Study of the relevant parameters of optic nerve of patients with suspected ocular hypertension

AIM: To investigate the differences of the relevant parameters of optic nerve between patients with suspected ocular hypertension and normal people. <p>METHODS: There were 36 eyes of suspected ocular hypertension and 43 normal eyes to test their retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFL), the optic disk parameters, the thickness of macular ganglion cell complex(mGCCT)and visual field index. The analysis and comparison are made on the obtained results.<p>RESULTS: There was significant difference(<i>P</i><0.01)between the patients with suspected ocular hypertension and normal eyes in average, inferior and superior RNFL thickness, optic disk parameters(rim area, cup volume, average C/D ratio)and the average, inferior, superior thickness of macular ganglion cell complex(<i>P</i><0.01). There was statistical difference between two groups in nasal RNFL thickness(<i>P</i><0.05), but there was no statistical difference in temporal RNFL thickness, cup area, mean deviation(MD)and pattern standard deviation(PSD)(<i>P</i>>0.05).<p>CONCLUSION: There is significant difference between normal and suspected ocular hypertension eyes in average, inferior and superior RNFL thickness, optic disk parameters(rim area, cup volume, average C/D ratio)and the average, inferior, superior thickness of mGCCT

Inventory control policy of preventive lateral transshipment between retailers in multi periods

Purpose: Preventivelateral transshipment can respond to customers who will choose a substitute or to give up when the product is out of stock. Motivatedby the common practice, adecision-making model of preventive lateral transshipment with multi sellingperiods is developed. The purpose of the paper is to explore the optimal preventive lateral transshipment policy with multi selling periods. Design/methodology/approach: With adiscrete-time dynamic programming model, we take a dynamic programming approach and adopt backward induction to analyze two retailers’ preventive lateral transshipment policy. Findings: The optimal preventivelateral transshipment policy is a threshold policy which depends on both theremaining selling periods and inventory level. The above properties ensure thattwo retailers can control inventory with preventive lateral transshipment. Practical implications: The retailer can adjust inventory via the thresholdtype policy. The simple decisionrule which compares on-hand inventory level with the critical inventory level can be used to control inventory by preventive lateral transshipment. Originality/value: A discrete-timedecision-making model of preventive lateral transshipment policy isformulated. This model takes consideration of multi selling periods, whichis different from most existing researches on preventive lateraltransshipment.Peer Reviewe

Inhibitory effects of anticancer peptide from Mercenaria on the BGC-823 cells and several enzymes

AbstractAn anti-cancer peptide was purified from the Mercenaria (Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus) by the method of chromatography on Sephadex G-25 and FPLC, and its molecular weight was determined to be 3147Da by the way of MALDI-TOF mass spectrum. The effects of this peptide on human gastric gland carcinoma cells (BGC-823) and their cytoskeletal morphology were investigated. The results showed that the peptide could inhibit the proliferation of BGC-823 cells and obviously destroy the skeletal structures of the cells. When the concentration of the peptide reached 4.0μg/ml, the inhibition percentage of the cell growth was about 60%. The effects of this anticancer peptide on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tyrosinase were studied. The results showed that the peptide activated ALP and SOD, but inhibit the tyrosinase activity. When the concentration of the peptide reached to 0.5μg/ml, the relative activities of SOD, ALP and tyrosinase were determined to be 188.5%, 122.0% and 27.5%, respectively

Down-Regulation of Platelet Surface CD47 Expression in Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection-Induced Thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND: Platelet depletion is a key feature of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection. The mechanism underlying STEC-induced platelet depletion, however, is not completely understood. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we demonstrated for the first time that platelet surface expression of CD47 was significantly decreased in C57BL6 mice treated with concentrated culture filtrates (CCF) from STEC O157:H7. STEC O157:H7 CCF treatment also led to a sharp drop of platelet counts. The reduction of cell surface CD47 was specific for platelets but not for neutrophil, monocytes and red blood cells. Down-regulation of platelet surface CD47 was also observed in isolated human platelets treated with O157:H7 CCF. Platelet surface CD47 reduction by O157:H7 CCF could be blocked by anti-TLR4 antibody but not anti-CD62 antibody. Down-regulation of platelet surface CD47 was positively correlated with platelet activation and phagocytosis by human monocyte-derived macrophages. Furthermore, the enhanced phagocytosis process of O157:H7 CCF-treated platelets was abolished by addition of soluble CD47 recombinants. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that platelet CD47 down-regulation may be a novel mechanism underneath STEC-induced platelet depletion, and that the interactions between CD47 and its receptor, signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPalpha), play an essential role in modulating platelet homeostasis

Magmatic record of India-Asia collision

This work was financially co-supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB03010301) and other Chinese funding agencies (Project 973: 2011CB403102 and 2015CB452604; NSFC projects: 41225006, 41273044, and 41472061).New geochronological and geochemical data on magmatic activity from the India-Asia collision zone enables recognition of a distinct magmatic flare-up event that we ascribe to slab breakoff. This tie-point in the collisional record can be used to back-date to the time of initial impingement of the Indian continent with the Asian margin. Continental arc magmatism in southern Tibet during 80-40 Ma migrated from south to north and then back to south with significant mantle input at 70-43 Ma. A pronounced flare up in magmatic intensity (including ignimbrite and mafic rock) at ca. 52-51 Ma corresponds to a sudden decrease in the India-Asia convergence rate. Geological and geochemical data are consistent with mantle input controlled by slab rollback from ca. 70 Ma and slab breakoff at ca. 53 Ma. We propose that the slowdown of the Indian plate at ca. 51 Ma is largely the consequence of slab breakoff of the subducting Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere, rather than the onset of the India-Asia collision as traditionally interpreted, implying that the initial India-Asia collision commenced earlier, likely at ca. 55 Ma.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Acute pulmonary embolism combined with acute myocardial infarction as the first manifestation of acute leukemia: a case report

Thrombotic complications in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are uncommon due to coagulation dysfunction and thrombocytopenia. We report a unique case of AML presenting as concomitant pulmonary embolism and atypical acute myocardial infarction. A 67-year-old male experienced persistent bilateral chest pain. Despite an unremarkable electrocardiogram, elevated D-dimer and mildly increased troponin T levels prompted further investigation, leading to the diagnosis of simultaneous pulmonary embolism and acute myocardial infarction. The patient underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and received triple antithrombotic therapy. However, antithrombotic therapy was discontinued following a sharp decline in hemoglobin and platelet counts, and the patient subsequently developed persistent fever. AML was diagnosed via bone marrow biopsy. Chemotherapy was not initiated due to the patient's deteriorating condition, and he ultimately succumbed to presumed intracranial bleeding

Entrepreneurial orientation and external technology acquisition: an empirical test on performance of technology-based new ventures

This research investigates the effects of entrepreneurial orientation and external technology acquisition on the performance of technology-based new ventures in the context of a transitional economy. An analysis of the cross-sectional data from 123 Chinese technology-based new ventures was conducted. The results of the analysis support the contention that both the acquisition of external technology and entrepreneurial orientation improve new ventures’ performance. Additionally, the interaction of entrepreneurial orientation and external technology acquisition positively moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and performance of technology-based new ventures. Overall, this study contributes to our enhanced understanding of the complex relationship among entrepreneurial orientation, external technology acquisition and firm performance under transitional economic conditions. Firms from emerging economies, especially technologybased new ventures, may find the study findings useful in guiding their decision on external technology acquisition