[Efficacy analysis of LVIS and Enterprise stent assisted coil in the treatment of vertebral artery dissection aneurysm].

Objective: To observe and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of LVIS stent and Enterprise stent assisted coil in embolization of vertebral artery dissection aneurysm (VDA). Methods: Clinical data of 96 patients with VDAs treated by LVIS stent and Enterprise stent assisted coil were analyzed retrospectively between January, 2013 and June, 2017.Of all, the LVIS stent assisted coil was performed in 28 patients (LVIS-stent group) and Enterprise in 68 patients (Enterprise-stent group). The clinical and imaging follow-up were performed. The instant embolization rate, complications, and recurrence rate were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results: Instant angiographic results:in the LVIS stent group, complete occlusion was achieved in 17 VDAs (60.7%), near-complete occlusion in 10VDAs (35.7%), and partial occlusion in 1 VDA (3.6%). In the Enterprise stent group, complete occlusion was achieved in 27 VDAs (39.7%), near-complete occlusion in 34VDAs(50.0%), partial occlusion in 7VDAs (10.3%). Procedure-related complications occurred in 3 patients (10.7%) in LVIS stent group and 3 patients (4.4%) in Enterprise stent group. DSA follow-up was performed during 6 to 12 months after surgery, and 10 patients with vertebral artery dissection aneurysm recurred, 2 in the LVIS group and 8 in the Enterprise stent group. The latest modified Rankin Scale score was 0 in 55 patients,1 in 13, 2 in 1, 3 in 1, and 6 in 1. Among them, all follow-up patients in the LVIS stent group had good prognosis, while in the Enterprise stent group, 50 patients (94.4%) had a good prognosis. Conclusions: The stent-assisted coils have a higher degree of embolization in the vertebral artery dissection aneurysms, a higher rate of near-total embolization, a lower incidence of neurological complications, and a good prognosis. The complete andnear-complete occlusion rates and the incidence of neurological complicationsin the LVIS group was higher than that in the Enterprise groupand the recurrence ratesin the LVIS group was lower than that in the Enterprise group,both with no statistically significant difference.

[Endovascular thrombectomy in patients with intracranial large artery occlusion and atrial fibrillation].

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with atrial fibrillation complicated with acute intracranial arterial occlusion. Methods: Fifty-eight patients with atrial fibrillation complicated with acute intracranial arterial occlusion in the intervention group of East (Endovascular Therapy for Acute ischemic Stroke Trial) were analyzed. According to the TOAST (Trial of Org 10 172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) classification, patients were divided into ICAS (Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis) group and cardiogenic embolism group. Clinical characteristics, treatment methods and clinical prognosis were compared between ICAS group and cardiogenic embolism group. Results: A total of 58 patients with atrial fibrillation complicated with acute intracranial arterial occlusion were included in this study, including 46 patients in the cardiogenic embolism group (79%) and 12 patients in the ICAS group (21%). The pre-hospital transport time in ICAS group was longer than that in cardiogenic embolism group (P<0.05).Patency rate in patients with atrial fibrillation complicated with acute intracranial arterial occlusion was 98.3% (57/58), The rate of patients with the 90-day function independent (mRS 0-2) was 51.7% (30/58). There were no statistically significant differences in functional independence, mortality rate, ICH and sICH at 90 days between the cardiogenic embolism group and the ICAS group. Conclusions: Mechanical thrombectomy is an effective method to treat patients with atrial fibrillation complicated with acute intracranial arterial occlusion.

[Efficacy analysis of the endovascular treatment for 175 unruptured vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics, clinical effect and follow-up outcome of the different endovascular treatment techniques in the treatment of unruptured vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms (VBDAs). Methods: The clinical data of 160 consecutive patients (175VBDAs) from January 2012 to December 2016 in Beijing Tiantan hospital were retrospectively analyzed.All of the 175 aneurysms were treated with endovascular embolization, including 115 stent-assisted coils, 27 simple stents, 21 blood flow diverting devices, and 12 parent arteries occlusion.The imaging and clinical follow-up were performed after the operation. Results: Headache including cervical-occipital pain(43.1%)was the most common clinical manifestation.The incidence of perioperative complications was 3.75%, no intraoperative bleeding and no deaths.The imaging findings of 113 aneurysms were followed up for (9.9±7.3) months.Of the 71 stent-assisted coils, 62 recovered well and 9 relapsed; of the 19 aneurysms treated with simple stent, 4 recovered well, 11 improved, 2 stable and 2 relapsed; of the 15 aneurysms treated by the blood flow diverting devices, 4 recovered and 11 improved; all of the 8 aneurysms with parent arteries occlusion recovered well.A total of 144 patients were follow-up (17.3±16.6) months by the Modified Rankin Scale(mRS) score: 140 patients were 0-2 score and 4 patients were 3-6 score. Conclusions: The clinical manifestations of the unruptured VBDAs are complex, and the headache is the most common clinical symptom.Endovascular treatment for the treatment of unruptured VBDAs is safe and feasible.The principle of individualization should be followed during embolization.

[Evaluating the electrophysiological features of tremor in Parkinson's disease and essential tremor using accelerometry].

Objective: To investigate the electrophysiological features of tremor intensity, frequency and frequency dispersion of Parkinsonian (PT group) and essential (ET group) tremors using accelerometry. Methods: The amplitude, frequency and frequency dispersion of rest tremor, postural tremor and the influence of weight on tremor of 35 PT patients and 40 ET patients in Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine from May 2015 to April 2016 were retrospectively analyzed and compared. Data of the more and less trembling hands were statistically elaborated. Results: In resting, postural and loading states, PT amplitudes of the less affected hand were smaller than the more affected one. The less affected hand were (147±32), (142±36), (157±40)µV, the more affected hand were (185±41), (164±29), (190±33)µV, respectively; ET amplitudes of the less affected hand were also smaller than the more affected one, and the less affected hand were (149±33), (157±33), (169±43)µV, the more affected hand were (176±39), (189±39), (213±36)µV, respectively; PT frequencies of the less affected hand were faster than the more affected one, with the less affected hand (6.1±1.1), (6.4±1.7), (6.5±2.0)Hz, the more affected hand (5.4±1.3), (5.5±1.1), (5.7±1.1)Hz, respectively, but ET frequencies of the less affected hand were similar to the more affected one, with the less affected hand (6.5±1.3), (7.0±1.2), (7.2±1.5)Hz, the more affected hand (7.0±1.0), (7.3±1.0), (7.6±1.1)Hz, respectively; in resting and postural states, PT frequency dispersions of the less affected hand were broader than the more affected one, the less affected hand were (2.1±0.6), (2.4±1.1)Hz, respectively; the more affected hand were (1.6±0.8), (1.7±0.9)Hz, respectively. But in loading state, PT frequency dispersions were similar in both sides (2.3±1.2, 2.2±1.1)Hz; In resting, postural and loading states, ET frequency dispersions were also similar in both two sides, the less affected hand were (2.0±1.1), (2.2±0.9), (1.9±1.0)Hz, the more affected hand were (1.8±0.6), (1.9±0.8), (2.1±0.7)Hz. Conclusions: Tremor intensity is significantly asymmetric both in PT and ET, while frequency and frequency dispersion are symmetric in ET but asymmetric in PT. Bilateral assessment of frequency related tremor parameters may be useful for differentiating ET from PT.

Huntingtin gene CAG repeat numbers in Chinese patients with Huntington's disease and controls.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Huntington's disease is due to a CAG triplet repeat elongation in the huntingtin gene. Boundaries in CAG numbers have been found between healthy people with and without risk to pass the disorder to the next generation, and between people without, with a mild, or with a fully penetrant phenotype. These data have been generated in western populations and it is not clear whether they are also valid amongst Chinese. METHODS: In order to establish normative data in the huntingtin gene for Chinese people, 966 chromosomes from normal controls were tested. Further, the range of CAG repeats was examined in a cohort from six centres and a total of 368 patients with the disease were included. RESULTS: The CAG triplet repeat range in normal controls was between 9 and 35 (mean 18.9, SD 2.57). Triplets in the range between 26 and 35 were found in 2.5%. In the patient cohort, triplet repeats in the shorter allele were between 8 and 37 (mean 17.7, SD 1.6). In the longer allele, a range between 36 and 120 was found. There was a negative correlation (-0.65, r = 0.42) between age at onset and the number of triplet repeats in the larger allele. The mean age at onset was 38 years, with a range between 2 and 70 years. In 23 patients (6%) a childhood or juvenile onset was noted. CONCLUSION: These data show comparable ranges of huntingtin gene CAG triplet repeats in normal people and in patients with Huntington's disease as in western populations.

