Effect of aflibercept combined with triamcinolone acetonide on aqueous humor growth factor and inflammatory mediators in diabetic macular edema

AIM:To investigate the efficacy of aflibercept combined with sub-tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide(TA)in treating diabetic macular edema(DME)and to examine changes in growth factors and inflammatory mediator levels in aqueous humor after injection.METHODS:Totally 67 DME patients(67 eyes)and 30 cataract patients(32 eyes)were enrolled as the DME group and the control group,respectively.The DME group was divided into the aflibercept group(34 cases)and the aflibercept combined with TA group(combined group,33 cases).The aqueous humor of both groups was collected during the study period.The aqueous levels of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-8(IL-8),and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)were detected using a microsphere suspension array technology(Luminex 200TM).Aqueous cytokines,best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA),central macular thickness(CMT),and complications before and after treatment were compared between the aflibercept group and combined group.RESULTS:The concentrations of VEGF,MCP-1,IL-6,and IL-8 in the aqueous humor were significantly higher in the DME group than those of the control group(all P<0.01).After 1mo of surgery,the concentrations of VEGF,MCP-1,IL-6,and IL-8 in the aqueous humor were significantly lower in the combined group than those of the aflibercept group(all P<0.01).The BCVA and CMT values of the two groups were statistically different after 1 and 2mo of treatment(P<0.01).However,the difference was not statistically significant after 3mo of treatment(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:The cytokines VEGF,MCP-1,IL-6,and IL-8 in the aqueous humor of DME patients are significantly increased.Aflibercept and aflibercept combined with TA have good efficacy in DME patients,can effectively reduce CMT,improve the patient’s vision,and have high safety.Aflibercept combined with TA can quickly downregulate the aqueous humor cytokines and help to relieve macular edema rapidly.However,the long-term efficacy is comparable to that of aflibercept alone.

Impact of exercise on markers of B cell-related immunity:A systematic review

Background:B cells represent a crucial component of adaptive immunity that ensures long-term protection from infection by generating pathogen-specific immunoglobulins.Exercise alters B cell counts and immunoglobulin levels,but evidence-based conclusions on potential benefits for adaptive immunity are lacking.This systematic review assessed current literatures on the impact of acute exercise and exercise training on B cells,immunoglobulins,and markers of secretory immunity in human biofluids.Methods:According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)guidelines,MEDLINE,Web of Science,and Embase were searched on March 8,2023.Non-randomized controlled trials and crossover trials investigating the impact of acute exercise or exercise training on B cell counts and proportions,immunoglobulin levels,salivary flow rate,or secretory immunoglobulin A secretion rate were included.Quality and reporting of exercise training studies were assessed using the Tool for the Assessment of Study Quality and reporting in Exercise.Study characteristics,outcome measures,and statistically significant changes were summarized tabularly.Results:Of the 67 eligible studies,22 applied acute exercise and 45 applied exercise training.All included outcomes revealed significant alterations over time in acute exercise and exercise training context,but only a few investigations showed significant differences compared to control conditions.Secretory and plasma immunoglobulin A levels were most consistently increased in response to exercise training.Conclusion:B cell-related outcomes are altered by acute exercise and exercise training,but evidence-based conclusions cannot be drawn with high confidence due to the large heterogeneity in populations and exercise modalities.Well-designed trials with large sample sizes are needed to clarify how exercise shapes B cell-related immunity.

Research progress on the correlation between aqueous humor components and pathogenesis and postoperative complications in patients with different types of cataracts

