AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab ( avastin ) injection in patients with exudative age related macular degeneration ( AMD) .
METHODS: The records of patients treated with intravitreal injection of 1. 75mg bevacizumab for AMD were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were evaluated by complete ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein and/or indocyanine green angiography. Observation was made on the best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA) , intraocular pressure, and the changes of lens, vitreous, central retinal thickness (CFT) and total macular volume (TMV), at 1d, 3d, 7d, 1mo and 6mo after the treatment and then compared with those of pre - operation. Repeated treatment with intravitreous bevacizumab occurred if there were signs of persistent or recurrent exudation. And all cases were followed up at least 6mo. An intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1. 75mg) was given once every 6wk.
RESULTS:All 50 eyes of 48 patients with the average of 58±20. 46 years old were included. The mean baseline of BCVA and CFT were 0. 82±0. 53, and 364. 97±151. 83μm respectively. Although there was no significant decrease in mean CFT and TMV one week after the injection, the mean BCVA had significant improvement. At the last visit of 9. 7mo follow - up, BCVA, CRT and TMV showed significant improvements over baseline values. BCVA was improved by at least two lines in 32 eyes (64%),remained stabilization in 18 eyes (36%) at the last visit. A total of 98 injections were performed and the average number of injections was 1. 98 for each eye in the group. About 50%of re - injections gained at least two lines of vision improvement one week postoperatively. There were no serious adverse events during the treatment.
CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab ( avastin ) injection for managing CNV due to age-related macular degeneration is safe and few side effects. Intravitreal avastin associated with improvement in visual acuity ( VA ) , which can reduce macular edema and choroidal neovascularization leakage. But a prolonged treatment effect needs further observation.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab injection in patients with macular edema (ME) induced by retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
● METHODS: The records of patients treated with intravitreal injection of 1. 75mg bevacizumab for ME induced by RVO were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were evaluated by complete ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography ( OCT) and fundus fluorescein angiography ( FFA ), etc. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, the change of lens and vitreous, central foveal thickness (CFT) were observed at 1, 2, 3, 6mo after treatment and compared with before treatment. Repeated treatment with intravitreous bevacizumab occurred if there were signs of persistent or recurrent exudation. All the cases were followed up at least 6mo. An intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1. 75mg) was given at 6wk intervals.
●RESULTS: Fifty patients (56 eyes) with the average of (57±18. 56) years old were included. The mean baseline of BCVA, CFT were (logMAR0. 82±0. 63), (626. 5±178. 0)μm respectively. Although there was no significant decrease in mean CFT at 1wk after injection, the mean BCVA had significant improvement. Followed up at mean 10. 26 ± 5. 87mo, BCVA, CFT showed significant improvements over baseline values. The statistics of CFT at 1, 2, 3mo after injection were significant differences compared with before injection in each of the three groups. CFT at 1, 3, 12mo after injection were (365. 11±23. 212) μ m, (333. 42± 35. 526) μ m, (267. 6 ± 116. 8) μ m, which had a significant difference ( P < 0. 001), namely macular retinal thickness was thinner obviously that before treatment, ME was improved obviously. CFT was no significant difference at each time point after injection in the group of BRVO-ME and CRVO- ME (P> 0. 05). OCT image showed that after injection macular retinal thickness was becoming thinner. FFA showed that after injection macular fluorescein leakage decreased. BCVA was improved by at least two lines in 48 eyes (86%),remained stable in 8 eyes (14%) at the last visit. A total of 112 injections were performed and the average number of injections was 1. 96 in the group. About 50% of reinjections gained at least two lines of vision improvement at 1wk following the retreatment. There was no serious complications during the treatment.
●CONCLUSlON: lntravitreal injection of bevacizumab can improve visual acuity (VA) of RVO (CRVO and BRVO) in patients with ME, relieve ME, reduce the leakage of CNV, and repeated treatment is better. But a prolonged treatment effect needs further observation. There are no serious ocular and systemic complications occurred in our study.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance of serum midkine (MK) in children with henoch-schnlein purpura(HSP).

METHODSOne hundred and six children with HSP admitted in our hospital from March 2013 to March 2016 were enrolled in HSP group, but then 80 healthy volunteers were used as control. MK, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon γ (IFN-γ) and IL-17 in peripheral blood were measured by ELISA, biochemical indicators including white blood cell count (WBC), platelet (Plt), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), D-dimer, immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgE, IgG, IgM and other clinical data were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSAmong 106 cases of henoch-schonlein purpura, 42 patients combined with renal failure (isolated hematuria in 4 cases, 17 cases of isolated proteinuria, hematuria and proteinuria in 21 cases). Midkine level in children with HSP was significantly higher than that in the control group [291.70(248.50-396.41) pg/ml vs 217.30(198.98-243.65) pg/ml)](P<0.05); the MK level in group of HSP with nephritis was higher than that in group of HSP without nephritis [326.58(266.58-459.25) pg/ml vs 280.72(233.67-384.36) pg/ml] (P<0.05). IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, TNF and IFN-γ levels in children with HSP were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05), but IL-10 level was lower than that in control group. IL-2 level was not significantly different between 2 groups. Cytokines levels in HSP nephritis group and HSP without renal involvement were not significantly different. Pearson correlation analysis showed that midkine level positively correlated with IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, IgA and IgE (P<0.05). By ROC curve analysis, the AUC of midkine was 0.902, 95% CI 0.841-0.963 (P<0.001), threshold 295.50 pg/ml. The sensitivity and specificity of midkine for predicting Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis were 80.60% and 88.30% respecitvely.

CONCLUSIONPlasma MK plays an important role in the development of Henoch-Schonlein purpura and Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis. Plasma MK can be used as an effective indicator for early diagnosis and prediction of HSP and renal damage.

AIM To investigate the effects of Zhuangyao Shuanglu Tongnao Formula on neuronal apoptosis in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury based on the study of oxidative stress and inflammatory response.METHODS The rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group,the model group,the edaravone group(3.0 mg/kg),the low,medium and high dose groups(9.0,18.0,36.0 g/kg)of Zhuangyao Shuanglu Tongnao Formula,with 18 rats in each group.The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion was conducted by thread embolism method to simulate cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats followed by 6 days corresponding drugs administration.Subsequently,the rats had their neurological function deficit scored by Zeal Longa scoring method;their sizes of cerebral infarction areas measured by TTC staining;their pathological damage and apoptosis of neurons in hippocampal CA1 area of ischemic penumbra of the brain tissue detected by HE staining and TUNEL staining;their SOD activity and levels of GSH,MDA,IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α in brain tissue detected by kits;and their protein expressions of Bax,Bcl-2,caspase-3,cleaved-capase-3,TLR4,NF-κB p65,Nrf2,HO-1 in rat brain tissue determined by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the groups intervened with edaravone,medium and high dose of Zhuangyao Shuanglu Tongnao Formula displayed improvements in the scores of nerve function defects,the rate of cerebral infarction,the rate of neuronal apoptosis,the levels of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α and MDA in the ischemic penumbra of brain tissues,the protein expressions of Bax and TLR4,the ratio of cleaved-capase-3/caspase-3 and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65(P＜0.05),the levels of GSH,the activity of SOD and the protein expressions of Bcl-2,Nrf2 and HO-1(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Being an inhibitor of oxidative stress and inflammatory response,Zhuangyao Shuanglu Tongnao Formula can alleviate brain injury in rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury through the inhibition of neuronal apoptosis and improvement of neural function mediated by the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB signal pathway and activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway.

Objective: To explore the mechanism of Wuzang Wenyang Huayu decoction in improving the cognitive competence and the pharmacological mechanism for neurofibrillary tangles related to cyclin-dependent kinase-5(CDK-5).Method: The 10 SAMR1 mice were used as normal group,40 SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into model group,donepezil group (0.4 mg·kg^-1·d^-1),high and low dose Wuzang Wenyang Huayu decoction groups (5,1.25 g·kg^-1·d^-1).Drugs were administered by gastric lavage for 4 continuous weeks.Directional navigation and space exploration ability were evaluated with Morris amaze.Real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of CDK-5 in brain nerve tissues.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of CDK-5 and phosphorylation of Tau protein.Meanwhile,neurofibrillary tangles in brain tissue were detected with silver staining method.Result: As compared with normal group,both CDK-5 expression and Tau protein phosphorylation in brain nerve tissues were remarkably increased in model group (P<0.01),with significantly increased neurofibrillary tangles and significantly decreased directional navigation ability and space exploration ability (P<0.01).As compared with model group,CDK-5 expression and Tau protein phosphorylation were lower in Wuzang Wenyang Huayu decoction treated groups (P<0.05,P<0.01),accompanied by decreased number of neurofibrillary tangles as well as improved directional navigation and space exploration ability (P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion: Wuzang Wenyang Huayu decoction can markedly improve the cognitive competence of SAMP8 mice,and the mechanism may be related to its inhibition on CDK-5 over-expression,and down-regulation of Tau protein phosphorylation and neurofibrillary tangles in brain tissue.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome