Clinical evaluation of lacrimal gland parameters in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy using orbital magnetic resonance imagining / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To evaluate the lacrimal gland parameters and their correlation with clinical examination in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO)using orbital magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).METHODS: A total of 38 patients(76 eyes)with TAO were selected as case group, and 26 patients(52 eyes)who matched the gender and age with case group and volunteered to accept examination were selected as normal control group. Patients in case group were categorized into active TAO group and inactive TAO group according to the modified clinical activity score(CAS). The exophthalmos was evaluated on T1WI after obtaining the MRI images, the longest lacrimal gland length, width, and the biggest area in axial and coronal images were evaluated on T2WI, and the maximum T2 value and mean T2 value of the lacrimal gland were recorded.RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, gender and exophthalmos between active TAO and inactive TAO(P>0.05). The area of lacrimal gland was higher in active TAO than that in inactive TAO, and was higher in inactive TAO than that in control group in coronal and axial section(all P<0.01). The length of lacrimal gland in coronal and axial section was higher in the active TAO than that in the inactive TAO and the control group(all P<0.05). The width of lacrimal gland in coronal and axial section was higher in active TAO and inactive TAO than that in the control group(all P<0.05). The maximum T2 value in the active TAO was higher than that in the inactive TAO and control group, and the inactive TAO was higher than that in the control group(all P<0.05). The average T2 value in the active TAO was higher than that in the inactive TAO and control group(all P<0.05). CAS was positively correlated with lacrimal gland area in axial, coronal section and maximum T2 value(all P<0.01).CONCLUSION: The lacrimal gland is significantly enlarged in patients with TAO, especially in active TAO. The lacrimal gland area in axial, coronal section and maximum T2 value could be potentially utilized as valuable radiographic biomarkers for the activity of TAO.

Bioinformatics analysis of gene expression profiles of retinoblastoma / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To explore the key genes and molecular markers involved in the retinoblastoma development through bioinformatics.METHODS: The mRNA microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database were obtained, and the differentially expressed gene(DEG)between retinoblastoma cell lines and normal retinal pigment epithelial(RPE)cell lines were analyzed through gene ontology(GO)and KEGG enrichment analysis. To screen key genes, establish protein-protein interaction(PPI)network, and use receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve to assess clinical diagnostic efficacy. The RNA expressions of key genes in retinoblastoma cell lines and normal RPE cell lines were compared by qRT-PCR.RESULTS: A total of 121 DEGs were obtained from the retinoblastoma dataset of GSE97508 and GSE110811. KEGG pathway analysis showed that DEG were enriched in phototransduction, cell cycle, and p53 signaling pathways. A total of 9 key genes, including MCM6, DTL, UBE2T, TOP2A, NUSAP1, CENPK, RRM2, RLBP1, and RHO, were obtained from the intersection of PPI network analysis and the top 30 DEG from each dataset. The differentially expressed 9 key genes were verified in GSE24673. ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)for UBE2T, RRM2, and RHO was ≥80%, and there was a statistical significance(P>0.05). The mRNA level of UBE2T and RRM2 in retinoblastoma was significantly higher than APRE-19 cell line, while the mRNA level of RHO was significantly lower than that of ARPE-19 cell line.CONCLUSION: UBE2T, RRM2, and RHO may be served as potential molecular markers and potential therapeutic targets for retinoblastoma.

Shovel-shaped electrode transurethral plasmakinetic enucleation versus plasmakinetic resection of the prostate in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To compare the safety and effectiveness of shovel-shaped electrode transurethral plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (PKEP) with those of plasmakinetic resection of the prostate (PKRP) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).@*METHODS@#We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data about 78 BPH patients received in Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital from June 2016 to January 2017, 39 treated by shovel-shaped electrode PKEP and the other 39 by PKRP. We observed the patients for 6 months postoperatively and compared the effects and safety of the two surgical strategies.@*RESULTS@#No statistically significant difference was observed between the PKEP and PKRP groups in the operation time (［69.3 ± 8.8］ vs ［72.2 ± 7.9］ min, P = 0.126), but the former, as compared with the latter, showed a markedly less postoperative loss of hemoglobin (［3.9 ± 2.8］ vs ［13.9 ± 5.2］ g/L, P 0.05) and other postoperative complications.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Both PKEP and PKRP are effective methods for the treatment of BPH, but PKEP is worthier of clinical recommendation for a better safety profile, more thorough removal of the prostate tissue, less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and better improved quality of life of the patient.