Aqueous humor provides the necessary nutrition for the lens and transports the metabolites in the eye.It was a liquid that can directly reflect the microenvironment in the eye'and it can be easily obtained during the operation.This review intended to analyze the components of aqueous humor in patients with different types of cataracts'so as to reflect the pathogenesis and development of the disease'evaluate the incidence of postoperative complications and provide reference value for the surgical design of sequential cataract surgery.The aqueous humor components of different types of cataracts showed different degrees of inflammation'oxidative stress and extracellular matrix remodeling.The biomarker of early neuropathy in diabetic cataract was neural cell adhesion molecule-1(NCAM1).Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)was the evaluation factor of disease development in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.The relationships between postoperative complications of different types of cataracts and aqueous humor components were as follows:Macular edema after diabetic cataract surgery was associated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha;capsular contraction after high myopic cataract surgery was related to monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1)and TGF-β2;Klotho and glutathione S-transferase P 1(GSTP1)were associated with high intraocular pressure after primary open-angle glaucoma complicated by cataract surgery;capsular contraction after retinitis pigmentosa complicated by cataract surgery was associated with matrix metalloproteinases;pro-inflammatory cytokines and fibroblast growth factor 4 in the aqueous humor of congenital cataracts were associated with posterior capsular opacification after surgery.Granulocyte colony stimulating factor 3 and MCP-1 were the main cytokines mediating the pain of the second eye in the binocular sequential cataract surgery short interval(1 wk)'while MCP-1 mediated pain in the long interval(6 wk).The second eye after binocular sequential cataract surgery had a higher level of proinflammatory factors.The components of aqueous humor in patients with different types of cataracts were related to the pathogenesis and postoperative complications of the disease.Monitoring the components of the aqueous humor could help better understand the intraocular microenvironment of different types of cataracts and provide a reference for predicting the development of the disease and implementing relevant targeted therapy.

Humoral Response and Tolerance of Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in Adults Senegalese Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Multicenter Prospective Study

Introduction: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination has been proposed in several countries as the main preventive measure despite very limited data, particularly in dialysis patients. We conducted this study to assess the immunological response to vaccination in Senegalese hemodialysis patients. Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective study, in two dialysis centers in Dakar from March 30th to August 30th, 2021 including patients on hemodialysis for >6 months, vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 according to the vaccination schedule recommended by WHO. A vaccine response was considered positive when seroconversion was observed after one dose of vaccine. The clinical efficacy of immunization was defined as the absence of new COVID-19 infection in patients who received a complete vaccination. Results: Among the 81 patients included in the study, 7.4% had anti-Spike IgM antibodies before their first vaccination. Seroprevalence of IgM antibodies was 38.3% one month after the first vaccine dose (at M1) and 8.6% one month after the second dose (at M4). Anti-Spike IgG antibodies were present in 40.3% of patients before vaccination, in 90.1% at M1, and in 59.7% at M4. Among patients previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, 10.2% had IgM antibodies at M0, 31.6% at M1, and 10.5% at M4 post-vaccination. Similarly, seroprevalences of IgG antibodies in this subgroup were 31.5%, 61.3%, and 50.0% respectively at M0, M1, and M4 post-vaccination. A comparison of seroconversion rates between M0 and M4 showed significant differences only for IgG in COVID-19 naive patients. Mean duration in dialysis and the existence of previous COVID-19 infection were associated with patients’ vaccinal response after the two doses. Age, gender and the use of immunosuppressive treatment did not influence post-vaccinal antibody production. Conclusion: Vaccination against COVID-19 in Senegalese hemodialysis patients induced a low seroconversion rate but it was well tolerated. Moreover, the induced protection was neither strong nor durable, particularly in patients with longer duration in dialysis.

珍藏十多年的蜡笔

这是希瑟做任课老师的最后一个学期,学生们给她送了小礼物作为纪念。一个小男孩犹豫了,他在想办法让老师知道他有多在乎她。主题语境:日常生活篇幅:347词建议用时:7分钟。1 When it comes to gifts,we often say it's the thought that counts.While this can be said humorously at times,Heather Benoit is here to remind us of the truth behind this sentiment.Over a decade ago,this teacher was given a crayon by one of her students.

Differential analysis of aqueous humor cytokine levels in patients with macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy or retinal vein occlusion

AIM:To evaluate the difference and the correlation between the concentrations of cytokines in the aqueous humor of eyes with macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy(DR)or retinal vein occlusion(RVO).METHODS:This is a retrospective case control study.The aqueous humor samples were collected during intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)for patients diagnosed with macular edema secondary to DR(DME)or RVO(RVO-ME)at Xijing Hospital from August 2021 to July 2022.Meanwhile,aqueous humor samples during vitrectomy from patients with idiopathic macular hole(IMH)were also collected and served as controls.The aqueous humor concentrations of VEGF,platelet-derived factor(PDGF),interleukin(IL)-6,IL-8,IL-18,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1(MCP-1)were measured with Human Premixed Multi-Analyte Kit(Luminex).The difference of the aqueous cytokines and the correlation between the two diseases were analyzed.RESULTS:A total of 40 eyes of 38 patients were enrolled in the study,including 13 eyes of 11 DME patients(DME group),16 eyes of 16 RVO-ME patients(RVO-ME group)and 11 eyes of 11 IMH patients(control group).The VEGF,PDGF,IL-6,IL-8,and MCP-1 levels of the aqueous humor were higher in both DME and RVO-ME groups compared with the control group(all P<0.05),the levels of TNF-αwas higher in the DME group than in the control group(P<0.05).The VEGF,IL-6,MCP-1,and TNF-αlevels in the aqueous humor were significantly higher in the DR group than those in the RVO group(all P<0.05).Correlation analyses revealed that there were complex positive correlations between IL-6,IL-8,IL-18,MCP-1,and TNF-αlevels in the aqueous humor of eyes with two diseases.CONCLUSION:Although ischemic and inflammatory factors are similarly involved in the pathogenesis of DME and RVO-ME,the roles of these factors are more significant or more likely to be activated in DR patients,suggesting different treatment strategies should be considered for the two diseases.

Effects of Combined Application of NRTUAs and ABP on Growth and Humoral Immunity of Chicks

[Objectives]The paper was to study the effects of combined application of nonreplicating Toxoplasma uracil auxotrophs(NRTUAs)and Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharide(ABP)on growth and humoral immunity of chicks.[Methods]A total of 120 one-day old female Hyline brown laying hens were randomly divided into 4 groups,30 hens for each group.The chicks in group 1 were subcutaneously injected with NRTUAs and fed on the diet containing with ABP;the chicks in group 2 were subcutaneously injected with NRTUAs;the chicks in group 3 were subcutaneously injected with equal volume of PBS,and fed on the diet containing with ABP;the chicks in group 4 were subcutaneously injected with equal volume of PBS.The body weight of chicks in each group was counted at the 21^(st),42^(nd),84^(th)and 112^(th)week.During this period,blood samples were collected from chicks in each group at 0,7,14,21,28 and 35 d post immunization against Newcastle disease(ND),and serum was separated to detect the antibody titer of ND.[Results]The combined application of NRTUAs and ABP had no effect on growth of chicks,but promoted the humoral immune response of chicks,significantly improved the ND antibody level of chicks,and could maintain high levels of antibodies in the body for a long time.[Conclusions]The study lays a theoretical foundation for further developing the clinical application of NRTUAs and ABP.

Retrospective Analysis of External Quality Assessment Data of Humoral (Except Feces) Morphology in Guangxi from 2010 to 2022

[Objectives] The study aims to improve the ability of inspectors to recognize humoral morphology and provide data reference for the improvement of EQA work of humoral morphology by Guangxi Clinical Laboratory Center. [Methods] A retrospective analysis was made on the EQA of humoral morphology by Guangxi Clinical Laboratory Center from 2010 to 2022, and the number of participating laboratories, the rate of return, sample types and maps of EQA of humoral morphology such as urine sediment, vaginal secretions and so on(except feces), and the reasons for the high error rate of the results of the participating laboratories were analyzed. [Results] The number of laboratories participating in the assessment of humoral morphology increased from 98 in 2010 to 371 in 2022. Except for 2011(90.98%), the rate of return was more than 94%, and the highest rate of return was up to 100%. A total of 119 pictures of EQA of humoral morphology were studied, including 101 urine sediment smears, 13 vaginal secretions smears and 5 other smears. The types of specimens were relatively comprehensive. The distribution of the maps was basically reasonable. The urinary sediment was mainly composed of crystalline salts, followed by tubes, and cells and fungi ranked third. The coverage was relatively complete. The error rate of return results from high to low were bacteria(error rate was equal to 40%), tubes and crystalline salts(error rate was close to 29%), and cells and fungi(error rate was about 14%). The main cases with high error rate of return results are as follows: the difference between different tubes was not clear, and the diversity of crystal morphology was not understood enough;the phase division of cells in the same system was wrong. [Conclusions] The analysis and summary of the reasons for the high error rate of the data and results of Guangxi's EQA of humoral morphology is helpful for laboratory physicians to improve their awareness of morphological examination and identify clearly the error type and blurred concept, and lays a foundation for Guangxi Clinical Laboratory Center to carry out EQA of humoral morphology more specifically.

Conceptual Blending and Meme Humor on the Internet:The Example of COVID-19 Publicity Posters in Chinese Microblogging

Internet memes,as multimodal cultural products disseminated through the Internet,usually take the form of short videos or images that express humor or satire.The creation and dissemination of humor in memes are both creative and complex,and the successful perception of meme humor reflects humans’universal thinking capacity.Based on the theoretical framework of conceptual blending,this paper selects a set of COVID-19 publicity posters from the official Weibo account of China Guangzhou Fabu(Guangzhou Internet Information Office),analyses the multi-level structure of Internet memes,and explores the dynamic cognitive process in the interpretation of humorous memes to reveal people’s ability to make simultaneous analogies and integration between elements in different mental spaces.

Temporal pattern of humoral immune response in mild cases of COVID-19

BACKGROUND Understanding the humoral response pattern of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is one of the essential factors to better characterize the immune memory of patients,which allows understanding the temporality of reinfection,provides answers about the efficacy and durability of protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),and consequently helps in global public health and vaccination strategy.Among the patients who became infected with SARS-CoV-2,the majority who did not progress to death were those who developed the mild COVID-19,so understanding the pattern and temporality of the antibody response of these patients is certainly relevant.AIM To investigate the temporal pattern of humoral response of specific immunoglobulin G(IgG)in mild cases of COVID-19.METHODS Blood samples from 191 COVID-19 real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)-positive volunteers from the municipality of Toledo/Paraná/Brazil,underwent two distinct serological tests,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and detection of anti-nucleocapsid IgG.Blood samples and clinicoepidemiological data of the volunteers were collected between November 2020 and February 2021.All assays were performed in duplicate and the manufacturers'recommendations were strictly followed.The data were statistically analyzed using multiple logistic regression;the variables were selected by applying the P<0.05 criterion.RESULTS Serological tests to detect specific IgG were performed on serum samples from volunteers who were diagnosed as being positive by RT-qPCR for COVID-19 or had disease onset in the time interval from less than 1 mo to 7 mo.The time periods when the highest number of participants with detectable IgG was observed were 1,2 and 3 mo.It was observed that 9.42%of participants no longer had detectable IgG antibodies 1 mo only after being infected with SARS-CoV-2 and 1.57%were also IgG negative at less than 1 mo.At 5 mo,3.14%of volunteers were IgG negative,and at 6 or 7 mo,1 volunteer(0.52%)had no detectable IgG.During the period between diagnosis by RT-qPCR/symptoms onset and the date of collection for the study,no statistical significance was observed for any association analyzed.Moreover,considering the age category between 31 and 59 years as the exposed group,the P value was 0.11 for the category 31 to 59 years and 0.32 for the category 60 years or older,showing that in both age categories there was no association between the pair of variables analyzed.Regarding chronic disease,the exposure group consisted of the participants without any comorbidity,so the P value of 0.07 for the category of those with at least one chronic disease showed no association between the two variables.CONCLUSION A temporal pattern of IgG response was not observed,but it is suggested that immunological memory is weak and there is no association between IgG production and age or chronic disease in mild COVID-19.

论英语中的幽默

在改革开放的今天 ,中国文化与西方文化交流频繁 ,中国人也越来越具有幽默感 ,但是修辞写作中的幽默在汉语里是不活跃的。而幽默在英文中是一种活跃的语文修辞风格 ,根据其表现形式———修辞格的不同 ,可分为 :反语、讽刺、嘲弄。

Sprightly Humor but Penetrating Introspection:on the Satiric Art of Mark Twain's Is He living or Is He dead?

