Humans ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nose Diseases ; Syndrome

Background Orthokeratology has been proved to temporarily alter the equivalent sphere,but its effects on visual quality deserve attention.Objective The present study was to investigate the visual quality after overnight orthokeratology in pre-adolescent myopes.Methods Written informed consent was obtained form each subject prior to entering into this series.A descriptive study design was used.One hundred and fifty eyes of 76 teenagers aged (14.90± 1.24)years with low and moderate myopia (-2.79 ± 0.82)D were included in the study.Fitted with Ortho-K contact lens,the lens was wore every night for over 8 hours.Subjective refraction,uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA),contrast sensitivity function,corneal-topography,and aberrometry were examined before,1 week and 3 months after the initiation of orthokeratology.Visual quality was generally evaluated by comparing before wearing,1 week and 3 months after wearing using the National Eye Institute refractive error quality of life instrument (NEI-RQL-42TM).All the procedures were performed by the same clinician.Results Spherical equivalent refractions were (-0.33± 1.02) D and (-0.26 ± 0.60) D 1 week and 3 months after orthokeratology,showing significant decline in comparison with (-2.79±0.82) D of before orthokeratology (P =0.001,0.001).However,no considerable difference was seen between 1 week and 3 months after orthokeratology (P=0.161).Contrast sensitivity function was significantly different in all spatial frequencies before wearing,1 week and 3 months after wearing,and those of 1 week and 3 months after wearing were significantly lower than those of before wearing (1 week:3 cpd P =0.001,6 cpd P=0.001,12 cpd P＜0.05,18 epd P＜0.05 ;3 months:3 cpd P=0.001,6 cpd P=0.001,12 cpd P＜0.05,18 cpd P＜0.05).There was no significant change in contrast sensitivity function between 1 week and 3 months of orthokeratology (P＞0.05).Flat K,steep K and corneal eccentricity (e) were significantly reduced (P =0.000),and surface asymmetry index (SAI) and surface regularity index (SRI) were significantly improved after orthokeratology in comparison with before orthokeratology (both P =0.001).Root mean square (RMS) of total higher-order,third-order and fourth-order aberrations were significantly increased (P＜0.05),but RMS of whole aberration and second-order aberrations significantly decreased after orthokeratology (P＜ 0.05).There were no significant changes in the fifth-order,sixth-order and seventh-order aberration among pre-wear,1 week and 3 months after orthokeratology.Scales of dark to bright,nocturnal driving,glare,visual fluctuate and halo were lower than those before orthokeratology (P＜0.05).The scales of visual fluctuate between 1 month and 3 months after orthokeratology had significant differences (P＜0.01),while the rest of the scales had no significant differences (P＞0.05).Conclusions Orthokeratology can reduce myopic diopter 1 week after orthokeratology.The overnight wearing of fitted orthokeratology can decrease contrast sensitivity and increase corneal surface irregularity and RMS of third-order and fourth-order.Compared with spectacles,orthokeratology reduces subjective visual quality,especially nocturnal quality.

The multi-piece post-crown technique is more effective in restoring residual root than other restoration techniques. Various types of adhesives have different material properties that affect restoration. Therefore, the choice of adhesive is particularly important for patients. However, the effect of different kinds of adhesives was not too precise by experimental methods when concerning about individual differences of teeth. One tooth root can only be restored with one type of adhesive in experiment. After the mechanical test, this tooth root cannot be restored with other adhesives. With the help of medical imaging technology, reverse engineering and finite element analysis, a molar model can be reconstructed precisely and restored using different types of adhesives. The same occlusal and chewing loads were exerted on the same restored residual root models with different types of adhesives separately. Results of von Mises stress analysis showed that the adhesives with low Young's modulus can protect the root canal effectively. However, a root canal concentration is apparently produced around the root canal orifice when chewing. Adhesives with large Young's modulus can buffer the stress concentration of the root canal orifice. However, the root canal tissue may be destroyed because the adhesive is too hard to buffer the load.
Crowns ; Dental Bonding ; Dental Cements ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Dental Stress Analysis ; methods ; Elastic Modulus ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Post and Core Technique ; Tooth, Nonvital

To explore a new method to identify Moutan Cortex to guarantee its safe use, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence was used to identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants. DNA was extracted and target fragments were amplified. Sequences were analyzed and assembled by CodonCode Aligner V3.7.1. Genetic distances were computed and phylogenetic tree was constructed based on kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model by MEGA 5.0. The length of the 20 ITS2 sequences of Moutan Cortex from nine different places is 227 bp, and no variation site was detected. The maximum inter-specificK2P distance of Moutan Cortex is 0, the minimum intra-specific K2P distance is 0.041, the average intra-specific K2P distance is 0.222. According to NJ analysis, Moutan Cortex from different places can get together as one branch with bootstrap support values 99%, which indicates Moutan Cortex can be easily distinguished from its adulterants. Using ITS2 sequence can accurately identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants, it is an effective supplementary to traditional identification methods.
Base Sequence ; China ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paeonia ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological features of testicular malignant Leydig cell tumor (TMLCT) and improve the non-invasive diagnosis of the disease.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data on a case of TMLCT, detected the circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the peripheral venous blood, and reviewed the related literature.

RESULTSThe patient, a 47-year-old male, underwent radical orchidoepididymectomy under general anesthesia. Postoperative pathology confirmed the lesion to be TMLCT, which was mainly composed of Leydig cells and suspected with vessel carcinoma embolus. Immunohistochemistry showed the tumor cells to be positive for α-inhibin, Ki67, CD30, vimentin, EMA, and PLAP, but negative for CK, CK7, S100, CD10, SMA, Des, AFP, hCG, CEA, CK19, CD117, Oct-4, LCA, CD20, Pax-5, CD3, and CD43. Two CTCs were detected in the peripheral venous blood. The patient received 3 courses of chemotherapy for retroperitoneal multiple lymph nodes metastasis post-operatively. Subsequent CT imaging manifested no obvious reduction of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes and consequently the patient again underwent retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy and cryoablation. At 8 months after treatment, CT examination revealed notably enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes with the right adrenal gland evidently invaded.

CONCLUSIONTMLCT is an extremely rare sex-gonad stromal tumor with high malignancy and poor prognosis, and CTCs may be used for its early diagnosis and prognostic prediction.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leydig Cell Tumor ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Testicular Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery

Objective To investigate the influential factors on the effectiveness of the first 131I ablation therapy on thyroid remnant and of 131I treatment on metastatic lesions in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. Methods Retrospectively,46 DTC cases (divided into complete-ablation group and incomplete-ablation group) of first 131I ablation were enrolled,and 40 DTC cases (divided into remission group and in-remission group) of consecutive 131I treatments on metastatic lesions were enrolled. Influential factors were analyzed (t-test,t'-test,x2-test,Fisher exact test) and logistic regression analysis was performed. Results For the first 131I ablation effectiveness,surgical method,remnant thyroid weight,thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level,interval between surgery and 131I ablation therapy,metastatic status were selected as influential factors (x2 = 5. 804,t' = - 5. 258,t' = 7. 376,x2 = 8. 867,x2 = 8. 615,all P ＜0. 05). After logistic regression analysis,formula was obtained as y = 3. 766 - 0. 947x1 ( remnant thyroid weight) -3. 149 x2 (lymph node metastasis) -3. 373 x3 (distant metastasis). For metastatic treatment effectiveness,remission rate of papillary DTC was higher than that of follicular DTC,remission rate of patients with lymph node metastasis was higher than that of distant metastasis,remission rate of total thyroidectomy was higher than that of other types of thyroidectomy ( Fisher exact test,x2 = 7. 278,P ＜ 0. 05 ). In remission group,serum TSH level was much higher and thyroglobulin (Tg) level was much lower before the first ablation therapy (t =4. 489,t' = -4.906,all P ＜0.01 ). After logistic regression analysis,formula was obtained as y = - 0. 363 + 0. 065 x4 ( TSH level) - 0. 250 x5 ( Tg level). Conclusions Influential factors of success rate of the first 131I ablation therapy included surgical method,remnant thyroid weight,TSH level,interval between surgery and 131I ablation therapy and metastatic status,while determinant factors were thyroid remnant weight,lymph node metastatic status and distant metastatic status. The influential factors of success rate of 131I treatment on metastatic lesions included pathological type,surgical method,metastatic status,TSH level and Tg level,while determinant factors were TSH level and Tg level before the first 131I ablation therapy.

This study aims to explore the improvement and the mechanism of the Alisma plantago-aquatica Linn. (ApL) on chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). All animal experiments were followed the regulation of the Experimental Animal Ethical Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. CGN mouse model was established by a single tail-vein injection of doxorubicin (Dox) (20 mg·kg^-1). One week after Dox administration, the mice received water extract of ApL (85 and 255 mg·kg^-1) by gavage once a day for 14 days. At the end of experiment, the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), serum albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) were detected, kidney histopathological H&E staining was analyzed. Active ingredients and action targets of ApL were collected from TCMSP database, and CGN-related targets were obtained from Genecards database. STRING platform was employed to perform protein-protein interaction (PPI), and Metascape platform was used for KEGG pathway and GO enrichment analysis. The results of experiments demonstrated that ApL (85 and 255 mg·kg^-1) could reduce the ACR and the content of SCr and BUN, and increase the content of ALB in mice. Network pharmacology results predicted that nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)-related pathway and biological process of oxidoreductase activity regulation may be involved in the ApL-provided amelioration on CGN. The verification results showed that ApL could inhibit the activation of NF-κB and the expression of inflammatory factors in mice, and reduce the activity of renal myeloperoxidase (MPO). Meanwhile, ApL promoted the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and increased the expression of its downstream gene mRNA, and reduced the level of renal malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and further elevated renal glutathione (GSH) level. Based on network pharmacology combined experiments, this study found that ApL may improve CGN in mice through multiple targets and multiple pathways, in which the inhibition of NF-κB signaling and the activation of Nrf2 signaling may be important mechanisms involved.

In order to investigate the prevalence and track genetic and antigenic evolutions of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and their prevalence in Guangxi, China since 1985, gene amplification and sequencing and virus neutralization (VN) test on chicken embryo tracheal organ cultures were used in genotyping and serotyping of 28 IBV isolates during 2009-2011 in Guangxi. The results of N gene sequencing and comparison showed that the 28 isolates and reference strains were classified into three groups, and most isolates belonged to group Ill, while the isolates in 1985-2008 belonged to groups IV and II. The data of VN test indicated that the 28 isolates belonged to 6 serotypes; among them, 71. 4% belonged to serotypes 1, 2, and 3, and 11 (39.3%) shared the same serotype with the current vaccine strains. Given the data of our previous study, it is found that prevalent serotypes and their proportions varied in different areas of Guangxi and during different periods. These data lay a good foundation for developing an oil-emulsified inactivated polyvalent vaccine containing local dominant serotypes for the effective prevention and control of infectious bronchitis.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Chick Embryo ; Chickens ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; immunology ; veterinary ; virology ; Infectious bronchitis virus ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Poultry Diseases ; epidemiology ; immunology ; virology

OBJECTIVETo analyze alterations in the gene expression profiles of Velcade-treated K562 cells using bioinformatics methods.

METHODSThe total RNAs of Velcade-treated and control K562 cells were amplified and labeled with fluorescent dyes. The labeled RNAs were hybridized to Agilent Human 1A Microarray, and the raw expression data were processed with Agilent Feature Extraction Software. GeneSifter and GATHER were used for data analysis of the differentially expressed genes to perform gene ontology classification, KEGG pathway analysis, functional protein association network construction and literature mining.

RESULTSTotally 228 differentially expressed genes were identified in the Velcade-treated K562 cells. including 84 up-regulated and 144 down-regulated genes. Chymase 1 gene had the greatest down-regulation by 10.80 folds (log ratio), and interferon alpha-21 gene was also down-regulated by 2.31 folds. Gene ontology classification suggested enhanced aging and leukocyte activity. KEGG pathway analysis showed significant impact of Velcade on JAK-STAT signaling pathway, cytotoxicity mediated by natural killer cells, and antigen processing and presentation pathways. Protein-protein interaction analysis revealed that ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolism, antigen presentation and immune response, as well as JAK-STAT signaling pathway were the major elements of the protein network. Literature mining showed that the differentially expressed genes were strongly associated with terms such as leukemia, apoptosis, cell cycle, proteasome, inhibitor, aging and IkappaB, etc.

CONCLUSIONSVelcade may inhibit the cell survival pathways such as NF-kappaB and JAK-STAT signaling pathways to enhance the cytotoxicity and inducing tumor cell apoptosis. Velcade might also be involved in antigen processing and presentation, immune response and inflammation. Chymase 1 gene is probably the key target of Velcade.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Boronic Acids ; pharmacology ; Bortezomib ; Chymases ; genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology

The intestinal absorption properties of the main effective components (glycyrrhizic acid, isoliquiritigenin, 6-gingerol, ginsenoside Rb1, atractylode-I) in Lizhong decoction (LZD) extracts were investigated with an in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion model in rats. UPLC-TQ-MS was used to determine the concentration of the five components in the intestinal perfusion. Animal welfare and experimental procedures were in accordance with the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. As evaluation indexes for the intestinal absorption characteristics, the absorption rate constant (K_a) and the apparent permeability coefficient (P_eff) of the five main ingredients were analyzed. Results showed that the best absorption sites for glycyrrhizic acid, isoliquiritin and 6-gingerol were the ileum, colon and duodenum, respectively, and the differences between different intestinal segments were statistically significant (P <0.05). There was no notable difference in K_a and P_eff between ginsenoside Rb1 and atractylode-I in the different intestinal segments (P > 0.05), suggesting that they were absorbed throughout. The five components were well-absorbed in the whole intestine (P_eff > 1.0×10^-3 cm·min^-1), indicating that LZD is suitable for preparing sustained, controlled release and enteric-coated preparations.