Controllable Image Synthesis With Attribute-Decomposed GAN.

This paper proposes Attribute-Decomposed GAN (ADGAN) and its enhanced version (ADGAN++) for controllable image synthesis, which can produce realistic images with desired attributes provided in various source inputs. The core ideas of the proposed ADGAN and ADGAN++ are both to embed component attributes into the latent space as independent codes and thus achieve flexible and continuous control of attributes via mixing and interpolation operations in explicit style representations. The major difference between them is that ADGAN processes all component attributes simultaneously while ADGAN++ utilizes a serial encoding strategy. More specifically, ADGAN consists of two encoding pathways with style block connections and is capable of decomposing the original hard mapping into multiple more accessible subtasks. In the source pathway, component layouts are extracted via a semantic parser and the segmented components are fed into a shared global texture encoder to obtain decomposed latent codes. This strategy allows for the synthesis of more realistic output images and the automatic separation of un-annotated component attributes. Although the original ADGAN works in a delicate and efficient manner, intrinsically it fails to handle the semantic image synthesizing task when the number of attribute categories is huge. To address this problem, ADGAN++ employs the serial encoding of different component attributes to synthesize each part of the target real-world image, and adopts several residual blocks with segmentation guided instance normalization to assemble the synthesized component images and refine the original synthesis result. The two-stage ADGAN++ is designed to alleviate the massive computational costs required when synthesizing real-world images with numerous attributes while maintaining the disentanglement of different attributes to enable flexible control of arbitrary component attributes of the synthesized images. Experimental results demonstrate the proposed methods' superiority over the state of the art in pose transfer, face style transfer, and semantic image synthesis, as well as their effectiveness in the task of component attribute transfer. Our code and data are publicly available at https://github.com/menyifang/ADGAN.

Effect of sigmoidectomy in treating sigmoid colon cancer: A protocol of systematic review.

BACKGROUND: This study will assess the effect of sigmoidectomy in treating sigmoid colon cancer (SCC). METHODS: This study will search the following databases from inception to the present: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, OpenGrey, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. All electronic databases will be searched with no restrictions of language. Two researchers will independently handle all study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias, respectively. Any disparities between 2 researchers will be figured out by a third researcher through discussion. RevMan 5.3 software will be used for statistical analysis in this study. RESULTS: This study will provide a high-quality synthesis of targeted outcomes to evaluate the efficacy and complications of sigmoidectomy in treating SCC. CONCLUSION: The results of this study will provide evidence to judge whether sigmoidectomy can benefit patients with SCC. STUDY REGISTRATION ON OSF: osf.io/dpxkg.

Inhibition of CD96 enhances interferon-γ secretion by natural killer cells to alleviate lung injury in mice with pulmonary infection / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the effect of neutralizing CD96 on natural killer (NK) cell functions in mice with pulmonary infection and explore the possible mechanism.@*METHODS@#Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into infection group (Cm group), anti-CD96 treatment group (anti-CD96 group) and control group (=5). In the former two groups, was inoculated intranasal administration to establish mouse models of pulmonary infection, and the mice in the control group received intranasal administration of the inhalation buffer. In anti-CD96 group, the mice were injected with anti-CD96 antibody intraperitoneally at the dose of 250 μg every 3 days after the infection; the mice in Cm group received intraperitoneal injections of saline. The body weight of the mice was recorded daily. The mice were sacrificed 5 days after infection, and CD96 expression was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. HE staining and pathological scores were used to evaluate pneumonia of the mice. The inclusion body forming units (IFUs) were detected in the lung tissue homogenates to assess lung tissue chlamydia load. Flow cytometry and ELISA were used to assess the capacity of the lung NK cells to produce interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and regulate macrophages and Th1 cells.@*RESULTS@# infection inhibited CD96 expression in NK cells of the mice. Compared with those in Cm group, the mice in antiCD96 mice showed significantly milder lung inflammation ( < 0.05) and reduced chlamydia load in the lung tissue ( < 0.05). Neutralizing CD96 with anti-CD96 significantly enhanced IFN-γ secretion by the NK cells ( < 0.05) and augmented the immunoregulatory effect of the NK cells shown by enhanced responses of the lung macrophages ( < 0.05) and Th1 cells ( < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Inhibition of CD96 alleviates pneumonia in -infected mice possibly by enhancing IFN-γ secretion by NK cells and augmenting the immunoregulatory effect of the NK cells on innate and adaptive immunity.

Inhibition of CD96 enhances interferon-γ secretion by natural killer cells to alleviate lung injury in mice with pulmonary infection / 浙江大学学报·医学版

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the effect of neutralizing CD96 on natural killer (NK) cell functions in mice with pulmonary infection and explore the possible mechanism.@*METHODS@#Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into infection group (Cm group), anti-CD96 treatment group (anti-CD96 group) and control group (=5). In the former two groups, was inoculated intranasal administration to establish mouse models of pulmonary infection, and the mice in the control group received intranasal administration of the inhalation buffer. In anti-CD96 group, the mice were injected with anti-CD96 antibody intraperitoneally at the dose of 250 μg every 3 days after the infection; the mice in Cm group received intraperitoneal injections of saline. The body weight of the mice was recorded daily. The mice were sacrificed 5 days after infection, and CD96 expression was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. HE staining and pathological scores were used to evaluate pneumonia of the mice. The inclusion body forming units (IFUs) were detected in the lung tissue homogenates to assess lung tissue chlamydia load. Flow cytometry and ELISA were used to assess the capacity of the lung NK cells to produce interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and regulate macrophages and Th1 cells.@*RESULTS@# infection inhibited CD96 expression in NK cells of the mice. Compared with those in Cm group, the mice in antiCD96 mice showed significantly milder lung inflammation ( < 0.05) and reduced chlamydia load in the lung tissue ( < 0.05). Neutralizing CD96 with anti-CD96 significantly enhanced IFN-γ secretion by the NK cells ( < 0.05) and augmented the immunoregulatory effect of the NK cells shown by enhanced responses of the lung macrophages ( < 0.05) and Th1 cells ( < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Inhibition of CD96 alleviates pneumonia in -infected mice possibly by enhancing IFN-γ secretion by NK cells and augmenting the immunoregulatory effect of the NK cells on innate and adaptive immunity.

Suppression of Long Non-Coding RNA LINC00652 Restores Sevoflurane-Induced Cardioprotection Against Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Targeting GLP-1R Through the cAMP/PKA Pathway in Mice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) are crucial for heart development and for adult heart structural maintenance and function. Herein, we performed a study to explore the effect of lncRNA LINC00652 (LINC00652) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury by targeting GLP-1R through the cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) pathway. METHODS: Bioinformatics software was used to screen the long-chain non-coding RNAs associated with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion and to predict target genes. The mRNA and protein levels of LINC00652, GLP-1R and CREB were detected by RT-qPCR and western blotting. In order to identify the interaction between LINC00652 and myocardial I/R injury, the cardiac function, the hemodynamic changes, the pathological changes of the myocardial tissues, the myocardial infarct size, and the apoptosis of myocardial cells of mice were measured. Meanwhile, the levels of serum IL-1ß and TNF-α were detected. RESULTS: LINC00652 was overexpressed in the myocardial cells of mice with myocardial I/R injury. GLP-1R is the target gene of LINC00652. We also determined higher levels of LINC00652 and GLP-1R in the I/R modeled mice. Additionally, si-LINC00652 decreased cardiac pathology, infarct size, apoptosis rates of myocardial cells, and levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α, and increased GLP-1R expression cardiac function, normal hemodynamic index, and the expression and phosphorylation of GLP-1R and CREB proteins. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our key findings of the present highlight LINC00652 inhibits the activation of the cAMP/PKA pathway by targeting GLP-1R to reduce the protective effect of sevoflurane on myocardial I/R injury in mice.

Protective mechanisms involving enhanced mitochondrial functions and mitophagy against T-2 toxin-induced toxicities in GH3 cells.

T-2 toxin is the most toxic member of trichothecene mycotoxin. So far, the mechanism of mitochondrial toxicity and protective mechanism in mammalian cells against T-2 toxin are not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the cellular and mitochondrial toxicity of T-2 toxin, and the cellular protective mechanisms in rat pituitary GH3 cells. We showed that T-2 toxin significantly increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage and caused apoptosis in GH3 cells. T-2 toxin induced abnormal cell morphology, cytoplasm and nuclear shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation and formation of apoptotic bodies and autophagosomes. The mitochondrial degradative morphologies included local or total cristae collapse and small condensed mitochondria. T-2 toxin decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential. However, T-2 toxin significantly increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and expression of antioxidant genes glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx-1), catalase (CAT), mitochondria-specific SOD-2 and mitochondrial uncoupling protein-1, -2 and -3 (UCP-1, 2 and 3). Interestingly, T-2 toxin increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels and mitochondrial complex I activity, and increased the expression of most of mitochondrial electron transport chain subunits tested and critical transcription factors controlling mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial DNA transcription and replication. T-2 toxin increased mitophagic activity by increasing the expression of mitophagy-specific proteins NIP-like protein X (NIX), PTEN-induced putative kinase protein 1 (PINK1) and E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin. T-2 toxin activated the protective protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway, which activated the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)/PINK1/Parkin pathway to mediate mitophagy. Taken together, our results suggested that the mammalian cells could increase their resistance against T-2 toxin by increasing the antioxidant activity, mitophagy and mitochondrial function.

MicroRNA-374 Exerts Protective Effects by Inhibiting SP1 Through Activating the PI3K/Akt Pathway in Rat Models of Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion After Sevoflurane Preconditioning.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ischemic heart disease is a leading cause of death in cardiovascular diseases, and microRNAs (miRs) have been reported to be potential therapeutic targets in heart disease. Herein, this study aims to investigate the effects of microRNA (miR)-374 on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat models pretreated with sevoflurane by targeting SP1 through the PI3K/Akt pathway. METHODS: SD rats were grouped into sham, I/R and sevoflurane + I/R (sevoflurane preconditioning and I/R) groups. The biochemical indicators, pathological changes, positive expression of SP1 protein, and apoptosis rates were measured using biochemical detection, Evans blue-TTC staining, immunohistochemistry and TUNEL staining. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to investigate the expression of miR-374 mRNA and the protein expression of SP1, PI3K, HO-1, p53, iNOS, c-fos, Akt/p-Akt, and GSK-3ß/p-GSK-3ß. Cardiomyocytes were treated with miR-374 mimics, miR-374 inhibitors, or siRNA-SP1. Cardiomyocyte proliferation and cycle distribution and apoptosis were studied by MTT and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared with the I/R group, in the sevoflurane + I/R group, serum SOD and IL-10 increased, while MDA, LDH, CK, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 decreased, as did the percentage of infarct area, the positive rate of SP1 and the apoptosis index. The expression of SP1, p53, iNOS and c-fos decreased, and the miR-374 expression of PI3K, HO-1, Akt/p-Akt, GSK-3ß/p-GSK-3ß increased. With the upregulation of miR-374 and the downregulation of SP1, the expression of SP1, p53, iNOS and c-fos decreased, as did the proportion of cells in G1 phase and the apoptosis rate; the expression of PI3K, HO-1, Akt/p-Akt, GSK-3ß/p-GSK-3ß increased. The results in the miR-374 inhibitor group contrasted with the above results. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that miR-374 could alleviate myocardial I/R damage in rat models pretreated with sevoflurane by targeting SP1 by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College in 2017 / 中国感染与化疗杂志

Objective To investigate the distribution and antibiotic resistance profile of clinical isolates in the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College in 2017. Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out by automated systems or Kirby-Bauer method. The data were interpreted according to CLSI 2017 breakpoints and analyzed by WHONET 5.6 software. Results A total of 4 295 strains of bacteria were isolated in 2017, including 1 196 (27.8％) strains of gram-positive bacteria, and 3 099 (72.2％) strains of gram-negative organisms. Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus and methicillin-resistant coagulasenegative Staphylococcus isolates accounted for 54.7％ and 77.4％, respectively. The resistance rates of methicillin-resistant strains to most of antibiotics tested (except trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) were significantly higher than those of methicillinsusceptible strains. None strains were found resistant to linezolid or vancomycin. E. faecium and E. faecalis were the major isolatesin Enterococcus. The resistance rates of E. faecalis to most antibiotics (except tetracyclines and linezolid) were much lower than those of E. faecium. A few Enterococcus strains were resistant to linezolid and vancomycin. A few strains of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae were identified. ESBLs-producing strains accounted for 66.0％ in E. coli and 22.7％ in K. pneumoniae. The resistance rate of Enterobacteriaceae to carbapenems was increasing. Theresistance rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacteriaceae and Citrobacter to imipenem and ertapenem were higher than 10％. The resistance rates of P. aeruginosa to imipenem was 43.3％, but lower than 30％ to ceftazidime, cefepime, piperacillin-tazobactam, and levofloxacin. The resistance rates of A. baumannii to all the antibiotics tested except amikacin were higher than 70％, and the resistance rate to imipenem was 87.5％. The prevalence of extensively drug-resistant strains in P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii was 15.8％, 28.4％, and 46.7％, respectively. Conclusions Antimicrobial resistance was serious in this hospital in 2017. Especially, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and extensively drug-resistant K. pneumoniae were increasing. Therefore, more attention should be paid to rational use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance surveillance.

Focused low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy for erectile dysfunction: Preliminary observation of 32 cases / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To make a preliminary investigation on the safety and efficacy of focused low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LI-ESWT) in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We treated 32 ED patients by focused LI-ESWT with the device of Medispec's ED1000. Before and at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment, we evaluated the erectile function of the patients using the International Index of Erectile Function-erectile function domain (IIEF-EF), Erection Hardness Score (EHS), Sexual Encounter Profile questions 2 and 3 (SEP2 and SEP3), and Global Assessment Questionnaire questions 1 and 2 (GAQ1 and GAQ2), and recorded the incidence rate of adverse events.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients averaged 30.69 years of age. Compared with the baseline, the mean IIEF-EF score of the patients was significantly increased at 4 and 12 weeks after LI-ESWT (14.94 vs 20.97 and 21.47, P <0.01), and so were the EHS (1.75 vs 2.66 and 2.56, P <0.01) and the "Yes" answers to SEP2 (21.88% vs 68.75% and 71.88%), SEP3 (0 vs 43.75% and 56.25%), GAQ1 (NA vs 81.25% and 71.88%) and GAQ2 (NA vs 65.63% and 68.75%). The total effectiveness rates at 4 weeks and 12 weeks were 75% and 71.88% respectively. One of the patients felt penile shaft pain with mild ecchymosis after LI-ESWT but was recovered without special treatment a week later.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LI-ESWT can significantly improve the erectile function of ED patients with no obvious adverse effects within 12 weeks after treatment.</p>

Profile and mechanism of imipenem resistance in clinical isolates of Serratia marcescens / 中国感染与化疗杂志

Objective To investigate the profile and mechanism of imipenem resistance in the clinical isolates of Serratia marcescens. Methods A total of 152 strains of S. marcescens were isolated from January 2013 to December 2014. Disk diffusion method?and?automated?systems?were?used?to?determine?the?susceptibility?of?the?isolates.?The?modified?Hodge?test?and?EDTA?synergy?test?were?employed?to?test?carbapenemase?phenotype.?Agar?dilution?method?in?combination?with?efflux?pump?inhibitor?MC207110?was used to observe the change of imipenem MIC values. The genes encoding carbapenemase, AmpC beta-lactamase and outer membrane protein were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Results? Imipenem?resistance?was?identified?in?87?of?the?152?strains?of S. marcescens.?Modified?Hodge?test?was?positive?for?12?of?the?87?imipenem-resistant?S. marcescens strains. EDTA synergy test was?positive?for?9?of?the?strains.?Imipenem?MIC?was?reduced?to?1/4?to?1/64?in?46?strains?by?agar?dilution?method?in?presence?of?efflux?pump inhibitor MC207110. Five strains were positive for KPC genes, 8 strains positive for IMP gene, and 6 strains positive for DHA gene. Loss of outer membrane protein was found in 16 strains by PCR. Conclusions Imipenem-resistant strains of S. marcescens are?prevalent?in?our?hospital.?KPC,?IMP,?DHA?genes,?and?loss?of?outer?membrane?proteins?and?efflux?pumps?may?all?contribute?to?imipenem resistance in S. marcescens isolates.

Aminoglycoside resistance genes of Acinetobacter baumannii / 中国人兽共患病学报

To investigate the distribution of the resistance genes of Acinetobacter baumannii to aminoglycoside,48 strains of extensively drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from January to December,2015.The drug sensitivity test and identification were performed by VITEK 2 compact automatic microorganism instrument.Twelve aminoglycosides modifying enzymes,three 16SrRNA methylase genes and efflux pump abeB gene were detected from these isolates by PCR.Results showed that among these experimental 16 genes,aac(6')-Ⅰb gene was detected from 19 of 48 isolates (39.6％),both armA and adeB genes were 43 (89.6％),ant(3")-Ⅰa gene was from 5 (10.4％),while the other genes were not found.And more than two gene types were amplified from 39 of 48 strains (81.3％).In conclusion,the aac(6')-Ⅰb,armA gene and efflux pump adeB may play a key role in drug resistance to aminoglycosides antibiot ics of Acinetobacter Baumanni in our hospital.

Diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy Using Western Blot with Micro-sample of Muscle / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To diagnose muscular dystrophy using Western blot (WB) by improving the method of the protein extraction.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Firstly,we compared the effect of different sample buffer solutions and processing Methods on the extraction of muscle protein in rats,then selected the appropriate extracting method and the process of the muscular protein.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We put the selected sample buffer into the micro-sample,then mixed. The concentration of the extracting protein was much more,and the loss during the process was much less. We extracted enough protein in 62 cases. The protein bands were showed clearly by WB,and the abnormal protein bands were shown in some patients. Compared with the Results of immunohistochemical staining detected the severe abnormal expressions of Dys-R,Dys-C,and Dys-N in the specimens,we did not detect the corresponding target band in WB. We detected the target protein band of the specimens were abnormal position,light or normal staining in WB,while Dys were mildly expressed in immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The improved protein extraction method can save the muscle tissue,and the protein bands can be used for diagnosing the muscular dystrophy. For clinically suspected patients with dystrophinopathy,if normal or mild deficiency is shown by immunohistochemistry,WB should be applied to detect the dystrophin protein band.</p>

[Risk factors for hyperuricemia in active and retired employees underwent physical examination].

OBJECTIVE: To observe serum uric acid (UA) level distribution and explore risk factors of hyperuricemia (HUA) in a large cohort of active and retired employees underwent physical examination. METHODS: Physical examination was arranged for 21 700 active and retired employees from May 2010 to September 2011, 16 416 employees were examined and complete examination data were obtained in 14 044 subjects. The distribution characteristics of UA level and correlations of UA level and HUA prevalence rate with gender, age, body mass index (BMI), systolic pressure (SBP), diastolic pressure (DBP), fasting blood-glucose (FPG), serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were analyzed. RESULTS: HUA prevalence rate was 11.2% in this cohort, which was significantly higher in males (15.8%) than in females (4.1%, P < 0.05). The UA level and the HUA prevalence rate presented a "J" curve relationship with aging and positively correlated with BMI, SBP, DBP, TG, LDL-C, TC and FPG while negatively correlated with HDL-C. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that SBP, BMI, FPG, TG, and LDL-C were independent risk factors while HDL-C and female gender were the protective factors of HUA(all P < 0.01). Aging and high DBP were independent risk factors of HUA for females (all P < 0.05) and LDL-C was risk factor of HUA for males (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum UA level presents a "J" wave relationship with aging. The risk factors of HUA are increased SBP, BMI, FPG, TG, LDL-C while the protective factors of HUA are female gender and high HDL-C.

Risk factors for hyperuricemia in active and retired employees underwent physical examination / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe serum uric acid (UA) level distribution and explore risk factors of hyperuricemia (HUA) in a large cohort of active and retired employees underwent physical examination.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Physical examination was arranged for 21 700 active and retired employees from May 2010 to September 2011, 16 416 employees were examined and complete examination data were obtained in 14 044 subjects. The distribution characteristics of UA level and correlations of UA level and HUA prevalence rate with gender, age, body mass index (BMI), systolic pressure (SBP), diastolic pressure (DBP), fasting blood-glucose (FPG), serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HUA prevalence rate was 11.2% in this cohort, which was significantly higher in males (15.8%) than in females (4.1%, P < 0.05). The UA level and the HUA prevalence rate presented a "J" curve relationship with aging and positively correlated with BMI, SBP, DBP, TG, LDL-C, TC and FPG while negatively correlated with HDL-C. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that SBP, BMI, FPG, TG, and LDL-C were independent risk factors while HDL-C and female gender were the protective factors of HUA(all P < 0.01). Aging and high DBP were independent risk factors of HUA for females (all P < 0.05) and LDL-C was risk factor of HUA for males (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Serum UA level presents a "J" wave relationship with aging. The risk factors of HUA are increased SBP, BMI, FPG, TG, LDL-C while the protective factors of HUA are female gender and high HDL-C.</p>

Primary agiitis of central nervous system / 中国医学科学院学报

The common clinical manifestations of the primary agiitis of the central nervous system include burst of headache, dementia, change of aptitude, paralysis of cranial nerves, and recurrent focal depletion of the neural function. Lptomeningeal and brain biopsy are still the gold criteria for diagnosis. The prognosis may be improved after cortin and immunosuppressant therapy.

Evaluation of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes with magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the characteristics of spectra on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and its value in patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven clinically diagnosed patients with MELAS underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 1H-MRS examinations. The 1H-MRS techniques, characteristics of the spectra, and its correlation with the laboratory tests were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cerebral abnormalities were revealed in all 7 patients on conventional MR images, and most abnormal signals were observed in bilateral occipital, parietal, and temporal lobes. We found 4 cases with basal ganglia involvement, 2 cases with mild frontal lobe lesions, and 1 case with involvement of lateral cerebral peduncles and thalami. Additionally, 1 patient was involved with left insular lobe. Spectra from prominent lesions in brain parenchyma showed lactate doublet peak in 6 patients, 3 of whom were also noted lactate peak in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>1H-MRS may provide more direct information about the metabolism changes, which aids to affirm the diagnosis, and may replace the conventional invasive method of quantifying lactate in CSF.</p>

Drug Resistance Analysis and Distributed Features of Nosocomial Infection Pathogens / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical distributed features and drug-resistant conditions of pathogenic bacteria in nosocomial infection in the last three years for the reference to clinical drug administration. METHODS Retrospective analysis was performed about drug-resistant conditions of pathogenic bacteria in nosocomial infection in the last three years from 2004 to 2006. RESULTS Totally 488 pathogenic strains, including 289 strains of Gram-negative bacteria (59.22%);95 strains of Gram-positive bacteria (19.47%) and 104 strains of fungi (21.31%),were isolated from patients in the last three years, the isolation rate of fungi,Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterobacter cloacae tended to increase year by year. They resisted to commonly used antibiotics at different degree, the rate of multiple-resistance was 80.33%. CONCLUSIONS Most pathogens isolated from patients with nosocomial infection are Gram-negative bacteria, which always display multi-resistant tendency to routine antimicrobial agents. The culture of pathogenic bacteria and rational use of antimicrobial agents should be emphasized to decrease the incidence of nosocomial infection, the factors which easily caused nosocomial infection should be reduced as well.

Auxiliary diagnosis of aerobic forearm exercise in mitochondriai myopathy and encephalopathy / 中华神经科杂志

Objective To investigate blood gas analysis and lactic acid evaluation in aerobic forearm exercise and the significance of aerobic forearm exercise for the auxiliary diagnosis of mitochondrial myopathy and encephalopathy patients.Methods Forty-two patients with mitochondrial myopathy and encephalopathy patients, 40 healthy control, and 40 patients control were studied.They performed a protocol under aerobic exercise conditions, consisting of intermittent forearm exercise for 4 minutes at 40% of intented maximal voluntary contraction force.Blood samples were collected to monitor blood gas and plasma lactate before, during arid after exercise.Results During exercise venous PO_2(mm Hg, 1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)decreased in mitochondrial myopathy and encephalopathy patients from 41.2?12.6 to 39.5?16.2, whereas PO_2 fell from 50.5?14.4 to 30.8?13.1 in healthy control and from 50.1?7.9 to 44.3?35.5 in patient control.Venous PO_2 decreased much more in healthy control group than the other 2 groups(F= 6.34,P

[Skin flaps for repairing hands with severe burn and compression injuries in the hand].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effects of different skin flaps for repairing severe complex hand injuries with burns and compression. METHODS: From January 1990 to December 2000, 39 patients with severe complex injuries due to burns and compression in the hand were treated with different skin flaps, followed by early-stage postoperative comprehensive rehabilitation therapy. RESULTS: All the patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months, and significant differences were observed in the appearance and function of the repaired hands with different skin flaps. CONCLUSION: The medial skin flap taken from the lower leg and the reverse-flow island flap from the anterior aspect of the forearm, when combined with early postoperative rehabilitation treatment, can achieve good recovery of function and appearance of the injured hand.

[Treatment of fracture of femoral neck in the aged with artificial hip joint replacement].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect of total hip joint replacement and hemiarthroplasty in treatment of fracture of femoral neck in old patients. METHODS: One hundred and ten cases with femoral neck fracture in the aged, 70 to 106 years old, from Aug 1990 to Aug 1999 were reviewed, 96 cases were followed up, among which 52 cases received total hip joints replacement and the other 44 cases received hemiarthroplasty. All of the 96 cases were followed up for 15 to 112 months, averaged 51 months, and were evaluated in operation procedures, post-operative recovery and joint function according to Harris Scoring. RESULTS: The operation time of total hip joints replacement was 20 minutes longer, bleeding volume was 120 ml larger, and post-operative drainage was 140 ml more, in average, than those in hemiarthroplasty. There was no obvious difference between the two types of operation in bed-resting time, length of stay and hospitalizing costs. According to Harris Scoring, there were 38 cases of excellent in hemiarthroplasty (86.4%) and 48 cases of excellent in total hip joints replacement (92.3%). CONCLUSION: Both of the artificial joint replacements are reasonable choices for treatment of fracture of femoral neck in old patients, but total hip joints replacement is recommendable for those comparatively younger patients with good systematic status, and hemiarthroplasty is a good option for those elderly with some systematic diseases.