With the development of medical imaging technology, hemodynamics-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has gradually become one of the major tools to investigate human brain function, however, it is of limited temporal resolution. In recent years, neuronal current MRI (nc-MRI) was proposed as a new imaging method to directly map the magnetic field change caused by neural activities. Theoretically, nc-MRI can non-inva- sively locate brain activities with very high spatial and temporal resolution, thus it may greatly improve the study of human brain function. This paper reviews the construction mechanism of nc-MRI, including theoretical model of the neuronal magnetic field and signal source. Arithmetic simulation of nc-MRI signal with an illustration of our work on simulation of a dendrite branch magnetic field is presented. New development of the experimental studies and foreground of nc-MRI area are discussed.

Objective To evaluate the forecasting value of renal scintigraphy (ECT) on the diagnosis of renovascular hypertension (RVH). Methods Twenty-four cases of coronary heart disease and hypertension were selected. All of them were suspected of RVH. They underwent ECT and renal arterial angiography (RAA). Results The 24 cases were diagnosed as RVH. The diagnostic sensitivity of renal scintigraphy in RVH was 83.3% (P

Objective To investigate the safety and feasibility of carotid artery stenting (CAS) and evaluate its clinical outcomes. Methods From July 1998 to December 2003, 30 consecutive patients with 32 lesions underwent extracranial CAS procedures. Thirteen patients had a history of stroke or TIAs, 22 were hypertensive, 11 were diabetic and 8 had history of MI. Neurological assessment, Carotid duplex ultrasound, carotid and intracranial angiography were done before CAS in all patients. All the cases were done percutanously from femoral arteries and stenting was applied in all procedures. Carotid duplex ultrasound, cardiac and neurological elevation were performed post procedure. Results 30 patients (26 male and 4 female) underwent a total of 32 CAS procedures. Total 32 self-expandable stents and 1 tubular stent were implanted in all the cases. Direct stenting technique was applied in 9 cases. The other 21 procedures were performed with distal filtration supporting devices. The device can not be delivered due to tortuous target vessel in one case (success rate 95%) and CAS success rate was 97%. The particles were found in all filter baskets. Four patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting 1 month later post CAS without perioperative neurological and cardiac events. One patient had contralateral cerebral hemorrhage during CAS and died three days later. Another patient died three days after CAS due to acute pulmonary edema. No restenosis was found by means of carotid duplex ultrasound during the follow-up (3-60 months) study. Conclusion CAS is safe and feasible in preventing ischemic stroke. This new alternative has satisfied clinical outcomes in managing cardiac and neurological ischemic diseases. Operative embolic complication can be potentially prevented by neurological protective device.

Objective To investigate the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the host defense against systemic candidiasis in murine model.Methods Two groups of mice,a study group (C3H/HeJ mice with mutant TLR4 gene) and a control group (C3H/HeN mice with normal TLR4 gene) were set up in cyclophosphamide-induced immuno-suppressed murine model with systemic candidiasis.Colony forming units (CFUs) of C.albicans were determined in infected kidneys and spleens with plating dilution method.Histopathological changes of infected kidneys were measured.In addition,levels of tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) in kidneys were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results CFUs of C.albicans were significantly higher in kidneys in the 1st day and 6th day after infection in the study group than those in the control group.Meanwhile,CFUs of C.albicans were significantly higher in spleens in the 1st day after infection in the study group than those in the control group.The scores of severity of infection,showed by histopathology,were significantly higher in kidneys in the 1st day and 6th day after infection in the study group than those in the control group(P

Objective To characterize the clinical features of patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA).Methods Totally 42 patients with CA admitted to Guangdong General Hospital since 2008 were included and retrospectively analyzed in the present study.CA was confirmed by abdomen and endocardium biopsy examination.Clinical manifestations,electrocardiogram and echocardiography were collected for the evaluation.Results Several clinic features are common in CA.In the present study,37 cases (88.1％) presented with chest tightness,dyspnea,20 cases(47.6％) with chest pain,27 cases(64.3％) with right heart failure,27 cases (64.3％) with fatigue,and 30 cases (71.4％) with renal insufficiency and proteinuria.Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed that 32 of the patients (76.2％) were with low voltage in limb leads,29 cases (69％) of them were with poor R wave progression in precordial leads,17 cases (40.5％) with ST-T change,28 cases(66.7％) with pseudo-necrotic Q wave and 36 cases (85.7％) with various kinds of arrhythmia.Echocardiography indicated that all of the subjects (100％) were with different degrees of left ventricular posterior wall or ventricular septal thickness,and left atrial hypertrophy with different degree of myocardial grain appearance or ground-glass opacity.Thirty-six cases (85.7％) were with pericardial effusion,and 27 cases (64.3％) were with abnormal left ventricular eject function.Conclusion For those who were with unexplained clinical cardiac insufficiency,renal insufficiency,myocardial hypertrophy,but normal of ventricular size in echocardiography and low voltage on ECG limb leads,a tissue biopsy from abdomen,labial glands or endocardium should be considered in the diagnosis of CA.

Objective:To investigate CT manifestations of perivascular epithelioid cell tumors.Methods:The multi-slice spiral CT manifestations in 11 patients with perivascular epithelioid cell tumors which were pathologically confirmed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College between October 2012 and August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors were located in the kidney of eight patients, in the right lobe of the liver of two patients, and in the descending colon of one patient. The largest tumor, approximately 20.0 cm × 26.0 cm × 11.0 cm, was located in the kidney. The smallest tumor, 2.4 cm × 2.6 cm × 3.4 cm, was located in the colon. CT plain scans showed uniform density without bleeding, calcification, or fat in two patients, and non-uniform density with fatty change in two patients. Contrast-enhanced CT images showed non-uniform enhancement in the arterial phase in 10 patients and uniform enhancement in one patient. Contrast-enhanced CT images showed decreased degrees of enhancement of the lesions in 11 patients from the portal venous phase to the delayed phase and dilated and tortuous vascular shadows in 11 patients.Conclusion:The multi-slice spiral CT manifestations of perivascular epithelioid cell tumors are characteristic and the multi-slice spiral CT is of value for the diagnosis of perivascular epithelioid cell tumors.

OBJECTIVEWe retrospectively analyzed the causes, diagnosis, clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of 17 patients with rhabdomyolysis.

METHODSRhabdomyolysis cases diagnosed from January 2005 to March 2014 in our department were included.

RESULTSA total of 17 rhabdomyolysis patients (male 13, mean age (60.4 ± 15.7) years) were analyzed.Four cases had coronary heart disease combined with hypertension, hyperlipaemia, atrial fibrillation, 10 cases had dilated cardiomyopathy combined with coronary heart disease, hyperlipaemia, atrial fibrillation, 8 cases had atrial fibrillation combined with hypertension, coronary heart disease, hyperlipaemia, 1 patient had pulmonary embolism combined with hyperlipaemia, 1 patient had aortic dissection combined with hypertension, 10 hypertension patients were combined with coronary heart disease, hyperlipaemia, atrial fibrillation, aortic dissection and 1 patient with ventricular tachycardia was combined with depression.Various degrees of liver and kidney dysfunction, reduced hemoglobin and myoglobinuria were found in all patients.Fever was found in 7 cases, relevant neurological signs in 5 cases. Digestive tract discomfort and muscle weakness or muscle pain symptoms were seen in all patients during hospitalization. All cases underwent renal replacement therapy and respirator was used in 14 patients to support breathing. Post therapy, 10 cases improved but 7 cases died. All 17 patients had history of statin use.

CONCLUSIONStatin may be the major cause of rhabdomyolysis in these patients, and the mortality of rhabdomyolysis is high despite various therapy stratigies.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; Hypertension ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhabdomyolysis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of treating de novo coronary lesions with paclitaxel-eluting balloon. Methods: This is a retrospective study, which enrolled 76 patients with 80 de novo coronary lesions treated with paclitaxel-eluting balloons(<30% residual stenosis and there was no blood flow limited dissection after pretreatment) from April 2015 to November 2016 in Guangdong general hospital. The data of basic characteristics,procedures,devices and follow-up information were retrieved and analyzed. The primary endpoint was the composite of cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization. Results: (1)The age was (63.3±10.3) years. There were 68.4%(52/76) acute coronary syndrome patients, prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 36.8%(28/76), and 64.5%(49/76)patients with at least one high bleeding risk. (2)The lesion length was (17.4±7.6)mm, and the stenosis was (88.1±8.2)%.The reference vessel diameter≥2.75 mm accounted for 51.2% (41/80), and bifurcation stenosis accounted for 67.5%(54/80). (3)53.7%(43/80) lesions were pretreated with scoring balloon to optimize plaque modification. The paclitaxel-eluting balloon length and diameter were (22.3±5.5)mm and (2.74±0.52)mm.The residual stenosis was (12.3±10.3)%. Procedural success was 88.8%(71/80).Bail-out stenting rate was 5.0%(4/80). (4)The median follow-up duration was 12(6, 25) months. Primary endpoint occurred in 3 cases (3.9%), including 2 cardiac deaths(1 patient died of recurrent myocardial infarction, and 1 patient died of acute heart failure induced by severe mitral insufficiency), and one patient receivedtarget lesion revascularization. Conclusion In case of no more than 30% residual stenosis and no blood flow limited dissection after lesion pretreatment,it is safe and feasible to treat de novo coronary lesionsusing paclitaxel-eluting balloon.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of simultaneous percutaneous transluminal renal artery stenting (PTRAS) and percutaneous coronary artery interventions (PCI) on cardiac and renal function in patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS) and coronary artery disease (CAD), and explore the factors affecting the long-term prognosis.

METHODSThis retrospective cohort study enrolled 169 patients with RAS and CAD from January 2006 to January 2010, 149 patients were intervened with PTRAS and PCI simultaneously (combined group) and the remaining 20 patients were treated with PCI (PCI group). All patients were followed up for at least 2 years. Clinical data including blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), echocardiography and major adverse events were obtained.

RESULTSThe average stenotic ratio of the left and right renal artery in PCI group were significantly lower than those in combined group (both P < 0.01). After 2 years, there was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure compared to baseline level in the combined group (P < 0.01). In the PCI group, both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower during follow-up than at the baseline level (both P < 0.01) . Echocardiography examination showed that left ventricular mass index (LVMI) during follow up was significantly lower than the baseline value in both groups, and the reduction extent in the combined group was larger than in PCI group (-55.6 g/m(2) vs.-12.8 g/m(2), P < 0.01) . In the combined group, the eGFR value decreased from (44.7 ± 17.4) ml×min(-1)×1.73 m(-2) to (41.7 ± 18.9) ml×min(-1)×1.73 m(-2) (P < 0.01). eGFR level remained unchanged in PCI group (P > 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that baseline renal dysfunction was not significantly related to the long-term adverse prognosis in combined group (HR = 0.986, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSimultaneous PTRAS and PCI are safe and effective for treating patients with RAS and CAD. Simultaneous PTRAS and PCI are beneficial on controlling blood pressure and reducing left ventricular mass index but has no impact on renal function change.

Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; therapy ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Renal Artery ; pathology ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of intervention with oral probiotic METHODS: This study were conducted among 155 women in the third trimester of pregnancy with positive results of GBS culture in the Outpatient Department of Zhujiang Hospital from March to November, 2019. After excluding 32 patients who received lactobacillus intervention for less than 2 weeks or underwent postpartum GBS retesting, the women were divided into oral probiotics intervention group (60 cases) and non-intervention group (63 cases). According to the results of GBS retesting, the 60 women in the intervention group were divided into GBS-negative group (18 cases) and persistent GBS-positive group (42 cases). At the end of the intervention, the rates of negative GBS culture result were calculated and the pregnancy outcomes were compared. From 5 women randomly selected from the intervention group, samples of vaginal secretions were collected before and after the intervention for amplicon sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS: At the end of the intervention, the GBS-negative rate in the intervention group was 30% (18/60), as compared with 23% (3/13) in the non-intervention group. Probiotic intervention significantly reduced the incidence of premature rupture of membranes ( CONCLUSIONS Intervention with oral probiotics can reduce vaginal GBS colonization in late pregnancy and improve the pregnancy outcome.
Female ; Humans ; Lactobacillus reuteri ; Lactobacillus rhamnosus ; Microbiota ; Pregnancy ; Probiotics/therapeutic use* ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Vagina