Objective To research the appearances of CT and pathology in pulmonary hamartoma so as to improve the CT diagnostic accuracy.Methods The CT and pathological findings of 25 cases of pulmonary hamartoma were analyzed. Dynamic contrast enhancement CT scanning were performed in 17 cases without calcification. All cases were confirmed by surgical operation and pathology.Results All hamartomas had smooth edge on CT. Focal fat without calcification inside were present in 8 of 25 cases, focal fat and calcification inside in 6 of 25 cases (24%), calcification without fat inside in 2 of 25 cases (8%). The CT contrasted value was less than 20 HU in16 of 17 cases (88.24% ). Contrast-enhancing septa were present in 13 of 17 cases(76.47%). The enhancing septa corresponded to loose connective tissue between cartilaginous core. Pathologically, all hamartomas had complete fibrous capsule around them. Cartilage ,broncheal gland, smooth muscle and fibrous connective tissue were found in all cases, and fat and calcification were found in 13 (52%) and 8 (32%) respectively.Conclusion Some specific CT features, including smooth edge, calcification and fat inside, are useful for diagnosis of pulmonary hamartoma. Dynamic contrast enhancement CT scanning is useful for differentiating pulmonary hamartoma with peripheral lung carcinoma.

Objective To study the changes with aging of lung density parameters on inspiratory and expiratory HRCT in asymptomatic nonsmokers,and the correlation with pulmonary function test(PFT).Methods Lung HRCT scans were performed at end inspiratory and end expiratory in 63 subjects,and PFT were performed in 32 of them.All the subjects were divided into 5 groups according to the ages.Lung HRCT quantitative parameters of each groups were measured,and the correlation with PFT results was assessed.Results In each age group,the mean lung density of expiratory lung HRCT and the overall lung density difference between inspiratory and expiratory HRCT was significant decrease(P

BACKGROUND:Electroacupuncture has promoting effects on the functional recovery of the injured spinal cord, can decrease pain, and elevate postoperative effect after acute spinal cord contusion.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on apoptosis in the injured site after spinal cord contusion, and analyze its neuroprotective effects on neurological function in rats with spinal cord contusion. METHODS:A total of 66 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into: sham surgery group (n=20), spinal cord contusion group (n=20), electroacupuncture stimulation group (n=20) because six rats were excluded due to modeling failure and death. Before model establishment, at 1, 3 days, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after model establishment, motor functions were evaluated by BBB score and the inclined plate test. At 3 days after model establishment, apoptosis of nerve cels could be detected in the site of injury in each experimental group using TUNEL assay. mRNA and protein expression of bax, bcl-2 and caspase-3 was detected surrounding the injury site using RT-PCR and western blot assay. Morphological changes in the site of injury could be observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The regeneration of nerve fibers was observed using HRP tracing. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Motor function score was significantly increased at various time points in the 2nd week of treatment in the electroacupuncture stimulation group than in the spinal cord contusion group (P< 0.05). (2) Apoptotic index was significantly lower in the electroacupuncture stimulation group than in the spinal cord contusion group at 3 days after model establishment (P < 0.05). (3) mRNA and protein expression of bax and caspase-3 was significantly lower in the electroacupuncture stimulation group than in the spinal cord contusion group at 72 hours (P < 0.05); bcl-2 gene and protein expression was significantly higher (P < 0.05). (4) The number of HRP-positive nerve fibers was highest in the sham surgery group, folowed by electroacupuncture stimulation group, and lowest in the spinal cord contusion group at 4 weeks (P < 0.05). Results indicated that electroacupuncture plays a protective role on the spinal cord contusion by reducing apoptosis of nerve cels at the site of injury.

Objective To analyze blood Met、 Phe 、Tyr、 Arg、 Cit、 Orn、 Ser、 Thr、 C0、 C2、 C3、 C14、C14 ∶ 1 , C16 , C16 ∶ 1 , C18 , C18 ∶ 1 and urine 4-OH-PHPLA , 4-OH-PHPPA level of NICCD patient and discuss the application value of diagnosis NICCD. Methods From May 2011 to May 2015, 21 NICCD patient were diagnose in Guangxi Newborn Screening Center. Meanwhile, 100 normal children were selected as the control group. Blood Met, Phe, Tyr and other factors and urine 4-OH-PHPLA, 4-OH-PHPPA level were analyzed by SPSS. Results In the experimental group, blood Met, Phe, Tyr and many other indexes and urine 4-OH-PHPLA, 4-OH-PHPPA level were higher and blood Orn/Cit were lower than the control group(P < 0.05), while blood C2and Cit/Arg were increased (P > 0.05). Conclusion NICCD patient has abnormal biochemical index. Blood test by TMS and urine test by GC-MS are very important in NICCD diagnosis.

