Monocular posterior scleritis presenting as acute conjunctivitis: A case report.

Background: Posterior scleritis is a rare inflammatory ocular disease, characterized by severe and painful inflammation of the sclera. It is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, due to its general and varying clinical presentation profile, which primarily involves pain and visual impairment but which can include eyelid edema, choroidal folds, serous retinal detachment, disc edema, hard exudates in fovea and subretinal mass. We report here a case of posterior scleritis, with symptoms of eye pain and red eye, initially misdiagnosed as acute conjunctivitis.

Repression of microRNA-21 inhibits retinal vascular endothelial cell growth and angiogenesis via PTEN dependent-PI3K/Akt/VEGF signaling pathway in diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes and one of the most common causes of blindness in active stage. This study is performed to explore the effects of microRNA-21 (miR-21) on retinal vascular endothelial cell (RVEC) viability and angiogenesis in rats with DR via the phosphatidylinositiol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway by binding to phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used for establishment of DR models.

IL-17 produced by Th17 cells alleviates the severity of fungal keratitis by suppressing CX43 expression in corneal peripheral vascular endothelial cells.

Fungal keratitis is a relatively common ocular disease requiring positive medical management combined with surgical intervention. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) was reported to promote the activation and mobilization of neutrophile granulocyte to foci of inflammation. This study investigated the effect of IL-17 production from Th17 cells on the progression of fungal keratitis.

Modified Posterior Short-Segment Pedicle Screw Instrumentation for Lumbar Burst Fractures with Incomplete Neurological Deficit.

Purpose: We have introduced a method of modified posterior short-segment pedicle screw fixation and evaluated its clinical effects in treating lumbar burst fractures with incomplete neurological deficits.

Methods: The data from 22 patients with lumbar burst fracture and incomplete neurological deficits who had undergone modified posterior short-segment instrumentation with Schanz screw fixation from January 2012 to February 2018 in our clinic were evaluated in the present retrospective study. All Schanz screws were implanted in an oblique downward direction into the vertebrae above and below the injured vertebra (insertion depth, 90%-100%).

[Clinical Trials for Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis with Heat Sensitive Moxibustion and Its Regularity of Heat-sensitization Acupoint Distribution].

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of heat sensitive moxibustion (HSM) and its regularity of acupoint heat-sensitization in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) patients.

Methods: Seventy patients with AR were randomly divided into HSM and manual acupuncture groups (＝35/group). For patients of the HSM group, acupoints Yintang (EX-HN 3), bilateral Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangxing (GV 23), Tongtian (BL 7), Feishu (BL 13), Hegu (LI 4), etc.

Association between the vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism and osteoporosis.

The influence of the vitamin D receptor () gene for the risk of osteoporosis remains to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to understand the distribution of various single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the gene and its association with the risk of osteoporosis. In total, 378 subjects without a genetic relationship were recruited to the study between January 2013 and July 2015.

Low plasma levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor are potential risk factors for diabetic retinopathy in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients.

Previous studies suggested that neurotrophins play a role in the diabetic retinopathy (DR). We therefore evaluated the role of plasma brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR). Plasma levels of BDNF were determined in type 2 diabetic patients (N=344).

Murine corneal stroma cells inhibit LPS-induced dendritic cell maturation partially through TGF-β2 secretion in vitro.

Purpose: The peripheral cornea contains mature and immature resident dendritic cells (DCs) while the central cornea is exclusively equipped with immature DCs. There must be some factors that cause immature DCs. This study investigated whether corneal stroma cells (CSCs) inhibit DC maturation by secreting cytokines.

Murine corneal stroma cells suppress bone marrow-derived dendritic cells maturation in vitro.

Background: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)) is a key modulator of dendritic cells (DCs) function, and cornea-derived transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-β(2)) promotes the generation of phenotypically and functionally immature DCs. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate whether PGE(2) is involved in the suppressive effect on DCs maturation mediated by corneal stroma cells (CSCs) and whether PGE(2) and TGF-β(2) have additive effects in this immunosuppressive mechanism.

Methods: Bone marrow-derived DCs (BM-DCs), splenic T cells and CSCs culture supernatant were obtained from mice via various protocols.

Correlation between Antistress and Hepatoprotective Effects of Schisandra Lignans Was Related with Its Antioxidative Actions in Liver Cells.

The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the anti-stress and hepato-protective effects of Schisandra Lignans Extract (SLE) on stress-induced liver damage. Seven weeks old male mice were fixed in a restraint tube for 18 h to induce liver damage. SLE was orally administered to animals for 5 days at dosages of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day before exposed to restraint stress.

[CT and MRI in diagnosis of avascular necrosis of the vertebral body].

Objective: To evaluate the value of CT and MRI in the diagnosis of avascular necrosis of the vertebral body (ANV).

Methods: Twelve ANV patients were retrospectively analysed by their medical history, clinic manifestation, CT and MRI. Twelve AVN patients were treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP).

Suppressive effect of aqueous humor on lipopolysaccharide-induced dendritic cell maturation.

Purpose: The aqueous humor (AH) contains numerous immunosuppressive molecules that contribute to the ocular immune privilege. Here, we mimic an inflammatory environment to analyze the inhibitory effects of the AH on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced maturation of dendritic cells (DC).

Methods: Different concentrations of AH were added to dendritic cell cultures together with LPS.

A preliminary study of mesenchymal stem cell-like cells derived from murine corneal stroma.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells can be isolated from various tissues besides bone marrow and can differentiate into cells of three germ layers. Recent studies indicate that some cells in corneal stroma express stem cell markers and can also differentiate into chondrocytes and neurocytes. This study was carried out to investigate whether mesenchymal stem cells reside in the murine corneal stroma.

[Posterior short-segment pedicle screw fixation combined with vertebroplasty for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of posterior short-segment pedicle screw fixation combined reduction of central end-plate by end-plate expand clamp and vertebroplasty with calcium phosphate cement for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Methods: Thirty patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures were treated with posterior pedicle screw fixation combined reduction of central end-plate by end-plate expand clamp and vertebroplasty with calcium phosphate cement. There were 22 males and 8 females with an average of 47 years (range from 25 to 71 years).

Elevated peroxidative glutathione redox status in atherosclerotic patients with increased thickness of carotid intima media.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Accumulated evidences suggest a deep involvement of oxidative damage in the development of atherosclerosis, but little is discussed over the relationship between plasma glutathione redox status as the most important intrinsic antioxidant defensive mechanism and the atherosclerosis.

Methods: A total of 132 patients suspected with atherosclerosis were assigned to three groups by high frequency ultrasonic examination of the carotid artery.

[Intervertebral disc degeneration model and the rule of migration associated with chondrocytes in the nucleus pulposus in rat cervical disc].

Objective: To develop a scientific and reproducible degenerative disc rat model for the study on the cervical disc and study the rule of migration associated with the chondrocytes in the nucleus pulposus.

Method: The degenerative cervical disc animal model was developed in 40 infancy SD rats by means of forelimb amputation. Thirty-six normal rats in the same age served as the control.

[The relationship between oxidized form glutathione, coenzyme II and carotid artery atherosclerosis].

Objective: To explore the relationship between plasma redox status and atherosclerosis.

Methods: IVUS was performed in common carotid in the neck of 167 patients with heart diseases. Patients were divided into three groups: plaque-forming group (A, n = 79), intima-thickening group (B, n = 52) and control group (C, n = 36).

[Effects of xuezhikang capsules on vascular endothelial function and redox status in patients with coronary heart disease].

Objective: To explore the effects of Xuezhikang Capsules (ZXKC) and probucol on blood lipids, vascular endothelial functions and redox status in patients with coronary heart disease.

Methods: One hundred and twelve patients with coronary heart disease were randomly divided into XZKC-treated group and probucol-treated group, 56 in each. Before and after 8-week treatment, the blood levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1), reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were all measured in both groups.

[Conservative methods for osteonecrosis of the femoral head: the review of 1005 cases].

Objective: To research on the conservative methods used to preserve the femoral head of patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Methods: In these series surgical procedures the osteonecrotic lesion was removed and various vascularized bone blocks or periosteal flaps with its nutrient vessels were transferred to regain sphericity of the femoral head and reinforce the sequestrum. The current study assessed 1005 patients (1226 hips) operated on from 1989 to 2002 with an average follow-up of 5.