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Purpose. To determine the effectiveness and safety of trabeculectomy along with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for glaucoma. Methods. This systematic review was performed using RevMan 5.3. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library and included studies published until September 2019. The treatment group included patients with AMT and trabeculectomy (group A), and the control group had only trabeculectomy (group B). We only included randomized controlled trials. The outcomes were intraocular pressure (IOP), complete success rate, number of antiglaucoma medications, and complications. Results. Five studies, including 174 eyes (87 eyes in the AMT group and 87 eyes in the control group), were eligible in this review. The parameters had no significant difference in heterogeneity between the AMT and control groups preoperatively. In the AMT group, the mean IOP was significantly lower at 3 and 12 months after operation (P P = 0.02, respectively), while the number of complete successes in the AMT group was significantly higher at 6 and 12 months (P = 0.02 and P = 0.003, respectively) compared with the control group. Complications, including a flat anterior chamber and hyphema, appeared to be decreased in the AMT group compared to the control group (P = 0.02 and P = 0.02, respectively). No differences were observed in the number of antiglaucoma medications, hypotony, encapsulated bleb, or choroidal detachment. Conclusion. Compared with only trabeculectomy, it is more efficient and safer to add AMT to trabeculectomy during glaucoma filtering surgery.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of polygalasaponin F on ischemic myocardial injury in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. A primary in-vitro myocardial cell oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion model and an in-vivo middle cerebral artery occlusion model were established. The results demonstrated that polygalasaponin F protects myocardium in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. The mechanisms of its protective effect involved in (1) reducing oxidant stress injury, (2) reducing the apoptosis rate of myocardial cells through increasing the Bcl-2 protein level and decreasing the Cyt-C and Bax values, and (3) alleviating liver and kidney damage caused by cerebral hypoxia and ischemia via reducing the damage markers. The results of the present study may contribute toward the development of novel strategies for clinical cardioprotection with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, leading to mortality and disability associated with coronary occlusion worldwide. A correlation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway has been observed with brain damage resulting from myocardial ischemia. Therefore, by establishing MIRI rat model, this study aimed to explore whether ring finger protein 182 (RNF182) regulates the mTOR signaling pathway affecting MIRI. Initially, MIRI rat model was successfully established, followed by either treatment of shRNF182 or phosphoesterase (PITE) (inhibitor of the mTOR signaling pathway). Then, the serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were determined, followed by detection of myocardial infarct sizes and myocardial cell apoptosis. Moreover, the levels of related genes/proteins were determined to further determine the mechanisms of RNF182 in MIRI. First, RNF182 was upregulated in MIRI. Another key observation of this study was that rats with shRNF182 presented with downregulated SOD, GSH-Px, and MDA in serum, accompanied by decreased levels of LVEF, LVFS, LVSP, and LVEDP. In addition, both reduced myocardial infarct sizes and apoptosis of myocardial cells were observed after silencing RNF182. Furthermore, silencing of the RNF182 was observed to downregulate Bcl 2-associated X and cysteine proteinase 3 but upregulate mTOR, ribosome protein subunit 6 kinase 1, eukaryotic elongation factor 2, and B-cell lymphoma-2. Importantly, the effects of RNF182 silencing were reversed after PITE treatment. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that RNF182 silencing can prevent ventricular remodeling in rats after MIRI by activating the mTOR signaling pathway.

A rapid and highly selective liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for determination of polygalasaponin F (PF) in rat plasma was developed and validated. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a reverse-phase Zorbax SB-C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm), using 2 mm ammonium acetate (pH adjusted to 6.0 with acetic acid) and acetonitrile (25:75, v/v) as a mobile phase at 30 °C. MS/MS detection was performed using an electrospray ionization operating in positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode by monitoring the ion transitions from m/z 1091.5 471.2 (PF) and m/z 700.4 235.4 (internal standard), respectively. The calibration curve showed a good linearity in the concentration range 0.0544–13.6 µg/mL, with a limit of quantification of 0.0544 µg/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions were

This study focused on the improvement of Schisandra polysaccharide on the learning and memory in D-galactose-induced brain aging mice, to lay the foundation for the prevention and treatment of brain aging and related diseases. D-galactose was used to establish a mice brain aging model, Morris water maze and passive avoidance test were used to observe effects of Schisandra polysaccharide on the learning and memory ability of D- galactose-induced brain aging mice. The results showed that Schisandra polysaccharide could prolong the time of target qundrant, increase the number to cross the original platform in the Morris water maze test, and prolong the latency and reduce the number of errors of mice in the passive avoidance test. It is believed that Schisandra polysaccharide could improve the learning and memory ability of mice with brain aging.

Elevated plus maze was used to establish an animal anxiety model to investigate the anti-anxiety effect of Schisandra Chinensis (Turcz.) Baill lignans (SCL). OE, OT, CE and CT were observed, and based on them, the ratio of OE (OE%) and the ratio of OT (OT%) were calculated, respectively. It was considered that the fewer the OE was and the shorter the OT was, the more serious the anxiety of mice was. The results showed that compared with those in the control group, both OE% and OT% presented an increasing trend in the different dose SCL groups, indicating that SCL has an anti-anxiety effect; there were significant differences in the anti-anxiety effect between 70 mg/kg SCL and 140 mg/kg SCL groups, and the control group, but no difference in it between 35 mg/kg SCL group and the control group, indicating that the anti-anxiety effect of SCL may be dose-related.

The current method of micro-force generated for sensor calibration is scarcity and complexity. In the paper we propose a mechanism based on flexible hinges for micro-force, illustrate its working principle and establish the mechanical model. By theoretical analysis the analytical expression of the force reduction multiplier is derived. After initializing some parameters, the result shows that this mechanism can produce the large range and high resolution force of µN. The force can be applied in calibration of micro-force sensor.

To generate a tiny and steady force for the calibration of the ocean current sensor, a force-reduction mechanism has been performed in this paper. The paper focuses on the whole process of this mechanism based on the flexible hinges from the working principle, parameter determination to FEM simulation and so forth. By analyzing the relationship between reduction multiple and structural parameters of the levers and hinges, material and geometric dimension are chosen reasonably. Finally, applicability of the choice of the mechanism is verified through finite element analysis. The simulation results show that using this mechanism the input force can reduce to required force of µN for the calibration.

Laryngeal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the respiratory tumors, and its incidence ranks second highest in the respiratory tumors. Resveratrol (Res) is a kind of polyphenols, which can inhibit nucleotides can inhibit the growth of liver cancer cells, gastric cancer cells, pancreatic cells and other tumor cells by inhibiting ribonucleotide reductase in the cells. Taxol (Tax) is a kind of secondary metabolites of Taxus chinensis, which has anti-tumor activity for breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer and other tumors by inhibiting cellular microtubule depolymerization. But at present the effects of resveratrol combined with taxol on human laryngeal carcinoma cell strain Hep-2 and their underlying molecular mechanisms are rarely reported. After human laryngeal cancer cell Hep-2 cells were processed with resveratrol (Res) and taxol (Tax), CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the effect of these two herbs on the proliferation of cancer cells; AO/PI staining and JC-1 were used to detect Hep-1 cells apoptosis; the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, PARP, TRIB3, and XIAP genes was detected by real time quantitative PCR; the activity of caspase-3 and caspase-8 was determined with quantitative fluorescence method. The experimental results showed that compared with Tax, Res medication alone, joint group significantly enhanced inhibition of Hep-2 cells activity, decreased the dosage of Tax, increased the expression of Bax and PARP, TRIB3, reduced the expression of the Bcl-2 and XIAP, and promoted the activity of caspase-3 and caspase-8. The test results showed that compared with the single medication, combined group could significantly increase the inhibitory effect on Hep-2 cells, significantly reduce Tax dosage, increase expressions of Bax, PARP, TRIB3, reduce expressions of Bcl-2, XIAP, and promote activity of caspase-3, caspase-8. This indicated apoptosis of human laryngeal carcinoma cell strain Hep-2 may be induced with Res, Tax, and the combination of these two herbs by mitochondria pathway. It provides valuable clue for further research on combination of Res and Tax for the treatment of laryngeal cancer, and expanding the combined application of Res and Tax.

A series of novel phenoxy-phosphinimine ligands (L): L = 2-(Ph 2 P NR), 4, 6-(CMe 3 ) 2 -C 6 H 2 OH [ 2 , R = SiMe 3 ; 3 , R = Ph] have been prepared in the yield of 65–71%. And bis(phenoxy-phosphinimide) group 4 complexes of the type L 2 MCl 2 [ 4 , M = Ti, R = SiMe 3 ; 5 , M = Zr, R = SiMe 3 ; 6 , M = Ti, R = Ph; 7, M = Zr, R = Ph] have been synthesized by the reaction of the ligands with TiCl 4 and ZrCl 4 . The structure of complex 7 has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The complexes 4 – 7 showed inactive to ethylene polymerization in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) and i -Bu 3 Al/Ph 3 CB(C 6 F 5 ) 4 . These results should be caused by overdoing the steric congestion around central metal.

(Phosphinoamide)(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) complexes of the type Cp*TiCl 2 (η 2 -Ph 2 PNR) [Cp*=C 5 Me 5 ; R = t -Bu ( 2a ), R = n -Bu ( 2b ), R = Ph ( 2c )] have been prepared by the reaction of Cp*TiCl 3 with the corresponding lithium phosphinoamides. The structure of Cp*TiCl 2 (η 2 -Ph 2 PN t Bu) ( 2a ) and Cp*TiCl 2 (η 2 -Ph 2 PNPh) ( 2c ) have been determined by X-ray crystallography. These complexes exhibited moderate catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO). Catalytic activity of up to 2.5 × 10 6 g/(mol Ti h) was observed when activated by i -Bu 3 Al/Ph 3 CB(C 6 F 5 ) 4 .

Carbon spheres (CSs) retaining the morphology of potato starch were prepared by a two-step process: impregnation followed by carbonization. In this process, potato starch was impregnated in NH4Cl solution for 1 h. The mechanism of preparation was proposed. The presence of HCl catalyzes the dehydration of impregnated starch at lower temperature than its melting point, which destroys the crystallites in original starch totally. This makes the microcrystalline melting difficult during the following carbonization. Scanning electron microscopy results show that small cavity exists in the center of sphere. The CSs shows high graphitization degree after graphitizing by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most frequent type of congenital heart disease. Conventional methods to evaluate VSD size and severity are both invasive and cumbersome to perform. We investigated whether the ratio between the diameter of the defect and the aortic root diameter (DVSD/DAR) would accurately reflect the degree of shunted blood and the severity of VSD in children with perimembranous VSD.We recruited 987 children with perimembranous VSD (pmVSD) and used color Doppler echocardiography to calculate DVSD/DAR. 987 healthy children were recruited as control group. The pmVSD group was further stratified into four groups according to age (1 to 4 y) and again into four groups according to the DVSD/DAR ratio: children whose DVSD/DAR was 1/5 to1/4, 1/4 to1/3, 1/3 to 1/5, or 1/2 to2/3 were assigned to groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Height, weight, infection scores and systemic-pulmonary circulation ratio (QP/QS ratio) were compared among groups A, B, C and D. Then the relationship between the DVSD/DAR ratio and height, weight, QP/QS ratio, infection score were analysed by linear regression analysis.Compared to age-matched children without VSD (the controls), the mean height and weight of children in the pmVSD group were lower, and heights and weights were negatively correlated with the DVSD/DAR ratio. This ratio was significantly reduced in groups C and D compared to control group (both P0.05). Infection scores of groups A and B were significantly higher only in the one-year-old subgroup, but were significantly higher in groups C and D for all ages compared to the control group (both P0.05). QP/QS ratio of group C and D were higher than group A and group B (all P0.05). Moreover, QP/QS ratio of group D for all ages were more than 2. In addition, linear regression analysis revealed that the DVSD/DAR ratio negatively correlated with height and weight and positively correlated with the QP/QS ratio and infection score.Our results suggest that the DVSD/DAR ratio accurately reflects the growth and pulmonary infection rates in children with pmVSD. This ratio, therefore, may be a useful additional reference index to predict the consequences of pmVSD.

Endocardial fiborelastosis (EFE) is a common infantile myocardiosis. The pathogenesis of EFE may be associated with viral infection, genetic factors, immune factors and endocardial dysplasia. The fundamental pathological changes of EFE include hyperplasia of endocardium elastic fibers and collagen fibers. Acute EFE is a frequent type. Clinical manifestations of EFE are non-specific and children with EFE mainly present with congestive heart failure. Echocardiography is very helpful to the diagnosis of EFE. It is necessary to differentiate EFE from pneumonia complicated by acute congestive heart failure, viral myocarditis and anomalous origin of the left coronary artery. Treatment is meant to control symptoms of congestive heart failure. Patients who respond well to digitalis and have good medication compliance have a favorable prognosis.

To study the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the myocardial tissue of mice with viral myocarditis (VMC).Balb/c mice were infected with coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3) to establish VMC model. The mice were divided into control group (n = 50) and VMC group (n = 50). on days 4, 7, 14 and 21 after infection, heart specimens of 8 mice were randomly taken and examined after HE staining for myocardial necrosis and cellular infiltration. The area of positive Masson stained myocardium collagen fibers was measured, and collagen volume fraction (CVF) was measured. Then the level of serum creatine phosphokinase-MB (CKMB) was determined. The levels of CTGF and TGF-β₁ were detected by streptavidin peroxidase immunoperoxidase technique. Expression of CTGF and TGF-β₁ were detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). At the same time, the correlations were analyzed.(1) The level of CKMB peaked on day 7, and decreased afterwards (455.45 ± 37.95, 606.95 ± 35.64, 573.62 ± 42.90, 308.60 ± 20.49, respectively, 4 - 21 d points), in which 4, 7, 14 d points, there was significant difference compared with control group (t = 6.144, 12.558, 11.182, respectively, P0.01). (2) CVF increased significantly on day 14 (8.22 ± 1.95, t = 4.486, P0.01) and day 21 (9.46 ± 1.87, t = 4.486, P0.01) in VMC group. (3) Measured by streptavidin peroxidase immunoperoxidase technique, the levels of CTGF (171.50 ± 10.25, 141.70 ± 10.863, 110.35 ± 11.051, 81.05 ± 10.190, respectively, 4 - 21 d points) and TGF-β₁ (184.90 ± 11.480, 150.25 ± 9.915, 103.50 ± 10.455, 84.15 ± 9.848, respectively, 4 - 21 d points) increased after day 4 in VMC (P0.01). (4) Measured by RT-PCR, the expression of CTGF mRNA and TGF-β₁ increased in VMC group, and the increase was enhanced with the disease development (P0.01). (5) The expression of CTGF and TGF-β₁ was positively linearly correlated (r = 0.987, P0.01), the expression of CTGF was negatively correlated with CVF (r = -0.901, P0.01), but the expression of CTGF was detected earlier than myocardial fibrosis.The increase of CTGF expression was associated with the severity of myocardial fibrosis in VMC. These results suggest that abnormal expression of CTGF may take part in the development of fibrosis in VMC.

To study the ECG features in children with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and related factors for the occurrence of arrhythmia secondary to DCM.Data from 68 children with DCM from January 1998 to March 2011 were studied. The children were classified into three groups: severe arrhythmia (n=42), non-severe arrhythmia (n=20) and non-arrhythmia (n=6). Left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVED), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were compared.Abnormal ECG results were found in all of the 68 children with DCM. Sinus tachycardia (91%) and ectopic pulsatile (86%) were common. LVED in the severe arrhythmia group (74±6 mm) was greater than that in the non-severe arrhythmia group (65±4 mm; P0.05) and non-arrhythmia group (61±3 mm; P0.05). LVED in the non-severe arrhythmia group was also greater than that in the non-arrhythmia group (P0.05). LVEF and LVFS in the severe arrhythmia group were (30±11)% and (22±4)%, respectively, which were lower than those in the non-severe arrhythmia group［(37±12)% and (28±5)%, respectively］and non-arrhythmia group［(45±9)% and (34±7)%, respectively］(P0.05). There were also significant differences in the LVEF and LVFS between the non-severe arrhythmia and non-arrhythmia groups (P0.05).The common abnormal ECG findings are sinus tachycardia and ectopic pulsatile in children with DCM. Arrhythmia is one of the main clinical manifestations of DCM. The occurrence of arrhythmia is associated with the left ventricular size and heart function.

Abnormal apoptosis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) is an important pathophysiological process in the pulmonary artery structural remodeling and pulmonary hypertension. We investigated possible effect of endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on apoptosis of PASMCs during the development of pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow.Thirty-nine male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 4-week control, 4-week shunt, 4-week shunt + propargylglycine (PPG), 11-week control, 11-week shunt and 11-week shunt + sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) groups. Rats in 4-week shunt, 4-week shunt + PPG, 11-week shunt and 11-week shunt + NaHS groups underwent an abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava shunt. Rats in 4-week shunt + PPG group were intraperitoneally injected with PPG, an inhibitor of endogenous H2S production, for 4 weeks. Rats in 11-week shunt + NaHS group were intraperitoneally injected with NaHS, a H2S donor, for 11 weeks. Lung tissue H2S was evaluated by sulfide-sensitive electrode. Apoptosis of PASMCs were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL). Expressions of Fas, bcl-2 and caspase-3 in the PASMCs were analyzed with immunochemical staining.Four weeks after the shunting operation, the apoptosis of PASMCs and expression of Fas and caspase-3 were significantly decreased (P0.01), but expression of bcl-2 increased significantly (P0.01). PPG administration further inhibited the apoptosis of PASMCs, downregulated the expression of Fas and caspase-3 (P0.01), but increased the expression of bcl-2 (P0.01). After 11 weeks of shunting operation, the apoptosis of PASMCs and expression of Fas and caspase-3 were significantly decreased (P0.01), but expression of bcl-2 increased obviously (P0.01). NaHS administration significantly increased the apoptosis of PASMCs, upregulated the expression of Fas and caspase-3, but inhibited the expression of bcl-2.H2S induces the apoptosis of PASMCs in the development of high pulmonary blood flow-induced pulmonary hypertension by activating the Fas pathway and inhibiting the bcl-2 pathway.

Summary points Alopecia areata is a common condition characterised by sudden onset of patchy hair loss without signs of skin inflammation or scarring. It accounts for about 2% of new referrals for dermatology in the UK and United States and has an estimated lifetime risk of 1.7%.1 Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicated a prevalence of 0.15% in the population of the United States.w1 The extent of hair loss can vary greatly, ranging from a single coin sized patch to very extensive alopecia involving the entire scalp and the rest of the body. The condition is unpredictable; spontaneous regrowth of hair can occur at any time during its course with the possibility of subsequent relapse. Alopecia areata is particularly difficult to manage and most of the available therapeutic options are unsatisfactory. It is a psychologically distressing disease and doctors should provide patients with realistic advice about treatments and their effectiveness. Although several medical treatments have been reported for the condition, the evidence is quite difficult to interpret because of differing study methods, non-homogeneous patient populations, variability in outcome measures, and failure to control for spontaneous regrowth. A recent Cochrane …