Objective To analyze the clinical features of vasovagal syncope, enhance its clinial awareness and to promote the importance of history taking in the differential diagnosis of syncope. Methods A total of 83 patients with the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope were included in the study and their data were, undergone retrospective statistical analysis. Results A 63.9% of patients had recurrent syncope. There was 73.5% of them had motivation and 80.7% of them had presyncope symptoms. Complete loss of consciousness was found in 77.1% of patients. There was 39.1% of them had concomitant symptoms and 39.1% had postsyncopal symptoms. In 54.2% of the patients the duration of syncope was less than 2 minutes. Conclusion It is important to pay attention to history taking and to anylaze the clinical features in the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope.

Objective To evaluate the correlating clinical factors of coronary artery calcification score(CACS).Methods 141 patients suspected of coronary artery disease were included.They underwent multi-slice row computed tomography,pulse wave velocity ( PWV ),UCG and blood biochemistry within a period of 3 months.The subjects were divided into three groups according to CAC score:A(CACS =0-10),B ( CACS = 11-400),C ( CACS > 400).Results CACS was significantly associated with age,history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus.It was also associated with the presence of mitral annular calcification and aortic valve calcification,low ankel brachial pressure index(ABI) and high mean artery pressure(MAP) as well as high values of brachial ankel PWV (baPWV) and Upstroke time (UT).Muhifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of aortic valve calcification and mitral annular calcification,the history of diabetes mellitus and high value of UT were independently correlated with severe coronary artery calcification.Conclusions Aortic valve calcification,mitral annular calcification,history of diabetes mellitus,high value of UT were independently correlated with severe coronary artery calcification.Measurement of PWV and UCG should be performed before muhi-slicerow computed tomography,because the assessment of coronary artery lumen narrowing with multi-slice row computed tomography can not be carried out accurately in the presence of severe coronary artery calcification.

Objective To determine whether pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH) and pulmonary venous hypertension (PVH) can be differentiated noninvasively by echocardiography. Methods Fifty-six patients with pulmonary arterial systolic pressure(PASP) ≥40 mmHg by echocardiography were involved,and cardiac catheterization performed within 7 days of each other. Based on left ventricular end-diastolic pressure or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure(PCWP) ,30 patients were classified as PAH group and 26 patients as PVH group. The early(E) and late(A) diastolic mitral inflow velocities,E/A ratios,deceleration time(DT),early dastlic mitrial annular velocity(E') and E/E' ratios were measured by conventional and Doppler tissue imaging echocardiography in the two groups. Results Compared with PVH group,the PAH group had significantly higher A,DT,PASP and E',and significantly lower E,E/A ratio and E/E' ratio (P < 0. 01 or P <0. 001). E/E' and E/A ratio was optimal indexes for differentiation of PAH and PVH,the area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 97% and 91 %, respectively. Optimal cutoff for diagnosing PVH was E/E'>9.2 (sensitivity 95%, specificity 97%) and E/A> 1. 7 (sensitivity 75%,specificity 92%). Conclusions PAH and PVH imaging can be reliably differentiated by echocardiography.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the corrosion resistant properties of titanium samples prepared by anodic oxidation with different surface morphologies.

METHODSPure titanium substrates were treated by anodic oxidation to obtain porous titanium films in micron, submicron, and micron-submicron scales. The surface morphologies, coating cross-sectional morphologies, crystalline structures, and surface roughness of these samples were characterized. Electrochemical technique was used to measure the corrosion potential (Ecorr), current density of corrosion (Icorr), and polarization resistance (Rp) of these samples in a simulated body fluid.

RESULTSPure titanium could be modified to exhibit different surface morphologies by the anodic oxidation technique. The Tafel curve results showed that the technique can improve the corrosion resistance of pure titanium. Furthermore, the corrosion resistance varied with different surface morphologies. The submicron porous surface sample demonstrated the best corrosion resistance, with maximal Ecorr and Rp and minimal Icorr.

CONCLUSIONAnodic oxidation technology can improve the corrosion resistance of pure titanium in a simulated body fluid. The submicron porous surface sample exhibited the best corrosion resistance because of its small surface area and thick barrier layer.

BACKGROUND: The neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity of bupivacaine have been reported frequently. However, the studies on bupivacaine-induced muscle toxicity are few.
OBJECTIVE: To establish and evaluate local intramuscular injection of bupivacaine on the changes in histomorphology and ultrastructure of rat multifidus muscle at various time points.
METHODS: A total of 54 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 280-320 g were randomly divided into black group (n=18), model group (n=18) and model control group (n=18). Each group was then equal y subdivided into three subgroups according to time points (4, 7 and 14 days) (n=6). Both sides of multifidus muscle of the rats (L4 and L5) were injected with 0.5% bupivacaine. The morphological and ultrastructural changes of multifidus muscle were observed and analyzed with light microscope and transmission electron microscope at 4, 7 and 14 days after model establishment.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) A single intramuscular injection of 0.5% bupivacaine induced muscular damage. (2) Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed fiber necrosis, inflammatory cel infiltration, and a smal amount of macrophages in local skeletal muscle. (3) Under the transmission electron microscope, the structure of myofibrils was destroyed or disintegrated; kinds of bands and lines were indistinct, disrupted or disappeared; the structure of mitochondria was abnormal, the mitochondrial cristae were reduced or disappeared. In the 7- and 14-day groups, multifidus muscle proliferated and repaired. (4) Ultrastructural change scores in skeletal muscle were significantly higher in the model group than in the blank and model control groups (P < 0.05). Above scores were significantly greater in the 4-day group than in the 7- and 14-day groups (P < 0.05), and higher in the 7-day group than in the 14-day group (P < 0.05). (5) Results suggest that a single intramuscular injection of 0.5% bupivacaine can result in pathological changes of skeletal muscle from morphology and ultrastructure. This method can establish a suitable model of skeletal muscle injury.

Objective To observe the difference between skeletal age of hand and wrist and chronological age and explore the reliability of CHN radiographic atlas method to assess the skeletal age of hand and wrist in children and adolescent.Methods Total 1397 healthy children (666 boys,731 girls;age range,1.0-18.0 years old) with hand and wrist injury from 2007 to 2011 were selected.Forty groups (n =20 for boys and girls,respectively) were classified according to CHN radiographic atlas method.The radiographs of hand and wrist were assessed by CHN radiographic atlas method,the relations between skeletal age and chronological age were investigated by using Wilcoxon signed ranks test.Results According to the CHN radiographic atlas method,the difference in 1.0 to 3.9 years old,7.0 to 7.9 years old and 9.0 to 15.9 years old boy groups between skeletal age and the chronological age had statistical significance (P ＜0.05) ; the difference in 1.0 to 2.9 years old,8.0 to 11.9 years old,12.6 to 14.9 years old,and 17.0 to 18.0 years old girl groups between skeletal age and the chronological age had statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05).Besides,these skeletal age was higher than the chronological age.Conclusions Skeletal age assessed by the CHN radiographic atlas method in a majority of age groups was higher than chronological age.It should be cautious to estimate the contemporary Chinese children skeletal age of hand and wrist when using the CHN radiographic atlas method.

Objective To explore the application of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR)scanning technique in low dose pediatric cervical CT, especially in reducing the radiation dose for thyroid. Methods We retrospectivly analyzed 140 pediatric cervical CT. 70 cases of group A scaned with ASIR technology and preseting noise index 12 HU in Discovery CT 750 HD (GE Healthcare), and 70 cases of group B scaned with filtered back projection (FBP) technology and preseting noise index 14 HU in VCT 64 (64 Lightspeed VCT, GE Healthcare). The other scan parameters were same in 2 groups. The distribution characteristics of gender and age were completely consistent between groups. The minimum current, the maximum current, the current of thyroid on CT images and CT dose volume index (CTDIvol), scanning length and dose length product (DLP) on dose reports were all recorded for each child. The noise values of CT images were measured. 4 scores standard was used to evaluate the subjective image quality. The data were analyzed with SPSS 13, Kappa method for the test of consistency and t test for the differences of the measured data. Excel was used for mapping. Results The minimum current, the maximum current, the average current, the current for thyroid of the two groups were respectively (26.8 ± 4.2), (43.2 ± 15.4)mA;(35.8±9.6),(41.8±13.6)mA;(34.6±8.6), (41.0±13.2)mA;(36.8±12.3), (44.7±21.0)mA. The CTDIvol, DLP and the scanning length of the two groups were respectively(1.3 ± 0.3), (1.8 ± 0.6)mGy;(29.0 ± 8.3), (40.3 ± 15.6) mGy·cm and(157.5±20.2), (157.6±21.8)cm. The average current, the thyroid current, CTDI and DLP in group A were 15.8%, 17.9%, 27.3%and 28.4%lower than those in group B (t=-5.50—-0.02, P<0.01). The subjective image quality scores of the two doctors were respectively 3.4 ± 0.9, 3.3 ± 1.0, they were highly consistent (Kappa=0.834, P<0.01). The objective image noise of cancellous bone and neck muscles were respectively (32.5 ± 5.3),(32.9 ± 5.1)HU and (9.2 ± 2.3), (9.1 ± 2.0)HU, there were not statistically difference between the two groups (t=-0.47—0.24, P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with FBP, low dose pediatric cervical CT with 30%ASIR could provide dose reduction for thyroid and the whole neck while maintaining diagnostically acceptable images .

Objective:To investigate the effects of high thoracic epidural anesthesia (HTEA) on the cerebral blood flow (CBF) and hippocampal apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2 and Bax during global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (GCI) in rats.Methods:Fifteen-minute global ischemia was established by 4-vessel occlusion and epidural catheterization was performed through T4-5 intervertebral spaces in adult male Wistar rats.According to the different drugs infused into the epidural space,the rats were randomly divided into four groups:Sham group (0.9 ％ NaC1),Sham-HTEA group (0.25 ％ bupivacaine),GCI group (global cerebral ischemia,0.9 ％ NaC1) and HTEA group (global cerebral ischemia,0.25 ％ bupivacaine).And 0.25 ％bupivacaine or 0.9 ％ saline (20 μL·h-1) was infused continuously to the thoracic epidural space from 15 minutes before ischemia to 24 hours after reperfusion.Mean arterial pressure (MAP),heart rate (HR) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) were determined until 2 hours after reperfusion,and the hippocampal Bcl-2 and Bax proteins at 24 hours after reperfusion were examined by Western-blot.Results:Compared with the GCI group,HTEA group has no significant difference on MAP and HR during ischemia and 2 hours after reperfusion,andcompared with the Sham group,MAP in GCI group increased in ischemia 0 min and decreased in reperfusion 0 min.The CBF in HTEA group was significantly lower than that in GCI group (123.1％± 35.2％ vs 177.5％± 32.4％,P＜0.01) in reperfusion 10 min,and higher than that in GCI group during the hypoperfusion of 60 to 120 minutes after reperfusion (P＜0.05),and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in hippocampus was significantly decreased in HTEA group 24 hours after reperfusion (P＜0.01).Conclusions:Continuous HTEA infusion of 0.25 ％ bupivacaine 20 μL ·h-1 could maintain the hemodynamic stability,and improve the CBF of hypoperfusion period in rats,as well as reduce the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 at 24 hours after reperfusion.

The giant panda is one of the most critically endangered species due to the fragmentation and loss of its habitat. Studying the functions of proteins in this animal, especially specific trait-related proteins, is therefore necessary to protect the species. In this work, the functions of these proteins were investigated using the genome sequence of the giant panda. Data on 21,001 proteins and their functions were stored in the Giant Panda Protein Database, in which the proteins were divided into two groups: 20,179 proteins whose functions can be predicted by GeneScan formed the known-function group, whereas 822 proteins whose functions cannot be predicted by GeneScan comprised the unknown-function group. For the known-function group, we further classified the proteins by molecular function, biological process, cellular component, and tissue specificity. For the unknown-function group, we developed a strategy in which the proteins were filtered by cross-Blast to identify panda-specific proteins under the assumption that proteins related to the panda-specific traits in the unknown-function group exist. After this filtering procedure, we identified 32 proteins (2 of which are membrane proteins) specific to the giant panda genome as compared against the dog and horse genomes. Based on their amino acid sequences, these 32 proteins were further analyzed by functional classification using SVM-Prot, motif prediction using MyHits, and interacting protein prediction using the Database of Interacting Proteins. Nineteen proteins were predicted to be zinc-binding proteins, thus affecting the activities of nucleic acids. The 32 panda-specific proteins will be further investigated by structural and functional analysis.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Chromosome Mapping ; Databases, Protein ; Dogs ; genetics ; Genome ; Horses ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; Proteomics ; Sequence Alignment ; Software ; Ursidae ; genetics

Objective To retrospectively study the biodistribution of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE as a SSTR imaging agent in human subjects.Methods A total of 106 patients with suspected disease were enrolled in this study.All patients were histologically proven for having either a single tumor ＜2 cm or without evidence of tumor during follow-up.Patients underwent PET/CT whole-body scan 17-100 min after intravenous injection of 55.2-220.0 MBq 68Ga-DOTA-TATE.ROI was drawn for measuring SUV of tracer-avid pathologies.One-way analysis of variance and two-sample t test were used for statistical analysis.Results High 68Ga-DOTA-TATE avidity was found in pituitary,with SUVmax of 4.00± 1.21.Tracer was excreted mainly through urinary system resulting in highest uptake in the urinary tracts.The SUVmax of kidney cortex was 19.01 ± 5.45.Mediastinal blood pool and liver SUVmax were 0.93±0.33 and 7.69±2.26,respectively.Mild uptake of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE was found in the brain,cerebellum,lung and muscle,all lower than that of mediastinal blood pool.Moderate accumulation of 68 Ga-DOTA-TATE (close to or slightly higher than liver) was found in adrenal gland and spleen,with SUVmax 7.61 ± 3.42 and 8.63± 2.31,respectively.Other organs (pituitary,salivary gland,thyroid,pancreas,small intestine,colon,uterus,prostate and bone) showed tracer uptake in the range between those of mediastinal blood pool and liver.68Ga-DOTA-TATE distribution in pancreas was not uniform.Nine patients had focal accumulation in the uncinate process of pancreas with highest SUVm~ up to 8.48.However,the SUVmax and SUV in the rest of pancreas (head,neck,body and tail) showed insignificant difference (F values:0.703,0.563,both P＞0.05).68Ga-DOTA-TATE uptake in each organ reached equilibrium quickly after injection but with slight increase over time.The changes in SUV,however,showed insignificant difference among organs,including different parts of pancreas (t values:from -0.09 to 1.75,from-1.70 to-0.42,respectively,all P＞0.05).Conclusions The biodistribution of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE reaches equilibrium shortly after intravenous administration and is stably maintained.The biodistribution activities are organ-specific,and characteristic to that of SSTR concentration.