The paper reported two methods. a genetic probe and the solid phase radio-immunological assay, for the detection of the thermolabile toxin produced by Escherichia coli. The former is the application of a 32P-IabelIed probe of B subunit DNA prepared from Hind Ⅲ restriction fragment of LT-encoding DNA. and the latter is by using CNBr-activated paper as carrier and 125I-SPA to substitute the secondary antibody. Applying the methods to 160 strains of E. coli isolated from patients suffering from infantile diarrhea, the results showed that 42 out of 160 strains belong to the strain which produces the thormolabile toxin. These two methods not only have the advantages of being sensitive and specific, but also are beneficial favourable to the epidemiological survey and clinical diagnosis, because the testing bacteria are decomposed on the nitrocellulose membrane, so that hundreds of samples can be examined in one test.

Objective:To detection antibody against heat-stable enterotoxin by fusion protein.Methods:Mutant heat-stable enterotoxin precursor gene was ligated in vector pGEX-4T-2 to inductively express as a fusion protein GST/proST_m with glutathione S-transferase(GST).To investigate the antigenic action,serum and fecal antibodies against heat-stable enterotoxin was detected with this fusion protein.Results:The fusion protein was a about 32 kD protein.All the samples contain the antibody against ST.Conclusion:Such strategy was a promising method to detect antibody against heat-stable enterotoxin.

OBJECTIVETo study the value of three-dimensional (3D) visualization, 3D printing and 3D laparoscopy (3-3D techniques) in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of hepatic tumors.

METHODSFrom November 2013 to January 2015, 22 patients with hepatic tumors admitted in our department underwent abdominal thin-slice CT scanning. The CT images were imported into Medical Image three Dimensional Visualization System (MI-3DVS) for 3D reconstruction. Standard Template Library (STL) files were exported for 3D printing. The hepatic vascular classification and predicted liver resection were performed with the aid of MI-3DVS system. The 3D models were then printed and virtual liver resections were executed accordingly. Based on these preoperative surgical planning data, we performed anatomical hepatectomy using 3D laparoscopy, and the intraoperative blood loss, volume of virtual and actual liver resection and postoperative hospital stay were recorded.

RESULTSAccording to Michels's classifications, 19 patients had type I, 2 had type II, and 1 had type VIII hepatic arteries; based on Cheng classifications, the portal vein was classified into type I in 17 cases, type II in 2 cases, and type III in 2 cases, and type IV in 1 case; according to Nakamura classifications, the right hemiliver hepatic vein was classified into type I in 10 cases, type II in 7 cases, and type III in 5 cases. In the virtual operations, the mean volume of liver resected was 490 ± 228 ml and the mean remnant liver volume was 885 ± 139 ml, with a remnant to functional liver volume ratio of (71 ± 11)%. The 3D printed models stereoscopically displayed the location of the liver tumors and adjacent liver vascular structure clearly. Laparoscopic hepatectomy was performed successfully in 20 patients guided by the 3-3D techniques, and the other 2 patients required convertion to open hepatectomy. The mean operation time was 186 ± 92 min, the intraoperative blood loss was 284 ± 286 ml, the mean actual liver resection volume was 491 ± 192 ml, and the mean postoperative hospital stay of the patients was 8.6 ± 3.7 days.

CONCLUSIONSThe 3-3D technique can facilitate the evaluation of preoperative risk and critical anatomical structures and navigate the surgical procedure in real time in anatomical hepatectomy for hepatic tumors.

Blood Loss, Surgical ; Hepatectomy ; Hepatic Artery ; anatomy & histology ; Hepatic Veins ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Laparoscopy ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Portal Vein ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To assess the value of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in evaluating the response of unresectable liver cancer to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods A total of 55 unresectable liver cancer patients with 90 lesions who received TACE at the First People’s Hospital of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture between July 2021 and July 2023 were enrolled in the study. The response to TACE was evaluated using the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors one month post-treatment. The value of lesion diameter, volume, and density on CBCT images in predicting the response to TACE was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results Of the 55 patients treated with TACE, 26 achieved complete response, 17 achieved partial response, 9 showed stable disease, and 3 had progressive disease. Of the 90 lesions, 48 achieved complete response, 20 achieved partial response, 17 showed stable disease, and 5 had progressive disease. On CBCT images, the mean diameter, volume, and density of lesions with complete and non-complete responses were (20.9 ± 9.9) mm, (1719.3 ± 777.9) mm³, and (143.7 ± 87.9) HU, versus (10.9 ± 7.7) mm, (890.0 ± 327.4) mm³, and (38.8 ± 33.3) HU, respectively, with significant differences between the two groups (t=10.6, 79.8, and 65.5; all P < 0.01). One month post-treatment, CT scans displayed no enhanced areas in lesions with complete response and visible enhanced areas in lesions with non-complete response, with mean lesion diameter and density of (14.1 ± 6.2) mm and (78.8 ± 30.3) HU, respectively. In addition, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of lesion diameter, volume, and density on CBCT images were 0.935, 0.955, and 0.981, respectively, in distinguishing between complete and non-complete responses following TACE. Using a cut-off value of 82.5 HU for predicting response to TACE, the lesion density had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 95.5%, 100.0%, 100.0%, and 95.0%, respectively. Conclusion CBCT is effective in predicting the short-term response of liver cancer to TACE.