Objective:To investigate the correlation between low-order and high-order aberrations and objective depth of focus in the human eye, and the factors that influence objective depth of focus.Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed.Seventy-six patients (152 eyes) with myopia and astigmatism patients who were treated at the Refractive Surgery Center of Tianjin Eye Hospital from February to April 2022 were selected, including 41 males and 35 females.The patients' whole-eye low-order and high-order aberrations and objective depth of focus were measured at 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm manually selected pupil diameters using the iTrace visual function analyzer.The correlation between objective depth of focus and low-order and high-order aberrations at different pupil diameters was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation analysis.Objective depth of focus was compared between individuals with different degrees of myopia and astigmatism, individuals with different pupil diameters, right and left eyes, and different sexes.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tianjin Eye Hospital (No.2022039).Results:Objective depth of focus was positively correlated with total low-order aberrations at 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm pupil diameter ( rs=0.380, 0.317, 0.385, 0.519, all at P<0.01). Objective depth of focus was positively correlated with defocus at 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm pupil diameter ( rs=0.377, 0.323, 0.403, 0.512, all at P<0.01), and with astigmatism at 6 mm pupil diameter ( rs=0.255, P<0.05). There were statistically significant overall differences in objective depth of focus between groups with different degrees of myopia at 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm pupil diameter ( H=6.440, 7.370, 9.990, 16.930; all at P<0.05). Among them, the objective depth of focus of high myopia was significantly higher than that of low myopia at different pupil diameters, and the objective depth of focus of high myopia was higher than that of moderate myopia at 6 mm pupil diameter, with statistically significant differences (all at P<0.05). Objective depth of focus was positively correlated with total high-order aberration at pupil diameters of 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm ( rs=0.911, 0.807, 0.733, 0.677; all at P<0.001). Among various high-order aberrations, objective depth of focus was positively correlated with total coma at 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm pupil diameter ( rs=0.727, 0.557, 0.620, 0.487; all at P<0.001), positively correlated with vertical coma at 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm pupil diameter ( rs=0.439, 0.405, 0.553, 0.400; all at P<0.001), positively correlated with horizontal coma at 5 and 6 mm pupil diameter ( rs=0.308, 0.308; both at P<0.01), positively correlated with trefoil aberration at 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm pupil diameter ( rs=0.344, 0.443, 0.316, 0.330; all at P<0.01), positively correlated with spherical aberration at 4, 5, and 6 mm pupil diameter ( rs=0.321, 0.310, 0.428; all at P<0.01). There was a significant difference in objective depth of focus between 3 and 4 mm, 5 and 6 mm pupil diameters ( P=0.011, 0.004). There was no statistically significant difference in objective depth of focus between different degrees of astigmatism, between males and females, or between left and right eyes (all at P>0.05). Conclusions:The objective depth of focus of the human eye is mainly strongly correlated with vertical coma, trefoil aberration in high-order aberrations, as well as defocus in low-order aberrations.Horizontal coma and spherical aberration are strongly correlated with objective depth of focus only when the pupil diameter is large.In addition, if the pupil diameter is too small (3 mm) or too large (6 mm), it has a significant effect on the objective depth of focus.

Objective:To realize the bacterial distribution and antibiotic resistance in children with severe pneumonia in this region.Methods:A total of 203 children with severe pneumonia diagnosed in Gansu Provincial People′s Hospital from April 2018 to March 2020 were divided into 0-1, 1-3, 3-7 and 7-14 years old groups.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected for bacterial culture and identification, and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed.Results:The positive rate of pathogens was 69.5% (141/203), including 72.3% (102 strains) of Gram-negative bacteria and 30.5%(43 strains)of Gram-positive bacteria.The infection rates were highest in 0-1 years old group and the lowest in 7-14 years old group, which were 45.2%(19/42) and 16.9%(10/59), respectively.The infection rates of Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli and Branhamella catarrhalis in the 1-3 years old group were 30.30%(10/33), 33.33% (11/33), and 21.21% (7/33), respectively, which showed significant differences compared with other groups( P<0.05). The infection rate of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the 0-1 years old group was 42.9%(18/42), which was significantly different compared with other groups ( P<0.001). The resistance rate of Haemophilus influenzae to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was 89.5%(34/38), and the Streptococcus pneumoniae to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline were both 82.4%(28/34). The highest antibiotic resistance rate of Escherichia coli was 34.6%(9/26), and the Branhamella catarrhalis to clindamycin was 56.3%(9/16). Conclusion:The dominant bacteria for severe pneumonia in children are Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Branhamella catarrhalis.The bacterial infection rate is highest within 1 year old, but gradually decreases with the increase of age.Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae have severe resistance to several antibiotics.

The exacerbation of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) is closely associated with obstruction of the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). To discover novel therapeutic compounds for enhancing remyelination by endogenous OPCs, we screened for myelin basic protein expression using cultured rat OPCs and a library of small-molecule compounds. One of the most effective drugs was pinocembrin, which remarkably promoted OPC differentiation and maturation without affecting cell proliferation and survival. Based on these in vitro effects, we further assessed the therapeutic effects of pinocembrin in animal models of demyelinating diseases. We demonstrated that pinocembrin significantly ameliorated the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and enhanced the repair of demyelination in lysolectin-induced lesions. Further studies indicated that pinocembrin increased the phosphorylation level of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Taken together, our results demonstrated that pinocembrin promotes OPC differentiation and remyelination through the phosphorylated mTOR pathway, and suggest a novel therapeutic prospect for this natural flavonoid product in treating demyelinating diseases.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Flavanones ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Myelin Sheath/metabolism* ; Oligodendroglia/metabolism* ; Rats ; Remyelination ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*

The exacerbation of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) is closely associated with obstruction of the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). To discover novel therapeutic compounds for enhancing remyelination by endogenous OPCs, we screened for myelin basic protein expression using cultured rat OPCs and a library of small-molecule compounds. One of the most effective drugs was pinocembrin, which remarkably promoted OPC differentiation and maturation without affecting cell proliferation and survival. Based on these in vitro effects, we further assessed the therapeutic effects of pinocembrin in animal models of demyelinating diseases. We demonstrated that pinocembrin significantly ameliorated the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and enhanced the repair of demyelination in lysolectin-induced lesions. Further studies indicated that pinocembrin increased the phosphorylation level of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Taken together, our results demonstrated that pinocembrin promotes OPC differentiation and remyelination through the phosphorylated mTOR pathway, and suggest a novel therapeutic prospect for this natural flavonoid product in treating demyelinating diseases.

Objective: To establish a simple method for isolation, purification and cultivation of primary retinal microvascular pericytes (RMPs) from mice. Methods: Retinas were isolated from mice following with mechanical morcel, enzymatic digestion and filtration.The retinal fragments were incubated with low glucose DMEM with 20% fetal bovine serum after 24 hours pre-incubation.Differential digestion was used for purification of primary RMPs.Morphological examination of cells was performed by phase contrast microscopy, and further characterization was analyzed by immunocytochemistry.Functional assay was evaluated by the pericytes-endothelial cells (ECs) co-culture system.The treatment and use of experimental animals followed the regulations on the administration of experimental animals promulgated by the state science and technology commission. Results: Cells migrated out of fragments after 24 hours of incubation, and developed into small or large colonies gradually.The cells and their subpassages presented typical pericyte morphology with large irregular triangular cell bodies and multiple long processes.No contact inhibition was observed.Most cells uniformly expressed the cellular markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β), a few cells expressed the cellular markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), but no cell expressed von Willebrand factor (vWF). The purity rate of RMPs was up to 97%.In the co-culture system, RMPs directly contacted with ECs to form the capillary-like cords in vitro. Conclusions A simple method for the isolation, purification cultivation of mouse RMPs is established, and active RMPs can be readily obtained by this method.

Objective To explore the clinical value of Z score in assessing coronary artery lesions (CAL) of children with Kawasaki disease. Methods The clinical records of 102 children with Kawasaki disease from January 2012 to December 2016 in Gansu Provincial Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The internal diameter of left main coronary artery (LMCA) and right coronary artery ( RCA) was measured by echocardiography (ECHO),and the incidence of CAL was preliminarily judged. The Z scores of LMCA and RCA were calculated on the basis of the coronary artery diameter,the age of the children and the body surface area,and the incidence of CAL was judged again. Results A total of 22 cases(21. 6%) of CAL were found in 102 cases by ECHO examination,of which 18 cases(17. 6%) of LMCA lesions,and 22 cases(21. 6%) of RCA lesions. A total of 33 cases(32. 4%) of CAL were found by calculating the Z score of coronary artery, of which 29 cases(28. 4%) of LMCA lesions and 33 cases(32. 4%) of RCA lesions. There was significant difference between two methods for determining LMCA lesions (χ2=3. 35,P＜0. 05),and there was no sig-nificant difference between two methods for determining RCA lesions (χ2=3. 01,P＞0. 05). Z score of coro-nary artery was more accurate to detect the CAL in Kawasaki disease,especially LMCA lesions. A large coro-nary artery aneurysm was found in the patients with the largest Z score by selective coronary angiography. Conclusion The Z score can be more conductive to assess the CAL in children with Kawasaki disease,and the higher the Z score,the more serious the CAL is.

Objective    To analyze the relationship between the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) gene mutation and malignant pulmonary focal ground-glass lesion (fGGL). Methods    We retrospectively collected the clinical data of 86 patients with surgical treatment in the department of cardiothoracic surgery of Changzheng Hospital from August 2012 to February 2015. There were 26 males and 60 females with a mean age of 56.14±10.55 years. We analyzed the relationship between the EGFR gene mutation and the related clinical data. Results    Postoperative pathology showed atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) combined with focal adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) or AIS in 10 patients, minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) in 15, and lepidic predominant adenocarcinoma (LPA) in 61. The EGFR gene mutation reports showed the exon 19 19-del mutation in 14 patients, exon 21 L858R mutation in 27, and exon 21 L861Q mutation in 2. There was no difference between the mutation of EGFR gene and clinical factors except age and smoking (P>0.05). Till June 30, 2015, all patients were alive and follow-up was 440.48±186.61 days. Conclusion    The EGFR gene in patients with malignant pulmonary fGGL shows a higher mutation rate, which provides important clinical reference data for the basic research and the clinical treatment.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and angiographic findings of cardiogenic shock(CS)following acute myocardial infarction(AMI) in elderly patients.Methods Between January 2015 and April 2016,we carried out a retrospective observational analysis of consecutive elderly patients in Tianjin Chest Hospital,who suffered CS-complicating AMI.Emergency angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) were performed after admission.All selected patients were divided into CS and non-CS groups according to whether CS occurred.Electrocardiograph (ECG),cardiac enzyme testing,and ultrasound cardiography were performed after admission to monitor the occurrence of CS.Results The incidence of CS-complicating AMI was 8.33％ (34/408) in elderly patients.Among all CS patients enrolled,the aged patients accounted for 91.89 ％ (3 4/3 7).In-hospital mortality rate was 2 9.41 ％ (10/3 4).There were significant differences between two groups in WBC,H s-CRP,blood glucose,CR and ALT (t =2.403,4.596,6.778,6.109,each P＜0.05).The NT-Pro BNP level,the time of FMC,the frequency of left main and multivessel disease were higher in the CS group than in the non-CS group (each P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Elderly patients are bearing high risk of CS following AMI.Prolonged FMC time and the presence of left main and/or multivessel lesion are independent risk factors for the development of CS.The optimal revascularisation strategy can improve the clinical outcome of patients with CS.

An important index determination for clinical diagnosis of renal function is to assay the creatinine concentration in serum. In the analytical process applied with coupled-enzyme, the quality control of sarcosine oxidase (SOX) as a key enzyme is the first problem to be solved. In order to establish an efficient and laboratory-scale production of SOX, the recombinant sarcosine oxidase (r-SOX) gene was a high-level expression in E. coli induced with lactose on a large-scale fermentation in 300 L fermenter. The results suggested that the biomass concentration reached OD600 of 22 and the expression of recombinant sarcosine oxidase in E. coli accounted for about 25% of total soluble protein in culture after fermentation. The cell-free extract obtained from high pressure homogenizer was processed by selective thermal denaturation and then purified with Ni-Sepharose FF chromatography. The sarcosine oxidase with 97% purity, 25 U/mg specific activity and 92.4% activity recovery was obtained. The molecular weight with single peptide chain of 53 kD and 55 kD of recombinant sarcosine oxidase was assessed by SDS-PAGE in presence or absence of 2-mercaptoehanol and Sephacryl S-200 chromatography. This sarcosine oxidase was found to be a conjugated protein, yellow enzyme, which combined with FAD as prosthetic group by covalent linkage. The contaminant of catalase was not detected in the sample pool of this enzyme. In addition, a further test to the thermal stability of sarcosine oxidase was done. According to the above results, the development and utilization of this enzyme has been set up on a reliable foundation.
Escherichia coli ; Fermentation ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Sarcosine Oxidase ; biosynthesis

Background Given the increasing number of patients who require dual antiplatelet (DAP) therapy and electrophysiological device (EPD) placement, perioperative antiplatelet management is a current challenge. In this study, we investigated the incidence of pocket hema-toma formation after EPD placement in patients undergoing DAP therapy or an alternative low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) regimen. Methods This clinical observational study was performed from July 2010 to July 2012. In total, 171 patients were enrolled in the analysis after meeting the inclusion criteria. These patients were divided into two groups: 86 patients were treated with DAP therapy at the time of device implantation, and the DAP therapy was discontinued for 5 to 7 days and replaced with enoxaparin before device implantation in the other 85 patients. Adenosine phosphate (ADP)-mediated platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation were tested preoperatively. We compared the incidence of pocket hematoma between the two groups and the association of pocket hematoma develop-ment with ADP-mediated platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation.Results The incidence of pocket hema-toma in the patients who continued DAP was lower than that in the patients who replaced the dual antiplatelet regimen with LMWH (3.49%vs. 16.47%, respectively;X2 = 6.66,P < 0.01). Among the patients who continued DAP therapies, the rate of ADP-mediated platelet aggre-gation inhibition in patients with pocket hematomas was higher than that in patients without pocket hematomas. None of the patients under-going DAP or enoxaparin therapy developed pocket infection, thromboembolic events, or other serious complications. Multiple logistic re-gression analysis revealed that LMWH therapy was an independent risk factor for the development of pocket hematoma (RR = 0.054, 95%CI = 0.012-0.251). Furthermore, patients undergoing LMWH therapy were 5.1-fold more likely to develop pocket hematomas than were DAP-treated individuals.Conclusion Continuance of DAP therapy does not increase the risk of pocket hematoma formation after EPD placement.