Objective To evaluate the dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI)in detecting experimentally induced testicular ischemia. Methods Thirty healthy male New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned into 6 groups. There were 5 rabbits in each of the following experimental groups: ( 1 ) Normal control, (2) Sham-operated, (3) ischemia of 3 h group, (4) ischemia of 6 h group, (5) ischemia of 12 h group, (6) ischemia of 24 h group. In all experiment groups, the right testis served as the internal control while the left testis served as the experimental side. DCE-MRI for each animal lasts about 10 minutes. Signal enhanced ratios (SERs) of ROI for both sides of each group were calculated by a computer, and parameters of SERs of 30 s, 75 s, 120 s and maximal SER were used for statistical analysis.Time intensity curves (TICs) were made for two sides of each group via Excel 2003 software and classified into 4 types. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the differences of SERs between left and right testis by two independent Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Results In group I and 2, significant enhancement was observed on both testes of 10 rabbits. The enhancement decreased gradually with the elongation of ischemia in torsion groups. Three cases of type Ⅰ and 2 cases of type Ⅱ were observed in group 1,5 cases of type Ⅰ in group two, 2 cases of type Ⅰ and 3 cases of type Ⅱ b in group three, 2 cases of type Ⅰ and 2 cases of type Ⅱ b in group four, 5 cases of type Ⅱ b in group five and 5 cases of type Ⅲ in group six were noticed in the left testes. And in TICs of right testes, all cases showed TICs of type Ⅰ except 2 cases of type Ⅱ a in group six. In four torsion groups, the values for SER75 of the left side were 0. 084%, 0. 076%, 0.164% and 0.065%, while the right side were 0.255%, 0.410%, 0.586% and 0.302% (P ＜0.05). The values for SER120 in group three, five and six were 0.221% , 0.158% and 0.059% for the left side, and 0.405%,0.522% and 0.207% for the right side(P ＜0.05). The values for MSER in group three, five and six were 0.217% ,0.164% and 0.072% for the left side, and 0.405%, 0.586% and 0.302% for the right side(P ＜0.05). Conclusion DCE-MRI technique may be useful in the diagnosis of testicular torsion, which shows potential in the clinical application.

Filamentous fungi are important industrial microorganisms. The focus on its metabolic engineering is to optimize the metabolic pathway with gene expression regulation technology to meet with the industrial production needs. Antisense RNA technology due to its simplicity compared with the gene knock-out technology has great perspectives in filamentous fungal metabolic control. It is an efficient method for regulating gene expression and a key tool for metabolic engineering. In this article, we addressed the mechanism of antisense RNA technology and its applications in filamentous fungal metabolic engineering. Additionally, future perspectives were discussed.
Fungi ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Industrial Microbiology ; methods ; Metabolism ; RNA, Antisense ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective:To review the imaging characteristics and evaluate the diagnostic value of Doppler echocardiography for congenital pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (PMAIVF).Methods:Between June 2008 and January 2020, 4 patients with PMAIVF were diagnosed by CTA, MRI and operative findings in Shanghai Children′s Medical Center and Children′s Hospital of Soochow University. The echocardiographic characteristics were analyzed retrospectively in these children.Results:PMAIVF was characterized by a pulsatile echo-free sac that expanded in systole and collapsed in diastole with to-and-fro blood flow on color and pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography between the mitral leaflet and the aortic annulus. Three cases were diagnosed correctly, and 1 case was misdiagnosed as left atrial mass.Conclusions:PMAIVF can be diagnosed accurately by Doppler echocardiography, but it is prone to be misdiagnosed and must be distinguished from aortic root abscess, atrial mass and coronary artery fistula.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has certain advantages in the treatment of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PLGC) based on the holistic concept and the thought of syndrome differentiation. Currently, it is generally divided into 6 kinds of syndromes: liver and stomach qi stagnation syndrome, liver and stomach heat stagnation syndrome, spleen and stomach weakness syndrome (including spleen and stomach qi deficiency syndrome with coldness), spleen and stomach damp heat syndrome, stomach yin deficiency syndrome and blood stasis in stomach collateral syndrome. Clinically, the doctor should treat PLGC patients according to different syndrome types by using Chinese medicine prescription, which could improve the gastric mucosal pathological state, gastroscopy and clinical symptoms, to rehibit the development of precancerous lesions, reduce the incidence rate of gastric cancer. In the future, the doctors shouldreach the consensus of treating PLGC with TCM diagnosis, and focus on the research of TCM compounds or monomers with obvious curative effect, increase the times of follow-up, and evaluate the long-term curative effect.