BACKGROUND:Neural stem cel transplantation alone has achieved unsatisfactory outcomes in the repair of damaged spinal cord tissues. To promote the survival, proliferation and neuronal differentiation of transplanted cels in vivo, it is necessary to further improve the micro-environment of spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of neural stem cel transplantation plus electroacupuncture on the hindlimb function and electrophysiological changes of rats with spinal cord injury.
METHODS: Animal models of spinal cord injury were made in 72 Sprague-Dawley rats and randomized into four groups: control group with injection of culture mediumvia the tail vein; neural stem cel group with injection of neural stem cel suspensionvia the tail vein; electroacupuncture group given 1-week electroacupuncture atDu meridian and body points starting from 6 hours after modeling; combined group given injection of neural stem cel suspension via the tail vein+1-week electroacupuncture atDu meridian and body points starting from 6 hours after modeling. Motor functional recovery in rats was assessed by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan score and inclined plane test before and at 1, 3 days and 1-4 weeks after modeling. At 4 weeks after modeling, hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed for pathological observation; fluorescence microscope was used to observe the survival and distribution of CM-Dil-labeled neural stem cels; horseradish peroxidase tracer was used to observe nerve fiber regeneration; rat neurophysiological recovery was assessed by determining motor evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 2-4 weeks after modeling, the hindlimb function was better in the combined group than the neural stem cel group and electroacupuncture group; while it was better in the neural stem cel group and electroacupuncture group than the control group. At 4 weeks after modeling, there were few nerve axon-like structures and smal voids in the spinal cord of the neural stem cel group and electroacupuncture group; however, in the combined group, there were more nerve axon-like structures and no void in the spinal cord. At 4 weeks after modeling, the number of nerve fibers positive for CD-Dil and horseradish peroxidase was ranked as folows: combined group > neural stem cel group and electroacupuncture group > control group, and there were significant differences between groups (P < 0.05). The latencies of motor and somatosensory evoked potentials were significantly lower in the combined group than the neural stem cel group and electroaucpuncture group folowed by the control group (P < 0.05), whereas the amplitudes of motor and somatosensory evoked potentials were significantly higher in the combined group than the neural stem cel group and electroacupuncture group folowed by the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these findings indicate that neural stem cel transplantation combined with electroacupuncture can promote synaptic regeneration and improve the motor and electrophysiological functions of rats.

BACKGROUND:Brain natriuretic peptide, an important serum marker for diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, is crucial for risk factor analysis of cardiovascular diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between brain natriuretic peptide and hemodynamic parameters before and after coronary artery bypass grafting.
METHODS:Thirty patients with coronary heart disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were selected, including 13 patients with left ventricular ejection fraction≥ 50% (normal heart function) and 17 patients with left ventricular ejection fraction < 50% (cardiac insufficiency). Levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptides were detected at 1 day before transplantation, 7 hours, 1, 3, 5, 7 days after transplantation, and then the correlation between plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels and hemodynamic parameters was analyzed before and after coronary artery bypass grafting.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Preoperative and postoperative levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptides were significantly lower in the patients with left ventricular ejection fraction≥ 50% than those with left ventricular ejection fraction < 50%; while in each group, the level of brain natriuretic peptides was remarkably increased after coronary artery bypass grafting (P < 0.05 orP< 0.001). Preoperative brain natriuretic peptide levels were positively correlated with New York Heart Association classification grading, left atrial diameter and left ventricular diameter (r=0.61;r=0.34;r=0.67), but negatively correlated with echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac output (r=-0.75;r=-0.70). The postoperative peak level of brain natriuretic peptides was positively correlated with New York Heart Association classification grading, echocardiographic left ventricular end diastolic diameter and pulmonary artery pressure (r=0.72;r=0.70;r=0.45). These findings indicate that the plasma level of brain natriuretic peptides before coronary artery bypass grafting shows a good correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular end diastolic diameter, which accurately reflect the state of cardiac function before coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective To investigate the genetic basis of the children with growth retardation. Methods From January to October 2013, the 56 patients with growth retardation were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and was analyzed with gene array chips. Results Abnormalities were found in 12 patients (6 cases of sex chromosome abnormalities and 6 cases of autosomal aberration) and the detection rate was 21.4%. Four patients had the copy-number variations of smaller than 2.5Mb in size which could not be found by karyotyping analysis. Conclusions SNP-array gene chip could be used in the genetic diagnosis of growth retardation.

Objective To investigate the curcumin (Cur)-induced protective effect on PC12 cells exposed to glutamate (Glu).Methods PC12 cells were exposed to the medium containing high-level glutamate to mimic oxidative injury of neuronal cells.The PC12 cells were divided into control group (cells cultured in normal medium),Glu treatment group (cells cultured in the medium containing 15 mmol/L glutamate),Cur+Glu treatment group (cells cultured in the medium containing 10 μmol/L curcumin plus 15 mol/L glutamate) and Cur treatment group (cells cultured in the medium containing 10 μmol/L curcumin alone).After 24 h incubation,MTT method was used to assess the cell viability;specific reagent kit was taken to evaluate the lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level;phase contrast microscope was taken to record the cell morphology;and Western blotting was used to determine the expressions of apoptosis-associated proteins (Bax and Bcl-2).Results As compared with the control group,the Glu treatment group had decreased cell viability,increased LDH release,injured cell morphology,enhanced intracellular ROS level,up-regulated Bax expression and down-regulated Bcl-2 expression,with significant differences (P＜0.05).As compared with those in the Glu treatment group,significantly meliorated cell viability,decreased LDH release,protected cell morphology,reduced ROS level,down-regulated Bax expression and up-regulated Bcl-2 expression in the Cur+Glu treatment group were noted (P＜0.05).The above indexes between the control group and Cur treatment group showed no significant differences (P＞0.05).Conclusion Cur attenuates the glutamate-induced oxidative injury in PC 12 cells.

Objective Design short stature panel with gene curration strategy.Methods The gene curation process was introduced in detail.The strength of a gene-disease relationship was evaluated based on publicly available genetic and experimental evidence.This process in short stature panel design and its effect on gene selection was further demonstrated.Results After gene curation, the number of gene in list was effectively decreased from 1 276 to 705.The panel sequencing reached a diagnosis rate of 19.7% among a cohort of 371 nation-wide ascertained short stature patients.The gene curation process reduced the risk of false positive findings and decreased diagnostic cost and working hours without affecting the diagnosis rate.Conclusion Gene curation is an important step for NGS-based test and should be widely exercised.

OBJECTIVETo survey the current status of pubertal development of Chinese children and to compare the precocious puberty prevalence of different regions.

METHODSA cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted on 18 707 children and adolescents aged 6≊18 y with male/female ratio of 9 812/8 895 from 6 representative geographical areas in China, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Chongqing and Nanning. The height, weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference(HC) and sexual maturation states (Tanner stages: breast stages for girls and testicular volume for boys) of children and adolescents were measured. Probit analysis was used to calculate the median age and 95% confidence interval (CI) for onset of breast and testicular development. The prevalence of precocious puberty of different regions and BMI, waist circumference of different groups were compared.

RESULTSBreast development before 8 y was observed in 2.91% of girls, and testicular volume 4 ml or more before 9 y was observed in 1.74% of boys. The median age of onset of Tanner stages 2 for breast development in girls was 9.69 y (95% CI: 9.63≊ 9.75); the median age of onset of puberty as indicated by Tanner stages 2 for testicular development in boys was 11.25 y (95%CI:11.19≊ 11.30). The prevalence of precocious puberty (43 girls and 37 boys) was 0.43% (80/18 707). The prevalence of precocious puberty in northern region was higher than that in southwest region (0.736% compared with 0.282% P<0.05). There was no difference in onset age of precocious puberty in girls among three regions; but the onset age of precocious puberty in boys was earlier in east China [(7.4±0.28)y]. The SD values of BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (W/H) in precocious puberty children were higher than those in the peer normal children. There was no difference in BMI,waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio in the precocious puberty children among different regions.

CONCLUSIONThe current diagnostic criteria of precocious puberty are suitable for the children in the survey areas. The prevalence and the onset age of precocious puberty are various in different regions. A positive association between obesity and precocious puberty is found both in boys and girls.

Adolescent ; Age of Onset ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; complications ; Prevalence ; Puberty, Precocious ; complications ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Sexual Development