Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Cyst ; pathology ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the assistant diagnostic value of low dose CT in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) based on ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) SPECT imaging.Methods One hundred and two patients with clinical suspected PE had been enrolled for this retrospective study.The final diagnosis of PE was made according to the 2008 guidelines of European Society of Cardiology (ESC).All patients underwent V/Q SPECT/CT (Hawkeye 4,GE).The imaging findings from low dose CT lung window were used for differential diagnoses of abnormal regions in SPECT imaging.The diagnostic efficiency of V/Q SPECT alone was compared with that of V/Q SPECT combined with low dose CT scan.Crosstabsx2 test was performed using SPSS 13.0 software.Results Twenty-nine patients (28.43％,29/102) were finally diagnosed as PE.V/Q SPECT alone had a sensitivity of 93.10％ (27/29),a specificity of 90.41％ (66/73),and an accuracy of 91.18％ (93/102).With additional diagnostic information from low dose CT,the diagnostic specificity increased to 95.89％ (70/73,X2 =1.72,P ＞ 0.05 ),and the accuracy increased to 95.10％ (97/102,x2 =1.23,P ＞ 0.05) though the sensitivity remained the same.Conclusion Imaginginformation from low dose CT in hybrid SPECT/CT may enhance V/Q diagnostic accuracy for PE.

Superficial cubital veins were studied on the upper limbs of 300 adults. The resultsshow that the arrangement of veins in the cubital fossa may be divided into six types.Each type may be classified into several subtypes according to the way of terminationand the number of median antebrachial veins. 50.66 per cent of the cases studied belongto the first type in which the cephalic vein is connected with the basilic vein by themedian cubital vein. 40.83 per cent cases belong to the second type in which the cephalicis connected with the basilic by the Y-shaped median antebrachial vein. It is found thatthe number of cases in the third type is the least. The brachial and cephalic veins inthis type are very slender. It is observed that the median antebrachial veins are alwaysconnected with the median oubital or the basilic veins. The accessory cephalic veins ap-pear in 40.17 per cent of the cases. The islet-form of these veins embodies only 5.17per cent of the cases. The findings outlined in this report have been discussed togetherwith the results of other authors.

Objective To investigate the gender difference in the smile aesthetic features in aged Han Chinese with normal occlusion and its clinical significance.Methods Fifty-six aged Han Chinese (male:28,female:28,aged 60-66 years)with normal occlusion were included in this study.Smiling images of the resting-position and mandibular postural position were obtained in an anteriorposterior view.The CoSmileMAA1.0 software was used to evaluate the indices associated with the smile-aesthetic features,and its clinical significance was analyzed.Results Significant differences were noted in the nasal ala width,upper lip length,lip clearance,angle oris width in resting-position/ smiling position together with the changes of lip clearance,angle oris width,distance of inferior margin of upper lip to cutting edge of the maxillary incisor teeth,distance of superior border of lower lip to cutting edge of the maxillary incisor teeth,smile line ratio and type of smile (all P＜0.05).When the subjects were smiling,the changes of lip clearance was greater in females than in males [(10.7±1.9)mm vs.(11.3±1.6)mm,P＜0.05],the changes of angle oris width was greater in males than in females [(14.1±1.6)mm vs.(13.4±1.3)mm,P＜0.05],and the smile line ratio was less in males than in females [(0.9±0.2) vs.(1.1±0.5),P＜0.05],which indicate that the females had more attractive smile in aged Han Chinese with normal occlusion than males.The type of smile was mainly high smile in elderly females and median smile in elderly males [53.6％ (15 cases) and 60.7％ (17 cases),x2 =6.43,P＜0.05].Conclusions Significant gender difference is noted in the smile-aesthetic features in aged Han Chinese with normal occlusion.Modulation of maxillary incisor teeth length and smile line ratio can contribute to the aesthetic appearance of smiling.

BACKGROUND:Related studies have showed that poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolide can effectively package antisense oligonucleotides, smal interfering RNA, microRNA. Poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolide can better protect them against the destruction of the enzymes in vivo and have slow the drug release. Therefore, the number of drug administration can be reduced to achieve a long-term and effective therapeutic effect. ＜br> OBJECTIVE:To prepare poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolide-CXCR4-miRNA-nano-particles and to research the characteristics of the prepared nanoparticles. ＜br> METHODS:Poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolide-CXCR4-miRNA nanoparticles were prepared by double emulsion-evaporation process. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry was utilized for measurement of encapsulation efficiency and drug-loading rate, observing the shape of nanoparticles by transmission electron microscope, and measuring the size and distribution of nanoparticles by laser particle size analyzer. Sustained-release characteristics of nanoparticle suspension were observed in phosphate buffer. ＜br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The prepared nanoparticles were spherical-shaped, smooth, evently distributed and inadhesive. The particle size was mainly distributed within 143-502 nm, with an average diameter of 280 nm. The average drug loading was (0.515±0.023)%, the average encapsulation ratio was 50.2%and difference between batches was smal . The nanoparticles could slowly release in vitro and the process initial y experienced the fast-release stage, and then reached a basical y stable platform stage at day 14. These finding indicate that the process to prepare poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolide CXCR4-miRNA-nanoparticles by double emulsion-evaporation is simple. The prepared nanoparticles are wel targeted and exhibit sustained-release effects.

Objective To observe the effect of intra-articular injection of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)on the experimental osteoarthritis in rabbits and study the mechanism.Methods Forty rabbits un derwent unilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)and then divided into two groups randomly. 100?mol/L DHEA resolved in the dimethylsulphoxide were injected into the knees of experimental rabbits 4 weeks after transection,once a week for five weeks.Rabbits in the control group were treated under the same schedule using dimethylsulphoxide.All rabbits were killed 9 weeks after ACLT and the knee joints were evalu- ated by gross morphology and histology.The mRNA expression of metalloproteinases-3(MMP-3),tissue in- hibitor of metalloproteinases-1(TIMP-1)and interleukin-lbeta(IL-1?)in the cartilage and synovium was analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Gross morphologic in- spection and histological evaluation showed that the extent and grade of cartilage and synovium damage in the experimental group were less severe than the control group.The mRNA expression of MMP-3 in cartilage and synovium decreased significantly in the experimental group(both P＜0.05).The mRNA expression of TIMP-1 in cartilage and synovium increased significantly in the experimental group compared with that in the control group(both P＜0.05).No significant difference of IL-1?mRNA expression in cartilage was found between the experimental and the control groups(P＞0.05).The mRNA expression of IL-1?in the synovium was signifi- cantly suppressed in the experimental group compared with that in the control group(P＜0.01).Conclusion DHEA protects against cartilage degradation,alleviates synovium inflammation and inhibits the progression of osteoarthritis in the experimental model.Down-regulation of MMP-3 and up-regulation of TIMP-1 in cartilage and synovium and IL-1?in the synovium may be the mechanism of the protective effect of DHEA on os- teoarthritis.

Objective To study the inhibitory effects of dendritic cells modified by sCD41)gene on T lymphocytes phenotypes and cytokines production and the mechanism of inducing donor-specific immune tolerance in vitro.Methods T lymphocytes prepared with Nylon Fiber Column from Balb/c mice(as reaction cells)and DCs of different groups(as stimulation cells)were subjected to primary mixed lymphocyte culture(MLC).After incubation for 7 days,the responsiveness of the cells was de- tected by MTS method at the indicated time points,and supernatants were assayed for IFN-?,IL-2, IL-4,IL-10 by ELISA kits.On the day 5,the cultured cells were assessed for the expression of CD4, CDS,CD25 and CD69 by using flow cytometry(FCM).After secondary MLC for 5 days,the same indexes were assayed hy using the same methods.Results Dendritic cells modified by sCD40 could in- duce the hyporesponsiveness to alloantigen in primary and secondary MLC.In primary MLC,the ex- pression of CD4~+ and CD8~+ T cells and CD4~+ CD25~+,CD8~+ CD25~+,CD4~+ CD69~+,CD8~+ CD69~+ T cells in IX;modified by sCD40 group were less than those in control group(P

