Argon laser treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy

AIM: To observe the efficacy of the argon laser photocoagulation treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy(CSC). METHODS: The treatment groups: 18 patients(18 eyes), argon laser photocoagulation and oral jolethin, vitamin B1, inosine and venoruton tablets. Control group: 18 patients(18 eyes), oral lecithin complex iodine, vitamin B1, inosine, venoruton tablets. Foveal thickness and neuroepithelial layer detachment range were measured by optical coherence tomography(OCT)before treatment, after 1 month and 3 months post-operation to compare the decline in value of foveal thickness and neuroepithelial layer detachment range of the two groups. RESULTS: After 1 month of treatment, the decline in value of the center foveal thickness: the value of treatment group was 256±72μm; the value of the control group was 82±57μm, and the difference of the two groups, P <0.05; the decline in value of neuroepithelial layer detachment range: the value of the treatment group was 3 548±168μm, the value of the control group was 1 520±143μm, And the difference of the two groups, P<0.05. After three months of treatment, the decline in value of the center foveal thickness: the value of treatment group was 383±75μm, the value of the control group was 312±67 μm, and the difference of the two groups, P<0.05; decline in value of neuroepithelial layer detachment range: the value of the treatment group was 4 908±172μm, the value of the control group was 4 211±153μm, and the difference of the two groups, P <0.05. The differences were statistically significant between the treatment and the control groups(two independent samples t-test). CONCLUSION:Argon laser photocoagulation treatment of CSC is an effective treatment method and can significantly shorten the course

Characterization of gut dominant microbiota in obese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

In obese patients, non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) is common. However, whether there is a connection between the gut microbiota and the onset of NAFLD in obese people is yet unknown. Using quantitative real-time PCR, the microbiota of feces of the eligible 181 obese individuals was identified to compare the differences in gut microbiota between obesity with NAFLD and simple obesity. According to the findings, the gut dominant microbiota was similar between obesity with NAFLD and simple obesity. Nonetheless, compared to the simple obesity group, the quantity of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii colonies was much lower in the obesity with the NAFLD group. Bacteroides were present in greater than 65% of both groups. Bacteroides, Clostridium leptum, and Clostridium butyricum accounted for more than 80% of the cases in the obesity with NAFLD group, whereas Bacteroides, Clostridium butyricum, and F. prausnitzii accounted for more than 80% of the cases in the simple obesity group. We look for potential contributing variables to obesity-related NAFLD and potential prevention measures for obese people. Based on a multi-factor logistic regression analysis, lymphocytes may be a risk factor for obesity with NAFLD while F. prausnitzii may be a protective factor. Additionally, F. prausnitzii is positively impacted by Bacteroides, Clostridium leptum, Clostridium butyricum, and Eubacterium rectale, yet adversely impacted by Enterobacteriaceae. Notably, lymphocytes and F. prausnitzii may help determine whether obese patients would develop NAFLD

The role of EGFR mutation as a prognostic factor in survival after diagnosis of brain metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background The brain is a common site for metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the mutational of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients with brain metastases. Methods Searches were performed in PubMed, EmBase, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies evaluating the association of EGFR mutation with OS in NSCLC patients through September 2017. Results 4373 NSCLC patients with brain metastases in 18 studies were involved. Mutated EGFR associated with significantly improved OS compared with wild type. Subgroup analyses suggested that this relationship persisted in studies conducted in Eastern, with retrospective design, with sample size ≥500, mean age of patients ≥65.0 years, percentage male < 50.0%, percentage of patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitor ≥30.0%. Finally, although significant publication bias was observed using the Egger test, the results were not changed after adjustment using the trim and fill method. Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that EGFR mutation is an important predictive factor linked to improved OS for NSCLC patients with brain metastases. It can serve as a useful index in the prognostic assessment of NSCLC patients with brain metastases

3′,6′-Bis(ethyl­amino)-2′,7′-dimethyl-2-{[2-[(E)-3,4-methyl­enedioxy­benzyl­idene­amino]eth­yl}spiro­[isoindoline-1,9′-xanthen]-3-one

The title compound, C36H36N4O4, was prepared as a spiro­lactam ring formation of the rhodamine dye for comparison with a ring-opened form. The xanthene ring system is approximately planar [r.m.s. deviations from planarity = 0.023 (9) Å for the xanthene ring]. The dihedral angles formed by the spiro­lactam and 1,3-benzodioxole rings with the xanthene ring system are 86.8 (1) and 74.3 (1)°, respectively

Study on Roadway Parameters of Broken Compound Roof of Gently Inclined Thick Coal Seam

AbstractThis paper through investigation of the geological conditions of Da’ Anshan's coal mine, according to the special of the broken compound roof on inclined thick coal seam, select the anchor suspension theory and composite beam theory, design the roadway support's anchor parameters, and apply the finite element software ADINA carry out simulation analysis, through the contrast of analysis and engineering data, proved that the design of support parameters is reasonably and practicable. The research has practical value and can guide similar projects

Biochemical, haematological and histopathological studies of extract of Ageratum conyzoides L. in Sprague Dawley rats

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety potential of the leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides Linnaeus in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats using biochemical, haematological and histological indices of toxicity. Four groups of seven male SD rats per group were used for the study. To group A was administered 0.25% CMC-Na/ kg body weight and was used as the control group, while groups B, C and D were respectively administered with 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight of the ethanolic leaf extract of A. conyzoides by gastric intubation for 14 days. Animals were subsequently anaesthetized, blood samples were collected for biochemical and haematological assays; organs were isolated and weighed, while the liver, kidney and spleen were processed for histopathological studies. Aspartate amino transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the groups treated with 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight of the extract. Furthermore, there was a significant (p < 0.05) elevation in white blood cell count, mean platelet volume and % platelet distribution width. Histopathological studies indicated various degrees of hepatocellular necrosis in all the treated groups accompanied by significant increases in the weight of liver and spleen. The results showed that the ethanolic leaf extract of A. conyzoides significantly alters the biomarkers of cardiac and skeletal muscle disorders, and higher doses could induce liver cell injury

Effect of iterative reconstruction techniques on image quality in low radiation dose chest CT: a phantom study

PURPOSEWe aimed to evaluate the quality of chest computed tomography (CT) images obtained with low-dose CT using three iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms.METHODSTwo 64-detector spiral CT scanners (HDCT and iCT) were used to scan a chest phantom containing 6 ground-glass nodules (GGNs) at 11 radiation dose levels. CT images were reconstructed by filtered back projection or three IR algorithms. Reconstructed images were analyzed for CT values, average noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values, subjective image noise, and diagnostic acceptability of the GGNs. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used for statistical analyses.RESULTSAverage noise decreased and CNR increased with increasing radiation dose when the same reconstruction algorithm was applied. Average image noise was significantly lower when reconstructed with MBIR than with iDOSE4 at the same low radiation doses. The two radiologists showed good interobserver consistency in image quality with kappa 0.83. A significant relationship was found between image noise and diagnostic acceptability of the GGNs.CONCLUSIONThree IR algorithms are able to reduce the image noise and improve the image quality of low-dose CT. In the same radiation dose, the low-dose CT image quality reconstructed with MBIR algorithms is better than that of other IR algorithms