OBJECTIVETo explore the value of phase ordering with automatic window selection(PAWS)and simultaneous multiple volume(SMV)algorithm double respiratory navigator-gated two-dimensional(2DNAV)dual inversion recovery(DIR)fast spin echo(FSE)high-resolution black-blood coronary artery wall magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and evaluate its advantages and limitations.

METHODSPAWS and SMV 2DNAV DIR FSE high-resolution black-blood MRI was performed in 21 healthy volunteers. The images were evaluated qualitatively by using four grades(grade 0can not evaluate;grade 1bad;grade 2good;grade 3perfect). Images defined as grade 0 and grade 1 were excluded and those defined as grade 2 and 3 were evaluated further. Thickness of proximal(or middle)segment of right coronary artery(RCA)and left anterior descending branch(LAD)were measured. The difference of wall thickness was analyzed by using two-tailed independent sample t-test. P values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTSAmong the 38 slice images,31 slices(RCA13 slices,LAD18 slices;grade 214 slices,grade 317 slices)were obtained for further evaluation. The mean thickness of RCA and LAD was(0.94±0.16)and(0.89±0.15)mm,respectively,and the difference was not significant(t=-0.790,P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONPAWS and SMV algorithm 2DNAV DIR FSE high-resolution black-blood MRI has certain clinical value for coronary artery wall imaging.

Adult ; Coronary Vessels ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a non-thermal and non-invasive mechanical stimulation, which has achieved certain curative efficacy on bone and cartilage defects. OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the effects and mechanisms of LIPUS in bone and cartilage regeneration process, and to review the related cellular signals and tissue regeneration mechanism involved in the current achievement of basic research and clinical application, thus providing theoretical basis for clinics. METHODS: The first author retrieved Cochrane Library, PubMed, CBM, CNKI and WanFang databases using compute for the articles addressing LIPUS promoting bone and cartilage regeneration published from January 1990 to February 2017. The keywords were "LIPUS, calcium, integrin, nitric, oxide, prostaglandin, BMP" in English and Chinese, respectively. The articles published in authoritative magazines or recently published were preferred, and finally 80 articles were selected for result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The basic research concerning LIPUS involves cellular mechanics and tissue engineering. Especially with the support of molecular biology, there has been a major breakthrough in promoting bone and cartilage regeneration. LIPUS can stimulate cells and tissues to produce mechanical signals by mechanical wave, lead to changes in cytokines in the signaling pathways, further accelerate blood supply and metabolism, and finally promote the regeneration of bone and cartilage. Therefore, LIPUS is an effective treatment method.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the risk factors of postoperative renal failure (RF) in the patients with type A dissection of aorta operated on with cerebral perfusion and deep hypothermia circulatory arrest (DHCA).

METHODSFrom January 2004 to October 2007, 157 patients with type A dissection of aorta underwent surgical procedures with cerebral perfusion and DHCA. There were 115 male patients and 42 female patients with the age from 17 to 76 years old. Antegrade selective cerebral perfusion through axillary artery was performed for 129 patients and retrograde cerebral perfusion from superior cava vein was performed for 28 patients. All the factors underwent univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTSMean cardiopulmonary bypass duration was (188.0 +/- 10.8) min and mean cerebral perfusion time was (36.0 +/- 3.1) min. Fifteen patients died in hospital and the hospital mortality was 9.6%. Permanent neurological dysfunction (PND) occurred in 8 patients (5.1%). Postoperative RF was observed in 20 patients (12.8%). Multivariate analysis showed the preoperative renal dysfunction (P = 0.042, OR = 4.41) and over seventy-year-old patients (P = 0.049, OR = 4.94) were found to be the risk factors of postoperative RF. There was a higher incidence of death (45%, P = 0.001) and PND (25%, P = 0.009) in the patients of postoperative RF when compared with the other patients.

CONCLUSIONThe preoperative renal dysfunction and elderly patients were found to be the risk factors of postoperative RF after type A dissection of aorta surgery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; surgery ; Female ; Heart Arrest, Induced ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perfusion ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Renal Insufficiency ; etiology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVEIn mid-July 2005, five patients presented with septic shock to a hospital in Ziyang city in Sichuan, China, to identify the etiology of the unknown reason disease, an epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory study were conducted.

METHODSAn enhanced surveillance program were established in Sichuan, the following activities were introduced: active case finding in Sichuan of (a) laboratory diagnosed Streptococcus suis infection and (b) clinically diagnosed probable cases with exposure history; supplemented by (c) monitoring reports on meningococcal meningitis. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection was confirmed by culture and biochemical reactions, followed by sequencing for specific genes for serotype and virulence factors.

RESULTSFrom June 10 to August 21, 2005, 68 laboratory confirmed cases of human Streptococcus suis infections were reported. All were villagers who gave a history of direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in their backyards where slaughtering was performed. Twenty six (38%) presented with toxic shock syndrome of which 15 (58%) died. Other presentations were septicaemia or meningitis. All isolates were tested positive for genes for tuf, species-specific 16S rRNA, cps2J, mrp, ef and sly. There were 136 clinically diagnosed probable cases with similar exposure history but incomplete laboratory investigations.

CONCLUSIONAn outbreak of human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infections occurred in villagers after direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in Sichuan. Prohibition of slaughtering in backyards brought the outbreak to a halt. A virulent strain of the bacteria is speculated to be in circulation, and is responsible for the unusual presentation of toxic shock syndrome with high case fatality.

Animals ; Bacteremia ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Shock, Septic ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; veterinary ; Streptococcus suis ; isolation & purification ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; microbiology

An experimental device is designed to solve the problem of fixing rabbits and providing moxibustion treatment at the same time. The device includes a rabbit fixing box and a moxibustion shelf. The rabbit fixing box and the moxibustion shelf are detachable, and could be used for moxibustion at the chest-back and abdomen of rabbits. A moxibustion device is placed on the moxibustion shelf. The moxibustion device can be moved forward, backward, leftward, rightward, upward and downward on the moxibustion shelf. It meets the requirements of moxibustion at multiple meridians or acupoints on the chest-back and abdomen at the same time. The moxibustion device is equipped with moxa cone or stick, which not only ensures the full burning of moxa, but also prevents the falling of moxa from hurting rabbits. In conclusion, the device has novel and unique structure, is safe and reliable, and easy to operate. It is an innovation in the experimental device of moxibustion, which could promote the animal experiment of moxibustion.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Meridians ; Moxibustion ; instrumentation ; Rabbits

Objective: To evaluate the effects of antiretrovirals on cardiovascular function and some biochemical indexes in gestational female rats. Methods: Nineteen 9-week-old female and six 10-week-old male SD rats were divided into normal control group (CON) and highly active antiretroviral therapy group (HARRT), 9/10 female rats and 3 male rats were combined into one cage, totally 2 cages. Female rats in CON group were intragastrically given with normal saline (NS, 10 ml/kg) every morning and evening, while female rats in HARRT group were treated with equal volume antiretrovirals (AZT 31.25 mg/kg + 3TC 15.63 mg/kg + LPV/r (41.67/10.42) mg/kg) for 3 months. The body weight and survival rate of female rats were recorded. Echocardiography and multichannel physiological recorder were used to detect arterial blood pressure and cardiac hemodynamic parameters. The levels of blood glucose, blood lipids, myocardial enzymes and liver enzymes were detected by corresponding kits. Myocardial collagen fibers were observed by Masson staining and the ultrastructure of myocardial cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results: All female rats in CON group survived (9/9), while only 6 rats in HARRT group survived (6/10). Compared with CON group, the body weight of female rats in HAART group was decreased significantly(P＜0.01); the levels of left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVDd), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), thickness of left ventricular posterior wall (LVPWT) , left atrial diameter (LAD) and arterial diastolic pressure were increased significantly (P＜0.05); the level of LVP+dP/dtmax was decreased (P＜0.01). The levels of triglyceride, creatine kinase, and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase were decreased (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), while the level of glucose was increased (P＜0.05). The collagen fibers were increased in myocardial tissue, and ultrastructure of myocardial cells was abnormal. Conclusion: Antiretrovirals during gestation can cause cardiovascular diseases in female rats.
Animals ; Anti-Retroviral Agents/adverse effects* ; Body Weight ; Cardiotoxicity ; Collagen ; Female ; Myocytes, Cardiac/ultrastructure* ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley