Expressions of type I collagen, α2 integrin and β1 integrin in sclera of guinea pig with defocus myopia and inhibitory effects of bFGF on the formation of myopia

AIM:To investigate the expressions of type I collagen, α2 integrin and β1 integrin in the posterior sclera of guinea pigs with defocus myopia and whether basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) injection inhibits the formation and development of myopia by upregulating the expression of type I collagen, α2 integrin and β1 integrin. METHODS:After 14 days of treatment, the refractive state and axial length were measured and the levels of type I collagen, α2 integrin and β1 integrin were assayed in the posterior sclerae of groups of guinea pigs that wore a monocular-7D polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) lens or had -7D lens wear followed by the peribulbar injection of Phosphate Buffer Solution (PBS) or bFGF. The untreated fellow eye served as a control. Guinea pigs with no treatment served as normal group. ·RESULTS:The results showed that 14 days of monocular defocus increased axial eye length and refraction, while bFGF delivery inhibited them markedly. Further, it was also found that the monocular-7D lens could decrease the levels of type I collagen, α2 integrin and β1 integrin expressions, while, unlike PBS, bFGF increased them significantly in comparison to contralateral control eyes and normal eyes. CONCLUSION:bFGF can prevent the formation anddevelopment of defocus myopia by upregulating the expressions of type I collagen, α2 integrin and β1 integrin. Taken together, our results demonstrate that bFGF promotes sclera remodeling to prevent myopia in guinea pigs.

Increased heat shock protein 70 expression in the pancreas of rats with endotoxic shock

AIM： To investigate the ultra-structural changes and heat shock protein 70 （HSP70） expression in the pancreas of rats with endotoxic shock and to detect their possible relationship. METHODS： A total of 33 Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups： control group （given normal saline）, small dose lipopolysaccharide （LPS） group （given LPS 5 mg/kg） and large dose LPS group （given LPS 10 mg/kg）. Pancreas was explanted to detect the ultrastructural changes by TEM and the HSP70 expression by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS： Rats given small doses of LPS showed swelling and loss of mitochondrial cristae of acinar cells and increased number of autophagic vacuoles in the cytoplasm of acinar cells. Rats given large doses of LPS showed swelling, vacuolization, and obvious myeloid changes of mitochondrial cristae of acinar cells, increased number of autophagic vacuoles in the cytoplasm of acinar cells. HSPT0 expression was increased compared to the control group （P〈0.05）. CONCLUSION： Small doses of LPS may induce stronger expression of HSP70, promote autophagocytosis and ameliorate ultra-structural injuries.

Clinical Study on Adjuvant Chemotherapy of Cinobufacin Injection in Senior Patients with Colorectal Cancer

To investigate the clinical efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy of cinobufacin injection in the treatment of senior patients with colorectal cancer and its influence on serum tumor markers and immune function,from November 2018 to November 2019,84 senior colorectal cancer patients in author's hospital were al randomly divided into control group and observation group,42 cases in each group,and the control group was treated with routine chemotherapy,the observation group was treated with routine chemotherapy and intravenous injection of cinobufacin,the two groups were all treated for 4 cycles,then the short-term efficacy,serum tumor markers[carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9),carbohydrate antigen 724(CA724),carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)]and immune function indexes(CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+),as well as the unward reaction of chemotherapy were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.As results,Short-term efficacy:the total effective rate of observation group was significantly higher than that of control group(78.57%vs 47.62%,P<0.05).Tumor markers:after treatment,the levels of CA19-9,CA724 and CEA in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.05).Compared between the two groups,the levels of each index in observation group were lower(P<0.05).Immune function after treatment the levels of CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+in observation group were significantly higher than those before treatment while the levels of CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+in control group were significantly lower(P<0.05).After treatment,the above each index in observation group were higher than those in control group(P<0.05).Untoward reaction:the incidence of leukopenia,thrombocytopenia,gastrointestinal response,fatigue and myelosuppresion in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group(P<0.05).The results show that cinobufacin injection in the adjuvant treatment of senior patients with colorectal cancer can improve the shortterm efficacy of chemotherapy,reduce the untoward reaction,and reduce the serum levels of CA19-9,CA724 and CEA,improve the immune function of the body,thus with high clinical application value.

