Objective To identify the biological and molecular biological characteristics of SN7 virus isolated from Niviventer Confucianus in Sichuan province. Methods Monoclonal antibody, PRNT and PCR antigenicity analysis and genotyping of SN7 strain were performed. M and S segments of SN7 genome were also cloned and sequenced. The sequences were compared with those of other strains of Hantavirus. Results It was difficult to identify SN7 by using monocloncal antibody, PRNT and PCR. With sequence comparison, we found that strain SN7 had high homology(80.2%～87.1% of M segment and 76.6%～92.0% of S segment) with HTN type strains, and relatively low homology(70.0%～71.6% of M segment and 71.0%～72.2% of S segment) with SEO type strains. Strain SN7 was believed to belong to HTN type. Conclusions SN7 is a new subtype strain of HTN type viruses. It is possible that Hantavirus has immune escape in its natural hosts.

Objective To study the feasibility and efficacy of endovascular thoracic aortic repair supported by preliminary arterial bypass. Methods From June 2003 to Jan. 2005, eight patients underwent endovascular repair (EVR) combined with supportive arterial reconstruction in the thoracic aorta. Five patients had Debakey type Ⅲ aortic dissection aneurysm (ADA), and the remaining 3 had descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (DTAA), aortic arch aneurysm and aortic arch pseudoaneurysm respectively. The proximal landing zone was measured less than 15 mm in all instances by contrast-enhanced CT scan and digital subtraction angiography. The preliminary right-left axillary bypass was performed in an ADA case in whom the distance from the primary entry site to the origin of the left common carotid artery was longer than 15mm,and the right- left carotid and left carotid-subclavian bypass in the remaining 7 cases. EVR was conducted 1 week after the bypass. Results All procedures were performed successfully. However, the DTAA patient died of the hemispheric cerebral infarction and subsequent multiple system organ failure, albeit the uneventful recovery from the prior cervical reconstruction. Type Ⅱ endoleak occurred at the completion of EVR in the patient receiving the axillary bypass, but disappeared on 3-month CT. No neurological deficits or limb ischemia developed perioperatively or during the follow-up raging from 3 to 22 months, and complete thrombosis of the thoracic aortic false lumen or of the aneurysm/pseudoaneurysm was revealed on CT at 3 months in the 7 patients. Conclusion The adjunctive surgical bypass appeared to be feasible and effective in creating extra proximal landing zone for endovascular thoracic aortic repair, and thus broaden its application.

Objective To investigate the correlation between level of Titin antibodies (Titin-Ab) and patient's condition and different thymic pathological patterns in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), and to assess its value in the diagnosis and prognosis of MG.Methods The levels of Titin-Ab in serum from 52 patients with MG (MG group), 18 cases with other neurologic diseases (NMG group) and 50 normal controls (NC group) were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA). 10 cases with MG who received operation on thymus were tested again after therapy.Results The positive rate of Titin-Ab in MG group was 36.5%,but not present in MNG and NC groups.The MG group!was significantly higher than those in NMG group and NC group (all P

Objective To define the significance of the anatomical division and features of popliteal artery in popliteal angioplasty.Methods This study involved 118 lower limbs in 113 cases of femoropoliteal occlusive disease undergoing angioplasty in our center between August 2011 and July 2013.A bent-knee angiogram was taken before recanalization of the lesion.The flexion pattern and the location of flexion points of popliteal artery were collected to study their relationship with the division of popliteal artery.A post-procedural bent-knee angiogram was taken in case of popliteal stenting to assess any change in flexion angulation and distal flow.Results There are diverse flexion patterns in popliteal artery,75.4％ of the flexion points locate in P2 segment,18.6％ in P1,and 6.0％ in P3.On post-procedural bent-knee angiogram in 73 cases of popliteal stenting,10 had a more acute distal flexion angulation,distal artery kinking was observed in another 6 cases of which 5 had compromised distal flow.Artery kinking only occurred in cross-flexion-point stenting.Conclusions A better understanding of the division and anatomical features of popliteal artery can be obtained via bent-knee angiogram.This is of value to angioplasty for lesions in different popliteal divisions.

Objective To investigate the change of the first-phase insulin secretion in impaired glucose regulation and its influencing factors.Methods The investigation was performed in 1024 subjects who were selected by cluster sampling.The body waist circumference (WC) was examined in these subjects.Oral glucose tolerance test was performed,and fasting plasma glucose,fasting insulin as well as 30-,60-,and 120-minute plasma glucose and insulin after glucose intake were also tested.All the 1024 subjects were divided into 5 groups based on the results of oral glucose tolerance test:normal glucose tolerance group,impaired fasting glucose group,impaired glucose tolerance group,impaired fasting glucos/impaired glucose tolerance group,and diabetes mellitus group.First-phase insulin secretion index (the ratio of change in insulin to change in glucose during the first 30 minutes after glucose ingestion was calculated.Results Compared with normal glucose tolerance group (1.96 ± 1.03),the first-phase insulin secretion index significantly decreased in the impaired fasting glucose group (1.79 ±0.91) (P =0.007),the impaired glucose tolerance group (1.81 ± 0.97) (P =0.007),the impaired fasting glucose / impaired glucose tolerance group (1.59 ± 0.85) (P =0.005),and the diabetes mellitus group (1.30 ± 0.60) (P =0.004).Logistic regression analysis showed that WC was the strongest influencing factor of first-phase insulin secretion (β =0.716,P =0.000).Conclusions The firstphase insulin secretion index has already dropped in the stage of impaired glucose regulation.WC can be a useful indicator for evaluating first-phase insulin secretion.

Objective To investigate the multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) features of crush maxillofacial frac-tures in the massive Wenchuan earthquake. Methods MSCT data of 85 patients with crush maxillofacial fractures caused by earth-quake were retrospectively analyzed. The anatomic distribution of fractures was evaluated. Results In 85 patients, single bone frac-tures (59 patients) were more common than multiple bone fractures (26 patients) (P<0.05). The fractures involved isolated mid-face, isolated mandible, and both were found in 49 patients (57.6%), 24(28.2%), and 12(14.2%), respectively. Midface frac-tures were most frequent (P<0.05). The fractures of condyle, posterolateral and anterior wall of maxillary sinus, zygomatic arch and lateral orbital wall accounted for 47.1%(24/51) ,41.5%(22/53) , 37.7%(20/53),71.9% (23/32) and 63.2%(24/38) of the total fractures of the corresponding maxillofacial bones. Conclusion Isolated bone fracture and midface factures are the main fea-tures of crush maxillofacial fractures resulted from the massive earthquake. MSCT and three-dimensional reconstruction images can demonstrate maxillofacial fractures well.

Objective To evaluate the multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) features of crush pulmonary parenchymal injuries in the massive Wenchuan earthquake. Methods One hundred and seventeen patients with crush pulmonary parenchymal injuries in the massive Wenchuan earthquake were reviewed, the location, extent and MSCT appearances of the injuries and associated thoracic injuries were evaluated. The MSCT appearances of the injuries on 1 d, 2--5 d and 6--14 d were compared using Chi-square test. Results One hundred and thirteen patients had pulmonary contusion and bilaterally in 70 cases, 7 had pulmonary laceration. A total of two hundreds and eighty-three lung lobes were involved and 3 or more lobes involved in 47 patients. Ill-defined patchy opacity was detected in 75 patients, associated ground-glass opacity (GGO) in 24 cases. Lung laceration presented as pneumatocele in 4 cases and demarcated hematoma in 3 cases. Coexisted rib fractures were detected in 98 patients and flail chests were in 29 patients. Forty-three patients had coexisted fractures of scapula, clavicle and (or) sternum. Ninety-nine patients had coexisted pleural injuries. Conclusions Crush pulmonary parenchymal injuries in the Wenchuan earthquake are severe. The bilateral, multifocal and multiple lobes involved injuries with a high incidence of coexisted other severe thoracic injuries are the noticeable features.

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of valproic acid ( VPA) on radiosensitivity to MCF7 breast cancer cells. METHODS MCF7 cells were pretreated with VPA 0.5 and 1 mmol.L-1 for 0, 24, 48 and 72 h respectively, irradiated with 8 Gy lR, and at 6 h post-lR, the γ-H2 AX foci formation in MCF7 cells was tested by immunofluorescence assay. MCF7 cells were pretreated with VPA 0.5 and 1 mmol.L-1 for 72 h, irradiated with 4 Gy lR, and at 48 h post-lR, the cell survival rate was detected by MTT assay. MCF7 cells were pretreated with VPA 0.5 mmol.L-1 for 24 h, and then irradiated according to the amount of cells: 2 Gy (500 and 1000 cells per plate), 4 Gy (2000 and 4000 cells per plate), 6 Gy (8000 and 16000 cells per plate), and the cloning efficiency was calculated. MCF7 cells were pretreated with VPA 0.5 and 1 mmol.L-1 for 0, 24, 48 and 72 h respectively and the cell cycle profile was analyzed via flow cytometry. RESULTS After treatment with VPA alone for 24 h, MCF7 cells showed a significant increase in the amount of γ-H2 AX foci formation ( P < 0. 01). lt was also found that VPA increased lR-induced γ-H2 AX foci formation, which obviously prolonged the pretreatment time of VPA(P<0.01) in a time-dependent manner(r=0.98, P<0.05). VPA 0.5 and 1 mmol.L-1 had the same effect on γ-H2 AX foci formation. Furthermore, VPA was able to cause a significant decrease in lR-induced clonogenic survival but an increase in lR-induced cytotoxicity by MTT assay. Also, VPA alone decreased the plating efficiency of MCF7 cells. However, the cycle profile of MCF7 cells treated with both VPA 0.5 and 1 mmol.L-1 was not changed. CONCLUSION Without affecting the cell cycle profile, both the safe and critical dose of VPA used in clinical epilepsy treatment can significantly increase the accumulation of DNA double strand breaks in the cells and sensitize the cells to lR treatment, suggesting that VPA can induce radio-sensitization of breast cancer cells.

Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/ IMP cyclohydrolase(AICAR) supplement (AMPK activator) in different stages of neonatal rats sufferring from hypoxia-ischemia encephalopathy ( HIE). Methods Neonatal rat hypoxia-ischemia brain injury model was employed in this study. A total of 160 neonatal rats were distributed into five groups: sham, model control,AICAR30 min, AICAR24 h and AICAR72 h. The neuroprotective effects of AICAR supplement (30 min, 24 h, 72 h post operation) were compared by cresyl violet staining; Expressions of P-AMPK,AMPK in the brain tissue were measured by Western blotting.Foot-faults method was used to evaluate the long-term prognosis of the rats. Results Compared with the sham group, the survival of rats brain in model control group was significantly decreased [(100.0± 0.1)% and (45.3± 6.3)%, P< 0.05]. AICAR had neuroprotective effects when treated at 30 min and 24 h post operation,while the protective effects disappeared when treated later (72 h post operation) (P>0.05). Compared with the sham group, the expression of P-AMPK significantly increased about three times, while ATP level decreased close to the same. Conclusion Early AICAR treatment can protect hypoxia-ischemia brain injury by increasing AMPK-ATP level.

As one of the severe injuries, spinal injury is common in major blunt trauma and a spinal cord injury can make the patient be disabled or life-threatened with poor long-term physical and psychological consequences. The treatment of spinal injuries is a significant proportion of all the workload of trauma management based on the neurologic defect, spinal column instability, and the compression of spinal cord. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is the better examination than conventional radiography in depicting the type of injuries, spinal column instability, spinal canal narrowing degree and neurologic defect, and can be performed alone in patients sustaining severe trauma. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the MDCT features of this types of injuries based on the mechanism.
Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; methods ; Spinal Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology