AlM:To compare the efficacy and safety of latanoprost and brimonidine in the treatment of open angle glaucoma, and provide reference for rational drug use.METHODS:A total of 121 cases ( 136 eyes ) who were diagnosed as primary open angle glaucoma were selected in this study, and they were randomly divided into experimental group (62 cases, 70 eyes) and control group ( 59 cases, 66 eyes) according to different drug treatment. Patients in the control group received brimonidine eye drops twice a day, while patients in the experimental group received latanoprost eye drops once a day. The intraocular pressure, visual acuity and adverse reactions were checked of the two groups in the following 3mo.RESULTS:The intraocular pressure of patients in the control group was 18. 1 ± 1. 3mmHg, while the experimental group was 17. 0 ± 0. 9mmHg after 12wk of treatment, which were both lower than before (P<0. 05). The fluctuation of intraocular pressure in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. There was no significant difference in the LogMAR visual acuity between before and after treatment in the control group, while the LogMAR visual acuity of the experimental group was significantly improved. The control group had hyperemia, burning sensation, tearing, eyelid edema and other adverse side effects, and the experimental group had little adverse reactions. CONCLUSlON: Latanoprost can significantly reduce intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients with in the follow- up time, and reduce the impact of elevated intraocular pressure in the vision of glaucoma patients, with little adverse reaction, worthy of clinical application.

AIM: To investigate the efficiency of intravitreal ranibizumab therapy ( IVR ) for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy ( PCV) in single or multiple polyps.
METHODS: A total 63 patients diagnosed with PCV in Shaoxing City People's Hospital from May 2013 to May 2015 were enrolled and divided into single polyp group and multiple polyps group. All patients received intravitreal ranibizumab 3 monthly and were followed up for 12mo. Observe the changes of best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA ) and central retinal thickness ( CRT ) at different time points.
RESULTS: The single polyps group exhibited a better BCVA, shorter greatest linear dimension, and lower prevalence of fibro - vascular pigment epithelial detachment compared with the multiple polyp group before treatment (P<0. 05). Significant difference of BCVA were observed at 3, 6 and 12mo between the two groups (P<0. 05). BCVA at 3, 6, 12mo was significantly better than that at baseline in single polyps group. The single polyp group exhibited a significantly thinner CRT at 6 and 12mo compared with multiple polyps group (P<0. 05). The single polyp group showed improvement in CRT over the followed up period(P<0. 05). The CRT in multiple polyps group at 3 and 6mo significantly decreased compared with preoperative (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION: IVR meet better result in PCV patients with multiple polyp and polyp numbers may be valuable to prognosis.

Aneuploidy ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Male ; Spermatozoa ; ultrastructure

BACKGROUNDThe number of non-responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) exposes the need for better patient selection criteria for CRT. This study aimed to identify echocardiographic parameters that would predict the response to CRT.

METHODSForty-five consecutive patients receiving CRT-D implantation for heart failure (HF) were included in this prospective study. New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, 6-minute walk distance, electrograph character, and multi echocardiographic parameters, especially in strain patterns, were measured and compared before and six months after CRT in the responder and non-responder groups. Response to CRT was defined as a decrease in left ventricular endsystolic volume (LVESV) of 15% or more at 6-month follow up.

RESULTSTwenty-two (48.9%) patients demonstrated a response to CRT at 6-month follow-up. Significant improvement in NYHA class (P < 0.01), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) (P < 0.01), and 6-minute walk distance (P < 0.01) was shown in this group. Although there was an interventricular mechanical delay determined by the difference between left and right ventricular pre-ejection intervals ((42.87 ± 19.64) ms vs. (29.43 ± 18.19) ms, P = 0.02), the standard deviation of time to peak myocardial strain among 12 basal, mid and apical segments (Tε-SD) ((119.97 ± 43.32) ms vs. (86.62 ± 36.86) ms, P = 0.01) and the non-ischemic etiology (P = 0.03) were significantly higher in responders than non-responders, only the Tε-SD (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01 - 1.04, P = 0.02) proved to be a favorable predictor of CRT response after multivariate Logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONThe left ventricular 12 segmental strain imaging is a promising echocardiographic parameter for predicting CRT response.

Aged ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Failure ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Heart Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore the anti-aging effect of artemisia burning products (ie. smoke of moxibustion) and its proper intervention parameters.

METHODSAccording to factorial experiment design, 70 SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into one model group (group M) and 6 intervention groups: low concentration with 15 min group (group A1), low concentration with 30 min group (group A2), middle concentration with 15 min group (group B1), middle concentration with 30 min group (group B2), high concentration with 15 min group (group C1), high concentration with 30 min group (group C1). There were 10 cases in each group. Ten age-matched SAMR1 mice were used as normal group (group Z). All the mice in the 6 intervention groups were fumed with artemisia burning products of different concentration and time. The content of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GSH-Px) were tested.

RESULTSMDA content in group M was significantly higher than that in group Z (both P < 0.05), while SOD and GSH-Px activity were significantly lower in group M than that in group Z (both P < 0.05). Results of MDA, SOD and GSH-Px in 6 intervention groups were either of no statistically significant differences, or better than that in group M. Among 6 intervention groups, results of MDA and GSH-Px were better in group B1, while the result of SOD was better in group B2. Time factor didn't make any difference, while concentration of artemisia burning products is meaningful. As to SOD and GSH-Px, there's a strong interaction between the two factors.

CONCLUSIONWith certain concentration and time period, the intervention of artemisia burning products can exert anti-aging effect by increasing antioxydative capability and reducing metabolites of free radicals. Middle concentration and 30 minutes are recommended when intervened with artemisia burning products.

Aging ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Glutathione Reductase ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Mice ; Moxibustion ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP) on epithelial cadherin (E-cd) expression in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) in vitro.

METHODSThe effect of CGRP on E-cd protein and mRNA expression in both normal and O3-challenged HBECs were determined by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. The signal transduction pathways of CGRP were observed by using protein kinase C(PKC) inhibitor (H-7), calmodulin(CaM) inhibitor (W-7) and PKA inhibitor (H-89).

RESULTSCGRP increased E-cd mRNA and protein expressions of normal and O3-challenged HBECs in a dose-dependent manner. CGRP had no effect on cytoplasm E-cd expression. Pre-treatment with H-89, H-7 and W-7, the up-regulatory effect of CGRP on E-cd expression was partly abolished.

CONCLUSIONCGRP increased in cytomembrane E-cd expression of normal and O3-challenged HBECs in a dose-dependent manner. E-cd expression on HBECs was strengthened by CGRP via PKA, PKC and CaM pathways.

Bronchi ; cytology ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Ozone ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognostic value of ultra-sensitive pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) level in the early phase of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) attack.

METHODSPatients diagnosed as ACS were enrolled and the level of circulatory PAPP-A was measured within 12 hours after ACS attack. The patients were followed at the time of 1st, 6th, and 12th months post-ACS attack in order to observe the incidence of the cardiovascular adverse events. According to the highest quintile, the patients were divided into 2 groups: high level (≥26.08 μg/L) group and low level (<26.08 μg/L) group, to evaluate the association between the level of PAPP-A and the incidence of the cardiovascular events.

RESULTSCompared with the low level group, the incidence of the composite outcome is significantly increased in the high level group, and the values of OR are 4.76, 4.38, 3.75 for 1st, 6th, 12th months respectively (P=0.000). For myocardial infarction (MI) + cardiac death (CD) the values of OR were 9.81, 6.08, 4.12 (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrates that PAPP-A was an independent risk factor for the cardiovascular adverse events in the early, median, and late phase of ACS (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn the early phase of ACS attack, the elevation of PAPP-A is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of cardiovascular adverse events.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; diagnosis ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between adiponectin and beta-cell function in abdominal visceral obesity women.

METHODSNine abdominal visceral obesity women (VO), 9 normal subjects (C) and 7 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were enrolled in the study. Beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity were determined by hyperglycemic clamp, fasting serum adiponectin was assayed by ELISA and regional body fat was measured by MRI.

RESULTThe levels of first phase insulin release (FPIR), glucose disposal rates (GDR), insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and adiponectin were significantly elevated in control group compared with VO group and T2DM group. As compared with T2DM group, the levels of adiponectin, FPIR, second phase insulin release (SPIR) and maximum insulin release (INS(max)) increased significantly in VO group. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age, FPIR and GDR were positively correlated to adiponectin (B=0.145, 0.194, 0.277 respectively, all P<0.05), while waist-hip ratio was negatively correlated with adiponectin (B=-7.424, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe visceral obesity women have lower adiponectin levels, and hyperadiponectinemia may be the link with insulin secretion.

Abdominal Fat ; Adiponectin ; blood ; Adult ; Female ; Glucose Clamp Technique ; Humans ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; blood ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study expression of mutant p53 protein in workers occupationally exposed to benzidine and bladder cancer patients.

METHODSMutant p53 protein in serum from the workers occupationally exposed to benzidine and bladder cancer patients were determined with Immuno-PCR, while exfoliated urothelial cells in the urine samples were classified with Papanicolau grading.

RESULTSPositive rate of mutant p53 protein increased with the exposed intensity index in workers occupationally exposed to benzidine. The positive rate of mutant p53 protein in bladder cancer patients (83.3%) was significantly higher than that in the group 1 of exposed intensity index. The average scanning integrals of PCR amplified band in the group of bladder cancer patients and group 2 of exposed intensity index were both higher than that in the group 1 significantly. Workers in the groups of different exposed intensity indices were further stratified according to Papanicolau grades. In the group 2 of exposed intensity index, the average scanning integrals of PCR amplified band in the stratum of Papanicolau grade II and III were significantly higher than that in the strata of Papanicolau grade I. And in the group 3 of exposed intensity index, the positive rate of mutant p53 protein in the strata of Papanicolau grade III was higher than that in the strata of Papanicolau grade I significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe increase of exposed intensity may not only result in the positive rate of mutant p53 protein, but also the quantity of mutant p53 protein in serum within the low range of benzidine exposure. Once the exposed intensity was beyond that spectrum, the positive rate of mutant p53 protein in serum and the average scanning integrals of PCR amplified band were no longer enhanced with the increase of exposed intensity. There was tight correlation between Papanicolau grade of exfoliated urothelial cells and the positive rate or the quantity of mutant p53 protein for the higher benzidine exposure intensity.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Benzidines ; toxicity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Urothelium ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDClinical observations have shown that the complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) associates with ganglionated plexus activity in the cardiac autonomic nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the impact of CFAE ablation on vagal modulation to atria and vulnerability to develop atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSTen adult mongrel dogs were involved. Cervical sympathovagal trunks were decentralized and sympathetic effects were blocked. CFAE was color tagged on the atrial 3-dimensional image and ablated during AF induced by S1S2 programmed stimulation plus sympathovagal trunk stimulation. Atrial effective refractory period (ERP) and vulnerability window (VW) of AF were measured on baseline and at vagal stimulation at 4 atrium sites. Serial tissue sections from ablative and control specimens received hematoxylin and eosin staining for microscopic examination.

RESULTSMost CFAE areas were localized at the right superior pulmonary quadrant, distal coronary sinus (CS(d)) quadrant, and proximal coronary sinus (CS(p)) quadrant (21.74%, separately). Sinus rhythm cycle length (SCL) shortening did not decrease significantly after ablation at the sites, including right atrial appendage, left atrial appendage, CS(d), and CS(p) (P > 0.05). ERP shortening during vagal stimulation significantly decreased after ablation (P < 0.01); the VW to vagal stimulation significantly decreased after ablation (P < 0.05). The architecture of individual ganglia altered after ablation.

CONCLUSIONSCFAE has an autonomic basis in dogs. The decreased SCL and ERP shortening to vagal stimulation after CFAE ablation demonstrate that CFAE ablation attenuates vagal modulation to the atria, thereby suppressing AF mediated by enhanced vagal activity. CFAE ablation could suppress AF mediated by enhanced vagal activity.

Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; therapy ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Dogs ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; methods ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Male