Objective To investigate the pelvic floor in cystocele patients using translabial ultrasound,and discuss the ultrasound appearance.Methods Translabial 2D ultrasound was performed on 136 patients who were diagnosed or suspected as anterior vaginal wall prolapse or cystocele using pelvic organ prolapse quantitation system,the position of bladder,the retrovesical angle and urethral rotation were measured during maximum Valsalva maneuver.Cystocele subtypes were diagnosed according to the ultrasound findings.Results Translabial 2D ultrasound diagnosed 88 cases cystocele based on the position of bladder,retrovesical angle and urethral rotation,including ten cases cystocele type Ⅰ,32 cases type Ⅱ and the remaining 46 classified as type Ⅲ.Conclusions Translabial 2D ultrasound successfully acquired the ultrasonic characteristics of cystocele subtypes,which could provide imaging evidence for clinic diagnosis of this disease.

Objective To determine the reference values of 11 amino acids measured by non-derivatized tandem mass spectrometry ( MS/MS).Methods 22 430 healthy newborns and 14 children with metabolic dysfunction in Nanjing were enrolled in this study.The levels of the 11 amino acids, including Ala, Arg, Cit, Gly, Leu +Ile, Met, Orn, Phe, Pro, Tyr and Val, were measured by non-derivatized tandem mass spectrometry using dry blood spots.After pre-setting up different cutoff values according to the amino acid levels of the newborns, reference value ranges of the 11 amino acids were determined by using the method of percentile combined with ROC curves.Results According to the results of frequency distribution histogram, the levels of the 11 amino acids of newborns belong to approximate normal distribution.By analysis of ROC curves, the cut-off values for amino acids were 0.2%-99.8%.Conclusion It established reference values of 11 amino acids in newborn and provided basis for the other screening center to make the cut-off value.

Objective To evaluate the changes of levator ani muscle contractility in different postpartum periods by observing the contractility of postpartum women's levator ani muscle.Methods Forty-six postpartum women and 43 nulliparous women were included in the object.All of those went through translabial pelvic floor ultrasound examinations.Images of their levator hiatus would be recorded at the conditions of rest and contraction.The hiatal length (L)and the area (A)of levator hiatus were measured,then the differences were obtained between rest and contraction conditions,recording as ΔL andΔA.Relevant data were analyzed.Results There was no obvious statistical difference of L and A between the groups (P >0.05).The ΔL and ΔA of the 6-8 weeks were the minimum in this objective(P <0.05). However,there was no statistical difference between nulliparous women and the postpartum 6-8 month's women(P >0.05).Conclusions After delivery,the contractility of levator ani muscle became weaker,but could recovery effectively after about half a year.

China ; epidemiology ; Dust ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Silicon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Silicosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control

Objectives To study the mutation spectrum in CYP21A2 gene in patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD), and to analyze the relationship between genotype and phenotype. Methods Eighteen patients with 21-OHD were identified by neonatal screening of 17α-OH progesterone (17α-OHP). The allele specific PCR-DNA sequencing com-bining with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification was applied to determine the genotype in the patients and their parents. Results Six mutations of CYP21A2 gene were identified. I2G (44.4%) and del (33.3%) were the most frequent mutations and also were the most common mutations in salt-wasting form. The detection rate of I172N mutation in simple virilizing form was 75%. Patients were classified into three groups according to the degree of 21-hydroxylase enzymatic compromise caused by the mutation. The serum 17α-OHP, ACTH and T levels which reflected the severity of disease were significantly different among three groups (P<0.05). Conclusions The genetic diagnosis of 21-OHD reveals the consistency between genotype and phenotype.

Objective To investigate the value of three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) in assessment of left ventricular (LV) strains. Methods Thirty healthy young adults examined by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) and 3D-STI. And the results of LV measurements were compared, which included mean peak systolic longitudinal strains, radial strains and circumferential strains. Also, the time consumption of these two methods was compared. Results The time needed for 3D-STI in acquisition and analysis of the images were (309.3±23.4)s, (305.5±11.2)s, while the time for 2D-STI were (490.6±14.4)s, (1261.4±39.9)s. The differences were signiifcant(t=-21.81, 69.94, both P<0.01). The global mean peak systolic radial strains was (48.59±7.68)%by 3D-STI and (33.25±7.27)%by 2D-STI. The difference was signiifcant(t=9.16, P<0.01). The global mean peak systolic longitudinal and circumferential strains were (-17.66±3.14)%, (-17.13±2.29)% by 3D-STI and (-21.35±2.46)%, (-21.97±3.84)% by 2D-STI. The differences were signiifcant(t=5.33, 5.99, both P < 0.01). The 3D-STI strains were different at different levels of LV. The longitudinal, circumferential and radial 3D-STI strains were largest at middle levels. However, 2D-STI strains didn′ t show such trend. Peak strains measured by 3D-STI and 2D-STI showed high inter-observer and intra-observer agreement in Bland-Altman chart. Conclusion 3D-STI is a novel, convenient and reproducible method to evaluate the strains of LV.

The effects of beta-cypermethrin (consisting of alpha-cypermethrin and theta-cypermethrin) on the transient outward potassium current (I(A)) and delayed rectifier potassium current (I(K)) in freshly dissociated hippocampal CA3 neurons of rats were studied using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The results indicated that alpha-cypermethrin increased the value of I(A) and theta-cypermethrin decreased the value of I(A), though both of them shifted steady activation curve of I(A) towards negative potential. theta-cypermethrin contributed to the inactivation of I(A). The results also showed that alpha-cypermethrin and theta-cypermethrin decreased the value of I(K), and shifted the steady state activation curve of I(K) towards negative potential. Both alpha-cypermethrin and theta-cypermethrin had no obvious effects on the inactivation of I(K). theta-cypermethrin prolonged recovery process of I(K). These results imply that both transient outward potassium channels and delayed rectified potassium channels are the targets of beta-cypermethrin, which may explain the mechanism of toxical effects of beta-cypermethrin on mammalian neurons.
Animals ; CA3 Region, Hippocampal ; cytology ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated ; drug effects ; physiology ; Pyrethrins ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of long-term microwave exposure on hippocampal structure and function in the rat.

METHODSExperiments were performed on 184 male Wistar rats (three exposure groups and a sham group). Microwaves were applied daily for 6 min over 1 month at average power densities of 2.5, 5, and 10 mW/cm2. Learning and memory abilities were assessed by Morris water maze. High performance liquid chromatography was used to detect neurotransmitter concentrations in the hippocampus. Hippocampal structures were observed by histopathological analysis.

RESULTSFollowing long-term microwave exposure there was a significant decrease in learning and memory activity in the 7 d, 14 d, and 1 m in all three microwave exposure groups. Neurotransmitter concentrations of four amino acids (glutamate, aspartic acid, glycine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid) in hippocampus were increased in the 2.5 and 5 mW/cm2 groups and decreased in the 10 mW/cm2 group. There was evidence of neuronal degeneration and enlarged perivascular spaces in the hippocampus in the microwave exposure groups. Further, mitochondria became swollen and cristae were disordered. The rough endoplasmic reticulum exhibited sacculated distension and there was a decrease in the quantity of synaptic vesicles.

CONCLUSIONThese data suggest that the hippocampus can be injured by long-term microwave exposure, which might result in impairment of cognitive function due to neurotransmitter disruption.

Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cognition ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; physiopathology ; radiation effects ; Learning ; Male ; Memory ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microwaves ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the probability of repairing the severe cleft lip and nose in one time.

METHODS35 patients were included. A revised method was presented based on the popular methods used.

RESULTSAmong 35 patients, the length of lip in two sides was equal in 33 patients, and the appearance of the nose shape was satisfactory in 31 patients evaluated by third expert group.

CONCLUSIONThe method presented in this paper could repair the abnormalities of the lip and nose effectively in severe cleft lip patients in one time and was adapted in the patients who could not be treated with serial methods because of a bad economic state.

Cleft Lip ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nose

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of glucose-6-phosphate polyclonal antibody (G-6-P pAb) on vasogenic brain edema (VBE) in rats.

METHODSSixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, VBE group, mannitol-treated edema group, and G-6-P pAb-treated edema group. After establishment of rat models of VBE by intraperitoneal injection of phenylephrine in the latter 3 groups, mannitol was injected through the femoral vein in mannitol group and G-6-P pAb injected intraperitoneally in G-6-P pAb group. The permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was determined by Evans blue (EB) extravasation method, and the brain water content in the gray and white matter measured with a moisture analyzer.

RESULTSG-6-P pAb administration significantly reduced the permeability of BBB as well as the water content in the white matter in comparison with mannitol treatment (P<0.01), but the two treatments showed no obvious difference in reducing the water content in the gray matter (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONChanges in G-6-P activity results in BBB permeability alteration in the condition of VBE, and G-6-P pAb has a selective therapeutic effect against VBE, especially white matter edema.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Brain Edema ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Capillary Permeability ; drug effects ; Female ; Glucose-6-Phosphate ; immunology ; Male ; Phenylephrine ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar