The methods of separation, enrichment, and analysis of trace mercury in water samples in recent years were reviewed in the present paper. Many methods can be used to analyze trace mercury after separation and enrichment. Spectrophotometry is cheap and simple. Atomic fluorescence spectrometric method is accurate in quantitative analysis. The chromatography method is usually used in the morphological analysis of mercury. Multistep analysis of mercury can be done by joint methods in one time.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of Candida albicans ( C. albicans) hyphae on autophagic flux in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) . Methods:BMDM were in vitro stimulated with C. albicans hyphae for 0.5, 4 and 12 hours, and the 0-hour group treated without hyphae served as a control. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the conversion of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) -Ⅰto LC3-Ⅱ, and determine the expression of phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) at each time point. Some BMDM were divided into several groups: control group receiving no treatment, hyphae group treated with C. albicans hyphae, lysosomal inhibitor groups treated with different lysosomal inhibitors, including E-64d (a cysteine proteinase inhibitor) + pepstatin (a pepsin inhibitor) , bafilomycin-A1 (BAF-A1) , ammonium chloride and chloroquine, and hyphae combined with lysosomal inhibitor groups treated with lysosomal inhibitors immediately followed by C. albicans hyphae. After 4- or 12-hour treatment, the effect of C. albicans hyphae on basal autophagic flux in murine BMDM was evaluated. Statistical analysis was carried out by using unpaired t test, factorial design analysis of variance and least significant difference- t test. Results:After 0.5-, 4- and 12-hour in vitro treatment with C. albicans hyphae, the conversion of LC3-Ⅰ to LC3-Ⅱ significantly increased in murine BMDM (1.254±0.118, 1.629±0.391, 1.598±0.379, respectively) compared with the 0-hour group (0.983±0.030; t=3.875, 2.856, 2.804, respectively, all P< 0.05) , while there was no significant difference in the protein expression of p-mTOR among the 0-, 0.5-, 4- and 12-hour groups. After 4- and 12-hour in vitro treatment with C. albicans hyphae combined with lysosomal inhibitors E-64d and pepstatin, the accumulation level of LC3-Ⅱ significantly increased in BMDM compared with those treated with E-64d and pepstatin alone ( t=3.691, 6.648, respectively, both P< 0.05) . Compared with the corresponding lysosomal inhibitor groups, the accumulation level of LC3-Ⅱsignificantly increased in BMDM treated with C. albicans hyphae combined with BAF-A1, ammonium chloride or chloroquine for 4 and 12 hours (all P< 0.05) . Conclusion:In vitro treatment with C. albicans hyphae can increase the conversion of LC3-Ⅰto LC3-Ⅱ in the basal autophagic flux in murine BMDM.

Objective To evaluate sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) in the treatment of spastic pelvic floor syndrome (SPFS).Method In this study,36 patients of spastic pelvic floor syndrome who received SNS treatment from 2011.3 to 2011.12,were reviewed in terms of clinical curative effect,changes of anal pressure and defecography.Result After a course of SNS treatment,patients were followed up for 3 months,12 cases were cured,22 cases improved and 2 cases were ineffective,the total effective rate was 94.4％.The symptoms such as endless defecate feeling,difficulty in defecation,anal pain and anal obstruction feeling improved significantly (P ＜0.01 ).After the therapy,rectal anal reflex( RAR)threshold value volume rose,anal maximum contraction pressure (AMCP),anal rest perssure (ARP) decreased (P ＜ 0.01 ).While the anal longest contraction time (ALCT)and rectal rest pressure (RRP) did not change significantly (P ＞ 0.05 ).After treatment,when patient defecate the anorectal angle (ARA) increases,the puborectal muscle spasm notch (PMSN)attenuates (P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions SNS is effective and minimally invasive in treating spastic pelvic floor syndrome.

Objective To investigate the effects of artificial airway cuff pressure at different monitoring intervals on ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in critical patients. Methods About 56 patients treated with mechanical ventilation from January 2015 to December were grouped by ward numbers:32 patients in the south ward were in the experiment group and 24 in the north ward were in the control group. The two groups were given the same routine care, e.g., mechanical ventilation by endotracheal intubation. In the experiment group, the cuff pressure was controlled to 30cm H2O every six hours and the control group was every 4h. The two groups were compared in terms of the incidence of VAP during mechanical ventilation, occurrence time of VAP, duration of mechanical ventilation and mortality. Result The incidence of VAP during mechanical ventilation, occurrence time of VAP, duration of mechanical ventilation, and mortality showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions For mechanically ventilated patients, the cuff pressure controlled to 30cm H2O every 6h can not increase the incidence of VAP, duration of mechanical ventilation and mortality. It can reduce the nursing workload.

