Amyloid fibrils are found in systemic amyloidosis diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and type II diabetes. Currently, these diseases are diagnosed by observation of fibrils or plaques, which is an ineffective method for early diagnosis and treatment of disease. The goal of this study was to develop a simple and quick method to predict the possibility and speed of fibril formation before its occurrence. Oligomers generated from seven representative peptide segments were first isolated and detected by ion-mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS). Then, their assemblies were disrupted using formic acid (FA). Interestingly, oligomers that showed small ion intensity changes upon FA addition had rapid fibril formation. By contrast, oligomers that had large ion intensity changes generated fibrils slowly. Two control peptides (aggregation/no fibrils and no aggregation/no fibrils) did not show changes in their ion intensities, which confirmed the ability of this method to predict amyloid formation. In summary, the developed method correlated MS intensity ratio changes of peptide oligomers on FA addition with their amyloid propensities. This method will be useful for monitoring peptide/protein aggregation behavior and essential for their mechanism studies.

Objective To investigate the value of color Doppler ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant testicular tumors in children. Methods The sonographic findings of 63 children pathologically confirmed testicular tumors were retrospectively analyzed.All children were divided into benign group and malignant group according to pathologic diagnosis. The tumor size,shape,border, echo texture,calcification and color blood flow were compared between two groups. Logistic regression analysis was employed to predict sonographic features of benign and malignant testicular tumors.Receiver operating curve (ROC) was employed to assess the diagnostic performance of sonographic features. Results Among the 63 cases of pediatric testicular tumors,42 cases were histologically confirmed as benign testicular tumors (66.7% ),and the rest 21 cases were malignant testicular tumors (33.3% ). The maximum diameter of tumor in benign tumors was significantly smaller than that in malignant tumors[(1.75 ± 0.75) cm vs (2.90 ± 1.22)cm,P =0.000].In the sonographic features,malignant testicular tumors were more likely to present with solid masses,and benign testicular tumors were more likely to be cystic or cystic-solid ( P =0.024).Calcification was more common in benign tumors than that in malignant tumors ( P =0.000).Compared with benign tumors,malignant tumors had increased blood flow on color Doppler images ( P =0.000).Logistic regression analysis indicated that flow grade was the independent prognostic factors for malignant tumor. By using Alder grade of 2 or above as threshold,the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were 95.2%,78.6% and 84.1%,respectively. Conclusions The sonographic features vary between benign and malignant testicular tumors. Blood flow is the independent factors for predicting malignant tumor. Color Doppler ultrasonography is an important method for differential diagnosis of testicular tumors in children.

Objective To investigate the value of ultrasound in assessing leuprorelin treatment response of girls with central precocious puberty . Methods Forty girls with central precocious puberty scheduled for leuprorelin treatment were enrolled . Ultrasound examination as well as the serum hormone level test of luteinizing hormone ( LH) and follicle stimulating hormone ( FSH) were performed prior to the treatment ,after 3 and 9 months of treatment . The correlation between uterine volume ,ovarian volume and hormone levels were analyzed . Results After 3 and 9 months of leuprorelin treatment ,both the volumes of uterus and ovary and the levels of LH and FSH were significant reduced ( all P < 0 .05) . After 3 months of leuprorelin treatment ,the reduction rate in ovarian volume was positively correlated with the reduction rate of LH and FSH ( r = 0 .335 , P = 0 .034 ; r = 0 .334 , P = 0 .035) . No correlation was found between the reduction rate of uterine volume and hormone level changes ( r = 0 .110 , P = 0 .501 ; r = 0 .257 , P =0 .109) . After 9 months of treatment ,the ovarian volume reduction rate was positively correlated with the reduction rate of LH and FSH ( r = 0 .327 , P = 0 .039 ; r = 0 .356 , P = 0 .024) ,and the uterine volume reduction rate was positively correlated with the reduction rate of LH and FSH ( r = 0 .439 , P = 0 .005 ;r =0 .433 , P = 0 .005 ) . Conclusions Leuprorelin could effectively inhibit hormone release and gonadal development in girls with central precocious puberty . Ultrasound examination , as a noninvasive and convenient method ,could dynamically monitor the volume changes of uterus and ovary ,thus reflect the development of gonadal development directly and the changes of hormone level indirectly . It could be used as a routine outpatient follow-up method after central precocious medicine treatment .

Objective To analyze the perioperative risk factors of postoperative complications after posterior lumbar fusion operation.Methods The clinical data of 654 patients with posterior lumbar fusion during 2010 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.Using x2 test and one-way ANOVA,the predicted risk factors were screened for further Logistic regression.Results The total complication rate was 11.6％ among all 654 patients.The major complications included cardiac infarction,deep infection,sepsis,neurological impairment,and secondary operation.And the minor complications included wound dehiscence,urinary tract infection,pulmonary infection,gastrointestinal bleeding,CSF leakage and others.According to x2 test and one-way ANOVA,renal function insufficiency,preoperative neurological injury,ASA higher than Ⅲ level,intraoperative blood loss,long operation length,and usage of autogenous bone were screened as risk factors of complications.Renal function insufficiency,preoperative neurological injury,intraoperative blood loss,and long operation length were screened as risk factors of minor complications.And male,renal function insufficiency,preoperative neurological injury,intervertebral fusion,and posteriolateral fusion were screened as risk factors of major complications.However,according to Logistic regression,the independent risk factor of complications were preoperative neurological injury and long operation length;independent risk factors of minor complications were renal function insufficiency,preoperative neurological injury and long operation length;and independent risk factor of major complications was preoperative neurological injury.Conclusion Preoperative neurological injury,renal function insufficiency and long operation length are proved to be the risk factors of postoperative complication in lumbar fusion surgery.

Objective To investigate the potential risk factors for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly population in the community, and to provide a basis for the primary prevention of MCI. Methods A cross-sectional study of elderly population in communities of Shanghai, China was conducted. A total of 368 subjects including both males and females, aged 65-80 years old, were selected to complete the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), basic information questionnaires, and physical examinations. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the potential risk factors of MCI. Results Of the 368 subjects participating in the study, 53 were found to have MCI and the prevalence rate was 14.4%. Univariate analysis found that older age, low education, no folic acid supplementation, stroke, osteoporosis and hyperlipidemia were risk factors of MCI. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age [OR=1.146 (95%CI: 1.052-1.249)] and osteoporosis [OR=2.371 (95%CI: 1.042-5.396)] were the independent risk factors for MCI, while higher education [OR=0.073 (95%CI: 0.011-0.478)] was a protective factor. Age influenced all the aspects of MMSE scores (all P values <0.05). In addition, the analysis of the results suggested that subjects with regular folic acid supplementation got higher MMSE scores, especially in the aspect of language and praxis (P=0.002). On the contrary, patients with osteoporosis had lower attention and computing power scores (P=0.022). Conclusion The prevalence of MCI increased with age. Low education and osteoporosis may be the independent risk factors for MCI in the elderly population. Although no association was observed between folic acid supplementation and MCI, folic acid supplementation could improve the performance of language and praxis.