Clinical investigation on angle-closure glaucoma patients with cataract treated by phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy

AIM: To investigate the effectiveness of phacoemulsification with intraocular lens(IOL)implantation combined with trabeculectomy in patients with cataract and angle-closure glaucoma.<p>METHODS: In 36 cases(46 eyes)of angle-closure glaucoma with cataract, phacoemulsification with foldable IOL implantation combined with trabeculectomy was performed. Data of pre- and post-operation, including visual acuity, intraocular pressure, filtering bleb, anterior chamber depth, chamber angle, and funds were all recorded and analyzed in detail.<p>RESULTS: During the follow-up of 3 months to 2 years,visual acuity of 43 eyes(93.5%)got improved, and intraocular pressure in 44 eyes(95.7%)were controlled in normal range(<21mmHg). Mean anterior chamber depth of 35 patients(46 eyes)got deeper from 2.1mm to 3.8mm(average 2.1±0.3mm to 3.8±0.4mm)after operation, with chamber angle opened to some extent. Six eyes(13.0%)got mild to moderate corneal edema, without corneal endothelial decompensation.<p>CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification with IOL implantation combined with trabeculectomy is an effective and safe surgical technique for patients with angle-closure glaucoma and cataract, with satisfied control of intraocular pressure, deepening of anterior chamber, opening of anterior chamber angle, and improving visual function

A study on the preparation and characterization of plasmid DNA and drug-containing magnetic nanoliposomes for the treatment of tumors

Zi-Yu Wang1,2, Li Wang1, Jia Zhang1, Yun-Tao Li1, Dong-Sheng Zhang11School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; 2School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaPurpose: To explore the preparation and characterization of a novel nanosized magnetic liposome containing the PEI-As2O3/Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 complex.Methods: Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 and As2O3/Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles were prepared by chemical coprecipitation and loaded with PEI. The PEI-As2O3/Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 complex was characterized using transmission electron and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Cell transfection experiments were performed to evaluate the transfect efficiency. Magnetic nanoliposomes were prepared by rotatory evaporation and their shape, diameter, and thermodynamic characteristics were observed.Results: Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 and PEI-As2O3/Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles were spherical, with an average diameter of 20&amp;ndash;40 nm. PEI-As2O3/Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 was an appropriate carrier for the delivery of a foreign gene to HepG2 cells. Energy dispersive spectrometry results confirmed the presence of the elements nitrogen and arsenic. Nanoliposomes of approximately 100 nm were observed under a transmission electron microscope. Upon exposure to an alternating magnetic field, they also had good magnetic responsiveness, even though Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 was modified by PEI and encased in liposomes. Temperatures increased to 37&amp;deg;C&amp;ndash;54&amp;deg;C depending on different concentrations of PEI-As2O3/Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 and remained stable thereafter.Conclusion: Our results suggest that PEI-As2O3/Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 magnetic nanoliposomes are an excellent biomaterial, which has multiple benefits in tumor thermotherapy, gene therapy, and chemotherapy.Keywords: nanoliposomes, magnetic fluid hyperthermia, As2O3, DN

Epimedium brevicornu Maxim extract shows protective activity against Alzheimer's disease in mice

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of Epimedium brevicornu Maxim extract (EBME) against Alzheimer's disease in 3xTg-AD mice. Methods: The cognitive function of 3xTg-AD mice was assessed using Morris water maze test. The levels of amyloid beta deposits and NeuN in the mouse hippocampus were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Brain neurotrophic-derived factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) expressions were examined by western blot analysis. Results: EBME treatment significantly ameliorated learning and memory deficits in AD mice, as shown by the increased time spent in the target zone during probe tests. Compared with the 3xTg-AD mice (8.4 ± 1.1 s), the escape latency in animals treated with 600 mg/kg EBME (21.5 ± 1.1 s) was significantly increased (p &lt; 0.01). In addition, EBME significantly decreased Aβ deposits, increased NeuN-positive cells, and upregulated the expressions of BDNF (1.5 ± 0.2, p &lt; 0.05) and TrkB (1.6 ± 0.2, p &lt; 0.05) in the 3xTg AD mice. Conclusion: EBME treatment may be a useful therapeutic strategy for managing memory impairment

Colorectal cancer screening with fecal occult blood test: A 22-year cohort study.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with a three-tier fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in the Chinese population. The study was performed between 1987 and 2008 at the Beijing Military General Hospital, in a cohort of army service males and females aged &gt;50 years. Between 1987 and 2005, a three-tier screening program, comprising guaiac-based FOBTs (gFOBTs), followed by immunochemical FOBTs for positive guaiac test samples and then colonoscopy for positive immunochemical test subjects, was performed annually. The cohort was followed up until 2008. The cohort included 5,104 subjects, of which, 3,863 subjects participated in screening (screening group) and 1,241 did not (non-screening group). The two groups did not differ in age, gender or other major risk factors for colon cancer. Overall, 36 CRCs occurred in the screening group and 21 in the non-screening group. Compared with the non-screening group, the relative risk for the incidence and mortality of CRC was 0.51 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.30-0.87] and 0.36 (95% CI, 0.18-0.71), respectively, in the screening group. The general sensitivity of this three-tier FOBT was 80.6% (95% CI, 65.3-91.1). Thus, annual screening using the three-tier FOBT program may reduce the CRC incidence and mortality rate

Myocardin immunohistochemistry index is associated with clinical prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a clinical practice-based cohort study

Purpose: Recent findings have implicated the role of myocardin re-expression in carcinogenesisHowever, the clinical functions of myocardin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is not known yet. The purpose for the cohort research was to investigate whether myocardin re-expression level may predict clinical prognosis in NPC patients.Methods: 148 NPC patients were recruited from September, 2005 to September, 2011 with median follow-up time of 4.5 years in a clinical practice setting. At study entry myocardin re-expression of these patients was determined using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and additional 20 normal nasopharyngeal tissues were included as control. Two-sample t-test was used to compare mean myocardin reexpression levels and Chi-square test was used for comparing tumour recurrence rate. Logistic regression analysis was used for tumour local control rate, and log-rank test, Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazard model for disease-free survival and overall survival.Results: Myocardin IHC index was significantly downregulated in NPC samples than in normalnasopharyngeal tissues (mean ± standard deviation, 61.2 ±31.5 vs. 109.9 ±73.6, P= 0.009). However, among NPC patients was observed a roughly V-shaped change of myocardin IHC index according to Tumour T-stage (P=0.067); meanwhile higher IHC level was associated with more tumour recurrence rate in NPC patients (High vs. Low: 21.6% vs. 8.1%; P=0.021). Logistic regression analysis equally showed high myocardin IHC level was an independent risk factor for local tumour control rate regardless of adjustments [High vs. Low: unadjusted Odds Ratio (OR) 0.320, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.117 to 0.871; P=0.026]. Moreover, higher myocardin IHC level was associated with a marginal but not significant risk increase of disease-free survival [High vs. Low: adjusted Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.760, 95% CI: 0.981 to 3.158; log-rank: P=0.129]. A less obvious trend was observed with regard to overall survival [adjusted HR 1.409, 95% CI: 0.715 to 2.77; log-rank: P=0.745].Conclusion: The study results suggested that high myocardin IHC index level could be a potential clinically prognostic intermediate biomarker for tumour recurrence for NPC patients in routine practice. Large well-designed cohort studies involving IHC re-expression change over time is needed