Image quality and diagnostic accuracy of a handheld nonmydriatic fundus camera: Feasibility of a telemedical approach in screening retinal diseases.

Background: A suitable fundus camera for telemedicine screening can expand the scale of eye care service. The purpose of this study was to compare a handheld nonmydriatic digital fundus camera and a conventional mydriatic fundus camera according to the image quality of their photographs and usability of those photographs to accurately diagnose various retinal diseases.

Methods: A handheld nonmydriatic fundus camera and conventional fundus camera were used to take fundus photographs of outpatients at an ophthalmic clinic before and after pupillary dilation.

The dynamics of monocytes in the process of collateralization.

Collateralization is an important way for patients with coronary heart disease to supply blood flow to the ischemic area. At present, research on the mechanism of collateral circulation mainly focuses on the inflammatory response. Monocytes are the kernel of inflammatory response during arteriogenesis.

Endothelial progenitor cell impairment mediated vasodilation dysfunction via diminishing nitric oxide production in postmenopausal females.

Vascular endothelial dysfunction is the major contributing factor to hypertension. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are essential for endogenous vascular endothelial renovation. The activity and number of circulating EPCs are preserved in prehypertensive premenopausal females according to our previous research.