Objective To provide imaging anatomy basis for percutaneous nephrolithotomy ( PCNL) by measuring relative displacement and changes in anatomical position of kidney and colon under the prone and low-oblique supine positions.Methods Forty-six patients scheduled for PCNL underwent 64-slice spiral CT scan under the prone and low-arch oblique supine position before the PCNL.The horizontal distance of kidney and colon,the distance from colon and analog puncturing line,the distance between the kidney and colon were measured and compared between the 2 positions.Results The distance from colon and analog puncturing line under the low-oblique supine and prone positions were as follows,the left (26.56 ±15.36) mm versus (12.25 ±13.16) mm (t=3.527,P<0.05),the right (25.85 ±14.26) mm versus (13.57 ± 12.53) mm (t=3.234,P<0.05).The differences of the rest distances between the 2 positions were not significant ( P>0.05).Conclusions The distance between colon and analog puncturing line increases in the low-arch oblique supine position,because the colon shifts to the ventral.The PCNL in low-arch oblique supine position may reduce the incidence of colon injury,and improve surgical safety.

Objective To investigate the relationship of B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP),Creactive protein(CRP)and left ventricular diastolic function with cardio-and cerebrovascular disease (CVD)in the elderly patients with hemodialysis.Methods 96 elderly patients with hemodialysis were divided into CVD group(n =35)and non CVD control group(n =61).The patients were followed up once a month for 24 to 30 months.The baseline anthropometric and laboratory parameters were measured.The ratio of mitral peak flow velocity(E)and peak velocities at mitral annuluses (Em)during early diastole of left ventricular was recorded by doppler echocardiography.The time and cause of hospitalization and mortality by CVD were documented.Results The levels of CRP and BNP were significantly higher in CVD group than in control group[(3.1 ± 6.7)mg/L vs.(1.8 ± 1.2)mg/L,(1345.2±1427.8)pmol/L vs.(719.8±1073.8)pmol/L](t=2.14 and-2.82,P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The ratio of E/ Em was increased in CVD group as compared with control group(t=5.23,P＜0.01).Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the morbidity of CVD events was enhanced(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01)at BNP≥500 pmol/L,CRP≥1.5 mg/L and E/Em≥17 which were the independent risk factors of CVD events for the elderly patients with hemodialysis by COX regression model.There was positive correlation between LogBNP and E /Em(r =0.23,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Higher levels of BNP,CRP and E/Em may predict the increasing risks of CVD in the elderly patients with hemodialysis.

To accurately analyze metabolites in industry-important photosynthetic microbes, LC-MS based metabolomics protocol needs to be optimized specifically for individual species. In this study, an LC-MS based metabolomics method was optimized for cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. With the optimized extraction, liquid chromatographic and mass spectral parameters, the method was capable of detecting 24 important metabolites related to central carbohydrate and energy metabolism in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The study laid an important foundation for the metabolomics analysis of cyanobacteria.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Photosynthesis ; Synechocystis ; metabolism

Objective:To explore the related factors of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) complicating acute phase of myocardial infarction and their effects on short term prognosis. Methods:A total of 161 subjects with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were divided into 5 groups according to VA types: frequent single ventricular premature beat group(n=10),bigeminy or paired ventricular premature beat group (n=21),non-sus- tained ventricular tachycardia group (n=31),ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation group (n=11) and control group (n=88). The characteristics of coronary artery and left ventricular ejection fraction were determined. Results:The incidence of left main coronary occlusion was more frequent in ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation group than in control group (P

