So far, the method of detection of patent foramen ovale (PFO) by transcranial Doppler (TCD) has had two decades of history. Standardization in contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler US procedures for cardiac right-to-left shunt detection was proposed in the Venice Consensus Paper in 1999, and some questions were raised at the same time. Over the past 10 years, the researchers have conducted a more in depth study on the method. This article reviews the related research progress.

Adiponectin is one of the cytokines secreted by fat cells.It has a variety of physiological functions,including anti-inflammation,anti-atherosclerosis,anti-diabetes,and anti-obesity,etc.Studies in recent years have demonstrated that there are certain correlations of adiponectin with vascular risk factors and cerebrovascular disease.

Objective To evaluate the clinical results from the treatment of local chondral or osteochondral lesions on the talus dome with autologous osteochondral transplantation or mosaicplasty harvested from the ipsilateral knee. Methods There were 23 patients with chondral defects of the talus dome including post-traumatic cartilage defects(n=11), osteochondritis dissecans(n=9), and local osteoarthritis(n=3). The position and size of the defect were defined under ankle arthroscopy. The procedures consisted of debriding its edges and base drilled under ankle arthroscopy or arthrotomy, then harvesting osteochondral cylinders from non-weight bearing surface of the ipsilateral knee under arthroscopy, and using the osteochondral autograft transfer system(OATS) to implant the donor graft into the recipient holes of talus cartilaginous defects with press-fit technique. A single donor transplantation or the mosaicplasty was used. Results All the patients were followed up for 15 to 30 months(mean, 22 months). The mean pain intensity measured by standard visual analogue scale(VAS) reduced from 4.9?1.2 to 0.8?0.1 at final follow-up(P

Objective To observe the long- term result of pathological dislocation of the hip with absence of the femoral head treated with trochanteric arthroplasty in infancy. Methods Eighteen cases with absence of the femoral head and pathological dislocation of the hip treated with trochanteric arthroplasty were followed- up for 5－ 16 years, with an average of 9.25 years. The timing of the surgery was average 18.2 months(ranged from 11 to 30 months). Based on Hunka pathological classification, one case was divided as typeⅠ lesion, 2 cases as typeⅡ lesion and 15 cases as typeⅤ lesion. Results There were 8 cases in the excellent group, the morphology and function of the reconstructed femoral heads were nearly normal and the limb shortening were in an average of 0.25 cm. There were 3 cases in good group, the femoral heads were nearly ball sized and the femoral necks were absent, however, the function was good and the limb shortening averaged 1.5 cm. There were 5 cases in fair group, the plastic femoral heads were abnormal and there were acetabular dysplasia and the limb shortening averaged 2.1 cm. There were 2 cases in poor group with redislocation. Conclusion The result demonstrate that surgical treatment of the absence of the femoral head in infancy could obtain a better reconstructed hip and fair function; the shortening of the limb can also be avoided.

Objective To investigate the effects of Nordy on the proliferation,cell cycle,and the mRNA and protein expressions of Aurora-A in human ovarian cancer cell lines 3AO and SKOV3. Methods After being treated with Nordy at the doses of 25,50 or 100 ?mol/L,the proliferation of 3AO and SKOV3 cells were tested with MTT assay; The expression of Aurora-A was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting; The effect on cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry ( FCM) . Results Treated with Nordy,the mRNA and protein level of Aurora-A gene were significantly reduced ( P

BACKGROUND: Osteolysis has always occurred in pelvis. Percutaneous injection of bone cement stabilized bone fracture, relieved pain or even treated tumor. However, leakage of bone cement might cause severe complications. OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect of peroutaneous injection of bone cement on treating osteolysis pelvic disease in 9 cases by the CT guidance. METHODS: By the CT guidance, needing degree was determined firstly. Focal size and scanning layers were used to calculate focal volume and estimate injected dose of bone cement. Three-dimensional targeting device was used to introduce the puncturation. The bone cement which was 0.2-0.5 mL less than the calculated volume was injected into osteolysis site. The accuracy, injected dose, clinical efficacy, and complications were investigated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The following-up ranged from 5 months to 4 years, with mean duration of 1.5 years. At 1-48 hours after operation, symptoms were recovered, including complete recovery (n=6), partial recovery (n=2), and light recovery (n=1). Leakage of bone cement was not detected out around focal region. This suggested that percutaneous injection of bone cement into the erosion site is an effective method to treat pelvic osteolysis disease, characterizing by security, effective, and less invasive.

Objective To determine the effect of Leptospira interrogans lipopolysaccharide (L-LPS) inducing apoptosis of murine mononuclear-macrophage cell line( J774A. 1 ), and apoptotic regulation of Toll-like receptor(TLR) and associated intracellular signaling pathways. Methods Lipopolysaccharide (L-LPS) of L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai strain Lai 56601 was prepared using phenol-water method. The effects of L-LPS inducing J774A. 1 cell apoptosis and the apoptosis-blocking with FasL neutralizing antibody were detected by flow cytometry. Real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR) and flow cytometry were performed to measure the changes of Fas/FasL mRNA and protein expression levels in J774A. 1 cells before and after L-LPS treatment. The regulations in L-LPS-induced cell apoptosis by TLR2 and TLR4 as well as p38MAPK, JNK, ERK pathways were determined by either TLR2 or TLR4 antibody blocking test, signaling pathway blocking test and flow cytometry. Results 56.50%, 69.28% and 24.35% of the J774A. 1 cells after treatment with 100 ng/ml L-LPS for4, 12 and 24 h were apoptotic,while the apoptosis rates were decreased to 11.21%, 21.58% and 12.70% after the cells blocked by FasL neutralizing antibody(P ＜0.05). The levels of FasL and Fas mRNAs in J774A. 1 cells treated with L-LPS for 4, 12 and 24 h were elevated with 1.34, 2.12, 2.10 times and 2.45, 3.87, 3.12 times compared to those in the L-LPS untreated cells (P ＜ 0. 05 ), respectively, while the expression rates of FasL and Fas proteins were upregulated to 18.61%, 60.13%, 42.75% and 76.34%, 85.70%, 77.92% from 4.82% and 15.32% apoptotic rates in the L-LPS untreated cells, respectively( P ＜0.05 ). The L-LPS-induced apoptosis rate( 11.54% ) of TLR2 antibody blocked J774A. 1 cells was significantly lower than that(66.56% ) of the J774A. 1 cells without TLR2 antibody blocking( P ＜0.05 ), but L-LPS-induced apoptosis rate of TLR4 antibody blocked J774A. 1 cells was as high as 55.27% ( P ＞ 0.05 ). Compared to the apoptosis rate (62.17%) in the p38MAPK and JNK pathway-free J774A. 1 cells, the L-LPS-induced apoptosis rates in p38MAPK blocked cells(20.54% ) and JNK blocked cells(47.98% ) were significantly lower( P ＜0.05 ),and the apoptosis rate in ERK blocked cells was as high as 61.72% ( P ＞ 0.05 ). Conclusion L-LPS was recognized by TLR2 and upregulates both Fas and FasL expression via p38MAPK and JNK pathways, which involving in the process of the L-LPS-induced cell apoptosis.

Objective To define the normal reference values of acetabular index and Sharp angle through 2333 standard anterior-posterior pelvic radiographs. Methods In our study, 2333 normal anteriorposterior pelvic radiograph images with standard exposure were selected. All the images were diagnozed normal by two radiologists and two pediatricians according to the criteria of T(o)nnis. All subjects were without any neuromuscular diseases and congenital defoemity. The acetabular index was measure in the subjects between age 0 to 10 years, and the groups were divided monthly within 1 year and yearly between 1 to 10years. The Sharp angle was measure in the subjects after 10 years, and the groups were divided yearly in adolescence and decadely in adults. Normal values of each age groups and the correlation charts were completed according to statistical analysis. Results The mean acetabular index was 28.39° in neonates followed by a steep decrease in the first three months after born. It decreased to 22.17°in the 1st year, 12.80°in the 10th years and then kept constant. Acetabular index of the female was generally 1°-2°larger than that of the male with statistical significance. The mean Sharp angle was 46.72°in the 10th years, which decreased to 39.10°in the 18th years and 35.69°in elderly people. Another declination was observed after age 40.Generally no gender difference was observed. Conclusion Acetabular index and Sharp angle vary with age.They reflect a dramatic morphological change in the acetabulum before adulthood and stay constant afterwards. Gender difference is obvious in many age groups but not all. Normal reference ranges of both gender at all age groups should be considered in clinical evaluation.

Objective To explore the clinical value of multi-slice CT enhancement perfusion imaging (MSCTPI) in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of thyroid disease. Methods Thirty-three patients with benign thyroid diseases were enrolled in the benign group, and were divided into subgroups of nodular goiter (n=17) and thyroid adenoma (n=16), while 10 patients with thyroid carcinoma were enrolled in the malignant group. All patients underwent routine CT scanning and MSCTPI with GE LightSpeed 16-detector row CT scanner. Time-density curve (TDC) of common carotid for benign thyroid diseases and thyroid carcinoma was depicted. Perfusion parameters of blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT) and permeability surface area product (PS) were obtained automatically. All parameters were statistically analyzed among groups. Results TDC showed single peak in common carotid artery, with small peak of speed up and slow down in benign group, while with baseline segment, up above, down segment and horizontal segment in thyroid carcinoma. There was statistical difference between benign and malignant groups in BF, BV, MTT and PS value (P=0.001, <0.001, 0.003 and <0.001, respectively). No significant difference of BV and MTT was found between subunits of benign and thyroid carcinoma (all P>0.05). BF was significantly different in benign and maligant groups (P<0.05), whereas PS in thyroid carcinoma and nodular goiter was significant different (P<0.05). No statistical difference of BF, BV, MTT and PS was detected between nodular goiter and thyroid adenoma. Conclusion MSCTPI can exactly show the blood flow features of thyroid. The analysis of BF, BV, MTT and PS is helpful for differential diagnosis between benign thyroid disease and thyroid carcinoma.

Nerve growth factor (nerve growth factor, NGF) is the earliest discovered growth factor in neurotrophic factors,it has a very important role in maintaining the survival, growth, differentiation,repair and regeneration after injury of neurons. In this paper,research progress in recent years on NGF are reviewed.