Objective To prospectively evaluate 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3DTOF MRA) and high resolution contrast enhanced volume scan magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA) with sensitivity encoding in diagnosing craniocervical artery stenosis. Methods Forty-six patients suspected with craniocervical artery diseases underwent MRI, 3DTOF MRA of the head and also CEMRA of the neck. The images of MRA were reconstructed with MIP and VR. The degree of arterial stenosis demonstrated on MRA was compared with that showed on digital subtraction angiography(DSA), and the data were analyzed with Spearman rank correlation coefficient (Rs). Results Excellent correlation in determining the degree of craniocervical artery stenosis existed between MRA and DSA (Rs = 0.97). With DSA as a golden standard, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRA in detecting over 50% arterial stenosis were 100%, 99.4% and 99.4% respectively. Conclusion 3DTOF MRA and CEMRA with sensitivity encoding at 3.0T are reliable and effective examinations for evaluating craniocervical artery disease. These techniques can be used as the necessary exams before DSA and can even substitute for the conventional DSA in some instances.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of clinical gram-negative bacterial isolates in the First Afifliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University during 2014.Methods Bacteria identiifcation was performed by API system or the VITEK-2 Compact automatic identiifcation system. Disk diffusion susceptibility testing or VITEK-2 Compact automatic identification system was used to determine the susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. All data were analyzed using WHONET 5.6 software.Results Among the total 7 931 clinical isolates in 2014, gram-negative bacteria accounted for 64.2% (5 088/7 931). The top three pathogens wereE. coli,A. baumannii andK. pneumoniae. Notably, during the year 2014, 195 strains of carbapenem-resistantEnterobacteriaceaewere isolated, about 6.9% of all theEnterobacteriaceae isolates. Meanwhile, 613 (66.5%) strains of multiple drug resistantA. baumannii and 197 (28.7%) strains of multiple drug resistantP. aeruginosa were isolated.Conclusion During the year 2014, the resistance of the gram-negative bacteria in this hospital is mainly characterized by carbapenem-resistantEnterobacteriaceae, multiple drug resistant A. baumanniiand multiple drug resistantP. aeruginosa. Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance is beneifcial for rational use of antibiotics.

Objective To investigate the pathogen distribution and susceptibility profile of fungal isolates from bloodstream infections,and valuate the clinical utility of G test in diagnosis of fungal infections for the purpose to improve antifungal therapy.Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out to analyze the fungal pathogens isolated from bloodstream infections in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University during the period from January 2013 through December 2015 and their antimicrobial susceptibility.Results A total of 114 fungal strains were isolated from bloodstream infections during the 3-year period,most of which were Candida (99/114,86.8％),especially Candida albicans (30.7％).About 41.2％ (47/114) of the fungal strains were isolated from Department of Thoracic Surgery (10,5 and 4 strains in 2013,2014 and 2015),Hematology (11 strains in 2014),and ICU (7 strains in 2014).Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that all the fungal strains (100％) were susceptible to amphotericin B,but 83.5％ susceptible to itraconazole (the lowest).G test was positive before the result of blood culture in 13 of the 54 patients who received G test.Conclusions Candida was the most common fungus in fungal bloodstream infection.Amphotericin B is the most active antifungal agent in vitro.Blood culture combined with serological test can provide clinicians an earlier and reliable diagnosis.

Objective To observe the formation of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm and the inhibitory and dispersive effects of betaine on the biofilm.Methods The inhibitory and dispersive effects of 0.1％ betaine on the biofilm from 20 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were examined by crystal violet assay.Results All the 20 strains of Staphylococcus aureus formed biofilm.The biofilm of methicillinsensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was formed in 24 hours with peak value of absorbance (A590 nm) (1.99 ± 0.53).The biofilm of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus atureus(MRSA) was formed in 48 hours with peak value of absorbance(A590 nm) (1.13 ±0.47).After adding betaine,the absorbance(A590 nm) of MSSA biofilm fell down to(1.74 ± 0.61) in 24 hours,while the absorbance(A590 nm) of MRSA biofilm fell down to(0.40 ± 0.12) in 48 hours,which was significantly reduced compared with the controls (t =2.43,5.84,P ＜ 0.05 respectively).When adding betaine after the biofilm formed,the absorbancies (A590 nm) of both MSSA and MRSA showed no significant difference compared with the controls (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Betaine could inhibit biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus at concentration of 0.1％,but it could not disperse the mature biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus.

Objective:To estimate the remineralization of enamel of primary teeth with early caries protreated by NaF-chitosan gel.Methods:Early stage caries was created on anterior primary teeth.The samples were divided into 4 groups randomly (n =6),and treated by NaF-chitosan gel,chitosan gel,duraphat and non-treatment(the control) respectively.Then all samples were underwent a 7days pH cycle.Then samples were tested with SEM and EDS.Data were analyzed with SPSS 19.Results:The SEM data showed that chitosan gel protected the enamel surface from being mined by erosion.NaF-chitosan gel group showed more mineral crystal formation on the enamel surface.The NaF-chitosan gel group showed more Ca remineralized on the enamel surface.Conclusion:NaF-chitosan gel can increase the remineraliztion of on the anterior primary teeth with early stage caries.

OBJECTIV: e To find the correlation between real best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and testing results of microperimetry and visual evoked potential (VEP) and to explore a new method in recording BCVA in macular disease. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with macular disease (macular disease group, 62 eyes) and eighteen healthy volunteers (control group, 36 eyes) had BCVA, microperimetry and VEP recorded. RESULTS: (1) By microperimetry, the values of retinal mean sensitivity and fixation percentage in macular disease group were lower than that in control group. The bicurve ellipse area in macular disease group was higher than that in control group. By VEP, P100 amplitude under 0.5 cpd and 2 cpd in macular disease group were significantly higher than that in control group and the latency was prolonged (P < 0.05). (2) In macular disease group, BCVA had significant positive correlation with retinal mean sensitivity, bicurve ellipse area, macular central 2 degrees and 4 degrees fixation percentage, respectively (P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between retinal mean sensitivity and P100 amplitude (P < 0.05). (3) Multiple linear regression equation was y = 0.053 x1+0.008 x3+3.897 (y was BCVA, while x1 was retinal mean sensitivity and x3 was P100 amplitude under 2 cpd). CONCLUSION Combined use of microperimetry and VEP is useful in the assessment of BCVA in macular disease.
Case-Control Studies ; Evoked Potentials, Visual/physiology* ; Eye ; Humans ; Macula Lutea/physiopathology* ; Retina ; Retinal Diseases/pathology* ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity/physiology* ; Visual Field Tests/methods*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of kappa-Opioid receptors in the cardioprotection elicited by ischemic postconditioning and the underlying mechanism.

METHODSThe isolated perfused hearts of male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion. formazan content of myocardium was measured spectrophotometrically, and the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the coronary effluent was also measured. In isolated ventricular myocytes hypoxia postconditioning was achieved by 3 cycles of 5 min reoxygenation/5 min hypoxia starting at the beginning of reoxygenation, and cell viability was measured.

RESULTIn the Langendorff perfused rat heart model, ischemic postconditioning (6 cycles of 10 s reperfusion/10 s global ischemia starting at the beginning of reperfusion) increased formazan content, reduced LDH release, improved the recovery of the left ventricular developed pressure, maximal rise/fall rate of left ventricular pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and rate pressure product (left ventricular developed pressure multiplied by heart rate), attenuated the decrease of coronary flow during reperfusion and increased the isolated cell viability. Pretreatment with nor-BNI, an antagonist of kappa-Opioid receptors and mitoK(ATP) blocker 5-HD attenuated the effect of ischemic/hypoxic postconditioning.

CONCLUSIONPostconditioning may protect myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury via activating kappa-Opioid receptors and mitoK(KATP).

Animals ; In Vitro Techniques ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; methods ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Opioid, kappa ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the cardioprotection effect of co-treatment with ischemic postconditioning and preconditioning in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the related mechanism.

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats were used for Langendorff isolated heart perfusion. The hearts were subjected to global ischemia for 60 min followed by 120 min of reperfusion. The cardiomyocyte viability was measured by MTT-formazan method, and the cardiac injury was evaluated by the levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the coronary effluent. Ventricular hemodynamic parameters were also measured.

RESULTIn 60 min of ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion group, ischemic postconditioning increased formazan content, reduced LDH release, but hemodynamic parameters did not improved. Co-treatment with ischemic postconditioning and preconditioning during the prolonged ischemia further improved the hemodynamic parameters. The calcium activated potassium channel antagonist paxilline attenuated the effect of co-treatment with ischemic postconditioning and preconditioning.

CONCLUSIONIschemic postconditioning and preconditioning may synergically protect myocardium from severe ischemia injury, which may be related to calcium-activated potassium channel.

Animals ; Cell Survival ; In Vitro Techniques ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; methods ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of blue light-emitting diodes(LEDs) as a novel light source for phototherapy. METHODS: Equimolar bilirubin standard albumin solutions were irradiated with two light sources; LEDs and single side conventional blue light( sCBL). Light intensity was measured with a light meter. The emission intensity of LEDs was the same as sCBL. To estimate the effects of the two light sources, the change in bilirubin isomer before and during phtotherapy was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The effects of different light sources on equimolar bilirubin standard albumin solutions, the lumirubin (LR) and 4Z, 15E-Bilirubin IX alpha(ZE) formation of LEDs was the same as sCBL(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: LEDs is equally effective as single sCBL for phototherapy in vitro.

Objective:By applying moxibustion to the eight confluent points in different periods of time,to observe the changes in thermal pain threshold latency of acupoints based on Fei Teng Ba Fa.Methods:A total of 468 healthy college student volunteers received moxibustion at the eight confluent points in three different periods of time,i.e.Chen (7:00-9:00),Wu (11:00-13:00) and Xu (19:00-21:00).The thermal pain threshold latency was adopted to measure the changes in pain threshold of the eight confluent points under different conditions (different periods of time,different genders,different acupoints and different states of the acupoints) based on Fei Teng Ba Fa.Results:Finally,thirty subjects dropped out and 438 subjects were included.The comparison of thermal pain threshold latencies of the eight confluent points in the same opening or closing state based on Fei Teng Ba Fa:latencies of the closing points and adjunct points were significantly different in different periods of time (P＜0.05);the latencies of the males were significantly longer than those of the females (P＜0.05);there was no significant difference in the latency between the left and right sides (P＞0.05);in the female group,there was a significant difference in the latency between the lower-limb points and the upper-limb points (P＜0.05).The comparison of thermal point threshold latencies of the eight confluent points in different opening or closing state:in the period of Wu (11:00-13:00),the latencies of the opening points were significantly longer than those of the closing points and adjunct points (P＜0.05);for men,their opening and closing points had significantly longer thermal pain threshold latencies than their adjunct points (P＜0.05);despite the gender,the latencies of the upper limb opening and closing points were significantly longer than the latency of the adjunct points (P＜0.05);in the female group,the latencies of the lower-limb opening points were significantly shorter than those of the lower-limb closing and adjunct points (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Based on Fei Teng Ba Fa,the pain thresholds of the eight confluent points vary in different periods of time,gender,acupoint location and opening/closing state,which can be taken as the evidence of making time-based acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions.