Analysis of the children's dynamic and static stereopsis of intermittent exotropia

AIM: To compare and analyze the stereopsis of intermittent exotropia children under the different backgrounds of dynamic stimuli and static stimuli.<p>METHODS: We collected 56 children(male 26, female 30 with intermittent exotropia at the age from 5y to 12y and examined their stereopsis under the different backgrounds of dynamic stimuli and static stimuli using a multidimensional sense perception training software. The differences between the dynamic stereopsis and static stereopsis were compared.<p>RESULTS: Totally 17 cases(30%)had both dynamicstereopsis and static stereopsis, 39 cases(70%)had either dynamic or static stereopsis deficit, only 10 cases(26%)had dynamic stereopsis, 25 cases(64%)static stereopsis left and 4 cases(10%)were without any form of stereopsis. The positive rate of dynamic stereopsis was better than the positive rate of static stereopsis, with statistical significance(<i>P</i><0.05).<p>CONCLUSION: Dynamicstereopsis is better than the static stereopsis to intermittent exotropia children

Apolipoprotein A1/C3/A5 haplotypes and serum lipid levels

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the apolipoprotein (Apo) A1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster and serum lipid profiles is inconsistent. The present study was undertaken to detect the association between the ApoA1/C3/A5 gene polymorphisms and their haplotypes with serum lipid levels in the general Chinese population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 1030 unrelated subjects (492 males and 538 females) aged 15-89 were randomly selected from our previous stratified randomized cluster samples. Genotyping of the ApoA1 -75 bp G>A, ApoC3 3238C>G, ApoA5 -1131T>C, ApoA5 c.553G>T and ApoA5 c.457G>A was performed by polymerse chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism combined with gel electrophoresis, and then confirmed by direct sequencing. Pair-wise linkage disequilibria and haplotype analysis among the five SNPs were estimated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and ApoA1 were lower in males than in femailes (<it>P </it>< 0.05 for each). The allelic and genotypic frequencies of the SNPs were no significant difference between males and females except ApoC3 3238C>G. There were 11 haplotypes with a frequency >1% identified in the cluster in our population. At the global level, the haplotypes comprised of all five SNPs were significantly associated with all seven lipid traits. In particular, haplotype G-G-C-C-A (6%; in the order of ApoA5 c.553G>T, ApoA5 c.457G>A, ApoA5 -1131T>C, ApoC3 3238C>G, and ApoA1 -75bp G>A) and G-A-T-C-G (4%) showed consistent association with total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), ApoA1, ApoB, and the ApoA1/ApoB ratio. In addition, carriers of haplotype G-G-T-C-G (26%) had increased serum concentration of HDL-C and ApoA1, whereas carriers of G-G-C-G-G (15%) had high concentrations of TC, triglyceride (TG) and ApoB. We also found that haplotypes with five SNPs explain much more serum lipid variation than any single SNP alone, especially for TG (4.4% for haplotype vs. 2.4% for -1131T>C max based on R-square) and HDL-C (5.1% for haplotype vs. 0.9% for c.553G>T based on R-square). Serum lipid parameters were also correlated with genotypes and several environment factors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Several common SNPs and their haplotypes in the ApoA1/C3/A5 gene cluster are closely associated with modifications of serum lipid parameters in the general Chinese population.</p

Effect of Buyanghuangwu recipe on exhausted mice skeletal muscle mitochondrial ultrastructure and function

