Exploration and practice of artificial intelligence assisted primary vision health management / 中华预防医学杂志

It has attracted much attention worldwide that the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in primary screening and clinical diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. In recent years, this technology has also been widely used in various grass-roots eye disease management, effectively improving the current situation of weak eye disease diagnosis ability and shortage of human resources in primary medical institutions. At present, there is no reference standard or guideline for the management mode, implementation content and management method of vision health management based on this technology, which are in urgent need of standardization. The article described the work mode exploration of AI-assisted grass-roots visual health management in Shanghai and shared practical experience. The aim is to provide reference for other provinces in China to carry out relevant work.

Analysis of community intervention effects for diabetic eye diseases in Shanghai Xinjing community from 2016 to 2018 / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective: To analyze the effects of community-based interventions for diabetic eye diseases in Xinjing community, Shanghai from 2016 to 2018. Methods: Based on the project of "Establishment of Service Model for Comprehensive Prevention and Treatment of Diabetic Eye Diseases in Shanghai", the participants were not suffering diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Xinjing community in 2016 before interventions and received community-based interventions for diabetic eye diseases. The incidence of DR, visual acuity and awareness of DR were used as evaluation indicators to analyze the effects of interventions for diabetic eye diseases in the community. Results: A total of 537 patients were included in this study, the incidence of DR among diabetic patients in Xinjing community was 7.6% after interventions. The duration of diabetes (OR= 1.065) and HbA1c (OR= 1.090) were the risk factors of DR. Before and after the interventions, the patients with monocular low vision and binocular low vision were 27 cases (5.0%), 8 cases (1.5%), 19 cases (3.5%) and 7 cases (1.3%) respectively. After interventions, the awareness on the prevention and treatment of DR increased significantly, and the proportion of regular visits to ophthalmology examination, diet control and physical exercise also increased significantly. Conclusion: Community-based interventions for diabetic eye diseases are helpful to improve the awareness of DR prevention and control, reduce the incidence of DR.

Effect of Leonurine on p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway and miRNA-1 in Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy Induced by AngⅡ / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of leonurine on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ) and its effect on p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling pathway and miRNA-1.Method: Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was induced by Ang Ⅱ (0.1 μmol·L-1) in primary neonatal cardiomyocytes. Experiments were designed in 6 groups as following:normal group, model group, p38 MAPK inhibitor group (SB203580, 10 μmol·L-1), low-dose(5 μmol·L-1), middle-dose(10 μmol·L-1) and high-dose(20 μmol·L-1) group. The cardiomyocyte surface area was measured by image software, and the protein contents were detected by Lowry. The concentrations of ANP in the culture supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression level of miRNA-1 was detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR), and the protein expression levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2), β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC), α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) were detected by Western blot.Result: Compared with normal group, the surface area of cardiomyocyte, the protein contents, the concentrations of ANP, and the protein expression levels of ET-1, p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, MEF2, β-MHC in model group were higher (Pα-MHC and miRNA-1 were lower than those in normal group (Pβ-MHC in high-dose group were lower (Pα-MHC and miRNA-1 were higher than those in model group (PConclusion: Leonurine (20 μmol·L-1) could inhibit cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by AngⅡ, and the mechanism is related to the inhibition of activation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway and up-regulation the expression of miRNA-1.

Intestinal absorption and metabolism of Puerariae Lobatae Radix decoction by in situ closed-loop method / 中国中药杂志

Biopharmaceutics classification system of Chinese materia medica (CMMBCS) emphasizes characteristic of the multi-component environment based on the drug solubility and permeability. In this study, the in situ closed-loop method combined with LC-MS technique was utilized to study the intestinal absorption and metabolism of Puerariae Lobatae Radix decoction (PLRD), providing selection basis for intestinal permeability components in CMMBCS. A total of 36 components were identified from PLRD. Among them, 17 components could be detected in the plasma sample, indicating that 17 components could be absorbed into blood, so these 17 components could be used as intestinal permeability evaluation components in CMMBCS. The other 19 components were not detected in the plasma sample, suggesting that they may not be absorbed or metabolized by the gut wall enzymes.

Preparation, characterization and Calu-3 cellular uptake of three kinds of poly(b-benzyl-L-amino)block-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles / 药学学报

The aim of this paper is to compare the cytotoxicity and cellular uptake efficiency of three kinds of poly(b-benzyl-L-amino) block-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (PXA-PEG-NPs) using Calu-3 cells, and select one as a nasal drug delivery vector for curcumin (Cur). Poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) block-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (PBLG-PEG-NPs), poly(gamma-benzyl-L-lysine) block-poly(ethyleneglycol) nanoparticles (PZLL-PEG-NPs) and poly(gamma-benzyl-L-aspartate) block-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (PBLA-PEG-NPs) were prepared by emulsion-solvent evaporation method. MTT assays were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of PXA-PEG-NPs against Calu-3 cells. The cellular uptake of nanoparticles was visualized by an inverted fluorescence microscope and quantified by a flow cytometer. The results indicated that even at high concentration of 2 mg x mL(-1) the three nanoparticles had no cytotoxicity on Calu-3 cells. Compared to the curcumin solution, the three curcumin-loaded PXA-PEG-NPs showed significantly higher cellular uptake efficiency on Calu-3 cells (at equal concentration of curcumin with 5 microg x mL(-1) Cur solution), PBLG-PEG-NPs group was the highest. The cellular uptake increased with incubation time, and has positive correlation with nanoparticle concentration. In brief, PXA-PEG-NPs are conducive to delivery Cur into cells, and PBLG-PEG-NPs might be provided as a good nasal drug delivery carrier.

Therapeutic effects of Fuzhenghuayu decoction in a CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis rat model and on hepatic stellate cell activation / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the influence of Fuzhenghuayu decoction on fibrotic liver tissue and activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) using a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver cirrhosis rat model system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following groups: normal (non-model, non-drug intervention), CCl4 liver fibrosis model, and CCl4 liver fibrosis model Fuzhenghuayu drug intervention at low dose (0.75 g/kg/d) and high dose (1.5 g/kg/d). The drug intervention was administered via oral-gastric irrigation once daily for 6 times per week over a 6-week period. Four rats from each group were sacrificed at the end of week 2, 4, and 6 for serum and liver tissue collection. Liver fibrosis was evaluated by histology, and expression of a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) was determined by immunohistochemistry. Liver function was assessed by measuring levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBil). Between-group comparisons were made by completely random design and ANOVA with Bonferroni correction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the end of weeks 2, 4 and 6, all four groups showed significantly different levels of ALT, AST, and TBil; in addition, the model group and drug intervention groups had significantly higher levels of ALT, AST, and TBil than the control group, the drug intervention groups showed significantly lower levels of ALT, AST, and TBil than the model group (P less than 0.01 or less than 0.05), and the differences between the low dose and high dose groups reached statistical significance (P less than 0.01 or less than 0.05). At the end of weeks 2, 4 and 6, the model group and drug intervention groups had significantly higher area ratio of liver fibrosis than the normal group (F = model: 18.68, low dose: 49.95, high dose: 82.44, P less than 0.01), but the two drug intervention groups had significantly less area ratio of liver fibrosis than the model group (P less than 0.05) and the high dose group showed the most robust decrease. In addition, the model group and drug intervention groups showed higher expression of a-SMA than the normal group (F = model: 18.68, low dose: 49.95, high dose: 82.44, P less than 0.01), but two drug intervention groups had significantly less a-SMA than the model group (F = model: 46.32, low dose: 40.30, high dose: 58.42, P less than 0.05) and the high dose group showed the most robust decrease.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Fuzhenghuayu decoction reduces the numbers of activated HSCs, thereby leading to down-regulated a-SMA expression and reduced degree of liver fibrosis; these effects may represent the mechanism by which this drug suppresses hepatic fibrosis.</p>

Cross-sectional investigation of visual impairing diseases in Shanghai blind children school / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The control of blindness in children is a high priority within the VISION 2020 initiative. To determine the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in children from Shanghai Blind Children School (SBCS) can provide useful information on childhood blindness in Shanghai.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cross-sectional investigation of students in SBCS was conducted in May 2010. The World Health Organization/Prevention of Blindness (WHO/PBL) eye examination record system for children with low vision and blindness was used. The results were further compared with the findings of two previous investigation studies conducted in 1986 and 2004, respectively in SBCS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 146 children observed, 80 children (54.8%) were blind (best corrected best visual acuity less than 0.05), 27 children (18.5%) had severe visual impairment (best corrected visual acuity less than 0.1 but better than or equal to 0.05), and 34 children (23.3%) had moderate visual impairment (best corrected visual acuity less than 0.3 but better than or equal to 0.1). The major affected anatomic sites in the 107 children with severe visual impairment and blindness (SVI/BL) were retina (47.7%), whole globe (16.8%), optic nerve (13.1%) and lens (9.3%). The leading causes of SVI/BL were retinopathy of prematurity (ROP, 25.2%), followed by retinal dystrophy (15.9%), optic nerve atrophy (9.3%) and microphthalmos (9.3%). The two leading etiologic categories of SVI/BL were perinatal/neonatal (36.4%) and congenital/hereditary groups (29.0%). The leading cause of moderate visual impairment was aphakia after cataract surgery (congenital cataract, 44.1%). Compared with the findings in two previous investigations in SBCS, the proportion of ROP in visual impairing diseases increased, while the proportion of disorders of the lens (cataract and aphakia) significantly decreased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The leading cause of childhood blindness in SBCS nowadays is ROP. It is projected that without improvement in perinatal medical care that ROP will continue to be a major cause of childhood blindness.</p>

Design of a volume-rendering toolkit using GPU-based ray-casting / 中国医疗器械杂志

This paper presents an approach to GPU-based ray-casting of a shader model 3.0 compatible graphics card. In addition, a software toolkit is designed using the proposed algorithm to make the full benefit of GPU by extending VTK. Experimental results suggest that remarkable speedups are observed using GPU-based algorithm, and high-quality renderings can be achieved at interactive framerates above 60 fps. The toolkit designed provides a high level of usability and extendibility.

Inducing liver-derived dendritic cell proliferation by plasmid-IL-3 and CD40L genes in mice in vivo / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>Try to induce liver-derived dendritic cells proliferation by plasmid-IL-3 and CD40L genes in mice in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rapid tail-vein injection of large amounts of plasmid-carrying genes was performed to transfect genes in mice livers. Liver nonparenchymal cells were isolated by Percoll gradient centrifugation. Dendritic cell markers were detected and dendritic cells were sorted out by flow cytometry. Morphology of dendritic cells was studied microscopically (with Giemsa staining) and under scanning electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Liver nonparenchymal cells dramatically increased in the liver lobules, portal and periportal areas in the treated group, but not in the control group. B220+/DEC205+ dendritic cells were detected and sorted by flow cytometry. There were more B220+/DEC205+ dendritic cells (16.0%) in the experiment group than those in the control group (1.1%). Morphologically, the sorted B220+/DEC205+ cells showed irregular shaped nuclei, paucity of cytoplasmic granules and extensive cytoplasmic processes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>B220+/DEC205+ dendritic cells were expanded in vivo in mice livers by rapid tail-vein injection of plasmid-carrying genes encoding IL-3 and CD40L in a large amount. Inducing liver dendritic cell proliferation in vivo provides a more convenient way for studying the biology of these cells.</p>