Objective To investigate the distribution of ompA gnne in 15 Chinese reference standard strains belonging to 15 serogroups of Leptospira interrogate, and to express recombinant OmpA ( rOmpA ) and to identify immunogenicity and immunoprotection of rOmpA. Methods Genomic DNAs from different leptospiral strains were extracted by phenol-chloroform method. Entire ompA gene fragments from the strains were amplified by PCR and then sequenced after T-A cloning. A prokaryotic expression system of ompA gene from L. interrogans strain 56601 was constructed, and the expression and yield of rOmpA were determined by SOS-PAGE plus Bio-Rad Agarose Image Analyser. Rabbits were immunized with rOmpA for obtaining antiserum, and immunodiffusion test was used to measure the antiserum's titer. Western blot assay was performed to determine the immunoreaetivity of rOmpA with the antiserum against rOmpA and antiserum against whole cell of L. interrogans strain 56601, while mi-croscopic agglutination test (MAT) was applied to detect the cross agglutination to the 15 L. interrogans strains. A leptospire adhering cell model and a leptospire infecting guinea pigs model were used to determine the adhesion-bloc-king effect of rOmpA antiserum and immunoprotection of rOmpA. Results All the 15 L. interrogans strains, but not L. biflexa strain Patoe Ⅰ , had sequence conserved ompA genes. The yield of rOmpA was approximate 20% of the total bacterial proteins, rOmpA could induce rabbits to produce antibody and immunodiffusion titer of the anti-serum was 1:4. Both antisera against rOmpA and against whole cell of L. interrogans strain 56601 were able to pro-duce positive Western blot signs to rOmpA, and the former offered 1 : 20-1 : 320 MAT titers to the 15 L. interrogans strains. 1: 10-1:160 dilutions of rOmpA antiserum could efficiently block L. interrogans strain 56601 adhering to J774A. 1 cells, and 100 μg and 200 μg rOmpA displayed 50.0% and 75.0% immunoprotective rates in the infee-ted guinea pigs. Conclusion ompA gene only exists in genomes of different pathogenic L. interrogans serogroups. rOmpA has relatively stronger antigenicity, cross immunoreactivity and certain immunoprotection, implying that this recombinant protein may be used as a candidate antigen for developing universal genetic engineering vaccine of L. interrogans.

0.35 U?L-1 was taken as standard of positive detection.Among all the 20 allergen,atopy could be diagnosed by one positive allergen detected.The controlling non-atopy group were the controlls.Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect viruses in the nasopharyngeal secretions of these patients,including respiratory syncytial viruses,rhincvirus,influenza virus,parainfluenza,human metocpneumo virus,human bocavirus,enterovirus.The virus-positive patients were then divided into 2 groups,atopic virus-positive group and non-atopic virus-positive group.Cytokines IL-12 and IL-27 were further determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay me-thod.Results A total of 65 cases(56.0%) and 77 cases(66.4%) out of 116 cases of recurrent wheezing children,were found to be allergen-positive and virus-positive,respectively.The virus-positive rate was 75.4% in atopic group and 54.9% in non-atopic group.There was a significant difference in the virus-positive rates between the atopic and non-atopic group(?2=5.37,P0.05).Furthermore,serum IL-12 and IL-27 in the atopic group were significantly higher than those in the non-atopic group(t=2.579,2.573,Pa

AIM:To compare the clinical effects of 25G+ and 27G+ transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy in treating idiopathic macular hole.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical outcomes of 56 eyes (56 patients) with idiopathic macular hole which were treated with micro-incision vitrectomy from June 2015 to September 2016.Patients were divided into two groups, 28 patients (28 eyes) were treated with 25G+ vitrectomy and the rest (28 eyes) were treated with 27G+ vitrectomy.The operative time and intraoperative complications were recorded and patients were followed up for 3-6mo.During the follow up period, best correct vision acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, macular hole healing and postoperative complications were documented and statistically analyzed.RESULTS: BCVA in two groups were significantly improved after surgery(P<0.001) and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P=0.84).No serious complications occurred.No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in surgical time and healing rate of macular hole (P=0.57, 0.64).The incidence of low intraocular pressure (IOP<10mmHg) in 27G+ group was lower than that in 25G+ group on the first day after surgery(P=0.31).There was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure at 1wk after operation in both groups (P=0.72, 0.92).CONCLUSION: Both 25G+ and 27G+ vitrectomy are safe and effective technique in treating idiopathic macular hole.Besides, 27G+ showed better superiority on the maintenance of intraocular pressure and reduce the trauma.