A novel mutation in PRPF31,causative of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa,using the BGISEQ-500 sequencer

AIM： To study the genes responsible for retinitis pigmentosa.METHODS： A total of 15 Chinese families with retinitis pigmentosa, containing 94 sporadically afflicted cases, were recruited. The targeted sequences were captured using the Target_Eye_365_V3 chip and sequenced using the BGISEQ-500 sequencer, according to the manufacturer＇s instructions. Data were aligned to UCSC Genome Browser build hg19, using the Burroughs Wheeler Aligner MEM algorithm. Local realignment was performed with the Genome Analysis Toolkit（GATK v.3.3.0） Indel Realigner, and variants were called with the Genome Analysis Toolkit Haplotypecaller, without any use of imputation. Variants were filtered against a panel derived from 1000 Genomes Project, 1000 G_ASN, ESP6500, Ex AC and db SNP138. In all members of Family ONE and Family TWO with available DNA samples, the genetic variant was validated using Sanger sequencing.RESULTS： A novel, pathogenic variant of retinitis pigmentosa, c.357_358 del AA（p.Ser119 Serfs X5） was identified in PRPF31 in 2 of 15 autosomal-dominant retinitis pigmentosa（ADRP） families, as well as in one, sporadic case. Sanger sequencing was performed uponprobands, as well as upon other family members. This novel, pathogenic genotype co-segregated with retinitis pigmentosa phenotype in these two families. CONCLUSION： ADRP is a subtype of retinitis pigmentosa, defined by its genotype, which accounts for 20%-40% of the retinitis pigmentosa patients. Our study thus expands the spectrum of PRPF31 mutations known to occur in ADRP, and provides further demonstration of the applicability of the BGISEQ500 sequencer for genomics research.

Comparison of form-deprived myopia and lens-induced myopia in guinea pigs

AIM:To study the efficacy difference between formdeprived myopia(FDM)and lens-induced myopia(LIM),the degree of myopia,axial length and pathological changes of the posterior sclera from guinea pigs were evaluated.METHODS:Four-week pigmented guinea pigs were randomly assigned into 3 groups,including normal control(n=6),FDM group with monocular cover(n=11)and LIM group with monocular-7D lens treatment(n=11).FDM group was form-deprived while LIM group was lens-induced for 14d.Refractive error and axial length were measured prior to and post treatment,respectively.Morphological changes of sclera were examined using both light and electronic microscopes.RESULTS:After 14d treatment,refractive errors for FDM group and LIM group were-3.05±0.71D and-2.12±1.29D,respectively,which were significantly more myopic than that of normal controls and fellow control eyes(P【0.01).As for axial length,it was 7.93±0.03 mm for FDM group and 7.89±0.06 mm for LIM group,which were significantly longer than both normal and fellow controls(P【0.01).With respect to both refractory error and axial length,the differences between FDM group and LIM group were not significant(P】0.05).Under light microscope,both FDM group and LIM group showed thinned sclera,disarrangement of fibrosis and enlargeddisassociation between fibers.Consistently,ultrastructural examination showed degenerated fibroblasts and thinned fibers in posterior sclera.CONCLUSION:Following two weeks of myopia induction in guinea pigs,with regard to the degree of myopia,axial length and pathological alterations,there was no significant difference between FDM and LIM models.Therefore,FDM and LIM are equally effective and useful as a model of experimental myopia and guinea pigs are ideal animals for induction of experimental myopia because their high sensitivity to both formdeprivation and lens-induction.

Comparison of bevacizumab and ranibizumab in agerelated macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMTo compare the effectiveness and safety between bevacizumab and ranibizumab in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of Flos Puerariae by using chemical fingerprint in combination with chemometrics method

In order to better control the quality of Flos Puerariae(FP),qualitative and quantitative analyses were initially performed by using chemical fingerprint and chemometrics methods in this study.First,the fingerprint of FP was developed by HPLC and the chemical markers were screened out by similarity analysis(SA),hierarchical clustering analysis(HCA),principal components analysis(PCA),and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA).Next,the chemical constituents in FP were profiled and identified by HPLC coupled to Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry(HPLCFT-ICR MS).Then,the characteristic constituents in FP were quantitatively analyzed by HPLC.As a result,31 common peaks were assigned in the fingerprint and 6 of them were considered as qualitative markers.A total of 35 chemical constituents were detected by HPLC-FT-ICR MS and 16 of them were unambiguously identified by comparing retention time,UV absorption wavelength,accurate mass,and MS/MS data with those of reference standards.Subsequently,the contents of glycitin,genistin,tectoridin,glycitein,genistein,and tectorigenin in 13 batches of FP were detected,ranging from 0.4438 to 11.06 mg/g,0.955 to 1.726 mg/g,9.81 to 57.22 mg/g,3.349 to 41.60 mg/g,0.3576 to 0.989 mg/g,and 2.126 to 9.99 mg/g,respectively.In conclusion,fingerprint analysis in combination with chemometrics methods could discover chemical markers for improving the quality control standard of FP.It is expected that the strategy applied in this study will be valuable for further quality control of other traditional Chinese medicines.