目的  通过建立小鼠游泳运动疲劳模型，探讨补阳还五汤（BYHWT）对运动性疲劳小鼠骨骼肌线粒体超微结构及蛋白AMPK表达的影响。方法  实验选用健康雄性清洁级SD小鼠48只，随机均分为对照组和补阳还五汤低、中、高剂量组，每组12只。常规饲料喂养外，BYHWT低、中、高剂量组分别给予12.5ｇ/kg、25.0ｇ/kg、50.0ｇ/kg的BYHWT灌胃，对照组给予等量生理盐水，连续给药7天，采用负重游泳实验建立小鼠力竭模型。用透射电镜观察骨骼肌细胞线粒体超微结构，Real-time PCR法测定骨骼肌AMPK蛋白表达。结果  运动性疲劳小鼠骨骼肌线粒体数量明显减少，线粒体空泡样变，嵴断裂显著，核染色质浓缩边集、核缩小、核膜增厚，而补阳还五汤药物干预后，骨骼肌线粒体形态趋于正常；模型组大鼠骨骼肌组织AMPK蛋白表达水平较正常对照组、补阳还五汤组明显降低，差异有显著性（P＜0.05），而正常对照组和补阳还五汤组间差异无显著性（P＞0.05）。结论  补阳还五汤具有一定的抗运动性疲劳作用，其机制可能与其减少线粒体损伤，增强线粒体功能，增加骨骼肌AMPK蛋白表达有关。Objective: Discusses the influence that Buyanghuangwu recipe for exercise-induced fatigue mice skeletal muscle mitochondrial ultrastructure and the influence of AMPK protein expression, by establishing mice swimming exercise fatigue model. Methods: 48 SD mice of healthy male at clean level were chose to do experiments, randomly divided into control group and BYHWR low, medium and high group, each group of 12. Regular feed, BYHWR low, medium and high group were given 12.5g/kg, 25.0g/kg, 50.0g/kg for BYHWR to fill the stomach, the control group given amount of normal saline, administered continuously for 7d, weight loading swimming experiment is adopted to establish the mice model of exhaustion. Skeletal muscle cells are observed by transmission electron microscope mitochondria ultrastructure, Real-time PCR method skeletal muscle AMPK protein expression. Results: The number of mitochondria in skeletal muscle of exercise-induced fatigue mice decreased significantly, mitochondrial vacuole degeneration, rupture of mitochondria were obvious, nucleus chromatin concentrated edge set, nucleus contracted and nuclear membrane thickened. After intervention of BYHWR, skeletal muscle The expression of AMPK protein in the skeletal muscle of the model group was significantly lower than that of the normal control group and the group of BYHWR group (P&lt;0.05). The expression of AMPK protein in the normal control group and BYHWR group was no significant difference between the two groups (P&gt;0.05). Conclusion: BYHWR group has certain resistance exercise fatigue, and its mechanisms potentially increase AMPK protein expression in skeletal muscle, reduce mitochondrial damage, and strengthen the function of mitochondria

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta +294T > C polymorphism and alcohol consumption on serum lipid levels

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (<it>PPARD</it>) gene affects serum lipid profiles, but to what extent alcohol consumption interferes with this association remains unknown. The present study was undertaken to compare the association of <it>PPARD </it>+294T > C (rs2016520) polymorphism and serum lipid levels in the nondrinkers and drinkers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 685 unrelated nondrinkers and 497 drinkers aged 15-82 were randomly selected from our previous stratified randomized cluster samples. Genotyping of the <it>PPARD </it>+294T > C was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Interactions of the <it>PPARD </it>+294T > C genotypes and alcohol consumption on serum lipid levels were detected by using a factorial regression analysis after controlling for potential confounders.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The levels of triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein (Apo) A1, and the ratio of ApoA1 to ApoB were higher in drinkers than in nondrinkers (<it>P </it>< 0.05-0.001). There were no significant differences in the levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and ApoB between the two groups (<it>P </it>> 0.05 for all). The frequencies of TT, TC and CC genotypes were 56.0%, 36.4% and 7.6% in nondrinkers, and 57.2%, 38.0% and 4.8% in drinkers (<it>P </it>> 0.05); respectively. The frequencies of T and C alleles were 74.2% and 25.8% in nondrinkers, and 76.2% and 23.8% in drinkers (<it>P </it>> 0.05); respectively. There was also no significant difference in the genotypic and allelic frequencies between males and females in both groups (<it>P </it>> 0.05 for all). The levels of TC in nondrinkers were different among the three genotypes (<it>P </it>= 0.01), the C allele carriers had higher serum TC levels than the C allele noncarriers. The levels of all seven lipid traits in drinkers were not different among the three genotypes (P > 0.05 for all). The interactions of <it>PPARD </it>+294T > C genotypes and alcohol consumption on serum lipid levels were not detected in the drinkers (<it>P ></it>0.05 for all). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, ApoA1, and ApoB levels were correlated with genotypes in drinkers but not in nondrinkers (<it>P </it>< 0.05-0.01).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that the great majority of our study populations are beneficial from alcohol consumption. But there is no interaction between the <it>PPARD </it>+294T > C genotypes and alcohol consumption on serum lipid levels in the drinkers.</p

N-acetylcysteine supplementation for the prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis of eight randomized controlled trials

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia after cardiac surgery. An increasing body of evidence demonstrates that oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a free radical scavenger, and may attenuate this pathophysiologic response and reduce the incidence of postoperative AF (POAF). However, it is unclear whether NAC could effectively prevent POAF. Therefore, this meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy of NAC supplementation on the prevention of POAF.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Medline and Embase were systematically reviewed for studies published up to November 2011, in which NAC was compared with controls for adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Outcome measures comprised the incidence of POAF and hospital length of stay (LOS). The meta-analysis was performed with the fixed-effect model or random-effect model according to the heterogeneity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eight randomized trials incorporating 578 patients provided the best evidence and were included in this meta-analysis. NAC supplementation significantly reduced the incidence of POAF (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.93; <it>P </it>= 0.021) compared with controls, but had no effect on LOS (WMD -0.07, 95% CI -0.42 to 0.28; <it>P </it>= 0.703).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prophylactic NAC supplementation may effectively reduce the incidence of POAF. However, the overall quality of current studies is poor and further research should focus on adequately powered randomized controlled trials with POAF incidence as a primary outcome measure.</p

Development and evaluation of a Planktonic Integrity Index (PII) for Jingpo Lake, China

A Planktonic Integrity Index (PII) for the China’s largest alpine barrier lake (Jingpo Lake) was developed to assess the water quality of Jingpo Lake by using phytoplankton and zooplankton metrics. Phytoplankton and zooplankton assemblages were sampled at 26 sites in Jingpo Lake. A total of 140 species of phytoplankton and 92 species of zooplankton were obtained in the investigations. We used a stepwise process to evaluate properties of candidate metrics and selected five for the PII: Algal cell abundance, Species richness of algae, Trophic diatom index, Zooplankton Shannon index, and Zooplankton Margalef index. Evaluation of the PII showed that it discriminated well between reference and impaired sites and the discriminatory biocriteria of the PII were suitable for the assessment of the water quality of Jingpo Lake. The further scoring results from the 26 sites showed that the water quality of Jingpo Lake was fair to good. The results of analyses between PII and major environmental factors indicated that water temperature (WT), transparency (SD), dissolved oxygen (DO), potassium permanganate (CODMn) and total nitrogen (TN) were the main factors influencing on the composition and distribution of phytoplankton and zooplankton. Additionally, more metrics belonging to habitat, hydrology, physics and chemistry should be considered for the PII, so as to establish comprehensive assessment system which can reflect the community structure of aquatic organisms, physical and chemical characteristics of water environment, human activities, etc

Interactions of Several Lipid-Related Gene Polymorphisms and Cigarette Smoking on Blood Pressure Levels

The interactions of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and cigarette smoking on blood pressure levels are limited. The present study was undertaken to detect nine lipid-related SNPs and their interactions with cigarette smoking on blood pressure levels. Genotyping of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA-1) V825I, acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 (ACAT-1) rs1044925, low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) AvaⅡ, hepatic lipase gene (LIPC) -250G>A, endothelial lipase gene (LIPG) 584C>T, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T, proprotein convertase subtilisin-like kexin type 9 (PCSK9) E670G, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARD) +294T>C, and Scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SCARB1) rs5888 was performed in 935 nonsmokers and 845 smokers. The interactions were detected by factorial regression analysis. The frequencies of genotypes (ACAT-1 and LIPG), alleles (ABCA-1), and both genotypes and alleles (LDL-R, LIPC, PPARD and SCARB1) were different between nonsmokers and smokers (P < 0.05-0.001). The levels of pulse pressure (PP, ABCA-1), and systolic, diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) and PP (LIPC) in nonsmokers were different among the genotypes (P < 0.01-0.001). The levels of SBP (ABCA-1, ACAT-1, LIPG and PCSK9), DBP (ACAT-1, LDL-R, LIPC, PCSK9 and PPARD), and PP (LIPC, LIPG, MTHFR and PCSK9) in smokers were different among the genotypes (P < 0.01-0.001). The SNPs of ABCA-1, ACAT-1 and PCSK9; ACAT-1, LDL-R, MTHFR and PCSK9; and ABCA-1, LIPC, PCSK9 and PPARD were shown interactions with cigarette smoking to influence SBP, DBP and PP levels (P < 0.05-0.001); respectively. The differences in blood pressure levels between the nonsmokers and smokers might partly result from different interactions of several SNPs and cigarette smoking

Low density lipoprotein receptor gene Ava II polymorphism and serum lipid levels in the Guangxi Bai Ku Yao and Han populations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several common genetic polymorphisms in the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) gene have associated with modifications of serum total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, but the results are not consistent in different populations. Bai Ku Yao is a special subgroup of the Yao minority in China. The present study was undertaken to detect the association of LDL-R gene <it>Ava </it>Ⅱ polymorphism and serum lipid levels in the Guangxi Bai Ku Yao and Han populations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 1024 subjects of Bai Ku Yao and 792 participants of Han Chinese were randomly selected from our previous stratified randomized cluster samples. Genotyping of the LDL-R gene <it>Ava </it>Ⅱ polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism combined with gel electrophoresis, and then confirmed by direct sequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The levels of serum TC, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-C, apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 and the ratio of ApoA1 to ApoB were lower in Bai Ku Yao than in Han (<it>P </it>< 0.01 for all). The frequency of A^-and A⁺alleles was 65.5% and 34.5% in Bai Ku Yao, and 80.7% and 19.3% in Han (<it>P </it>< 0.001); respectively. The frequency of A^-A^-, A^-A⁺and A⁺A⁺genotypes was 42.6%, 45.9% and 11.5% in Bai Ku Yao, and 64.9%, 31.6% and 3.5% in Han (<it>P </it>< 0.001); respectively. There was also significant difference in the genotypic frequencies between males and females in Bai Ku Yao (<it>P </it><0.05), and in the genotypic and allelic frequencies between normal LDL-C (≤ 3.20 mmol/L) and high LDL-C (>3.20 mmol/L) subgroups in Bai Ku Yao (<it>P </it>< 0.05 for each) and between males and females in Han (<it>P </it>< 0.05 for each). The levels of LDL-C in males and TC and HDL-C in females were different among the three genotypes (<it>P </it>< 0.05 for all) in Bai Ku Yao, whereas the levels of HDL-C in males and HDL-C and ApoA1 in females were different among the three genotypes (<it>P </it>< 0.05-0.001) in Han. The subjects with A⁺A⁺genotype had higher serum LDL-C, TC, HDL-C or ApoA1 levels than the subjects with A^-A⁺and A^-A^-genotypes. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed that the levels of LDL-C in Bai Ku Yao and HDL-C in Han were correlated with genotypes (<it>P </it>< 0.05 and <it>P </it>< 0.01; respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The association of LDL-R gene <it>Ava </it>Ⅱ polymorphism and serum lipid levels is different between the Bai Ku Yao and Han populations. The discrepancy might partly result from different LDL-R gene <it>Ava </it>Ⅱ polymorphism or LDL-R gene-enviromental interactions.</p

Smart hydrogels with wide visible color tunability

Pigmentary coloration can produce viewing angle-independent uniform colors via light absorption by chromophores. However, due to the limited diversity in the changes of the molecular configuration of chromophores to undergo color change, the existing materials cannot produce a wide range of visible colors with tunable color saturation and transmittance. Herein, we propose a novel strategy to create materials with a wide visible color range and highly tunable color saturation and transmittance. We fabricated a hydrogel with poly (acrylamide-co-dopamine acrylamide) networks swollen with Fe3+-containing glycerol/water in which the covalently crosslinked polyacrylamide backbone with pendant catechols can ensure that the hydrogel maintains a very stable shape. Hydrogels containing adjustable catechol-Fe3+ coordination bonds with flexible light-interacting configuration changes can display a wide range of visible colors based on the complementary color principle. The catechol-Fe3+ complexes can dynamically switch between noncoordinated and mono-, bis- and tris-coordinated states to harvest light energy from a specific wavelength across the whole visible spectrum. Therefore, these hydrogels can be yellow, green, blue, and red, covering the three primary colors. Moreover, color saturation and transmittance can be flexibly manipulated by simply adjusting the Fe3+ content in the hydrogel networks. The versatility of these smart hydrogels has been demonstrated through diverse applications, including optical filters for color regulation and colorimetric sensors for detecting UV light and chemical vapors. This proposed smart hydrogel provides a universal color-switchable platform for the development of multifunctional optical systems such as optical filters, sensors, and detectors