[Preparation of MgO Modified Lotus Shell Biochar and Its Phosphorus Adsorption Characteristics].

To study the potential application characteristics of biochar as a phosphate adsorbent, nano-MgO-biochar was prepared by rapid pyrolysis of a mixture of MgO and lotus shells. The physicochemical properties were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, and TEM, and adsorption experiments were conducted. The results showed that MgO was mainly supported on the surface of carbon in the form of flakes and granules, which increased the adsorption active site, and the adsorption amount of MgO-biochar MBC3 was 14 times higher than that of biochar MBC1 without MgO. The adsorption capacity of MBC9, which was prepared by rapid pyrolysis under 10% CO2 atmosphere, was further increased 16 times higher than that of MBC1. The adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model, which indicated the adsorption of phosphate on MgO-biochar was dominated by chemical adsorption. According to the Langmuir equation, the maximum adsorption capacity of MBC3 and MBC9 could reach 283.26 mg·g-1 and 297.96 mg·g-1, respectively. MgO-biochar is a high-efficiency phosphate adsorbent, which can be used to control the eutrophication of water.

The value of transvaginal ultrasound in clinical surgical treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy.

The clinical value of transvaginal ultrasound in clinical surgical treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) was evaluated. The clinical data of 104 patients with CSP admitted at Tongji Hospital from 2013 to 2016 were collected and analyzed retrospectively, including the patients' age, gestational age, the size of gestational sac or uneven mass, the uterine scar thickness, ß human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels and so on. Of these 104 cases, 30 cases were subjected to laparotomy, 29 cases to laparoscopy, 27 cases to hysteroscopy, 16 cases to ultrasound-guided uterine curettage, and 2 cases to conservative treatment. The transvaginal ultrasound showed that uterine scar thickness and gestational sac or uneven mass size had significant difference (P<0.05) among different surgical methods by comparatively analyzing the patients' data. It was suggested that transvaginal ultrasound may provide the valuable reference for choosing clinical surgical procedures for CSP.

The Value of Transvaginal Ultrasound in Clinical Surgical Treatment of Cesarean Scar Pregnancy / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The clinical value of transvaginal ultrasound in clinical surgical treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) was evaluated.The clinical data of 104 patients with CSP admitted at Tongji Hospital from 2013 to 2016 were collected and analyzed retrospectively,including the patients' age,gestational age,the size of gestational sac or uneven mass,the uterine scar thickness,β human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels and so on.Of these 104 cases,30 cases were subjected to laparotomy,29 cases to laparoscopy,27 cases to hysteroscopy,16 cases to ultrasound-guided uterine curettage,and 2 cases to conservative treatment.The transvaginal ultrasound showed that uterine scar thickness and gestational sac or uneven mass size had significant difference (P＜0.05) among different surgical methods by comparatively analyzing the patients' data.It was suggested that transvaginal ultrasound may provide the valuable reference for choosing clinical surgical procedures for CSP.

Web-based newborn screening system for metabolic diseases: machine learning versus clinicians.

BACKGROUND: A hospital information system (HIS) that integrates screening data and interpretation of the data is routinely requested by hospitals and parents. However, the accuracy of disease classification may be low because of the disease characteristics and the analytes used for classification. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to describe a system that enhanced the neonatal screening system of the Newborn Screening Center at the National Taiwan University Hospital. The system was designed and deployed according to a service-oriented architecture (SOA) framework under the Web services .NET environment. The system consists of sample collection, testing, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and follow-up services among collaborating hospitals. To improve the accuracy of newborn screening, machine learning and optimal feature selection mechanisms were investigated for screening newborns for inborn errors of metabolism. METHODS: The framework of the Newborn Screening Hospital Information System (NSHIS) used the embedded Health Level Seven (HL7) standards for data exchanges among heterogeneous platforms integrated by Web services in the C# language. In this study, machine learning classification was used to predict phenylketonuria (PKU), hypermethioninemia, and 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA-carboxylase (3-MCC) deficiency. The classification methods used 347,312 newborn dried blood samples collected at the Center between 2006 and 2011. Of these, 220 newborns had values over the diagnostic cutoffs (positive cases) and 1557 had values that were over the screening cutoffs but did not meet the diagnostic cutoffs (suspected cases). The original 35 analytes and the manifested features were ranked based on F score, then combinations of the top 20 ranked features were selected as input features to support vector machine (SVM) classifiers to obtain optimal feature sets. These feature sets were tested using 5-fold cross-validation and optimal models were generated. The datasets collected in year 2011 were used as predicting cases. RESULTS: The feature selection strategies were implemented and the optimal markers for PKU, hypermethioninemia, and 3-MCC deficiency were obtained. The results of the machine learning approach were compared with the cutoff scheme. The number of the false positive cases were reduced from 21 to 2 for PKU, from 30 to 10 for hypermethioninemia, and 209 to 46 for 3-MCC deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: This SOA Web service-based newborn screening system can accelerate screening procedures effectively and efficiently. An SVM learning methodology for PKU, hypermethioninemia, and 3-MCC deficiency metabolic diseases classification, including optimal feature selection strategies, is presented. By adopting the results of this study, the number of suspected cases could be reduced dramatically.

Considerations for use of acupuncture as supplemental therapy for patients with allergic asthma.

This study examines the clinical and immunomodulatory effects of acupuncture in the treatment of patients with allergic asthma. The acupuncture points GV14, BL12, and BL13 were selected based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine in treating asthma. Manual acupuncture was performed once every other day (three times per week) for 5 weeks. The needles were twisted approximately 360° evenly at the rate of 60 times/min for 20 s, manipulated every 10 min and withdrawn after 30 min. Concentrations of sIgA and total IgA in secretions were determined by the combination of sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation and RIA. Levels of cortisol in the plasma were measured by RIA. Total IgE in the sera was examined by ELISA. Flow cytometry was used to detect the numbers of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and IL-2R + T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. The absolute and differential numbers of eosinophils in peripheral blood were counted with eosin staining. The total efficacy of the acupuncture treatment in patients with allergic asthma at the end of one course of treatment was 85 %. After treatment, the concentrations of sIgA and total IgA in the saliva (P<0.01, P<0.02) and nasal secretions (P<0.02, P<0.02) were significantly decreased in patients with allergic asthma. The levels of total IgE in sera (P<0.001), the counts of IL-2R + T lymphocytes (P<0.001), and the absolute and differential numbers of eosinophils (P<0.01, P<0.01) in the peripheral blood were also significantly decreased. The numbers of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood were significantly increased in the allergic asthmatics treated by acupuncture (P<0.001, P<0.01, and P<0.001, respectively). The concentration of cortisol in the plasma of asthmatic patients did not change significantly after the acupuncture treatment (P>0.05). Acupuncture has regulatory effects on mucosal and cellular immunity in patients with allergic asthma and may be an adjunctive therapy for allergic asthma.

[Targeted therapy of malignant glioma by a chimeric fusion toxin composed of IL-13 and Pseudomonas exotoxin in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the antitumor activity of IL-13PE38 on solid malignant glioma cells in vitro and to investigate its relationship between the antitumor activity of IL-13PE38 and the expression level of IL-13Rα2 in malignant glioma. METHODS: Ten fresh tissues of anaplastic glioma and 11 fresh tissues of glioblastoma multiforme were obtained during craniotomy at First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College between June 2009 and December 2010. All fresh glioma cells were cultured in vitro with IL-13PE38. Then the cytotoxicity of IL-13PE38 was determined by colorimetric MTS proliferation assay and the SR (survival rate) calculated. The expression level of IL-13Rα2 was studied by immunohistochemical SABC method in 21 cases of malignant glioma. And the value of integrated optical density (IOD) was examined by computer assisted pathological image analysis system. The correlation between the IOD of IL-13Rα2 and the SR of malignant glioma cells was also studied. RESULTS: (1) There were strongly positive expression of IL-13Rα2 in most cases (19/21, 90%). And the expression level of IL-13Rα2 in glioblastoma multiforme was higher than the expression level of IL-13Rα2 in anaplastic glioma (P < 0.05). (2) As the fresh malignant glioma cells were cultured with IL-13PE38 of same concentration, the number of surviving cells decreased in different degrees. The survival rate of 14 cases were < 70% and 9 cases < 50%. And the survival rate of anaplastic glioma cells was higher than that of glioblastoma multiforme cells (P < 0.05). (3) The IOD of IL-13Rα2 and the SR of malignant glioma cells were strongly negatively correlated (r = -0.093, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: A low concentration of IL-13PE38 shows a high level of cytotoxicity for solid malignant glioma cells. And its cytotoxic efficiency depends on the expression level of IL-13Rα2.

Operational characteristics of a 1.2-MW biomass gasification and power generation plant.

In this study, we analyzed the operational characteristics of a 1.2-MW rice husk gasification and power generation plant located in Changxing, Zhejiang province, China. The influences of gasification temperature, equivalence ratio (ER), feeding rate and rice husk water content on the gasification characteristics in a fluidized bed gasifier were investigated. The axial temperature profile in the dense phase of the gasifier showed that inadequate fluidization occurred inside the bed, and that the temperature was closely related to changes in ER and feeding rate. The bed temperature increased linearly with increasing ER when the feeding rate was kept constant, while a higher feeding rate corresponded to a lower bed temperature at fixed ER. The gas heating value decreased with increasing temperature, while the feeding rate had little effect. When the gasification temperature was 700-800 degrees C, the gas heating value ranged from 5450-6400 kJ/Nm(3). The water content of the rice husk had an obvious influence on the operation of the gasifier: increases in water content up to 15% resulted in increasing ER and gas yield, while water contents above 15% caused aberrant temperature fluctuations. The problems in this plant are discussed in the light of operational experience of MW-scale biomass gasification and power generation plants.

Interactions between inflammatory and oxidative stress in preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress and a generalized inflammatory state are features of preeclampsia (PE). The objective of this study was to compare the levels of products of inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress markers in patients with PE, and to determine the relationship between oxidative stress and inflammation in PE. METHODS: Plasma concentrations of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-isoprostane were measured in 53 women with PE and 20 age- and BMI-matched normotensive women. RESULTS: The plasma concentrations of hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and 8-isoprostane were significantly higher in women with PE than in those with normotensive pregnancies, and these parameters, except for 8-isoprostane, were markedly elevated in those with severe PE (SPE), rather than mild PE (MPE). Moreover, plasma levels of 8-isoprostane, not MDA, were significantly correlated with the plasma levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in patients with PE. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction are closely associated with PE, and the interactions between them may participate in the pathogenesis of PE.

Plasma sFlt-1-to-PlGF ratio is correlated with inflammatory but not with oxidative stress in Chinese preeclamptic women.

PURPOSE: Considerable interest has been focused on angiogenic factors and angiogenic imbalance in the field of pre-eclampsia (PE), owing to its gaining role in the development of PE. This study was addressed to investigate the associations of sFlt-1-to-PlGF plasma ratios with oxidative stress assessed by the level of 8-isoprostane, and inflammation measured by the level of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and adipocytokines. METHODS: A total of 83 patients with PE including 47 mild PE (MPE) and 36 severe PE (SPE) and 50 age-matched normotensive subjects in the third trimester of pregnancy were examined. Measurements included body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) levels, plasma concentrations of hs-CRP, 8-isoprostane, adiponectin, and leptin. RESULTS: Subjects with PE had higher levels of sFlt-1/PlGF (P < 0.01), hs-CRP (P < 0.01), 8-isoprostane and leptin (both P < 0.01) and lower adiponectin (P < 0.01) than did normotensive control subjects. Significant positive correlations were found between plasma sFlt-1/PlGF and hs-CRP (r = 0.437, P < 0.01) or leptin (r = 0.656, P < 0.01). A weak inverse correlation emerged between sFlt-1/PlGF and adiponectin (r = -0.306, P < 0.01). When a multiple regression analysis was performed, with sFlt-1/PlGF as a dependent variable and all the other parameters as independent variables, sFlt-1/PlGF maintain a significant relationship with leptin (beta = 0.219, P < 0.05) and with hs-CRP (beta = 0.295, P < 0.01) as well as with systolic BP(beta = 0.446, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In Chinese preeclamptic women, plasma sFlt-1-to-PlGF ratio is correlated with inflammatory and adipocytokines but not with oxidative stress.

[Effect of extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway on nitric oxide release by human umbilical vein endothelial cell induced by placental growth factor-1].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway on nitric oxide (NO) release by human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) induced by placental growth factor-1 (PLGF-1). METHODS: During January to April 2006, 50 samples of umbilical vein blood were collected from newborns delivered by cesarean section due to intrauterine distress and abnormal fetal position. HUVEC were primarily cultured by trypsin digestion. Then the following procedures were performed: (1) Cells were identified using the morphology and VIII factor immunohistochemistry methods if the culture was satisfactory. (2) Cells were collected, and fms-like tyrosin kinase (Flt-1) protein and its mRNA expression were detected with immunoprints and RT-PCR methods. (3) The protein was extracted after cells were treated with PLGF-1 (cells were collected before the treatment and 2.5, 5, 10, 20 min after the treatment). The protein levels of ERK were determined by immunoprints. (4) The cells were cultured with serum-free culture medium containing PLGF-1 only (culture media were collected 20, 40, 160, 360, 480, 720 and 1440 min after the treatment). The quantity of NO was detected with nitrate reductase method. (5) The cells were cultured with serum-free culture medium containing PD98059, the inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/MEK for 60 min. Then the cells were cultured continuously with the serum-free culture medium containing PLGF-1 for 60 min. The culture media were collected. The quantity of NO was detected by nitrate reductase method. The samples were divided into treatment group and control group. Control group was exactly the same in treatment time, culture condition, and time to collect the cells as the treatment group, except that it was not treated with PLGF-1 or PD 98059. RESULTS: (1) By morphology and VIII factor immunohistochemistry the cultured cells were identified to be HUVEC. (2) Flt-1 mRNA and protein were expressed in HUVEC. (3) Expression of ERK protein started to increase at 2.5 min after treatment of HUVEC with PLGF-1, reaching the peak at 5 min, and decreased at 10 min. (4) In comparison with the control group, NO started to increase at 20 min after treatment of HUVEC with PLGF-1 (6.96 +/- 0.34) micromol/L, significantly increased at 40 min (9.45 +/- 0.59) micromol/L, and arrived at the peak at 480 min (15.82 +/- 0.69) micromol/L Comparison between the two groups showed a significant difference (P<0.05). (5) Release of NO from the cells treated with PD98059 for 1 hour and PLGF was significantly inhibited, compared with the cells treated with PLGF-1 only. CONCLUSION: ERK pathways play an important role in NO release by HUVEC induced by PLGF.

[Effects of nuclear factor-kappaB decoy oligodeoxynucleotide on the function of human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells induced by umbilical sera in preeclampsia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) on the preeclamptic umbilical serum induced expression of precollagen I, III mRNA and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in cultured human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMC). METHODS: Primary cultured HUASMC of normal pregnancy were divided into four groups: group A (HUASMC were incubated with umbilical serum of normal pregnancy); group B (HUASMC were incubated with umbilical serum of preeclampsia); group C (HUASMC were transfected with NF-kappaB cis decoy ODN 48 h before incubation with umbilical serum of preeclampsia); group D (HUASMC were transfected with NF-kappaB scramble ODN 24 h before incubation with umbilical serum of preeclampsia). NF-kappaB cis decoy ODN and NF-kappaB scramble ODN were transfected with cationic lipofectamine to the latter two groups, respectively. The proliferation of human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and the apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression levels of precollagen I, III mRNA were detected by RT-PCR, the expression levels of TNF-alpha were detected by western blot. RESULTS: (1) The proliferation of group B (0.19 +/- 0.02) and group D (0.18 +/- 0.03) was significantly increased as compared with those of group A (0.11 +/- 0.02) and group C (0.14 +/- 0.02) (P < 0.05). (2) The apoptosis rates of group B [(7.8 +/- 1.3)%], group C [(10.1 +/- 1.2)%] and group D [(8.1 +/- 1.3)%] were significantly reduced as compared with that of group A [(14.3 +/- 1.2)%] (P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference between groups B and C (P < 0.05). (3) The expression levels of precollagen I mRNA of group B (0.31 +/- 0.04), group C (0.23 +/- 0.04) and group D (0.30 +/- 0.03) were significantly increased as compared with that of group A (0.16 +/- 0.02) (P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference between groups B and C (P < 0.05). (4) There were no significant differences among the four groups in the expression level of precollagen III mRNA (P > 0.05). (5) The expression of TNF-alpha of group B (0.74 +/- 0.11), group C (0.36 +/- 0.09) and group D (0.79 +/- 0.12) were significantly higher than that of group A (0.15 +/- 0.03) (P < 0.05), and the expression of TNF-alpha of groups B and D were significantly higher than that of group C (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between groups B and D (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NF-kappaB cis decoy ODN could down-regulate the proliferation, as well as the expression levels of precollagen and TNF-alpha of HUASMC induced by umbilical serum of preeclampsia. NF-kappaB may play an important role in the pathogenesis of placental artery abnormalities in preeclampsia.

[Application of real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR accompanied with comparison of Delta CT for diagnosis of Down's syndrome from a single cell].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) accompanied with comparison of Delta CT as a method for diagnosis of Down's syndrome from a single cell. METHODS: Single lymphocyte was isolated from the peripheral or umbilical cord blood samples of 22 clinically diagnosed Down's syndrome patients or fetus and 40 normal controls by micromanipulation techniques. Primer extension preamplification (PEP) and real-time FQ-PCR were used to amplify the S100B and DCSR1 located on chromosome 21, and GAPDH located on chromosome 12. Two pairs of DeltaCT values were compared between the two groups. The ratios of S100B/GAPDH and DSCR1/GAPDH products were calculated in trisomy 21 group. RESULTS: The DeltaCT values of Down's syndrome patients were significantly lower than those of normal controls. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.01). The ratios of S100B/GAPDH and DSCR1/GAPDH products for trisomy 21 were 1.891(1.563-2.287) and 1.840 (1.562-2.168), respectively. CONCLUSION: Real-time FQ-PCR is a reliabe method that may provide a new way for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic diagnosis for Down's syndrome.

Inhibitory effects of polymyxin B on NF-kappaB activation and expression of procollagen I, III in pre-eclamptic umbilical artery smooth muscle cells.

BACKGROUND: It has been identified that in patients with pre-eclampsia, several factors were released into the serum, which can regulate the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and stimulate the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the signal transduction pathway of the growth factors and cytokines synthesized by endothelial cells leading to the proliferation and ECM synthesis of human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cell (HUASMC) is unknown. The aim of this study was to research the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, polymyxin B (PMB), on the proliferation, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation, and expression of procollagen I and III mRNA in HUASMC cultured with pre-eclamptic umbilical sera. METHODS: Normal HUASMCs were treated with pre-eclamptic umbilical serum (pre-eclamptic group), pre- eclamptic umbilical serum plus PMB (PMB group), or normal umbilical serum (normal group). The expression of I-kappaB, NF-kappaB was detected by Western blotting after the HUASMC was incubated for 2 hours. The proliferation of HUASMC was evaluated by MTT, the cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytomerty, and the expression of procollagen I, III mRNA was measured by RT-PCR assay after HUASMC was incubated for 48 hours. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Umbilical sera in pre-eclampsia could stimulate the proliferation, the DNA synthesis, the transition of G(0) + G(1) phase or G(2)/M phase to S and phase, the activation of NF-kappaB, and the expression of procollagen I mRNA of HUASMC as compared with normal umbilical sera (P < 0.01). PMB could inhibit the proliferation, the DNA synthesis, the transition of G(0) + G(1) or G(2)/M phase phase to S phase, the activation of NF-kappaB, and the expressions of procollagen I mRNA of HUASMC stimulated by umbilical sera in pre-eclampsia (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PKC-NF-kappaB signal transduction pathway may play a key role in SMC phenotype modulation, which is more important in the pathogenesis of placental blood vessel in pre-eclampsia.

[Screening for chromosomal abnormalities using nuchal translucency measurement with materal serum biochemistry markers in first trimester].

OBJECTIVE: To Investigate the performance of prenatal screening for chromosomal abnormalities in first trimester. METHODS: Maternal serum were collected from 2 739 pregnant women between 11 and 14 weeks gestation. Free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin(beta-hCG), pregnancy-associated plasma protein(PAPP-A) from materal serum were measured using time resolved fluorescence immunoassay(TRFIA) and fetal nuchal translucency(NT) thickness were measured using transabdominal or transvaginal ultrasound. 22 chromosomal defects were diagnosed in 22 cases using karyotyping. The levels of three markers were analyzed among 22 cases and 870 controls. RESULTS: The level of three markers were significant difference between affected and unaffected pregnancies. In affected cases, the value or level of NT and free beta-hCG were higher, while the level of PAPP-A was lower. We found that screening for chromosomal defects using a combination of NT and serum biochemistry was associated with a detection rate of 91.67% for all types of chromosomal defects, with a false-positive rate of 11.16%. CONCLUSION: A combination of nuchal translucency measurement with materal serum biochemistry markers provides an effective method of screening for chromosomal defects.

[Application of ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy in the preoperative diagnosis and treatment of bone tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS)-guided percutaneous biopsy in the diagnosis and treatment of bone tumors. METHODS: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy was performed in 64 patients who was diagnosed by CDUS. Puncture instruments included automatic core biopsy device and 14 to approximately 18G crude needle. All cases were identified by the operation and pathological examination. RESULTS: Tissue-obtained rate was 97% (62/64). Comparing preoperative pathological diagnosis with postoperative pathological diagnosis, we found the diagnostic correct rate was 97%. No complications resulted from this procedure. According to their pathological results, 33 patients were treated with preoperative chemotherapy. The tumor sizes decreased, and 26 patients saved their limbs and had normal functions. CONCLUSION: CDUS-guided percutaneous biopsy is safe and quick for the preoperative diagnosis and selecting appropriate surgical procedure for bone tumor treatment.

Successful management of air embolism-induced ventricular fibrillation in orthotopic liver transplantation.

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) although less common during noncardiac surgery often brings about severe complication as an aftermath. We report a case of VF which was highly suspected to be induced by air embolism at the moment when the surgeon was dissecting the collateral vessels of portal vein in liver transplantation surgery. The outcome of this patient was excellent due to aggressive resuscitative measures including open-chest cardiac massage. Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was not applied in this patient in fear of increased risk of esophageal varicose bleeding in a liver cirrhotic patient. However, some reports described the use of TEE in cirrhotic patients without obvious complications. In this case, venous air embolism (VAE) happened during the dissection of collateral vessels of the portal vein, which to our knowledge was ever been reported in liver transplantation surgery. The related literature has been reviewed and the success of the resuscitation is also herein discussed.

Comparison of three methods for the gene analysis of fetal cells from maternal peripheral blood.

BACKGROUND: Although great advances in techniques for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis using fetal cells from maternal peripheral blood have achieved, current technology does not meet the demands required for clinical use. In this study, we aimed to establish reliable methods for the gene analysis of fetal cells from maternal peripheral blood. METHODS: Primed extension preamplification (PEP)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multiple primed in situ labeling (PRINS), and nested PCR were individually applied to detect the sex determining region Y (SRY) gene in single fetal cells collected from maternal peripheral blood. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the detection of the SRY gene by PEP-PCR were 97.39% (149/153) and 99.17% (119/120), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of PRINS were 97.56% (40/41) and 100% (35/35), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of nested-PCR were 80.00% (24/30) and 87.50% (14/16), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PEP-PCR and PRINS are reliable techniques for the gene analysis of single fetal cells from maternal peripheral blood because of their high sensitivity and specificity. PEP-PCR and PRINS can be used as standard methods of noninvasive prenatal diagnosis using single fetal cells from maternal peripheral blood.

Expression of interleukin-6 mRNA in ischemic rat brain after electroacupuncture stimulation.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a potent, pleiotropic cytokine that plays a central role in host defense and acute inflammatory responses, exhibiting pro- and anti-inflammatory activities. However, little is known about the effect of acupuncture on IL-6 in inflammatory responses caused by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. The objective of present study was to investigate the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) on IL-6 mRNA expression in ischemic rat brain, by means of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization. Data showed that EA stimulation significantly upregulated IL-6 mRNA levels in rat cortex and striatum following cerebral ischmia-reperfusion (P<0.05 vs. cerebral ischemia group, respectively), but nothing for sham-EA treatment. The result suggests that EA may partially participate in the regulation of inflammatory processes, and the mechanism of neuroprotective action of EA is implicated in modulation of IL-6 gene expression in cerebral ischemic injury.

Morphological study on colonic pathology in ulcerative colitis treated by moxibustion.

AIM:To observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion on ulcerative colitis and its influence on the colonic mucosal morphology.METHODS:Forty-six patients with ulcerative colitis were randomly divided into the moxibustion with herbal medicine underneath group and the western medicine group. Thirty patients were treated with the above moxibustion and 16 patients with Salicylaye fapyridine (SASP).The colonic mucosa of 13 patients in the moxibustion group was observed by colonoscopy before and after the treatment. Mucin was also analyzed by H.E and AB-PAS staining.RESULTS:Seventeen patients were clinically cured,12 were improved and 1 unchanged in the moxibustion group. In the control group, 5 patients were clinically cured,7 improved and 4 unchanged. Thirteen patients with active UC were taken as the subjects for histopathologic analysis in this study. The colonic mucosal lesions were remarkably improved and the characteristic of the mucin also changed. In most sections, the chronic inflammation of mucosa was geatly ameliorated (P< 0.01). The inflammatory cell infiltratation much decreased and neutrophils, disapeared in most sections (P<0.001). The goblet cells significantly increased (P<0.001); crypt paracrypt abscess or mucosal ulceration was seen(P<0.001).CONCLUSION:The rate of cure of ulcerative colitis by moxibustion with herbal medicine beneath is superior to that by SASP. This sort of moxibustion can effectively improve the colonic mucosal lesions and restore the proportion of mucoprotein to near normal.