ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT)and plaque extent of carotid artery with coronary heart disease (CHD).Methods 131 inpatients were divided into 3 groups,in which 54 cases of coronary heart disease group,46 cases of risk group with coronary heart disease,31 cases of control group.The carotid wall IMT,plaque length and thickness was measured by Color Doppler ultrasound.The obtained data using SPSS 17.0 software for statistical processing.ResultsCarotid intimal thickening and the incidence had no significant difference between the group of coronary heart disease and risk group with coronary heart disease risk( all P ＞ 0.05),carotid artery IMT and incidence rate between the above two groups and the control group had statistical differene( t =3.26,3.48,all P ＜ 0.05 ),and the three groups of carotid artery plaque score and plaque classification were statistically significant( F =4.28,P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionCarotid IMT and plaque formation was the independent risk factor of CHD,and it could predict the occurrence and development of CHD,especially in carotid artery plaque specificity is higher,in the primary hospital could be used as the auxiliary examination method of CHD.

Objective To explore the auditory neuropathy(AN) characteristics in a child with cochlear nerve deficiency.Methods Audiological test,HRCT image and HRMRI from this child were analyzed.Results ABR responses were absent from the both ears while normal DPOAE in the right ear was noted with abnormal DPOAE at some frequencies in the left.The neural responses from the right cochlea were absent but weak responses were noted in the left by means of the oblique sagittal MRI on the internal auditory canal.Conclusion The child with cochlear nerve deficiency can present with electrophysiological evidence of AN.The cochlear nerve deficiency was considered about the main site of lesion and one of the etiology of AN.The inclined sagittal MRI scanning plays a very important role in assessing cochlear nerve deficiency.

Objective To investigate the three methods for sun protection factor determination in vivo in Chinese under the same condition, and to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of the three methods. Methods There were 45 healthy volunteers in Guangzhou area were involved in the study. All of them were randomly divided into three groups. Among them 15 volunteers were in the current method group, 5 volunteers in the simplified method group, and 25 volunteers were in the single-exposure method group. Two standard sunscreens of SPF 4 and SPF 15 and one sunscreen labeled as SPF 20 were tested by all the three methods in the study. Two experienced observers read results, respectively, under the same conditions. Results The volunteers in the current method group received the largest dose of UV light.The simple method was next to it and the single-exposure reduced 4-5 folds of UV dose received. The results of the two observers in the current method group and the single-exposure group were very close. But the test results of P3 were not completely coincident between the two observers in the simplified method group. SPFs value of the three sunscreens were 4. 12, 16.09, and 22.60 obtained by the observer 1 and 4. 18, 15.92, and 21.97 obtained by the observer 2, respectively. In the simplified method group, SPFs values of ＜4, ＞15, ＞20 and ＜4, ＜15, ＞20 were obtained by the two observers. In the single-exposure method group, SPFs values of the three sunscreens were 4.04, 15.34, 21.33 by the observer 1 and 3. 96, 15.82, 21.33 by the observer 2, respectively. Conclusion The single-exposure method is convenient and easily to operate and may replace the current method some day. The simple method is not valuable in determination of SPF labeled on the packages of sunscreens, but may be useful in supervision of the market sunscreen products.

BACKGROUND: Running economy is considered as an important indicator of the performance of endurance athletes, especially long-distance runners. It is usually defined as the energy demand of running at a given speed, and expressed as the oxygen intake at a given speed. OBJECTIVE: To review the existing physiological and biomechanical factors affecting the running economy of runners. METHODS: With “running economy, physiological factors, biomechanical and neuromuscular characteristics, spatiotemporal factors, lower limb kinematic factors, kinetic factors, nutritional interventions” as search terms, PubMed database (1960-2018) was searched to include literatures related to running performance, acute or chronic interventions, and other influencing factors. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 113 literatures were obtained. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 58 literatures were analyzed. Current evidence shows that cardiopulmonary function, muscle fiber type, muscle strength, leg stiffness and other physiological factors are related to the improvement of running economy. However, there is no unified conclusion on the relationship between the temperature change of runners and the elastic potential energy and running economy. The biomechanical factors that are beneficial to improve running economy include stride frequency or length, vertical oscillation, lower limb moment of inertia, leg extension when toes are off the ground, and arm swing. However, the contact time between the feet and the ground, trunk inclination and other factors are inconsistent with running economy. Among other influencing factors, high-altitude adaptation can improve running economy; the relationship between extensibility and flexibility and running economy remains to be determined. Some nutritional interventions are also of concern, most notably dietary nitrates. Although most of the factors affecting running economy have been summarized in this paper, future studies can focus on individual runners in order to determine how the athlete’s structure and functional abilities affect running economy, as well as subsequent performance and athletic injuries.

Objective To evaluate blood flow structure and quantify the variation of the flow within left ventricle,assess the impact of chronic heart failure(CHF) by vector flow mapping(VFM).Methods Twenty-seven patients with chronic heart failure and thirty controls were involved.The flow vector images on the section plane of the flow within the left ventricle were acquired by VFM.Time-flow(T-F) curve and all other peak systolic and diastolic flow curve include normal velocity profile,parallel velocity profile,vector profile,flow profile were analyzed by DSA-RS1 program.Results Ventricular ejection peak S,rapid ventricular filling peak E and atrial systole peak A were relatively lower at basal and middle segments in CHF group than normal control group.Normal velocity profile,velocity profile,flow profile at peak S and E were lower at basal and middle segments in CHF group than normal control group.Conclusions VFM technology could provide quantitative and intuitive information to demonstrate the flow structure of the ventricle and evaluate the cardiac function in patients with CHF.

Objective To investigate the minimal erythema does (MED) of normal skin to UV in Guangzhou city,and to observe its relationship to sex,age,skin type,seasons and the years lived in Guangzhou.Methods 621 healthy subjects were exposed to Solar Simulator (GS2004) and the MED was measured and observed by two professional technicians after (24±2) hours.Results The average MED value of all subjects was (1170.2±333.2) mJ/cm2.In male and female group,the average MED values were (1132.8-339.4) mJ/cm2 and (1182.1 ± 330.7) mJ/cm2,respectively,and there was no significant difference between male and female (P=0.20).The MED value in subjects aged from 30 to 50 (1014.7 ± 359.7) mJ/cm2 was significantly lower than those aged from 20 to 29 (1222.9±304.3) mJ/cm2 and over 50 years (1179.0±374.3) mJ/cm2 (P＜0.01).The MED value in skin type Ⅱ (673.53±228.3) mJ/cm2 was significantly lower than those in type Ⅲ (1224.3±254.2) mJ/cm2 and Ⅳ(1363.1±278.5) mJ/cm2(P＜0.01).There was significant difference of the MED value between different seasons (P＜0.01).The MED value in spring (969.2±355.8) mJ/cm2 was lowest,and followed by summer (969.2± 355.8) mJ/cm2.However,there was no significant difference between autumn and winter (P＞0.05).The MED value in subjects lived in Guangzhou from 5 to 10 years was significantly lower than those whose residence time was from 1 to 4 years and over 10 years,respectively.Conclusions The MED value of the subjects in Guangzhou is quite different from other cities of China,and related to age,skin types,seasons and the years lived in Guangzhou city,while there is no correlation between MED value and gender difference.

Objective To investigate the minimal persistent pigment dose (MPPD)of normal skin to UVA in Guangzhou city,and to observe its relationship to sex,age,skin type,seasons,ITA,and the years lived in Guangzhou.Methods 316 healthy subjects were exposed to Solar 601-300,and the MPPD was measured and observed by two professional technicians after 2-3 hours.Results The average MPPD value of all subjects was (9.61±2.57) J/cm2.In male and female,the average MPPD values were (11.09 ± 2.82) J/cm2 and (9.01 ± 2.20) J/cm2 respectively,and male was significantly higher than female (P＜0.01).There was significant difference of the MPPD value in different seasons (P＜0.01).The MPPD value in winter (10.66± 2.71) J/cm2) was significantly higher than spring (9.37±2.39) J/cm2,summer (9.53±2.66) J/cm2 and autumn (8.98±2.25) J/cm2.There was significant difference of the MPPD value between different ITA groups (P＜0.01).ITA grade-3 (10.72± 2.84) J/cm2 was significantly higher than grade-1 (8.50±1.45) J/cm2 and grade-2 (9.12±2.31) J/cm2 (P＜0.01),but there was no significant difference from grade-4 (11.87±2.73) J/cm2 (P =0.93).The MPPD value in subjects lived in Guangzhou over 10 years (8.97± 1.88) J/cm2 was significantly lower than those whose residence was less than 1 year and from 1 to 5 years,respectively (P＜0.01),but there was no significant difference from those lived from 5 to 10 years (P =0.47).Conclusions The MPPD value of the subjects in Guangzhou is related to gender,seasons,ITA grade and the years lived in Guangzhou city,while there is no correlation with age and skin types.

To construct the eukaryotic expression plasmid containing the p55 gene fragment of Pneumocystis and to investigate the efficient expression in COS-7 cells, the gene fragment conaining the whole length of p55 gene was used as template to amplify this fragment with PCR and the amplified fragment was then cloned to vector pGEM-T. After enzyme digestion, p55 gene was cloned to the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+) to construct the plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)-582. This plasmid was then transfected to the eukaryotic expression cells COS-7 and PCR and SDS-PAGE assays were used to confirm the presence of target protein in these cells. In these ways, the eukaryotic expression vector for the p55 gene of Pneumocystis of rats was successfully constructed and expressed in COS-7 cells, thus providing the basis for further studies on the nucleic acid vaccine.

Objective To evaluate the performance of transfection with a complex plasmid encoding green fluorescent protein tagged CatD (GFP-CatD)in researches on chronic photodamaged fibroblasts. Methods Human dermal fibroblasts (HSFs)were irradiated with ultraviolet A (UVA)at 25 J/cm2 once a day for 21 consecutive days to establish a chronic photodamaged cell model. A plasmid encoding GFP-CatD was constructed and transfected into some chronic photodamaged fibroblasts (experimental group). The photodamaged HSFs receiving no treatment served as the blank control group, and those transfected with the negative plasmid encoding GFP only as the negative control group. After additional culture, fluorescence microscopy and Western-blot analysis were performed to observe and measure the expression of GFP-CatD in HSFs respectively, flow cytometry and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT)assay to evaluate the apoptosis and proliferation of chronic photodamaged fibroblasts respectively. Results Fluorescence microscopy showed the expression of GFP-CatD in cytoplasm of chronic photodamaged fibroblasts at 96 hours after transfection with the GFP-CatD-encoding plasmid. Western-blot analysis revealed that the expression of CatD in the experimental group was 1.28 times that in the blank control group. There were no significant differences in the apoptosis rate(4.29% ± 1.30%vs. 3.03% ± 1.70% , P > 0.05)or proliferative rate (45.20% ± 4.70% vs. 43.60 ± 3.90% , P > 0.05)between the experimental group and blank control group. Conclusion CatD could be traced in chronic photodamaged fibroblasts with no changes in biological activity or cell cycle after transfection with the GFP-CatD-encoding complex plasmid.

Objective     To evaluate the effect of mediastinal drainage tube placed in the left thoracic cavity after partial resection of the mediastinum pleura in robot-assisted McKeown esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma, and to compare it with the traditional method of mediastinal drainage tube placed in mediastinum. Methods    We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 96 patients who underwent robot-assisted McKeown esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma by the surgeons in the same medical group in our department between July 2018 and March 2021. There were 78 males and 18 females, aged 52-79 years. Left mediastinum pleura around the carcinoma during operation was resected in all patients. Patients were divided into two groups according to the method of mediastinal drainage tube placement: a control group (placed in mediastinum) and an observation group (placed through the mediastinal pleura into the left thoracic cavity with several side ports distributed in the mediastinum). The incidence of left thoracentesis or catheterization after surgery, anastomotic fistula and anastomotic healing time, other complications such as pneumonia and postoperative pain score were also compared between the two groups. Results     There was no statistical difference in baseline data or surgical parameters between the two groups. The percentage of patients in the observation group who needed re-thoracentesis or re-catheterization postoperatively due to massive pleural effusion in the left thoracic cavity was significantly lower than that in the control group (5.6% vs. 21.4%, P=0.020). The incidence of anastomotic leakage (3.7%vs. 7.1%, P=0.651) and the healing time of anastomosis (18.56±4.27 d vs. 24.33±5.48 d, P=0.304) were not statistically different between the two groups, and there was no statistical difference in other complications such as pulmonary infection. Moreover, the postoperative pain score was also similar between the two groups. Conclusion     For patients whose mediastinal pleura is removed partially during robot-assisted McKeown esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma, placing the drainage tube through the mediastinal pleura into the left thoracic cavity can reduce the risk of left-side thoracentesis or catheterization, which may promote the postoperative recovery of patients.