Mutations in the gene encoding gap junction protein beta-3 associated with autosomal dominant hearing impairment.

Hearing impairment is the most commonly occurring condition that affects the ability of humans to communicate. More than 50% of the cases of profound early-onset deafness are caused by genetic factors. Over 40 loci for non-syndromic deafness have been genetically mapped, and mutations in several genes have been shown to cause hearing loss. Mutations in the gene encoding connexin 26 (GJB2) cause both autosomal recessive and dominant forms of hearing impairment. To study the possible involvement of other members of the connexin family in hereditary hearing impairment, we cloned the gene (GJB3) encoding human gap junction protein beta-3 using homologous EST searching and nested PCR. GJB3 was mapped to human chromosome 1p33-p35. Mutation analysis revealed that a missense mutation and a nonsense mutation of GJB3 were associated with high-frequency hearing loss in two families. Moreover, expression of Gjb3 was identified in rat inner ear tissue by RT-PCR. These findings suggest that mutations in GJB3 may be responsible for bilateral high-frequency hearing impairment.

[The works of Zhang Wenzhong as the Shang Yao Feng Yu in the early Tang Dynasty].

Zhang Wenzhong, a famous Chinese medical doctor in the early Tang Dynasty, was granted a particular position as Shang Yao Feng Yu, for the Empress Wu Ze Tian dealing with medication. He was good at dealing with stroke in particular. He also had unique viewpoints towards medical prescriptions and skills. He wrote medical books and developed his own medical theories. All these were recorded in both the Book of Tang and the New Book of Tang. However, most of his works had been lost due to time and the frequent wars in the middle and late Tang Dynasty. Six medical prescriptions signed by Zhang Wenzhong were discovered in documents unearthed from the Dun Huang Sutra Cave. They were believed to be important archives of Zhang Wenzhong's writing and medical thoughts. In addition, some pieces of work found in the documents unearthed from Tu Yu Gou were suspected of being written by Zhang Wenzhong. This can be compared with his works cited in the handed-down documents, such as The Collection of Secret Prescriptions (Wai Tai Mi Yao Fang). This paper takes a textual research approach to examine the medical works of Zhang Wenzhong, comparing the handed-down documents with the unearthed documents to examine his medical achievements.

Expression of GAI gene and disruption of PEP4 gene in an industrial brewer's yeast strain.

AIMS: Construction of an industrial brewer's yeast strain, which could improve foam stability and reduce calorific values of beer. METHODS AND RESULTS: An industrial brewer's yeast strain (Ts-10) was constructed by integrating glucoamylase encoding gene GAI amplified from Saccharomycopsis fibuligera by PCR into the locus of proteinase A (PrA) gene (PEP4). The resulting recombinant strain identified by PCR could grow on YNB minimal medium plate with starch as sole carbon source. Its highest GAI activity was 91.69 U ml(-1), but it had no PrA activity. The real extract was reduced by 21.07% and the main residual maltotriose content was reduced by 14% in wort fermented with the recombinants strain. Its foam retention in beer was higher 39 s and the contents of potential off-flavour compounds, such as diacetyl, pentanedione and acetaldehyde were lowered by 16%, 13% and 14%, respectively, as compared with the industrial brewer's yeast YSF-5. CONCLUSIONS: An industrial brewer's yeast strain was constructed by introducing GAI gene and disrupting PEP4 gene. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The recombinant strain (Ts-10) had better foam performance and mouthfeel in addition to low-calories values. It was free of heterologous DNA sequences and drug-resistance genes and could be safely used in beer production.

Catalyst-free synthesis of well-aligned ZnO nanowires on In0.2Ga0.8N, GaN, and Al0.25Ga0.75N substrates.

Well-aligned ZnO nanowires have been synthesized vertically on In0.2Ga0.8N, GaN, and Al0.25Ga0.75N substrates, using a catalyst-free carbon thermal-reduction vapor phase deposition method for the first time. The as-synthesized nanowires are single crystalline wurtzite structure, and have a growth direction of [0001]. Each nanowire has a smooth surface, and uniform diameter along the growth direction. The average diameter and length of these nanowires are 120-150 nm, and 3-10 )m, respectively. We suggest that the growth mechanism follow a self-catalyzing growth model. Excitonic emission peaked around 385 nm dominates the room-temperature photoluminescence spectra of these nanowires. The room-temperature photoluminescence and Raman scattering spectra show that these nanowires have good optical quality with very less structural defects.

Synthesis and optical properties of ZnTe single-crystalline nanowires.

Single-crystalline ZnTe nanowires with the zincblende structure have been synthesized on silicon (Si) substrates via a vapor phase transport method. The ZnTe (99.99%) powders were used as the source, and 10 nm-thick thermal evaporated gold (Au) film was used as the catalyst. The as-prepared ZnTe nanowires have diameters of 30-80 nm and lengths of more than 10 microm. The products were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Optical properties of these nanowires were investigated by room-temperature Raman scattering spectrum and temperature-dependent photoluminescence measurements. The results show that the as-prepared ZnTe nanowires are of high crystal quality.

Expression of endothelin-1 and constitutional nitric oxide synthase messenger RNA in saphenous vein endothelial cells exposed to arterial flow shear stress.

BACKGROUND: It has long been speculated that increased blood flow shear stress might be one of the major factors affecting the patency of grafted saphenous vein in coronary artery bypass operations. The underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms for so-called "shear stress damage" have not yet been well elucidated. METHODS: Endothelial cells harvested from human saphenous vein were cultured in vitro and then exposed to a high arterial level flow shear stress in the parallel flow chamber. The expression levels of endothelin-1 and constitutional nitric oxide synthase by the endothelial cells were evaluated semiquantitatively at the gene transcription (messenger RNA) level using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: After 7 hours of exposure to arterial level shear stress, the expression of constitutional nitric oxide synthase messenger RNA by saphenous vein endothelial cells was significantly reduced, whereas the expression of endothelin-1 messenger RNA was substantially increased. These changes were more predominant at 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Arterial level flow shear stress could cause important changes in the gene transcription level in saphenous vein endothelial cells within a short period of time. The functional alterations of saphenous vein endothelial cells, as manifested by the increased expression of endothelin-1 and decreased expression of nitric oxide synthase messenger RNA, might play a crucial role in the vein graft remodeling process.

Glycine betaine improves survival of fresh bovine spermatozoa.

Fresh spermatozoa from bulls established as 'good freezers' and 'poor freezers' (consistently > or = 50% or < 20% motile spermatozoa after cryopreservation, respectively) were incubated for 96 h in Tes/Tris-egg yolk or TALP-egg yolk media at 37 degrees, 20 degrees , 5 degrees or 0 degrees C. The TALP extender contained 0, 100 or 200 mM glycine betaine (GB) to test the hypothesis that GB would efficiently maintain spermatozoa function during long-term incubation. The percentage of motile spermatozoa declined over time in a temperature- and medium-dependent fashion. No spermatozoa were motile by 24 h incubation at 37 degrees C or by 72 h incubation at 0 degrees C, and there were no significant differences in the percentage of motile spermatozoa from either category of bull when spermatozoa were incubated in any media for less than 24 h. Spermatozoa from poor freezers were significantly more motile than spermatozoa from good freezers after 96 h at 20 degrees or 5 degrees C in TALP alone; however, GB at both 100 and 200 mM increased the percentage of motile spermatozoa in poor and good freezers and eliminated these differences. Overall, the presence of GB at either 100 or 200 mM significantly improved the percentage of motile spermatozoa at 20 degrees, 5 degrees and 0 degrees C, but not at 37 degrees C.

Relationship between embryo development in vitro and 56-day nonreturn rates of cows inseminated with frozen-thawed semen from dairy bulls.

Frozen-thawed bull semen with > 50% post-thaw motility from 40 batches (21 bulls, 2 consecutive ejaculates per batch) was used for fertilization (IVF) and embryo development in vitro to assess the relationship between field and laboratory fertility using a retrospective approach. Each frozen batch was tested in 3 or 4 replicates with 30 oocytes per replicate. Field fertility, quantified as the 56-d nonreturn rate and based on 89 to 441 artificial inseminations per frozen batch, ranged between 46.2 and 74.8%. The cleavage and blastocyst rates after IVF varied from 29.0 to 81.9% and from 1.8 to 32.0%, respectively, with significant differences among frozen batches. Rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation were significantly related to the nonreturn rate (r = 0.59, P < 0.001; r = 0.35, P < 0.05, respectively). The interaction between cleavage and blastocyst rate was 0.69 (P < 0.001). Significant variations (P < 0.05) among frozen semen batches within 15 bulls with >/= 2 different semen batches were found for the nonreturn rate (13.3%) of 2 bulls, for cleavage rates (26.7%) in 4 bulls and for blastocyst rates (20.0%) in 3 bulls. Significant differences (P < 0.05) among replicates within the 40 frozen semen batches were only found in 3 batches (7.5%) for the cleavage rate and in 7 batches (17.5%) for blastocyst rate. Overall, bull and frozen semen batch were the greatest sources of variation in the cleavage rate (30.6 and 29.4%, respectively), while testing date was the greatest source of variation in the blastocyst development rate (21.7%). The results indicated that in vitro fertilization and, to a lesser extent, culture to the blastocyst stage could be useful in estimating the potential fertilizing ability of frozen-thawed semen from dairy bulls.

Relationship between heparin binding to spermatozoa and the fertility of dairy bulls.

The presence of heparin in in vitro media has been implicated in improved fertility parameters of bull spermatozoa. In a previous study, Zhang et al. (25) obtained an estimate of bull nonreturn rates based on spermatozoal concentration, motility and zona pellucida binding (24). The objective of this study was to test for a relationship between fertility parameters previously estimated for the same batch of cryopreserved semen (25) and amount of heparin bound to spermatozoa. 3H-heparin binding to spermatozoa was assessed by radioimmunoassay, and statistical correlations were drawn to previously measured sperm characteristics. Preliminary experiments established optimal binding conditions of 25 degrees C, and 60 min incubation with 3H-heparin at a concentration of 50,000 cpm. 3H-heparin bound to an average of 2.2 x 10(6) receptors/cell with a Kd of 2.0 x 10(-7) M. The total 3H-heparin bound to spermatozoa from different bulls was significantly different (P<0.003). However, the total 3H-heparin bound to spermatozoa was not correlated with any measured sperm parameter, including zona pellucida binding, embryo cleavage and blastocyst formation, and 56-day nonreturn rates (P>0.19). Thus, the total amount of heparin bound to the surface of spermatozoa may not be relevant to fertilizing ability.

Effects of sperm treatments on the in vitro development of bovine oocytes in semidefined and defined media.

Bovine in vitro matured oocytes were inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa prepared by A) swim-up through Fert-TALP supplemented with hyaluronic acid (HYA, 1 mg/ml), heparin (5.0 microg/ml) and bovine serum albumin (BSA, 6 mg/ml) or B) washing by centrifugation in modified Brackett-Oliphant medium (mBO) supplemented with 10 mM caffeine-sodium benzoate. For Method A, in vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed in Fert-TALP supplemented with 6 mg/ml BSA, 5.0 microg/ml heparin, 20 microM D-penicillamine, 10 microM hypotaurine and 1 microM epinephrine. For Method B it was performed in mBO medium supplemented with 10 mg globulin-free BSA/ml and 10 microg heparin/ml. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in 1 of 3 culture media: 1) BSAITS - TCM 199 supplemented with 10 mg/ml BSA and ITS (5 microg/ml insulin, 5 microg/ml transferrin, and 5 ng/ml sodium selenite); 2) BECM - bovine embryo culture medium; and 3) BECM supplemented with ITS. Altogether, a significantly higher proportion of oocytes developed to the blastocyst stage after insemination with spermatozoa prepared by Method A than by Method B (17.9 vs 7.1%, respectively; P < 0.001). For Method A, the cleavage rate and the proportion of zygotes with >2 cells 48 h after insemination did not differ significantly between any of the 3 culture media assayed, but blastocyst formation was significantly stimulated in BSAITS and BECMITS compared with that in BECM (20.7 and 22.1% vs 10.7%, respectively; P < 0.05). For Method B, the cleavage rate and the proportion of zygotes with >2 cells were significantly lower in BSAITS than in BECM and BECMITS (56.4 and 28.7% vs 71.6 and 42.1%; and 70.2 and 51.1%, respectively; P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were recorded in blastocyst development rates between any of the culture media assayed (6.4 to 7.4%; P > 0.05).

Relationship between sperm-zona pellucida binding assays and the 56-day nonreturn rate of cattle inseminated with frozen-thawed bull semen.

Assays based on sperm-zona pellucida binding have been developed as diagnostic tests to predict the fertilizing potential of mammalian spermatozoa. Recently, we reported on the development of a sperm-zona pellucida binding assay (SZBA) for bull spermatozoa. The aim of the present study was to develop a hemi-zona assay (HZA) for bull spermatozoa and to investigate the relationship between SZBA and HZA outcomes and in vivo fertility. Frozenthawed semen samples from 8 fertile Swedish Red and White bulls (one ejaculate per bull) designated as the test semen samples and a single ejaculate from a fertile Holstein-Friesian bull designated as the control semen sample were used in this study. In the SZBA, 2 groups of 20 oocytes per semen test sample and in the HZA a minimum of 6 matching pairs of hemizonae were used for comparison of sperm binding with control semen. Sperm binding to matching hemi-zonae of individual semen samples was equal, and clearly demonstrated the feasibility of the HZA for cattle. A significant correlation was found between the SZBA and the HZA indices obtained from the different semen test samples (r = 0.42, P < 0.001; n = 67). There was no significant relation between the SZBA indices and the 56-d nonreturn rate of the test samples. However, the HZA indices of the semen test samples and the 56-d nonreturn rate were significantly correlated (r = 0.46, P < 0.0001; n = 67). It is concluded that HZA can be regarded as a potential assay for predicting the fertilizing ability of bovine semen samples. However, further studies using more semen samples are necessary to confirm this view.

Intrauterine contraceptive device insertion with suture fixation at cesarean section.

PIP: 150 women had an IUD inserted at cesarean section in a hospital in Beijing, China, from April 1981-82. A new suture fixation method was used in which the catgut was sutured to fix the ring on the posterior uterine wall to prevent premature expulsion. Of the 150 cases 148 were primigravida and 2 multipara, ages 23-33. Fetal membrane rupture time was: 1) 31 over 6 hours, 2) 7 over 24 hours, 3) 2 over 48 hours predelivery. After IUD insertion oxytocin was routinely given 3 days and the patients were examined periodically 42 days, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after insertion. At 42 days, postinsertion, there was only 1 partial expulsion among the 150, and 4 complete expulsions among 130 (3%), all in women with dilated external os. After 3 months infection rate was 0.77%, 3 became pregnant and accepted induced abortion. There were no perforations or painful uterine contractions. Total incidence rate of side effects was 6.92%, in 85.39% lochia stopped within 42 days and in 14.62% it continued beyond 42 days. It was found in this study that the larger size IUD caused no pregnancy in the 3-month period postpartum, especially for those not nursing, with early ovulation, or at a high fertile age.^ieng

A preliminary study of chromium distribution in chromium-rich brewer's yeast cell by NAA.

The purpose of this study was to assess the chromium (Cr) distribution in chromium-rich brewer's yeast cell. The chromium concentrations in the cell wall and protoplast fractions of the chromium-rich yeast were determined by neutron activation analysis (NAA). Moreover, the combined state of chromium and amino acid content in the Cr-rich brewer's yeasts was analyzed and measured. The experimental results indicate that the introduction of water-soluble chromium(III) salt as a component of the culture medium for yeasts results in a substantial amount of chromium absorbed through the cell wall by the yeast, among which 80.9% are accumulated in the protoplast. It implies that, under optimal conditions, yeasts are capable of accumulating large amounts of chromium and incorporating chromium into organic compounds.

[Treatment of MSOF after heart valve replacement: an analysis of 53 cases].

We treated 53 patients with multiple system organ failure (MSOF) following heart valve replacement. MVR was performed in 20 cases, AVR in 6 and DVR in 27. Before operation, NYHA functional class II was in 5, III in 17, and IV in 31. MSOF of all 53 patients occurred within 2-7 days after operation, and failing organs involved heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, gastrointestinal and blood coagulation system. The patients with the maximum organ failure had 6 failing organs, 36 of the 53 patients were living and 17 (32.1%) died. The mortality correlated positively with the number of failing organs. The results of MSOF which occurred sequentially were better compared with those occurred simultaneously. The death rate in patients with class IV was higher than that in those class II, III. The type of operation (MVR, AVR, DVR) did not effect the result of MSOF. The causes and management of MSOF after heart valve replacement were discussed.