Objective To investigate the longitudinal systolic ventricular function of children with single ventricle, and to appraise the feasibility and clinical value of velocity vector imaging (VVI) on assessing it. Methods The study group consisted of 30 patients with functional single ventricle. The control group consisted of 30 age- and gender-matched normal children. Using Sequoia C512 echocardiography machine,the peak velocity(V),peak displacement(D) ,strain(S) ,and strain rate(SR) were measured. Results Basel and median velocities,as well as basel and median displacements of rudimentary chamber side(RCS), were lower than those of septum[Basel velocity (1. 93 ± 0. 71)cm/s vs (3. 53 ± 1. 07)cm/s;Median velocity (1.19±0. 57)cm/s vs (2. 03 ± 0. 90) cm/s; Basel displacement (2. 53 ± 1.65) mm vs (6.21 ± 2. 12)mm;Median displacement(1. 26 ± 1. 06)mm vs (3. 21 ± 1.37)mm]. The values of strain of all the six segments of single ventricle were significantly lower than Corresponding segments of the control group [ basel nonrudimentary chamber side(NRCS) ( - 16. 17 ± 4. 37) % vs ( - 19. 66 ± 3. 47) % ; Median NRCS ( - 15. 23 +4.36)% vs (-19.64± 4. 75)%; Apical NRCS (-13.84 ± 5.79)% vs ( - 16. 7 ± 4. 15)%; Basel RCS(-10. 54±5.35)% vs (-19.49±3. 74)%;Median RCS ( - 10. 16 ± 5. 26)% vs ( -20. 83 ± 3. 82)% ;Apical RCS ( - 10. 97 ± 5. 22) % vs C - 18. 11 ± 4.43) %]. Aside from basel strain rates of NRCS, strain rates of all the other five segments of single ventricle were significantly lower than Corresponding segments of the control group [Median NRCS ( - 1. 21 ± 0. 42)s-1 vs (- 1.49 ± 0. 24)s-1 ;Apical NRCS ( - 1.10 ±0.41)s-1 vs (-1.47 ± 0.24)s-1;Basel RCS ( - 1.07 ± 0. 35) s-1 vs (- 1. 49 ± 0. 22) s-1; Median RCS (-0.97± 0.34)s-1 vs ( -1.48 ± 0. 20)s-1 (Apical RCS ( - 0. 93 ± 0. 39)s-1 vs ( - 1. 48 ± 0. 22)s-1]. Conclusions Longitudinal systolic ventricular function is impaired in children with functionally single ventricle. VVI can be used to asses ventricular systolic performance in children with functionally single ventricular.

Gold nanochannels were prepared using Al2 O3 nanotubules membrane as the carrier and modified with chitosan by a classical N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N-ethyl carbodiimide ( EDC)/N-hydroxysuccinimide ( NHS ) coupling reaction. The nanochannels were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy ( FESEM) , cyclic voltammetry and AC impedance method. The Au nanochannels modified with chitosan showed a chiral environment and can be used to separate histidine enantiomer. The effects of pore size and solution pH on the separation efficiency of histidine were investigated. To increase the detection sensitivity of D-, L-histidine, Ag nanoparticles were used to enhance the surface enhanced Raman scattering ( SERS) activity. The results showed that the chitosan-modified gold nanochannels can be used to separate chiral histidine based on this unique selective nanochannel membrane. L-Histidine and D-histidine were respectively detected by SERS at wavelengths of 1000 and 1590 cm-1 . The results showed that L-histidine and D-histidine were separated well in the mixture containing 200 μL of histidine, 100 μL of colloidal Ag and 100 μL of 80 mmol/L NaCl ( pH=7 . 59 ) with a separation efficiency of 4 . 91 .

Objective To investigate the value of virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI) in the differential diagnosis of small solid thyroid nodules.Methods 35 patients with 41 small thyroid nodules were examined by conventional ultrasound and VTI examination.The stiffness of the nodules in VTI images was scored.Area ratios of VTI and gray scale images of nodules were calculated.The pathological diagnosis was used as the gold standard.The ROC curve was drawn to determine the cut off point of area ratio to predict thyroid cancer.Results 41 small thyroid nodules were confirmed by pathological diagnosis,including 23 benign and 18 malignant nodules.Compared with benign nodules,the ratio of VTI hardness score ≥4 was significantly higher in the malignant nodules (88.9％ vs 8.7％,P ＜0.01).Compared with benign nodules,the area ratios of malignant nodules were higher (1.67 ± 0.16 vs 1.23 ± 0.12,P ＜0.01).When 1.46 was set as the cut off point of areas ratio,the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing thyroid cancer were 88.9％ and 95.7％,respectively.Conclusions VTI can provide information about thyroid nodules hardness.It has high value in the differential diagnosis of small solid thyroid nodules.

Objective To detect the expression and function of cysteinyl leukotriene receptors (CysLTRs)in keratinocytes.Methods Human keratinocytes were isolated from the tissue of foreskin by digestion with dispase Ⅱ and trypsin,and subjected to primary culture.By using confocal laser scanning microscopy and reverse transcriptase PCR,the localization and expression of CysLTRs were studied in kemtinocytes.respectively.Some primarily cultured keratinocytes were pretreated with leukotriene D4 (30 nmoi/L),MK571(300 nmol/L),and BAYu9773 for 5 minutes followed by the detection of intmcellular calcium level using the Ca2+ indicator dye Fura-2/AM as well as cell proliferation bv MTT assay.Results The expressions of CysLTR1 and CysLTR2 were observed in cultured keratinocytes,and they were mainly located on cell membrane,partly in cytoplasm and nuclei.Compared with non.stimulated cells,a significant increase Was noted in the expression of CysLTRs,especially in the nuclei of keratinocytes stimulated by LTD4(P＜0.05),together with an elevation in intracellular calcium level(42.27±3.00 mmol/L,P＜0.01)and acceleration in cell proliferation (P＜0.01).However,both MK571 and BAYu9773 could completely block the effect of LTD4 on intmcellular calcium level and cell proliferation.and there was no significant difference in the blocking effect between MK571 and BAYu9773.Conclusions Functional CysLTRs are expressed in human keratinocytes.and they carl increase the intracellular calcium level in,and cell proliferation of,keratinocytes.

Objective To investigate the short axis systolic function of children with single-left ventricle(LV),and to appraise the clinical value of velocity vector imaging(VVI) on assessing it.Methods The study group consisted of 14 patients with single-LV.The control group consisited of 14 age-matched normal children.VVI was used to analyse the circumferential and radial strain and strain rate of regional single-LV at the level of papillary muscle.Results Compared with values in control group,single-LV circumferential strain values were significantly lower in anterior septum,posterior septum,anterior wall,lateral wall and inferior wall(all P ＜0.05).Single-LV circumferential strain rate values were significantly lower in anterior septum,posterior septum,anterior wall,lateral wall and posterior wall compared with controls(all P ＜0.05). In control group,circumferential strain and strain rate were higher in inferior septum and anterior septum compared with other segments( P ＜0.05).Single-LV radial strain values were significantly lower in all segments compared with values in control (P ＜ 0.05).In control group,radial strain and strain rate of papillary muscle level showed no significantly difference( P ＞0.05).Conclusions Circumferential and radial systolic ventricular function are impaired in children with single-LV.VVI can beused as a quantitative tool in evaluating the short axis systolic function of single-LV.

Objective To evaluate regional right ventricular function by ultrasonic strain rate imaging in postoperative children with conotruncal defects(CTD). Methods All 27 postoperative CTD children had magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of right ventricular end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume to calculate right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). The ultrasonic parameters of peak systolic strain rate (SRs), peak early diastolic strain rate (SRe), peak late diastolic strain rate(SRa) and strain (S) were obtained at the basal,middle and apical segment in curve of right ventricular anterior wall in 27 postoperative CTD children and 27 normal children. The correlation between SRs,S and RVEF were evaluated. Results Compared with healthy children,SRs,S,SRe,SRa were significantly reduced in postoperative CTD children (P ＜ 0.01 ), there were different distribution rules between postoperative CTD children and normal children,and all indexes had no statistical descrepancy among the basal, middle and apical segment ( P ＞0.05). SRs in basal segment of the right ventricular anterior wall correlated well with RVEF ( r = 0.89,P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusions Regional right ventricular function still was reduced in postoperative CTD children, and could be accurately evaluated by ultrasonic strain rate imaging.

Objective To evaluate the application value of virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ)for evaluating small focal liver lesions.Methods Seventy-seven patients with 89 small focal liver lesions,whose largest diameter were less than or equal to 3 cm were evaluated with VTQ.The shcar wave velocity (SWV) of the tumor and background liver parenchyma were calculated,and their results were compared with those of 40 healthy subjects.Statistical analysis was performed on the SWV for the differentiation of normal liver,background liver parenchyma and lesions.The cut-off point for SWV was obtained by using ROC curve analysis which was used to predict malignancy lesions.Results The SWV of malignant lesions was significantly higher than that of benign ones [(2.56-± 0.67) m/s vs (1.70 ± 0.55) m/s,P =0.000].The SWV of metastatic liver carcinoma which came from lung cancer and breast cancer were higher than that of gastrointestinal tract cancer transfers (P =0.000).Based on 1.93 m/s as the cut-off point of SWV value,the sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value for diagnosing malignancies were 82.0 ％,84.6％,83.15 ％,87.23 ％ and 78.57 ％ respectively.Conclusions VTQ technique can help the differential diagnosis of small focal liver lesions.

Objective To analyze the level of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in children with left-to-right shunt congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods In this study, 146 children with secundum atrial septal (ASD) defect, 132 children with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and 300 healthy children were recruited. The levels of cTnI and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were measured and their correlation with clinical data was analyzed. Results The serum cTnI and NT-proBNP levels in both ASD and VSD patients were signiifcantly higher than those in normal children (H=3.89 and 5.27, P<0.01). The serum cTnI and NT-proBNP levels in VSD patients were signiifcantly higher than those in ASD patients (P<0.05). The ratio of pulmonary to systemic arterial pressure (Pp/Ps), pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) and standardized left ventricular end diastolic volume in VSD patients were signiifcantly higher than those in ASD patients (P<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that Pp/Ps was signiifcantly correlated with cTnI in VSD patients. (β=0.81, SE=0.03, P=0.000). Conclusions Signiifcant volume and pressure overload due to a left-to-right shunt induce myocardial injury and could lead to irreversible myocardial remodeling in children with CHD. The serum cTnI level is a sensitive biomarker for myocardial damage in VSD patients.

Objective To study the effects of recombinant chimeric toxin Dsg3EC_(1-2)PE40 on T and B cells from PV patients. Methods The recombinant protein Dsg3EC_(1-2)PE40 was expressed on BL21TrxB (DE3) cells, then identified and purified. ELISPOT assay was used to detect and quantitate autoantibody-producing B cells in different concentrations of recombinant chimeric toxin, and MTT assay and ~3H-TdR assay to observe the metabolism and proliferation of T cells from PV patients in vitro. Results The purity of expressed protein Dsg3EC_(1-2)PE40 was up to 80%. The number of anti-Dsg3 antibody-producing B cells in PBMC from PV patients decreased by 40% with treatment of Dsg3EC_(1-2)PE40, which was significantly lower (P

Objective To explore the clinicopathological characteristics of hereditary ovarian cancer syndrome(HOCS). Methods From Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2007, among 580 cases of primary ovarian cancer, 42 cases(herediatary group),who had a positive family history of ovarian cancer and met the diagnostic criteria of HOCS, were analyzed retrospectively. One hundred cases without a family history of ovarian cancer were enrolled randomizely as control group (sporadic group). Results The incidence of HOCS was 7.2% (42/580). Forty-two cases associated tumors affected at least 2 successive generations in 31 families and affected 1 generation in 8 families. Eighty-seven percent (27/31)was from maternal lineage, while 13% (4/31)from paternal lineage. Earlier age of onset was significantly difference between two groups[(49±10) years vs. (55±10) years, P<0.05]. There were 90% belong to serous adenocarcinoma in the herediatary group, while 84% in the sporadic group. There was statistical difference in the proportion of mucinous adenocarcinoma (0 vs. 11%, P<0.05). The most common clinical manifestations were abdominal distention and anorexia (64% vs. 70%, P>0.05), International Federational of Gynecology Obstetrics(FIGO)stage Ⅲ (62% vs. 63%, P>0.05) between two groups. Fourteen cases (33%,14/42) were previously untreated in the herediatary group, while 40 cases (40%, 40/100) in the sporadic group. There were 15 cases (36%, 15/42) underwent secondary surgery and 15 cases (36%, 15/42) underwent third surgery or more in berediatary group, while 50 cases (50%, 50/100) and 27 cases(27%, 27/100) in the sporadic group. The mean number of ehemotberapy cycles received in two groups was 13.3 and 11.8 (P>0.05). The 3-year and 5-year survival rate in herediatary group were 73.6% and 54.9% respectively, compared with 47.4% and 21.2% (P<0.05) in sporadic group. Conclusion Hereditary ovarian cancer mostly from maternal lineage are featuring in early age of onset, serous adenocarcinoma, advanced stage (stage Ⅲ), and better prognosis after the comprehensive treated by cytoreductive surgery plus with chemotherapy.