery. The FTT is an easy and useful quantitative assessment for lower extremity motor function in patients with cervical myelopathy, especially those who cannot walk.
Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Foot ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Movement ; Orthopedics ; methods ; Postoperative Period ; Spinal Cord Compression ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome