Objective: To investigate the influencing factors for myopia among primary and secondary school students in Suzhou, so as to provide basis for myopia prevention and control. Methods: The students in Grade 4-12 were recruited by stratified cluster random sampling method. Gender, grade, parents＇ myopia history, outdoor activity time and video display terminal time were collected through the questionnaire of National Surveillance Program of Influencing Factors for Common Diseases and Health in Students. Uncorrected visual acuity and cycloplegic refraction were tested. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore myopia-related factors. Results: A total of 990 questionnaires were distributed, and 882 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective rate of 89.09%. The prevalence rate of myopia was 78.23% ( 690 cases ). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that females ( OR=1.703, 95%CI: 1.173-2.474 ) , middle school students ( OR:5.597-11.949, 95%CI: 3.573-28.349 ) , both parents＇myopia ( OR=2.445, 95%CI: 1.597-3.742 ) , video display terminal time over 3 hours per day ( OR=2.026, 95%CI: 1.235-3.325 ) were risk factors for myopia; outdoor activity time over 2 hours per day ( OR: 0.493-0.510, 95%CI: 0.273-0.943 ) was a protective factor for myopia. Conclusion The prevalence of myopia among primary and secondary school students in Suzhou is 78.23%. Gender, grade, parents＇ myopia history, outdoor activity time and video display terminal time are influencing factors for myopia.

Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) is one of the most effective formulation approaches to enhance the water solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. However, maintenance of physical stability of amorphous drug is one of the main challenges in the development of ASD. Crystallization is a process of nucleation and crystal growth. The nucleation is the key factor that influences the physical stability of the ASD. However, a theoretical framework to describe the way to inhibit the nucleation of amorphous drug is not yet available. We reviewed the methods and theories of nucleation for amorphous drug. Meanwhile, we also summarized the research progress on the mechanism of additives influence on nucleation and environmental factors on nucleation. This review aims to enhance the better understanding mechanism of nucleation of amorphous drug and controlling over the crystal nucleation during the ASD formulation development.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of sea water immersion on inflammation and healing of the wounds in scalded rats.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-four male Wistar rats with 10% TBSA superficial partial-thickness scald were randomly divided into A (n=72, with scald) and B (n=72, with seawater immersion for 4hrs immediately after scald) groups. The serum contents of K+, Na+, Cl- were determined at 0 post-scald hour (PSH), 6PSH, 12PSH and 24 PSH with electrocyte analysis apparatus, and the changes in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) levels were determined at 0 PSH, 6PSH and 12 PSH with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The histopathological changes in the rats of the two groups were observed, and wound healing time was respectively calculated.

RESULTSThe serum contents of K+, Na+, Cl- in B group were obviously higher than those in A group. And the serum content of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in B group at 6 PSH [(140 +/- 22) ng/L, (160 +/- 41) ng/L] were significantly higher than those before scald [(29 +/- 15) ng/L, (62 +/- 17)] ng/L and in A group [(120 +/- 12) ng/L, (124 +/- 22) ng/L, ( P < 0.05)]. Compared with A group, re-epithelization of the wound differentiation in all layers of epidermis were delayed in B group, with more severe wound swelling, exudation, and topical inflammatory response. The wound healing time in B group was (16.3 +/- 1.6) d, which was obviously longer than that in A group [(14.1 +/- 1.8) d, P < 0.05)].

CONCLUSIONSea water immersion combined with scald injury can aggravate the inflammatory response of the wound and delay the wound healing process.

Animals ; Burns ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seawater ; adverse effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the expression of aquaporin 1 (AQP-1) in edematous small intestinal tissues of rats after severe burn and the effect of early enteral feeding on its expression.

METHODSNinety normal adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=6), burn model group (n=42, with 30% TBSA III degrees) and early feeding group (n=42). Dry weight method, ELSIA and immunohistochemistry were used to observe and detect the water content and expression of AQP-1 in the intestinal tissue at 1, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after the burns.

RESULTSIn the burn model group, the water content in the intestinal tissue increased at 4 h after the injury, reaching the peak level at 48 h; AQP-1 expression decreased at 8 h after severe burn and reached the lowest level at 48 h. AQP-1 expression level showed a significant inverse correlation to the water content (P<0.01). Compared with the burn model group, the rats in the early feeding group showed increased AQP-l expression and lessened edema in the small intestines, also demonstrating an inverse correlation between water content and AQP-l expression (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONIntestinal AQP-1 expression gradually decreased and edema worsened in rats early after severe burn, reaching the lowest or the peak levels 48 h after the injury with an inverse correlation between them. Early enteral feeding can increase the expression of AQP-l in the small intestine to ameliorate the intestinal edema in rats with severe burn injury.

Animals ; Aquaporin 1 ; metabolism ; Burns ; diet therapy ; metabolism ; Edema ; metabolism ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Time Factors

Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; diagnosis

Carotid Artery, Internal/surgery* ; Carotid Stenosis/surgery* ; Endarterectomy, Carotid ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the usefulness of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) in the post-operative assessment of cochlear implanted electrode.

METHODSTwenty-three cochlear implant recipients were enrolled in this study. All patients were examined with a SOMATOM Sensation 16-slice CT scanner (Siemens) using the following parameters: 120 kV, 100 mAs, 0. 75 mm collimation, 1 mm reconstruction slice thickness and increment, a pitch factor of 1, and a FOV of 100 mm. The axial images of interested ears were reconstructed with 0.1 mm increment and a FOV of 50 mm, and then volume rendering technique (VRT) reconstruction were done on the work station.

RESULTSThe electrode arrays were detected on axial CT images. Both inner ear and electrode array could be displayed on one image simultaneously. VRT provided an intuitionistic view of the relationship between electrode array and cochlea VRT showed the number of the electrode array in 20 patients implanted with Combi 40 + standard electrode array and demonstrated the shape, position, and insertion depth. The electrode array number determined by VRT was in accordance with the surgical findings in 18 patients, and was underestimated in two patients. In 3 patients with Combi 40 + compressed electrode array, only 4 to 5 electrodes arrays were clearly identified and others were not observed.

CONCLUSIONMSCT with VRT can provide useful three-dimensional information of the electrode array and indicate the exact relationship between electrode array and cochlea.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Ear, Inner ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and usability of multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in congenital inner ear malformations.

METHODSFourty-four patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) were examined by a Somatom Sensation 16 (siemens, Germany) CT scanner with following parameters: 120 kV, 100 mAs, 0.75 mm collimation, 1 mm reconstruction increment, a pitch factor of 1 and a field of view of 100 mm. The axial images of interested ears were reconstructed with 0.1 mm reconstruction increment, and a field of view of 50 mm. The 3D reconstructions were done with volume rendering technique (VRT) on the workstation (3D Virtuoso and Wizard,siemens).

RESULTSTwenty-five patients were normal and 19 patients (36 ears) were congenital inner ear malformations among 44 patients scanned with MSCT. Of the malformations, all the axial, MPR and VRT images can display the site and degree in 33 ears. VRT images were superior to the axial images in displaying the malformations in 3 ears with the small lateral semicircular canal malformations. The malformations were Michel deformity (1 ear), common cavity deformity (3 ears), incomplete partition I (3 ears), incomplete partition II (Mondini deformity, 5 ears), vestibular and semicircular canal malformations( 14 ears), vestibular aqueduct dilate( 16 ears, of which 6 ears accompanied by other malformations), the internal auditory canal malformation(8 ears, all accompanied by other malformations).

CONCLUSIONMSCT allows a comprehensively assessing various congenital ear malformations through high quality MPR and VRT reconstructions. VRT images can display the site and degree of the malformations three-dimensionally and intuitionisticly. It is very useful to the cochlear implantation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Congenital Abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the myocardial expression of aquaporin-1 (AQP1) protein and its association with myocardial edema in rats with severe burns.

METHODSForty-eight healthy adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=6) and burn injury group with third degree burn of 30% total body surface area, and the latter group was further divided into 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h groups. The changes of myocardial water content were investigated by dry-wet weight methods. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the changes in AQP1 expression at different time points after sever burns.

RESULTSThe myocardial water content and AQP1 expression increased significantly 2 h after the burn injury, reaching the peak levels at 12 h and remaining higher than the normal level at 48 h. A significant positive correlation was found between myocardial water content and AQP1 expression in the rats (r=0.868, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe severity of myocardial edema after severe burn is correlated to the expression level of AQPl protein, suggesting the important role of AQPl protein in pathological progression of myocardial edema.

Animals ; Aquaporin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Edema ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

BACKGROUNDIt is widely accepted that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of emphysema. This study aimed at investigating the protective effects of anti-TNF-α antibody, infliximab, in the development of emphysema induced by passive smoking in rats.

METHODSThirty-nine rats were randomly divided into a normal control group (group 1), an emphysema group (group 2), and an infliximab-intervention group (group 3). Rat models of emphysema were established by exposure to cigarette smoking daily for 74 days. After 1 month, the infliximab intervention group was treated with infliximab via subcutaneous injection. The levels of TNF-α, IL-8 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The number and classification of cells in the BALF were measured. Lung tissue sections stained by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) were observed, and mean linear intercept (MLI) and mean alveolar numbers (MAN) were measured. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) methods were used to examine the percentage of positive cells and distribution of apoptotic cells.

RESULTSThe levels of TNF-α and IL-8 in BALF were higher in group 2 than in group 1 and group 3. The MLI was greater in group 2 than that in group 1 and group 3 while MAN was decreased. The concentration of VEGF in BALF of group 2 was significantly decreased as compared with group 1. The total cells and neutrophils number was significantly increased in group 2 as compared with group 1 and group 3, so was the percentage of neutrophils. The number of TUNEL positive cells in the alveolar septa was significantly increased in group 2 as compared with group 1 and group 3.

CONCLUSIONInfliximab protects against cigarette smoking-induced emphysema by reducing airway inflammation, attenuating alveolar septa cell apoptosis and improving pathological changes.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Infliximab ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Male ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; cytology ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; adverse effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism