Objective To explore the relationship between the type of TORCH infection and pregnancy outcome through the de-tection of TORCH infection in pregnant women with IgG avidity index (AI) .Methods Collected each type of TORCH pathogens IgM positive maternal serum ,and detect the IgG avidity index and track the outcome of pregnancy .Results The rate of TORCH pathogens recent infection (AI<30% )in pregnant women ,HSV ,RUB ,CMV ,TOXO respectively were 0 ,3 .8% ,9 .3% ,7 .9% ;In the group of pregnant women with TORCH-IgG AI<30% ,there were 2 cases of pregnancy outcome of abnormal (missed abortion) and one case of fetal malformations (hydrocephalus) .Conclusion In the recent infection of TORCH pathogens in pregnant women , mainly are non-primary infection ;The damage of cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii primary infection to the fetus is much larger than the non-primary infection .

Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and the underlying mechanism.Methods In cultured rat cardiomyocytes,apoptosis was induced by the incubation of isoprenaline ( 10ˉ5 mol/L) for 48 h.CGRP ( 10ˉ8 or 10ˉ7 mol/L) was administrated for 1 h before incubating isoprenaline to evaluate its effect on cardiomyocyte apoptosis.At the end of the drug treatment,the rate of apoptotic cells and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined,and RNA was extracted to examine the expression of microRNA-1 and microRNA-133a.Results Isoprenaline significantly increased the rate of apoptotic cells and intracellular ROS production concomitantly with the increased microRNA-1 expression and the decreased microRNA-133a expression,which were inhibited by pretreatment with CGRP.The effects of CGRP were reversed by CGRP receptor antagonist.Conclusion CGRP can inhibit the isoprenaline-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis.The beneficial effect of CGRP is related to regulating microRNA-1 and microRNA-133a expression through the prevention of isoprenaline-induced ROS production.

Objective Retrospectively evaluate the effect of Z-axis tube-current modulation technique with desired noise level to improve image quality (image noise level) and decrease radiation doses of MSCT (16-slice CT) in chest scanning. Methods Consecutive two hundred patients whose CT scan projection radiographs showed no significant abnormal were randomly divided into two groups by the examination order: Z-axis tube-current modulation (ZTCM) group (odd number, test group) and constant tube-current (CTC) group (even number, contrast group). The desired noise level of ZTCM group was 10HU and the machine automatically set the dynamic tube-current in scanning according to attenuated information of chest acquired in scan projection radiographs, the tubo-current of CTC group was set at 200mA, while the other scan parameters remained totally the same. The maximum tube-current value,CTDIvol, DLP and the tube-current of the slice at the maximum breast level of female patients were recorded respectively. The noise of image at upper lung, aorta arch, left atrium and bottom lung level were measured and compared. The qualities of Images were classified in three levels (excellent, good, poor) with double blind method. Results The mean value of maximum mA, CTDIvol, DLP and mA of the slice at the maximum breast level of ZTCM group were (178.5±125.6) mA, (10.5±3.8) mGy, (231.6±24.3)mGy/cm and (116.0±22.5) mA, those of CTC were 200.0 mA, 12.8 mGy, (274.7±18.4)mGy/cm and 200.0 mA, ZTCM group decreased by 10.8%, 19.9%, 15.7% and 42.0%,respectively, as compared with CTC group. The image quality at upper lung and bottom lung level in ZTCM group was improved significantly (P < 0.05) and the cases of excellent images in ZTCM group was significantly higher than that of CTC group (P < 0.05). Conclusion ZTCM technique not only contributes to more rational distribution of radiation doses but also realizes individuation, decreases the total radiation doses and improves image quality in chest CT scanning. It is valuable and promising in chest CT scan.

Objective To investigate the differences in the epidemiological characteristics of patients in pre-hospital medical care before and after “5 · 12” Wenchuan earthhquake in Deyang city.Methods Comparison was made between the epidemiological features of cases treated in Deyang emergency medical center from the January 1,2007 through the December 31,2007 before the earthquake (the pre-earthquake group) and those treated from the January 1,2009 through the December 31,2009 after the earthquake ( the post-earthquake group) with the criteria of international classification of diseases (ICD-10).Results ( 1 ) There were 11 325 patients medically cared before earthquake and 16 265 patients after disaster.The distribution of sex,age,the top five causes,the seasonal and diurnal variations of emergency call,radius of service circle of pre-hospital medical care cases were no significantly different between the two groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).( 2 ) The time required for scheduling ambulance and time consumed for the transportation of patients in the post-earthquake group were less than those in the pre-earthquake group ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions The efficiency of medical care done by 120 Emergency Command Center in Deyang city has been improved significantly in ease of without change in epidemiological features of patients after reconstruction of disaster area.

Objective To determine the reliability of CT perfusion scans and its parameters of ?-variate curve in evaluating the acute myocardial infarction for clinical reference of diagnosis on coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. Methods Imatron C-150 electron beam CT (EBCT) were used to scan a hydrodynamic model which could mimic a change of contrast medium by intravenous injection in vivo. Then 6 adult canines were employed in the experiment with thoracic operation, and branches of the anterior descending and circumflex of left coronary arteries (LCA) were ligated so that myocardial infarction was made out. After intravenous administration of contrast medium, the hearts were scanned with perfusion EBCT and ?-variate curves were manifested. Some heterogeneities and differentiations between the normality and the infarctions were put forward when the parameters of all these curves were analyzed and statistically processed. Two myocardial infarctions were also verified by SPECT, and all the samples stained with TTC method were compared with those on the perfusion images. The pathological study with optical microscope and electron microscope were further carried on. Results The ascending slopes of ?-variate curves were different in the perfusion quantity. The normal curve of canine myocardium showed a somewhat quick ascending pattern first, and then a gradual descending pattern successively, with the ascending time of about 10-13 s, ascending CT value of about 34-37 HU, and peak CT value of about 70-81 HU. Whereas the curve on myocardial infarction demonstrated a prolonged ascending time of about 19.9 s, diminished ascending CT value of only about 20 HU, and peak CT value of about 53.8 HU, which were significantly different from the normality (P

Objective To explore a new scanning technique to reduce and avoid image artifacts of thoracoabdominal CT and improve image quality for patients who cannot raise their arms. Methods Sixty-one patients with arm-raising disability between March 2004 and May 2009 were enrolled in the study. Thirty-one cases before June 2007 were scanned with their arms beside their body (control group), 30 cases after June 2007 were scanned with their arms shifting to different imaging planes of the spine(study group), and another 30 patients who can raising their arms were taken as routine group. The images artifacts were blindly evaluated by 5-points scale (severe, less severe, moderate, minimum and no artifact) by 2 experienced CT technologists and one radiologist and compared between the three groups (χ~2 test). CT values and its noise of the liver with or without artifact of the three groups were measured and analyzed by one-way ANOVA test. Results In the control group, 11 cases had severe, 15 cases had less severe, 5 cases had moderate. In the study group, 6 cases had moderate, 15 cases had minimum, 9 cases had no artifact. In the routine group, 8 cases minimum and 22 cases had no artifact. Image quality was significantly improved in the study group compared to the conventional group where χ~2 = 95.32 and P <0.01. CT value and the noise of the liver without artifact were (54.5±3.0) HU and 10. 7±2.4 in the control group, (52.0±3.5) HU and 10.7±0.5 in the study group, (53.7±3.1) HU and 9.9±0.5 in the routine group, respectively. CT value and noise of the liver with artifact were (41.7±8.4) HU and 17.9±2.6 in control group, (53.1±6.9) HU and 11.0±0.7 in the study group, (54.1±2.4) HU and 9.9±0.5 in the routine group, respectively. The CT value and its noise variation with artifact were significantly higher in the control group than the study group and the control group, where F = 36.352,235. 848, respectively and P <0.01. Conclusion The image quality can be improved and the artifact can be minimized for the patients with arm-raising disability by shifting their arm position to the different imaging planes of the spine.

Objective To investigate the effects of 14-3-3 phosphorylation (p-14-3-3) induced by C-Jun N-termi-nal kinase (JNK) on ischemic brain injury in rats. Methods Twenty rats were divided into 4 groups:sham operation group, ischemia-reperfusion group, SP600125 group and solvent control group. The rat model of cerebral ischemia was established. The p-14-3-3, the binding of 14-3-3 and Bax and the protein expression of Bax in cytoplasm and mitochondria in hippo-campal CA1 region were detected by immunoprecipitation (IP) and immunoblotting 12-hour after ischemia-reperfusion in four groups. Results Compared with the sham operation group, protein expression levels of p-14-3-3 in cytoplasm and Bax in mitochondria were significantly increased, the binding of 14-3-3 and Bax was significantly decreased in ischemia-re-perfusion group, solvent control group and SP600125 group. The protein expressions of p-14-3-3 and Bax were significantly lower in SP600125 group than those of ischemia-reperfusion group and solvent control group. The binding of 14-3-3 and Bax was significantly higher in SP600125 group than that of ischemia-reperfusion group and solvent control group (P <0.05). Conclusion 14-3-3 phosphorylation induced by JNK plays important effects on ischemic brain injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the inhibitory effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on cardiac fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis induced by isoprenaline and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The primary cultured cardiac fibroblasts were incubated with isoprenaline (10(-5) mol/L) for 48 h after pretreatment with CGRP (10(-8) or 10(-7) mol/L) for 1 h. Cell activity was detected by MTT. The mRNA expression of collagen (types I and III) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was determined by RT-PCR, and the levels of intracellular ROS were determined by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe. RESULTS: Isoprenaline significantly promoted fibroblast proliferation and up-regulated collagen (types I and III) and CTGF mRNA expression concomitantly with an increase in ROS production, which were attenuated by CGRP. The effect of CGRP on cardiac fibroblasts was inhibited by CGRP8-37, a selective antagonist of CGRP receptor. CONCLUSION CGRP is able to protect cardiac fibroblasts against isoprenaline-induced proliferation and collagen expression, which might be related to the down-regulation of CTGF expression through inhibition of ROS production.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Isoproterenol ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Primary Cell Culture ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: The dramatic increase in use of the IgG test for toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) [TORCH] has led to the requirement for a high-efficiency method that can be used in the clinical laboratory. This study aimed to compare the results of BGI-Array ELISA TORCH IgG (BGI-GBI, China) screening method to those of Virion/Serion TORCH IgG ELISA (Virion/Serion, Germany). METHODS: Serum specimens (n=400) submitted for routine IgG testing by Virion/Serion ELISA were also tested using the BGI-Array ELISA method. The agreements of these two kinds of method were analyzed by kappa-coefficients calculation. RESULTS: Following repeat testing, the BGI-Array ELISA TORCH IgG assays demonstrated agreements of 99.5% (398/400 specimens), 98% (392/400 specimens), 99% (396/400 specimens), and 99.5% (398/400 specimens), respectively. The BGI-Array ELISA IgG assays provided results comparable to Virion/Serion ELISA results, with kappa-coefficients showing near-perfect agreement for the HSV (kappa=0.87), rubella (kappa=0.92) and CMV (kappa=0.93) and substantial agreement for the toxoplasma (kappa=0.80) IgG assays. The use of the BGI-Array ELISA TORCH IgG assays could reduce the turnaround time (1.5 hr vs. 5 hr by Virion/Serion ELISA for 100 specimens) and were easy to use. CONCLUSIONS: BGI-Array ELISA TORCH IgG shows a good agreement with Virion/Serion ELISA methods and is suitable for clinical application.
Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Cytomegalovirus/immunology/*metabolism ; *Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/*analysis/blood ; Protozoan Infections/diagnosis ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Rubella virus/immunology/*metabolism ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Simplexvirus/immunology/*metabolism ; Toxoplasma/immunology/*metabolism ; Virion/*immunology/metabolism ; Virus Diseases/diagnosis

Objective To establish the central tube preparation system for the blood samples from hospitalized patients in clinical laboratories and explore its application value.Methods A central tube preparation system for clinical specimen was researched and developed.The system was directly connected with the laboratory information management system (LIMS) and hospital information management system (HIMS) for monitoring and tracking management on-line with standardization,intellectualization and informatization during the whole process of collection,detection and report of clinical specimens.Results The central tube preparation system for blood samples from hospitalized patients in clinical laboratories was successfully established.The development and application of this system optimized the blood collection process,avoided incidental human mistakes in traditional blood collection process,realized the real-time monitoring of the clinical samples during the whole process and reduced the labor intensity of nurses.Therefore,the working efficiency and degree of clinical satisfaction were increased greatly.Conclusion The developed system could process the specimens intelligently,improve the management level of hospital and department and provide guarantee for standardized management of clinical laboratories.