Mark Twain's humorous writing style and thought-provoking satire has great influence on world literature.This paper attempts to explore the satirical art of his short story Is He living or Is He dead?,aiming at showing the immortal artistic charm of Mark Twain's works.

A Comedy of Absurdity and Chaos-A Brief Study on Joseph Heller's Catch-22 and His Black Humor

Catch-22,which is written by Joseph Heller,can be recognized as the "Modern Classic" of American literature,and this fiction uses a distinctive non-chronological third-person omniscient narration,describing the stories from different figures' visual angles.The novel features tragic content with comic form,anti-hero and illogical narrative structure.Catch-22,which no one can get out of,is not a simple rule;in other words,it's really a snare and this no-win situation exists in every corner of people's daily time.

“Anti-hero”Feature of Black Humor in Postmodernism Literary Fiction:with“Yossarian”in Catch-22 as an Example

Yossarian is the hero in Catch-22 written by Joseph Heller in 1961,bearing the typical"anti-hero"feature of Black Humor in postmodernism literary fiction.This paper aims at giving some of the examples to make readers clearer of the Black Humor and more familiar with the"anti-hero"feature of Black Humor in postmodernism literary fiction.

Relevant theoretic account of humor in sketches

Based on the relevant theory, this paper makes an analysis of humor in Chinese popular art form --sketch. It is believed that the maximal relevance and the optimal relevance of utterances, explicature and implicature of utterances, and the efforts made by hearers in dealing with utterances are three important aspects in showing humorous effects in sketches, among which sketch actors＇ violating the mutual cognitive environment so as to create an unexpected effect on hearers is the core in creating humor in sketches. Through analyzing some excerpts from the sketch Yesterday.Today.Tomorrow, the author tries to explore the relevance nature of language in sketch and creation of humor in it.

人性的弱点--桃乐茜·帕克诗歌赏析(英文)

Dorothy Parker was an American short story writer,poet,and critic who was famous for her instant wit and cruel humor.In her poems,by using succinct and satiric language,she discovers the weakness of human nature,and encourages people to face the world bravely.This paper analyses some of her poems and help the readers to understand her instant wit and cruel humor.

Traditional medicine in India

India has a long history of traditional medicine,and Ayurveda is the most representative system.Similar to traditional Chinese medicine,Ayurveda is a life science derived from experience.It emphasizes that human health requires both personalized medicine and a holistic approach.This article takes Ayurveda as an example to introduce traditional Indian medicine,hoping to provide readers with a preliminary understanding of the development of traditional medicine in India.

《英语词汇学》辅导(5)

Ⅰ.Each of the statements below is followed by four alternative answers.Choose the one that wouldbest complete the statement.1.Polysemy is a common feature peculiar to ___.A.English only B.Chinese only C.all natural languages D.some natural languages2.From the ____ point of view,polysemy is assumed to be the result of growth and development of thesemantic structure of one and same word.A.linguistic B.diachronic C.synchronic D.

Mark Twain's Humor and Irony in The Stolen White Elephant

Mark Twain is a realistic writer in America.His humor,irony and together with colloquial speech have been remembered by readers,for which he became one of America's most beloved humorists and storytellers.This paper focuses on one of Twain's short stories The Stolen White Elephant.Through the analysis of Twain's humor and irony shown from the two main characters in this specific story,this paper is to show the social reality reflected in The Stolen White Elephant.

A Linguistic Analysis of Humorous Discourses between the English and Mandarin Language

The paper is divided into Five Chapters,aiming to explain the humorous effect in our daily discourse in the perspective of linguistic analysis.It is another new discovery.Two languages have their own distinct features.When translating,we will find a lot of humorous effect created by these language differences.The analysis of the topic is undergoing through term definition and case study.The paper might be of some help to further the humorous research in literature,art,academic circles or daily conversations.More methods of analysis,at the same time,are appreciated.