Long-term observation of vitrectomy without subretinal hemorrhage management for massive vitreous hemorrhage secondary to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

AIM: To describe the long-term observation of vitrectomy without subretinal hemorrhage (SRH) management for massive vitreous hemorrhage (VH) secondary to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: This is a retrospective, consecutive case series. A total of 86 eyes of 86 patients with >14d of massive VH associated with PCV were included. All patients underwent vitrectomy without SRH management, followed by intravitreal ranibizumab injections and/or photodynamic therapy (PDT) as needed. The main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), postoperative adverse events and the recurrence of VH. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 25.5±9.2mo (range 12-35mo). Mean BCVA at baseline (2.16±0.39 logMAR) had improved significantly, both 3mo after surgery (1.42±0.66 logMAR, P<0.001) and by the last visit (1.23±0.74 logMAR, P<0.001). The common postoperative complications included macular subretinal fibrosis in 14 eyes (16.3%) and ciliary body detachment in 4 eyes (4.7%). Nineteen eyes (22.1%) received following treatment with ranibizumab injections without/with PDT, and 15 (17.4%) were resolved. Four eyes (4.7%) had recurrent hemorrhage during the follow-up period. In multiple regression analysis, thicker SRH (beta=0.33, P=0.025) in the preoperative B-scan and the presence of foveal subretinal fibrosis (beta=0.28, P=0.018) in the follow up were associated with poor postoperative BCVA. CONCLUSION: Vitrectomy without SRH management for massive VH secondary to PCV improved/stabilized visual function in the long-term observation. Eyes presenting with thicker SRH preoperatively and forming foveal subretinal fibrosis in the follow-up period tended to have worse BCVA.

[Population dynamics of ground carabid beetles and spiders in a wheat field along the wheat-alfalfa interface and their response to alfalfa mowing].

Taking the wheat-alfalfa and wheat-wheat interfaces as model systems, sampling points were set by the method of pitfall trapping in the wheat field at the distances of 3 m, 6 m, 9 m, 12 m, 15 m, 18 m, 21 m, 24 m, and 27 m from the interface. The species composition and abundance of ground carabid beetles and spiders captured in pitfalls were investigated. The results showed that, to some extent there was an edge effect on species diversity and abundance of ground carabid beetles and spiders along the two interfaces. A marked edge effect was observed between 15 m and 18 m along the alfalfa-wheat interface, while no edge effect was found at a distance over 20 m. The edge effect along the wheat-wheat interface was weaker in comparison to the alfalfa-wheat interface. Alfalfa mowing resulted in the migration of a large number of ground carabid beetles and spiders to the adjacent wheat filed. During ten days since mowing, both species and abundance of ground carabid beetles and spiders increased in wheat filed within the distance of 20 m along the alfalfa-wheat interface. The spatial distribution of species diversity of ground beetles and spiders, together with the population abundance of the dominant Chlaenius pallipes and Pardosa astrigera, were depicted, which could directly indicate the migrating process of natural enemy from alfalfa to wheat field.

Expression of the chemokine CCL28 in pleomorphic adenoma and adenolymphoma of the human salivary glands.

Recent studies have proposed that the chemokine CCL28 is constitutively expressed by epithelial cells in salivary glands and play an important role in lymphocyte trafficking in oral immunity. To date, there is little information on the expression pattern of CCL28 in salivary gland tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of CCL28 in pleomorphic adenoma and adenolymphoma and to evaluate its potential function in regulating oral carcinogenesis. Immunohistochemical reactivity revealed CCL28 protein expression in the cytoplasm of acinar epithelial cells, both in tumorous tissues and normal adjacent tissues. The level of CCL28 mRNA was markedly reduced in 70% (28/40) of pleomorphic adenomas, and in 81% (26/32) of adenolymphomas, compared to the normal adjacent tissue. CCL28 protein expression was significantly lower in pleomorphic adenomas (P=0.0027, n=40) and in adenolymphomas (P=0.0003, n=32) compared to their normal adjacent tissues. Additionally, the CCL28 protein levels in saliva in the aforementioned patients were lower than those in healthy volunteers. Our study indicated that the reduced expression of CCL28 could possibly be a strategy by recruiting fewer antitumor immunocompetent cells to salivary glands. The expression and secretion of CCL28 may be associated with the pathogenesis of pleomorphic adenoma and adenolymphoma.

[Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and FT-Raman spectrometer study of hyperdispersant on atrazine surface].

The main methods in performing the study of the adsorption properties of hyperdispersant on atrazine surface were fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and FT-Raman spectrometer (FT-Raman), and the results suggested that the hydrogen bond force was the main force combining the surface of atrazine particles and the dispersant. And it also promoted the adsorption of dispersant on atrazine particles. However, the information of what accurate quantity of the dispersant adsorbed on the surface of atrazine should a successful suspension ability of the suspension concentrate acquire is still not available. And researches on this question still need to be done with the help of quantized spectroscopy method. The result of this study provided a theoretical foundation for the development of stable atrazine suspension concentrate and the spectroscopy quantitative analysis of it. This result provided significant information for the application of atrazine suspension concentrate at the same time.

[The factors influencing the flexural strength of zirconia ceramic restorations].

Zirconia material has a very broad application prospect in prosthodontics,and restorations made of zirconia through CAD/CAM technology have been applied widely in recent years. In this paper we summarized the features of zirconia material which used for all ceramic restorations and the factors which affected its flexural property. We also sated the relevant indicators and methods used for evaluation of flexural property of zirconia material in order to lay a basis for its clinical use.

[The experimental research of the influence of cervical settling method on marginal accuracy of wax patter].

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of cervical settling method on marginal accuracy of wax patters. METHODS: 24 wax patterns were made on the standard cast specimens and round capsules of which twelve patters were made with the method of cervical settling (experiment group), twelve patters were made with the method of wax dripping (control group). Marginal accuracy of patterns were measured before sublation, sublation half an hour and twenty-four hours. RESULTS: The results revealed that marginal accuracy had significant difference between the cervical settling methods and wax dripping methods (P < 0.05). There was significant difference between the cervical settling methods measured after half an hour and twenty-four hours (P < 0.01). There was also significant difference between the wax dripping methods measured after half an hour and twenty-four hours (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Wax patterns with the method of cervical settling can improve marginal accuracy of patterns. The marginal accuracy of wax patters are influenced by the existing time.

Multiple gene polymorphisms in the complement factor h gene are associated with exudative age-related macular degeneration in chinese.

PURPOSE: Variants in the complement factor H (CFH) gene have been shown to be strongly associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, sequence alterations in CFH were investigated in 163 Chinese patients with exudative AMD and 155 unrelated Chinese control subjects. METHODS: All the 22 CFH exons, intron-exon boundaries, and promoter sequences were screened by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Fifty-eight sequence changes, 42 of them novel, were identified. Six SNPs with an allele frequency >30% were significantly associated with exudative AMD. SNP rs3753396 was novel; the rest had been reported: rs3753394, rs551397, rs800292, rs2274700, and rs1329428. Two haplotype blocks were constructed. The TG haplotype for rs551397 and rs800292 was the major haplotype that conferred a significantly increased susceptibility to exudative AMD (P(corr) = 0.0001, OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.36-2.68). CONCLUSIONS: The findings support prior evidence that the CFH gene is one of the AMD-associated genes. There is a different distribution pattern of CFH variants in the Chinese compared with other populations. Individual SNP and haplotype analyses revealed that the ancient alleles at the 5' end of CFH contribute to an increased susceptibility to exudative AMD.

Association of CTLA-4 and IL-13 gene polymorphisms with Graves' disease and ophthalmopathy in Chinese children.

PURPOSE: The frequency of childhood Graves' disease (GD) in Hong Kong Chinese is among the highest in the world but childhood Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) appears to have milder clinical severity than does the adult disease. This study was conducted to investigate CTLA-4 and IL-13 polymorphisms in Chinese pediatric patients with GD and GO. METHODS: Recruited for the study were 177 childhood patients with GD (age range, 2-16 years) and 151 unrelated control subjects (age range, 4-16 years) for genotype analysis of IL-13 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (-1112C/T and 2044G/A), CTLA-4 SNPs (-318C/T, 49A/G, and CT60A/G), and the repeat length of (AT)n in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of CTLA-4. RESULTS: The patients with GD revealed higher frequencies of CTLA-4 49 GG genotype and G alleles than did the control subjects (P = 0.005 and P = 0.03, respectively). The CT60 GG genotype and G alleles were more prevalent in GD (P = 0.07 and P = 0.02, respectively). The CTLA-4 SNPs (-318C/T, 49A/G, and CT60A/G) were in the same haplotype block, and the CGG haplotype was associated with GD (P = 0.0071) but not GO. The shortest allele of (AT)n was protective against GD (P = 8.4 x 10(-6)). The IL-13 SNPs did not affect GD or GO risk. IL-13 -1112C/T was associated with IgE elevation (P = 0.044) and 2044G/A with proptosis (P = 0.02), but these associations became insignificant after Bonferroni correction (P = 0.22 and 0.10, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Three SNPs and the AT repeat length in CTLA-4 conferred susceptibility to childhood GD, whereas IL-13 polymorphisms did not. No association was found between CTLA-4 and IL-13 with GO.

[Research advances of adult stem cells and dental stem cells].

Human stem cells have a major effect in the development of human bodies. Acting as an in vitro model, human stem cells have a great value in the study of the mechanism of individual development and in the cell-replacement treatments and gene therapy of tissue deficiency diseases. The study of stem cells has been given rise to a keen interests in the bio-medical area at present. This paper reviews the present status and progress of adult stem cells and dental stem cells.

[Experimental study of the effect on marginal seating of the castings by different investing methods].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to observe the effect on marginal seating of the castings with and without ring investments. METHODS: Standarded as-cast specimens and round capsules simulated post tooth crowns were made. 12 wax pattern were prepared on the as-cast specimens. The 12 specimens were divided into two groups with 6 wax pattern in each group. Two different investing methods with the same investing material were tested. The marginal seating of the castings was measured under travelling microscope. RESULTS: The marginal seating of the casting without ring investment had significant difference compared with the castings with ring investment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Casting without ring can improve the marginal seating of the castings.