Integrated 3D bioprinting-based geometry-control strategy for fabricating corneal substitutes / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

BACKGROUND@#The shortage of donor corneas is a severe global issue, and hence the development of corneal alternatives is imperative and urgent. Although attempts to produce artificial cornea substitutes by tissue engineering have made some positive progress, many problems remain that hamper their clinical application worldwide. For example, the curvature of tissue-engineered cornea substitutes cannot be designed to fit the bulbus oculi of patients.@*OBJECTIVE@#To overcome these limitations, in this paper, we present a novel integrated three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting-based cornea substitute fabrication strategy to realize design, customized fabrication, and evaluation of multi-layer hollow structures with complicated surfaces.@*METHODS@#The key rationale for this method is to combine digital light processing (DLP) and extrusion bioprinting into an integrated 3D cornea bioprinting system. A designable and personalized corneal substitute was designed based on mathematical modelling and a computer tomography scan of a natural cornea. The printed corneal substitute was evaluated based on biomechanical analysis, weight, structural integrity, and fit.@*RESULTS@#The results revealed that the fabrication of high water content and highly transparent curved films with geometric features designed according to the natural human cornea can be achieved using a rapid, simple, and low-cost manufacturing process with a high repetition rate and quality.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study demonstrated the feasibility of customized design, analysis, and fabrication of a corneal substitute. The programmability of this method opens up the possibility of producing substitutes for other cornea-like shell structures with different scale and geometry features, such as the glomerulus, atrium, and oophoron.

Eyelid margin cleaning using Deep Cleaning Device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction-associated dry eye: a preliminary investigation / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of eyelid margin cleaning using Deep Cleaning Device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction-associated dry eye.@*METHODS@#This was a prospective, randomized, open-label, investigator-masked, and self-controlled study. We randomly assigned one eye of patients with meibomian gland dysfunction-associated dry eye to the treatment group, and the other eye to the control group. Both groups received artificial tears and lid warming; the treatment group received an additional one-time in-office eyelid margin cleaning using Deep Cleaning Device. Non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT) and tear meniscus height (TMH) of each eye, and Standard Patient Evaluation for Eye Dryness II (SPEED II) score of each patient were evaluated before and at one week after treatment.@*RESULTS@#Thirty eyes of 15 patients were enrolled. No adverse effects occurred during the treatment. Compared with the baseline values, the SPEED score decreased significantly at one week after treatment (mean±95% confidence interval, 11.00±0.99 vs. 5.67±1.67, P<0.0001), the NITBUT-first in the treatment group increased significantly at one week after treatment ((4.74±1.27) s vs. (7.49±2.22) s, P=0.01). The NITBUT-first was significantly longer in the treatment group ((7.49±2.22) s) than in the control group ((5.17±0.91) s) at one week after treatment (P=0.042). No significant differences were found in other tear film parameters between the two groups.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Eyelid margin cleaning using the novel Deep Cleaning Device is a convenient, effective, and safe treatment for patients with meibomian gland dysfunction-associated dry eye.

Effects of corneal thickness distribution and apex position on postoperative refractive status after full-bed deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of corneal thickness distribution and apex position on postoperative refractive status after full-bed deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (FBDALK).@*METHODS@#This is a retrospective analysis of patients who were diagnosed with advanced keratoconus between 2011 and 2014 in our hospital. The base of the cone in all patients did not exceed the central cornea at a 6-mm range. The FBDALK was performed by a same surgeon. All patients had a complete corneal suture removal and the follow-up records were intact. Patients who had graft-bed misalignment or who were complicated with a cataract or glaucoma were excluded. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), and Pentacam examination data were recorded at two years postoperatively. The recorded data included the superior-inferior (S-I) and nasal-temporal (N-T) corneal thickness differences in 2, 4, 6, and 8 mm diameter concentric circles with the corneal apex as the center (S-I2 mm, S-I4 mm, S-I6 mm, S-I8 mm, N-T2 mm, N-T4 mm, N-T6 mm, and N-T8 mm), the linear, X-axis, and Y-axis distance between the corneal pupillary center and the cornea apex, total corneal astigmatism at a zone of 3 mm diameter from the corneal apex (TA3 mm), the astigmatic vector values J0 and J45, and the corneal total higher-order aberration for 3 and 6 mm pupil diameters (HOA3 mm and HOA6 mm). Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 15.0.@*RESULTS@#A total of 47 eyes of 46 patients met the criteria and were included in this study. The mean follow-up time was (28±7) months. The mean UCVA was 0.45±0.23 (logMAR) (MAR: minimum angle of resolution) and the mean BSCVA was 0.19±0.15 (logMAR), which were all significantly positively correlated with postoperative TA3 mm and HOA3 mm. The mean S-I corneal thickness differences were (44.62±37.74) μm, and the mean N-T was (38.57±32.29) μm. S-I2 mm was significantly positively correlated with J0 (r=0.31), J45 (r=0.42), HOA3 mm (r=0.37), and HOA6 mm (r=0.48). S-I4 mm and S-I8 mm were significantly positively correlated with HOA3 mm (r=0.30, r=0.40) and HOA6 mm (r=0.46, r=0.35). The X-axis distance between corneal pupillary center and corneal apex was significantly positively correlated with J45 (r=0.29).@*CONCLUSIONS@#In patients with advanced keratoconus after FBDALK, the unevenly distributed thickness at corneal pupillary area and the misalignment of corneal apex and pupillary center might cause significant regular and irregular astigmatism, which affected the postoperative visual quality.

Assessments of tear meniscus height, tear film thickness, and corneal epithelial thickness after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the lower tear meniscus height (LTMH), central tear film thickness (CTFT), and central corneal epithelial thickness (CCET) after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK).@*METHODS@#This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 20 patients who had DALK in one eye over a three-month period. LTMH, CTFT, and CCET of the operated eyes and the unoperated fellow eyes were measured using high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT). Correlations between three OCT assessments and age, time following surgery, graft size, bed size, and the number of residual sutures were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Compared to patients with keratoconus, patients with other corneal conditions had significantly higher CCET in the fellow eye (P=0.024). For all patients, CCET in the operated eye was significantly negatively correlated with the number of residual sutures (R=-0.579, P=0.008), and was significantly positively correlated with time following surgery (R=0.636, P=0.003). In the fellow eye, a significant positive correlation was found between age and CCET (R=0.551, P=0.012), and a significant negative correlation between age and CTFT (R=-0.491, P=0.028). LTMH was found to be significantly correlated between operated and fellow eyes (R=0.554, P=0.011). There was no significant correlation between LTMH and age, bed/graft size, time following surgery, or residual sutures (all possible correlations, P>0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Patients with keratoconus tend to have a thinner central corneal epithelium. Corneal epithelium keeps regenerating over time after DALK. DALK did not induce a significant change in tear volume compared with the fellow eye. Postoperative tear function might depend on an individual's general condition, rather than on age, gender, bed/graft size, time following surgery, or residual sutures.

Combined transgenic inhibition of CaMKII and Ik1 on cardiac remodeling / 生理学报

This study was aimed to establish an experimental mouse model of combined transgenic inhibition of both multifunctional Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and inward rectifier potassium current (Ik1), and to observe whether the specific inhibition of both CaMKII and Ik1 can bring about any effects on cardiac remodeling. Mice were divided into 4 groups: wild type (WT), CaMKII inhibited (AC3-I), Ik1 inhibited (Kir2.1-AAA) and combined inhibition of both CaMKII and Ik1 (AC3-I+Kir2.1-AAA). Mice in each group received electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography examination. ECG in the condition of isoproterenol (ISO) injection was also checked. The whole cell patch clamp technique was used to measure Ik1 and the transient outward potassium current (Ito) from enzymatically isolated myocytes of left ventricle. In the condition of basal status, no significant changes of heart rate, PR interval and QRS interval were observed. No mouse showed ventricular arrhythmias in all of the 4 groups. After ISO injection, each group presented no significant ventricular arrhythmias either. The indexes measured by M-mode (motion-mode) and two-dimensional echocardiography had no significant differences among the four groups. Ik1 in AC3-I group was significantly higher than those in other three groups (P < 0.01) because of the results brought about by CaMKII inhibition. Among the latter three groups, both Kir2.1-AAA group and AC3-I+Kir2.1-AAA group had a significant reduced Ik1 compared with that of WT group, which was due to the Ik1 inhibition (P < 0.01). Ito in AC3-I group was higher than that of the other three groups (P < 0.01), but there were no significant differences in Ito among WT, Kir2.1-AAA and AC3-I+Kir2.1-AAA groups. Thus, combined transgenic myocardial CaMKII and Ik1 inhibition eliminated the up-regulation of Ik1 in CaMKII inhibited mice, and had no effects on cardiac remodeling including heart structure and function as well as arrhythmias at the basic and ISO conditions. The results of this study may provide a basis for the further investigation of combined inhibition of CaMKII and Ik1 in pathogenic cardiac remodeling.

Clinical observation of the immediate breast reconstruction following breast-conserving surgery for centrally located breast cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical efficacy of the immediate breast reconstruction following breast-conserving surgery for centrally located breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January of 2006 through December of 2011, 30 women with centrally located breast cancer of stage I or II was treated by breast-conserving surgery removing or not removing the nipple-areola complex. All the patients received immediate breast reconstruction with adjacent gland tissue flap or latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap. The breast shape and complication were observed. All the patients were followed up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The thirty women underwent the breast-conserving surgery successfully, in which 12 cases received immediate breast reconstruction with adjacent gland tissue flap and 18 cases received immediate breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap. The superior rate of the aesthetic effect was 90% (27/30) according to JCRT in one week or six months after surgery. No recurrence and metastasis were observed after a median follow-up of 38 months ( range 4-72 months).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The immediate breast reconstruction following breast-conserving surgery for centrally located breast cancer at early stage is satisfactory for the aesthetic result and clinical efficacy, and deserves further clinical application.</p>

Association between Alu insertion polymorphisms and HLA class I alleles in Chinese Lisu and Nu ethnic populations / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the frequencies of HLA-Alu repeat polymorphisms (AluMICB, AluTF, AluHJ, AluHG and AluHF) in Chinese Lisu and Nu ethnic populations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The frequencies of HLA-Alu repeat polymorphisms in above populations were determined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The associations between HLA-Alu repeat polymorphisms and HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C alleles were also analyzed. Phylogenetic trees were constructed with genetic distance calculated from the frequencies of HLA-Alu repeat polymorphisms.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Frequencies of AluTF*2 and AluHF*2 were different between the two populations (P< 0.05), while those of other three insertions were similar. The strength of association between HLA-Alus and HLA alleles were different (P< 0.05) in the two populations. Although AluMICB*2 were associated with HLA-B*56:01 in both populations, the association was stronger in Lisu population (74.0%) but moderate in Nu population (30.7%). HLA-Alus were associated with particular HLA subtypes, e.g., AluHG*2 with certain HLA-A*02 subtypes. By phylogenetic analysis, Lisu and Nu were clustered together with southern Chinese and Thai populations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The distribution of HLA-Alus and the strength of associations between HLA-Alus and HLA class I alleles have varied between the two populations. Study of this association may facilitate identification of origins, evolution, progenitor haplotypes and recombination within the HLA class I region.</p>

Clinical characteristics and in vivo confocal microscopic imaging of Fleck corneal dystrophy / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical characteristics and the corneal morphological abnormalities in Fleck corneal dystrophy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen eyes with Fleck corneal dystrophy of 9 patients from two unrelated families were examined by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer and in vivo confocal microscopy. The corneal cells, nerves and stromal deposits were analyzed quantitatively with NAVIS software.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Slit-lamp biomicroscopy of the Fleck corneal dystrophy revealed that bilateral small grey-white fleck-like or wreath-like opacities were scattered in all layer of the corneal stroma from the center to the periphery, the intervening stroma between the lesions was clear. In vivo confocal microscopy identified that the opacities appeared as doughnut-like or nephroid-like deposits approximately 70.6 μm × 110.3 μm in size, (1.6 ± 0.4)/frame in density and involved about (438.4 ± 22.0) μm of the corneal stroma, with hyper reflective dot-like intracellular particles,measuring 2 to 18 μm in diameter. In two eyes of 1 patient associated with decreased corneal sensation, confocal images showed that abnormal hyper reflective deposits involved the Bowman's layer and the branch and density of the subbasal nerve was reduced. The other eyes with normal corneal sensation appeared normal in the morphology and the density of the corneal nerves.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fleck corneal dystrophy has typical clinical characteristics. In vivo confocal microscopy allows to study the morphological changes of the cornea at cellular level, which is valuable for the clinical diagnosis and evaluation of the corneal dystrophy. Decreased corneal sensitivity in Fleck corneal dystrophy is probably caused by corneal stromal deposits involved in the Bowman's layer.</p>

Research progress on proliferative property and capacity of human corneal endothelium / 浙江大学学报·医学版

Primary and secondary corneal endothelial decompensation leads to stromal edema, corneal opacity and loss of visual acuity. The pathogenesis of corneal endothelial decompensation is that adult corneal endothelium in vivo lacks of a robust proliferative response to injury, does not divide sufficiently to replace the lost cells. Previous studies indicate that cell-cell contact inhibition and transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-β2) in aqueous humor may be responsible for maintaining human endothelial cells in a non-replicative state in vivo. The results of the experimental investigation by using immunofluorescent staining of the cell cycle-associated proteins and cell proliferation marker Ki67 in corneal endothelium indicate that human corneal endothelial cells in vivo are arrested in the G1-phase and have not exited from the cell cycle. Successful outgrowth in culture of human corneal endothelial cells in vitro and the establishment of the immortalized human endothelial cell line, provide strong evidence that corneal endothelial cells retain proliferative capacity. Experiments with cell culture ex vivo demonstrate that corneal endothelial cells cultured from young donors grow more robustly than those from older donors, and cells cultured from peripheral area of corneas show greater cell density than central regions. Studies have demonstrated that in vitro human corneal endothelia undergo mitotic changes in response to stimulation of growth promoting agents, such as growth factors, EDTA and extracellular matrix. Identification of corneal endothelial stem cells and isolation and culture of human endothelial precursor cells in vitro will be beneficial for further investigation regarding the mechanism of corneal endothelial regeneration as well as corneal endothelial cells in vitro culture.

Association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of 5'-untranslated region of GPx4 gene and male infertility / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (GPx4 or PHGPx) gene and oligo- or asthenozoospermic male infertility.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The 5'-UTR region of the GPx4 gene was amplified from infertile men and controls using the polymerase chain reaction and was analyzed for polymorphisms by direct sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 9 SNPs were present in the cohort, however there were no significant differences in these 9 SNPs between the case and control groups. According to the results of linkage disequilibrium analysis and haplotype construction, one haplotype (rs757229-rs757230-rs4588110-rs3746165-rs3746166: C-G-G-T-A) was present only in the control men, and significant difference was detected(P< 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The SNPs of 5'-UTR region of the GPx4 gene might not be associated with oligo- or asthenozoospermic male infertility. However, the haplotype (rs757229-rs757230-rs4588110- rs3746165-rs3746166: C-G-G-T-A) might be a protective haplotype.</p>

Distribution of HLA-C genes and HLA C-B, A-C-B haplotypes in Jinuo, Maonan and Wa ethnic populations in southwest China / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the distribution of human leukocyte antigen(HLA) class I genes and haplotypes in Jinuo, Maonan and Wa ethnic populations in southwest China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO) typing by Luminex was performed to genotype the HLA-C alleles in unrelated healthy individuals in the three populations. HLA C-B, A-C-B haplotypes were computed by combining the previous HLA-A and -B genotyping data using Pypop7.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eighteen HLA-C genes were identified in the three populations, with 17, 13 and 15 HLA-C genes in Jinuo, Maonan and Wa populations respectively. The alleles with frequency of more than 10% from high to low were C*08:01, C*01:02, C*03:04 and C*07:02 in the Jinuo, C*03:04, C*01:02, C*07:02 and C*08:01 in the Maonan, and C*12:03, C*08:01, C*07:02 and C*04:01 in the Wa. The predominant HLA A-C-B haplotypes were A*02:07-C*01:02-B*46:01, A*11:01-C*08:01-B*15:02 and A*11:01-C*03:04-B*13:01 in the Jinuo, A*11:01-C*03:04-B*13:01, A*02:07-C*01:02-B*46:01, A*11:01-C*08:01-B*15:02 and A*02:03-C*07:02-B*38:02 in the Maonan, and A*11:01-C*08:01-B*15:02, A*11:01-C*12:03-B*15:32 and A*11:01-C*04:01-B*35:01 in the Wa, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There were different characteristics in the distributions of HLA-C genes and HLA C-B, A-C-B haplotypes in the Jinuo, Maonan and Wa populations. However, haplotypes C*08:01-B*15:02 and A*11:01-C*08:01-B*15:02 with high frequencies were common in the three populations, which might be the common ancient haplotypes of southern Chinese population. The study of HLA genes and haplotypes in these populations may be of significance in the study of population genetics, transplantation and disease association.</p>

Association between diversity of hypoxia at different altitude and the polymorphism of EPAS1 gene / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the selection effect of endothelial PAS domain protein 1 (EPAS1) gene induced by high altitude hypoxia environment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fourteen single nucleotide polymorphism sites (SNPs) of the EPAS1 gene were genotyped using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in three Tibetan groups (58 samples from Tibetan living in an altitude of about 3700 meters above sea level, 47 from Qinghai province, about 3100 meters above sea level, 43 from Yunnan province, about 2500 meters above sea level), and Han of Shandong (47 samples, about 50 meters above sea level).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant differences of most SNP allelic, genotypic and haplotypic frequencies when comparing Han of Shandong, Tibetan of Yunnan with Tibetan of Tibetan and Qinghai. But no difference between Han of Shandong and Tibetan of Yunnan was found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The EPAS1 gene might be under hypoxic selection induced by high altitude.</p>

Study of nine single nucleotide polymorphism loci of human HIF1A gene in three Tibetan groups / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of hypoxia environment induced by altitude on hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF1A) gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci of the HIF1A gene from three Tibetan groups (Tibet, Qinghai Province and Yunnan Province) were genotyped using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For non-synonymous mutation SNP site, there was no significant difference among the three Tibetan groups, except for SNP rs11549465 between Tibet Tibetan and Yunnan Tibetan, as well as between Qinghai Tibetan and Yunnan Tibetan. Frequencies of genotypes and alleles in rs4899056, rs1957757, rs10873142 and rs3783752 had significant differences between Tibet Tibetan and Yunnan Tibetan, and between Qinghai Tibetan and Yunnan Tibetan (all P<0.05). We also observed that the difference was negatively correlated with the altitude.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggested that the HIF1A gene might be under hypoxic selection induced by high altitude in the three groups.</p>

Study on the genetic stability of immortalized cell line of lymphocyte cell transformed by EB virus after long subculture process / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the genetic stability of an immortalized cell line transformed by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) after long subculture process.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In the present study, the genetic stability including chromosome diploidy, karyotypes and microsatellite DNA were evaluated with chromosome banding techniques and microsatellite DNA detection. The telomerase activity of the immortalized cell line was detected by using the telomerase assay kit.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From passage 1 to 30, there were no change of the diploidy, karyotypes of chromosome and microsatellite DNA, and the telomerase activity is negative.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study indicates that the immortalized cell line remains stable genetically within limited passages.</p>

Analysis on the risk factors associated with fungal infection following operation of gastrointestinal neoplasm / 中国感染与化疗杂志

Objective To investigate the relevant risk factors for fungal infection following operation of the gastrointestinal neo- plasm and offer supporting data for the prevention of fungal infection.Methods Medical records from 116 patients who under- went the operation of gastrointestinal neoplasm in the special group of this hospital from January 2006 to June 2006 were retro- spectively reviewed on the relevant risk factors by univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results Of the 116 patients reviewed, 18 had fungal infection.Forty-six samples were positive for fungal pathogen.The most frequently isolated fungal strain was Candida albicans (15/20) and the most common infection site was gastrointestinal tract (14/18).Fungal in- fection after the operation of gastrointestinal neoplasm was significantly relevant with the duration of antibiotic use, duration of post-operative fasting, low serum albumin, high blood glucose and complication of bacterial infection.The duration of antibiotic use was a significantly independent risk factor.Conclusions Reasonable antibiotic use, nutritional support, early enteral nutri- tion and control of blood glucose should be taken into account after the operation of gastrointestinal neoplasm in order to prevent fungal infections.

Current advances in gene diagnosis and therapy of gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy / 浙江大学学报·医学版

Gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy (GDLD) is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease, which may result in bilateral loss of vision. The gene responsible for GDLD, M1S1 is mapped on the short arm of chromosome 1 (1p), but the possible etiology of this disease remains unclear. Corneal transplantation is the only treatment for visual rehabilitation. The detection of the mutations of the M1S1 gene and the possible etiological involvement of the amyloid deposits are discussed. The current literatures are extensively reviewed in this article.

Application of impression cytology in diagnosis of ocular surface diseases / 浙江大学学报·医学版

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of impression cytology in diagnosing of ocular surface diseases. METHODS: Impression cytology was performed on 18 eyes with Sjgren's syndrome (dacryosialo-adenopathia atrophicans), 23 eyes with non-Sjgren's syndrome, 15 eyes after thermal or chemical burn at the scarred stage and 20 normal eyes. Conjunctival goblet cell density, conjunctival epithelial squamous metaplasia and corneal cytological features were evaluated respectively. RESULTS: In impression cytology, eyes of Sjgren's syndrome demonstrated a significantly higher grade of squamous metaplasia and lower goblet cell density (P<0.05) as compared with normal eyes and with eyes of non-Sj gren's syndrome in the bulbar conjunctiva, whereas no statistically significant difference of squamous metaplasia grade or goblet cell density was found in the palpebral conjunctiva (P>0.05) in these two groups. In thermal or chemical burned eyes at the scarred stage, the inferior, nasal and temporal bulbar conjunctiva showed higher conjunctival goblet cell density than in the normal eyes (P<0.01). Before surgery of ocular surface reconstruction, conjunctival goblet cells were detected on the corneal area in the 8 thermal or chemical burned eyes. However, the goblet cells in the corneal area of 7 burned eyes were completely resolved after successful ocular surface reconstruction. CONCLUSION The demonstrations of impression cytology in Sjgren's syndrome, thermal or chemical burn are distinctive. Impression cytology is a noninvasive,quick,easy and inexpensive technique, being a useful tool for diagnosis of ocular surface diseases.

Application of Proteomics in the Study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis / 微生物学通报

Proteomics is an emerging discipline developed on the basis of genomics.The fundamental techniques of proteomics include sample preparation,protein separation,protein identification and analysis,and its core techniques are two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry.In recent years,proteomics has been used in researching the field of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB).Proteomics promotes deep understanding of the pathogenesis of MTB and resistance mechanism via isolating,identifying and analyzing the whole-cell protein and secreted proteins.The development of new vaccine against MTB has showed some promising results based on proteomics.Some powerful early diagnostic markers have been discovered via analyzing the protein composition of MTB clinical isolates.Proteomics also applies to find potential new drug targets,and it has shown many valuable research productions in developing new an-ti-MTB drugs.In summary,the application of proteomics has built a solid foundation for the development of prevention,early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.