AIM: To evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of thickness profile measurement of intra-retinal layers determined by an automated algorithm applied to OCT images from Cirrus optical coherence tomography (OCT) instrument.METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study,retinal thickness images at 6mm×6mm around fovea were obtained from 86 eyes of 43 normal subjects with Cirrus HD-OCT instrument.The retinal images from patients were analysis by Cirrus automated algorithm GCA software,including ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer(GCIPL).During this study,operator A would make 2 times measurements to all patients,after that operator B would make another 2 times measurements by Repeat scan model.All the data,including GCL average thickness,min thickness,12 clock average thickness,2 clock average thickness,4 clock average thickness,6 clock average thickness,8 clock average thickness and 10 clock average thickness were measured by SPSS 15.0 software.Standard deviation (SD),coefficient of variation (CV) and interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated from the results of three-times tests by different examiner to evaluate the repeatability and from the results of two different examiners to assess the reproducibility.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to any medical procedure.RESULTS: The average GCIPL thickness of OD was 85.12±3.95μm;the minimum average GCIPL thickness was 83.21±4.41μm;the standard deviation of OD in clock map was from 3.79μm to 4.84μm;CV(95%CI) was between 0.26 and 0.93;ICC was from 0.939 to 0.989.The average GCL+IPL thickness of OS was 84.65±8.73μm;the minimum average GCPL thickness was 81±13.08μm;the standard deviation of OS in clock map was from 8.24μm to 10.56μm;CV(95%CI) was between 0.92 and 4.94;ICC was from 0.264 to 0.968.CONCLUSION: Cirrus HD-OCT GCA software with automated algorithm can offer accurate and repeatable thickness profile of OCT retinal image.GCA is a useful and reliable approach to the measurement of intra-retinal layer thickness,which may improve the diagnosis and monitoring of retinal diseases.

Objective To determine the normal range of minimal erythema dose (MED) of normal skin to ultraviolet A (UVA) and B (UVB). Methods The definition of MED is the dose of UVA required to induce a just perceptible erythema on an individual′s skin 24 hours after irradiation. One hundred and eighteen subjects including healthy volunteers and patients with noninflammatory skin disorders were enrolled and studied with SUV1000 type UV simulator in March 2002. Results The average MED value for UVA was 55 J/cm2 (range: 18 - 95 J/cm2) in the males, and 40 J/cm2 (range: 15 - 100 J/cm2) in the females. The average MED value for UVB was 31 mJ/cm2 (range: 12 - 95 mJ/cm2) in the males and 29 mJ/cm2 (range: 8 - 95 mJ/cm2) in the females. The MED value for UVA in the males was significantly higher than that in the females (P 0.05). The MED values for UVA as well as UVB in skin type Ⅲ were significantly lower than those in skin type Ⅳ (UVA-MED: P

Objective To study the role of photoallergens and contact allergens in the pathogenesis of chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD).Methods Ba sed on the standard procedures of photopatch test recommended by the British Pho todermatology Group (BPG) and the routine procedures of patch test,photopatch a nd patch tests were performed on 56 patients with CAD,42 patients with polymorp hous light eruption (PLE) and 25 patients with chronic eczema on scalp and face by standard photopatch test series recommended by the International Contact Derm atitis Research Group (ICDRG) and home-made standard series of contact allerge ns.A set of ten Philips TL20W/09N tubes was used as the source of irradiation.Results In the 56 CAD patients,the positive rates were 46.43 %,57.14 % and 32.14% for photopatch test,patch test and both tests,respectively,which appea red to be significantly higher than those in the patients with PLE.Positive pa tch reactions were found in 65% of the patients with chronic eczema,which was s imilar to that of CAD.And the frequency of the positive allergens in chronic ec zema was the same as that in CAD,in which fragrance mixture (FM) ranked the fir st,followed by balsam of Peru (BOP),cobalt chloride,nickel sulphate.In CAD,FM and BOP were the most common allergens and photoallergens,which accounted fo r 44% and 32% of the positive reactions in patch tests,15.38% and 17.95% in pho topatch tests,respectively.Conclusions Both photoallergens and contact aller gens may play important roles in the pathogenesis of CAD.Allergens positive in patch tests and photopatch tests and related compounds which can cause cross-r eactivity with the above allergens should be avoided by the patients with CAD.

Objective To study the relationship of sunlight exposure and photoprotection with clinical activity in systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods A structured questionaire was administered to 107 SLE patients, to assess their attitudes and behavior regarding sunlight exposure and photoprotection. The clinical manifestations, laboratory findings and treatment were evaluated. Results All patients were classified into two groups based on the duration of exposure to sunlight per day. Fourty-eight (44.86%) patients were exposed to direct sunlight for an average of less than one hour per day in one group and 59 (55.14%) for one hour or more in the other group. Twenty-four (22.43%) patients reported use of photoprotective measures in spring and summer. The patients in the former group had significantly lower incidences of photosensitivity, arthritis, alopecia, exacerbations, presence of anti-dsDNA antibody, decrease of complement C3, C4 and CH50 than those in the latter group(P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of puerarin on cell proliferation, differentiation, maturation and mineralization in cultured rat osteoblasts.

METHODOsteoblasts from craniums of newly born SD rats were cultured in vitro. MTT, PNPP and ARS were used to observe the proliferation, activity of ALP and the number of mineral node of cultured osteoblasts in vitro.

RESULTIt was found that puerarin had the effect on stimulating cell proliferation, activity of ALP and the number of mineral node of cultured osteoblasts (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPuerarin can promote proliferation, differentiation, maturation and mineralization of the osteoblasts in vitro.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Calcification, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skull ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of lower limb arterial occlusion in patients below 45 years old.

METHODSThe clinical data of 58 patients with lower limb arterial occlusion (except for Buerger's disease) below 45 years old admitted to PUMC Hospital from July 1997 to November 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSAmong these 58 patients, 31 patients (53.4%) had confirmed thrombophilic risk factors, including 12 patients had two or more thrombophilic risk factors. Follow-up (ranged 2-43 months, mean 10 months) showed higher rates of revascularization and amputation in patients with thrombophilic risk factors (22.6% and 22.6%, respectively) than in those without thrombophilic risk factors (14.8% and 11.1%, respectively) (P > 0.05). Among patients with two or more thrombophilic risk factors, the rates of revascularization and amputation were 25.0% and 33.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSLower limb arterial occlusion in young adults is often caused by thrombophilic risk factors. Attention should be taken to identify these etiologies before surgical treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombosis ; complications ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo design and develop a novel, sensitive and versatile method for in vivo foot printing and studies of DNA damage, such as DNA adducts and strand breaks.

METHODSStarting with mammalian genomic DNA, single-stranded products were made by repeated primer extension, these products were ligated to a double-stranded linker having a randomized 3' overhang, and used for PCR. DNA breaks in p53 gene produced by restriction endonuclease AfaI were detected by using this new method followed by Southern hybridization with DIG-labeled probe.

RESULTSThis randomized terminal linker-dependent PCR (RDPCR) method could generate band signals many-fold stronger than conventional ligation-mediated PCR (LMPCR), and it was more rapid, convenient and accurate than the terminal transferase-dependent PCR (TDPCR).

CONCLUSIONDNA strand breakage can be detected sensitively in the gene level by RDPCR. Any lesion that blocks primer extension should be detectable.

Animals ; DNA Adducts ; DNA Damage ; DNA Primers ; Genes, p53 ; genetics ; Humans ; Mammals ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of subintimal angioplasty in treating patients with iliac artery occlusive disease.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 13 patients with iliac artery occlusion who received subintimal wire placement followed by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement in our hospital from May 2004 to August 2006.

RESULTSInitial success was obtained in all the 13 patients with an improvement in both the symptoms and the mean ankle-brachial index of 0.55 (range: 0.39-0.94, P = 0.004) without any complication. During the follow-up (range: 3-21 months; mean: 12 months), the one-year stent patency rate reached 100%.

CONCLUSIONSubintimal angioplasty is a valuable approach to treat iliac artery occlusion with reliable efficacy and safety.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; methods ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; therapy ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Female ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

To observe the serum samples and the anti-inflammatory effect of Tripterygium wilfordii in treating RA by using the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model, make a correlation analysis on concentration-time and effect-time curves, and explore RORγt, IL-17, STAT3, IL-6 mRNA transcriptional levels in rats by PCR. Methotrexate, tripterine and high-dose T. wilfordii could down-regulate RORγt, IL-17, STAT3, IL-6 mRNA transcriptional levels in AA rat lymph nodes. The study on PK-PD model showed correlations between inflammatory factors and blood concentration of T. wilfordii. T. wilfordii and its main active constituent tripterine could show the inflammatory effect and treat RA by inhibiting IL-17 cytokine.
Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Biomarkers ; Female ; Interleukin-17 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tripterygium ; Triterpenes ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the intervention effect of Leihong Granule (LG) in in-stent restenosis (ISR) after endovascular therapy for lower extremity arterial occlusive diseases (LEAOD).

METHODSRecruited 80 LEAOD patients who successfully underwent endovascular therapy (balloon dilation and stent implantation) were randomly assigned to two groups, the control group and the LG group, 40 in each group. Patients in the control group received basic treatment, while those in the LG group additionally took LG for 3 months. Plasma levels of IL-10, IL-18, CRP, and the intima-media thickness (IMT) of lower extremity artery were observed in the two groups between and after treatment. The rate of stent patency, ABI, intermittent claudication, rest pain, and the incidence of amputation the two groups were recorded and observed in the two groups.

RESULTSIn the control group, serum levels of IL-10, IL-18, CRP, and IMT were significantly higher one month after surgery than before surgery (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum levels of IL-10, IL-18, CRP, or IMT between the two groups before surgery (P > 0.05). These indices were obviously lower in the LG group than in the control group after surgery (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the incidence rates of intermittent claudication and the rest pain at 6 months and 12 months after surgery significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The stent patency rate at 6 months and 12 months after surgery, and ABI were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the amputation rate between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLG might effectively improve ischemic symptoms of affected limbs possibly through lowering the ISR rate after endovascular therapy for LEAOD through preventing immunosuppressive actions.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Graft Occlusion, Vascular ; therapy ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Lower Extremity ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome