Objective To evaluate the efficacy of a new micro-bubble contrast agent of C_3F_8 in the opacification of the left ventricle. Methods Seven pigs received a bolus injection of C_3F_8 (0.002) and (0.02) (ml/kg) intravenously. Left ventricular opacification grades and number of endocardial border delineation segments were observed and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) were measured using modified Simpson method after each intravenous contrast injection. Heart rate and respiration rate were recorded before and after each injection. Results There was a significant improvement for every measurement of contrast enhancement in each intravenous injection. In addition, part of myocardial tissue could be enhanced after contrast injection. There was no difference in heart rate and respiration rate between pre- and post-injection. Conclusions This new contrast agent is safe and helpful in delineating endocardial border of the left ventricle.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the widely used intervertebral disc degeneration models are induced by altering intervertebral disc biomechanics, damaging intervertebral disc structure or changing hereditary features with genetic technique. All these methods are vades from natural duration of intervertebral disc degeneration. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of the establishment of rabbit model of ischemic lumbar vertebrae adjacent to endplate by percutaneous puncture followed by pingyangmycin injection. METHODS: A total of 46 New Zealand white rabbits were selected and two vertebraes were divided as experimental group (L_5) and control group (L_4) in every rabbit. Vertebrae adjacent to endplate was punctured. Pingyangmycin (2 g/L) 1 mL was injected into rabbits in the experimental group. And 1 mL normal sodium was injected into the control group. Lumbar artery angiography was performed in 4 rabbits before operation. Six rabbits were randomly performed MRI and then were executed for vertebral histology at weeks 1,2, 3, 4, 5 and months 2, 3 after operation. Ischemic areas of L_5 were measured by the MRI and histological section at week 4 after operation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: MRI and histology of control group had not specific changes. MRI had not significant signal intensity changes in the first 2 weeks in the experimental group. At week 3 after operation, it demonstrated slightly hyperintense signal on T_2-weighted image (T_2WI) and fat-suppression T_2-weighted image (FS T_2WI), while fat-suppression T_1-weighted image (FS T_1WI) was hypointense signal. The signal changed more obviously at week 4. Histology of experimental group had not specific changes in the first 2 weeks. From weeks 3-4, bone trabecula arranged confusedly and disorderly, with gradually decreased osteocyte and marrow haemocytes, while adipocytes increased and coalesced. Cartilage corpuscle of endplate decreased and architecture became disorder. But the anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus had no obviously changes. The intervertebral disk of the experimental group degenerated at week 5, and the ischemia of lumbar vertebrae still existed and intervertebral disk degenerated more obviously at months 2-3 after operation. There was significant positive correlation of ischemic areas of experimental group between MRI and histology at week 4 (t-=0.965, P < 0.001). The rabbit model of ischemic lumbar vertebrae adjacent to endplate can be established successfully by peroutaneous puncture vertebrae adjacent to endplate followed by pingyangmycin injection. The operation is minimally invasive, simple and reproducible, with high success rate. This is a fairly ideal animal model to study the degeneration of the lumbar spine and intervertebral disc.

Objective To study the risky factors related to postoperative mortality after surgical intervention for intra-ventricular hemorrhage (IVH).Methods The clinical data of 142 IVH patients aged from 19 to 86 years with 77 male and 65 female were collected from 2007 to 2010 for retrospective analysis with SPSS version 13.0 package.Multi-factorial Logistic regression analysis and mono-factorial x2 analysis were used to find out the risk factors related to post-operative death. Results Of 142 patients,48 (33.8％) died.Mono-factorial analysis demonstrated that the risk factors of death after surgical intervention to IVH were elderly age ( ＞ 65 years),history of hypertension,low GGS score,intra-ventricular diffuse bleeding,preoperative obstructive hydrocephalus and coagulation abnormality,postoperative central high pyrexia and central diabetes insipidus,postoperative hemorrhage of alimentary tract,pulmonary infection,and drainage after operation ≥7 days ( P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 ).Multi-factorial Logistic regression analysis,on the other hand,revealed the independent factors associated with postoperative IVH mortality were postoperative central high fever,preoperative obstructive hydrocephalus (P ＜ 0.01 ); drainage after operation ≥7 days,postoperative pulmonary infection,elderly age,low GCS score,intra-ventricular diffuse bleeding and history of hypertension ( P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusions General condition of patients with IVH and CT findings are likely related to mortality,and active prevention against various complications is the crucial approach to lowering postoperative mortality and improving prognosis.

[Objective]This study was designed to evaluate the effects of percutaneously puncturing vertebrate adjacent to cartilage endplate and injecting pingyangmycin on lumbar intervertebral disc and cartilage endplate in New Zealand Rabbits.[Methods]Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were enrolled in this study.The fifth lumbar vertebmte(L_5)was injected with pingyangrnycin as experimental group,and the fourth lumbar vertebmte(L_4)injected normal sodium as control group.Six rabbits were selected randomly,then MRI and histological observation was performed in the first,second,third,fourth,Fifth week and third month after operation respectively.Moreover,the correlation analysis was performed between MRI and histological measurements for areas of the lesion in L_5.[Results]There was no obvious changes on MRI and histological examination in control group.For experimental group,there were also no obvious changes in the first two weeks after bperation.However,in the third week,it demonstrated slightly hyperintense signal on T_2WI and fat-suppression T_2WI(FS T_2WI),while FS T_1WI was hypointense signal.The signal changed more obviously in the fourth week.Histologically,the structure of vertibrates arranged disordedy,chondrocyte of endplate decreased and architecture became disorder.Anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus did not change.The cartilage endplate and intervertebral disc degenerated in the fifth week.Both of them degenerated more obviously in third month.There was a strong correlation between MRI and histological measurements for areas of the lesion in the fourth week(r=0.965,P＜ 0.001).[Conclusion]Degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc and cartilage endplate in New Zealand Rabbits can be induced by percutaneously puncturing vertebrate adjacent to cartilage endplate and injecting pingyangmycin.