Objective To explore the application of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR)scanning technique in low dose pediatric cervical CT, especially in reducing the radiation dose for thyroid. Methods We retrospectivly analyzed 140 pediatric cervical CT. 70 cases of group A scaned with ASIR technology and preseting noise index 12 HU in Discovery CT 750 HD (GE Healthcare), and 70 cases of group B scaned with filtered back projection (FBP) technology and preseting noise index 14 HU in VCT 64 (64 Lightspeed VCT, GE Healthcare). The other scan parameters were same in 2 groups. The distribution characteristics of gender and age were completely consistent between groups. The minimum current, the maximum current, the current of thyroid on CT images and CT dose volume index (CTDIvol), scanning length and dose length product (DLP) on dose reports were all recorded for each child. The noise values of CT images were measured. 4 scores standard was used to evaluate the subjective image quality. The data were analyzed with SPSS 13, Kappa method for the test of consistency and t test for the differences of the measured data. Excel was used for mapping. Results The minimum current, the maximum current, the average current, the current for thyroid of the two groups were respectively (26.8 ± 4.2), (43.2 ± 15.4)mA;(35.8±9.6),(41.8±13.6)mA;(34.6±8.6), (41.0±13.2)mA;(36.8±12.3), (44.7±21.0)mA. The CTDIvol, DLP and the scanning length of the two groups were respectively(1.3 ± 0.3), (1.8 ± 0.6)mGy;(29.0 ± 8.3), (40.3 ± 15.6) mGy·cm and(157.5±20.2), (157.6±21.8)cm. The average current, the thyroid current, CTDI and DLP in group A were 15.8%, 17.9%, 27.3%and 28.4%lower than those in group B (t=-5.50—-0.02, P<0.01). The subjective image quality scores of the two doctors were respectively 3.4 ± 0.9, 3.3 ± 1.0, they were highly consistent (Kappa=0.834, P<0.01). The objective image noise of cancellous bone and neck muscles were respectively (32.5 ± 5.3),(32.9 ± 5.1)HU and (9.2 ± 2.3), (9.1 ± 2.0)HU, there were not statistically difference between the two groups (t=-0.47—0.24, P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with FBP, low dose pediatric cervical CT with 30%ASIR could provide dose reduction for thyroid and the whole neck while maintaining diagnostically acceptable images .

Objective To investigate the effects of Candida albicans on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and activation of the intracellular signaling molecule p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38MAPK)in a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1. Methods Some THP-1 cells were divided into several groups in vitro: two C. albicans groups treated with 105 CFU/ml and 106 CFU/ml heat-killed C. albicans respectively, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)group treated with 100 μg/L LPS, a blank control group treated with RPMI 1640 medium, two dexamethasone-inhibited groups pretreated with 40 μg/L dexamethasone for 30 minutes followed by treatment with 106 CFU/ml heat-killed C. albicans and LPS respectively. After treatment for 1, 3 and 6 hours, real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was performed to measure TNF-α mRNA expression in THP-1 cells in the above groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was conducted to determine the level of TNF-α protein in the supernatant of THP-1 cells treated with 106 CFU/ml heat-killed C. albicans, 100 μg/L LPS or RPMI 1640 medium(blank control group)for 24 hours. Western blot was performed to measure the protein expression of p38MAPK and phosphorylated p38MAPK in THP-1 cells after treatment with 106 CFU/ml heat-killed C. albicans or RPMI 1640 medium (blank control group)for 30 and 60 minutes. Statistical analysis was carried out by using two-way analysis of variance, one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference(LSD)-t test. Results Significant differences were observed in the mRNA expression level of TNF-α among the C. albicans groups, LPS group and blank control group (F = 110.98, P < 0.001). The mRNA expression level of TNF-α in THP-1 cells increased over time in a time-dependent manner after C. albicans treatment, with significant differences among different time points (F = 701.680, P < 0.001). Compared with the blank control group, both 106-CFU/ml C. albicans group and LPS group showed a significant increase in TNF-α protein expression (6385.70 ± 533.99 ng/L and 3212.06 ± 353.00 ng/L vs. 147.10 ± 0.53 ng/L, P < 0.001 and 0.005, respectively). An obvious increase was observed in the expression level of phosphorylated p38MAPK protein, but no significant changes were noted in that of p38MAPK protein, in THP-1 cells treated with 106 CFU/ml C. albicans for 30 and 60 minutes compared with the blank control group. The mRNA expression level of TNF-α significantly decreased in dexamethasone-pretreated 106-CFU/ml C. albicans group and LPS group compared with those without dexamethasone pretreatment(3.77 ± 0.62 vs. 208.50 ± 10.50, 6.20 ± 1.93 vs. 161.35 ± 1.65, both P < 0.001). Conclusions Heat-killed C. albicans can induce the activation of p38MAPK in and secretion of TNF-α by human THP-1 cells, which then participate in the innate immune response against C. albicans.

Objective To assess the treatment of splenic artery aneurysms (SAA) and prognosis.Methods Clinical data of 18 SAA patients treated in our hospital from 1999 to 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Results There were 18 patients diagnosed as SAA,including 7 males and 11 females.The average age was 53.8 ± 7.3 years.8 patients were asymptomatic found by routine physical examination,7 patients complained upper left abdominal pain,3 cases suffered from aneurysm rupture. Diagnosis was established by three-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3DCTA) in 14,Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in 3 and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in 1 patient.Three patients with ruptured splenic artery aneurysm underwent emergent operations,11 patients underwent elective surgery or interventional therapy.Surgical procedures included aneurysmectomy and splenectomy in 4 patients,distal pancreatectomy in 5 cases; aneurysmectomy and splenic artery ligation in one patient; and aneurysmectomy with splenectomy and colon resection in 1 case.Interventional embolization by coils of the splenic aneurysm in 3 patients.The remaining 4 being asymptomatic and with tumor diameter less than 2 cm were put on a close follow-up.There was no perioperative mortality.Two were lost to follow-up.16 cases were followed-up for averaging 3.2 years. 1 patient died of cerebral hemorrhage after four years. Conclusions Splenic artery aneurysms was a rare disease and with usually occult symptoms,but rupture can leads to abdominal apoplexy.Open surgery and minimally invasive endovascular treatment is effective and offers a good prognosis.

Objective To explore the value of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) and a sharp recon kernel to obtain high resolution pulmonary images in low-dose pediatric chest CT scans.Methods Totally 42 children underwent low-dose chest CT scans with ASIR were included.Age dependent noise index (NI) was used for dose optimization:NI=12 for 0-12 months old,NI=15 for ＞1 2 years old,NI=17 for 3-6 years old and NI=20 for ≥7 years old.Images were reconstructed to 0.625 mm using different recon kernels:Soft,Standard,Lung,and Chest kernel.ASIR blending was varied from 0 100％ to provide balanced image noise and spatial resolution.Two radiologists independently evaluated images for normal lung structures,abnormal CT findings and image noise on a 5 point scale with 3 being clinically acceptable.The best kernel,as well as the match with the best ASIR weight were analyzed statistically.Results CT images with lung kernel and ASIR 60％ were rated substantially better than those kernel.Conclusion ASIR 60％ with a sharp lung kernel can significantly improve image quality in low dose pediatric chest CT scans.

Objective To explore the application of temporary balloon occlusion in multidisciplinary management of cesarean sec-tion for patients with pernicious placenta previa/accreta.Methods 42 patients with a diagnosis of placenta previa /accrete accepted the temporary aortic balloon occlusion in cesarean section in DSA hybrid operation room were retrospectively studied.Before cesare-an section,intravascular balloon catheter was placed in abdominal aortic.After delivery,the midpoint of filling state balloon was placed at the midpoint of the two renal arteries openings before placental dissection.The amount of blood loss and blood transfusion, operation time,the infants'radiation doses and postoperative complications were determined.Results All patients were successfully fulfilled cesarean section and conserved uteri.The amount of blood loss,blood transfusion,operation time,occlusion time and the infants’radiation doses were (586±355)mL,(422±283)mL,(75.5±1 1.9)min,(22.4±7.2)min and (4.2±2.9)mGy,respec-tively.During follow-up,complications were not found during operation and after operation.Conclusion In women with pernicious placenta previa/accreta,temporary aortic balloon occlusion can effectively control postpartum hemorrhage and reduce the risk of un-desirable hysterectomy.

AIM: To observe the effects of Egr-1 gene knockout on the expression of inflammatory-related factors in pancreatic tissue in a mouse acute pancreatitis model.METHODS: The experimental pancreatitis was induced by high-dose of cearulein in wildtype mice and Egr-1 knockout mice.The pancreatitis indexes,such as serum amylase,pancreata edema,and myeloperoxidase(MPO) levels in pancreata and lungs were recorded.The mRNA levels of tissue factor(TF),plasminogen activator inhibitor(PAI-1),monocyte chemoattractant protein(MCP-1),Gro-1,IL-6 and ICAM-1 were measured by quantitative PCR.RESULTS: Contrary to wildtype mice,typical pancreatitis was not induced by high-dose cearulein in the Egr-1 knockout mice,not only markedly reduced edema in pancreata and lungs,but decreased MPO levels in lungs as well were found.Furthermore,the mRNA of TF,PAI,MCAP,ICAM-1 and IL-6 in pancreata were significantly decreased in Egr-1 knockout mice.CONCLUSION: The severity of pancreatitis and lung damage is ameliorated in Egr-1 knockout mice stimulated by high-dosage of cearulein,which was probably mediated by decreasing expression of inflammatory-related factors in pancreata,such as TF,PAI,MCP-1,ICAM-1 and IL-6.