Objective To explore the correlation between the joint detection of cholinesterase(CHE),alpha-L-fucosidase(AFU) and alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)and primary hepatic cancer(PHC).Methods 56 cases of patients with PHC(PHC group),52 cases of patients with liver cirrhosis(LC group)and 60 cases of healthy individuals(control group)were enrolled in this study,and serum levels of CHE,AFU and AFP were detected and statistically analysed.Results Serum levels of CHE in patients with PHC were negatively correlated with levels of AFU and AFP(correlation coefficient was -0.889 and -0.797 respectively,P <0.05),the ser-um levels of CHE in patients with LC were also negatively correlated with levels of AFU and AFP (correlation coefficient was-0.598 and -0.653 respectively,P <0.05).The positive rates of joint detection of CHE,AFU and AFP in PHC group and LC group were higher than that in the control group,had statistically significant differences(P <0.05 ).Conclusion CHE,AFU and AFP are sensitive indicators of liver lesions,and the joint detection could provide reference value for diagnosis and monitoring pro-gression of PHC.

ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical significance of ultrasonic screening of fetal structural anomalies at 11-13+6 weeks.Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 4853 cases of nuchal translucency screening at 11-13+6 weeks in Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Bao?an of Shenzhen City from September 2011 to May 2014. The screening ultrasound planes included the median sagittal plane, neck sagittal section, cerebral transverse section, cardiac four-chamber view, three-vessel-trachea view, abdominal transverse section, bladder section, upper limb section and lower limb section of the fetuses. All the cases then underwent the ultrasonic structural screening in the second trimester (20-24 weeks) and the third (28-32 weeks) trimester and were followed up until 6 weeks after birth or the biopsy after abortion.Results Eighty-ifve fetal structural anomalies were detected among the 4853 pregnant women at 11-13+6 weeks of gestation with the detection rate of 1.75% (85/4853), including central nervous system abnormalities (28 cases), anterior abdominal wall anomalies (9 cases), cardiac anomalies (6 cases), urinary system malformation (3 cases), skeletal system malformation (2 cases), multilocular cystic tumor and dropsy embryo (35 cases), and abnormal twins (2 cases). Among above abnormal fetuses, 6 cases showed normal structure in the screening after 14 weeks and were born without malformations, while the rest 79 cases were taken artiifcial abortion (73 cases in the ifrst trimester and 6 cases in the second trimester). Only 9 cases were taken chorionic puncture or amniocentesis, including normal karyotypes (3 cases), 47, XN, +18 (3 cases) and 45, X (3 cases). The False negative rate in the ifrst trimester was 23% (25/110). Supplementary detection of fetal structural abnormalities in the second and third trimester were found in 22 cases (20%, 22/110). Two cases of VSD and 1 case of microtia were identiifed after birth.ConclusionsThe fetal malformation can be detected in the earlier gestation with the ultrasonic screening at 11-13+6 weeks, which provide the earlier termination to the abnormal fetus. It has important clinical signiifcance in effectively reducing fetal births with structural abnormalities.

Objective To investigate the pharmaeokinetics of levofloxacin in rat's pancreatic tissue. Methods Pancreatic tissue and blood were sampled in vivo by microdialysis simultaneously. The concentrations of levofloxacin in beth blood and tissues were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. All date were analyzed by WinNonlin software. Results The maximum concentration of free levofloxacin in blood and pancreatic tissue were (65.23 ± 12.9) μg/ml at 10min and (30.56±3.22) μg/ml at 20 min, respectively, then beth continuously decreased. Concentration of free levofloxacin in pancreatic tissue was higher than that in blood from 20min to 100min, then returned to similar level. The area under the concentration curve(AUC)of unbound levofloxacin was(2465.11±258.56)min·μg~(-1)·ml~(-1) in pancreas,and (2914.38±205.73)min·μg~(-1)·ml~(-1) in blood.Conclusions Microdialysis with reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography established in this essay could be used to determine the pharmacokinetics of levofloxacin objectively. High concentration of levofloxacin in pancreatic tissue and blood was observed.

Objective To explore the normal range of the caudate nucleus' volume in Chinese adults of the Han nationality and provide morphological data for the construction of database for Chinese Standard Brain.Methods This was a clinical multi-center study.One thousand Chinese healthy volunteers (age range=18 to 70)recruited from 16 hospitals were divided into 5 groups,i.e.,Group A(age range=18 to 30),B(age range=31 to 40),C(age range=41 to 50),D(age range=51 to 60),and E(age range=61 to 70).Each group contained 100 males and 100 females.All of the volunteers were scanned by MR using T1 weighted three-dimensional magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo sequence.The volume of eaudate was measured manually using 3D volume analysis software.The difierence of volumes of the eaudate between male and female were analyzed by independent sample t-test,and among age groups by ANOVA.Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to characterize the relationship between volunles and age.The differences of measurements between left and right caudate nucleus were analyzed by paired t test.Results (1)rnle mean volume of bilateral caudate nucleus in healthy Chinese adults wag(10.973±1.647)cm3.The mean volume of the the male's left and right caudate nucleus were(5.656±0.860)and (5.671±0.855)cm3 respectively,no significant differences were found between the volume of left and right eaudate nucleus(t=1.230.P>0.05).The mean volume of the the female's left and right eaudate nucleus were(5.287±0.774)and(5.331±0.766)cm3 respectively,and the right's wag larger than the left's with significant differences(t=3.999,P<0.01);(2)Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between the nucleus volume and age(male and female's,left and fight)(r=-0.561,-0.568,-0.548,-0.552,P<0.05).Conclusion With high-resolution MRI and 3D volumetric analytic software(Midob),the volume of the caudate nucleus can be accurately measured,so as to provide the basic data for establishing Chinese adults' standard digital brain.and provide nomad control standards for caudate nucleus volume-related diseases.

Objective To explore the normal range of cingulate cortex volumes of Chinese adults of the Han nationality and its relationship with age, which provide morphological data for the construction of database for Chinese Standard Brain.Methods This is a clinical multi-center study.One thousand Chinese healthy volunteers ( age range = 18 to 70) recruited from 15 hospitals were divided into 5 groups, i.e.,Group A (age range = 18 to 30), B (age range=31 to 40), C (age range =41 to 50), D (age range =51 to 60), and E (age range =61 to 70).Each group contained 100 males and 100 females.All of the volunteers were scanned by MR using T1 weighted three-dimensional magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo sequence.Cingulate cortex volume (including bulk volume and the left/right volume) was measured semi-manually using 3D volume analysis software.Cingulate cortex volumes among age groups were compared by one-way ANOVA.Right and left cingnlate cortex volumes between sexualities were analyzed by paired samples t test.The relationship between cingulate cortex volume and age was analyzed by Pearson correlations and regression analysis.Results Cingulate cortex volumes of male and female were (20 347 ± 2504) and ( 19 432 ± 2184) mm3 respectively, and the male's was significantly larger than that of female's (two sample t'-test for independent samples, t'= 6.156, P < 0.05 ).Right and left cingnlate cortex volumes of male were ( 10 717 ± 1629) and (9630 ± 1498) mm3 respectively, and those of female's were ( 10 064 ± 1407 ) and ( 9368 ± 1441 )mm3 respectively.The volumes of cingulate cortex were significantly different between right and left in male or female ( t = - 12.960, - 8.511, P < 0.05 ),and right was larger than left.Bilateral cingulate cortex volume in male among group A, B, C, D and E[left: ( 10 132 ± 1291 ), ( 10 113 ± 1638), (9599 ± 1576), (9594 ± 1288), (8710 ± 1212) mm3 ; right:(11 212±1442), (11 096±1602), (11 040±1403), (10 633±1638), (9604±1522) mm3] had statistical differences (F = 16.738, 18.707, P < 0.01 ) ; and those in female among five age groups[left:(9689 ± 1426), (9652 ± 1676), (9347 ± 1500), (9098 ± 1225), (9053 ± 1233) mm3 ; fight: ( 10 558 ±1325), ( 10 266 ± 1463), ( 10 100 ± 1497), (9779 ± 1304), (9617 ± 1254) mm3] also had significant differences (F = 16.859,7.528,P <0.01 ).Bilateral cingnlate cortex volume in both male and female were negatively correlated with age ( r = - 0.330, - 0.324, - 0.169, - 0.243, P < 0.05 ), though the correlation coefficient is not high.Conclusions Cingnlate cortex volume could be accurately measured on the high-resolution MRI with 3D volume analysis software, which can provide morphological data for the construction of database for Chinese Standard Brain.The results may provide normal range for the diagnosis of the volumetric deficits of cingulate cortex.

Objective To identify and analyze the effective compositions of Schistosoma japonicum 31-32 kDa proteins by using the techniques of proteomics.Methods The total proteins were prepared from 32-day adult worms of Schistosoma japonicum.After two-dimensional(2-D)gel electrophoresis,the distinct protein spots from 2-D gels were isolated and analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS.Results A total of 13 protein spots,within the range of 31-32 kDa,were detected in the 2-D gels.Three of them had high homology with Actine-2 of S.mansoni,glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of S.japonicum and cathepsin B endopeptidase of S.mansoni.Conclusions The 31-32 kDa antigens contain 3 important antigens:actine-2,glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and cathepsin B endopeptidase,which have been demonstrated to have certain protective effect against S.japonicum.Our findings can facilitate the development of multi-epitope vaccine against S.japonicum.

Objective To investigate the clinical results of the primary total hip replacement (THR) and the secondary THR after failed internal fixation in the elderly patients with displaced femoral neck fracture so as to find the optimal treatment for displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly patients. Methods From April 2001 to April 2007,16 patients (Study Group) treated with a secondary THR after failed internal fixation and 20 patients (Control Group) treated with a primary THR were enrolled in the study and followed up. There were seven males and nine females, at average age of 66. 5 years (50-85 years) and with mean follow-up period of 58. 25 months (24-96 months) in the Study Group. There were six males and 14 females, at average age of 68.1 years (51-83 years) and with mean follow-up period of 49.50 months (24-70 months) in the Control Group. All patients were active and lucid before they suffered fractures. Blood loss and operation duration in THR were compared. Hip function (Harris score) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL, KPS index score) were assessed during the follow-up after THR. Results Operative duration was (115.63 ±34.35) minutes in Study Group and (91.25 ±15.80) minutes in Control Group (P<0.05). Blood loss was (546.86 ±377.04) ml in Study Group and (320.00 ±155.94) ml in Control Group (P<0.05). At follow up, Harris score and KPS index score were (87. 25 ±7. 53) points and (95. 00 ±5. 16) points respectively in Study Group, and (90.20±5.46) points and (96.00 ±0.73) points respectively in Control Group (P>0.05). There were no infections or re-operations in two groups, but with one death in each group during the follow-up. Conclusions THR is the optimal treatment for displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly patients.The secondary THR after failed internal fixation has higher risks in operation compared with the primary THR for a displaced femoral neck fracture in the elderly patient.

BACKGROUNDMycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) can cause a variety of human infections, involving the lung, skin and soft tissues, and is generally believed to be acquired from environmental sources. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular diversity and antibiotic susceptibility of M. abscessus isolates as the basis for strategies to improve control and management of infection.

METHODSSeventy M. abscessus isolates from patients attending the Guangzhou Thoracic Hospital were identified from 2003 to 2005 by biochemical tests, gas chromatography, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction analysis (PRA) of heat shock protein gene hsp65, and sequencing of the quinolone resistance determining regions (QRDRs) of gyrA. Susceptibilities to six antibiotics were determined by micro-broth dilution. Isolates were genotyped using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis.

RESULTSMost isolates (63/70; 90%) were susceptible to amikacin but rates of susceptibility to other antibiotics varied from moderate, clarithromycin (60%) and imipenem (43%), to low for ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin (3%), and 87% of isolates had intermediate susceptibility to cefoxitin. RAPD analysis showed that the 70 clinical isolates displayed 69 unique RAPD patterns.

CONCLUSIONSThe high genetic diversity of isolates suggests that they are not transmitted from person to person but, presumably, are acquired independently from environmental sources. M. abscessus isolates displayed variable levels of susceptibility to all antibiotics tested, other than amikacin, indicating a need for routine susceptibility testing to guide treatment.

Amikacin ; pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Cefoxitin ; pharmacology ; China ; Chromatography, Gas ; Ciprofloxacin ; pharmacology ; Clarithromycin ; pharmacology ; Imipenem ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mycobacterium ; drug effects ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique

Independent component analysis (ICA) is a new technique in statistical signal processing to extract independent components from multidimensional measurements of mixed signals. In this paper, for the processing of functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) data, two signals of near voxels are used as the mixed signals and are separated by ICA. The correlation coefficients between the reference signal and the separated signals are calculated and those voxels whose correlation coefficients are greater than a threshold are considered to be the activated voxels by the stimulation, and so the functional localization of the stimulation is completed. The validity of the method was primarily proved by trial of real brain functional magnetic resonance imaging data.
Algorithms ; Brain ; pathology ; physiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; statistics & numerical data ; Photic Stimulation ; Principal Component Analysis

AIMTo study the effects of hyperthermia on brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and middle latency response (MLR) in rats.

METHODSBAEP and MLR were recorded at the skull surface of rats. The body temperature of anesthetized rats increased gradually with a physical method and was detected by a digital thermometer inserted into the rectum. The peak latency (PL), interpeak latency (IPL), wave amplitude and the critical body temperature at which BAEP and MLR completely lost had been observed.

RESULTSAll PL and I - II, I - III and I -IV IPL of BAEP shortened more and more as the body temperature increased step by step from 37 degrees C to 41.5 degrees C. But all PL and I - II and I -IV IPL did not shortened further and prolonged a little contrary as the body temperature at 42 degrees C and over 42 degrees C. All PL and P1-P3 and P2-P3 IPL of MLR also shortened as the body temperature increased from 37 degrees C to 43 degrees C. The wave amplitudes of BAEP and MLR decreased as the body temperature increased, especially as the body temperature over 42 degrees C. BAEP and MLR lost completely and synchronously at the body temperature (43.1 +/- 0.5) degrees C, which was not reversed as the body temperature returning to normal by cooling.

CONCLUSIONThere were obvious effects of hyperthermia on both BAEP and MLR in rats, and irreversible impairments appeared at a critical body temperature.

Animals ; Body Temperature ; Brain Stem ; physiology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; physiology ; Fever ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reaction Time ; physiology