AIM: To investigate the expression of serum growth differentiation factor 11(GDF11)and thrombospondin 1(TSP1)in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR), and discuss their relationship with microvascular injury.METHODS: Totally 102 DR patients were served as DR group and assigned into non proliferative DR group(NPDR group)and proliferative DR group(PDR group)based on the severity of DR lesions. Meantime, 100 patients with simple diabetes were served as control group. Serum indicators of microvascular injury including vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), endothelial cells(ECs), endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs), and levels of GDF11 and TSP1 were measured in each group. Pearson method was used to discuss the correlation between GDF11, TSP1 and microvascular injury indicators. Logistic regression was used to discuss the factors that affected the occurrence of DR. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the evaluation value of serum GDF11 and TSP1 for the DR conditions.RESULTS: For the control group, DR group had lower EPCs and GDF11, and higher VEGF, ECs, and TSP1 levels(all P<0.05). The PDR group had lower GDF11 and higher TSP1 than the NPDR group(all P<0.05). Serum GDF11 was negatively related to VEGF and ECs(r=-0.486, -0.511, all P<0.001), and positively related to EPCs(r=0.475, P<0.001). TSP1 was positively related to VEGF and ECs(r=0.579, 0.594, all P<0.001), and negatively related to EPCs(r=-0.505, P<0.001). Moreover, GDF11 and TSP1 were negatively correlated(r=-0.443, P<0.001). The course of T2DM, VEGF, and TSP1 were risk factors for DR, while GDF11 was a protective factor(all P<0.05). The AUC of GDF11, TSP1, and combined diagnosis for PDR conditions was 0.819, 0.822, and 0.915, respectively. The combined diagnosis was better than single diagnosis(Zcombination-GDF11=2.070, P=0.039, Zcombination-TSP1=2.274, P=0.023).CONCLUSION: GDF11 and TSP1 are closely associated with microvascular injury in DR patients and are related to the progression of DR disease, and the combined detection of their serum levels is of clinical value in the assessment of DR disease.

Objective To investigate visual impairment students' quality of life and its influencing factors in Braille learning class at Quanzhou Special School. Methods November, 2020, 52 students (aged seven to 26) with the best corrected distance visual acuity of the better eye above 0.02 were investigated with near visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and Chinese-version Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire (CLVQOL). The subjects were divided into second grade blindness group, first grade low vision group and second grade low vision group according to the best corrected distance visual acuity of the better eye. Results There were significant differences in distance visual acuity (Z = 45.671, P < 0.001), near visual acuity (Z = 24.972, P < 0.001), and contrast sensitivity (CS) ( Z = 13.285, P = 0.001) among three groups. There was a correlation between near visual acuity and distance visual acuity (r = 0.74, P < 0.001), CS to distance visual acuity (r = -0.58, P < 0.001) and near visual acuity (r = -0.57, P < 0.001), score of CLVQOL and CS (r = 0.44, P < 0.001). There were significant differences in the total score (Z = 10.145, P = 0.006), distance visual acuity subscale (Z = 13.586, P = 0.001), psychological adjustment subscale (Z = 7.824, P = 0.020), reading and fine work subscale (Z = 7.923, P = 0.019) of CLVQOL among the three groups. Conclusion Quality of life is different with the visual impairment for students in special school, especially the distance visual acuity, psychological adjustment and fine reading. CS correlates to the quality of life of visually impaired students, which needs to be a part of evaluation of visual function.

Objective:To study the effects of conservative treatment versus percutaneous interventional treatment(PCI)on symptoms and prognosis of chronic coronary syndrome patients aged over 75 years with fractional flow reserve(FFR)in the grey zone(0.75≤FFR≤0.80).Methods:A total of 96 coronary heart disease(CHD)patients aged over 75 years undergone FFR examination in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2017 were retrospectively selected.All patients showed stenosis of 50%-90% in at least one main coronary artery and had FFR values within the range of 0.75-0.80(0.75≤FFR≤0.80). According to the treatment, patients were divided into the optimized medication group(OMT group, n=35)and the PCI group(n=61). The degree of angina alleviation assessed by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire(SAQ)and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular endpoints(death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and repeated revascularization)were recorded during the one-year follow-up after treatment.Results:There was no significant difference in baseline data including age, gender and comorbidities between the OMT and PCI groups( P>0.05). The incidence of previous myocardial infarction, and the basal level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)were higher in the PCI group than in the OMT group( P<0.05). One-year follow-up showed that there was no significant difference between the OMT and PCI groups in the score of SAQ(77.6 ± 19.5 vs. 83.1 ± 22.8, P>0.05)and the incidence of composite MACEs(11.4% or 4 / 35 vs. 9.8% or 6/61, P>0.05). However, the incidence of repeated target vessel revascularization was lower in the PCI group than in the OMT group(1.6% or 1 case vs. 5.8% or 2 cases, P<0.05). Conclusions:In elderly CHD patients aged over 75 years with FFR values between 0.75-0.8 in the grey zone, optimal medication treatment has similar effects as the PCI on symptom alleviation, and no significant increase in composite MACEs is found at one-year follow-up.

Objective To compare iso-osmolar iodixanol and low-osmolar iohexol for the incidence of contrast- induced nephropathy(CIN) in patients with chronic congestive heart failure undergoing coronary interventional therapy. Methods The study included 220 consecutive patients with chronic congestive heart failure and undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) with or without percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) bewteen Janurary 2015 and May 2016. Study participants were divided into two groups by random digits table:iso-osmolar group (110 patients) and low-osmolar group (110 patients). The patients in iso-osmolar group were given iodixanol, and the patients in low-osmolar group were given iohexol. Serum creatinine (SCr), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and cystatin C (CysC) were detected before the procedure and on the first, third day after the procedure. Then, the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in two groups within 72 h of the procedure were observed and compared. Results The levels of SCr, GFR, CysC before operation had no significant differences (P>0.05). The levels of SCr in two groups on the first day after operation were increased, but there was no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). On the first day after operation, the level of GFR in iso-osmolar group was higher than that in low-osmolar group, the level of CysC in iso-osmolar group was lower than that in low-osmolar group, and there were significant differences (P<0.05). On the third day after operation, the level of GFR in iso-osmolar group was higher than that in low-osmolar group, the level of CysC in iso-osmolar group was lower than that in low-osmolar group, and there were significant differences (P<0.01). The overall incidence of CIN was 20.9%(46/220). The incidence of CIN in low-osmolar group was 29.1%(32/110), in iso-osmolar group was 12.7%(14/110), and there was significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusions In chronic congestive heart failure patients undergoing coronary interventional therapy, the iso-osmolar contrast iodixanol is associated with a lower incidence of CIN compared with low-osmolar iohexol.

Objective To compare the diuretic efficacy of torasemide as a 2-hour continuous infusion and as a bolus injection of equal dose in patients with nephrotic syndrome,and to investigate a preferable administration mode of torasemide for these patients.Methods Twenty-three hospitalized patients were randomized to receive torasemide 20 mg or 40 mg per day by either 2-hour intravenous infusion or bolus injection,and interchanged after 48 hours of washout.Results Patients received torasemide by 2-hour intravenous infusion exhibited significantly higher daily urinary volume,chloride excretion,sodium excretion and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) within 24 hours than those by bolus injection (P ＜ 0.05).Significantly lower bound-state torasemide excretion,higher ratio of urinary volume to torasemide excretion and a markedly larger area under the curve in the plasma concentrationtime profiles were also observed in the infusion group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion 2-hour continuous infusion delivers a better diuretic effect compared with a bolus injection of equal dose of torasemide in patients with nephrotic syndrome.

Objective: To explore the role of ROCK1 in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) induced podocyte injury and its possible mechanism. Methods: The conditionally immortalized mouse podocyte cells were cultured in vitro and exposed to 20 μg/ml ox-LDL for 24 h. Western blotting was used to analyze the expression level of p-MYPT, nephrin, LC3-Ⅱ, p62, p-ULK1 in groups of control, ox-LDL, ROCK1 siRNA with ox-LDL, wtROCK1 with ox-LDL. Podocytes were incubated with DiI labeled ox-LDL for 4 h and fluorescence microscope was used to analyze lipid distribution. Results: Compared with control group, ox-LDL increased cell cholesterol accumulation, activated ROCK along with decreased nephrin, LC3-Ⅱ(P<0.05), and increased p62, and p-ULK1 expression (P<0.05). Over-expression of ROCK1 significantly decreased the expression of nephrin and LC3-Ⅱ, but up-regulated the levels of p62, p-ULK1 and cell cholesterol accumulation in ox-LDL stimulated podocytes (P<0.05). In contrast, Inhibition of ROCK1 protected podocyte by improved lipophagy. Conclusion ROCK1 mediated disfunction of lipophagy contributes to the ox-LDL induced podocyte injury.

pneumococcal infections for children. S. pneumoniae was sensitive to penicillin, which was still the first choice of treatment for S. pneumoniae infections. All the isolates were resistant to erythromycin, and ermB was the dominant mechanism of macrolide-resistance.

OBJECTIVETo investigate RANK-RANKL expression in the kidneys of a rat model of puromycin aminonucleoside nephropathy (PAN).

METHODSThirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into PAN model group and normal control group. PAN was induced by a single intravenous injection of 100 mg/kg puromycin aminonucleoside. Serum creatinine and 24-hour urinary protein were measured on days 3, 7, and 14 after the injection, and renal pathologies were assessed with optical and immune transmission electron microscopy. The expression of RANK and RANKL in the kidneys was examined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting.

RESULTSThe PAN model rats showed massive proteinuria and elevated serum creatinine on day 3, which peaked on day 7. RANK-RANKL protein and mRNA expressions in PAN model group was higher than those in the control group. In the PAN rats, RANK was expressed mainly on the top cell membrane and in the cytoplasm of renal podocytes with a significantly increased expression level compared with that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe PAN rat model shows aberrant RANK and RANKL expressions in the podocytes, indicating their contribution to podocyte injury in PAN.

Animals ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Proteinuria ; pathology ; Puromycin Aminonucleoside ; adverse effects ; RANK Ligand ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDThe initial osteoblastic adhesion to materials characterizes the first phase of cell-material interactions and influences all the events leading to the formation of new bone. In a previous work, we developed a novel amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP)/poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) material that demonstrated morphologic variations in its microstructure. The aim of this study was to investigate the initial interaction between this material and osteoblastic cells. Cellular attachment and the corresponding signal transduction pathways were investigated.

METHODSA porous ACP/PLLA composite and PLLA scaffold (as a control) were incubated in fetal bovine serum (FBS) containing phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and the protein adsorption was determined. Osteoblastic MG63 cells were seeded on the materials and cultured for 1, 4, 8, or 24 hours. Cell attachment was evaluated using the MTS method. Cell morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The expression levels of the genes encoding integrin subunits α1, α5, αv, β1, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were determined using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe ACP/PLLA material significantly increased the protein adsorption by 6.4-fold at 1 hour and 2.4-fold at 24 hours, compared with the pure PLLA scaffold. The attachment of osteoblastic cells to the ACP/PLLA was significantly higher than that on the PLLA scaffold. The SEM observation revealed a polygonal spread shape of cells on the ACP/ PLLA, with the filopodia adhered to the scaffold surface. In contrast, the cells on the PLLA scaffold exhibited a spherical or polygonal morphology. Additionally, real-time RT-PCR showed that the genes encoding the integrin subunits α1, αv, β1, and FAK were expressed at higher levels on the ACP/PLLA composite.

CONCLUSIONSThe ACP/PLLA composite promoted protein adsorption and osteoblastic adhesion. The enhanced cell adhesion may be mediated by the binding of integrin subunits α1, αv, and β1, and subsequently may be regulated through the FAK signal transduction pathways.

Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Calcium Phosphates ; chemistry ; Cell Adhesion ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Integrin alpha1 ; metabolism ; Integrin alpha5 ; metabolism ; Integrin alphaV ; metabolism ; Integrin beta1 ; metabolism ; Integrins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Porosity ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

Objective To investigate RANK-RANKL expression in the kidneys of a rat model of puromycin aminonucleoside nephropathy (PAN). Methods Thirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into PAN model group and normal control group. PAN was induced by a single intravenous injection of 100 mg/kg puromycin aminonucleoside. Serum creatinine and 24-hour urinary protein were measured on days 3, 7, and 14 after the injection, and renal pathologies were assessed with optical and immune transmission electron microscopy. The expression of RANK and RANKL in the kidneys was examined using reverse transcription-ploymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. Results The PAN model rats showed massive proteinuria and elevated serum creatinine on day 3, which peaked on day 7. RANK-RANKL protein and mRNA expressions in PAN model group was higher than those in the control group. In the PAN rats, RANK was expressed mainly on the top cell membrane and in the cytoplasm of renal podocytes with a significantly increased expression level compared with that in the control group. Conclusion The PAN rat model shows aberrant RANK and RANKL expressions in the podocytes, indicating their contribution to podocyte injury in PAN.