AIM: To explore the efficacy of Ex-press glaucoma drainage device on open-angle glaucoma.

METHODS: We collected the clinical data of those patients who were diagnosed as open angle glaucoma and had undergone Ex-press glaucoma drainage device implantation or trabeculectomy in the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2014 to May 2016. The data of patients was collected and used to make a comparison involving sex, ages, best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure(IOP), the amount of corneal endothelium cells and complications before and after operations.

RESULTS: There was no significantly different(P>0.05)between the Ex-press group and trabeculectomy group on postoperative BCVA at 6mo. Both groups had obvious effects on the drop of IOP after operations(P<0.001), but there was no difference between the two groups at any time after operations. Ex-press group had no significant difference at 6mo while it had in the trabeculectomy group about the amount of corneal endothelium cells comparing with preoperative. The incidence rate of overall complications about Ex-press group and trabeculectomy group was 15% and 43% respectively, it had a significant difference between two groups(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The Ex-press glaucoma drainage device had similar efficacy with lower complication rate and smaller influence of corneal endothelium cells comparing with trabeculectomy.

Astrocytoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Frizzled Receptors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glioblastoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Paraffin Embedding ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Wnt2 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

With retrieval of articles on extraordinary acupoint that were published in domesticin recent five years, one hundred and eight articles of clinical application are screened out and one hundred and twenty-three extraordinary acupoints that are extensively recognized are collected. Of those acupoints, 23 acupoints are included in the latest national standard. Of the rest 100 extraordinary acupoints, 48 acupoints are located on the running courses of fourteen meridians, 4 acupoints are shared with the meridian points and the other 52 acupoints have not been clarified to be located on the running courses of meridians based on the literature data. It is found in the collection of these acupoints that there are many extraordinary acupoints that are extensively used in clinical practice. But the nomenclatures and locations of acupoints have not been unified. Hence, a further standardization on these aspects is anticipated.
Acupuncture ; history ; standards ; Acupuncture Points ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians ; Terminology as Topic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of sexual-nerve-sparing radical cystectomy.

METHODSThirty-two male patients were treated with sexual-nerve-sparing radical cystectomy in our hospital in the past 5 years. The age of the patients ranged from 38 to 72 years, with the course of the disease ranging from 2 days to 20 years. All of them were potent preoperatively. Radical cystectomy was performed antegradely and retrogradely with the neurovascular bundle spared.

RESULTSThe patients were followed up for 6 to 54 months, 3 achieved sexual activity of Grade I, 6 Grade II and 23 Grade III after the operation. The recovery time of erectile function ranged from 2 to 14 months, averaging at 4. 5 months.

CONCLUSIONWhenever condition suits, sexual-nerve-sparing radical cystectomy is to be strongly recommended.

Adult ; Aged ; Coitus ; Cystectomy ; methods ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; innervation

BACKGROUNDHepatitis B is at particularly high risk of fibrosis progression. Unfortunately, the mechanism of hepatic fibrogenesis induced by hepatitis B virus (HBV) has not been fully understood to date. The aim of this study was to observe whether HBV can infect hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and to examine the effects of HBV or HBV S protein (HBs) on the proliferation and collagen type I expression of HSCs.

METHODSThe supernatants of HepG2.2.15 cells which contained HBV-DNA or HBs were added to LX-2 cells for 72 hours. Cell survival was determined by MTT assay. HBV particles in LX-2 cells were detected by transmission electron microscopy. The expression of HBs and HBV C protein (HBc) was determined by confocal fluorescence microscopy. The expression levels of HBV-DNA were measured by real-time PCR. The cellular collagen type I mRNA and protein levels were quantified by reverse transcription-PCR and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTSHigh concentrations of HBV (1.2 x 10(5) - 5.0 x 10(5) copies/ml) or HBs (1.25 - 20 microg/ml) inhibited the proliferation of LX-2 cells, while low concentrations of HBV (1.0 x 10(3) - 6.2 x 10(4) copies/ml) or HBs (0.04 - 0.62 microg/ml) promoted the proliferation. After treating LX-2 cells with HBV for 72 hours, about 42 nm HBV-sized particles and strong expression of HBs and HBc were found in the cytoplasm of LX-2 cells. HBV-DNA in the culture medium of LX-2 cells decreased at 24 hours, rose at 48 hours and thereafter, decreased again at 72 hours. The mRNA and protein expression of cellular collagen type I in LX-2 cells were significantly increased by HBV infection but not by recombinant HBs.

CONCLUSIONSHBV and HBs affect the proliferation of HSCs; HBV can transiently infect and replicate in cultured HSCs and express HBs and HBc in vitro. Furthermore, HBV can significantly increase the expression of collagen type I mRNA and protein in HSCs.

Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; physiology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of fascioliasis in yaks, Bos grunniens, from 3 counties of Gansu Province in China. A total of 1,584 serum samples, including 974 samples from white yaks from Tianzhu, 464 from black yaks from Maqu, and 146 from black yaks from Luqu County, were collected and analyzed using ELISA to detect IgG antibodies against Fasciola hepatica. The overall F. hepatica seroprevalence was 28.7% (454/1,584), with 29.2% in white yaks (284/974) and 27.9% in black yaks (170/610). The seroprevalence of F. hepatica in yaks from Tianzhu, Luqu, and Maqu was 29.2%, 22.6%, and 29.5%, respectively. Female yaks (30.9%) had higher F. hepatica seroprevalence than male yaks (23.4%). Also, F. hepatica seroprevalence varied by different age group from 24.1% to 33.8%. Further, the seroprevalence ranged from 21.8% to 39.1% over different seasons. Interestingly, the season and age of yaks were associated with F. hepatica infection in yaks in the investigated areas. These findings provided a basis for further studies on this disease in yaks from 3 counties of Gansu Province in northwestern China, which may ultimately support the development of effective control strategies of fascioliasis in these areas.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Cattle* ; China* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fasciola hepatica ; Fascioliasis* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Male ; Ranunculaceae ; Risk Factors* ; Seasons ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

Through computer-based technology and data mining method, with treatment in cases of bloodletting acupuncture therapy in collected literature as sample data, the association rule in data mining was applied. According to self-built database platform, the data was input, arranged and summarized, and eventually required data was acquired to perform the data mining of bleeding volume and method in blood-letting acupuncture therapy, which summarized its application rules and clinical values to provide better guide for clinical practice. There were 9 kinds of blood-letting tools in the literature, in which the frequency of three-edge needle was the highest, accounting for 84.4% (1239/1468). The bleeding volume was classified into six levels, in which less volume (less than 0.1 mL) had the highest frequency (401 times). According to the results of the data mining, blood-letting acupuncture therapy was widely applied in clinical practice of acupuncture, in which use of three-edge needle and less volume (less than 0.1 mL) of blood were the most common, however, there was no central tendency in general.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Bloodletting ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Data Mining ; Databases, Factual ; Humans

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Adult ; Bone Marrow Examination ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Penicillium ; isolation & purification ; Prognosis ; Radiography

Myxoid adrenocortical neoplasms are rare. Surgical resection of the mass is the first-line therapy. Here we reported a total of four patients, aged 44–66 years, diagnosed with myxoid adrenocortical tumor. The clinical characteristics and immunohistochemical features of the tumor are discussed in the current literature.
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVEIn order to study the diagnosis and treatment of HBV and HCV infection.

METHODSWe retrospectively analysed clinical data of 680 patients with cholangiocarcinoma from 1995 to 2001 and stated by SPSS software.

RESULTS(1) The fastigium of cholangiocarcinoma was 60 - 65 years old. The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma was higher in aged males and the sex ratio (male:female) was 1.36:1. (2) The proximal cholangiocarcinoma was most (41.6%) and distant cholangiocarcinoma was secondly (28.7%). (3) Most patients of cholangiocarcinoma were late. The resection rate was low and the rate of radical operation was 21.6% (147/680). (4) The incidence of proximal cholangiocarcinoma was higher in the positive Serologic marks for HBV and HCV and course of diseases was short. Moreover, the pathology of. positive Serologic marks for HBV and HCV trended to low-differentiation and invasion, metastasis and the resection rate was lower.

CONCLUSIONSCholangiocarcinoma is common in the aged males. The infection of HB(C)V and hilar cholangiocarcinoma are correlated and incline to the proximal bile duct. The hilar cholangiocarcinoma infected HB(C)V may have higher malignant degree in biological characteristics and more badly prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Hepatitis C ; complications ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies