Objective: : A role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is not wellunderstood. This study evaluates the effectiveness of DWI in the diagnosis of CVT. Methods: : Literature search was conducted in electronic databases for the identification of studies which reported the outcomes of patients subjected to DWI for CVT diagnosis. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to achieve overall estimates of important diagnostic efficiency indices including hyperintense signal rate, the sensitivity and specificity of DWI in diagnosing CVT, and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of DWI signal areas and surrounding tissue. Results: : Nineteen studies (443 patients with 856 CVTs; age 40 years [95% confidence interval (CI), 33 to 43]; 28% males [95% CI, 18 to 38]; symptom onset to DWI time 4.6 days [95% CI, 2.3 to 6.9]) were included. Hyperintense signals on DWI were detected in 40% (95% CI, 26 to 55) of the cases. The sensitivity of DWI for detecting CVT was 22% (95% CI, 11 to 34) but specificity was 98% (95% CI, 95 to 100). ADC values were quite heterogenous in DWI signal areas. However, generally the ADC values were lower in DWI signal areas than in surrounding normal areas (mean difference−0.33×10-3 mm2/s [95% CI, −0.44 to −0.23]; p<0.00001). Conclusion : DWI has a low sensitivity in detecting CVT and thus has a high risk of missing many CVT cases. However, because of its high specificity, it may have supporting and exploratory roles in CVT diagnosis.

Objective: : A role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is not wellunderstood. This study evaluates the effectiveness of DWI in the diagnosis of CVT. Methods: : Literature search was conducted in electronic databases for the identification of studies which reported the outcomes of patients subjected to DWI for CVT diagnosis. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to achieve overall estimates of important diagnostic efficiency indices including hyperintense signal rate, the sensitivity and specificity of DWI in diagnosing CVT, and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of DWI signal areas and surrounding tissue. Results: : Nineteen studies (443 patients with 856 CVTs; age 40 years [95% confidence interval (CI), 33 to 43]; 28% males [95% CI, 18 to 38]; symptom onset to DWI time 4.6 days [95% CI, 2.3 to 6.9]) were included. Hyperintense signals on DWI were detected in 40% (95% CI, 26 to 55) of the cases. The sensitivity of DWI for detecting CVT was 22% (95% CI, 11 to 34) but specificity was 98% (95% CI, 95 to 100). ADC values were quite heterogenous in DWI signal areas. However, generally the ADC values were lower in DWI signal areas than in surrounding normal areas (mean difference−0.33×10-3 mm2/s [95% CI, −0.44 to −0.23]; p<0.00001). Conclusion : DWI has a low sensitivity in detecting CVT and thus has a high risk of missing many CVT cases. However, because of its high specificity, it may have supporting and exploratory roles in CVT diagnosis.

The chigger mite Leptotrombidium sialkotense is one of the 6 main vectors of scrub typhus in China. Before present study, L. sialkotense was found in some parts of Hunan province, China with a narrow geographical distribution. During field investigation 2016-2017, we found L. sialkotense in Jingha, southern Yunnan, China. Of 15 small mammal host species, L. sialkotense were collected from 6 species of the hosts. Rattus brunneusculus was a dominant host of L. sialkotense, from which 98.3% of the mites were collected. The chigger mite showed a relatively high infestation prevalence (PM=11.7%) and mean abundance (MA=0.5) in comparison with the rest 5 host species. These results reveal a certain host specificity of L. sialkotense to a rat R. brunneusculus. The mite L. sialkotense showed an aggregated distribution on the host (P<0.05). A positive correlation observed between L. sialkotense and the body length of hosts. There was a positive interspecific association between L. sialkotense and 2 other dominant vectors, L. deliense and L. scutellare.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of premature rupture of the membrane (PROM) on neonatal complications in premature infants.

METHODSThe registration information of 7684 preterm infants with gestational age <37 weeks were collected from the cooperative units in the task group between January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Specially trained personnel from each cooperative units filled in the unified form in a standardized format to record the gender, gestational age, birth weight, PROM, placental abruption, antenatal corticosteroid, Apgar score, amniotic fluid pollution, and complications of the infants. The data were analyzed comparatively between the cases with PROM and those without (control).

RESULTSThe preterm mortality rate was significantly lower but the incidences of ICH, NEC, ROP and BPD were significantly higher in PROM group than in the control group (P<0.05). The 95% confidence interval of the OR value was <1 for mortality, and was >1 for ICH, NEC, ROP and BPD. After adjustment for gestational age, birth weight, gender, mode of delivery, placental abruption, placenta previa, prenatal hormones, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational period hypertension and 5-min Apgar score <7, the incidences of NEC, ROP and BPD were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05) with 95% confidence interval of OR value >1, but the mortality rate and incidence of ICH were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONPROM is a risk factor for NEC, ROP and BPD in preterm infants, and adequate intervention of PROM can reduce the incidences of such complications as NEC, ROP and BPD in the infants.

Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture ; pathology ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; etiology ; Infant, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors

Objective To discover the effect of partial splenic embolization on the immune function of cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism. Methods Patients involved in the study were enrolled and divided into three groups, including control group, experimental group, and complication group. Numbers of CD3

OBJECTIVETo explore the safety and feasibility of biodegradable magnesium alloy stapler based on the result of animal experimental study for gastrointestinal anastomosis.

METHODSSixteen beagle dogs were equally and randomly divided into experimental (magnesium alloy) group and control (titanium alloy) group. A gastrojejunal and a colonic anastomosis were performed in each beagle dog. The anastomosis time, postoperative complications, body weight, blasting pressure of anastomosis and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and serum magnesium were compared between the two groups. The healing of anastomosis and degradation of magnesium alloy were observed. The histopathological features of heart, liver, spleen and kidney were examined in the two groups.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in anastomosis time, body weight, postoperative complications, anastomotic bursting pressure between the two groups. The anastomosis was healed well, and no dramatic inflammatory cell infiltration was observed. Magnesium alloy could be degraded completely in the animal body within 90 days. There were no significant differences in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and serum magnesium between the two groups. Histopathological examination showed that the degradation of magnesium alloy did not harm the important organs (liver, kidney, heart, brain and spleen).

CONCLUSIONSMagnesium alloy stapler is safe and feasible for gastrointestinal anastomosis in beagle dogs. The degradation of magnesium alloy does not harm the healing of anastomosis and other important organs. Magnesium alloy stapler may be a candidate of biodegradable and safe material of stapler for gastrointestinal anastomosis in human.

Absorbable Implants ; Alloys ; Animals ; Dogs ; Female ; Gastroenterostomy ; instrumentation ; Magnesium ; Male ; Sutures ; Titanium

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of mini-incisional double-tsuge suture method with 0-0 absorbable polydioxanone-cord (PDS-Ⅱ)in repair of acute achilles tendon rupture.MethodsA total of 34 patients were subjected to acute closed achilles tendon ruptures,including 25 males and 9 females at a mean age of 32 years ( range,20-45 years).Injury causes included sports injuries in 27 patients,falling injuries in six and heavy object impingement injury in one.The time from injury to operation was average 3 days (range,1-6 days).All patients underwent minimally invasive repair with double-tsuge suture method by using PDS-Ⅱ.The ankle joint was fixed with short leg plaster cast at 30° plantar flexion position and the cast was removed six weeks later to take functional exercise.The patients could walk with full weight-bearing 8-10 weeks later and could gradually return to activity 3-4 months later.Results There was one patient with poor incision healing and one patient with reflex sympathetic dystrophy postoperatively.The rest patients had stage Ⅰ incision healing without skin adhesions.No complications such as infection,lower extremity deep venous thrombosis or sural nerve injury occurred postoperatively.All the patients received follow-up of 12-24 months (average 15 months),which showed no complications like tendon rerupture occurred.According to clinical evaluation criterion of Termann,the average score was 92 points (range,76-96 points).The result was excellent in 28 patients,good in five and fair in one,with excellence rate of 97％.ConclusionsSmall incisional double-tsuge suture method achieves low rate of complications and good outcomes for repairing acute achilles tendon rupture and is an ideal tendon surgery approach.

OBJECTIVETo examine UVB-induced responses in normal human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and epidermoid carcinoma cells (A431) at the cellular and molecular level, and investigated the protective effect of salidroside.

METHODSCells irradiated by UVB at various dosage and their viability was assessed by MTT assays, cell cycle was analysed by flow cytometry. The expression of NF-κB, BCL-2, and CDK6 after 50 J/m(2) UVB irradiation were detected by RT-PCR and western blotting.

RESULTSOur results confirmed greater tolerance of A341 cells to UVB-induced damage such as cell viability and cell cycle arrest, which was accompanied by differential expression changes in NF-κB, BCL-2, and CDK6. UVB exposure resulted in HaCaT cells undergoing G(1)-S phase arrest. When treated with salidroside, HaCaT survival was significantly enhanced following exposure to UVB, suggesting great therapeutic potential for this compound.

CONCLUSIONTaken together, our study suggests that A431 respond differently to UVB than normal HaCaT cells, and supports a role for NF-κB, CDK6, and BCL-2 in UVB-induced cell G(1)-S phase arrest. Furthermore, salidroside can effectively protect HaCaT from UVB irradiation.

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; radiation effects ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; Ultraviolet Rays

OBJECTIVETo investigate the health status and intention of quitting smoking in factory workers, so as to provide scientific evidence for smoking control.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was carried out on smoking behavior, self-reported health status (SRHS), and intention of quitting smoking in 668 Guangzhou factory workers with different job types. Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) was used on current smokers. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the association of SRHS, difficulty of quitting smoking (DQS) with some risk factors.

RESULTS(1) 65.0% (n = 348) male and 3.0% (n = 4) female workers were ever-smokers. 90.6% of male smokers usually smoked when getting together with friends or smokers, staying at home, or at leisure time, or just after a meal. (2) 10.7% of the daily smokers and ex-smokers had a worse SRHS than the general same-age people, which is significantly higher than 5.1% of the occasional smokers and those who were never smoking. The OR was 2.22 (95% CI 1.08 approximately 4.59) after adjusting age and education. (3) Of male daily smokers, 50.5% ever thought of quitting smoking. The proportions of ever-thought of quitting smoking were 73.3%, 50.0% and 37.2% respectively in those with better, pretty the same and worse SRHS than the general same-age people (P = 0.009). The proportions of DQS self-scored 30 or less, 31 to 60 and 60 or more were 26.9%, 24.9% and 48.2% respectively in male daily smokers. The OR for DQS (self-scored > 30 vs < or =30) increased with increasing number of colleague smoked and worked around, and with nicotine dependence.

CONCLUSIONDaily smokers and former smokers have worse SRHS than those who are occasional smokers or never smokers in male workers, and most of those with worse SRHS who ever thought of quitting smoking. The DQS is mainly significantly associated with number of colleague smoking and working around, and with nicotine dependence.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Intention ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tobacco Use Disorder ; epidemiology

Objective To investigate smoking behavior and nicotine dependence (ND), so as to provide evidence for tobacco control in workers. Methods A cross-sectional study to investigate smoking behavior and ND in 668 workers with different job assignment in Guangzhou. Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence and logistic regression model were used to analyze the association between ND and some risk factors. Results (1) The prevalence of ever-smoking was 65.0 % ( 348/535 ) in men ( 55.5 % daily smokers, 5.4% occasional smokers and 4.1% ex-smokers), and 3.0% (4/133) in women. The prevalence of current smoking for manual workers and safety officers were 67.6 % and 64.5 % respectively.(2) Among daily and occasional smokers, 66.7% and 89.7% of them had low ND respectively. Among daily smokers, ND increased with the duration of smoking. Manual workers and officers had higher ND. Conclusion The prevalence of smoking was relatively high in workers and officers and in men. However,majority of the smokers were with low ND and could be the prioritized target for a primary smoking cessation intervention program.