[Primary pulmonary NUT carcinoma: a clinicopathological analysis of seven cases].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of primary pulmonary NUT carcinoma. Methods: A total of 7 cases of primary pulmonary NUT carcinoma were collected from Fujian Provincial Hospital (n=5), Fuzhou Taijiang Hospital (n=1) and Binzhou City People's Hospital of Shandong Province (n=1) from January 2021 to April 2023. The clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical features were analyzed, and NUT rearrangement were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with break-apart probes. Results: Seven cases were all male with age ranging from 32 to 73 years. The main clinical manifestations were cough, expectoration and chest tightness. Microscopically, NUT carcinoma was composed of monotonous proliferation of primitive-appearing small-to-medium round cells, with few eosinophilic cytoplasm, arranged in solid sheets, nests or clusters. Abrupt keratinization was typically observed in 4 cases (4/7), with high mitotic activities and necrosis. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed that the tumors were positive for NUT (7/7), CK7 (4/4), CK5/6 (5/6), p40 (6/7). Ki-67 index were 30%-80%. NUT gene segregation (7/7) was detected by FISH break probes. Conclusions: Primary pulmonary NUT carcinoma is rare and highly malignant. Diagnosis depends on histopathology and IHC, with molecular detection as an adjunct for diagnosis. Pathologists should be aware of the clinicopathological characteristics to avoid misdiagnosis.

Different dexamethasone doses in the perioperative period improve short-term outcomes of total hip arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different dexamethasone doses in the perioperative period of total hip arthroplasty (THA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We randomly divided 180 patients into three groups: three perioperative saline injections (Group A, placebo); two perioperative doses of 15 mg dexamethasone plus a postoperative saline injection at 48 h (Group B); and three perioperative doses of dexamethasone (10 mg) (Group C). Primary outcomes were postoperative pain at rest and while walking. We also recorded consumption of analgesics and antiemetics, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, postoperative length of stay (p-LOS), range of motion (ROM), nausea, Identity-Consequence-Fatigue-Scale (ICFS), and severe complications (e.g., incidence of surgical site infection, SSI and gastrointestinal bleeding, GIB). RESULTS: Group B and C had significantly lower pain scores at rest than Group A on postoperative day 1. Group B and C also had significantly lower dynamic pain score, CRP, and IL-6 than Group A on postoperative day 1, 2, and 3. Patients in Group B and C had lower PONV incidence, reduced use of analgesics and antiemetics, improved ROM, shorter p-LOS, lower VAS nausea score, and lower ICFS than Group A patients. On postoperative day 3, patients in Group C had significantly lower dynamic pain and ICFS scores, IL-6, and CRP than Group B patients, as well as higher ROM. None of the groups exhibited SSI or GIB. CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone provides short-term advantages in reducing pain, PONV, inflammation, and ICFS, and increasing ROM in the early postoperative period after THA. Dexamethasone efficacy in reducing post-THA pain, inflammation, and PONV at 10 mg and 15 mg is similar during the first 48 h. Dexamethasone (30 mg) divided into three 10 mg doses was superior to two doses (15 mg) in reducing pain, inflammation, and ICFS, as well as in increasing ROM on postoperative day 3.

[Comparison of two different methods of rapid expansion combined with maxillary protraction in the treatment of skeletal class â ¢ malocclusion].