Objective To investigate the cerebral haemodynamics change and morbidity of periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhages(PIVH) in premature infants with or without patent ductus ateriosus (PDA).Methods Bedside Echocardiography and transcranial sonography (TCS) were performed on 85 cases of preterm infants in 48 h,48 to 96 h,96 to 120 h,120 to 168 h after birth (gestational age≤34 weeks and birth weight≤2 000 g).PDA,peak systolic velocity (Vs),end-diastolic velocity (Vd),pulsatility index (PI) and resistant index (RI) of anterior and middle cerebral artery(ACA and MCA) and PIVH were monitored simutaneously.Results According to the Echocardiography and clinical symptoms,all the cases were divided into 3 groups:haemodynamic significant PDA group (hsPDA group,n =23),non-hsPDA group(nhsPDA group,n =38) and non-PDA group(nPDA group,n =24).The mean birth weight and gestational age did not differ significantly among the 3 groups.Single and multiple Logistic analysis indicated that invasive mechanical ventilation less than 48 h after birth was related to hsPDA (x2 =11.182,P =0.019; OR =10.06,P =0.039).Repetitive measurement deviation analysis found that:Vd of ACA and MCA were lower in the hsPDA group than those in the nhsPDA group (P =0.000,P =0.001) and the nPDA group (P =0.003,P =0.013),while PI and RI were higher than in the other 2 groups.Compared with non-closed group,at 7 days after birth in hsPDA group,RI and PI of closed group were significantly lower,while Vd was significantly higher.Nevertheless,there was no significant difference in hemodynamic parameters when comparison with nPDA group at 7 days after birth.There was no statistical difference in the grading and severity of PIVH with or without PDA.However,the rate of severe PIVH was found higher in hsPDA group than the other 2 groups(17.39％ vs 8.33％ vs 5.26％,x2 =2.405,P =0.280).Conclusions The invasive mechanical ventilation less than 48 h after birth was probably associated with preterm hsPDA.HsPDA could result in major cerebral haemodynamic changes and increase the morbidity of severe PIVH.

Objective:To clarify the role of Heat shock proteins (HSPs) on the cardiac function during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after bone marrow cell implantation (BMT), we examined the expression of HSP32 and HSP70 in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Methods: Myocardial infarction model was induced in the inbred Lewis rats by left anterior descending artery ligation,and 5?10 6 of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM MNCs) were injected into an ischemic zone. On days 1, 3, 7 and 14 post infarct, the differentiations of transplanted cells and the expressions of HSP32 and HSP70 were determined by immunofluorescence or RT-PCR. The cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography. Results: Immunofluorescence microscopy of hearts from BMT group revealed that expressions of HSP32 and HSP70 were promoted within cardiomyocytes in the infarction zone and the peri infarct zone,and expressed within some transplanted bone marrow cells as well. RT-PCR also showed the mRNA expression levels of HSP32 and HSP70 in BMT group were significantly higher than those of the control group, peaked on day 3 post infarct (5.0 fold and 2.9 fold, respectively, P

Objective To study the impact of a subject's testing state on residual noise level and ABR wave V amplitude during non-sedated ABR testing using Kalman-weighted averaging(KWA).Methods Twenty-one adults(18～34 years old,42 ears)with normal hearing were enrolled for non-sedated ABR testing under three different states(lying,sitting,and writing)in a quiet room using a new Kalman-weighted averaging ABR system(vivosonic integrity system).The residual noise level and the amplitude of wave V for click ABR(cABR)of each subject were recorded.The traditional ABR test system(interacoustics,IA)was also used to record ABR with the residual noise level and the amplitude of wave V measured at the same time.Results ① There was no significant difference in am-plitude of wave V between traditional ABR and non-sedated ABR in three different testing states(P＞0.05).②The residual noise levels in the lying and sitting states of KWA ABR were lower than those of traditional ABR,but there was no statistically difference(P＜0.05).The residual noise level of the KWA ABR system in writing state was significantly higher than that of the other three conditions(P＜0.05).③ There was no significant difference between the left and right ears in the residual noise level and amplitude of wave V for non-sedated ABR in writing state(P＞0.05).Conclusion Compared with traditional ABR,the non-sedated KWA ABR system in uriting state was significantly higher than that of the other three conolitions.Haw ever,the residual noise level in lying and sit-ting states had no significant difference with conditional ABR,and different states of the subject had impact on the residual noise level in the ABR testing to sone extent.

Wavefront aberration is an evaluation index of objective visual quality.In recent years, the relationship between the wavefront aberration compensation in human eyes and the visual quality has been paid more and more attention.There is a mutual compensation relationship between various aberration terms, between corneal aberration and intraocular aberration, and between the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces, and the visual nervous system compensates human eye aberrations.The characteristics of aberration compensation change with age, and are different in analysis of different regions.Vision correction methods, such as refractive surgery and contact lenses, will change the aberration compensation relationship in human eyes, and the changes caused may have an impact on visual quality.It is important to understand the relationship between the aberration compensation characteristics in human eyes and the visual quality.Therefore, not only the existing aberrations should be taken into consideration, but also the compensation characteristics of human eye aberrations must be elucidated to make personalized correction for the aberrations and improve the visual quality after correction.The research progress and significance on the relationship between human eye aberration compensation characteristics and visual quality were reviewed in this article.

Objective To assess the difference in left atrial properties between elderly and younger control subjects and the role of left atrium remodeling in patients of different ages with atrial fibrillation.Methods A total of 194 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation were enrolled from September 2014 to June 2016.Based on age,patients were divided into an elderly group (≥60 years,n=129) and a younger group (＜60 years,n=65).We evaluated remodeling parameters for the left atrium using an Ultrasound Cardiography (UCG) system in 125 elder subjects,together with 64 control subjects.All remodeling parameters were recorded,including left atrial diameter (LAD),left atrial square (LAS),left atrial pressure (LAP) and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD).Results The elderly group had more female patients and more patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.Meanwhile,scores of CHA2DS2Vsc and levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) were significantly increased in elderly patients (both P＜0.05).Moreover,the elderly group was associated with increased values of LAD and LAS[(39.1±4.4)mm vs.(37.1±5.3)mm,P＜0.01;and(23.3±4.5)cm2 vs.(21.4±4.8)cm2,P＜0.01;respectively],compared with those in the control group.Spearman's correlation analysis showed that LAD,LAS and LAP were all markedly related to age (r=0.213,P＜0.05;r=-0.175,P＜0.05;r=0.170,P＜0.05;respectively),persistent onset of atrial fibrillation (r=0.401,P＜0.05;r=0.446,P＜0.05;r=0.160,P＜0.05;respectively),and impaired heart function,measured by left ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.4371,P＜0.05;r=-0.403,P＜0.05;r=-0.364,P＜0.05;respectively) and NT-ProBNP (r=0.485,P＜0.01;r=0.483,P＜ 0.01;r =0.293,P＜ 0.01;respectively).Conclusions Left atrial remodeling properties measured by the UCG system in the elderly with non-valvular atrial fibrillation are more serious than those in mid-aged and young subjects.As a convenient and accurate assessment of remodeling parameters,the UCG system is an excellent option for measuring left atrial remodeling in the elderly population.

Objectives:This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics between light-chain cardiac amyloidosis(AL-CA)and transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis(ATTR-CA). Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted in patients diagnosed with AL-CA and ATTR-CA at Peking University Third Hospital from January 2011 to October 2023.There were 35 patients diagnosed with AL-CA(AL-CA group)and 21 patients diagnosed with ATTR-CA(ATTR-CA group).Clinical manifestations,ECG,echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance(CMR)results were compared between patients with AL-CA and ATTR-CA. Results:Compared to the AL-CA group,the ATTR-CA group has a higher proportion of males(54.3%vs.90.5%,P=0.005),the proportion of patients with hypertension was lower(42.9%vs.9.5%,P=0.009).In terms of clinical manifestations,edema,proteinuria,renal insufficiency and serous effusion were more common in the AL-CA group,while the incidence of limb numbness was higher in the ATTR-CA group(all P＜0.05).There were significant differences in the incidence of limb lead low voltage(57.1%vs.28.6%,P=0.038)and conduction block(14.3%vs.61.9%,P=0.001)between the AL-CA group and ATTR-CA group on ECG.Although the AL-CA group had a shorter time interval from initial symptoms to diagnosis(6.0[2.0,15.0]months vs.35.0[14.0,56.5]months,P=0.002)and less pronounced left ventricular thickening on echocardiography(interventricular septum thickness:[13.3±2.0]mm vs.[15.7±2.2]mm,P=0.001;left ventricular mass:[198.4±67.8]g vs.[246.6±53.5]g,P=0.009)and CMR(interventricular septum thickness:[16.0±2.1]mm vs.[18.9±3.8]mm,P=0.033;left ventricular mass:[132.9±45.3]g vs.[194.7±50.8]g,P=0.011),the proportion of patients with NYHA grades Ⅲ-Ⅳ(48.6%vs.19.0%,P=0.027)was higher,the levels N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide precursor and cardiac troponin T levels were higher(both P＜0.05),and the 1-year survival rate was lower in the AL-CA group than in the ATTR-CA group(65.7%vs.100%,P=0.001). Conclusions:AL-CA and ATTR-CA had differences in clinical and ECG manifestations.While the severity of left ventricular hypertrophy was less pronounced in AL-CA compared to ATTR-CA,cardiac function and prognosis were worse in AL-CA than in ATTR-CA.