ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To trace the source of human H7N9 cases in Huai'an and elucidate the genetic characterization of Huai'an strains associated with both humans and birds in live poultry market.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An enhanced surveillance was implemented when the first human H7N9 case was confirmed in Huai'an. Clinical specimens, cloacal swabs, and fecal samples were collected and screened by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for H7N9 virus. The positive samples were subjected to further RT-PCR and genome sequencing. The phylodynamic patterns of H7N9 virus within and separated from Huai'an and evolutionary dynamics of the virus were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Six patients with H7N9 infection were previously exposed to live poultry market and presented symptoms such as fever (>38.0 °C) and headaches. Results of this study support the hypothesis that live poultry markets were the source of human H7N9 exposure. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all novel H7N9 viruses, including Huai'an strains, could be classified into two distinct clades, A and B. Additionally, the diversified H7N9 virus circulated in live poultry markets in Huai'an. Interestingly, the common ancestors of the Huai'an H7N9 virus existed in January 2012. The mean nucleotide substitution rates for each gene segment of the H7N9 virus were (3.09-7.26)×10-3 substitutions/site per year (95% HPD: 1.72×10-3 to 1.16×10-2).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Overall, the source of exposure of human H7N9 cases in Huai'an was live poultry market, and our study highlights the presence of divergent genetic lineage of H7N9 virus in both humans and poultry specimens in Huai'an.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , China , Epidemiology , Evolution, Molecular , Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype , Classification , Genetics , Influenza in Birds , Epidemiology , Virology , Influenza, Human , Epidemiology , Virology , Molecular Epidemiology , Phylogeny , Poultry , PrevalenceABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the application value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the diagnosis of acute experimental incomplete testicular torsion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven incomplete and 1 complete testicular torsion models were established in 8 healthy hybrid dogs by twisting unilateral spermatic cord. The twisted testes were included in the model group and the healthy ones in the control. All the dogs underwent CEUS before, immediately after, and/or 6 hours after the torsion, followed by time-intensity curve analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The arriving time (AT) and the time to peak (TTP) of the contrast agents in the bilateral testes were almost coincident, and the peak intensity (PI) and the area under the curve (AUC) in the bilateral testes basically the same before the torsion. The incompletely torsion testes showed delayed perfusion of contrast agents, prolonged AT and 'TP, and decreased PI and AUC as compared with the contralateral testes (P < 0.05), while the completely torsion one exhibited no perfusion all the time.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CEUS has a very high application value in the diagnosis of acute incomplete testicular torsion.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Male , Disease Models, Animal , Spermatic Cord Torsion , Diagnostic Imaging , Testis , Diagnostic Imaging , Ultrasonography, Doppler, ColorABSTRACT
Objective To comparatively analyze the preoperative value of the size of primary breast cancer presenting as a mass by ultrasonography and by mammography.Methods The tumor size data obtained preoperatively by mammography and by ultrasonography were retrospectively analyzed in all the patients pathologically diagnosed with primary breast cancer in our hospital from July 2006 to July 2009.The Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated for the size of tumors between with pathological method and with each of the imaging modalities.Results A total of 57 patients with breast cancers took both of imaging modalities including 51 cases of infiltrating ductal cancer,4 cases of infiltrating lobular cancer,and 2 of ductal carcinoma in situ.The ranges of the maximum diameter of tumor was 0.6-11.8 cm and mean value was (2.3±2.1) cm by pathological examination,0.6-12.6 cm and mean value was (3.4±2.9)cm by mammography and 0.7-10.2 cm and mean value was (2.4±1.8)cm by ultrasonography,respectively.The Pearson correlation coefficient in the accuracy of imaging assessments was superior to those by ultrasonography (r=0.744,P＜0.05) than those by mammography (r=0.544,P＜0.05).Conclusion Ultrasonography is more accurate than mammography for size assessment of primary breast cancer.
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Objective To investigate the relationship between diastolic function of the left ventricle and common carotid artery (CCA) elasticity in patients with hypertension. Methods Forty-one primary hypertension patients and 31 healthy volunteers underwent echocardiography to obtain the indices of LV diastolic function and also echo tracking techniqne (ET) to obtain the CCA elasticity indices. The LV diastolic function indices included Ve (early diastolic peak velocity), Va (late diastolic peak velocity ), Ve/Va, Em (early diastolic mitral annular motive velicity), Am (late diastolic mitral annular motive velicity) and Em/Am. The indices of CCA elasticity included Ep (pressure-strain elasticity modulus), β(stiffness parameter), AC (arterial compliance), AI (augmentation index) and PWVβ (pulse wave velocity). Results Va was higher and Em, Ve/Va and Em/Am were lower in patients than that in the healthy , P＜0.05. Ep and PWVβ were higher in patients,P＜0.05. Am and Va were correlated positively with PWV β and Ep , respectively in patients, P＜0.05. Ve/Va was correlated positively with AC, and negatively with PWV β, P＜0.05 in patients. Em/Am was correlated negatively with β and PWV β in patients. Conclusions The LV diastolic function and common carotid artery elasticity were decreased in patients with hypertension. The decreased common carotid artery elasticity was along with the LV diastolic function decreased.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the ultrasonographic changes in the epididymis after long-term vasectomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four patients with a history of vasectomy for more than 10 years (vasectomy group) and another 60 without vasectomy (control group) were included in the study. The patients were referred to scrotal ultrasonography for epididymal indications. The shape, thickness and internal echoes of the head, body and tail of the epididymis were observed with high frequency ultrasonography (HFU), and the blood flow changes were observed with color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) or color Doppler power imaging (CDPI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significantly higher rates were found in the vasectomy group than in the control: thickened body (64.1% vs 15.0%) and tail (78.1% vs 51.7%) of the epididymis, thickened head, body and tail (42.2% vs 8.3%) of the epididymis, and epididymal tubular ectasia (54.7% vs 8.3%). However, increased blood flow in the epididymis was seen at a significantly lower rate in the vasectomy group than in the control (15.6% vs 61.7%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ultrasonographic changes in the epididymis after long-term vasectomy were mainly epididymis thickening and epididymal tubular ectasia, mostly with no or diminished blood flow in the epididymis.</p>