Objective: To compare the effect of bone-anchored versus tooth-borne rapid palatal expansion (RPE) combined with maxillary protraction in the treatment of skeletal class Ⅲ patients with maxillary hypoplasia. Methods: Twenty-six skeletal class Ⅲ patients with maxillary hypoplasia in the late mixed or early permanent dentition were selected. All the patients underwent RPE combined with maxillary protraction in the Department of Orthodontics, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University from August 2020 to June 2022. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Thirteen patients were enrolled in the bone-anchored RPE group [4 males and 9 females, aged (10.2±1.7) years] and the others were in the tooth-borne RPE group [5 males and 8 females, aged (10.1±1.0) years]. Ten sagittal linear indices [Y-Is distance (the distance from the incisor edge of the maxillary incisor to the vertical reference axis), Y-Ms distance (the distance from the mesial contact point of the maxillary first molar to the vertical reference axis), the relative distance between the maxillary and mandibular molars, overjet, etc.], 6 vertical linear indices [PP-Ms distance (the distance changes from Ms to the palatal plane), etc.] and 8 angle indices [SN-MP angle (the upper external angle of the intersection of the sella-nasion plane and the mandibular plane), U1-SN angle (the lower internal angle of the intersection of the long axis of the maxillary central incisor and the sella-nasion plane), etc.] were measured on the cephalometric radiographs before and after the treatment. Six coronal indicators (the inclination of the left and right first maxillary molar, etc.) were measured on cone-beam CT images before and after the treatment. The proportion of skeletal and dental factors in the changes of overjet were calculated. The differences of the index changes between groups were compared. Results: After the treatment, the anterior crossbite were corrected in both groups, and classⅠor classⅡ molar relationship were attained. In bone-anchored group, the changes of Y-Is distance, Y-Ms distance and maxillary and mandibular molar relative distance were (3.23±0.70), (1.25±0.34) and (2.54±0.59) mm, respectively, significantly less than those in the tooth-borned group in which the corresponding changes were (4.96±0.97) mm (t=-5.92, P<0.001), (3.12±0.83) mm (t=-7.53, P<0.001) and (4.92±1.35) mm (t=-5.85, P<0.05), respectively. The change of overjet in the bone-anchored group was (4.45±1.25) mm, significantly less than that in the tooth-borned group (6.14±1.29) mm (t=-3.38, P<0.05). Skeletal and dental factors accounted for 80% and 20% of the overjet changes in the bone-anchored group, respectively. While in the tooth-borned group, skeletal and dental factors accounted for 62% and 38% of the overjet changes, respectively. The PP-Ms distance change in the bone-anchored group [(-1.62±0.25) mm] was significantly less than that in the tooth-borned group [(2.13±0.86) mm] (t=-15.15, P<0.001). The changes of SN-MP and U1-SN in the bone-anchored group were -0.95°±0.55° and 1.28°±1.30°, respectively, significantly less than those corresponding indices in the tooth-borned group (1.92°±0.95°, t=-9.43, P<0.001; 7.78°±1.94°, t=-10.04, P<0.001). In the bone-anchored group, the inclination changes of maxillary bilateral first molars in the left and right sides were 1.50°±0.17° and 1.54°±0.19°, significantly less than the corresponding indices in the tooth-borned group (2.26°±0.37°, t=6.47, P<0.001; 2.25°±0.35°, t=6.81, P<0.001). Conclusions: The bone-anchored RPE with maxillary protraction could reduce the adverse tooth compensation effect, including the protrusion of maxillary anterior incisors, the increase of overjet and mandibular plane angle, and the mesial movement, extrusion and buccal inclination of maxillary molars.

[Measuring and analysis of the shoulder circumferences of 840 adults' permanent teeth crown preparations].

Objective: To measure and analyze the shoulder circumferences of adults' permanent teeth crown preparations based on data collected through the intraoral scanning, so as to provide dental anatomy data for clinical diagnosis and analysis. Methods: Intraoral scanning data of 840 complete crown preparations were collected, and were entrusted to the World Dental Laboratory Co., Ltd. in Fuzhou between March 2021 and June 2022. Except the data of the third molar, the rest data were categorized in terms of 14 tooth positions in the upper and lower jaw (each category involved 30 samples from male group and 30 samples from female group). Image measurement software was used to measure the shoulder circumferences of permanent teeth crown preparations. And analysis was conducted to reveal the difference of shoulder circumference diameters between male and female groups. And then they were grouped according to the mean value at each tooth position, on the premise that the difference between the maximum and minimum values and the mean value of the entire group was≤±1.00 mm. Analysis were further conducted to determine the differences of shoulder circumference diameters between each dental position and the differences between male and female in the same groups. Results: Bivariate analysis of variance showed that gender had no effect on the shoulder circumference of full crown preparations (F=0.55, P=1.457), while tooth position had a significant impact on the shoulder circumference of full crown preparations (F=273.15, P<0.001). The samples were classified into 5 groups according to the mean values of shoulder circumference diameters relating to each tooth position. Statistical analysis showed that Group 1, covering maxillary lateral incisor, mandibular central incisor and mandibular lateral incisor, had shoulder circumference with diameters of (16.62±2.21) mm; Group 2, consisting of maxillary central incisor, maxillary cusp, mandibular cusp, mandibular first premolar and mandibular second premolar, had diameters of (20.78±2.48) mm; Group 3, consisting of maxillary first premolar and maxillary second premolar, had diamerters of (22.09±2.72) mm; Group 4, covering maxillary first molar, maxillary second molar and mandibular first molar, had diamerters of (30.21±2.67) mm; while group 5, with mandibular second molar alone its member, had diamerters of (31.34±3.18) mm. The difference among the 5 groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions: Significant differences of shoulder circumference diameters could be found between different tooth positions, while at the same tooth position, the differences between male and female are not significant. The 14 tooth positions could be grouped into 5 groups according to their shoulder circumference diameters. Future research could take the grouping as reference.

[Fibrous hamartoma of infancy: a clinicopathological and molecular genetic analysis of 33 cases].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, immunophenotypic and molecular genetic characteristics and differential diagnosis of fibrous hamartoma of infancy (FHI). Methods: Thirty-three cases of surgically removed FHI were collected from the Department of Pathology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital from October 2011 to December 2020, the clinical and pathologic data with follow-up were collected and analyzed. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) were used to study the molecular genetics. Results: The FHI cases occurred in 21 males and 12 females (mean age 16.7 months, range 6 months to 6 years). The sites included trunk (n=21), limb (n=11), and neck (n=1). All patients had painless solitary superficial soft tissue masses, the size was 1.5-9.0 cm (mean 3.8 cm). Microscopically, they were composed of mature adipose tissue, fibroblast/myofibroblast bundle and primitive mesenchymal cells in different proportions; giant cell fibroblastoma-like areas were seen in 14 cases. Immunohistochemistry showed variable expression of EGFR in the spindle cells and primitive mesenchymal components. In most cases, the spindle cells were positive for CD34 and SMA; giant cell fibroblastoma-like areas were strongly positive for CD34; and S-100 protein was expressed by adipocytes in all cases. Ki-67 labeling index ranged 1%-5%. There were recurrent somatic EGFR exon 20 insertion/duplication mutations in six cases tested by NGS, and there were three different mutation types: p.Asn771_His773dupAsnProHis, p.Pro772_His773insProProHis, and p.His773_Val774insThrHis. All the above 6 and another 15 tested cases showed EGFR exon 20 insertion/duplication mutations by q-PCR. Conclusions: FHI is a rare benign fibroblast/myofibroblast tumor. The characteristic histologic feature is organoid triphasic morphology, and the molecular feature is somatic mutation of EGFR exon 20 (insertion/duplication).

¹H-MRS before and after resuscitation following selective cerebral ultra-profound hypothermic blood flow occlusion in monkeys.

We investigated the effect of selective cerebral ultra-profound hypothermic blood flow occlusion on brain tissue and cell metabolism to ascertain the efficacy and safety of selective deep hypothermic technologies using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS). The bilateral carotid artery was blocked at room temperature for 10 min. Other neck vessels were then blocked through cold perfusion of the internal carotid artery and reflux of the ipsilateral jugular vein. Thus, selective cerebral extracorporeal circulation was established. Brain temperature was reduced to 15.1° ± 0.9°C. After 60 min, cerebral blood flow recovered naturally. Routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and (1)H-MRS examination of the bilateral frontal cortex and basal ganglia were performed prior to surgery and 4, 24, 72 h, 21 days after recovery. The formants and areas under the curve (AUC) of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), creatine/phosphocreatine (Cr/Cr2) were analyzed using 1H-MRS. The pre- and postoperative AUC of NAA and Cho at different time points were compared. Conventional MRI and DWI showed no abnormal signal changes in the brain parenchyma or right basal ganglia before and after surgery (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the ratio between NAA/(Cr+Cr2) and Cho/(Cr+Cr2) before and after surgery in the bilateral basal ganglia and frontoparietal regions of the cortex (P > 0.05). Quantitative (1)H-MRS showed that selective deep cerebral hypothermia significantly improved the brain's tolerance to ischemia and hypoxia. Our results could provide a better understanding of the efficacy and safety of selective deep hypothermia and blood flow occlusion.

Changes in hippocampal ultrastructure and vimentin expression in rhesus monkeys following selective deep hypothermia and blood occlusion.

Previous studies have shown that selective cerebral profound hypothermia combined with antegrade cerebral perfusion can improve resistance to cerebral hypoxia-ischemia in monkeys. The aim of this study was to observe the effect of selective cerebral profound hypothermia on the ultrastructure and vimentin expression in monkey hippocampi after severe cerebral ischemia. Eight healthy adult rhesus monkeys were randomly divided into two groups: profound hypothermia (N = 5) and normothermia (N = 3). Monkeys in the profound hypothermia group underwent bilateral carotid artery and jugular vein occlusion for 10 minutes at room temperature. Ringer's solution at 4°C was then perfused through the right internal carotid artery and out of the right jugular vein, maintaining the brain temperature below 18°C. Sixty minutes later, cerebral blood flow was restored. The normothermia group underwent all procedures with the exception that the Ringer's solution was 37°C during perfusion. All animals in the profound hypothermia group were successfully resuscitated. No significant abnormalities of hippocampal morphology or ultrastructure were observed. In contrast, no monkeys were alive after perfusion in the normothermia group and they had abnormal hippocampal morphology and ultrastructure to different extents. Vimentin expression in the hippocampus was significantly lower in the profound hypothermia group (47.88% ± 1.66) than the normothermia group (79.51% ± 1.00; P < 0.01). We conclude that selective cerebral profound hypothermia following 10-min occlusion of the bilateral common carotid arteries was able to downregulate vimentin expression in the hippocampus and protect it from severe cerebral ischemia.

The influencing factor of in vitro fertilization and embryonic transfer in the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus).

This study was conducted to explore the influencing factors of ova in vitro fertilization (IVF) and transfer of the fertilized ova into the oviduct of recipient hens. The efficiency of fertilization was compared using three aspects: (i) the different time of ova collection and transfer, (ii) egg-laying period of recipient hen; and (iii) semen volume. The following results are observed: 72%, 40% and 0% of ova were found in ovarian sac in 30∼40 min, 50∼60 min and more than 90 min post-oviposition, respectively; 20%, 18%, 14% and 5.8% of ova were fertilized with 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 ml semen, respectively; and 33% and 100% of healthy chickens were hatched from fertile ova with 0.1 and 0.5 ml of semen, respectively. All oocytes obtained from ovary and mid-oviduct were unfertilized. Embryos were transferred into recipient hens 30 min ± 10 min post-oviposition, and 70% of shelled eggs were produced. There were no eggs produced in the other transfer times. This demonstrated that live chicken can be obtained by IVF of ova collected shortly after oviposition. It was important that the ovum was transferred into the oviduct infundibulum of recipient hens immediately or shortly after oviposition.

Spatial and temporal gene expression of Fn-type II and cysteine-rich secretory proteins in the reproductive tracts and ejaculated sperm of Chinese Meishan pigs.

Fibronectin type II and cysteine-rich secretory proteins have been well studied in the murine and human. The present study evaluated CRISP1, CRISP2, CRISP3 and Fn-type II (ELSPBP1 and pB1) gene expression patterns in ejaculated sperm and reproductive tracts of Chinese Meishan pigs from birth to day 150 of age. In ejaculated sperm, except for ELSPBP1, all others genes studied were detectable. In sexually mature boars and gilts, CRISP1 gene was expressed strongly in whole epididymides, moderate in prostate and weak in seminal vesicle. CRISP2 gene represented extensive distribution along reproductive tracts with highest abundance in testis. CRISP3 gene was expressed highly in prostate and bulbourethral gland, but weakly in testis. ELSPBP1 gene was expressed with highest abundance in cauda epididymides, moderate in corpus epididymides and weak in seminal vesicle and prostate. pB1 mRNA expression was also abundant along reproductive tracts. During the sexual development of boars after birth, these genes showed different expression patterns. CRISP1 and CRISP3 gene expression was high on day 1 and maintained until day 150, while CRISP2 expression was detectable on day 60 with high abundance and maintained until day 90 and dropped on day 150. ELSPBP1 showed low expression at birth and increased significantly on day 30 (p < 0.05) and then kept static until day 150. pB1 gene displayed moderate expression from birth to day 30 and increased significantly on day 60 (p < 0.05) and maintained at high level until day 150. Collectively, CRISP and Fn-type II genes were expressed extensively along genital tracts, and most of them showed mRNA signal in ejaculated sperm. The expression of CRISP1 and CRISP3 genes in Meishan boar was not age-dependent, while CRISP2 and pB1 gene expression was parallel with sexual development. Their unique gene expression patterns may shed light on the mechanism for the high prolificacy of Meishan pigs.

Directional differentiation of chicken primordial germ cells into adipocytes, neuron-like cells, and osteoblasts.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are useful for producing transgenic chickens and preserving genetic material in avian species. In this study, we investigated the in vitro differentiation potential of chicken PGCs into different cell types. For differentiation into adipocytes, chicken PGCs were cultured for 21 days in induction media containing dexamethasone, insulin and/or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), and differentiation rates ranging from 74% to 91% were identified by oil red-O and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. For differentiation into neuron-like cells, chicken PGCs were cultured for 3 or 7 days in the induction media containing retinoic acid (RA) and IBMX, and differentiation rates ranging from 71% to 87% were identified by toluidine blue staining and immunohistochemical staining. For differentiation into osteoblasts, chicken PGCs were cultured for 15 or 21 days in the induction media containing desamethasone, beta-glycerol phosphate and/or vitamin C, and differentiation rates ranging from 47% to 79% were confirmed by Von Kossa, cytochemical and immunohistochemical staining. These data suggest that, like mammalian PGCs, chicken PGCs can differentiate into different cell types in vitro.

Synergistic effects of NGF, CNTF and GDNF on functional recovery following sciatic nerve injury in rats.

PURPOSE: To investigate the synergistic effects of nerve growth factor (NGF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and glia cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on survival and growth of sensory neurons and motoneurons, as well as on the functional recovery following sciatic nerve injury in rats. METHODS: Experimental rats and neurons were randomized into 8 groups: NGF group, CNTF group, GDNF group, NGF+CNTF group, CNTF+GDNF group, NGF+GDNF group, NGF+CNTF+GDNF group and control group. Each group received local intramuscular injection of indicated NTFs according to the treatment protocol. The sciatic nerve function index (SFI), nerve conduction velocity and wet weight recovery rate of gastrocnemius muscle were tested to evaluate the functional recovery in vivo. A 2 (presence or absence of NGF) x 2 (presence or absence of CNTF) x 2 (presence or absence of GDNF) analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the main effects and interactions among NGF, CNTF and GDNF, and one-way ANOVA was calculated for multiple comparison. RESULTS: NGF and GDNF acted significantly on the survival of sensory neuron and motoneuron, respectively. CNTF was a dominant factor promoting cell body development, and GDNF had the most powerful effect on neurite outgrowth and elongation of sensory neurons and motoneurons. Combined administration of the three factors resulted in optimal functional recovery following sciatic nerve injury in rats. CONCLUSIONS: It is demonstrated that differential and complementary biological effects of various neurotrophic factors contribute to synergistic promotion of nervous function recovery.

Gastric choriocarcinoma shows characteristics of adenocarcinoma and gestational choriocarcinoma: a comparative genomic hybridization and fluorescence in situ hybridization study.

The authors report two cases of the rare primary gastric choriocarcinoma. These tumors showed an overwhelming predominance of cytotrophoblast- and syncytiotrophoblast-like tumor cells that were positive for beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin, with small foci of glandular differentiation. Beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin was also detected serologically in one patient. Comparative genomic hybridization study was performed on one specimen. Copy number gains of chromosomes 12, 17, 20, 22, and X, together with losses on 18q, were the major findings. Except for the gain of chromosome 12, which is known to be uncommon in primary gastric adenocarcinoma but frequently associated with choriocarcinoma, the remaining genomic imbalances were among the most common comparative genomic hybridization findings reported in primary gastric adenocarcinoma. Fluorescence in situ hybridization on paraffin sections of both specimens confirmed the presence of polysomy 17 and trisomy 12. These results suggest that primary gastric choriocarcinoma genetically possesses characteristics of both adenocarcinoma and gestational choriocarcinoma. The authors believe this is the first interphase cytogenetics study on this rare tumor, and that the results support the theory that gastric choriocarcinoma arises from alternate differentiation pathways of adenocarcinoma.

A role for HLA-DO as a co-chaperone of HLA-DM in peptide loading of MHC class II molecules.

In B cells, the non-classical human leukocyte antigens HLA-DO (DO) and HLA-DM (DM) are residents of lysosome-like organelles where they form tight complexes. DM catalyzes the removal of invariant chain-derived CLIP peptides from classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules, chaperones them until peptides are available for loading, and functions as a peptide editor. Here we show that DO preferentially promotes loading of MHC class II molecules that are dependent on the chaperone activity of DM, and influences editing in a positive way for some peptides and negatively for others. In acidic compartments, DO is engaged in DR-DM-DO complexes whose physiological relevance is indicated by the observation that at lysosomal pH DM-DO stabilizes empty class II molecules more efficiently than DM alone. Moreover, expression of DO in a melanoma cell line favors loading of high-stability peptides. Thus, DO appears to act as a co-chaperone of DM, thereby controlling the quality of antigenic peptides to be presented on the cell surface.

Complete sequence analysis of the genome of the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

The entire genome of the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae M129 has been sequenced. It has a size of 816,394 base pairs with an average G+C content of 40.0 mol%. We predict 677 open reading frames (ORFs) and 39 genes coding for various RNA species. Of the predicted ORFs, 75.9% showed significant similarity to genes/proteins of other organisms while only 9.9% did not reveal any significant similarity to gene sequences in databases. This permitted us tentatively to assign a functional classification to a large number of ORFs and to deduce the biochemical and physiological properties of this bacterium. The reduction of the genome size of M. pneumoniae during its reductive evolution from ancestral bacteria can be explained by the loss of complete anabolic (e.g. no amino acid synthesis) and metabolic pathways. Therefore, M. pneumoniae depends in nature on an obligate parasitic lifestyle which requires the provision of exogenous essential metabolites. All the major classes of cellular processes and metabolic pathways are briefly described. For a number of activities/functions present in M. pneumoniae according to experimental evidence, the corresponding genes could not be identified by similarity search. For instance we failed to identify genes/proteins involved in motility, chemotaxis and management of oxidative stress.

A novel method for efficient amplification of whole hepatitis B virus genomes permits rapid functional analysis and reveals deletion mutants in immunosuppressed patients.

Current knowledge of hepatitis B virus (HBV) sequence heterogeneity is based mainly on sequencing of amplified subgenomic HBV fragments. Here, we describe a method which allows sensitive amplification and simplified functional analysis of full-length HBV genomes with or without prior cloning. By this method, a large number of HBV genomes were cloned from sera of six immunosuppressed kidney transplant patients. Two size classes of HBV genomes, one 3.2 kb and another about 2.0 kb in size, were found in all patients. The genome population from one serum sample was studied in detail by size analysis of subgenomic PCR fragments and sequencing. Regions with deletions and insertions were mapped in the C gene and pre-S region. Up to 100% of HBV genomes in all other immunosuppressed patients also had deletions in the C gene. Our results demonstrate the potential of the established method for the structural and functional characterization of heterogeneous populations of complete virion-encapsidated HBV DNAs and suggest that HBV genomes with C gene deletions can have a selective advantage in immunosuppressed patients.

[Internal iliac artery embolization for the control of severe bladder and prostate haemorrhage].

From 1986 to 1988, internal iliac artery embolization was used for the treatment of severe bladder or prostatic bleeding in 16 male patients with an age range of 44-72 years. Good and effective control of the bleeding was achieved in 15 patients without any complication. The experience about this technique was reported in this paper, and the indication and complication of the method were discussed. This method is simple, safe and effective in controlling massive bladder or prostate hemorrhage.