Objective To investigate the ultrasonic performance of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and the correlation between microvessel density in plaque .Methods 87 cases of patients undergoing carotid artery plaque dissection were selected .113 plaques were found .All patients were taken carotid color Doppler sonography test and analysis of the plaque .The maximum thickness of plaques was taken HE stained ,and the vessel density in the plaque was counted .The correlation with sonographic performance of plaques was analyzed .Results The maximum plaque thicknesses in hard plaque ,soft plaque and mixed plaque were (0.49 ±0.05)mm,(0.36 ±0.08)mm and (0.39 ± 0.10)mm,respectively,and cross-sectional area stenosis rates were (88.32 ±6.51)%,(68.92 ±12.05)% and (71.95 ±13.04)%,respectively,the differences were statistically significant (F=16.329,23.723,all P<0.05). The maximum plaque thickness and cross -sectional area stenosis rate in hard plaque were all larger than soft plaque and mixed plaque,the differences were statistically significant (t=7.091 7,2.501 and 6.452,6.086,all P<0.05). The microvessel density values in different plaques were (2.11 ±0.48)strips/mm2,(5.91 ±1.03)strips/mm2 and (3.82 ±0.99)strips/mm2,the differences were statistically significant (F=143.541,P<0.05),soft plaque>mixed plaques>hard plaque,the differences were statistically significant (t=6.579 and 9.392,all P<0.05).Pearson cor-relation analysis showed that the maximum plaque thickness and cross -sectional area stenosis rate in soft plaque were positive correlation between microvascular density values (r=0.372,P=0.011;r=0.438,P=0.000).Conclusion Color Doppler ultrasound examination might indirectly reflect microvessel densities in carotid artery plaque .It could be used preliminary assessment of vulnerability of carotid artery plaque .

Objective To compare and analyze the differences and characteristics of three strain mouse models in-fected by influenza virus aerosol inhalation, and provide the reference for choosing the appropriate infection model in the re-search of pathogenesis of influenza and the development of vaccines and drugs.Method C57BL/6, BALB/c and ICR mice were infected with A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) virus strain by aerosol inhalation.The symptoms and body weight of mice were observed every day.At 3, 7, 14 days after infection, the mice were sacrificed.The lungs of mice were weighed, then virus assay and pathological observation were carried out.Results The three strains of mice were infected.The sur-vival rate in the C57BL/6 mice was lower than those in the BALB/c and ICR mice.The lung index and viral load of C57BL/6 mice were significantly higher than those of ICR mice ( P<0.05) at 3 days after infection.The pathological changes of C57BL/6 mice were also more obvious than other two strains.Compared with other two mouse strains, the weight recovery of BALB/c mice was the slowest.The survival rate in BALB/c mice was higher than that of C57BL/6 mice and lower than that of ICR mice.The lung index and viral load were not significantly different among the three strains of in-fected mice.The pathological changes among the three strains of infected mice were similar, but the degrees of pathological changes in the BALB/c mice were milder than in the C57BL/6 mice and worse than in the ICR mice.Compared with other two mouse strains, the process of disease is similar, but the body weight, mortality, lung index, viral load, and the micro-scopic pathological changes were lighter in the ICR mice than in the other two strain mice.Conclusions The three strain mouse models can be established by influenza virus aerosol inhalation, but showing different characteristics.Appropriate strain mice can be chosen to build model according to different research purpose in the experiment.

Objective To investigate the value of contrast -enhanced ultrasound combined with serum homocysteine in determining the stability of atherosclerotic plaques.Methods 96 cases with cerebrovascular disease accompanied by carotid atherosclerotic plaques were selected.All patients were taken ultrasonography and contrast -enhanced ultrasound.Semi -quantitative grading was used for plaque according to the reinforced.The serum homocys-teine levels were detected.Results A total of 146 plaques of 96 cases were found out.Hard plaques were 13(8.9%),soft plaques were 71(48.6%)and mixed plaques were 62(42.5%).All cases were divided into three groups according to the plaque ultrasound contrast semiquantitative grading.24 cases were in Ⅰ grade group,46 cases were in Ⅱ grade group,26 cases were in Ⅲ grade group.The differences of serum homocysteine levels among the three groups were statistically significant(F =59.942,P <0.05),pairwise compared,the differences were statistically significant(t =16.837,20.682 and 15.416,all P <0.05).Pearson linear correlation analysis showed that contrast -enhanced ultrasound plaque classifications were positively correlated with serum homocysteine levels(r =0.709,P =0.000).Conclusion Contrast -enhanced ultrasound could accurately assess the neovascularization in the plaque. Semi -quantitative grading of ultrasound contrast are positively correlated with serum homocysteine levels.Combined the two could provides scientific basis for early and accurate prediction the stability of plaque.

OBJECTIVETo determine the function of twin-arginine translocation system (Tat) and gene cluster in Vibrio strains and to analyze the homology of tat gene cluster among different Vibrio spp. strains based on N16961 and tatABC mutant strains N169-dtat.

METHODSDifferent serotypes of biotype strains of Vibrio spp. were selected to detect the transcription of 4 genes of Tat transport system and upstream ubi aarF gene and downstream cyt551 gene by the total RNA reverse transcription and homologicity of the gene cluster by sequencing analysis.

RESULTSOur results showed that the 4 genes of tat cluster (tatA, tatB, tatC, and tatE) were intragenic and co-transcribed. We found that ubi aarF gene could be co-transcribed with tatA, tatB, but not with tatC. The electron transport chain and energy metabolism-related genes, cytochrome C551 peroxidase gene, and 4 genes located at upstream of tatABC operon were not transcribed with tatABC. Although the co-transcription between ubi aarF and tatAB was blocked in N169-dtat strain, they were still transcribed separately. Homologous analysis of genes of tat cluster in different types of Vibrio cholerae showed that tat gene cluster was a very conservative.

CONCLUSIONThe ubi and aarF gene might be co-transcribed with genes of tat cluster in Vibrio cholerae, which and the close relationship showed that they might play a key function in Vibrio cholerae.

Arginine ; Bacterial Proteins ; Cytochrome c Group ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; Vibrio cholerae

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common complications after liver transplantation. The survival rate of recipients after liver transplantation with diabetes mellitus and the long-term survival rate of grafts are significantly lower than those of their counterparts without diabetes mellitus. In recent years, diabetes mellitus after liver transplantation has attracted widespread attention along with the rapid development of liver transplantation in China. Although post-transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) has been extensively investigated in the past two decades, multiple problems remain to be further resolved. The study was designed to review the latest research progress upon diabetes mellitus after liver transplantation, covering the definition and diagnostic criteria of PTDM, risk factors, prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus after liver transplantation, aiming to deepen the understanding of diabetes mellitus following liver transplantation, deliver effective prevention and management, improve the long-term survival rate and enhance the quality of life of the recipients.

In recent years, with the widespread clinical application of moxibustion, the clinical trials on moxibustion research are also increasing. However, the establishment of negative control of moxibustion, also called as mimicking moxibustion, has become a major challenge in the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) . In this review, we summarized the establishment methods of mimicking moxibustion in RCTs at home and abroad, and evaluated and elaborated the design and application methods of mimicking moxibustion models from thermal effect, light radiation effect and smoke effect that generated by moxibustion, in order to provide insights for the establishment of an ideal and feasible mimicking moxibustion model in future RCTs of moxibustion.

Portal vein thrombosis （PVT） is one of the common complications during the natural course of liver cirrhosis and has an important influence on the progression of liver cirrhosis. This article mainly summarizes the research advances in the risk factors for PVT. There are many risk factors for PVT， and Virchow’s triad， namely venous stasis， hypercoagulability， and vascular endothelial injury and systemic inflammation caused by surgery or trauma， are considered the main reasons for the development and progression of PVT. At present， more prospective studies are still needed to validate the predictive models for the risk of PVT that have certain application prospects in clinical practice. Cirrhotic patients with PVT tend to have a poor prognosis， and complete obstructive PVT is associated with increased mortality after liver transplantation. Recent studies have shown that prophylactic anticoagulant therapy is safe and effective in patients with liver cirrhosis and can thus help with the prevention and treatment of PVT.

OBJECTIVETo analyze virulence genes and molecular characteristics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from sporadic cases with diarrhea in tow sentinel hospitals of Shanghai, 2010-2012.

METHODSA total of 2 729 stool samples were collected from two surveillance sentinel hospitals in Shanghai 2010-2012. Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains were isolated and identified from diarrhea out patients using TCBS agar plates and biochemical reactions. Thermostable direct hemolysingene (tdh), thermostable-related hemolysin gene (trh), hemolysin gene (tlh) were detected by multiplex PCR method. Isolates were analyzed by PFGE and MLST. The PFGE profiles were analyzed using BioNumerics software.

RESULTSA total of 30 clinical Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated from 2 729 stool samples. The anually Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolation rate during 2010 to 2012 were 1.1%(11/973), 1.0%(11/1 120) and 1.3%(8/636) respectively. The PCR positive rates of virulence genes tlh, tdh and trh were 100%, 97% and 0 respectively. The Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains were divided into 13 PFGE types (P1-P13)and 3 ST types (ST-189, ST-799, ST-3). Among 13 PFGE types, P4 was the main PFGE type, accounting for 30%(9/30). P9, P10 were accounting for 12% (4/30) respectively, P1, P2, P12, P13 were accounting for 7%(2/30) respectively, the others types were 3%(1/30) respectively. MLST analysis results showed there are three ST types, ST3 was 84%(25/30), ST189 and ST799 were accounting for 13% (4/30) and 3% (1/30) respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe infection rate of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was not very high from 2010-2012 in Shanghai, all strains were positive for tlh and negative for trh. ST3 was the major type of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

China ; Diarrhea ; Genotype ; Hemolysin Proteins ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Outpatients ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Vibrio Infections ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus ; Virulence

Objective: To analyze the changes in the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and inflammatory cytokines and to investigate the role of HIF-1α in regulating the production of inflammatory cytokines during influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. Methods: BALB/c mice were injected with H1N1 virus to establish the mouse model of H1N1 virus infection. Fifteen BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three groups: control group, H1N1 virus group and H1N1 virus+ HIF-1α inhibitor group. Inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10) in samples of serum and lung tissues were detected by Luminex and ELISA. Levels of HIF-1α in serum and lung tissue samples were detected by Western blot and ELISA, respectively. Results: Compared with the control group, the levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10) and lung tissues (IL-6 and TNF-α) and the expression of HIF-1α in serum and lung tissues in the H1N1 virus group were significantly increased. The levels of HIF-1α, IL-6, TNF-α IL-1β and IL-10 in lung tissues in H1N1 virus+ HIF-1α inhibitor group were significantly lower than those of the H1N1 virus group. Conclusion During H1N1 virus infection, the levels of inflammatory cytokines and HIF-1α were significantly increased. The production of inflammatory cytokines was significantly reduced after inhibiting HIF-1α expression, suggesting that HIF-1α might promote the production of inflammatory cytokines.