Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical effectiveness of interventional ventricular septal defect(VSD) occlusion using asymmetric occluders in patients whose VSD are adjacent to aortic valves.Methods One hundred and fifty-two patients from our hospital whose VSD were occluded with asymmetric occluders were examined by echocardiography.Dimensions,shapes and shunts of VSD,structures around defects were observed and aortic valve prolapse(AVP) degrees were accessed before the interventions.The patients were followed up periodically after the procedures.The longest follow-up was 6 years.Results Sizes of VSD measured from left ventricular side were larger than those measured from right ventricular side.Twenty-seven cases with VSD had mild AVP.Right sides of defects had adhesions with variable morphological patterns in 85% patients with perimembranous VSD.After occlusion,there were 7 cases showed residual shunt,2 cases with the third degree atrio-ventricular blockages,3 cases appeared aortic-valve regurgitations (AR) and 1 case with slightly increased AR.Conclusions Immediate and medium-term effects of interventional occlusion with asymmetric occluders were satisfactory in the patients with VSD and mild AVP whose aortic valve margin were insufficient to symmetric occluders.Surgical operation should be preferred to patients with VSD and moderate to severe AVP and to very young children.Pre-closure echocardiographic evaluation is critical to the success of interventional closure with asymmetric occluder and the long-term out coming.

Objective To analyze sonographic imagings of traumatic neuromas of peripheral nerves,and to investigate the applied values of uhrasonography in the traumatic neuroma of peripheral nerve. Methods The sonographic imagings of 38 patients who had evidences of traumatic neuromas in peripheral nerves were retrospectively reviewed by the last diagnostic results of operations. Results Among 38 cases, 2 incomplete traumatic neuromas were not detected, and 1 incomplete traumatic neuroma was misdiagnosised as neurilemoma by ultrasonography. The coincidence of uitrasonography in incomplete traumatic neuroma and complete severed neuroma was 82.4% and 100%. With regard to the echogenicity of 38 traumatic neuromas of peripheral nerves, the sonographic characteristics of neuromas were all hypoechoic. Thirty-three neuromas appearanced like shuttles and 5 neuromas appearaneed like humps. Conclusions The traumatic neuroma has distinctive ultrasonic appearance. Ultrasonography is useful to direct the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic neuroma.

Objective To evaluate the application of high-resolution ultrasonography in the diagnosis of nerve root lesion of cervical vertebra intervertebral foramen part. Methods Twenty-seven patients with root avulsion injury of brachial plexus intervertebral part and 8 patients with schwannoma of brachial plexus root were examined with high-resolution ultrasonography. Thirty healthy volunteers were involved for the sonographic imagings of normal brachial plexus intervertebral part. The ultrasound findings of the patients before operation were compared with surgical outcomes. Results The normal intervertebral part of brachial plexus were shown as hypoechoic tubular strucuture, which could be identified with cervical artery and transverse process used as landmarks for the intervertebral part of brachial plexus root. The detection ratios of normal intervertebral part for C5-C8 and outside part of braehial plexus were 100％. In 27 patients with root avulsion injury of intervertebral brachial plexus, the intervertebral nerve root were enlarged as hypoechoic area, with nerve dissected partly or disappearing, distal nerve parts outside the intervertebral foramen swelling, edema,or cerebrospinal fluid assembling as cystic masses. In 8 patients with schwannoma of brachial plexus root part, the spinal ganglia outside intervertebral foramen were shown as tumor-like hypoechoic mass, with blood supply shown inside. Conclusions High-resolution ultrasonography is of great value for early and convenient diagnosis of root avulsion injury and mass of brachial plexus intervertebral part, especially in community hospitals,which could provide important information for clinical therapy.

Objective To explore the expression of peripheral T cell subgroup (CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,CD4+CD25 high regulatory T cells) and the level and significance of serum cytokines in patients with silicosis.Methods One hundred and six cases patients with silicosis were collected in the Fifth People''s Hospital of Suzhou as study subjects and 56 healthy subjects as control group.Flow cytometry was used to detect the peripheral CD3+,CD4+,CD8+ and CD4+CD25 high regulatory T cells (Treg) of the patients and the control group,while chemiluminescence immunoassay was utilized to measure the peripheral serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R),interleukin 6 (IL-6),interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α).Results (1) The percentages of peripheral CD3+,CD4+ and CD8+ in the silicosis group were all lower than those in the control group (t=3.755,3.828,2.347,P<0.05);the percentage of Treg cells was higher in the silicosis group than in the control group,the difference was statistically significant (t=-8.345,P<0.05).Compared with the control group,based on the one-way analysis of variance,the differences in CD3+,CD4+,CD8+ and CD4+CD25 high cells were all statistically significant (F=5.620,8.007,26.71,P<0.05);in the silicosis group,the percentage of CD4+ T cells was lower in stage III than in stage I (t=3.424,P<0.05);compared with the control group,the percentages of Treg cells in the silicosis group were lower in all stages (t=-7.934,-9.445,-5.096,P<0.05).(2) The levels of peripheral sIL-2R,IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α in the silicosis group were higher than those in the control group,the difference were statistically significant(t=-6.952,-4.506,-2.551,-5.670,P<0.05);compared with the control group,based on the one-way analysis of variance,the differences in sIL-2R,IL-6 and TNF-α in all stages were statistically significant (F=11.03,11.31,13.22,P<0.0001);the sIL-2R was higher in patients with stage III silicosis than that of stage I (t=-2.882,P<0.05);IL-6 was significantly higher in stage II and III silicosis group than that of stage I group (t=-3.022,-2.632,P<0.05),and TNF-α was higher in patients with stage II silicosis than patients with stage I silicosis (t=-2.322,P<0.05).(3) The level of peripheral Treg cells was negatively correlated with the percentages of CD3+ and CD8+ cells in patients with silicosis (r=-0.357,-0.508,P<0.05);sIL-R2 was positively correlated with IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α,respectively (r=0.483,0.199,0.392,P<0.05);TNF-α was positively correlated with IL-6 and IL-8,respectively (r=0.338,0.338,P<0.05).Conclusion Patients with silicosis have abnormal expression in peripheral T cell subgroups,significantly increased Treg cell and dysfunctional cytokines,which may be associated with the pathogenesis of silicosis,the detection of these indicators may have significance of diagnosis,staging,disease monitoring and prognosis of the diseases.

Objective:This study was to analyze the changes of CD4~+ T lymphocytes and their subtypes,Th1 and Th2 cells,in the peripheral blood of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis disease and to investigate their clinical significance in the pathologic process of pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods:For polarization measurement of T-helper cells,1∶100 diluted Ionomycin and 1∶10 diluted Monensin were added in sequence into the equivalent volume mixture of heparin anti-coagulated whole blood and RPMI-1640 culture liquid.After being well mixed,the mixture was incubated at 5% CO_2,37℃ for 4 hours or overnight.To 100 μl of the mixture and in sequence,the antibodies of CD3-PerCP,CD8-APC,mIgG1-FITC,Rat IgG1-PE,IL-4-PE or IFN-γ-FITC were added.The stained CD4~+ IL-4~+ (Th2) and CD4~+ IFN-γ~+ (Th1) were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results:Compared with those from healthy controls,the peripheral blood of pulmonary tuberculosis patients contained significantly fewer Th1 (P＜0.01) but significantly more Th2 cells (P＜0.05).Th1 cells in the peripheral blood of the patients with miliary pulmonary tuberculosis were obviously fewer (P＜0.05) than in infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis patients.The amount of Th2 cells in the peripheral blood of the patients with miliary pulmonary tuberculosis was significantly more (P＜0.05) than in either infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis or tuberculous pleurisy patients.The ratio of CD4~+/CD3~+ tended to decrease in all these patients,and it was much lower (P＜0.05) in the patients of miliary pulmonary tuberculosis than in infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis patients.Patients suffering from both pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes had significantly lower levels of Th1 cells and CD4~+/CD3~+ (P＜0.05) and more Th2 cells,compared with those of pulmonary tuberculosis patients without diabetes.Levels of Th1 and Th2 cells restored significantly (P＜0.05) in 15 severe pulmonary tuberculosis patients after receiving tuberculosis chemotherapy and microcalorie theropy for three months.Patients with positive sputum examination tended to have decreased Th1 and CD4~+/CD3~+ (P＞0.05) and significantly increased Th2 (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Immunosuppression existed,in different extents,in patients of infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis,tuberculous pleurisy,miliary pulmonary tuberculosis as well as patients with both pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes.Analysis of Th1,Th2 and CD4~+/CD3~+ may be benefit for the judgments of disease conditions and therapeutic effects.

Objective To describe the expressions of programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 on the surface of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with tuberculosis.Methods A total of 77 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were recruited,of which 27 were single infection,41 were coincident with bacterial or fungal infection and 9 patients with diabetes mellitus.Twenty-nine healthy donors were also enrolled as control group.The expressions of PD-1/PD-L1 on the peripheral blood lymphocytes and mononuclear cells were detected using immunostaining and flow cytometry.Collected data were analyzed with t-test statistics.Results Among the three groups of tuberculosis including pulmonary tuberculosis,pulmonary tuberculosis coincident with infection and pulmonary tuberculosis with diabetes mellitus,the percentages of CD4+ CD25+ T cells as well as CD4+ CD25high T cell subsets were both significantly higher than those in healthy controls (t=4.892,4.635,4.974,5.407,4.660,5.279,all P＜0.01).The expression of PD-1 was up regulated on the surface of CD8+ T cells in the groups of tuberculosis as compared with the control group (t=6.392,8.249,7.072,all P＜0.01).The proportions of PD-L1 expressed on the monocytes in each group were (42.51 ± 7.54) ％,(49.42± 6.29) ％ and (48.46 ± 14.58)％,respectively.The difference was significant in contrast to the control group,which was (17.91 ±3.03)％ (t=5.168,6.854,5.665,all P＜0.01).PD-L1 expression was also up-regulated on B cells in each group and much higher than that of the control group (51.51±7.32)％,(50.85±7.09)％,(55.66±14.29)％ vs (40.11±4.25)％ (t=2.562,2.046,2.766,all P＜0.05).Conclusion PD-1/ PD-L1 co-inhibitory pathway could be closely related to the development of tuberculosis and its complications,which is involved in the attenuation of anti-tuberculosis and anti infection immune responses.

Cordyceps sinensis is an expensive and tonic-valuable famous herb in China. Due to a narrow growing distribution, a low parasitic rate and a harsh living environmental condition, its wild recourse is not abundant. In re-cent years, with the improvement of living standards, people’s awareness of health care has increased strongly. That is because of people’s over-excavation need;and the natural resources are becoming increasing scarcity. In order to meet the demand for Cordyceps, domestic researchers conducted vigorous studies. Since 1987, four or five cul-tured Cordyceps species have been developed, namely fermented Cordyceps sinensis. Through subsequent unceasing research, they were put into a lot of production, bringing a certain benefits for income and society. Currently, there are four commercial brands on the market. They are Bailing, Jinshuibao, Xinganbao and Ningxinbao. This paper summarized the studies of its chemical compositions and clinical applications on fermented Cordyceps militaris in the recent five years. It will let scholars understand its value of the cultured Cordyceps militaris more comprehen-sively and supply more information for scholars in its further research.

Objective To investigate the development of early myocardial perfusion with myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) combined with dipyridamole stress echocardiography in diabetic rats . Methods The diabetes mellitus (DM) group comprised 40 male diabetic rats ,induced with streptozotocin . The control group comprised 40 normal male rats ,comparable body weights with the DM group .The DM group was divided into four subgroups (0 week ,2 weeks ,4 weeks and 8 weeks after diabetic model established) and the control group was also divided into four subgroups matched with the DM group .Each rat was performed with conventional echocardiography ,MCE at baseline and after dipyridamole stress .The reserve parameters were compared between the control group and the DM group .In addition ,the differences among four subgroups in the control group and the DM group were compared ,respectively .Results MCE demonstrated that the 4 weeks and 8 weeks DM subgroup had lower myocardial blood velocity reserve and myocardial blood flow reserve than the control subgroup .The myocardial blood volume reserve was reduced in the 8 weeks DM subgroup ,too .Conclusions The impairment of myocardial perfusion in the DM rats are detected earlier with the MCE combined with dipyridamole stress .

Objective To assess the myocardial function with early insulin treatment by velocity vector imaging (VVI) combined with dipyridamole stress in diabetic rats.Methods The 30 rats comprised 20 diabetic rats and 10 normal rats in the study.The 20 diabetic rats were divided into the diabetes mellitus(DM) group and the treatment group.Every rat in the treatment group was hypodermic injected with protamime biosynthetic human insulin after the diabetic model established.The control group was including 10 normal rats of the same age.After 8 weeks,each rat was performed with VVI at baseline and after dipyridamole stress.Results At baseline VVI,the parameters in the DM and the treatment groups were reduced compared with those in the control group.The systolic velocity,circumferential strain,systolic and diastolic circumferential strain rate in the treatment group were increased significantly compared with those in the DM group.After stress,the VVI reserve parameters in the treatment group were higher than those in the DM group.Conclusions The myocardial function are improved with early insulin treatment in the diabetic rats.

Objective To investigate the common types of fetal cardiac malformations and complicated malformations,and to assess the value of classifying on these types.Methods 3201 pregnant women were undergone with fetal echocardiography (FECG),239 fetuses of them were diagnosed to be suffered with congenital heart disease(CHD),and 8 cases were one of twins with abnormal heart confirmed by FECG.All new-births were examined by echocardiography within half year after their births.Results 155 complex CHD in 239 fetuses were diagnosed by FECG,in them the common malformations were in turn 59 cases with diagnosed univentricular heart,29 cases with double outlet right ventricle,19 with atrio ventricular septum defect,12 with tetralogy of Fallot or quinalogy of Fallot,11 with persistent truncus arteriosus,6 with right ventricular dysplasia syndrome,6 cases transposition of the great vessels.100 cases were induced labor,41 of them were comfirmed by pathology.16 fetuses were born,123 cases were being pregnanted or un-followed up.Conclusions Complex and multi-malformation were common in fetal cardiocascular abnormalities.Diagnosing rate of fetal CHD(FCHD) in our enroll fetuses was 7.47 ％,rate of complex CHD vs CHD was 64.85 ％.According different types of FCHD,able to be operated or not after birth,surgery methods,as well as prognosis evaluations,all FCHD cases were classified into three subtypes:curable type,curable palliative type and untreatable type.This newly viewpoint will help pregnant women and their family to make reasonable selection.