Analyzing cytokines as biomarkers to evaluate severity of glaucoma

AIM： To analyze cytokines as biomarkers for evaluation of severity of glaucoma. METHODS： This was a prospective case-control study including 29 eyes with glaucoma. Besides, 28 eyes with senile cataract were used as control. Patients were classified into four groups： acute angle closure glaucoma （AACG）, chronic angle closure glaucoma （CACG）, primary open angle glaucoma （POAG） and senile cataract. Undiluted vitreous samples were collected, then vitreous concentrations of 9 types of cytokines were determined by cytometric bead assay system： y-interferon （IFNg）, interleukin （IL-10, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, interferon-y-inducible protein （IP）-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein （MCP）-I, tumor necrosis factor （TNF） -Q, and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）. We also recorded the intraocular pressure （lOP） of patients in each group and Pearson correlated analysis was performed to analysis the correlation between each type of cytokine with IOR RESULTS： Vitreous levels of IL-2, iL-5, MCP-1, TNF-a and IP-10 were significantly higher （P〈0.05） in AACG group. Patients with AACG, CACG and POAG have higher lOP than senile cataract, but we didn＇t find any significant correlation between lOP with any type of the cytokines. CONCLUSION： Inflammation and immune reaction have a strong link with the pathology of glaucoma especially AACG, Some cytokines may act as biomarkers to evaluate the severity of glaucoma, Anti-inflammatory treatments and controlling of lOP are necessary for the therapy of glaucoma.

Traumatic endophthalmitis and the outcome after vitrectomy in young children

AIM:To explore the traumatic endophthalmitis in young children and the outcome of pars plana vitrectomy(PPV).METHODS:Twenty-two eyes of 22 cases of young children consecutive pediatric traumatic endophthalmitis treated and followed up between September 2014 and May 2018 were included.Aqueous humor or vitreous samples were taken for bacterial culture and sensitivity tests.Intravitreal antibiotics(norvancomycin and ceftazidime)injection,combined with 23-gauge PPV,were administered in 22 eyes.Silicone oil(SO;5000 centistoke)tamponade or perfluoropropane gas(C3F8)was used in all patients.Main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and retinal attachment,the ratio of penetrating injury,and the existence of intraocular foreign body.RESULTS:The mean age of patients was 6.9±2.2(range,3-10)y.All injured eyes suffered from penetrating ocular injury with retained intraocular foreign body in one eye.Bacterial culture was positive in only 2 eyes.The mean follow-up time was 21.1±4.7(range,12-30)mo.In the primary PPV,intravitreal antibiotics was administrated in all eyes,SO in 18 eyes,and C3F8 in 4 eyes.The secondary operation of SO removal and C3F8 endotamponade was performed in 16 eyes and a second SO endotamponade due to emulsification of the oil and retinal detachment(RD)was operated in 7 eyes underwent 3 to 11.5 mo after primary PPV.A third operation was done in 7 eyes.The final intraocular pressure(IOP)was 8.9±1.8(range,6.9-11.4)mm Hg.The final BCVAs were 20/200 or better in 5,counting fingers in 2,and light perception to hand movement in 8 eyes.Whose(66.7%)had retinal injury exhibited worse BCVA(P=0.019,Fisher’s exact test).Eyes underwent SO tamponade exhibited worse final BCVA than that with C3F8 in the primary PPV(P=0.026,Fisher’s exact test).CONCLUSION:Traumatic endophthalmitis in children is generally more severe and associated with more complicated surgical procedures.Most patients have retinal injury need multiple operations and the final BCVA is poor.Prevention of ocular trauma,especially in children,is still critical.

Relationship between different healing degree and C peptide in elderly patients with diabetic foot ulcers

Objective:To explore the relationship between different healing degree and C peptide in elderly patients with diabetic foot ulcers.Methods:Totally, two hundred and forty-one DFU patients were selected into our research from September 2nd, 2011 to September 2nd, 2012. After admission, the patients' sex, age, the course of diabetes, the days of hospitalization, and BMI were recorded. After examination, blood routine and blood biochemistry, urine routine, hepatorenal work were recorded. Follow up 5 years, patients with unhealed ulcers were selected into bad prognosis group during follow-up, and patients with ulcerative healing into good prognosis group. Single factor analysis showed factors affecting the healing of DFU patients;Cox proportional risk model was further evaluated the effect of all factors with statistical significance on the healing of DFU patients. Using the ROC curve to analyze the statistically significant factors and to calculate the area under the curve to evaluate the predictive ability of the healing of the patients with DFU.Results: At the end of the follow-up, 6 patients were lost, 177 had the end point, and the healing rate was 73.44%. Single factor and multifactor analysis showed that the course of diabetes and HbA1C were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis. FCP was an independent protective factor affecting the prognosis. In ROC, the AUC of diabetes course was 0.754 under the ROC curve. The AUC of HbA1C under the line is 0.791, while the AUC of FCP level is 0.581 under the ROC curve.Conclusion: Low FCP is an independent risk factor for DFU healing, but FCP has little predictive effect on patient healing.

Variant selection of nanocrystalline a phase in metastableβTB8 titanium alloy via electric pulse treatment

In this paper,the metastableβTB8 titanium alloy with nanocrystallineαphase is achieved by electric pulse treatment.The morphology evolution and variant selection of nanocrystallineαphase in metastableβTB8titanium alloy were investigated by using scanning electron microscope(SEM),electron backscattered diffraction(EBSD)and transmission electron microscope(TEM)analysis.The results indicated that the morphologies of the nanocrystallineαphase were mainly triangular clusters and needle-like at the pressure of 0 MPa.With increasing pressure from 20 to 50 MPa,the volume fraction of needlelikeαphase decreased,and a large amount of V-shapedαphase formed in the interior ofβgrains.Based on the EBSD data,the parentβphase was reconstructed by MTEX software.In the interior of theβgrains,12 variants can form for the samples electric pulse treated at 0 and20 MPa,while only 3 and 6 variants can form for the samples electric pulse treated at 30 and 50 MPa.In the grain boundary of theβgrains,one or more grain boundaryαvariants can be generated for the samples electric pulse treated at different pressures as long as one of the neighborβgrains follows the Burgers orientation relationship.

A case report on Susac syndrome

To the Editor:Susac syndrome(SS),a syndrome affecting the brain along with retinal and cochlear microangiopathy,is characterized by acute multiple encephalopathy,branch retinal artery occlusion and sensorineural deafness.This disease was first described in 1979,but it was named formally in 1994.[1]As a rare disease,only approximately 300 cases have ever been reported.[2]In China,SS is seldom reported.This case report describes the clinical and imaging features of a female patient diagnosed with SS.