Purpose To investigate the features of 64-slice spiral computerized tomography (CT) on collateral circulation of pancreatic portal hypertension (PPH).Material and Methods the abdominal CT images of 52 patients with PPH confirmed by pathology the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from August 2013 to May 2015 were analyzed retrospectively.The collateral circulations of portal vein were recorded.Results There were 21 (40.4％) patients with isolated splenic vein occlusion (ISVO),and 32 (59.6％) patients with non isolated splenic vein occlusion (NISVO) in the total 52 patients.There was no significant difference in the occurrence rate between ISVO and NISVO (x2=1.92,P＞0.05).The main collateral pathways of PPH were pathway Type Ⅰ (28 patients)and pathway Type Ⅲ (22 patients),and 2 patients belonged to pathway Type Ⅱ.The patients in pathway Type Ⅰ or Ⅲ were significantly more than patients in pathway Type Ⅱ(P＜0.01).There were 92.3％ (48/52) of patients with gastroepiploic varicosity,which is significantly higher than other varicose veins (P＜0.001).The significant difference was found between the patients (21.2％) with gastric fundus varicosity and the patients (1.9％)with inferior segment esophageal varices (x2=9.42,P＜0.01).The patients with gastric fundus varicosity and right superior colic varicosity in NISVO were more than those in ISVO (x2=4.15,7.44,P＜0.05).Conclusion For PPH patients,the valuable features of collateral circulation can be revealed by multi-slices CT.

Objective To study the value of DSA for hepatic vascular anatomy,and to evaluate the efficacy of portal vein occlusion in rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumor.Methods Twenty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups with 10 in each group,including test group A and positive control group B of ham operation.For the test group A,portal branch ligation(PBL)was performed for the left external branch after 3 weeks of the tumor implantation to the left external lobe.Two weeks later,the DSA of hepatic artery and portal vein were performed in all of the rabbits.Results The total displaying effectiveness of the branches of hepatic artery by DSA was better than that by vascular perfusion.There was hypovascular blood supply to hepatic artery implantation of the tumor in the test group A,comparing with that of the group B.Conclusion DSA can clearly display spacial details of the hepatic vascular anatomy in rabbits,and play an important role in post-procedual evaluation of the portal vein occlusion in rabbits.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between copper speciation and microbial features (microbial communities and copper tolerance level) in order to determine the adverse effect of different forms of Cu on microorganisms.

METHODSTessier's sequential extraction procedure was used to qualify the different Cu forms (exchangeable, carbonate bound, Fe/Mn oxide bound, residue and organic matter bound), and the copper tolerance level (expressed as IC50, influence concentration) was measured by the plate-count method.

RESULTSBy simple correlation analysis, the IC50 was positively correlated with the concentration of exchangeable Cu (R2 = 0.8204), while weakly correlated with other forms of Cu.

CONCLUSIONThe bacterial community tolerance increases in the copper-contaminated soil while sensitive bacteria decrease in the copper-contaminated soils. The exchangeable Cu exerts high toxicity to microbial communities.

Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; China ; Copper ; analysis ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Environmental Monitoring ; Fungi ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants ; chemistry ; toxicity

Objective To investigate the roles of mouse erythroid differentiation and denucleation factor (MEDDF), newly cloned in our laboratory, in erythroid terminal differentiation. Methods Mouse erythroleukemia cells (MEL) were transfected with eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA-MEDDF. The changes of cell growth rate, mitotic index and colony-forming rate in semi-solid medium were investigated.The expressions of c-myc and β-globin genes were analysed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results MEL cells transfected with pcDNA-MEDDF showed significant lower growth rate, mitotic index, and colony-forming rate in semisolid medium(P＜0.01).The percentage of benzidine-positive cells was 32.8% after transfection. The expression of β-globin in cells transfected with pcDNA-MEDDF was 3.43 times higher than that of control (MEL transfected with blank vector, pcDNA3.1 ), and the expression of c-myc was decreased by 66.3%.Conclusions MEDDF can induce differentiation of MELcell, and suppress its malignancy likely.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of rat protamine (RP) gene in MEL cells and the effect on cell growth.

METHODSEukaryotic expression plasmid pCR-3.1-RP was constructed and transfected into MEL cells. The changes of cell growth rate, mitotic index and colony-forming rate in semi-solid medium were investigated.

RESULTSTransfected MEL cells showed lower growth rate, mitotic index and colony-forming rate. Volumes of cells were reduced and reduction of RNA transcription was observed.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that expression of RP in MEL cell may inhibit the cell growth and proliferation.

Animals ; Cell Division ; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute ; genetics ; pathology ; Plasmids ; Protamines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

BACKGROUNDX-linked hearing impairment is clinically and genetically a heterogeneous disease. Although many disorders manifest with hearing loss, a limited number of sex-linked loci and only one gene (POU3F4) have been shown to be implicated in X-linked non-syndromic hearing impairment. In the present study, we have performed a clinical and genetic analysis of a Chinese family with X-linked non-syndromic hearing loss, with emphasis on audiological findings and genomic mapping.

METHODSThe clinical features of Family JX01 were evaluated by physical and audiometric examination in eighteen family members. Mutation screening of POU3F4 was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing. Molecular evaluation consisted of X-chromosome wide genotyping by microsatellite makers (STR), followed by analyzing using MLINK computer program.

RESULTSFive affected males demonstrated bilateral, symmetrical sensorineural and profound hearing loss. The hearing impairment started prelingual. The female carriers did not have any complain of hearing loss, however, two of them were tested with milder loss with high frequency. No causative mutations in POU3F4 gene were detected by DNA sequencing. Linkage analysis indicated that the responsible gene was linked to locus DXS1227 (maximum lod score = 2.04 at theta = 0).

CONCLUSIONSThe affected males in Family JX01 have profound prelingual sensorineural hearing impairment. In addition, two female carriers showed mild to moderate hearing losses. However, none of females complained of any hearing loss. Analysis of hereditary deafness in this family mapped most compatibly to the Xq27.2.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Linkage ; genetics ; Genotype ; Hearing Loss ; genetics ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVETo study the alterations and relationship of surfactant protein (SP)-A, SP-D and KL-6 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).

METHODSelf-control method was used for the study on SP-A, SP-D and KL-6 in serum, infected and non-infected BALFs in 32 MMP children with only one side of MPP.

RESULTThe contents of SP-A, SP-D and KL-6 in infected BALF were [mg/L;M (IQR) ]: 243 (90-468) , 187 (43-333) , 148 (47-426) ;104 (37-257) , 56 (25-131) , 35 (12-147) in non-infected BALF; 35 (25-69) , 33 (9-149) and 24 (15-62) in serum. The correlation coefficient of KL-6 between serum and infected BALF were -0.534 and -0.378 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere were significant correlation between the alterations of SP-A, SP-D and KL-6 in serum and lung infection in children with CAP. KL-6 in serum may be more sensitive than SP-A and SP-D.

Adolescent ; Biomarkers ; blood ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mucin-1 ; blood ; metabolism ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; blood ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A ; blood ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D ; blood ; metabolism ; Severity of Illness Index

We explored the status of Babesia infection in natural hosts in Fujian Province.Rodents in Fujian Province were captured by the night trapping method during 2014-2016.Heart blood samples were collected.At the same time blood samples of ox,goats and dogs were also collected,from which the fragments of 18S rRNA gene of Babesia were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Data on infection rate were analyzed with Chi-square or Fisher exact test to indicate statistical significance.Results showed that 5 917 cages were laid and 381 rodents were captured,density of rodent was 6.44％.The o verall Babesia infection rate in rodents was 7.61％,while infection rate in domesticated rodents was 1.68％,and the infection rate in wide rodents was 12.87％.The infection rate was higher in wild rodents than that in domesticated rodents,and the statistical analysis result revealed a significant difference.The infection rates in region of Central Fujian and Eastern Fujian was high,and no infection was found in Southern Fujian region.The statistical analysis result revealed a significant difference in infection rate among different regions.The infection rate of goats and dogs were determined to be 1.79 ％ and 0.55 ％,and no infection was found in ox.The infection rate was higher in rodents than that in other host animals,and the statistical analysis result revealed a significant difference.It is suggested that the rodents,especially the wide rodents are the main natural hosts of Babesia.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of hemodiafiltration combined with hemoperfusion in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).Methods:A total of 40 patients with SHPT undergoing MHD who received treatment at the Blood Purification Center of The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Science and Technology from February 2021 to March 2023 were included in this prospective cohort study. They were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group ( n = 20/group).The control group received a single high flux hemodialysis, while the observation group used a combination of hemodialysis filtration and hemoperfusion for 3 months. In both groups, the changes in hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, serum calcium, serum phosphorus,and parathyroid hormone levels were compared before and after dialysis. Results:After dialysis, the hemoglobin level in the observation group was (119.45 ± 5.27) g/L, which was significantly higher than (106.30 ± 6.52) g/L in the control group ( t = -7.02, P < 0.001). The serum phosphorus level in the observation group was (1.18 ± 0.17) mmol/L, which was significantly lower than (1.52 ± 0.22) mmol/L in the control group ( t = 5.49, P < 0.001). The parathyroid hormone level in the observation group was (122.14 ± 40.57) ng/L, which was significantly lower than (168.78 ± 78.27) ng/L in the control group ( t = 2.39, P = 0.023). Conclusion:Hemodiafiltration combined with hemoperfusion can reduce clinical symptoms, increase hemoglobin level, and reduce phosphorus and parathyroid hormone levels in patients with SHPT undergoing MHD, which deserves clinical promotion.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of chronic arsenic exposure on cerebral cortex and serum metabolics of mice and explore the mechanism of arsenic neurotoxicity.

METHODSTwelve 3-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned into exposure group and control group and exposed to sodium arsenite (50 mg/L) via drinking water and deionized water for 12 weeks, respectively. After the exposure, arsenic level in the cerebrum was determined by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The metabolites in the cerebral cortex and serum were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to analyze the difference of the metabolites between the exposure and the control groups. Online tools for analyzing metabolic pathways were used to identify the related metabolites pathways.

RESULTSArsenic content in the brain of exposure group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The mice exposed to arsenic had a higher level of citric acid, phenylalanine, tyrosine, histidine and lysine in the cerebral cortex (P<0.05). Serum levels of serine, glycine, proline, aspartate and glutamate were significantly higher while α-ketoglutaric acid level was significantly lower in the exposure group than in the control group (P<0.05). PCA analysis showed a significant difference in cerebral cortex and serum metabolites between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONChronic arsenic exposure may affect the function of the central nervous system by interfering with amino acid metabolism and tricarboxylic acid cycle, which may be one of the mechanisms of arsenic neurotoxicity.