AIM:To observe the effect of the plus power ring zone(PPRZ)area and distribution on myopia progression.METHODS:This retrospective study enrolled 137 pre-teens aged 8-12 at Taiyuan Aier Eye Hospital between 2019 and 2021. They were fitted with Ortho-K lenses for the first time due to refractive error, with a one-year follow-up period. To indicate the peripheral plus ring zone overlapping with the pupil zone(PPROPZ)accompanying PPRZ, participants were divided based on the PPROPZ to PPRZ ratio. The experimental group had 103 eyes with a PPROPZ to PPRZ ratio of ≥0.2, and the control group had 103 eyes with a ratio of <0.2. Participants had a spherical diopter in the range of -6.00 D to -0.75 D, against-the-rule astigmatism less than 1.00 D, with-the-rule astigmatism less than 1.50 D, and corneal curvatures of 39.00 D to 46.00 D. They had a stable best corrected visual acuity of 0.10 LogMAR(20/25)or better when wearing orthokeratology(Ortho-K)lenses. PPRZ and PPROPZ were measured using ImageJ; corneal topography assessed corneal-related parameters, and an optical biometer measured the axial length of the eyes pre and post-one years of lens wear.RESULTS: Changes in axial length elongation were found to decrease when either the PPRZ(P<0.01)or PPROPZ(P<0.001)was increased significantly. The axial length growth was faster in the control group(0.37±0.2 mm)than in the experimental group(0.21±0.11 mm). Furthermore, we found that a larger horizontal visible iris diameter(HVID)corresponded to slower axial growth of the eye. In contrast, axial length growth showed no correlation with surface regularity index(SRI), surface asymmetry index(SAI), flat keratometry value(Kf), steep keratometry value(Ks).CONCLUSION:For orthokeratology, wearers with larger PPROPZ to PPRZ ratio usually experiences a reduction in axial length growth. The PPRZ and PPROPZ are negatively correlated with the axial length. Our findings provide a recommendation and methods for studying the myopia control mechanism through Ortho-K lenses.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between intestinal microbiota heterogeneity and acquired myasthenia in septic mice.Methods:Eighty SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, weighing 18-20 g, aged 6-8 weeks, were included. Forty mice were selected to prepare a sepsis model by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 10 mg/kg. Sepsis-sensitive mice (state of dying or even death within 24 h after developing the model) and sepsis-resistant mice (survival for 7 days and recovery) were screened. The feces from donor mice were collected to make fecal bacteria fluid. Forty mice were selected and divided into 4 groups ( n=10 each) by the random number table method: control group (C group), antibiotic group (ABX group), resistant group (Res group), and sensitive group (Sen group). Group C received no treatment. In ABX group, compound antibiotics were given by intragastric gavage once a day for 5 consecutive days. In Res group, the fecal solution from sepsis-resistant mice 150 μl was given by gavage once a day for 3 consecutive days starting from 5 days after gavage administration of compound antibiotics, and then LPS 15 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected. In Sen group, the fecal solution from sepsis-sensitive mice was given by gavage for 3 days (using the same method as previously described in Res group) starting from 5 days after gavage administration of compound antibiotics, and then LPS 15 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected. The severity of sepsis was assessed and scored at 24 h after developing the model. The four limb grip strength was measured after fecal bacteria transplantation and at 24 h after developing the sepsis model. The Compound Muscle Action Potential (CMAP) of the gastrocnemius was measured at 24 h after developing the sepsis model. Then blood samples were collected for determination of the levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The tissues of anterior tibial muscle and gastrocnemius muscle were obtained for determination of the expression of muscle-specific ring finger protein 1 (MuRF-1) and muscle atrophy box F protein (MAFbx) by Western blot. The diameter and cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius muscle fibers were measured after HE staining. The feces of mice were collected at 3 days after fecal bacteria transplantation, and DNA was extracted from mouse fecal samples for 16S rDNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics analysis. Results:Compared with C group, the score for severity of sepsis was significantly increased, the four limb grip strength was decreased after developing the sepsis model, the serum IL-6 concentration was increased, and the diameter and cross-sectional area of gastnemius muscle fibers were decreased ( P<0.05), and no statistically significant changes were found in the other parameters in Res group, and no statistically significant changes were found in the indexes mentioned above in ABX group ( P>0.05). Compared with C group and Res group, the score for severity of sepsis was significantly increased, the four limb grip strength was decreased, the latency of CMAP was prolonged, and the amplitude of CMAP was decreased, the serum concentrations of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α were increased, the diameter and cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius muscle fibers were decreased, and the expression of MuRF-1 and MAFbx in anterior tibial muscle was up-regulated after developing the sepsis model in Sen group ( P<0.05). 16S rDNA sequencing of intestinal flora: Compared with Sen group, no significant change was found in Chao1 index, Good-coverage index and Simpson index in Res group ( P>0.05), Shannon index was increased ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in β diversity in Res group ( P>0.05). LDA analysis showed that f_Akkermarisiaceae, o_Verrucomicrobiales, g_Akmansia, c_Verrucomicrobiae and p_Verrucomicrobiota were significantly enriched in Sen group, and g_Enterococcus and f_Enterococcaceae were significantly enriched in Res group ( P<0.05). Nontargeted metabolic analysis: The metabolite profiles in Res group and Sen group suggested that the model was well developed (R2Y>Q2Y). Compared with Sen group, 90 metabolites was significantly up-regulated and 88 down-regulated, significantly up-regulated metabolic substances including vitamin K1, gamma-tocopherol, and taurine in Res group ( P<0.05). The differential metabolite KEGG enrichment pathway included 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism and ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Intestinal flora heterogeneity may be involved in the pathogenesis of acquired myasthenia in septic mice.

Objective:To explore a new method of ultrasound-guided positioning of the tip of neonatal peri-pherally inserted central catheter (PICC).Methods:Clinical data of 174 newborn infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Beijing Chaoyang District Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital from January 2019 to April 2021 receiving PICC catheter intubated under the guidance of ultrasound for positioning the tip were retrospectively analyzed to explore the accuracy, reliability and feasibility of the improved ultrasound-guided positioning technique.Before lower extremity catheterization, ultrasound was performed to monitor the vascular pattern and catheterization of PICC was conducted under the guidance of ultrasound.Results:(1) Among 174 infants intubated with ultrasound-guided positioning of the PICC tip, 172(98.9%) of them had the ideal position, and 2(1.1%) did not achieve the ideal position, but achieved the ideal position after ultrasound-guided correction.(2) Lower extremity venous catheterization was successfully performed at 100.0% after ultrasound-guided monitoring of blood vessels.The time-consuming of lower extremity venous catheterization was significantly shorter than that of the previous method [(31.50±2.58) min vs.(56.10 ±5.30 min)]( t=46.84, P<0.001). The total success rate of catheterization and catheterization of lower limb vein increased by 7.0% and 17.5%, respectively.(3) Only 1 (0.57%) case reported the complication of catheter tip thrombosis, the complication rate of which decreased from the previous 79.00% to 2.70%(2/112 cases). Conclusions:The improved ultrasound-guided positioning of the PICC tip is convenient, simple, faster and accurate, which enhances the success rate and is worthy to be applied in clinical practice.

Sterol C24-methyltransferase (SMT) plays multiple important roles in plant growth and development. SMT1, which belongs to the family of transferases and transforms cycloartenol into 24-methylene cycloartenol, is involved in the biosynthesis of 24-methyl sterols. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding a sterol C24-methyltransferase from().(GenBank access number KU885950) is a 1530 bp cDNA with a 1041 bp open reading frame predicted to encode a 346-amino acid, 38.62 kDa protein. The polypeptide encoded by thecDNA was expressed and purified as a recombinant protein from() and showed SMT activity. The expression ofwas highly up-regulated incell suspension cultures treated with methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Tissue expression pattern analysis showed higher expression in the phellem layer compared to the other four organs (leaf, stem, xylem and phloem), which is about ten times that of the lowest expression in leaf. The results are meaningful for the study of sterol biosynthesis ofand will further lay the foundations for the research in regulating both the content of other main compounds and growth and development of

Objective To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of different HbA1C cutoff points for diabetes diagnosis in high risk outpatients in Harbin.Methods A total of 2 122 high risk outpatients(male 1 032 and female 1 090)for diabetes screening in the Fourth affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from April 2013 to February 2015 were included in this study, with the average age of(49.26±13.00)year. Oral glucose tolerance tests(OGTT)were conducted and HbA1C levels were examined in these patients. The sensitivity and specificity of different HbA1C cutoff points were calculated and a receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curve was then built.Results The average level of HbA1C in these subjects was(6.45±1.72)%. The prevalence of diabetes was 41.85%. The area under ROC curve(AUC)was 0.89 with the optimal cutoff point of HbA1C 6.0% and 0.68 for the highest Yonden index. The sensitivity and specificity of HbA1C 6.0% were 84.01% and 83.67% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of HbA1C 6.5% were 62.84% and 95.92%, respectively. The AUC of HbA1C≥6.5% was 0.732. Conclusion HbA1C works well as the diagnostic standard for diabetes in high risk outpatients of Harbin city. The cutoff point of HbA1C 6.0% is suitable for screening diabetes in high risk population, and HbA1C 6.5% is appropriate for diabetes diagnosis, with high sensitivity and specificity.

Allergic rhinitis is a common disease, which was released by the IgE-mediated atopic individuals exposed to allergens in the earlier researches. However, there are variety of immunocompetent cells and cytokines involved in the nasal mucosa immunologic mechanism in nowadays researches. The mechanism of AR is caused by the imbalance of the Th1/Th2, a kind of allergic inflammation who is characterized by the nasal Th2 immune response dominant. Th1 cells mainly produce of IFN-gamma (does not include IL-4 and IL-5), Th2 cells produce IL-4, IL-5, IL-9 and IL-13 (not including IFN-gamma). Recently it was found that regulatory T cells (T regulatory cells, Treg) and Th17 cell research played a crucial role in the occurrence of allergic inflammation.
Cytokines ; immunology ; Humans ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology