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@#AIM: To compare the accuracy of Toric intraocular lens(IOL)alignment and visual outcome using the femtosecond laser-assisted capsulotomy markings(FLACM)versus a conventional slitlamp-assisted manual marking(SAMM)procedure. <p>METHODS: Totally 50 patients required cataract surgery and Toric IOL implantation were assigned to the FLACM group(25 eyes)or the SAMM group(25 eyes). The uncorrected distant visual acuity(UCDVA), best corrected distant visual acuity(BCDVA), residual astigmatism(RA), IOL rotation, MTF Total were measured 1mo after surgery. <p>RESULTS: The UCDVA(LogMAR)was significantly lower in the FLACM group than in the SAMM group 1mo postoperatively(0.15±0.09 <i>vs</i> 0.22±0.11, <i>P</i><0.05). The RA and IOL rotation were significantly lower in the FLACM group than in the SAMM group(0.30±0.18D <i>vs</i> 0.64±0.28D, <i>P</i><0.05; 3.64°±1.68° <i>vs</i> 5.40°±3.44°, <i>P</i><0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the BCDVA and MTF total value(<i>P</i>>0.05). The UCDVA(LogMAR)was positive correlative to the RA(<i>r</i>=0.350, <i>P</i><0.05)and IOL rotation(<i>r</i>=0.369,<i> P</i><0.05), and was negative correlative to the MTF total value(<i>r</i>= -0.290, <i>P</i><0.05); the RA was positive correlative to the IOL rotation(<i>r</i>=0.431, <i>P</i><0.05). <p>CONCLUSION: The accuracy of the axis alignment was significantly higher in the FLACM group, which results in lower residual astigmatism and better visual outcome.
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BACKGROUND: Current examination methods to assess the anatomical variations of flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon in the little finger necessitate a strong external force applied by the examiner and cause false negatives. A new examination method was designed to detect the variations more accurately. METHODS: We examined the little fingers of 220 adult hands (110 subjects) by 2 methods: the expanded examination method advocated by Tan et al., and a new examination method. Variations of the FDS in the little finger were examined by both methods and categorized separately as having independent FDS function, FDS connection to the tendons of the ring finger or of the multiple adjacent fingers, and functional substitution of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) with or without tendinous connection to the ring or multiple adjacent fingers. By our new method, we could further divide the FDS connection or FDP substitution with connection to the ring finger into 2 subtypes: loose and close connections. Data were reported as case numbers and percent. Date on symmetry were statistically analyzed by matched case-control studies. RESULTS: Among 220 hands, 113 hands (51.4%) had independent FDS function by the new examination method, which was lower than the incidence (55.5%) detected with the existing expanded examination method. In the hands with connections between FDS tendons of the little and the ring fingers, 32 hands (14.5%) demonstrated loose and 37 (16.8%) close connections. Three hands (1.4%) had loose and 19 (8.6%) had close FDP substitution with tendinous connection to the ring finger. Among 110 hands without independent FDS function, variants of 42 hands (38.2%) were asymmetric. There was no statistical significance in symmetry of variations. CONCLUSIONS: This new examination method offers other assessment variations of FDS tendon in the little finger. We recommend using this test to assess the variations and function of the FDS of the little finger.
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Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Anatomic Variation , Fingers/anatomy & histology , Physical Examination/methods , Tendons/anatomy & histologyABSTRACT
Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) leads to blindness because of the retinal angiogenesis caused by the ischemia of retina.Vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGI) is a recently identified anti-angiogenic cytokine,which can suppress endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis.Objective The aim of this study was to detect the change of serum and vitreous VEGI/TL1A and its relative cytokines in patients with DR.Methods A non-randomized controlled clinical trial was performed.Fifty-five DR patients were enrolled in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from November 2012 to March 2013 with the informed consent.The patients were divided into non-proliferative DR (NPDR) group (20 cases) and PDR group (35 cases).Eleven cataract patients served as normal control group,and 15 patients with diabetic mellitus (DM) were included as DM group.The demography was matched among the groups,but the course of DM and the blood glucose level were elevated in the PDR group and the DM group compared with DR group (all at P＜0.05).We collected the serum of all the patients above.Another 23 PDR patients (25 eyes) were enrolled in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from November 2012 to March 2013 with the informed consent and served as PDR group,healthy corpse's eyes (n=7) as control group,the patients were assigned to the retinal photocoagulation group,surgery group and photocoagulation +surgery group according to different treatment procedures.Vitreous samples were collected during the progress of vitrectomy.TL1A/VEGI 251,VEGF,TNF-α,IL-1β and NF-κB p65 concentrations in the serum and vitreous specimens were detected using ELISA.The differences of serum and vitreous TL1A/VEGI 251,VEGF,TNF-α,IL-1β and NF-κB p65 in various groups were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and independent sample t test,respectively.The correlation between TL1A/VEGI 251 and VEGF,TNF-α,IL-1β,NF-κB p65 were calculated by Pearson correlation analysis.Results TL1A/VEGI 251 concentration was elevated in the DM group,NPDR group and PDR group compared with the normal control group,with significant difference among the 4 group (F =27.431,P =0.009),and TL1A/VEGI 251 concentration was higher in the PDR group than that in the DM group or the NPDR group (P＜0.05).VEGF,TNF-α,IL-1 β and NF-κB p65 concentrations in serum were increased in the PDR group in comparison with the DM group,NPDR group and the normal control group (P＜0.05).However,no significant difference among the DM group,NPDR group and the normal control group (P＞0.05).Serum TL1A/VEGI 251 concentration was significant correlated with VEGF,TNF-α,IL-1β and NF-κB p65 concentration (r=0.951,0.951,0.851,0.944,all at P＜0.01).Vitreous TL1A/VEGI 251,VEGF,TNF-α,IL-1 β concentrations were ascended in the PDR group compared with the normal control group (P =0.024,0.001,0.000,0.037),but there was no significantly difference in vitreous NF-κB p65 concentration between the two groups (P =0.073).Vitreous TL1A/VEGI 251 concentrations declined in the retinal photocoagulation group and the surgery group compared with the normal group (all at P＜ 0.05),and significant positive correlations were found between vitreous TL1A/VEGI 251 concentration and VEGF or TNF-α concentration (r =0.675,0.950,P ＜ 0.01) ;while Pearson correlation coefficient was not statistically significant between vitreous TL1A/VEGI 251 concentration and IL-1β or NF-κB p65 concentration (r=0.233,0.318,P＞0.05).Conclusions VEGI is involved in the pathogenesis of DR,and it interacts with VEGF,TNF-α,IL-1β and NF-κB to affect the development of DR.These results provide a new clue for the further study of DR.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship of verumontanum hypertrophy with chronic prostatitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-two patients with chronic prostatitis underwent cystourethroscopy for comparing the size of the verumontanum before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before treatment, all the patients showed different degrees verumontanum hypertrophy, of whom 50 were treated by conventional drug therapy, and the other 2 with voiding dysfunction by drug therapy combined with transurethral resection. Cystourethroscopy revealed significantly decreased size of the verumontanum in 44 of the patients after treatment (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patients with chronic prostatitis often have verumontanum hypertrophy, which could be an indicator of the effect of treatment.</p>