AIM: To evaluate the clinical effects of using technetium-99 methylene diphosphonate(99Tc-MDP)with methylprednisolone to treat thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO).

METHODS: We retrieved from 9 databases, from their foundation to March 2019, including Pubmed, the Cochrane Library, EMbase, ClinicalTrial.gov, Web of Science, CNKl, VIP database, China Biology Medicine disc, Wanfang database and collected the randomized controlled trail(RCT)of 99Tc-MDP combined with methylprednisolone for treatment of TAO. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, two researchers retrieved the literature independently, extracted data and evaluate methodological quality. Meta analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.3 software.

RESULTS: A total of 8 RCTs were identified with 644 patients. There was significant difference in the overall clinical effective rate between 99Tc-MDP combined with methylprednisolone and methylprednisolone alone(RR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.03-1.26, P=0.01). Significant difierence was found in the effective rate of proptosis between intravenous injection of 99Tc-MDP with methyprednisone and methyprednisone only(RR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.16-1.41, P<0.00001). Meanwhile, great improvement was seen in diplopia(RR=1.64, 95% CI: 1.04-2.58, P=0.03), but there was no significant difference in disturbance of ocular dyskinesia(P=0.37).

CONCLUSION: Applying 99Tc-MDP combined with methylprednisolone is better than methylprednisolone alone for TAO with less adverse reaction, which appears to be an effective treatment for TAO.

AIM: To compare corneal curvature and astigmatism values identified with OPD - Scan Ⅲ, lOL Master, Pentacam and KR - 8900 in cataract patients and to evaluate the consistencies and differences. METHODS: In this prospective clinical trial, 45 cataract patients (86 eyes), received treatment at the Department of Ophthalmology in our hospital from April 2017 to June 2017, underwent corneal parameters measurements with four instruments: OPD-Scan Ⅲ, Pentacam, IOL Master, and KR-8900. Measurements included corneal curvature (K1, K2, Km) and astigmatism parameters. The results were assessed using the paired samples t tests, Pearson coefficient,and Biand-Aitman plots. RESULTS: The difference of K1value measured by OPD-ScanⅢ and IOL Master was significant (P<0.001). Significant differences were also found in K2and Km values between OPD - Scan Ⅲ and Pentacam or IOL Master(P<0.05),while others had noncomparable results (P>0 05). All biometry measurements revealed good liner correlation (r=0.408-0.980, P<0.001). The Biand-Aitman showed that the corneal curvature and astigmatism vectors examined by OPD-Scan Ⅲ and Aii other devices had non-comparable results,except for the comparison of K1, K2and Kmmeasured by OPD-Scan Ⅲand KR-8900.CONCLUSION: OPD-Scan Ⅲ and KR-8900 can be interchangeable for the measurements of corneal curvature, while the others are not directly interchangeable. The astigmatic results obtained from OPD-Scan Ⅲ are not completely interchangeable with KR-8900,IOL Master or Pentacam.

Abstract?AIM: To investigate mechanism of bradykinin ( BK) on inflammations of retinal pigment epithelium ( RPE) cells.?METHODS: ARPE -19 cells were cultured in vitro, stimulated by 100nM BK for 24h. Cell morphology changes were observed by microscope, and BK receptor localization was detected through cell immunofluorescence. Changes of Ca2+in BK and BR antagonist stimuli were detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy.The expressions of COX-1, COX-2, eNOS and iNOS protein in control group and BK group were detected by Western Blot.?RESULTS: After the stimulation of BK, there was no significant changes of ARPE-19 cells in morphology.Kinin B1 receptors ( B1R ) and B2 receptors ( B2R ) could be detected in ARPE-19 cells.Compared with control group, Ca2+concentrations significantly increased in BK group; in B1R antagonist group and B2R antagonist group Ca2+concentrations increased less than BK group; B1R and B2R antagonist group showed no obvious changes in Ca2+concentrations.Compared with control group, COX-2 and iNOS protein concentrations were significantly increased in BK group (P<0.001).?CONCLUSION:BK induces the increasing expression of COX-2 and iNOS in the cultured ARPE cells through binding with either B1R or B2R.

OBJECTIVETo identify the mutation of low density lipoprotein receptor(LDLR) gene in a large Chinese family with familial hypercholesterolemia(F H) and make a discussion on the pathogenesis of FH at the molecular level.

METHODSInvestigations were made on a patient with the clinical phenotype of homozygous FH and his parents for mutations of promoter and all 18 exons of LDLR gene. Screening was carried out using Touch down PCR and a g arose gel electrophoresis, combined with DNA sequence analysis. The results were compared with the normal sequences in GenBank and FH database (www.ucl.uk/fh) t o find the mutation. Then the mutation was identified in other members of the family. In addition, the authors screened the apolipoprotein B(100) (apoB(100)) gene f or known mutations (R3500Q) that cause familial defective apoB(100) (FDB) by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSA novel homozygous IN III 5' GT --> AT mutation in the splice donor of LDLR intron 3 was detected in the homozygote propositus with FH. The mutation was also identified in four heterozygous carriers in his family. No mutations R3500Q of apoB(100)were observed.

CONCLUSIONA homozygous G --> A splice mutation in LDLR gene was first reported. The change of the splice donor in LDLR intron 3 may cause skipping of exon 3, which is responsible for FH. Perhaps it is a particular pathogenesis for Chinese people.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alternative Splicing ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; China ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; blood ; genetics ; pathology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Receptors, LDL ; genetics

A highly sensitive and selective bioluminescent probe for hydrazine (BPH) was designed, synthesized and evaluated for detection of hydrazine in vitro and in vivo. BPH was designed to include a specific recognition group (acetyl) of hydrazine at an appropriate modification site of the optical reporter hydroxyluciferin (D-luciferin), which showed excellent performance both in selectivity and sensitivity to hydrazine. The results showed that the bioluminescent probe BPH developed in this study is an innovative and widely applicable tool for detecting hydrazine in complex natural environment or in animals.

Objective To investigate the expression of estrogen receptor in gastric antrum and the effect of estrogen on electrical activity of gastric antrum smooth muscle in female rabbits in virtue of the constructed mathematical model in order to explore the regulation of estrogen on gastric motility. Methods Using immunofluorescence to observe the expression of estrogen receptor in gastric antrum. Using BL-420F bio monitor to monitor: Comparing the difference of antral electromyography index between rabbits in ovariectomized group and rabbits in sham operating group; Observing the dose-response relationship between doses of estradiol (0,0. 1,0. 15,0. 2,0. 25 and 0. 3 mg/ kg). To construct the mathematical model, and to analyze the dose-response relationship and mechanism of action. Rresult The expression of estrogen receptor in the antral wall of the stomach was negative. The activity index of gastric antrum myoelectric activity was significantly decreased after ovarian ablation (P<0. 01). With the increase of estradiol dose, the activity index of gastric antrum muscle increased and then decreased. Analysis of variance showed that the difference of antral electromyographic activity index between adjacent groups was significant (P<0. 05) or extremely significant (P<0. 01). Taking the estradiol dose as the independent variable x, the antral electromyography activity index was the dependent variable y, and the fitting wass obtained: y= 2. 80 + 5. 65 × exp{ -0. 5 × [(x-0. 159) / 0. 038 ]

Objective To understand the distribution of nerve fibers and the types of neural cells in Aspidogaster conchiola. Methods Whole worms were subjected to silver staining, histochemical staining and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and the nervous systems of the worms were observed. Results There were 3 types of neural cells in the worm head near the cerebral ganglion, including unipolar, bipolar and multipolar neurons, which were divided into 7 types according to the morphology. There was a nerve network on the surface of pharynx and intestinal tract, as well as the reproductive organ, including testis, ovary, lower uterus and penis sac. The nerve network was consisted of circular and longitudinal nerve fibers, and the structure of the nerve network around the mouth was similar to central nerve. Conclusions The structure of the A. conchiola central nervous system is very complicated, and the neural networks may be associated with the physiologic activity of the worm. Different neural cells may have diverse functions.

Some Chinese herbal medicine needs to be processed before it can be used as medicine, especially toxic Chinese medicine. Highly toxic Aconti Kusnezoffii Radix(Caowu in Chinese) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and Mongolian medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, Caowu is usually processed by boiling with water(CW) until no white part inside and being tasted without tongue-numbing. In Mongolian medicine, it is usually soaked in Chebulae Fructus(Hezi in Chinese) decoction for several days(CH). Both methods could reduce toxicity according to reports. The biggest difference between CW and CH is that CW needs to be heated for 4-6 h, while CH needs Hezi as processing adjuvants. To explore the toxicity reduction mechanism of CW and CH, we studied the contents of various compounds in Caowu processed by two methods by UPLC-Orbitrap-MS. The results indicated that CW had 14 new ingredients, such as 14-O-anisoylneoline and dehydro-mesaconitine, while N-demethyl-mesaconitine and aconitine disappeared. At the same time, it could significantly decrease the content of diester diterpenoid alkaloids and increase the contents of monoester diterpenoid alkaloids and amine-diterpenoid alkaloids. CH had 9 new ingredients from Hezi, like gallic acid, chebulic acid and shikimic acid. Neither the kinds nor the contents of compositions from Caowu in CH changed little. This suggested that the processing mechanism of CW reduced highly toxic components(diester diterpenoid alkaloids) and increased the content of lowly toxic components(monoester diterpenoid alkaloids and amine-diterpenoid alkaloids). Attenuated principle of CH may be related to the components of Hezi. In this experiment, the conclusion shows that the chemical constituents of CW and CH are essentially different, and the two methods have different toxicity reduction principles.
Aconitine ; Aconitum/chemistry* ; Alkaloids/analysis* ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical/methods* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Mass Spectrometry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective: Moxifloxacin (MFX) shows good activity against and can be a possible antibiotic therapy to treat infection; however, other studies have shown a lower or no activity. We aimed to evaluate MFX activity against using zebrafish (ZF) model . Methods: A formulation of labeled with CM-Dil was micro-injected into ZF. Survival curves were determined by recording dead ZF every day. ZF were lysed, and colony-forming units (CFUs) were enumerated. Bacteria dissemination and fluorescence intensity in ZF were analyzed. Inhibition rates of MFX and azithromycin (AZM, positive control) were determined and compared. Results: Significantly increased survival rate was observed with different AZM concentrations. However, increasing MFX concentration did not result in a significant decrease in ZF survival curve. No significant differences in bacterial burdens by CFU loads were observed between AZM and MFX groups at various concentrations. Bacterial fluorescence intensity in ZF was significantly correlated with AZM concentration. However, with increasing MFX concentration, fluorescence intensity decreased slightly when observed under fluorescence microscope. Transferring rates at various concentrations were comparable between the MFX and AZM groups, with no significant difference. Conclusion MFX showed limited efficacy against using ZF model. Its activity needs to be confirmed.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Moxifloxacin ; pharmacology ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous ; drug therapy ; Mycobacterium abscessus ; drug effects ; Zebrafish