Zuckerkandl tubercle is the extension of thyriod gland. For the past few years, more and more surgeons and anatomists have become interested in it. Clinically, surgeons usually rely on specified anatomical landmarks to avoid injuries to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, including the laryngeal branches and the superior parathyroid in thyroid surgery, such as the bottom corner of the thyroid cartilage, the inferior thyroid artery, lower pole of thyroid, tracheoesophageal groove, suspensory ligament of thyroid gland and so on. As the specified landmarks, they have several common characteristics:on the one hand, their location should be constant; on the other hand, they should be easy to observe and touch, meanwhile convenient and practical.As a new anatomical landmark, Zuckerkandl tubercle is in accordance with the above characteristics and prevalent in the population. Therefore, Zuckerkandl tubercle could become an important landmark to identify the the recurrent laryngeal nerve, including the laryngeal branches and the superior parathyroid in thyroid surgery. This essay aims to briefly analyze the role of Zuckerkandl tubercle in thyroid surgery.

Objective To compare the accuracy of real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) with DISA-SPECT in detecting hibernating myocardium. Methods Fourteen hospitalized patients with regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) underwent RT-MCE, DISA-SPECT, coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI). Every left ventricular myocardial segment image was acquired and evaluated according 16-segment model of American Society of Echocardiography. The Motion of every segment was observed by echocardiography after 1,3,6 months. The gold standard is that the motion of ventricular segment get better after PCI. The images of RT-MCE and DISA-SPECT were analyzed semi-quantitatively. Results The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy of RT-MCE and DISA-SPECT in detecting hibernating myocardium were 74.60%, 91.7%, 81.3% and 93.3%, 75.0%, 86.2%, respectively. RT-MCE had more value in specificity while DISA-SPECT had more value in sensitivity. The correlation between two methods was good in detecting hibernating myocardium. Conclusions RT-MCE and DISA-SPECT can be used as valuable methods to detect hibernating myocardium, the correlation between two methods is good and they have more value in specificity and sensitivity respectively.

Objective To investigate the value of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI)in diagnosis of extramural vascular invasion (EMVI)of rectal cancer.Methods 33 patients with rectal cancer were reviewed preoperatively.The MRI findings of EMVI of all cases were scored and compared with the postoperative pathological results.Results The MRI EMVI scores were consistent with histopathology findings (k=0.324,P=0.039).The accuracy rate of MRI in diagnosis of EMVI was 66.7% (22/33).The MRI EMVI scores rose up with increased pT stage,meanwhile there was a high correlation between both (r=0.546).The percentage of MRI EMVI positive number was increased with elevated pT stage,and there was also a high correlation between both (r=0.469). ROC curve showed that MRI EMVI scoring was an effective method in diagnosis of rectal cancer EMVI (AUC=0.757).Conclusion HRMRI is a valuable method in diagnosis of EMVI of rectal cancer.

Objective:To study the effects of SiO2 nanoparticles on the organs of mice in vivo after intratracheal instillation, and to provide the basis for safety evaluation of SiO2 nanoparticles. Methods:Forty female BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into control group (saline), low dose of SiO2 group (7 mg·kg-1), middle dose of SiO2 group (21 mg·kg-1), and high dose of SiO2 group (35 mg·kg-1).1 and 15 d after five times of non-exposed intratracheal instilation infection (once every 3 d), the mice were sacrificed and the left lungs,the right kidneys, livers, hearts and spleens were collected and embedded in paraffin.The morphology of tissue sections was observed under light microscope after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining.The eyeball blood was obtained and the biochemical indicators of liver and kidndy functions were detected.Results:Compared with control group, there were alveolar interval thickening, inflammatory cell infiltration, and a small amount of small arterial thrombosis in the lungs;granulomatous inflammatory cell infiltration and a small amount of focal necrosis of liver cells in the livers;red pulp enlargement, hyperemia, and more visibly scattered megakaryocytes in the spleens in SiO2 nanoparticles groups in a dose-dependent manner, especially in middle and high doses of SiO2 groups.After 15 d of injection, the damages alleviated with the prolongation of time.There was some inflammatory cell infiltration in the kidney tissue of the mice in SiO2 nanoparticle groups.The biochemical indicator detection results showed that alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate transaminase(AST) levels in SiO2 nanoparticles groups varied, suggesting the liver cell damages were at different degrees;the changes of urea nitrogen(BUN) and creatinine(Cr) levels in SiO2 nanoparticle groups remindered the kidney function alteration, but there were no obvious dose-and time-dependent effects.Conclusion:Intratracheal instillation of SiO2 nanoparticles can influence the major organs of the mice and mainly displays in the inflammation and injuries in the lung, liver, and spleen.

Objective To explore the local application of immunosuppressant in improving the survival rate of the transplanted islet cells and systemic side effects.Methods The streptozocin of 200 ms/kg was injected into the abdominal cavity of the Wistar rats，the blood sugar was tested after 48，and 72 hours，and the rats with two consecutive measurements ≥20 mol/L were taken as the experimental animal model.The dose of pancreatic islet cells transplanted into the abdominal cavity was 8 000 IE,/kg，and that of cyclosporine dosage was 1.5 mg/(100 g·d).The pancreatic islet cells were divided into three groups：(1)systemic immunosuppressive agents through stomach lavage with the intraperitoneal injection of microencapsulated islet cells；(2)pure intraperitoneal injection of microencapsulated islet cells；(3)intraperitoneal injection microencapsulated activated carbon particles loaded with immunosuppressants，and mieroencapsulated islet cells.Changes of blood glucose and pathological in rats after transplantation were detected.Results The blood glucose of group 3 and group 1 showed no significant difference(P＞0.05)，as well as compared with group 2(P＞0.05).But the local application of immune agents could prolong the effective time of the islet cells and attenuate the fibrotic extent of the surrounding islets when compared with the control group,the C peptide level in applicating immunosuppressive agents group was significantly hisher in the immunosuppressive group than the pure transplantation group.ConclusionCompared with the systemic immune suppression via stomach lavage，local application of slow-release immunosuppressive agents showed the same effects of activated carbon particles，with a prolonged the effective time of islet cell and reduced topical side effects in the latter.

In vertebrate visual system, information is firstly processed in retina. With the development of the multi-electrode recording technique, concerted activity has been extensively observed in retinal ganglion cells of different species. However, the role of concerted activity in visual information processing is still unclear and under debating. This article reviews the recent studies focused on concerted activity among retinal ganglion cells, discussing the issues about its category, detection and physiological function.
Animals ; Cell Communication ; physiology ; Humans ; Photic Stimulation ; Retina ; physiology ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; physiology ; Visual Pathways ; physiology ; Visual Perception ; physiology

Recently, the immunotherapy has been highlighted among cancer treatments. Cancer-testis antigen (CTA) has been studied in a variety of solid tumors because of its specific expression in tumors, and testis, ovary and placenta tissues, but not in other normal tissues. In order to provide a new approach for multiple myeloma (MM) immunotherapy, we examined the CTA expression in MM cell lines, and primary myeloma cells in patients with MM. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of MAGE-C1/CT7, SSX1, SSX2 and SSX4 in MM cell lines of RPMI-8226 and U266, and bone marrow (BM) cells of 25 MM patients and 18 healthy volunteers. The results showed that the 4 CTAs were expressed in RPMI-8226 and U266 cell lines. The positive expression rate of MAGE-C1/CT7, SSX1, SSX2 and SSX4 in the BM cells of 25 MM patients was 28% (7/25), 80% (20/25), 40% (10/25) and 68% (17/25), respectively. In contrast, the expression of any member of the CTAs was not detected in BM cells of 18 healthy volunteers. The expression of two or more CTAs was detected in 80% (20/25) MM patients, and that of at least one CTA in 88% (22/25). The mRNA expression levels of SSX1 and SSX4 were significantly higher in patients with MM at stage III than in those at stage I and II (P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the mRNA expression levels of MAGE-C1/CT7 and SSX2 in further stratified analyses by age, gender, MM types and percentage of MM cells in BM (P>0.05). In conclusion, our present study showed that MAGE-C1/CT7, SSX1, SSX2 and SSX4 were co-expressed in MM cell lines and the primary myeloma cells in MM patients, but not expressed in BM cells of healthy subjects. The mRNA levels of SSX1 and SSX4 are associated with MM clinical stage. This work may provide a new insight into MM immunotherapy in the future.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and diagnostic criteria of migraine in children.Methods The migraine cli-nical characteristics of patients that consistent with the chronic headache diagnostic criteria, excluding other diseases,were analyzed.ICHD-Ⅱ childhood migraine diagnostic criteria was used as gold standard to explore the migraine diagnostic criteria in children.Results 1.In 346 patients, 157 fitted ICHD-Ⅱchildhood migraine diagnostic criteria.2.Type of migraine: probable migraine was the most common(68.8%), the most commonly unfulfilled criterion was associated gastroenteritis symptoms; migraine without aura was the second (19.7%).3.The migraine diagnostic criteria: the most important single-variable was headache associated symptoms,with sensitivity of 70.7%,specificity of 83.6%,the positive predictive value(PPV) was 78.2%,positive likelihood ratio (PLR) was 4.31 and area under curve(AUC) was 0.771.The most important three-variables was headache duration of 1-72 hours, moderate-severe headache and headache associated symptoms, with the sensitivity of 52.2%,specificity of 96.2%,the PPV was 90.1%, the PLR was 13.7 and the AUC was 0. 657.Conclusions The most important single-variable is headache associated symptoms,the most important three-variables are headache duration 1-72 hours, moderate-severe headache and headache associated symptoms.

Objective To develop a real-time PCR assay for the rapid identification of Clostridium(C.)difficile and its toxin. Methods TaqMan real-time PCR was developed for the rapid identification of species specific gene(tpi)of C. difficile strains and the toxins A(TcdA),B(TcdB) and truncated toxin A(TcdAT). Sensitivity,specificity and anti-interference ability of these methods were estimated,as well. Feces sampled from fifty diarrhea patients were tested by real-time PCR and compared to the results from VIDAS assay. Results The detection limits of tpi were 6×10-2 CFU/μl and 6 × 10-1 CFU/μl in the non-oxin producing and toxin producing strains,respectively. The coefficients of variability (CV) of intra-assay and inter-assay for the detection limits of tpi in the non-toxin producing strain were 2.1% and 2.3%. The CVs of intra-assay and inter-assay for the detection limit of tpi,tcdA,tcdB and tcdAT in the toxin producing strain were 3.0%and 3.4%,2.9%and 3.2%,5.3%and 5.7%,2.7%and 2.8%,respectively. No interferance was detected from other genus or species in clostridium. From 50 clinical samples,thirty-nine of them were negative and six of them were positive under the TaqMan-MGB probe technique in accordance with VIDAS. Five samples appeared positive using the TaqMan-MGB probe technique,in which 3 were dubious and 2 were negative under VIDAS. Conclusion The newly developed method was a sensitive and reliable assay for rapid identification of C. difficile and its toxin. This method could be used to screen C. difficile isolates harboring truncated toxin A to avoid misdiagnosis,clinically.

Objective To construct a eukaryofic expression vector for A PP695 gene carrying green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene. Methods RT-PCR was used to amplify the full-length APP695 cDNA. The PCR products and the eukaryotic expression vector pIRES2-EGFP were digested by restriction endonueleases, and the digested APP695 gene was inserted into the digested eukaryotic expression vector. The positive recombinants were identified by PCR analysis, Nhe Ⅰ and Hind Ⅲ digestion and sequence analysis. Results The 2088-bp DNA fragment was amplified by PCR from the plasmid pCB6, and an identical DNA fragment was also amplified from the recombinants. The products of double restriction enzyme digestion were A PP695 gene with a 5.3-kb DNA fragment. Sequence analysis confirmed successful insertion of A PP695 gene into pIRES2-EGFP vector. Conclusion The eukaryotie expression vector pIRES2/APP695-EGFP has been successfully constructed.