Objective:To investigate the influence of MRI examination on the position of closure devices for congenital heart diseases and to assess the effect of these devices on the image quality of MRI.Methods:Two atrial septal defect closure devices, 2 ventricular septal defect closure devices and 1 patent ductus arteriosus closure device were placed into a transparent non-metal container filled with boiling agar,with the agar completely covering the devices.The agar changed into glue after cooling,then the devices were sequentially scanned by MRI in transverse and coronal planes.The changes of agar integrity,the position of devices and the image quality were observed after scanning.Results:The surface of the agar covering the devices was smooth and had no breakage after the scanning.There was no change in the shape and position of all types of devices.The coronary, transverse scanning(T_1 WI,T_2WI)showed a few slight artifacts on the central layer,all within the contour of the device.The mesh of device near the edge was clearly showed.Conclusion:Under our experimental condition,MRI does not affect the position of closure devices for congenital heart diseases and the devices do not affect the MRI image quality.

12 strains of H2-producing bacteria were isolated and purified from anaerobic sludge, aerobic sludge and river bottom sludge by Hungate method. A new species of high efficient hydrogen production bacterium Enterococcus sp. LG1 (registration number: EU258743 ) was studied deeply. It was showed that the Enterococcus sp. LG1 was an anaerobic and Gram-negative bacterium. Sequence analysis of this type of clones showed that it was affiliated with the genus Enterococcus and it was not reported yet in other paper at present. Meanwhile, batch tests of anaerobic fermentative hydrogen production by Enterococcus sp. LG1 were investigated by using sterilization pretreated sludge as substrate. The changes of soluble COD, protein, carbohydrate and pH value during hydrogen fermentation were monitored. It was found that only hydrogen and carbon dioxide were produced by this strain and no methane was detected during fermentation. The maximal hydrogen yield was 36.48 mL/g TCOD and the hydrogen concentration in the gas phase was 73.5%. The Enterococcus sp. LG1 was a butyrate fermentation bacteria analyzed by metabolites.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the virological response of managing chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with peg-interferon alpha-2b (PEG-IFN alpha-2b) and ribavirin.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the virological response of 40 patients with different genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after anti-HCV management. Patients were given different dosages of PEG-IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin based on their weights. The duration of treatment was 48 weeks for patients infected by HCV genotype 1, and was 24 weeks for the others. HCV RNA was tested before treatment, 12 weeks post management, end of treatment, and 24 weeks after treatment stopped.

RESULTSData from 40 patients were collected. Among them, 24 cases experienced HCV genotype 1 infection, and 16 cases were infected with other genotypes. Between these two groups, the early virological responses were 75.0% (18/24) and 87.5% (14/16), the end-of-treatment virological responses were 80.0% (16/20) and 85.7% (12/14), and the sustained virological responses were 56.2% (9/16) and 78.5% (11/14), respectively.

CONCLUSIONBody weight-based customized PEG-IFN alpha-2b in combination with ribavirin can effectively treat patients with different genotypes of CHC.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Recombinant Proteins ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ideal method for correction of vermilion deformity in congenital cleft lip.

METHODSFrom Mar. 2010 to Jan. 2013, 68 cases with congenital cleft lip underwent vermilion deformities correction with composite skin-vermilion triangle fap and functional reposition of orbicularis oris muscle.

RESULTSPrimary healing was achieved in all the patients. 46 cases were followed up for 3 months to one year. Asymmetric thickness of vermilion and tubercle malposition happened in 8 cases. All the other patients had a satisfactory result with symmetric and fluent cupid' s bow and everting tubercle.

CONCLUSIONWell reposition of orbicularis oris muscle is key for correction of vermilion deformity and tubercle reconstruction. This technique is very simple and practical.

Cleft Lip ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lip ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Male ; Mouth Mucosa ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of scalp flaps pedicled with superficial temporal vessel and hair removal for reconstruction of facial skin defects.

METHODSFrom Jan. 2010 to Dec. 2011, 6 cases with large facial skin defects were treated with scalp flaps pedicled with superficial temporal vessel and hair removal. At the first stage, the skin expanders were implanted subcutaneously at the homolateral side according to the defect size. After the expansion was finished, the expanded flaps pedicled with superficial temporal vessel were used to reconstruct the facial skin defects at the second stage. 2 weeks after operation, hair removal was performed to remove the hair on flaps. 4-6 treatments were needed.

RESULTSSeven flaps in 6 cases were survived completely. The wounds at donor sites were closed directly. The effect of hair removal was reliable. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 1 year. The flap color, texture and thickness had a good match with surrounding skin tissue.

CONCLUSIONSIt is a good option to reconstruct facial skin defects with scalp flaps pedicled with superficial temporal vessel and hair removal.

Adolescent ; Face ; surgery ; Hair Removal ; Humans ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Scalp ; transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the injury effect of high frequency electrocoagulation (HFE) by ultrafine-needle on the cutaneous capillary hemangiomas by histopathologic study of cock comb.

METHODS32 male cocks were randomly divided into 4 groups with 8 animals in each group. 3 experimental groups received HFE with different power (6W, 8W, 10W) on the cock comb. Specimens were taken from cock combs for histologic study immediately after treatment and 7, 14, 21, 28 days later.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the cock combs turned pale and followed with scar formation. The shape of combs changed a lot after high power treatment. Immediately after treatment, the capillary number in the experimental groups decreased markedly under light microscope, compared with that in control group (P < 0.05). After that, the capillary number in experimental group increased. 7 days after treatment, the capillary number in experimental groups was still significantly lower than that in control groups (P < 0.01), but not markedly different between the three experiment groups (P > 0.05). Collagen formation also increased after treatment (P < 0.05), which was higher in experimental groups with high power (P < 0.05, correlation coefficient r > 0.5).

CONCLUSIONSHFE with ultrafine needle can effectively decrease the capillary number in cock comb. The 6W treatment is mini-invasive and will not destroy the comb shape with good cosmetic results. The technique may be used for the treatment of cutaneous capillary hemangioma.

Animals ; Capillaries ; pathology ; surgery ; Chickens ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electrocoagulation ; methods ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Skin Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the application of reverse island auricular composite tissue flap based on the superficial temporal artery for alar defects.

METHODS16 cases with alar defects were treated with reverse island auricular composite tissue flap based on the superficial temporal artery.

RESULTSAll the composite auricular flaps survived with primary healing. The patients were followed up for half a year to four years. The survived composite flaps had a similar color, texture and appearance as normal alar. The cosmetic result was satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONSReverse island auricular composite tissue flap based on the superficial temporal artery is very suitable for alar defects.

Adult ; Ear, External ; transplantation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose Deformities, Acquired ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Temporal Arteries ; surgery ; Young Adult

It is now clear that continued stimulation o f the neurohormonal system in heart failure (HF) has serious deleterious effects on the heart. The increase of circulating catecholamines exerts direct toxic ef fect on cardiac myocytes, increases membrane permeability and myocardial fibrosi s; lead to aggravation of HF. β-blockers are commonly used in the treatment of HF including propranolol, metoprolol, bisoprolol, bucindolol and carvedilol. These drugs are used in combination with ACEIs, digitalis and diuretics. Genera lly, the benefits of β-blockade therapy in HF include improving symptoms, decr easing morbidity, mortality, elevating need for hospitalization and quality of l ife. β- blockade therapy arrests and reverts LV remodeling and improves the ri sk of life threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. A few serious adver se effects include hypotension, heart blocks, bradycardia and fluid retention.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application and significance of lengthen-stem bipolar-femur prosthetic replacement for the treatment of old-age patients with intertrochanteric fracture osteoporosis.Methods 28 cases of patients aging from 75 to 99 years old of intertrochanteric fracture osteoporosis treated with lengthen- stem cemented bipolar prosthesis were studicd from March 2000 to December 2006.After taking the blank margin, the bones of different sizes were replaced and the steel wire was fixed.After determining the depth of the front an- gle,the artificial bone was placed.Results After 28 examples attaining the following-up examination for 7 months to 3 years,with an average of 1.5 years,its function according to Harris standard was evaluated 3 months after the operation,8 examples were excellent,13 examples good,5 examples pass,2 examples inferior.The excellent or good rate reached 75% ,with no abnormal cases,no joint dislocation during the followed-up period.1 example had the phantom phenomenon 1 year after the operation.2 examples among the inferior had got more serious internal medicine disease which affected the restoring function.1 example died of the internal medicine disease 1 year after the operation.Conclusion By using the lengthen-stem bipolar-femur prosthetic replacement for the treatment of old patients with inrertrochanteric fracture osteoporosis,the patients will restore quickly after the operation and can carry a heavy load at an early time.The illness complication and the mortality rate will be redaced.But its related disease must be strictly dealt with and the surgery operating skill must be grasped.

OBJECTIVETo detect changes of Foxp3 expression in the decidua in patients with preeclampsia and investigate the correlation of Foxp3-924 (rs2232365) polymorphisms with preeclampsia.

METHODSFrom October 2011 to December 2012, 252 normal pregnant women and 156 preeclampsia patients of Han nationality from the same geographic region were tested for Foxp3-924 genotypes by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP). Sixty-eight of the patients with preeclampsia (33 with mild and 35 with severe preeclampsia) and 30 of the normal pregnant women were also examined for Foxp3 expression in the decidua using immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSFoxp3 positive expression rates in the decidua was 51.52% in mild preeclampsia and 28.57% in severe preeclampsia cases, significantly lower than that in the control group (86.67%, P<0.05). In preeclampsia patients, the frequencies of Foxp3-924G/G, G/A, and A/A genotypes were 0.1346, 0.4615 and 0.4038, respectively, and the frequencies of Foxp3-924A and Foxp3-924 G were 0.6346 and 0.3654, respectively. The genotype frequencies of Foxp3-924G/G, G/A and A/A in the control group were 0.1508, 0.4087 and 0.4405, respectively, and the frequencies of Foxp3-924 A and Foxp3-924 G were 0.6448 and 0.3552, respectively. No significant differences were found in the gene frequencies of Foxp3-924G/A between preeclampsia patients and the control group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression level of Foxp3 in the placental tissue of preeclampsia patients is significantly lower than that in normal pregnant women, suggesting that lowered Foxp3 expression decreases the immunosuppressive function and causes imbalance of immune tolerance between maternal-fetal to induce preeclampsia. Foxp3-924 polymorphisms is not significantly correlated with the occurrence of preeclampsia.

Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Placenta ; metabolism ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pre-Eclampsia ; genetics ; Pregnancy