Factor analysis of secondary intraocular hypertension after intravitreal dexamethasone implantation in patients with diabetic macular edema / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective:To observe and analyze the risk factors of secondary intraocular hypertension in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients after treatment with dexamethasone vitreous cavity implant (DEX).Methods:A retrospective observational study. A total of 352 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) secondary macular edema diagnosed by ophthalmic examination and treated with DEX in Department of Ophthalmology of Harbin 242 Hospital from January 2016 to March 2022 were included in the study. Among them, 221 were males and 131 were females, with the mean age of (55.56±8.09) years. There were 194 patients with disseminated macular edema, 158 patients with cystoid macular edema. All patients underwent vitreous cavity implantation of DEX. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured once a month for 3 months after treatment, with IOP over than 25 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) or higher than 10 mm Hg from baseline as secondary intraocular hypertension. The relevant clinical data were collected, and the risk factors of secondary intraocular hypertension in DME patients after DEX treatment were analyzed by binary logistic regression.Results:Among 352 patients, 116 patients (32.95%, 116/352) were in the intraocular hypertension. Among them, 29 patients (25.00%, 29/116), 69 patients (59.48%, 69/116) and 18 patients (15.52%, 18/116) occurred intraocular hypertension at 1, 2 and 3 months after treatment, respectively. Compared with the normal IOP group, the IOP in the intraocular hypertension group increased significantly at 1, 2 and 3 months after treatment, with statistical significance ( t=10.771, 21.116, 13.761; P<0.001). Compared with normal IOP group, the patients in the intraocular hypertension group had younger age ( t=6.967), longer duration of diabetes ( t=5.950), longer axial length (AL) ( t=14.989), higher proportion of DME grade 3 ( Z=6.284), higher proportion of DEX implantation in pars plana ( χ2=23.275), and higher HbA1c level ( t=10.764), the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that longer AL [odds ratio ( OR)=1.428, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.054-1.934], DEX implantation in pars plana ( OR=1.358, 95% CI 1.063-1.735), and higher HbA1c ( OR=1.702, 95% CI 1.225-2.366) were the risk factors for secondary intraocular hypertension in DME patients after DEX treatment ( P<0.05), older age was a protective factor ( OR=0.548, 95% CI 0.380-0.789, P<0.05). Conclusions:Long AL, DEX implantation in pars plana and high HbA1c are the risk factors for secondary intraocular hypertension after DEX treatment in DME patients, older age is a protective factor.

The Ameliorative Effects of Isorhynchophylline on Morphine Dependence Are Mediated Through the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis.

Morphine abuse is a global public health problem. Increasing evidence has shown that gut microbiota dysbiosis plays an important role in several central nervous system diseases. However, whether there is an association between gut microbiota and morphine dependence remains unclear. In this study, the effects of isorhynchophylline on morphine dependence were evaluated based on the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA). The results showed that isorhynchophylline could reverse the changes in alpha and beta diversity, composition, and richness of the intestinal flora occurring in morphine-dependent zebrafish, as well as the morphine-induced changes in the expression of MGBA-related genes in BV2 cells and the brain and intestine of zebrafish. Based on the results, we then used antibiotics to evaluate whether disrupting the gut microbiota would affect morphine addiction in zebrafish. The results showed that the antibiotic-induced intestinal floral imbalance changed the behavior of morphine-dependent zebrafish, the characteristics of the zebrafish intestinal flora, and the expression of MGBA-related genes in the zebrafish brain and intestine. Importantly, we also show that, following antibiotic administration, the ameliorative effects of isorhynchophylline on morphine addiction were lost. Together, our results indicate that the gut microbiota interacts with the brain, and dysbiosis of the intestinal flora may affect the efficacy of isorhynchophylline in the body. Our findings provide a novel framework for understanding the mechanisms of morphine addiction through the MGBA and may provide new therapeutic strategies for the use of Chinese medicines in the prevention of drug addiction.

Diagnostic Performance of Shear Wave Elastography in the Noninvasive Evaluation of Liver Inflammation of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

ABSTRACT: In the current study, we sought to delineate the elastographic characteristics and further compare the diagnostic performance of various shear wave elastography modalities in hepatitis B virus patients whose liver fibrosis stage was less than F2 by liver biopsy. We retrospectively studied the clinical and imaging data of chronic hepatitis B virus patients who underwent liver biopsy at our hospital between January 2017 and October 2017. Totally, 102 patients were eligible for the study. The mean Young modulus of sound touch elastography (STE) and sound touch quantify (STQ) gradually increased as inflammation grade of the liver rose from G0 to G3. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed that the mean Young modulus of STE and STQ significantly correlated with hepatic inflammation grade (r = 0.341, P < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was the highest for the mean Young modulus of STE (AUC = 0.740; P = 0.015) followed by that of STQ (AUC = 0.684; P = 0.063) for G ≥ 2 hepatic inflammation and the AUC was the highest for the mean Young modulus of STE (AUC = 0.920; P = 0.000) followed by that of STQ (AUC = 0.910; P = 0.000) for G ≥ 3 hepatic inflammation. The current study demonstrated that the mean Young modulus of STE and STQ could serve as a useful diagnostic marker for hepatic inflammation of hepatitis B virus patients with no apparent liver fibrosis.

Antibiotic-Driven Gut Microbiome Disorder Alters the Effects of Sinomenine on Morphine-Dependent Zebrafish.

Morphine is one of the most severely abused drugs in the world. Previous research on morphine addiction has focused on the central nervous system (CNS). Studies have shown that a two-way regulation of the brain and gut microbiota (GM), suggesting a link between GM and CNS disease. However, the functional mechanism underlying the relationship between intestinal flora and morphine dependence is unclear. In this study, the effect of sinomenine on morphine addiction was evaluated based on the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA). The results show that the GM plays an important role in morphine dependence. Morphine treatment induced zebrafish conditional position preference (CPP), and significantly changed zebrafish GM characteristics and the expression of MGBA-related genes in the zebrafish brain and intestine. Importantly, sinomenine, an alkaloid with a similar structure to morphine, can reverse these morphine-induced changes. Subsequently, morphine-dependent CPP training was performed after antibiotic administration. After antibiotic treatment, zebrafish CPP behavior, the composition and proportions of the zebrafish GM, and the expression of MGBA-related genes in zebrafish were changed. More interestingly, sinomenine was no longer effective in treating morphine dependence, indicating that antibiotic-driven intestinal flora imbalance alters the efficacy of sinomenine on morphine-dependent zebrafish. This study confirms that the MGBA is bidirectionally regulated, highlighting the key role of the GM in the formation and treatment of morphine dependence, and may provide new treatment strategies for using traditional Chinese medicine to treat drug addiction.

[Microsurgical resection of lumbar intraspinal tumors through paraspinal approach using percutaneous tubular retractor system].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and operative techniques of microsurgical resection of lumbar intraspinal tumors through paraspinal approach by percutaneous tubular retractor system. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to analyze 21 patients with lumbar intraspinal tumors between November 2011 and February 2014, including Schwannoma (n = 19) and meningioma (n = 2) without lumbar instability on preoperative images. The length of tumors was 0.6-2.0 cm. Tracheal intubation anesthesia was performed prior to microsurgery using percutaneous tubular retractor system through paraspinal approach. Operative duration, blood loss volume, postoperative wound pain duration and hospital stay were analyzed. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK-MM) level was recorded at 1 day preoperatively, 1 day, 3 days and 5 days postoperatively. The scores of Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) and visual analog scale (VAS) were analyzed at 1 day preoperatively, 1, 3, 5 days and 6 months postoperatively to evaluate the function status of spinal cord. Computed tomography ( CT) three-dimensional reconstruction of lumbar vertebrae was performed at 1 week postoperatively. Magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) plain scan and enhanced scan of lumbar vertebrae were conducted preoperatively, 1 week and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Complete removal of tumors was achieved in all patients without the injuries of spinal cord or nerve root. Postoperative scores of JOA and VAS improved versus preoperative ones (P < 0.05). Level of CPK-MM increased 1 day postoperatively and declined to preoperative level at 5 days postoperatively. And th difference was not statistically significant (P < 0.05). Neither residual tumor nor tumor recurrence was detected by MRI plain and enhanced scans. No postoperative spinal instability was identified by CT three-dimensional reconstruction. And no spinal deformity occurred during a follow-up period of 6-28 months. CONCLUSION: Microsurgical resection of lumbar intraspinal tumors using percutaneous tubular retractor system through paraspinal approach minimizes the injuries of paraspinal muscles, facet joint, spinous process and ligaments. This technique offers the advantages of mini-invasiveness, shorter hospital stay, rapid recovery and preserved postoperative spinal stability.

Guide to Home Rehabilitation of Elderly Patients with Stroke in the Convalescent Stage / 国际中医中药杂志

Due to the limitation of length of stay, hospital costs, medical conditions, and other restrictions, the time in the hospital for rehabilitation therapy is limited for patients with stroke in the convalescent stage. They need to continue rehabilitation treatment at home after being discharged from hospital. The provision of rehabilitation for stroke patients is one of professional courses in community care. Community nurses guide for home-based rehabilitation through a variety of guidance methods plays a positive role in improving the quality of life of the patients.