Objective To evaluate the value of two-dimensional strain imaging in assessing right ventricular function of recipient fetus in TTTS pregnancies.Methods Sixteen TTTS pregnancies and 19 normal monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies(controls) were included.Doppler studies of the umbilical artery,umbilical vein,ductus venosus,middle cerebral artery,atrioventricular valve and semilunar value were recorded in both fetus,and myocardial performance index of both ventricles was calculated.Longitudinal peak systolic strain of right ventricular were calculated and compared between recipient fetus and other fetus.Results Cardiothoracic ratio and myocardial performance index of right ventricular showed significant differences between recipient fetus and controls.Right ventricular strain was decreased in recipient fetus compared with controls.Conclusions Two-dimensional strain imaging can be used to evaluate right ventricular myocardial function in the recipient fetus of TTTS.

Objective To establish a knowledge management skills evaluation tool for nursing undergraduates and then try to provide an objective basis for evaluation of their knowledge management skills.Methods After reviewing literature and research group discussion,defining the theoretical dimensions of the knowledge management skills system and developing this evaluation tool.A total of 1 139 nursing undergraduates were picked out and investigated.The data were analyzed with the SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 7.0 statistic software packages,including exploratory factor analysis,confirmatory factor analysis,reliability and validity analysis.Results The knowledge management skills evaluation tool of nursing undergraduates was a multilayered and multidimensional system,including 3 subscales (knowledge management cognition,knowledge management attitude,knowledge management behavior),8 factors (the cognition of knowledge management connotation,the intention and the belief of knowledge management,the ability of obtaining,storing,sharing,applying and innovating knowledge),36 items.Exploratory factor analysis showed that all items' factor loading were 0.433-0.851.Confirmatory factor analysis displayed a good degree of fitting.The total scale's Cronbach α was 0.933,sub-scales were 0.807-0.892.The total scale's split coefficient was 0.873,sub-scales were 0.700-0.870.The correlation coefficient between 3 sub-scales score and the total scale score were 0.875-0.912.Conclusions Because of its good reliability and validity,nursing undergraduates can evaluate their knowledge management skills by using this evaluation tool.

Objective To evaluate the application of echocardiography in the diagnosis of bicuspid aortic valve and its pathophysiologic development and to demonstrate the degree of aortic valve dysfunction. Methods The echocardiographic characteristics and clinical data were analyzed retrospectively in 135 patients with bicuspid aortic valve to demonstrate the variation of aortic valve dysfunction in the progression of the course of the disease. Results Isolated aortic regurgitation was present in 68 (50%) patients, 19 (14%)patients had isolated aortic stenosis and 29 (22%)patients had combined aortic stenosis and regurgitation, 19 (14%) patients had neither stenosis nor regurgitation. Aortic regurgitation were all more commen within each age group, aortic regurgitation were also more commen within each age group in patients in their advanced course who went to surgical treatment. Conclusions Echocardiography is an effective method in the early diagnosis of aortic valve dysfunction.

two-dimensional strain echocardiography can observe dynamic change of regional systolic function,combined with the two methods can more accurately assess the treatment results of coronary artery bypass surgery.

The clinically applied value of myocardial perfusion and systolic function in patients with coronary artery disease after coronary artery bypass surgery using real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) combined with two-dimensional strain echocardiography was assessed. Twenty patients underwent intravenous RT-MCE by intravenous injections of SonoVue before and after coronary artery bypass surgery. Two-dimensional images were recorded from the left ventricular four-chamber view, two-chamber view and the apical view before, and two weeks and three months after coronary artery bypass surgery, and the peak systolic longitudinal strain was measured. The results showed that myocardial perfusion was significantly increased after coronary artery bypass surgery in about 71.6% segments. In the group that myocardial perfusion was improved, the peak systolic longitudinal strain three months after bypass surgery was significantly higher than that before operation [(-15.78+/-5.91)% vs (-10.45+/-8.31)%, P<0.05]. However, the parameters did not change in the group without myocardial perfusion improvement [(-10.33+/-6.53)% vs (-9.41+/-6.09)%, P>0.05]. It was concluded that whether or not the improvement of myocardial perfusion can mirror the recovery trend of regional systolic function, two-dimensional strain echocardiography can observe dynamic change of regional systolic function. The combination of myocardial perfusion with two-dimensional strain echocardiography can more accurately assess the curative effectiveness of coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objective To explore the clinicopathologic features,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of ACTH-independent subclinical Cushing syndrome caused by cortisol-secreting and hypo-androgen black adrenal cortical adenomas with lipomatous metaplasis.Methods The clinical and pathologic features of 1 patient presented with hypo-androgen and atypical signs and symptoms of Cushing syndrome were reported.The patient's 24 h UFC (235.62 μg) was higher than normal range,his plasma ACTH concentrations (＜1.1 pmol/L,was lower than normal range and his serum cortisol concentrations lacked diurnal rhythm.There was absence of serum cortisol suppression in overnight dexamethasone suppression tests.Serum levels of androgens (1.2 nmol/L) were lower than normal range.24 h urine catecholamine was normal,NE was 160.5 nmol/24 h (5-591 nmol/24 h),E was 23.1 nmol/24 h (0-82 nmol/24 h),DA was 1496nmol/24 h (424-2612 nmol/24 h).Aldosterone lying and standing test:ALD1 138-415 pmol/L,AT-Ⅱ1 64.54 ng/L,PRA1 0.80 μg · L-1 · h-1 Abdomen CT showed right adrenal mass (3.1 cm).131Ⅰ-MIBG scanning was normal.Adrenocortical carcinoma was considered as a possible diagnosis based on cortisol hypersecretion,hypo-androgen and the imaging characteristics.This patient accepted laparoscopic adrenal adenoma resection.Results The adrenal tumor size was 3.5 cm.Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining showed Melan-A,CgA,α-inhibin and Syn positive and Ki-67 ＜ 1％.Histopathologic results showed black adrenal cortical adenomas with myelolipomatous change.After surgery,patient's serum androgen was normal,and the signs and symptoms of Cushing syndrome and oligo-androgen disappeared.There was recurrence after 1.5 years follow-up.Conclusions Although most patients with corticotropin-independent Cushing syndrome associated with abnormal androgen proved to have adrenocortical carcinoma,the clinician should be aware of the possibility of benign,black adrenal adenoma.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for clopidogrel resistance (CR) in patients with ischemic stroke.Methods Turbidimatry was used to measure the platelet aggregation rate changes after the patients with acute ischemic stroke taking 75 mg of clopidogrel per day for 10-14 days.The patients were divided into either a CR or a clopidogrel sensitivity (CS) group according to the platelet aggregation rate changes.The demographic and clinical data of both groups were compared.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for CR.Results A total of 147 patients with acute ischemic stroke were included,42 of them (28.57％ ) were in the RC group and 105 (71.43％) were in the CS group.The proportion of patients in diabetes (54.76％ vs.11.43％ ;x2 =31.054,P =0.000),the history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) (80.95％ vs.26.67％ ;x2 =36.251,P=0.000) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (26.19％ vs.3.81％;x2 =16.400,P=0.000),taking calcium channel blocker (CCB) (83.33％ vs.54.29％ ;x2 =10.810,P =0.001 ),angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) (66.67％ vs.42.86％;x2 =6.803,P=0.009),and proton pump inhibitor (47.62％ vs. 14.29％;x2 =18.375,P =0.000) in the CR group,as well as the levels of plasma total cholesterol (TC),glucose,and glycated hemoglobin were significantly higher than those in the CS group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes (odds ratio [ OR] 13.711,95％ confidence interval [ CI] 1.667 - 112.784; P =0.015),increased TC level (OR 2.828,95％CI 1.574 - 5.080; P =0.001),previous history of TIA (OR16.627,95％ CI 4.691 - 58.934; P =0.000),and long-term taking CCB (OR 4.147,95％ CI 1.053 - 16.332;P =0.042),and ACEI/ARB (OR 4.841,95％ CI 1.539 - 15.231; P =0.007) were the independent risk factors for CR.Conclusions CR in patients with ischemic stroke is associated with a variety of factors,in which diabetes,increased TC,as well as long-term taking CCB and ACEI/ARB are the independent risk factors for CR.

Objective To investigate the incidence and risk factors of end-stage liver disease (ESLD) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients after antiretroviral therapy (ART).Methods The demographic and clinical data of HIV-HCV coinfected patients in Zhongnan Hospital,Wuhan University and local Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from Jan 2003 to Dec 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Single factor and multiple factor Logistic regression were used to analyze the correlation between the variables and incidence of ESLD,such as baseline age ≥40,male,previous blood transfusion history,duration of HCV persistent infection,hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection (HBsAg positive),HIV RNA≥-1 ×104 copy/mL at last visit,HCV RNA≥ 1.× 105 copy/mL at last visit,CD4 count ＞ 200 / μL at last visit,alanine aminotranferase (ALT) ≥ 2 × upper limit normal (ULN) at last visit,ART containing nevirapine (NVP),follow-up duration,ART duration＞5 years and HCV genotype 1b.The effect of ESLD on the survival of HIV-HCV co-infected patients was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method.Results Totally 427 HIV-HCV co-infected patients were followed up with average of 3.7 years. Fifty-five patients (12.9％) developed ESLD,and 52 patients (12.2％) died.Factors independently associated with ESLD included baseline age≥40 (OR=2.385,P=0.039),ALT ≥2× ULN (OR=16.374,P=0.000),HBV-coinfection (OR=2.507,P=0.042),duration of ART ＞ 5 years (OR=3.232,P=0.010),and CD4 count ≥200/μL (OR=0.364,P=0.011).The cumulative mortality of HIV-HCV co-infected patients with ESLD was 50.9％,whereas that of HIV-HCV co-infected patients without ESLD was 6.5％ (P=0.000).Conclusion In the ART era,ESLD is common among HIV-HCV co-infected patients in China,which is responsible for reducing the survival time of the patients.

Objectives To investigate the expression and clinical significance of HOXA10 gene in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis.Mehtods Between Jan.2009 to Aug.2010,30 patients with endometriosis undergoing laparoscopic surgery in Maternal and Children's Hospital of Foshan.Eutopic and ectopic endometrium were obtained.In the mean time,30 patients with benign ovary cyst or tubal infertihty undergoing laparoscopic surgery were selected as controls.Their uterine endometrium were obtained real-time fluorescent quantitation,western blot and immunohistochemistry technique were used to detect mRNA and protein expression of HOXA10 gene in the eutopic endometrium group,ectopic endometrium group and control group.Results The mRNA and protein expression of HOXA10 gene were 0.61 ±0.07 and 0.47 ±0.05 in the eutopic endometrium of endometriosis,0.64 ±0.06 and 0.50 ±0.05 in ectopic endometrium of endometriosis,which were significantly lower than 1.22 ± 0.14 and 1.42 ± 0.14 in control group ( P ＜ 0.01 ).However,the mRNA and protein expression of HOXA 10 between eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis did not reach statistical difference ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The expression of HOXA10 in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis were decreased by immunohistochemistry staining.Conclusion The lower expression of HOXA10 gene in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis might be associated with pathogenesis and infertility of endometriosis.

Objective To construct an eukaryotic expression vector with human adipose most abundant gene transcript 1 (APM1) gene,and to investigate the transfection and expression of pCDEF-APM1 eukaryotic expression plasmid in HEK293 cells.Methods pCDEF-APM1 eukaryotic expression plasmid was constructed by DNA recombinant method.Expression vector pCDEF-APM1 was transfected into HEK293 cells with Effectene reagent.The level of human adiponectin protein in the supernatant of cell culture media was detected with double antibody sandwich ELISA.Results The sequence of DNA fragment from constructed pCDEF-APM1 plasmid was identical to that published in GenBank.There was raised human adiponectin protein level in culture supernatant of HEK293 cells tnmsfected with pCDEF-APM1.Conclusion The pCDEF-APM1,an eukaryotic expression plasmid for APM1 gene is successfully constructed.High protein expression of adiponectin can be obtained in HEK293 cells transfected with pCDEF-APM1 eukaryotic expression plasmid.