Assessment of anterior scleral thickness in myopes and emmetropes using anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To investigate the differences in anterior scleral thickness (AST) among the refractive statuses of Chinese adults aged 18-35.

Methods: This study recruited 170 Chinese participants (mean age, 24.06 ± 2.

Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation over the Supplementary Motor Area on Motor Function in Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the supplementary motor area (SMA) in motor function in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.

Method: Databases searched included 5 databases from October 7,2022 to January 4, 2023. The Cochrane Bias Risk Assessment Tool was used for quality assessment.

Can cerebellar theta-burst stimulation improve balance function and gait in stroke patients? A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The cerebellum is a key structure involved in balance and motor control, and has become a new stimulation target in brain regulation technology. Interference theta-burst simulation (iTBS) is a novel simulation mode of repetitive transcranial magnetic simulation. However, the impact of cerebellar iTBS on balance function and gait in stroke patients is still unknown.

Efficacy of Tai Chi on lower limb function of Parkinson's disease patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: At present, the effect of Tai Chi (TC) on lower limb function in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) is controversial. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis on the influence of TC on lower limb function in PD patients.

Methods: According to the PRISMA guidelines, seven databases were searched.

Prognostic value of red blood cell distribution width for severe acute pancreatitis.

Background: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a common condition in the intensive care unit (ICU) and has a high mortality. Early evaluation of the severity and prognosis is very important for SAP therapy. Recently, red blood cell distribution (RDW) was associated with mortality of sepsis patients and could be used as a predictor of prognosis.

Complete mitogenome of the entomopathogenic fungus Sporothrix insectorum RCEF 264 and comparative mitogenomics in Ophiostomatales.

The fungal order Ophiostomatales contains numerous species important in medical fields, agriculture, and forestry, and several species have had available mitogenome information. The nuclear genome of the entomopathogenic fungus Sporothrix insectorum has been reported, while its mitogenome remains unknown. Herein, we firstly described the mitogenome of S.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Revealed the Tissue-Specific Accumulations of Taxanes among Three Experimental Lines of Taxus yunnanensis.

Taxus yunnanensis (Yew) is known for natural anticancer metabolite paclitaxel (Taxol) and its biosynthesis pathway in yew species still needs to be completely elucidated. In the current study, productions of paclitaxel and 10-DAB III from three different tissues (needle, branch, and root) of T. yunnanensis wild type (WT) and two new cultivars Zhongda-1 (Zd1) and Zhongda-2 (Zd2) were determined, and significant tissue differences in contents of the taxanes were observed among the three experimental lines.

Performance evaluation of treating oil-containing restaurant wastewater in microbial fuel cell using graphene/polyaniline modified titanium oxide anode.

Most studies conducted nowadays to boost electrode performance in microbial fuel cell (MFC) have focused on carbonaceous materials. The titanium suboxides (TiO, TS) are able to provide a new alternative for achieving better performance in MFC and have been tested and demonstrated in this study. The TiO electrode with high electrochemical activity was modified by graphene/polyaniline by the constant potential method.

Research Progress on the Relationship between Coronary Artery Calcification and Chronic Renal Failure.

Objective: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is thought to be a controlled metabolic process that is very similar to the formation of new bone. In patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), CAC is very common, and CAC severity correlates with the deterioration of renal function. We summarized the current understanding and emerging findings of the relationship between CAC and CRF.

The role of FTO variants in the susceptibility of polycystic ovary syndrome and in vitro fertilization outcomes in Chinese women.

We investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene (rs9926289 A/G, rs79206939 A/G, rs9930506 A/G, rs8050136 A/C, and rs1588413 C/T) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as well as outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF). A case-control study consisting of 147 PCOS patients and 120 healthy controls was conducted. FTO SNPs were genotyped by PCR to determine allelic frequencies, and IVF outcomes were analyzed.

Transcriptome profiling reveals specific patterns of paclitaxel synthesis in a new Taxus yunnanensis cultivar.

The difference in contents of paclitaxel and 10-deacetylbaccatin III (10-DABIII) in needles between wildtype (WT) and a new cultivar (Zhongdayihao, ZD1) of Taxus yunnanensis was examined. Transcriptome profiling was conducted for different tissues of the ZD1 and WT to illustrate the regulation mechanism of paclitaxel biosynthesis. It was observed that average contents of paclitaxel and 10-DABIII in ZD1 were 4 folds and 32 folds higher than those in WT, respectively.

New Insights into mTOR Signal Pathways in Ovarian-Related Diseases: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Ovarian Cancer.

mTOR, the mammalian target of rapamycin, is a conserved serine/threonine kinase which belongs to the phosphatidyl-linositol kinase-related kinase (PIKK) family. It has two complexes called mTORC1 and mTORC2. It is well established that mTOR plays important roles in cell growth, proliferation and differentiation.

Serum microRNA-17 functions as a prognostic biomarker in osteosarcoma.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are a class of small noncoding RNA molecules that have important roles in regulating the expression of target genes associated with the development and progression of cancer. The majority of miRNAs are expressed in a highly tissue- and region-specific manner, and released into the bloodstream as a consequences of different diseases. Furthermore, altered levels of miRNAs have been observed in several diseases, including cancer.

Patchy alopecia areata sparing gray hairs: a case series.

Alopecia areata is an unpredictable, non-scarring hair loss condition. Patchy alopecia areata sparing gray hairs is rare. Here we present 4 cases with patchy non-scarring hair loss, which attacked pigmented hairs only and spared gray hairs.

[Professor Wang Ju-yi's experience on clinical application of Siguan points].

Professor WANG Ju-yi's clinical experience on application of Siguan points is introduced in this article. By summing up its origin, understanding the development course, summarizing its function in the history and Wang's years of clinical practice, Siguan points' four functions, which are dispersing external wind, extinguishing internal wind, searching the wind of joints in body and regulating the disorder of meridian, are discussed. Also the pathogenesis of its function is analyzed, which is addressed with medical cases to explain in detail Wang's process of meridian examination, meridian regulation and Siguan points application.

[Impact of attack frequency and therapy strategies on outcome of patients with vasovagal syncope].

Objective: To analyze the impact of attack frequency as well as therapy strategies on outcome of patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS).

Methods: A total of 159 patients (aged from 15 - 59 years old) with VVS were included in this study. Patients were divided into low frequency (< 3) group (n = 95) and high (≥ 3) frequency group (n = 64) according to the attack frequency in the past 5 years at the primary survey.

Tanshinone II A inhibits dendritic cell-mediated adaptive immunity: potential role in anti-atherosclerotic activity.

Objective: Antigen-presenting cells such as monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs) stimulate T-cell proliferation and activation during adaptive immunity. This cellular interaction plays a role in the growth of atherosclerotic plaques. Tanshinone II A (TSN) had been shown to decrease the growth of atherosclerotic lesions.

[Effect of hypoxia on the proliferation and hypoxia inducible factor-1α expression in human leukemia HL-60 cells].

Objective: To explore the effects of hypoxia on the proliferation of human leukemia HL-60 cells and the cellular expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α).

Methods: Human acute myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells with exponential growth in routine culture were exposed to 50, 200, 400, 800 µmol/L CoCl(2) to mimic hypoxic conditions. At 24, 48, and 72 h, the cells were collected for morphological observation, MTT assay, and real-time quantitative PCR for HIF-1α mRNA expression.

[Effect of C5-siRNA silencing receptor C5 on myocardial ischemia injury in rats].

Objective: To study the effect of C5-siRNA on pathological changes after myocardial ischemia in rats.

Methods: Thirty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, ischemia group and C5-siRNA group. The cardiac ischemia models were established in ischemia group and C5-siRNA group by ligating the proximal end of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery.

[Value of biochemical marker detection in risk stratification in patients with acute coronary syndrome].

Objective: To assess the value of biochemical marker detection in risk stratification in hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: A total of 264 consecutive patients (180 male and 84 female patients) admitted for complaint of chest tightness or/and pain were evaluated for a decision of coronary angiography (CAG) within 24 h after admission. The patients were divided into two groups to receive emergency or elective CAG.

[Evaluation of a rabbit model of abdominal aorta atherosclerosis].

Objective: To explore the methods for non-invasive evaluation of a rabbit model of aorta atherosclerosis model.

Methods: Sixteen male New Zealand rabbits (n=16) were randomized into the experimental group and control group and fed with high-cholesterol diet and normal diet after balloon injury in the abdominal aorta, respectively. Eight weeks later, pathological examination, angiography and surface ultrasonography were carried out to evaluate the plaques in the aorta.