Objectives To analyze a rare autosomal recessive disease, aggrecan type spondylometaphyseal dysplasia (SEMD), which was caused by ACAN gene mutations. Methods A 7 years old girl was diagnosed with short stature after excluding growth hormone deficiency, idiopathic short stature, and hypothyroidism. Combining family history and clinical features, SEMD were suspected and genetic tests were performed. Results The patient was found with homozygous mutations of c.512C > T inACAN gene, and was diagnosed with aggrecan type SEMD. Her parents were found to be heterozygous mutation carrier. Conclusions In patients with high suspection of a special type of short stature, early genetic tests should be carried out for a clear diagnosis.

Objective To study the alteration of hepatocyte growth factor and c-met in the lungs of rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension and its possible underlying mechanisms.Methods Left pneumonectomy plus monocrotaline injection was used for rat PAH model.Rats were executed after measurement of their pulmonary arterial pressure at 1,2, 3 and 4 weeks after MCT injection.Then the right lung and heart were harvested for further analyses.Expression of HGF and c-met was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot.Expression of eNOS and caspase-3 was analyzed immunohistochemically and intrapulmonary TGF-β and ET-1 was analyzed with ELISA.Results Compared with the normal controls, manifestations of right heart hypertrophy and failure, well-elevated pulmonary arterial pressure were observed 28 days after left lung resection and MCT injection.Pulmonary vascular remodeling (i.e., pulmonary fibrosis, hyperplasia of pulmonary arterial endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells in tunica media, as well as decease of vascular density) was observed.Intrapulmonary HGF expression decreased in a time-dependent manner at both mRNA and protein levels 4 weeks after MCT injection, while c-met stayed unchanged.Immunohistochemically, expression of eNOS was reduced and caspase-3 strengthened.On the contrary, ET-1 and TGF-β were obviously up-regulated(P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Intrapulmonary HGF expression was obviously downregulated in PAH rats, accompanying with reduction of NO and increase of ET-1 and TGF-β expression, while c-met still unchanged.

Objective To observe the clinical effects of laparoscopic varicocelectomy to ejaculum quality in patients with varicocele.Methods Fifty patients with varicocele were treated by laparoscopic varicocelectomy.The patients were grouped into Group A and Group B according to venous diameter.Semen parameters including semen volume,sperm density,sperm motilities (a + b + c),sperm motilities (a + b),sperm motilities (a),total sperms,normal spermmorphology rate and sperm survival rate were measured and recorded before operation and 1,3,6 months after operation.Results After the follow-up of 6 months above in 50 cases,there is no significant difference about semen volume preoperative and postoperative at different follow-up time(P ＞ 0.05).In some semen parameters(sperm density,sperm motilities,total sperms,normal spermmorphology rate),there is no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative 1 month(P ＞ 0.05),but there is significant difference between postoperative 3 months and postoperative 6 months(P ＜ 0.05).There is no significant difference in preoperative semen parameters between the 2 groups(P ＞ 0.05),but there is significant difference in postoperative 6 month(P ＜0.05).In Group A,there is significant difference in sperm density between preoperative and postoperative 1 month (P ＜0.05).In Group B,there is significant difference in sperm density,sperm motilities and normal spermmorphology rate between preoperative and postoperative 1 month(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Laparoscopic varicocelectomy has a positive effect on sperm parameters,it can significantly improve postoperative semen parameters.Semen parameters improve to a relatively stable level by 3 months following operation.

Objective: To establish a UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of the residual quantity of potential genetoxic impurity 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) in ledipasvir.Methods: The chromatographic conditions were as follows: an Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 (75 mm×4.6 mm, 3.5 μm) column was used with methanol-0.1% formic acid (50∶50) as the mobile phase.The flow rate was 0.3 ml·min-1.The column temperature was 30 ℃ and the injection volume was 5 μl.The mass spectrometry conditions were as follows: electrospray ionization source (ESI), multistage reaction monitoring (MRM), positive ion scanning mode, ion spray voltage of 2 500 V, ion source temperature of 500 ℃, atomization gas of 379.0 kPa, auxiliary gas of 275.6 kPa, curtain gas of 137.8 kPa, collision gas of 41.3 kPa, ion collision energy of 15 V and scan time of 100 ms.The MRM ion pair for quantitative analysis was m/z→156.2/86.1.Results: The linear range of EDC was 0.03-2.25 μg·ml-1 (r=0.999 0).The limit of detection was 0.03 ng and the limit of quantitation was 0.08 ng.The average recovery was 98.3%(RSD=5.7%, n=9).Conclusion: The method is simple, rapid and accurate, and can be used for the quality control of EDC in ledipasvir.

BACKGROUND: High-concentration glucose can induce the formation of biofilms in Staphylococcus epidermidis.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of high-concentration glucose on eliminating ability and adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis in Tupaia belangeri.METHODS: Tupaia belangeri models of hyperglycaemia (≥11.1 mmoL/L) were induced by intraperitoneal injection of Streptozocin. PVC catheters were inserted into the left femoral vein, and Staphylococcus epidermidis with or without formation of biofilms was inoculated into the catheters.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Following transfection of Staphylococcus epidermidis with formation of biofilms, there were higher rates of bacterial infection as well as higher bacterium colony number in the serum, heart, liver, kidney and pancreas of Tupai belangeri in hyperglycemia group (≥11.1 mmoL/L) as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Detected by scanning electronic microscope, biofilm formation was remarkable in hyperglycemia group (≥11.1 mmoL/L) (P < 0.05). However, there was no formation of biofilms in hyperglycemia or control groups following transfection of Staphylococcus epidermidis without formation of biofilms. Hyperglycemia can induce the decreasing ability of eliminating bacteria and the increasing formation of biofilms on the surface of biomaterials transfected with Staphylococcus epidermidis.

This study was aimed to investigate effects of electroacupunture on PC6-Ne iguan and PC5-Jians hi points on heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) in fear emotion. A total of 120 healthy volunteers were randomly allo-cated into the acupuncture group and control group, with 60 cases in each group. After 20 min frightening audio stimulation, volunteers in the acupuncture group received electroacupunture on PC6 and PC5 of both sides for 20 min and continued to repose for 20 min after needles were removed. Volunteers in the control group reposed for 40 min in the waking state. The heart rate and HRV of each subject was recorded during the whole process through Actiheart. The results showed that the experiment data was divided into two parts, rate rise and decreased or un-changed parts, after listening to audio and analyzed, respectively. Compared to the period of listening for 20 min, there were significant differences on average heart rate, HF, LF/HF of the post listening period between the acupunc-ture group and the control group (P < 0.05). There were significant differences on average heart rate, RMSSD, HF under the condition of heart rate decreasing or unchanging after 20 min (P < 0.05). It was concluded that elec-troacupunture on PC6 and PC5 had immediate regulating and post effects on autonomic nerve and bidirectional regu-lations of the plant nerve function disorder caused by fear, which can treat diseases through excitatory or inhibitory vagus nerve function.

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of multiple-slice spiral CT (MSCT) perfusion imaging technique in pancreatic cancer by measuring and comparing the dynamical characteristics of blood flow between normal pancreas and pancreatic cancer. Methods The CT perfusion imaging were obtained using Siemens Somatoma MSCT scanner in 44 patients with normal pancreas tissue and 18 patients with pancreatic cancer. The mean blood flow (BF),blood volume (BV), time to start (Trs), time to peak (TIP), permeability and patlak blood volume (pBV) were measured and statistically analyzed by using Siemens Body peHusion software package. Results The mean BF, BV, Trs, TIP, permeability and pBV of normal pancreas were: (90.60±29.25) ml·100 ml-1·min-1, (190.35±43.8) ml/L, (205.3±160.2) s, (1403.5±334.0)s, (99.47±49.9) 0.5 ml·100 ml-1·min-1, (157.8±52.5) ml/L, respectively. The mean BF, BV, TTS, TrP, per-meability and pBV of pancreatic cancer were (22.9±10. 63) ml·100 ml-1·min-1, (52.38±18.08) ml/L, (194.3±76.0) s, (1549.5± 308.5)s, (115.25±33.55) 0.5 ml·100 ml-1·min-1, (83.16±41.45) ml/L respectively. The mean BF, BV, pBV and permeability between normal pancreas and pancreatic carcinoma were statistically significant (P<0.01). However the mean TTS and TIP between normal pancreas and pancreatic carcinoma were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion There are significant differences between perfusion values of pancreatic carcinoma and normal pancreatic tissue, and MSCT perfusion imaging is helpful in diagnosing pancreatic carcinoma.

Objective To determine the ameliorative effects of Junzhi beverageⅠon neurobehavioral functions in subjects exposed to long-term sustained work.Methods Forty male students of a military institution were randomized into control group ( n=20 ) and the intervention group ( n=20 ) .All the subjects were exposed to 10-hours′high intensity mental work continuously (8∶00-18∶00).At 12∶50, the intervention group drunk a bottle of water with Junzhi beverageⅠ, but the control group drunk water of the same volume only.At 17∶00, neurobehavioral functions of all the subjects were tested by neurobehavioral core test battery (WHO-NCTB) and attention span test(AST).Results According to the results of WHO-NCBT, after 10-hours′continuous mental work,the profile of mood state in the intervention group was more stable than in the control group with lower scores in negative mood and higher scores in positive mood.Meanwhile, some of the neurobehavioral indexes were also found to be significantly improved, including shortened mean time of simple reaction and decreased error reaction rate, enhanced digit span backward, higher scores in Beton test , digit symbol test, Santa Ana practice hand and correct dot number (P<0.05).In addition, higher scores were obtained in the intervention group in AST(P<0.05).Conclusion Junzhi beverageⅠ can significantly improve the neurobehavioral function under sustained mental work conditions, which suggests that the beverage has the potential to postpone mental fatigue protect and enhance cognitive function.

Objective To investigate the formation of biofilm in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis ,and to analyse the correlation between biofilm formation and antibacterial resistance of Staphylococcus epidermidis .Methods A total of 62 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from blood specimens of inpatients with bloodstream infection ,from January 2014 to February 2015 ,were collected .The biofilm formation of Staphylococcus epidermidis was detected by using the semi‐quantitative adherence as‐say and polymerase chain reaction(PCR) amplification experiment .The antibacterial susceptibility test was carried out according to K‐B method .Results The positive rate of biofilm formation detected by using the semi‐quantitative adherence assay and PCR for icaA gene were 37 .1% (23 strains) and 43 .5% (27 strains) respectively ,and there was no statistically significant difference(P>0 .05) .There were 14 positive strains detected by both methods .The resistance rates of strains producing biofilm to antibacterial a‐gents were generally higher than those of non‐producing biofilm strains ,and there were statistically significant differences in resist‐ance rates of strains to gentamicin ,penicillin ,oxacillin ,levofloxacin and cefoxitin(P<0 .05) .All bacteria were sensitive to vancomy‐cin ,linezolid and quinupristin/dalfopristin .Conclusion There is no significant difference between the two methods in detecing bio‐film formation .The resistance rates of strains producing biofilm to antibacterial agents were generally higher than those of non‐pro‐ducing biofilm strains .

0.05).CTA 3D reconstruction in showing celiac artery branches was better than that with DSA , the observation of angles between celiac artery and abdominal aorta with MSCT was more convenient than that with DSA.4 cases with hepatic artery original abnormality were detected by MSCT ,they were the same as DSA.Conclusion MSCT is of important value in guidance of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of HCC.