Background Neovascular glaucoma is a type of refractory glaucoma.Biological amnion combined with glaucoma valve implantation is a primary therapy and its long-term effectiveness is noticeable. Objective The goal of this Survey was to evaluate the effectiveness of biological amnion combined with glaucoma valve implantation for neovascular glaucoma and compare the clinical outcome with simple glaucoma valve implantation. Methods This was a retrospective observational case series.The clinical data of 44 eyes of 44 patients received biological amnion combined with glaucoma valve implantation for neovascular glaucoma and 43 eyes of 43 patients received simple glaucoma valve implantation for neovascular glaucoma were retrospectively analyzed and compared.The age,sex and disease-cause were matched between these two groups.Patients were followed-up for 24 months after operation.Surgery success was identified as the intraocular pressure(IOP)<21 mmHg after operation.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to the operation.Results The IOP was<21 mmHg throughout the follow-up duration in both groups.No significant difierence was found in the IOP value in 1 week after operation between two groups(t=-5.34,P=0.60).However,IOP values were lower in biological amnion combined with glaucoma valve implantation group in 3,12 and 24 months after operation than those of simple glaucoma valve implantation(t=6.64,t=5.00,t=7.81,P<0.01).Operation successful rates in biological amnion combined with glaucoma valve implantation group were 97.73％.93.18％。90.24％and 82.05％in 1 week,3 months,12 months and 24 months respectively after operation.and those in simple glaucoma valve implantation were 95.35％,71.43％,65.00％and 60.53％in corresponding time points,showing considerably significant differences between two groups (χ2=7.06,χ2=7.47,χ2=4.37,P<0.05).There was no significant difference in Ihe number of eyes with complication between the two groups(P>0.05). Conclusion The biological amnion combined with glaucoma valve implantation surgery may be more effective and safe for the treatment of neovascular glaucoma than with glaucoma va]ve only.

·AIM: To study the expressive variation of Nogo-A on rat retina in the process of chronic ocular hypertension. · METHODS: Thirty-six healthy adult male Wistars were randomly divided into control group (6 rats) and chronic hypertension group (30 rats). Chronic hypertension was created by cauterizing the superficial scleral veins. Immunohistochemistry technique was used to evaluate the expressive varieties of Nogo-A at different time points during the course of chronic ocular hypertension. · RESULTS: The success of the model was indicated by over 40% of increase in the IOP as compared with normal rats. Compared with control group, as time passed chronic hypertension group gradually had detectable morphology changes in the retina. At the 21st day of chronic ocular hypertension, retinas became thinner and the quantity of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) decreased (P<0.05). Assoicated with the morphological changes, the expression of Nogo-A was strongly increased (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Myelin associated protein Nogo-A plays a part in the process of chronic ocular hypertension.

AIM: To study the effects of geranylgeranylacetone(GGA) on the expression of heat shock protein70(HSP70) on retinal ganglion cells(RGC) in rats with chronic intraocular pressure(IOP) elevation.METHODS: Seventy Wistars were divided into blank control group(10 rats), chronic hypertension group(30 rats) and GGA group(30 rats). Chronic hypertension was created by cauterizing the superficial scleral veins. 800mg/(kg·d)GGA was given by oral daily after cauterization. Immunohistochemistry was used respectively to observe the changes of expression of HSP70 in the model rats and GGA interference rats at different time points during the course of chronic IOP elevation.RESULTS: The successful model was identified as the IOP over 40% of normal rats. The retinal thickness was significantly reduced in model group and model+ GGA group compared with normal rats from 21 days through 28 days after cauterization(P<0.05), and that of model rats was obviously decreased in comparison with model+ GGA rats(P<0.05). The number of ganglion cells was significantly decreased in model rats and model+ GGA rats compared with normal rats from 21 days and 28 days. The stronger expression intensity(IOD) value was seen for HSP70 in the model+ GGA rats by immunochemistry(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Systemic administration of GGA protects retina from chronic IOP elevation by regulating the expression of HSP70.

Objective To investigate whether mesenchymal stem cells can promote the recovery of acute renal tubular damage induced by mercuric chloride and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods Acute renal failure rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of mercuric chloride.SD rats were randomly divided into three groups which were MSCs injection group, saline infusion group and normal control group.Seven days later,the changes of rat weight,survival,renal function and pathology were observed;PCNA,ED-1 and GFP were detected by immunohistochemistry; The expression of cytokines in kidney and the distribution of GFP plasmid-transfected MSCs in kidney were examined by RT-PCR.Results MSCs infusion ameliorated the decline of rat weight,survival, renal function,and pathological changes.PCNA and ED-1 positive cells in MSCs group were fewer than those in saline group.Expression of growth factors EGF,PDGF,HGF were obviously up- regulated and pre-inflammatory cytokines TNF-?was significantly reduced in MSCs-treated kidneys. GFP-labelled MSCs occurred occasionally in renal interstitium of MSCs-treated rats,but not in renal tubules.Conclusions Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can promote the recovery of acute renal tubular epithelial cells damage caused by mercuric chloride.The mechanism may partly depend on regulating the excretion of cytokines in renal microenvironment rather than completely depend on their differentiation to tubular cells.

AIM: To study caspase-9 expression on rat retina in the process of chronic elevation of IOP and the changes with the application of amino guanidine (AG), thus to investigate potential protective function of AG to rat retina with chronic elevation of IOP.METHODS: Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blot were used to observe retinal morphology and expression of caspase-9 at different time points of rat with chronic IOP elevation, both affected or not affected by the application of AG.RESULTS: Compared with control group, as time passed retina of experimental group gradually had detectable morphological changes. On 21st day of chronic IOP elevation, retinas became thinner and the quantity of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) decreased; caspase-9 expression increased, consistent with the morphological changes. The group using AG presented relatively smaller morphology changes and less expression of caspase-9.CONCLUSION: Apoptosis-related gene caspase-9 played a part in the process of chronic IOP elevation; AG protects retina by down-regulating expression of caspase-9.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and safety of half-dose Zenapax for prevention of acute rejection after renal transplantation.

METHODSAccording to the immunosuppressive regimen and renal function after transplantation, patients were divided into 4 groups, namely groups A, B, C, and D of 90, 73, 11 and 13 patients, respectively. Blood creatinine measured 1 week after operation was <176.6 micromol/L in groups A and B, and was >353 micromol/L in groups C and D. Patients in groups A and C were given 25 mg Zenapax (0.5 mg/kg) and MMF 0.75 g before operation, and those in groups B and D had only MMF of 0.75 g. All patients were given Pred, CsA and MMF after operation, and the rejection episodes, the time of acute rejection onset, the rate of rejection reversal and complications were analyzed in the time period of 6 months after operation.

RESULTSAfter the operation, 13 patients (14.4%) developed acute rejection in group A, 18 (24.6%) in group B, 6 (54.5%) in group C and 7 (53.8%) in group D (P<0.01). The incidence of acute rejection in group B was significantly lower than that in groups C and D groups (P<0.01), and the latter two groups had similar incidence. The time of acute rejection onset ranged from 3 to 9 days postoperatively (mean 6.2-/+3.2 days) in group A, significantly delayed as compared with that in group B (range 2-8 days, mean 4.7-/+3.1 days), group C (range 2-7 days, mean 4.3-/+4.2 days) and group D group (range 2-9 days, mean 3.9-/+3.5 days), but the time was similar between groups B, C, and D (P>0.05). All acute rejection cases in group A was reversed, and the rate of reversal was 88.9% (16/18) in group B, 83.3% in group C, and 71.4% in group D. No significant differences were noted in such complications as infection, vascular injuries or gastrointestinal reactions between the 4 groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONZenapax at the dose of 25 mg can safely decrease the risk of acute rejection in patients with good postoperative renal function recovery, but dose not seem effective in patients with delayed graft function recovery.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; administration & dosage ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Rejection ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; administration & dosage ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect between mini-traumatic bone-grafting and non-bone-grafting in percutaneous K-wire fixation for treating the calcaneal fractures.

METHODSFrom 2002 to 2006, 112 patients with the type II (Paley type) fractures of calcaneus were studied. There were 56 cases in bone-grafting group involving 36 males and 20 famales,aged from 21 to 65, averaged (42.0 +/- 2.3) years; 11 cases were in type II a and 45 were in type II b; the course was from 3 to 14 days, averaged (6.0 +/- 1.2) days. And there were 56 cases in non-bone-grafting group involving 38 males and 18 famales,aged from 22 to 67, averaged (43.0 +/- 2.5)years; 13 cases were in type II a and 43 were in type II b; the course was from 2 to 15 days, averaged (5.0-2.1) days. All the cases were treated by closed reduction and percutaneous K-wire fixation, and bone-grafting group(56 cases) were treated by mini-traumatic bone-grafting, but the other group (56 cases) were not. The collapsing rate and fineness rate were compared.

RESULTSAll the cases were followed up from 5 to 52 months. There were no collapsing cases in the bone-grafting group after operation, but 3 cases occurrenced re-collapsing in the non-bone-grafting group. According to the Zhang Tie-liang's evaluation criterion, in the bone-grafting group,the results were excellent in 43 cases, good in 12, fair in 1, the fineness rate was 98.2%. In the non-bone-grafting group,the results were excellent in 37 cases, good in 16, fair in 2, poor in 1, the fineness rate was 94.7%.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of the type II fracture of calcaneus with closed reduction, percutaneous K-wire fixation and mini-traumatic bone-grafting can prevent the posterior talar articular surface of caltaneus from collapsing again after operation, enhance the union of fracture, elevate the curative effect, thus it should be taken with the standard therapeutic regimen.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Bone Wires ; Calcaneus ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo develop a novel scaffolding method for the copolymers poly lactide-co-glycolide acid (PLGA) to construct a three-dimensional (3-D) scaffold and explore its biocompatibility through culturing Schwann cells (SCs) on it.

METHODSThe 3-D scaffolds were made by means of melt spinning, extension and weaving. The queueing discipline of the micro-channels were observed under a scanning electronic microscope (SEM).The sizes of the micropores and the factors of porosity were also measured. Sciatic nerves were harvested from 3-day-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats for culture of SCs. SCs were separated, purified, and then implanted on PLGA scaffolds, gelatin sponge and poly-L-lysine (PLL)-coated tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) were used as biomaterial and cell-supportive controls, respectively. The effect of PLGA on the adherence, proliferation and apoptosis of SCs were examined in vitro in comparison with gelatin sponge and TCPS.

RESULTSThe micro-channels arrayed in parallel manners, and the pore sizes of the channels were uniform. No significant difference was found in the activity of Schwann cells cultured on PLGA and those on TCPS (P larger than 0.05), and the DNA of PLGA scaffolds was not damaged.

CONCLUSIONThe 3-D scaffolds developed in this study have excellent structure and biocompatibility, which may be taken as a novel scaffold candidate for nerve-tissue engineering.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Lactic Acid ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

BACKGROUNDThe radial approach has been increasingly used as an alternative to femoral access. And more procedures using repeated transradial coronary intervention (r-TRI) are performed. However, few data about r-TRI has been obtained. Therefore, we investigated the safety and feasibility of r-TRI using the same route.

METHODSA total of 423 consecutive eligible patients undergoing r-TRI were enrolled in the r-TRI group, and 846 patients with initial TRI (i-TRI) were assigned to the i-TRI group in a 2:1 matching ratio compared to r-TRI group. The primary endpoint included the success rate of the procedure and the incidence of vascular related complications.

RESULTSThe baseline clinical characteristics in the two groups were comparable. The success rate of procedures in the r-TRI and i-TRI was similar (96.0% vs. 97.5%, P = 0.130). In subgroup analysis (coronary angiography only or angiography with pecutaneous coronary intervention), similar results were also observed. The puncture numbers and incidence of radial artery spasm in the r-TRI group were significantly higher than in the i-TRI group (P = 0.024 and P < 0.001, respectively). The other procedural outcomes in the two groups were identical. With respect to the incidence of overall vascular related complication and independent events, there were no significant differences in spite of a higher incidence of radial artery occlusion (RAO) in the r-TRI group (RAO: 1.2% vs. 0.7%, P = 0.521). The patients in the i-TRI group had more comfortable feeling than patients in the r-TRI group (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSR-TRI produces a comparable procedure success rate and incidence of vascular complication when compared to i-TRI. It should be considered as an acceptable and safe procedure.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; methods ; Coronary Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Zhenggan Recipe (ZGR) in treating liver cirrhosis with abnormal Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSSixty-four patients of liver cirrhosis with abnormal AFP were randomly divided into the treated group and the control group. All the patients received conventional combined Western medicinal treatment. Besides, additional ZGR was given to the patients in the treated group, one dose every day for orally taken in two times, 6 months as a therapeutic course. Changes in liver function (ALT, GGT, TBIL and ALB), AFP, T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD4/CD8) and iconological examination were observed in the two groups before and after treatment to compared the efficacy.

RESULTSZGR could effectively lower the AFP level (P < 0.01), and improve the levels of CD4 and CD4/CD8 (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONZGR can effectively lower the level of AFP, its mechanism might be related to the improving of cellular immune function of the patients.

Adult ; Aged ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism