Objective To evaluate the changes of left atrial (LA)functions in patients with constrictive pericarditis (CP)after pericardiectomy by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE).Methods A total of 41 patients with CP underwent echocardiography before and after pericardiectomy.The procedure was performed to obtain global LA longitudinal strain,the septal and lateral walls'longitudinal strain,including peak negative strain (NS),peak positive strain (PS),and total strain (TS),using speckle tracking echocardiography.Thirty-five healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. Results After pericardiectomy,global LA peak negative strain and total strain of CP increased significantly (P <0.005).There were no obvious changes in global LA peak positive strain (P >0.05).And three components of LA longitudinal strain were still lower than normal (P <0.005).LA lateral wall's total strain,peak positive strain and peak negative strain improved apparently after pericardiectomy (P <0.005),only peak negative strain increased in LA septum (P < 0.01 ).Conclusions In the early postoperative period,LA reservoir and contractile function presented significant improvements,even notable in the lateral area when compared with septum.However,all three parts of LA function were still lower than normal.STE can regionally estimate LA functions in patients with CP after pericardiectomy.

Objective To investigate the effect of sleep position guidance on deformational plagiocephaly and/or brachycephaly (DPB) in the prematures. Methods 321 preterm infants in neonatal intensive care unit from October, 2012 to September, 2015 were divided into sleep positions guidance group (n=159) and control group (n=162). The sleep positions guidance group accepted sleeping positions guidance when they were in neonatal intensive care unit and followed up in child care clinic, and the control group accepted routine treatment and nursing. The incidences of DPB were compared. Results The incidences of mild (χ2=6.591, P=0.010), moderate (χ2=4.862, P=0.027) and se-vere (χ2=11.261, P=0.001) DPB were less in the sleep positions guidance group than in the control group. Conclusion Sleeping positions guidance may reduce the incidence of DPB in prematures.

Objective Introduce a technique for creating 3-dimensional (3D) brain models of subdural electrodes , ideal for demonstrating the space-relationship of seizure localization and eloquent cortices , and discuss its usefulness for presurgical evaluation of epileptic patients. Methods Patients with medically intractable epilepsy were underwent a thorough preoperative MR brain scan including a T1-weighted high-resolution 3D sequence. Intraoperative photographs were taken with the digital camera. After the surgical implantation of subdural electrodes for epileptic zone localization , the thin-slice CT scan of the electrodes were taken and coregistered to preoperative brain 3D MR images in the Medtronic StealthMerge software environment. After the iEEG monitoring , multiple habitual seizures were recorded , eloquent areas were also identified by electrical stimulation of the cortex. The epileptic zone and the eloquent areas were marked on the subdural electrodes respectively. Then, 3D tessellations of the epileptic zone and the eloquent areas were rendered. Results Six patients (4 male, 2 female) were enrolled in this study. The mean time of iEEG monitoring was 13.7 days. After the coregistration of postoperative CT with preoperative 3D MRI , the 3D stereoscopic reconstruction provided an accurate representation of the implanted electrodes with highly detailed visualization of the underlying anatomy. The visual comparison between 3D reconstructions and intraoperative photographs indicated a good correspondence. The patients were followed for 3 to 6 months after the secondary operation , and had continuing improvement in seizure control. Conclusions The results indicate that the 3D reconstruction of subdural electrodes can reveal the precise localization of subdural electrodes , and can be useful for the presurgical evaluation of epileptic patients.

To observe the therapeutic effect of Nitazoxanide(NTZ) on dogs infected with Giardia canis trophozoites.Eight dogs were infected with Giardia canis trophozoites and divided into four groups rondomly,G1:2 dogs treated with Nitazoxanide at a single dose of 1 mg/kg body weight;G2:2 dogs treated with NTZ at a single dose of 2 mg/kg;G3:2 dogs treated with NTZ at a single dose of 41 mg/kg;G4:2 dogs treated without drugs as control.All groups were examined for Giardia canis cysts by Zinc Sulfate Flotation.Each group was subjected to collect stool per day and counted cysts.The results of G2 and G3 were negative after 1th day.G1 were negative after 4th days.The results indicated that NTZ at a dose of 2 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg in dogs had a faourable effect on the dogs infected with Giardia canis.

Objective:To explore the changes of myocardial strain mechanics in healthy rabbits in the physiological condition by using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) combined with adenosine stress.Methods:Twenty healthy rabbits underwent STE both at rest and during adenosine stress. The dynamic original images of 3 consecutive cardiac cycles of the standard views from the left ventricular (LV) short axis and apical long axis were acquired and analyzed by the Echo PAC workstation. The procedure was performed to obtain LV global longitudinal peak strain, global circumferential peak strain, and global radial peak strain both at rest and during adenosine stress.Results:There were no significant differences in heart rate and LV structural and functional parameters between baseline and adenosine stress ( P>0.05). After adenosine stress, LV global longitudinal peak strain and global circumferential peak strain increased significantly when compared with those at rest ( P<0.001), while LV global radial peak strain did not change significantly( P>0.05). Conclusions:Adenosine stress echocardiography combined with STE can be used to evaluate the characteristics of myocardial strain mechanics in rabbits in the physiological condition. This research provides reference value for the application of adenosine stress echocardiography in rabbit models with cardiovascular disease in future.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of orthodontic traction on the microstructure of dental enamel. METHODS: Forty-eight isolated premolars were randomly divided into 6 groups (=8), including Group A (blank control group), in which the teeth were bonded with the orthodontic brackets without any loading force; Groups B1, B2, and B3 where the teeth were bonded with the orthodontic brackets using clinical adhesives and loaded with 50 g force for 6 months, 200 g force for 6 months, and 200 g force for 1 month, respectively; and Groups C1 and C2, where the teeth were bonded with straight wire brackets using light curing bonding and chemical curing bonding techniques, respectively. All the teeth were embedded with non-decalcified epoxy resin. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and energy spectrometer (EDS) were used to analyze interface morphology and elemental composition of the teeth sliced with a hard tissue microtome. RESULTS: Compared with those in Group A, the teeth in the other 5 groups showed increased adhesive residue index with microcracks and void structures on the enamel surface under SEM; AFM revealed microcracks on the enamel surface with angles to the grinding direction. A larger loading force on the bracket resulted in more microcracks on the enamel interface. The interface roughness differed significantly between Groups A and C2, and the peak-to-valley distance differed significantly between Groups A, C, and C2. CONCLUSIONS Orthodontic traction can cause changes in the microstructure of normal dental enamel.
Dental Enamel ; Materials Testing ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Resin Cements ; Surface Properties ; Traction