Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. It is very important to explore the biomarkers for the early prediction of preeclampsia. Some peptides released from placenta, such as soluble Flt-1 and placenta growth factor (PlGF), have been revealed for definite prospects of application. Meanwhile, the recent advances in proteomics, metabolomics and microRNA shed light on searching of new biomarkers for preeclampsia prediction.

A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and single-strand conformation polymorphisms (SSCP) assay were applied to rapidly detect the molecular variability in CP and SP genes among seven isolates of Rice stripe virus in China. The PCR results showed that the CP gene of JD isolate and SP gene of PJ isolate could not be amplified. SSCP analysis showed that there were completely different electrophoretic pattern of CP gene among six isolates. To SP gene, SSCP results also discovered polymorphisms. There were five patterns among these isolates, and the pattern of YL and BS isolates were same.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is a rare and heterogeneous group of tumors with widely varying morphologies and behaviors. Due to their rarity and heterogeneity, progress in improving its treatment has been slow. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) is a subset of NETs, previously known as islet cell tumors, occupies 3% of the primary pancreatic tumors with the annual incidence rate of (1-2)/100 000. In recent years, it is very necessary to improve the diagnosis and treatment of pNETs.

Antibacterial therapy is a global health issue. The antibiotic resistance is becoming an increasingly serious threat, which caused by misuse and overuse of antibacterial agents combined with the emergence of new resistance mechanism. The resulting infection treatment risk and incidence of the spread of disease, severe cases and deaths are increased in different degrees. With the extensive application of biomaterials and nanotechnology to biomedicine, extensive research has been conducted on antibacterial infection. With the specific physicochemical properties like optical, electric and magnetic and high penetration, inorganic nanomaterials can produce natural antibacterial effect. Nanomedicine can be designed to allow controlled drug release and targeting effect, thus demonstrated better antibacterial efficiency. In this review, the mechanism of antibacterial resistance is described, and the antibacterial infection research on inorganic nanomaterials, as well as nano-drug delivery system including liposomes, nanoparticles, dendrimers and biomimetic nanocarriers are summarized. Nanomaterials and nanotechnology offer promising strategies for the development of new agents that can improve efficacy on antibacterial infections and overcome antibiotic resistance potentially.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Vaginal Neoplasms ; secondary

OBJECTIVETo explore the application value of morphology assessment of sperm from fresh semen in routine in vitro fertilization (IVF).

METHODSWe analyzed the morphology of the sperm from fresh or optimized semen samples and, based on the sperm morphology of the raw semen, allocated 908 IVF cycles due to the pure tubal factor to different groups: morphologically normal sperm (MNS) ≤ 4%, > 4% - ≤ 15%, and > 15% in Trial 1 and MNS ≤ 1%, > 1% - ≤ 2%, > 2% - ≤ 3%, and > 3%-- ≤ 4% in Trial 2. We compared the rates of fertilization, cleavage, high-quality embryo, -blastocyst formation, and pregnancy among different groups.

RESULTSThe total fertilization rate was significantly lower in the MNS ≤ 4% than in the MNS > 4% - ≤ 15% and >15% groups (74.40% vs 78.61% and 80.03%, P < 0.01). Compared with the MNS ≤ 1%, > 1% - ≤ 2%, and > 2% - ≤ 3% groups, the MNS > 3% - ≤ 4% group showed remarkably increased rates of 2PN normal fertilization (77.23%, 78.97% and 78.99% vs 85.47%, P < 0.01), cleavage (95.71%, 96.01% and 97.27% vs 98.73%, P < 0.05), and blastocyst formation (53.85%, 49.01% and 49.55% vs 63.41%, P < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were observed in the rates of clinical pregnancy, implantation, early abortion, live birth, or malformation at birth among different groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMNS ≤ 4% affected the total rate of fertilization while MNS ≤ 3% reduced the rate of normal fertilization in IVF. However, even MNS ≤ 1% did not result in fertilization disorder or failure. Therefore, teratozoospermia alone was not an indicator of ICSI and sperm mor- phology assessment had no obvious value for predicting the rates of embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, and live birth in IVF.

Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

Aged ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Vertebroplasty ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the methods and effects of secondary intervention for mid-long term complications of endovascular repair (EVR) in aortic diseases.

METHODSFrom May 1999 to Jun 2007, 21 patients with mid-long term complications after EVR were treated in our center. Of these cases, 15 cases received first EVR for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), 3 cases for thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and 3 cases for aortic dissection (TAD). The mid-long term complications included 11 cases of type I endoleak, 4 cases of type II endoleak, 2 cases of type III endoleak and 4 cases of migration of stent grafts. Proximal or distal extensions were used for type I and III endoleak in 9 cases. Fenestrated, scallop and bifurcated stent grafts were used to reconstruct the aortic arch in 3 cases. Emboli technique was used in treating type II endoleak. Thrombectomy and bypass technique were used in 4 cases with stent graft limb occlusion. One ruptured AAA accepted open surgery.

RESULTSSecondary endovascular technique were undergone in 20 (95.2%) cases. One case died in 30 days after the secondary intervention and endoleak remained after the secondary operation in 5 cases. Three cases died of the secondary intervention.

CONCLUSIONSEndoleak and limb occlusion were the chief mid-long complications after EVR. Secondary endovascular technique can be used in most cases and carries great challenges in aortic arch lesions.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aortic Diseases ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

Bacillus megaterium ; pathogenicity ; Brain Abscess ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo design and manufacture a modular branched stent-graft system of endovascular reconstruction of the aortic arch in canine, and to investigate the feasibility of endovascular repair.

METHODSAfter the length and the diameter of ascending aorta, aortic arch and super-arch branched vessel measurement, a modular branched stent-graft system, including two pieces bifurcated stent-graft and one piece straight stent-graft, was designed and manufactured. Under X-ray fluorescope, these three modulars were accessed from right subclavian, left subclavian and femoral artery respectively and connected one by one to reconstruct the aortic arch. The shape and structure of stent-grafts, haemodynamics in aortic arch and endoleak were observed.

RESULTSEight of ten operations were completed successfully. Two dogs died of obstruction of coronary artery and artery rupture of left subclavian respectively during operation. In the eight successful cases, two proximal type I endoleaks were observed, and no other type endoleak occurred. The shape and the localization of stent-grafts were fine, and the coronary artery and carotid artery were unobstructed.

CONCLUSIONIt is feasible to reconstruct aortic arch of canine by modular branched stent-graft, and it is significant to direct the research of reconstruction of human aortic arch.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Dogs ; Feasibility Studies ; Male ; Prosthesis Design ; Stents