Objective To describe MRI findings of acute spinal cord decompression sickness.Methods MRI findings of 5 cases with clinical definite acute spinal cord decompression sickness were retrospectively analyzed.The main clinical informations included underwater performance history against regulations,short-term complete or incomplete spinal cord injury symptoms after fast going out of water,sensory disability and urinary and fecal incontinence,etc.Results Spinal cord vacuole sign was found in all 5 cases.Iso-signal intensity(n=3),high signal intensity(n=1),and low signal intensity (n=1)was demonstrated on T1 WI,and high signal intensity(n=5)was found on T2 WI.Owl eye sign was detected in 3 cases,and lacune foci were seen in 2 cases.Conclusion MRI findings of acute spinal cord decompression sickness had some characteristics,and it was easy to diagnose by combining diving history with clinical manifestations.

Objective To understand the epidemiological distribution and epidemic situation of brucellosis cases in Zhejiang Province in 2003 - 2012. Methods Questionnaires of confirmed brucellosis cases, annual reports of prevention and control work of brucellosis in the cities and monitoring points were collected and analyzed in 2003 - 2012. Population distribution, regional distribution, infection sources and routes of infection, aetiology and clinical symptoms and signs of the brucellosis cases were analyzed descriptively. Results A total of 323 brucellosis cases were reported in 2003 - 2012, the average annual incidence rate was 0.070/one hundred thousand, the incidence rate in 2012(0.190/one hundred thousand) was high. There were 272 people of the 323 brucellosis cases were from occupational populations, accounting for 84.21%(272/323); people worked in buying, slaughtering and trafficking of livestock products were majority of the cases, accounting for 65.02%(210/323); and unoccupational population was accounting for 15.79%(51/323). Regional distribution of brucellosis was gradually spreading; the average incidence rate of Shaoxing City was the highest ( 0 . 226/one hundred thousand ) . Three hundred patients were infected by sheep, accounting for 92.88%(300/323), and only 7.12%(23/323) of the patients were infected by cattle. Two hundred and eighty-seven acute phase patients of brucellosis were checked by blood culture, and thirty-nine Brucella melitensis strains and two Brucella abortus strains were detected. The chronicity survey of 120 confirmed cases of brucellosis were conducted, chronicity rate was 3.33%(4/120). Conclusions Trends in the epidemic situation of brucellosis in Zhejiang Province has continued to spread. The main source of infection is sheep from the North. Occupational populations are major populations at risk. The key of prevention and control is to strengthen the active monitoring of occupation personnel , health education and behavior intervention.

Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics of brucellosis in non-occupational population reported in Hangzhou, and provide basis for diagnosis and further prevention and control of brucellosis in non-occupational population.Methods:The basic information, epidemiological characteristics, clinical characteristics and laboratory test data of brucellosis patients reported in Hangzhou from 2008 to 2019 were collected retrospectively. The data were obtained from the case questionnaire of confirmed brucellosis and annual report of brucellosis prevention and control work of Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention over the years. The epidemiological characteristics, clinical characteristics and diagnosis of brucellosis in non-occupational population were analyzed.Results:From 2008 to 2019, 76 cases of brucellosis in non-occupational population were reported in Hangzhou, accounting for 34.23% (76/222) of the total reported brucellosis cases. In the 76 cases of brucellosis in non-occupational population, there were 47 males and 29 females, the ratio of male to female was 1.62∶1.00; the age was (47.37 ± 16.04) years old, ranging from 6 to 84 years old. The peak incidence of brucellosis in non-occupational population was from March to May, accounting for 59.21% (45/76); the main routes of infection were direct contact and digestive tract, accounting for 80.26% (61/76). The main clinical symptoms were fever (100.00%, 76/76), hyperhidrosis (73.68%, 56/76) and muscle and joint pain (69.74%, 53/76); the diagnosis time was 27 (14, 49) d, and the longest diagnosis time was 190 d. Among them, 39 cases were misdiagnosed, accounting for 51.32% (39/76). Sixty suspected Brucella strains were identified by routine culture of automatic blood culture apparatus in hospital laboratory, and 54 strains of Brucella melitensis were identified by typing, with a coincidence rate of 90.00%. The blood culture rate of patients from 2015 to 2019 (88.46%, 46/52) was significantly higher than that from 2008 to 2014 (58.33%, 14/24), the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=8.968, P < 0.05). Conclusions:From 2008 to 2019, the onset of brucellosis in non-occupational population is seasonal in Hangzhou, the infection mode is diverse, the clinical symptoms are not typical, and it is easy to be misdiagnosed. Blood culture for suspected brucellosis patients in high incidence season is conducive to the early diagnosis of brucellosis.

Objective To investigate the changes in angiopoietin 2 and endoplasmic reticulum stress,and the prognosis of acute phase of coronary syndrome (ACS) in type 2 diabetic patients with glycemic fluctuations.Methods Seventy-eight cases of consecutive diabetic patients with ACS within 7 days were enrolled.Another 78 cases of non-diabetic patients with ACS were selected as control.Risk assessment with global acute coronary events (GRACE) score in patients with ACS,dynamic blood glucose monitoring system (CGMS) for three days,realtime PCR analysis of angiopoietin-2,within the reticulum stress-related heavy chain binding protein (Bip),inositol kinase demand Ⅰ (IREI),endoplasmic reticulum class should PKR kinase (PERK),oxygen-regulated protein 150 (ORP150),activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6),X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1)mRNA expression change,phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2oα (p-eIF2α) by western blotting angiopoietin-2,parameters were compared between the two groups.Correlation analysis with GRACE score ; while angiopoietin-2 parameters and glycemic fluctuation,endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes correlation analysis were made.Results (1) ACS group average daily blood glucose fluctuations(MAGE),mean absolute difference daytime blood glucose (MODD),and postprandial blood glucose fluctuation (MPPGE) and the maximum amplitude of glycemic excursions (LAGE) were significantly higher [MAGE(5.13 ± 1.19) vs (3.19 ± 0.55) mmol/L,MODD (2.59 ± 0.72) vs (1.72 ± 0.63) mmol/L; MPPGE (3.51 ± 1.01) vs (2.58 ± 0.55) mmol/L and LAGE (7.75 ± 2.39) vs (4.34 ± 0.85) mmol/L,all P＜0.05].(2)In ACS group angiopoietin-2,endoplasmic reticulum associated genes Bip,IREI,PERK,ORP150,ATF6,XBP1,and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) mRNA expression levels as compared with the control group were statistically significant(all P＜0.05) ; Angiopoietin-2,protein p-eIF2α were higher(P＜0.05).(3) In the ACS group with pearson correlation analysis,angiopoietin-2 and MAGE,LAGE,MPPGE correlation (r =0.432,0.279,0.386,all P＜0.05),Bip and MAGE,LAGE,MPPGE correlation(r =0.783,0.589,0.887,all P＜ 0.05) ; IREI and MAGE,LAGE,MPPGE,MODD correlation (r =0.567,0.783,0.569,0.823,all P＜0.05) ; PERK and MAGE,MPPGE,MODD correlation(r =0.687,0.902,0.709,all P＜0.05) ; ORP150 and MAGE,LAGE,MPPGE,MODD correlation(r=0.779,0.871,0.775,0.689,all P＜0.05) ; ATF6 and MAGE,LAGE,MPPGE,MODD correlation(r =0.873,0.675,0.893,0.884,all P＜0.05),while XBP1 with no correlation with glycemic fluctuations (P＞0.05).(4) The endoplasmic reticulum stress gene was related to MCP-1 and blood glucose fluctuation parameters.(5) Multiple Logistic regression analysis revealed that LAGE,MPPGE,Bip,IREI,PERK,ORP150,ATF6 were risk factors affecting angiopoietin-2,and angiopoietin-2,ages,MAGE,homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance,Bip,ATF6 were risk factors affecting GRACE.(6) The ejection fractions of the ACS patients showed negative correlation with MAGE and LAGE,multiple linear regression analysis showed that age,HOMA-IR,Ang-2,and MAGE,Bip,ATF6 established the linear regression relation with ejection fraction.Conclusion Glycemic fluctuations cause angiopoietin-2 to rise and lead to increased endoplasmic reticulum stress and affect the prognosis of diabetic patients with ACS.

Objective To investigate the urinary iodine level and thyroid function during different trimesters of pregnancy in Hangzhou residents and to provide evidence for monitoring iodine nutrition or screening thyroid function. Methods The urinary iodine level and thyroid function of 395 subjects from 5 hospitals in Hanzhou were investigated. The urinary iodine level was measured by arsenic-cerium contact process method. The serum TSH, FT3 and FT4 were measured by chemiluminescence method. Results (1) The urinary iodine median concentration during pregnancy in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters were 170.3, 170.2, 162.4 μ/L respectively, all significantly lower than that of non-pregnant women (251.9 μg/L, all P < 0.05); (2) The mean value of TSH during the 1st trimester of pregnancy was significantly lower than that of non-preguant women (P < 0.05). The mean values of FT4 and FT3 in the 2nd and the 3rd trimesters of pregnancy were significantly lower than those of the control (P < 0.05); (3) During 2nd trimester, there were 8.7% (9/104, in FT4) and 9.6% (10/104, in FT3) pregnant women below normal lower range while during 3rd trimester, these figures reached 22.7% (22/97) and 17.5% (17/97) resfectively. Conclusions More than half of the pregnant women in Hangzhou have good nutritional status of iodine. There are significant differences in thyroid hormone levels between the non-pregnant and pregnant women as well as between gestation periods. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a trimester-specific reference range of thyroid hormones for normal pregnancy. The screening for thyroid function is recommended for pregnant women besides monitoring routine urinary iodine.

Objective To introduce a new technique for urethral coverage in Snodgrass hypospadias repair,and to evaluate its effectiveness and complications.Methods From April 2003 to February 2006, this new procedure was performed in 289 children with hypospadias aged 3 months to 12 years (mean age,2. 4 years).The native meatus of urethra was identified subcoronal in 78 cases,penile/shaft in 136,penoscrotal in 36 and scrotal in 16;and 23 cases had undergoneⅡstage operation and re-operation.The overlapping coverage with bilateral shaft based vascularized dartos pedicle was done in the new urethra by Snodgrass hy- pospadias repair in these children.Results All the cases were followed for 3 months to 2 years.Postoper- atively,urinary fistulas developed in 32 cases (11%).Of them,11 were cured spontaneously within 4 weeks. The incidence of actual urinary fistula was 7% (21/289).Of the 21 fistulas which were not cured,11 (5%) occurred in 214 cases of distal hypospadias;and 10 (13%) in 75 cases of proximal hypospadias,Ⅱstage and re-operation.No dehiscence and diverticulum was found.Combined with mucosal collar technique,the ventral skin of the penis was sewn on the midline.During the follow-up,excellent cosmetic results with normal-ap- pearing circumcised penis were achieved in most patients.Conclusions Bilateral shaft based vascularized dartos pedicle urethral coverage procedure is a reliable and effective method for preventing urethral cutaneous fistulas and dehiscence.This method can reconstruct a satisfactory cosmetic appearance of the penis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the method and the outcome of the acetabular reconstruction in the Crowe III dysplastic hip.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to June 2007, 43 cases (54 hips) were diagnosed osteoarthritis secondary to Crowe III dysplastic hip. Total hip arthroplasty was performed in all cases. The Harris score was 39 pre-operation. The method of the acetabular reconstruction included acetabular deepening (group A), medial-wall osteotomy (group B), femoral head bone grafting (group C). Radiography data and Harris score were taken to evaluate the clinical outcome.

RESULTSThe method of the acetabular reconstruction included acetabular deepening in 27 cases (34 hips), medial-wall osteotomy in 12 cases (15 hips), femoral head bone grafting in 4 cases (5 hips). Forty cases were followed up by the mean time of 29 months. The bone union time of the osteotomy and bone grafting were 4 - 5 months postoperation. In the three groups the obliquity angle of the cup were (41.0 +/- 7.5) degrees , (46.0 +/- 7.7) degrees , (39.0 +/- 11.0) degrees ; the anteversion angle of the cup were (10.0 +/- 2.8) degrees , (9.0 +/- 2.5) degrees , (4.0 +/- 1.9) degrees ; the rotation center of the hip was shift superiorly (8.4 +/- 3.6) mm, (7.3 +/- 2.6) mm, (1.2 +/- 0.5) mm; the rotation center of the hip were shift internally (7.0 +/- 1.5) mm, (9.9 +/- 1.7) mm, (-2.7 +/- 1.2) mm, and the Harris score were 89, 91, 86 at the follow up. The complication included deep venous thrombosis in 2 cases, pulmonary embolism in 2 cases, sciatic nerve palsy in 4 cases.

CONCLUSIONAcetabular deepening, medial-wall osteotomy, femoral head bone grafting can be used in reconstruction of the acetabular in the Crowe III dysplastic hip.

Acetabulum ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Dislocation, Congenital ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Hip ; etiology ; surgery ; Osteotomy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of middle cerebral artery (MCA) and umbilical artery (UA) resistance index in predicting fetal hypoxia in fetuses with umbilical cord around the neck in late pregnancy.

METHODSEighty normal fetuses between 38 and 40 weeks of gestation and 88 fetuses with umbilical cord around neck were measured for MCA and UA pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and the peak-systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D) by means of color Doppler ultrasonography, and the resistance index ratio was calculated. Fetuses with umbilical cord around neck were estimated according to the measured normograms for the presence of fetal hypoxia, and the results were evaluated by diagnostic test.

RESULTSSignificant differences were found in MCA and UA resistance index ratio between the groups (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the resistance index ratio between the normal group and around the neck (one round) group (P>0.05), but significant difference was found between normal group and around the neck (two rounds and more) group (P<0.01), and between the two arounds and one round groups (P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of MCA and UA resistance index and resistance index ratio in predicting fetal hypoxia of fetuses with umbilical cord around neck was 43%, 85%, 92%, 83%, 89%, and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONMCA and UA resistance index ratio is a better indicator than its resistance index in predicting fetal hypoxia of fetuses with umbilical cord around neck, and may help in early detection of fetal hypoxia for a diagnosis before fetal distress.

Adult ; Female ; Fetal Hypoxia ; diagnosis ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; embryology ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Ultrasonography, Doppler ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; Umbilical Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

In past decade, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) as a novel gasotransmitter, covered many fields in biological and medical research. However, there is no effective, convenient and high-throughput method for determination of circulatory H₂S until now. Here, we aim to develop an easy method for measurement of circulatory H₂S by modified methylene blue method. In the present study, we added Zn²⁺ to plasma sample to deposit H₂S, HS⁻ and S²⁻, as well as plasma protein, then used NaOH to re-dissolve plasma protein. ZnS deposition was re-dissolved by the addition of N, N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine, and the remnant protein was deposited by trichloroacetic acid. After centrifugation, ferriammonium sulfate was added to the supernatant fluid to generate methylene blue, which was analyzed by spectrophotometer at 665 nm. Using the present method, we found that most ions including sulfate and thiosulfate did not affect detection of H₂S concentration, but albumin (physiological concentration) reduced the detection value, which suggested the binding of serum albumin and a certain amount of H₂S. The relative recovery ratio of present method is 81.9%, which implies that the method is relative accurate for the determination of H₂S concentration in plasma or serum. H₂S levels of frozen plasma samples from 65 healthy volunteers detected by the present method were (13.93 ± 4.98) µmol/L. There was no obvious difference between the detection values of fresh and frozen samples from the same SD rats. These results suggest the modified methylene blue assay is stable, sensitive, convenient and high-throughput. The method can be used to analyze the circulatory H₂S in clinical and basic research.
Animals ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; methods ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; Methylene Blue ; chemistry ; Phenylenediamines ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sulfides ; chemistry ; Zinc Compounds ; chemistry

VEGF nanoparticle (VEGF-NP) was prepared by a multi-emulsification technique using a biodegradable poly-dl-lactic-co-glycolic (PLGA) as matrix material. The nanoparticles were characterized for size, VEGF loading capacity, and in vitro release. VEGF-NP and naked VEGF plasmid were intramuscularly injected into the ischemia site of the rabbit chronic hindlimb ischemia model and the efficiency of VEGF-NP as gene delivery carrier for gene therapy in animal model was evaluated. Gene therapuetic effect was assessed evaluated by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and angiography assay. The average size of VEGF-NP was around 300 nm. The encapsulation efficiency of VEGF was above 96%. Loading amount of VEGF in the nanoparticles was about 4%. In vitro, nanoparticles maintained sustained-release of VEGF for two weeks. Two weeks post gene injection the capillary density in VEGF-NP group (81.22 per mm2) was significantly higher than that in control group (29.54 mm2). RT-PCR results showed greatly higher VEGF expression in VEGF-NP group (31.79au * mm) than that in naked VEGF group (9.15 au * mm). As a carrier system for gene therapy in animal model, VEGF-NP is much better than naked DNA plasmid. The results demonstrate great possibility of using NP carrier in human gene therapy.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Plasmids ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics