BackgroundIdiopathic epiretinal membranes(ERMs) is a common eye disease condition that leads to progressive decline of visual acuity. Studying the risk factors relating to this disease will shed light on its pathogenesis and allow opthalmologists to screen the affected individuals among the high-risk population and prepare for prevention and management strategies. ObjectiveThis survey was to investigate the risk factors of idiopathic ERMs in the population undergoing routine health check-ups. MethodsThe clinical data of idiopathic ERMs was obtained from the population of routine health check-ups in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from November 2009 to October 2010. The examination outcomes were compared between the individuals with and without idiopathic ERMs. The demographic and clinical factors associated with idiopathic ERMs were analyzed and assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Result A total of 27 400 people were included in the survey and idiopathic ERMs were diagnosed in 76 cases. No obvious eye complaint was obtained from the idiopathic ERMs. The number of people affected with idiopathic ERMs was 12 ( 12/11 659 ) in the below 40 years group, 21 (21/4595) in the 51-60 years group and 32 (32/2544) in the over 60 years group. Hypertension, diabetes, diedyslipidemia, renal function insufficiency ,and cataract were found in 42％ ,5％ ,66％ ,6％ and 8％ of the patients, respectively. The univariate logistic regression analyses revealed that significant correlations were found between age,hypertension,hyperlipidemia and history of cataract( P＜0. 01 ). Multivariate regression models showed that the risk of idiopathic ERMs increased in age of 51-60( OR=2. 5,95％ CI:1. 2-5.4,P=0.02) and over 60 years( OR =7.3,95％ CI:3.4-15.6 ,P＜0.01 ) and patients suffering from hyperlipidemia ( OR--2. 1,95％ CI:1. 3-3.5, P＜0. 01 ). ConclusionsOver the age of 50 years and hyperlipidemia are primary risk factors of idiopathic ERM.

Objective To investigate the role of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-?B)/inhibitor protein-kappa B(I?B) signal pathway in viral transactivation of transcription in steroid responsive simple nephrotic syndrome(SRSNS).Methods Children with SRSNS(inclu-ding active stage and remissive stage) were examined,and were compared to children with nephritic nephrosis,secondary glomerular di-seases,bronchiolitis and healthy children.Electro-mobility shift assays,reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) were used to detect the activity of NF-?B,the gene expression of respiratory tract viruses (including respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and the levels of viral antibody in plasma,respectively.The protein levels of I?B? and IL-8 were measured through Western blot and ELISA in SRSNS at active stage and healthy children.Results Compared with SRSNS at remissive stage and other groups,the activity of NF?B in SRSNS at active stage was much higher.And there was a positive linear correlation trend between the activity of NF-?B and the gene expression of respiratory tract viruses in SRSNS at active stage.With healthy children,the level of IL-8 in plasma from SRSNS at active stage was significantly increased.There was a positive correlation between the activity of NF?B and the level of IL-8(r=0.88 P

In this study, the buffering capacity of amphiphilic pH-sensitivity copolymer poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-cholesteryl methyl carbonate (PEOZ-CHMC) was evaluated. The ammonium sulfate gradient method was used to prepare doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX x HCl)-loaded liposomes (DOX-L), and then the post-insertion method was used to prepare PEOZ-CHMC and polyethylene glycol-distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PEG-DSPE) modified DOX x HCl-loaded liposomes (PEOZ-DOX-L and PEG-DOX-L). The physico-chemical properties, in vitro drugs release behavior, cellular toxicity and intracellular delivery of liposomes were evaluated, separately. The results showed that PEOZ-CHMC has a satisfactory buffering capacity. The sephadex G-50 column centrifugation method and dynamic light scattering were used to determine the encapsulation efficiency (EE) and particle size of liposomes. The EE and particle size of DOX-L were (97.3 ± 1.4) % and 120 nm, respectively, and the addition of PEOZ-CHMC or PEG-DSPE had no influence on EE and particle size. The zeta potentials of three kinds of liposomes were negative. The release behavior of various DOX liposomes in vitro was investigated by dialysis method. In phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at pH 7.4, DOX x HCl was released from PEOZ-DOX-L in a sustained manner. While in PBS at pH 5.0, the release rate of DOX x HCl from PEOZ-DOX-L increased significantly, which suggested DOX x HCl was released from PEOZ-DOX-L in a pH-dependent manner. The intracellular delivery of liposomes was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The CLSM images indicated that PEOZ-DOX-L showed efficient intracellular trafficking including endosomal escape and release DOX x HCl into nucleus, as well as the DOX-L and PEG-DOX-L had no this effect. The cytotoxicity of liposomes against MCF-7 cells was detected by using MTT assay. The results showed that antiproliferative effects of PEOZ-DOX-L enhanced with pH value decreased, whereas DOX-L and PEG-DOX-L did not have any significant difference in inhibitions at different pH conditions. Therefore, the problems of the inhibition of cellular uptake of liposomes and the failed endosomal escape of pH-sensitive liposomes by PEG chain can be overcome by the pH-sensitive liposomes constructed by PEOZ-CHMC.
Cell Nucleus ; Doxorubicin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Endosomes ; Formates ; chemistry ; Humans ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; MCF-7 Cells ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Particle Size ; Phosphatidylethanolamines ; Polyamines ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry

PURPOSE: We analyzed the risk factors affecting readmission of children with pneumonia. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of pediatric patients admitted to the Department of Pediatrics at the Jeonju Presbyterian Medical Center from January 2007 to August 2016. We classified patients who were readmitted with pneumonia within 30 days of discharge as the readmission group and patients who were admitted with pneumonia for the first time as the first admission group. RESULTS: Among 158 patients, the study (readmission) group included 82 patients and the control (first admission) group included 76 patients. Age, the percentage of segmented neutrophils and lymphocytes, the number of admissions in the last 12 months, the associated diseases (respiratory diseases such as asthma), and the affection of the right upper lung were analyzed as risk factors for readmission. However, based on a regression analysis, only age and associated diseases were found to be significant risk factors. The rate of readmission increased with younger age. When there were associated diseases, the rate of readmission also increased. CONCLUSIONS: Young age and associated diseases were significant risk factors for readmission for patients with pediatric pneumonia. When pediatric patients are admitted with pneumonia, if they are young and/or have associated diseases, a comprehensive approach is needed to reduce the rate of readmission with careful consideration of precise examination, treatment, timing of discharge, and follow-up.
Child* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Medical Records ; Neutrophils ; Patient Readmission ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia* ; Protestantism ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors*

PURPOSE: We analyzed the risk factors affecting readmission of children with pneumonia. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of pediatric patients admitted to the Department of Pediatrics at the Jeonju Presbyterian Medical Center from January 2007 to August 2016. We classified patients who were readmitted with pneumonia within 30 days of discharge as the readmission group and patients who were admitted with pneumonia for the first time as the first admission group. RESULTS: Among 158 patients, the study (readmission) group included 82 patients and the control (first admission) group included 76 patients. Age, the percentage of segmented neutrophils and lymphocytes, the number of admissions in the last 12 months, the associated diseases (respiratory diseases such as asthma), and the affection of the right upper lung were analyzed as risk factors for readmission. However, based on a regression analysis, only age and associated diseases were found to be significant risk factors. The rate of readmission increased with younger age. When there were associated diseases, the rate of readmission also increased. CONCLUSIONS: Young age and associated diseases were significant risk factors for readmission for patients with pediatric pneumonia. When pediatric patients are admitted with pneumonia, if they are young and/or have associated diseases, a comprehensive approach is needed to reduce the rate of readmission with careful consideration of precise examination, treatment, timing of discharge, and follow-up.
Child* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Medical Records ; Neutrophils ; Patient Readmission ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia* ; Protestantism ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors*

Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas are the second most common primary cardiac tumor. This tumor is usually benign and it involves the cardiac valve. However, most cardiac papillary fibroelastomas originate from a single site, and the incidence of cardiac papillary fibroelastomas originating from multiple sites is very rare (5%). A 55-year-old woman who presented with momentary dizziness and syncope was evaluated by performing echocardiography. Multiple tumors attached to the aortic valve were noted. The mass was removed freely without leaving any defect on the aortic valve leaflet. After the recovery period, the patient is currently being followed up at the outpatient department.
Aortic Valve ; Dizziness ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Neoplasms ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Outpatients ; Syncope

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pemphigus is an autoimmune bullous disease of the skin and mucous membranes. There are two major types of pemphigus, namely pemphigus vulgaris(PV) and pemphigus foliaceus(PF) which can be classified by the specificity of the autoantibodies against the epidermal desmosomal antigens in this disease. Like many other autoimmune diseases, pemphigus is also considered to be strongly associated with certain HLA alleles; some alleles can be detected with higher frequencies as compared with those found in ethnically matched populations. At this time, we tried to find out if there were certain HLA class II allele(s) associated significantly with Korean patients of pemphigus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with pemphigus (fifteen of PV and fifteen of PF), and one hundred healthy Korean controls were enrolled in this study. For the genotyping of HLA class II alleles in DRB1 loci, genomic DNAs prepared from buccal epithelia were amplified by polymerase chain reactions with nucleotide sequence-specific primers. Each allele of thirteen different generic types belonging to the DRB1 loci were used to identify the existence of each allele in both patient and control groups on gel electrophoreses. RESULTS: In PV, there was a significantly increased frequency of HLA-DRB1*01 alleles than from the findings observed in the controls(pc=0.0013, RR:5). In patients with PF, there was a significant degree of association with HLA-DRB1*01(pc=0.00013, RR:5.5) when compared with that in normal controls. However, no allele of negative association with a significantly low frequency in the patient group was detected in both types of the disease. CONCLUSION: It can be suggested that DRB1*01 alleles may be susceptibility genes in Korean patients with PV, and DRB1*01 alleles could contribute to the autoimmune reactivity in patients with PF. This data shows different patterns in the frequency of each DRB1 allele in patient groups compared with those found in patients of other ethnic backgrounds.
Alleles* ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; HLA-DRB1 Chains* ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Pemphigus* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin

Background Epidemiological surveys showed that the types of bacteria are different in the conjunvical sac from different nationalities,which possibly is associated with living environment.To characterize the types of conjunctival bacteria involved is important for the prevention and treatment of infectious eye diseases.Objective The present survey was to obtain data about bacterial species in the conjunctival sac in the Tibetan minority population aged over 40 years old and compared with the matched Han nationality population.Methods The standardized training and protocol were performed before this survey.A total of 290 eyes of 145 individuals from the Tibetan minority and 346 eyes of 173 subjects from the Han nationality were enrolled in this study in Ganzi Autonomous Prefecture,who had received questionnaire surveys and ophthalmological examinations.The secretion of the inferior palpebral conjunctival sac was embrocated and inoculated and grown on blood plates for 48-72 hours.The bacteria were isolated and identified.This study was approved by the Medical Ethic Committee of the Sichuan People Hospital.Oral informed consent was obtained from the subjects.Results No significant differences were seen in the constituent ratio of the gender as well as the age between the Tibetan minority and Han nationality in this study (x2 =0.987,P=0.3202;t=1.142,P=0.254).There was a significant difference in the proportions of farmers and herdsmen between the two groups(x2 =8.557,P =0.000).The positive rate of bacterial cultivation in Tibetan individuals was 50.74％,showing a statistically significant decrease in comparison with the Han people(60.4％)(x2=6.042,P=0.014).There was no statistical difference in the multiple bacterial species between the two groups (11.0％ in Tibetan,11.6％ in Han people)(x2 =0.0271,P =0.869).The rate of staphylococcus epidemics was 26.6％ in the Tibetan minority and that of Han population was 33.2％,without a significant difference between them (x2 =3.350,P=0.060).No significant difference was seen in the ratio of corynbacterium infection between the two population(15.9％ vs.17.3％)(x2 =0.248,P =0.618).Conclusions The ratio of bacterial cultivation in Tibetans is statistically lower than that of the Han people.The types and distribution of bacteria are similar in the Tibetan and Han nationality.

Objective To explore the features of patients with acute leukemia (AL) in Hematology Department of Shenzhen Hospital affliated to Beijing University during the past six years. Methods The data of the 1056 acute leukemia dignosed in our department between 2002-2007 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results The male patients was predominant (male/female ratio was 1.78). The number of patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML) was higher than that of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (AML/ALL ratio was 1.85). Most of the AML patients were young adult (65 %) and elderly ALL patients were very rare(1.33 %). AL cases were tended to increase gradually by year. The ratio of treatment-related AL in Shenzhen was lower than that reported literature in other countries. The major cause of the treatment-related AL were chemotherapy/radiotherapy and psoriasis treated with bimolane. Conclusion Some of the features of AL patients in China were further confirmed and some new features were also found in this study. These changes should be demonstrated by the next national epidemiology survey of leukemia.

The chemical constituents of Rhodiola kirilowii were separated and purified by repeated column chromatography on silica gel, RP - 18, Sephadex LH -20 and semi-preparative HPLC. Each compound was characterized by spectroscopic and physical data. Twelve compounds have been purified and identified to be beta-sitosterol (1), tyrosol (2), trans-hydroxycinnamic acid (3), geranyl beta-glucopyranoside (4), neryl beta-glucopyranoside (5), hexyl beta-glucopyranoside (6), gallic acid (7), (-) -epigallocatechin gallate (8), rhodiolgin (9), isolariciresinol-9-O-beta-glucopyranoside (10), rhodiooctanoside (11), and sacranoside B (12). Among them, compounds 3, 6, 9-12 were isolated from Rhodiola kirilowii for the first time; Compounds 4 and 5 were obtained for the first time from the genus Rhodiola. The in vitro activities against Macobacterium tuberculosis (ATCC 27294) of its extracts and pure components were evaluated by testing their MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimal bactericidal concentration). The 80% (a. q.) EtOH extract, EtOAc-soluble extract, compounds 7 and 8 exhibited in-vitro inhibitory and bactericidal activities against Macobacterium tuberculosis in different extent.
Antitubercular Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Rhodiola ; chemistry