The projection from the ventral posterior nucleus (VP) of the thalamus to the somatic sensory cortical area (SmI) in the rat was studied with the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method.When injections were made into the anterior part of SmI (Brodmann 3), labeled cells were found in the ventral area of caudal VP. When injections were made into the posterior part of SmI (Brodmann 3,1), Iabeled cells were observed in the dorsal area of caudal VP. With injections located near the superior part of SmI (Brodmann 3), labeled cells were found in the lateral area of VP. When injections were made into the inferior part of SmI (Brodmann 2), labeled cells were seen in the medial area of VP.All labeled cells were observed in the injected side, indicating that the projection is uncrossed.Neurons in VP Projecting to Brodmann 2 is less than those projecting to Brodmann 3.Relationship between the quantity of labeled neurons and the amount of projection fibers was discussed.

Commonly, the interbacterial transfer of circular plasmids is initiated by nicking at an internal sequence, oriT, followed by transferring one strand as single-stranded DNA through a type Ⅳ secretion channel on cell membrane. In contrast, Streptomyces conjugative linear plasmids, containing a free 3'-end but a protein-capped 5'-end, can potentially undergo cell-to-cell transfer by transfer of non-nicked DNA. It was reported that circular derivatives of the Streptomyces lividans linear plasmid SLP2, as well as the parental linear plasmid itself can transfer efficiently. And the genetic requirements for such transfer was described. Efficient transfer of plasmid requires six co-transcribed SLP2 genes, encoding a Tra-like DNA translocase, cell wall hydrolase, two cell membrane proteins that interact with an ATP binding protein, and a protein of unknown function. Reduced transfer efficiency of plasmid from SalⅠ R-/M-to Sal Ⅰ R/M hosts argues that transfer of both the circular and linear forms of the plasmid involves double-stranded DNA. These results suggest that conjugal transfer occurs by a similar mechanism for SLP2-derived linear and circular plasmids, and cellular membrane/wall functions in the transfer process.

In order to find out a parameter for the medical diagnosis and therapeutic criteria of endemic fluorosis, the excretory level of fluorine in urine was determined between the patients of bone fluorosclerosis and those who lived in the district of endemic fluorosis. The results showed that both the patients and the normal people in the endemic area of fluorosis excreted more fluorine in urine than the others, because of drinking highly fluorina-ted water. Thus a positive correlation was found between the amount of fluorine in urine and the degree of fluorinated drinking water, while no significant difference was found between the patients and the normal individuals. The urinary output of fluorine fluctuated in a few cases of fluorosclerosis.From the data obtained we may, perhaps, conclude that the excretion rate of fluorine in urine may be considered as a parameter of fluorine overload in the body, but not as applicable to the medical diagnosis or treatment in fluorosis.

Objective To explore the optimal conditions of preparing 68Ga-DOTA-iNGR (NGR peptide containing CendR motif),to evaluate its biodistribution in normal mice and to perform microPET imaging in tumor-bearing nude mice.Methods 68Ga fresh eluent (200 μl,92.5-129.5 MBq) obtaining with 68Ge-68Ga radionuclide generator was used to label DOTA-iNGR.The optimal conditions of labeling including pH,temperature,reacting time and concentration of DOTA-iNGR were determined.Then,the in vitro and in vivo stability and octanol/water partition coefficient of 68Ga-DOTA-iNGR were further analyzed.The biodistribution in normal Kunming mice was examined at 10,20,40,60 and 120 min after injection of 68Ga-DOTA-iNGR.Nude mice bearing HT-1080 (CDl3-positive) and HT-29 (CDl3-negative) tumors were established and underwent microPET imaging at 1 h after the intravenous injection of 68Ga-DOTA-iNGR.Data were analyzed using independent-sample t test.Results The optimal conditions of labeling was mixing 2 μg DOTA-iNGR peptide with 200 μl 68Ga (92.5-129.5 MBq) at pH 4.0,temperature 90-100 ℃ for 5-10 min.Under this condition,labeling rate reached (97.5± 1.3)％.The radiochemical purity of 68Ga-DOTA-iNGR in both saline (room temperature) and mouse serum (37 C) were both above 95％ after 4 h incubation,and the radiochemical purity in urine was greater than 85％ after 1 h metabolism in vivo.The partition coefficient was-2.71±0.18.In normal mice,majority of 68Ga-DOTA-iNGR was excreted from kidneys with a rapid clearance from blood.The in vivo microPET imaging showed that 68Ga-DOTA-iNGR was remarkably accumulated in the CD13-positive HT-1080 tumor.Conclusions Labeling DOTA-iNGR with 68Ga under our condition is a simple and efficient procedure with high labeling rate and high specificity.The product 68Ga-DOTA-iNGR has high stability,ideal biodistribution,and specific binding to CD13-positive tumor,which means that it's a very promising molecular probe for noninvasively detecting CD13-positive tumor.

Objective To quantitatively compare the diagnostic capability of 68Ga-NGR and 18F-FDG in well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) bearing mice by microPET/CT imaging.Methods The in vitro cellular uptake, in vivo microPET/CT imaging and biodistribution studies of 68Ga-NGR and 18F-FDG were quantitatively compared in SMMC-7721-based well-differentiated HCC.The human fibrosarcoma (HT-1080) and human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cells/xenografts were respectively used as positive and negative reference groups for CD13.The expression of CD13 was qualitatively verified by immunohistostaining.The levels of CD13 and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) were semi-quantitatively analyzed by Western blot test for all 3 types of tumors.Two-sample t test was used for data analysis.Results The in vitro cellular uptake showed that the 68Ga-NGR uptake in SMMC-7721 and HT-1080 cells was higher than that in HT-29 cells, and the 68Ga-NGR uptake was higher than 18F-FDG uptake in SMMC-7721 cells.The in vivo microPET/CT imaging results revealed that the uptake of 68Ga-NGR in SMMC-7721 tumor was (2.17±0.21) %ID/g, remarkably higher compared to (0.73±0.26) %ID/g of 18F-FDG uptake (t=8.826, P<0.01).The tumor/liver ratio of 68Ga-NGR was 2.05±0.16, which was 2.03-fold higher than that of 18F-FDG.In the HT-1080 tumors, the uptakes of 68Ga-NGR and 18F-FDG were both high, and the values were (2.46±0.23) %ID/g, (3.47±0.31) %ID/g.The uptake of 68Ga-NGR was significantly lower than that of 18F-FDG in HT-29 tumors: (0.67±0.20) %ID/g vs (3.17±0.29) %ID/g;t=4.221, P<0.01.Western blot and immunohistostaining results were as follows: HT-1080(CD13+, G6Pase-), SMMC-7721(CD13+, G6Pase+), HT-29(CD13-, G6Pase-).Conclusions The uptake of 68Ga-NGR is higher than 18F-FDG uptake in SMMC-7721 tumor bearing mice, therefore it is worthwhile to consider the feasibility of clinical translation for PET/CT in diagnosis of HCC.Furthermore, because of the difference in 68Ga-NGR and 18F-FDG avidities in tumors with different molecular phenotypes of CD13 and G6Pase, there is an underlying potential for molecular imaging in the determination of molecular phenotypes.

Objective To investigate the application of machine learning to predict the hemodynamic parameters of combined stenotic left coronary artery(LCA)aneurysms.Methods Parameterized modeling and simulation based on the geometric parameter range of combined stenosis LCA aneurysms in clinical statistics were conducted.The obtained simulation data was used as the dataset,and two common machine learning models were constructed and trained for optimization to predict two key hemodynamic parameters:wall shear stress(WSS)and pressure.By comparing and analyzing the performances of these models on the training and testing sets,the accuracy of each model was evaluated,and the effectiveness of the data-driven prediction of hemodynamic parameters for LCA aneurysms with concomitant stenosis was verified.Results The effectiveness of machine learning method in inverting the hemodynamic parameters of aneurysms was determined.For WSS prediction,the trained deep learning model and random forest model achieved mean squared error(MSE),mean absolute error(MAE),and determination coefficient R2 of 0.052 8,0.032 2,0.988 3,and 0.078 2,0.046 3,and 0.976 6,respectively.For pressure prediction,the accuracies of the deep learning models and random forest models were comparable,with MSE,MAE,and R2 of 4.67×10-6,3×10-4,0.999 7,and 1.07×10-5,5×10-4,and 0.999 3,respectively.Conclusions Machine learning methods show high accuracy in predicting the hemodynamic parameters of combined stenotic coronary artery aneurysm models.The predictive accuracy of the model,computational efficiency,and needs of the application scenarios need to be considered in machine learning prediction so that the appropriate model can be selected according to the specific situation.This study has clinical significance,helping doctors to more accurately evaluate a patient's condition and provide new ideas and method for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Objective To quantitatively compare the diagnostic capability of 68Ga-NGR and 18F-FDG in well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) bearing mice by microPET/CT imaging.Methods The in vitro cellular uptake,in vivo microPET/CT imaging and biodistribution studies of 68Ga-NGR and 18F-FDG were quantitatively compared in SMMC-7721-based well-differentiated HCC.The human fibrosarcoma (HT-1080) and human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cells/xenografts were respectively used as positive and negative reference groups for CD13.The expression of CD13 was qualitatively verified by immunohistostaining.The levels of CD13 and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) were semi-quantitatively analyzed by Western blot test for all 3 types of tumors.Two-sample t test was used for data analysis.Results The in vitro cellular uptake showed that the 68Ga-NGR uptake in SMMC-7721 and HT-1080 cells was higher than that in HT-29 cells,and the 68Ga-NGR uptake was higher than 18F-FDG uptake in SMMC-7721 cells.The in vivo micro-PET/CT imaging results revealed that the uptake of 68Ga-NGR in SMMC-7721 tumor was (2.17±0.21) ％ID/g,remarkably higher compared to (0.73±0.26) ％ID/g of 18F-FDG uptake (t =8.826,P＜0.01).The tumor/liver ratio of 68Ga-NGR was 2.05±0.16,which was 2.03-fold higher than that of 18F-FDG.In the HT-1080 tumors,the uptakes of 68 Ga-NGR and 18F-FDG were both high,and the values were (2.46±0.23) ％ID/g,(3.47±0.31) ％ID/g.The uptake of 68Ga-NGR was significantly lower than that of 18F-FDG in HT-29 tumors:(0.67±0.20) ％ID/g vs (3.17±0.29) ％ID/g;t=4.221,P＜0.01.Western blot and immunohistostaining results were as follows:HT-1080(CD13+,G6Pase-),SMMC-7721(CD13+,G6Pase+),HT-29 (CD13-,G6Pase-).Conclusions The uptake of 68Ga-NGR is higher than 18F-FDG uptake in SMMC-7721 tumor bearing mice,therefore it is worthwhile to consider the feasibility of clinical translation for PET/CT in diagnosis of HCC.Furthermore,because of the difference in 68Ga-NGR and 18F-FDG avidities in tumors with different molecular phenotypes of CD13 and G6Pase,there is an underlying potential for molecular imaging in the determination of molecular phenotypes.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics, prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of childhood aggressive mature B-cell lymphoma after liver transplantation.Methods:This retrospective study included 18 children with newly diagnosed aggressive mature B-cell lymphoma after liver transplantation and treated from June 2018 to June 2022 in the Department of Hematology and Oncology of Shanghai Children′s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes of patients at last evaluation were analyzed. Overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and Log-Rank analysis was performed to find factors of poor prognosis.Results:Among all 18 patients, there were 6 males and 12 females, and the age of onset was 40 (35, 54) months. The interval from transplant to tumor diagnosis was 21 (17, 35) months and 5 patients had early onset disease (<1 year since transplant). Seventeen patients had abdominal lesions. Diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal masses were the main clinical manifestations. All patients were Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) related posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD). One patient received individualized therapy due to critical sick at diagnosis, and the remaining 17 patients received CP (cyclophosphamide, methylprednisolone plus rituximab) and (or) modified EPOCH (prednisone, etoposide, doxorubicin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide plus rituximab) regimens. Of all 18 patients, 15 cases got complete response, 2 cases got partial response, 1 patient died of severe infection. The 2-year OS and EFS rates of 18 patients were (94±5)% and (83±8)%, respectively. None of age, gender or early onset disease had effect on OS and EFS rates in univariate analysis (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The symptoms of PTLD were atypical. Close surveillance of EBV-DNA for patients after liver transplantation was crucial to early stage PTLD diagnosis. CP or modified EPOCH regimen was efficient for pediatric patients with aggressive mature B cell lymphoma after liver transplantation.

Objective:To evaluate the morphological characteristics of the fetal heart and the contractile function of the left and right ventricles in fetuses with pulmonary stenosis (PS) and pulmonary atresia (PA) using fetal heart quantitative analysis technology (fetal HQ), and to assess the impact of different degrees of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) on the contractile function of the fetal left and right ventricles. To accumulate early data and explore parameters for constructing a predictive model and clinical decision-making tool for the progression of fetal PS and PA.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 42 cases of mild to moderate PS and 23 cases of severe PS or PA detected through fetal echocardiography in the Department of Ultrasound, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, from July 2020 to December 2021. A control group of 195 normal fetal cases matching gestational weeks was selected. The fetal HQ technique was employed to measure the global sphericity index (GSI), left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), left/right ventricular area change percentage (LVFAC, RVFAC), and left/right ventricular longitudinal strain (LVGLS, RVGLS). Additionally, 24-segment sphericity index (SI) and fractional shortening (FS) for both left and right ventricles were measured. Comparative analyses were performed between the case and control groups, as well as within the case group.Results:In comparison with the control group, the case group exhibited significantly decreased GSI, LVGLS, LVEF, LVFAC, RVGLS, and RVFAC.The differences were statistically significant in the mild to moderate PS group (all P<0.05) and highly significant in the severe PS/PA group (all P<0.01). In the mild to moderate PS group, the left ventricle′s 2nd segment, right ventricle′s 24th segment SI, and the left ventricle′s 1st-13th segments, right ventricle′s 1st-16th and 20th-24th segments FS showed statistically significant differences compared to the control group (all P<0.05). In the severe PS/PA group, the right ventricle′s 1st-22nd segment SI, and the left ventricle′s 6th-13th, 21st-24th segments, and the right ventricle′s 1st-14th segments FS were reduced, showing statistically significant differences compared to the control group (all P<0.05). The severe PS/PA group showed lower RVGLS, RVFAC, and SI for the right ventricle′s 1st to 17th segments when compared to the mild to moderate PS group, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Quantitative indices derived by fetal HQ is capable of evaluating the cardiac morphology and function of fetuses with PS/PA, which may provide for reference information for comprehensive understanding of cardiac morphological and functional changes in such fetuses.

Objective:To explore the potential application of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in terms of quantification and evaluating left atrial function in normal fetuses and fetuses with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO).Methods:A total of 32 fetuses diagnosed with LVOTO, who underwent fetal echocardiography at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine between May 2020 to June 2022, were selected as the case group, and 100 pregnant women with normal singleton fetuses between January 2019 to October 2022 were chosen as the control group. The standard basal or apical four-chamber view clips were obtained and were quantitatively analyzed using TomTec-Arena off-line cardiac analysis software to obtain the left atrial strain parameters of the two groups of fetuses including left atrial reservoir phase longitudinal strain(LASr), left atrial ductal phase longitudinal strain(LAScd), left atrial systolic phase longitudinal strain (LASct), as well as the routine obstetric ultrasound measurements and fetal echocardiographic parameters of the two groups: biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL), aortic annulus end-systolic inner diameter (AO), pulmonary annulus end-systolic inner diameter (PA), left atrial end-systolic long length (LAESL), left atrial end-systolic transverse diameter (LAESD), right atrial end-systolic long length (RAESL), right atrial end-systolic transverse diameter (RAESD), left ventricular end-diastolic transverse diameter (LVEDD) and right ventricular diastole end-diastolic transverse diameter (RVEDD). The ratio of right ventricular end-diastolic transverse diameter to left ventricular end-diastolic transverse diameter (RVd/LVd) and the ratio of pulmonary annulus diameter to aortic annulus diameter (PA/AO) were calculated. The differences of strain parameters between the two groups were compared, and the correlation between strain parameters and gestational age, RVd/LVd and other conventional measurement parameters were analyzed. ROC curve was used to compare the specificity and sensitivity of LASr and RVd/LVd in evaluating fetal cardiac dysfunction with LVOTO.Results:There were significant differences in LASr, LAScd, LASct, MAPSE, AO, LAESL, LVEDD, RVd/LVd and PA/AO between the two groups (all P<0.05), there were no significant differences in other parameters (all P>0.05). Correlation analysis showed that LASr was negatively correlated with RVd/LVd in LVOTO group ( rs=-0.394, P=0.025), and LASct was negatively correlated with RVd/LVd ( rs=-0.626, P=0.004). In the control group, LASr was negatively correlated with gestational age, AO and PA ( r/ rs=-0.570, -0.440, -0.493; all P<0.001), and LASct was negatively correlated with gestational age, AO and PA ( r/ rs=-0.601, -0.532, -0.568; all P<0.001). LAScd was positively correlated with gestational age, AO and PA ( r/ rs=0.310, 0.370, 0.314; all P<0.05). There were no significant correlations between the other parameters (all P>0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC) in LASr evaluation of fetal cardiac dysfunction with LVOTO was 0.890 (0.826, 0.953) and the AUC in RVd/LVd evaluation of fetal cardiac dysfunction with LVOTO was 0.742 (0.637, 0.846), there were significant differences between them( P<0.05). Conclusions:2D-STE is highly feasible and reproducible in assessing fetal left atrial function. Evaluation of fetal left atrial function by 2D-STE provides a new reference index for quantitative analysis of fetal cardiac dysfunction.