This paper reports a case of a male patient with diabetes for more than 20 years who came to see doctor due to weakness, poor appetite and significantly elevated blood glucose. At first, it was considered that the poor blood glucose control of diabetes was the reason, and the possibility of diabetes related complications already existed. Hospital routine examination indicated a globulin increase and immunologic examination indicated that IgM was mainly increased. Subsequent imageological diagnosis revealed a small amount of bilateral pleural effusion, and after 2 weeks of hypoglycemic treatment, the blood glucose was significantly improved, but the symptoms still existed. In combination with the patient′s laboratory examination, considering the combination of blood system diseases, the hematology department was invited for consultation. Immunoelectrophoresis, bone marrow cytology, and flow cytometry were further conducted, and the patient was diagnosed with Waldenstrom macroglobulinebia. Bortezomib + dexamethasone regimen was given for chemotherapy. Currently, the patient has received 1 course of chemotherapy, and the symptoms of poor appetite were significantly improved. Coexistence of diabetes mellitus and Waldenstrom macroglobulinebia is very rare in clinical practice, and it is easy to be misdiagnosed as a complication of diabetes mellitus, both of which can be manifested as poor appetite, weakness, peripheral neuropathy and other symptoms. When diabetic patients have abnormal immunoglobulin increases and other abnormal test results that cannot be well explained by diabetes, other potential disorders, such as hematological diseases, should be considered to avoid missed diagnosis.

Purpose To use two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(2D-STI)to evaluate left ventricular myocardial strain in term and preterm neonates.Materials and Methods A total of 81 neonates who accepted echocardiography in Soochow University Affiliated Children's Hospital from February to August 2018 were retrospectively enrolled,including 42 term neonates and 39 preterm neonates.Longitudinal and circumferential peak strain of each segment of left ventricle were measured by 2D-STI,and the average global longitudinal peak strain(GLPS-avg)and the average global circumferential peak strain(GCPS-avg)of left ventricular were measured too.Left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF-M,LVEF-Simpson),short-axis shortening rate(LVFS-M),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD),and tissue Doppler imaging parameters(E',A' and E'/A')of the septal mitral annulus were also measured.The differences in each segment of left ventricle and echocardiography between term neonates and preterm neonate were further compared.Results There were statistically significant differences in GLPS-avg,the global longitudinal peak strain from the apical two-chamber view(GLPS-a2c),GCPS-avg and the global circumferential peak strain in the middle and apical segments(GCPS-M ang GCPS-A)(t=-3.60--2.18,all P<0.05)between term neonates and preterm neonates,while there were no significant differences between the global longitudinal peak strain from the apical four-chamber and three-chamber view(GLPS-a4c and GLPS-a3c),the global circumferential peak strain in the basal segments(GCPS-M)(all P>0.05).There were statistically significant differences in GLPS-a4c,GLPS-a2c,GLPS-a3c in preterm neonates group(F=3.20,P=0.044),and the strain value GLPS-a4c was the highest.There were statistically significant differences in GCPS-B,GCPS-M,GCPS-A in preterm neonates group(F=79.15,P<0.001).There were statistically significant differences in GCPS-B,GCPS-M,GCPS-A in term neonates group(F=97.95,P<0.001),and the strain value increased from the basal segment to the apical segments.There was statistically significant difference in LVEDD between term neonates and preterm neonates(all P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in LVEF-M,LVEF-Simpson,LVFS-M,E',A' and E'/A' between term neonates and preterm neonates(all P>0.05).Conclusion 2D-STI may be a useful method of measuring left ventricular myocardial systolic function and can provide early detection of differences in left ventricular myocardial contraction between term and preterm neonates.

Objective:To Investigate comprehensive predictive ability of first-trimester complete blood count combined with maternal characteristics for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods:From May 2015 to July 2018, 1 412 pregnant women were retrospectively screened at the Fifth People′s Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University. We recruited 258 women who developed GDM and 1 154 women who had normal glucose level during pregnancy. At the first visit, clinical data and complete blood count result were obtained. GDM prediction models were established through logistic regression analysis of GDM related risk factors and the prediction abilities of each model were compared.Results:Logistic regression analyses identified age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, previous GDM history, family history of diabetes mellitus, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, leukocyte, neutrophil, and monocyte counts were significantly independent predictors of GDM. In the entire cohort, the predictive ability of neutrophil and monocyte counts together with maternal basal characteristics model for the development of GDM [areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC)=0.809, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI)=0.056, P=0.001] was the best among various models (basal characteristics model, AUC-ROC=0.753; Monocyte count+ basal characteristics model, AUC-ROC=0.764; neutrophil count + basal characteristics model, AUC-ROC=0.775). Similar results obtained by the same way in all pregnant women without previous GDM history. Conclusion:It could improve the prediction of GDM with model incorporated maternal characteristics and first-trimester neutrophil and monocyte counts.

Objective To investigate the threshold values of insulin resistance ( IR) assessed by homeostasis model and the prevalence of IR in elderly people over 60 years old in Minhang district of Shanghai, and to evaluate the relationship between IR and metabolic syndrome ( MS) . Methods A total of 3003 elderly people aged 60 and over in the Jiangchuan community of Minhang District, Shanghai, were recruited, including 1286 males and 1717 females. Blood pressure, waist circumference, BMI, blood routine, serum creatinine, blood lipids, glucose, and fasting insulin were measured in all populations studied. Homeostasis model assessment ( HOMA) was used to estimate IR, and MS, and defined according to three diagnostic criteria including NCEP-ATPIII, IDF, and CDS. Results 75th percentile, 80th percentile and 90th percentile of HOMA values in 268 subjects with normotensive and normal BMI, glucose tolerance were considered as the thresholds of IR. The cut-off values were 2. 78, 3. 01 and 3. 56, respectively. And the prevalence of IR were 50. 0％, 42. 1％, and 27. 2％, respectively. IR level was significantly higher in people with MS. Based on the receiver operating characteristic ( ROC ) curve analysis, HOMA-IR and QUICKI index predicted MS well, and the optimal thresholds for diagnosing MS of HOMA-IR were 3. 17 for NCEP-ATPⅢ, 3. 02 for IDF and 3. 03 for CDS. BMI was the best factor for diagnosing IR among different MS components. Logistic regression analysis showed that gender, WC, BMI, SBP, HDL-C, TG, FBG and WBC were independent risk factors for IR. FBG≥5.84 mmol/L was the most dangerous factor of IR (OR=3.603,P<0.01), followed by WC≥85.4 cm(OR=2.152, P<0.01) and BMI≥24.6 kg/m2(OR=2.150,P<0.01). Conclusion The cut-off values of IR estimated by HOMA and the prevalence of IR were higher in elder subjects than other populations. IR was significantly positively correlated with MS. Excluding the conditions that insulin measurement were affected by external factors, HOMA-IR may predict the risk of MS. The components of MS were relative specific measurements of IR, FBG, BMI and WC were important risk predictors of IR in the elderly.

Objective To explore the relationship between hemoglobin (Hb) level during the first trimester of pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods A total of 1 276 participants, who underwent scheduled prenatal examination and normal singleton delivery at the Fifth People′s Hospital of Shanghai and Hospital of Intergrated Chinese and Western Medicine in Minhang District, from January 2016 to May 2018 were included. There were 99 cases of GDM (GDM group) and 1 177 cases of normal (control group) pregnant women.Based on the serum Hb level during the first trimester of pregnancy, participants were divided into three groups, 236 cases of low Hb level group (Hb<110 g/L), 868 cases of normal Hb level group (110 g/L≤Hb<130 g/L), and 172 cases of high Hb level group (Hb≥130 g/L). Maternal clinical data were collected, including Hb level during the first trimester of pregnancy, three-point blood glucose (BG) of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and fasting insulin during the second trimester of pregnancy. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and homeostasis model assessment of pancreatic β cell function index (HOMA-β) were used to evaluate insulin resistance and pancreatic β cell function. Results (1) Hb level during the first trimester of pregnancy in GDM group was significantly higher than that in control group [(123±10),(119±11) g/L, P<0.05]. There were no significant difference in gravidity, parity, index of liver and renal function (all P>0.05). (2) Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), 1-hour BG and 2-hour BG of OGTT were significantly increased in the high Hb level group during the first trimester of pregnancy, which were (23±4) kg/m2, (7.3±2.0) mmol/L, and (6.5±1.4) mmol/L (P<0.05), respectively. The pre-pregnancy BMI, 1-hour BG and 2-hour BG of the normal or low Hb level group were (22±3) kg/m2, (6.7±1.6) mmol/L, (6.1± 1.2) mmol/L; (22±3) kg/m2, (6.5±1.5) mmol/L, (5.9±1.1) mmol/L, respectively. There were no statistically significant difference in levels of fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR and HOMA-β within 3 groups (all P>0.05). (3) In the high Hb level group, prevalence of pregnancy overweight or obesity and GDM were the highest, which were 37.2%(64/172) and 15.1%(26/172), respectively; the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (4) The serum Hb level in the first trimester was positively related with pre-pregnancy BMI (r=0.130, P<0.05), 1-hour BG (r=0.129, P<0.05), 2-hour BG (r=0.134, P<0.05), fasting insulin (r=0.096, P<0.05), and HOMA-IR (r=0.101, P<0.05).Logistic regression indicated that Hb≥130 g/L during the first trimester of pregnancy was an independent risk factor for GDM ( OR=2.799, 95% CI :1.186-6.604; P<0.05). Conclusion The high level of Hb (Hb≥130 g/L) during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with GDM.