Objective To evaluate the effect of PNS on Idiopathic facial palsy. Methods A total of 86 cases of acute idiopathic facial paralysis were randomly divided into the treatment group (PNS group, 44 cases), and the control group (42 cases). The basis of the two groups included hormone therapy, B vitamins, anti-viral treatment, as well as acupuncture and physical therapy, both in the incidence of 7 days to give the treatment. House-Brackmann facial nerve function classification and evaluation were used to determine clinical efficacy; ENoG line was tested before and after treatment. Results Before H-B classification of facial nerve function, EnoG side of the latency and amplitude in the two groups were comparable. At 28 days after treatment, H-B scores for the treatment group and the control group were (2.33 ± 1.21) and (3.08 ± 1.35), respectively, and the two groups had significant differences (Plt;0.05); ENoG incubation period (2.46 ± 0.34) and amplitude (189 ± 67) of the treatment group were more than those of the control group; the incubation period (3.37 ± 0.49) and amplitude (131 ± 52) improved, and there were significant differences between the two groups (Plt;0.05). Comparison of efficacy of the two groups showed the total effective rate: 95.45% in the treatment group, 80.95% in the control group, and the efficacy of the treatment group was better than that of the control group (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Sanqi tongshu, B vitamins, anti-virus, such as the acupuncture and physical therapy for the treatment of acute idiopathic facial paralysis have significant effect.
ObjectiveTo explore the causal association between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks using a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study. MethodsThe single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data associated with VTE and CVD from genome-wide association studies were obtained as instrumental variables. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was used as the main MR method and other methods were used as supplementary methods. Cochran's Q test, the intercept term of MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO were used to assess pleiotropy and heterogeneity to ensure the robustness of the results. ResultsThe IVW method suggested a causal association between VTE and atrial fibrillation (OR=1.033, 95%CI 1.009 to 1.058, P=0.008), but no association was identified between VTE and coronary artery disease (OR=0.994, 95%CI 0.974 to 1.023, P = 0.551), heart failure (OR=1.021, 95%CI 0.992 to 1.050, P=0.159) and myocardial infarction (OR=1.012, 95%CI 0.971 to 1.055, P=0.568). The results of Cochran's Q test showed that there was no heterogeneity in the MR analyses of VTE and CVD. The MR-Egger intercept analysis and the MR-PRESSO global testing did not detect potential horizontal pleiotropy, and the results were robust. Reverse MR analysis was used to verify the presence of reverse causal associations. The reverse MR analysis demonstrated that reverse causal associations between VTE and CVD were not evidenced. ConclusionThe results of the MR study demonstrated a causal association between VTE and atrial fibrillation, but not with coronary artery disease, heart failure or myocardial infarction.
ObjectiveTo establish the system of isolation, cultivation, and identification of the neural stem cells (NSCs) from subventricular zone (SVZ) of neonatal mice so as to seek for the appropriate seed cells for potential therapeutic interventions of neurological disorders. MethodsNSCs were isolated enzymatically and mechanically from SVZ of neonatal mice and cultured. The cellular morphology was observed by inverted microscopy. Immunocytochemical stainings of anti-Nestin and anti-SOX-2 were used to identify NSCs of passage 3. To study the differentiation of NSCs, NSCs were plated into 24-wells in the medium supplemented without epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) for 3 or 7 days. To compare the differentiation and proliferation potential of NSCs with different cultivation time, the BrdU pulse-labeling method and MTT test were used. To identify neurons and astrocytes, the anti-β-tubulin Ⅲ (Tuj-1) and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) staining were used. ResultsThe cells of the SVZ can be isolated and cultured in vitro, and these cells began to form neurospheres after cultured for 3 days at primary passage. While cultured for 7 days, these cells formed more neurospheres, and the volume of the neurospheres became bigger than neurospheres cultured for 3 days. In addition, after cultured for 7 days, the phenomena of fusion of neurospheres and adherent differentiation of neurospheres were observed under inverted microscope. These cells were provided with the typical phenotype of NSCs. The immunofluorescence staining results revealed that these cells showed positive immunoreactivity to Nestin and SOX-2. During the 4 hours BrdU pulse, the number of proliferated NSCs cultured for 3 days (75.817±2.961) was significantly higher than that of NSCs cultured for 7 days (56.600±4.881) (t=3.366, P=0.028). The results of MTT assay revealed that the absorbance (A) value of NSCs cultured for 3 days (0.478±0.025) was significantly higher than that of NSCs which were cultured for 7 days (0.366±0.032)(t=2.752, P=0.011). After cultivated without EGF and bFGF, the percentage of Tuj-1 and GFAP positive cells in NSCs was 23.1%±3.7% and 23.7%±3.8% for 3 days and was 40.1%±3.6% and 37.1%±4.5% for 7 days, respectively, all showing significant differences (t=3.285, P=0.030; t=3.930, P=0.017). ConclusionThe NSCs from SVZ of neonatal mice have potentials of self-renewal and multipotential differentiation in vitro. With different cultivation time, the potentials of proliferation and differentiation of NSCs are different.
Objective To analyse the indocyanine green angiographic findings in contralateral eyes of patients with unilateral exudative age-related macular degeneration(AMD). Methods Fundus photograph,fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA) and indocyanine green angiography(ICGA) were performed in a series of 70 patients with unilateral AMD and drusens and pigmentary changes in the macular region in contralateral eyes.The findings of fluoroangiograms were observed and analysed. Results ICGA revealed the characteristics of the contralateral eyes as follows:(1)Drusen could be hypofluorescent,hyperfluorescent or normal fluorescent;(2)14 eyes revealed plaque-like late hyperfluorescent;(3)13 eyes revealed choroidal filling defect;(4)18 eyes revealed pindot-like clusters of late hyperfluorescence. Conclusion ICGA is useful in evaluating the lesions and circulation disturbance of the contralateral eye,and may help to find the risk factors of developing future exudative changes. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 1999, 15: 216-218)
Objective To observe the characteristics of indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) in inactive polypoidal lesions of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods The clinical data of 36 PCV patients (37 eyes) with inactive polypoidal lesions were retrospectively analyzed. The follow-up of 11 eyes were ranged from nine to 29 months, with a mean of (12.3plusmn;5.5) months. All the patients were examined for visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit lamp microscope, fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and ICGA. According to the ICGA characteristics, PCV lesions were divided into active polypoidal lesions (pocket like hyperfluorescence at early stage and fluorescence leakage or stained with fluorescein at late stage) and inactive polypoidal lesions (pocket like hyperfluorescence and it was gradually faded). According to clinical and ICGA characteristics, inactive polypoidal lesions were divided into asymptomatic group, atrophic and/or cicatricial group and combined (with active polypoidal lesions) group. The visual acuity, fundus, lesions change and image characteristics of three groups were evaluated and analyzed. Results Among the 37 eyes, the time from indocyanine green (ICG) injection to inactive polypoidal lesions begin showing was ranged from 8.2 to 27.0 minutes, with a mean of (15.5plusmn;4.8) minutes. There were five eyes (13.5%), eight eyes (21.6%) and 24 eyes (64.9%) in asymptomatic group, atrophic and/or cicatricial group and combined group, respectively. The results of fundus examination showed that there was no hemorrhage, exudates, retinal pigment epithelium detachment (PED) and/or neural retina detachment in asymptomatic group; atrophy lesions and/or scar lesions were observed in atrophic and/or cicatricial group and there was also no hemorrhage, exudate, PED and/or neural retina detachment; there was no atrophy lesion and/or scar lesion, but there were 10 eyes with subretinal hemorrhage, 15 eyes with retinal exudate, 10 eyes with PED and four eyes with neural retina detachment in combine group. The results of ICGA showed that there were inactive polypoidal lesions in asymptomatic group; inactive polypoidal lesions located at the border of atrophy lesions and/or scar lesions in atrophic and/or cicatricial group; active polypoidal lesions and inactive polypoidal lesions coexisted in combine group. In 11 eyes which completed the follow-up, inactive polypoidal lesions regressed in three eyes (27.3%), partial regressed in two eyes (18.2%), unchanged in six eyes (54.5%). Conclusions The inactive polypoidal lesions of PCV mainly appear in the middle or late stage of ICGA and are manifested in asymptomatic, atrophic and/or cicatricial and combined eyes. The combined type which coexisted with active polypoidal lesions is the main form.
Objective To observe the effects of immunologic cytokines or anti-angiogenesis gene transfer mediated by electroporation for choroidal melanoma cells.Methods The human embryo kidney cells and malignant choroidal melanoma cells were transfected with plasmids pNGVL-mIL2, pNGVL-mIL12, pCI-sFLK-1, pCR3.1-antiVEGF121,pCI-ExTek. Then the expression of mIL2, mIL12, sFLK-1, VEGF and ExTek were detected by enzymelinked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) and Western blot. Nude mice models of malignant choroidal melanoma were established and they were divided into four groups randomly. Each group was treated with 30 mu;l of 0.9% NaCl, 30 mu;g pNGVL, 30 mu;g antiVEGF121+sFLK-1+ExTek and 30 mu;g mIL2+mIL12 respectively by electroporation. Seven，14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days after treatment, the tumor volumes were measured to calculate the tumor inhibition rate. Results ELISA and Western blot showed that mIL2，mIL12，sFLK-1 and ExTek were expressed after electroporation，VEGF expression was decreased remarkably. After treatment，the tumors of mIL2+mIL12 group were greatly inhibited with a tumor inhibition rate of 97.33%，while the tumors of antiVEGF121+sFLK-1+ExTek and pNGVL group were partially inhibited with tumor inhibition rates of 53.33% and 36.33% respectively.Conclusions Immunologic cytokines transfer mediated by electroporation can inhibit the growth of melanoma，but anti-angiogenesis only have a mild effects.
Objective To verify the effect of Evans blue dye on determining the retina blood vessel leakage． Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study． The VEGF induced retinal blood vessel leakage was checked with Evans blue dye． Then the bloodretina barrier breakdown of 1 week diabetic animals was quantified with Evans blue．The dye was extracted from retina by formamide and the extraction was checked with spect rophotometer． Evans blue leakage was normalized against wet or dry retina weight． Results The retinal Evans blue content of eyes treated with VEGF was remarkably higher than that of the controls (n=17 ,Plt;0．0001)． And the eyes of 1 week diabetic duration animals had more Evans blue dye than that of the normal controls (Plt;0．05)． Conclusion Evans blue dye is a sensitive tracer in quantitatively diagnosing the blood retina barrier breakdown． (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:221-223)
Objective To evaluate the inhibiting effect of adenosine on rat retinal ganglion cells (RGC) death induced by P2X7 and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Methods (1) Long-Evan neonatal rats were back labeled with aminostilbamidine to identify RGC. The viability of RGC affected by P2X7 excitomotor BzATP (50 mu;mol/L), glutamate receptor excitomotor NMDA (100 mu;mol/L) and adenosine (300 mu;mol/L) was detected. (2) RGC from the retinae of unlabeled neonatal rats were cultured in vitro. After labeled with Fura-2 methyl acetate, an intracellular calcium indicator, the effect of BzATP, NMDA and adenosine on intracellular Ca2+ level was detected byCa2+ imaging system. Results Both BzATP (50 mu;mol/L) and NMDA(100 mu;mol/L) could kill about 30% of the RGC. Cell death was prevented by adenosine (300 mu;mol/L) with the cell viability increased from (68.9plusmn;2.3)% and (69.9plusmn;3.2)% to (91.2plusmn;3.5)% (P＜0.001) and (102.1plusmn;3.9)% (P＜0.001), respectively. BzATP (50 mu;mol/L) led to a large, sustained increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration to (1183plusmn;109) nmol/L. After the adenosine intervened, Ca2+ concentration increased slightly to (314plusmn;64) nmol/L (P＜0.001). Conclusion Adenosine may prevent RGC death and increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration from P2X7and NMDA receptor stimulation. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 133-136)
Objective To observe the effect of Fufang XueShuanTong (FXST) on prevention for retinal microangiopathy of diabetic rats. Methods Take the normal male Wistar rats as normal control group; take the streptozotocin (STZ) Wistar rats as diabetic model group. And then the diabetic model group was divided into two groups: diabetic control group (without other treatment) and FXST treatment group (with FXST at dose 900 mg/kg, by the way of given medicine from esophagus to stomach, 1 time/day, experimental period was 20 weeks). When all the animals had been raised for 20 weeks, not only retinal digesting preparations were used, the endothelium/pericyte ratio (E/P ratio) and micro-vascular changes were observed by microscope, vascular relative area were measured by image system，but also the thickness of capillary basement membrane, the ultrastructural changes of endothelium and pericyte were observed by transmission electron microscope. Results On the 20th week, retinal digesting preparations showed that acellular capillaries, irregular vessel nets, segmental expansion, segmental stricture even occlusion, pericyte number decreased obviously, E/P ratio increased, vascular relative area increased and ghosts of pericytes etc in diabetic control group. Compared to diabetic control group, the retinal changes of FXST treatment group was lighter, the E/P ratio and vascular relative area were closer to normal control group. Transmission electron microscopy results showed that thickness of basement membrane was increased in DM group, vascular changes was light in FXST treated group. Conclusions FXST can prevent the changes of micrangium in diabetic rats effectively. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2008，24：272-275）