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In China, the present implemented industrial wastewater discharge standards cannot objectively and correctly evaluate wastewater safety. The characteristics and application of the whole effluent toxicity evaluation methods at home and abroad were systematically summarized. The characteristics and application of whole effluent toxicity (WET), direct toxicity assessment (DTA), and whole effluent assessment (WEA) were emphatically discussed. The deficiencies of the comprehensive toxicity index system and evaluation methods of wastewater in China were analyzed. Reasonable suggestions on the establishment of the comprehensive toxicity methodology were proposed from aspects of species selection, experimental process and evaluation method. Finally, the actual situations of the characteristics of wastewater pollutants, discharge mode and environmental quality of receiving water should be considered as establishing comprehensive toxicity indices and evaluation methodology in line with Chinese national conditions.

Sudden pollution incidents in surface water have occurred frequently and caused serious environmental and social impacts, which raised new requirements and challenges towards to environmental supervision departments. Online monitoring data of surface water quality have features of high-frequency and high time-efficiency. The recent research status and progress of water-quality prediction models with online time-series monitoring data were summarized, including data soft measurement, preprocessing methods, and water-quality prediction models. The problems in the practical applications of the relevant water-quality prediction models were analyzed. Also, the future research directions with respect to water-quality prediction are proposed. The aim of this work is to provide reference and technology support for water-quality prediction and warning, and environmental supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste sludge produced from wastewater treatment has been regarded as a potential reservoir of microplastics. In order to investigate the effect of sludge microbial decomposition on the microplastics, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and tire microplastics are chosen to investigate changes in their surface properties during anaerobic sludge treatment process. The results show that the intensity of oxygen-containing functional groups such as carbonyl and hydroxyl exhibits an increasing tread with anaerobic sludge microbial treatment time, indicating an enhanced hydrophilicity of microplastic surface, which is further confirmed by contact angle results. Correlation results show that carbonyl index can favorably reflect the impact of anaerobic sludge microorganisms on the surface properties of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics, while the surface changes of polypropylene and styrene butadiene rubber tire microplastics can be characterized with the absorption peak areas in wavenumber range of 1 300 to 1 500 cm-1. This study can provide theoretical basis for further investigating the sludge microorganism-driven decomposition and reaction behavior of microplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects of whole grain rice on blood sugar, blood lipid and metabonomics compared with ordinary feed and refined rice., Methods: According to the initial body weight and fasting blood glucose, 36 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, RG-rice group and WG-rice group, fed with AIN-93 G feed, feeds prepared with refined rice flour or brown rice flour, respectively, for 18 weeks. Food intake and body weight were monitored weekly. At the end of the experiment, abdominal aortic blood was taken to measure blood glucose and blood lipids, and untargeted metabolomics was performed., Results: During the experiment, the body weight growth and food intake of rats in each group were basically the same. Fasting blood glucose(FBG) in RG-rice group were(10.12±1.51)mmol/L, which were significantly higher than those in other groups, hepatic glycogen in RG-rice group were(0.90±0.33)mg/g, which were significantly higher than those in WG-rice group. TC and LDL in RG-rice group were(1.85±0.21)mmol/L and(0.84±0.10)mmol/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in control group and RG-rice group(P& lt; 0.05). The non-targeted metabolomics result were compared in pairs. A total of 30 metabolic differences were found between the control and RG-rice groups, involving 8 potential pathways, 12 metabolic differences were found between the control and WG-rice groups, involving 2 potential pathways, 18 metabolic differences were found between the RG-rice and WG-rice groups, involving 4 potential pathways. Pathway enrichment was performed again according to the correlation analysis of differential metabolites with blood glucose and blood lipids. The result showed that the FBG-related pathways include glycerophospholipid metabolism and glutathione metabolism. TG-related pathways include glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and glyoxylic acid and dicarboxylic acid metabolism. TC-related pathways include D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, alanine, aspartic acid and glutamate metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and glyoxylic acid and dicarboxylic acid metabolism. LDL-related pathway include glycerophospholipid metabolism., Conclusion: Eating more refined rice may increase blood sugar, brown rice helps to maintain a relatively low blood lipid level. Glycerol phospholipid metabolism is a common pathway that rice affects blood glucose and blood lipid metabolism in normal rats.

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of "Jin's three-needle" therapy and motor relearning regime for the recovery of upper limb motor function in the patients with ischemic stroke., Methods: A total of 60 patients with ischemic stroke were randomly divided into an experiment group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases). In the control group, the routine rehabilitation regimen was adopted. In the experimental group, on the base of the treatment regimen as the control group, the "Jin's three-needle" therapy was supplemented. The neurological function deficit score was used to assess the neurological function. The modified Fugel-Meyer assessment for upper extremities (FMA) and motor assessment scale (MAS) were adopted to assess the upper limb motor function in patients. The modified Barthel Index (MBI) was used to evaluate the activity of daily living (ADL) in patients., Results: After treatment, the neurological function deficit score, the upper limb motor function (FMA and MAS) and ADL (MBI) were all improved obviously as compared with those before treatment ( P <0.05). In the experimental group, the reducing range of neurological function deficit score (difference value) was larger than that in the control group ( P <0.05). The increases of FMA score (upper arm function), the total score of MAS, the score for hand movement in MAS and the score for advanced hand activities of MAS, as well as MBI score in the experimental group were significantly larger than those in the control group successively ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: "Jin's three-needle" therapy combined with exercise relearning regimen effectively reduces the degree of neurological deficit and improve the upper limb motor function and ADL in patients with ischemic stroke.

The tetracycline (TC) antibiotic has been widely found in different environmental matrices. The tetracycline resistant bacterium (TRB) of Shigella flexneri was screened and purified from activated sludge, and was then used to study the impact of TC stress on the gene abundances and expression levels of TC resistance genes (TC-ARGs), including tetC , tetO , and tetX , which were respectively quantified by quantitative PCR and reverse transcriptional PCR. Correlations between the TC concentration and gene abundances of TC-ARGs and their expression levels were discussed. The results showed that TC stress had an inhibiting effect on the growth of Shigella flexneri during the entire culture cycle (24 h) and that the growth rate of the bacterial concentration decreased with increasing TC concentration. However, less impact on the gene abundance of TC-ARGs was found. TC stress could promote the expression of TC-ARGs in Shigella flexneri , and the expression levels of tetC , tetO , and tetX genes first increased and then decreased. The correlation results indicated that no significant correlation was observed between the TC concentration and gene abundances of TC-ARGs and their expression levels. Nevertheless, the gene abundances of tetC and tetO were significantly correlated with their expression levels, thus indicating that they can be used to evaluate and assess expression levels to a certain extent.

Objective: To investigate the effects of whole grains(WG) and refined grains(RG) on blood glucose, blood lipid and inflammatory factors in normal rats, and the common effects of different whole grains., Methods: 2×2 factorial experiments were designed according to grain sources(rice & wheat) and processing precision(whole grain & refined grain). According to the initial body weight and fasting blood glucose, 48 male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: RG rice group, WG rice group, RG wheat group and WG wheat group. They were fed with 45% refined rice, whole grain rice, refined wheat and whole grain wheat respectively for 18 weeks. The formula was in accordance with AIN-93 G. Food intake and body weight were monitored weekly. Fasting blood glucose, lipid, inflammatory factors and organ pathology were detected at the end of the experiment., Results: During the experiment, the body weight growth and food intake of rats in each group were basically the same. At the end of the experiment, fatty liver appeared in varying degrees, while the kidney of rats in RG rice group and RG wheat group showed epithelial steatosis. Biochemical indexes showed that blood urea nitrogen(UN), fasting blood glucose(FBG), total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein(LDL)and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1)in RG wheat group were significantly higher than those in WG wheat group(P&lt;0. 05), while high density lipoprotein(HDL)level in RG wheat group was significantly lower than that in WG wheat group(P&lt;0. 05), and there was no significant difference in other indexes. The result of factorial analysis showed that the differences of FBG, serum insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)and C-reactive protein(CRP)caused by different grain processing degree were significant, but there was no significant difference between rice and wheat varieties(P&gt;0. 05)., Conclusion: Studies have shown that long-term feeding of refined grains can lead to fasting blood glucose, blood lipid abnormality and renal pathological changes in rats, and proper feeding of whole grains can delay the development of adverse symptoms.

Tetracycline resistant bacteria (TRB) screened from activated sludge were used to study the effect of tetracycline (TC) antibiotic on the transcriptional expression of tetracycline resistance genes (TC-ARGs). The gene abundances of seven TC-ARGs including tetA , tetC , tetG , tetM , tetO , tetW , and tetX , as well as their expression levels, were quantified by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and reverse transcriptional PCR (RT-PCR). The correlations between TC concentrations and gene abundance of TC-ARGs and their expression levels were discussed. The results showed that the gene abundances of tetA , tetG, and tetW generally increased with increasing TC exposure concentrations during the entire culture cycle, whereas other TC-ARGs fluctuated greatly. The impact of TC stress on the transcriptional expression level of different TC-ARGs varied to a great extent. The gene expression of tetA was relatively stable and exhibited an upregulated trend with increasing TC concentrations. When the TC concentration was 100 mg·L -1 , the upregulation of tetA expression was as high as 5.3-fold compared with the control. Under short-term TC stress (one day), the transcriptional expression level was upregulated with increasing TC concentration. The correlation results showed that gene abundances of tetA and tetW correlated significantly with their respective expression levels, indicating that they can evaluate expression levels to a certain extent, which can further mirror functional activities and environmental risks.

The problem of bacterial resistance has become an important issue in the area of global ecological safety and human health. Waste sludge is an important reservoir and discharge source for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, the quantities of seven tetracycline resistance genes (TC-ARGs), including tetA, tetC, tetG, tetM, tetO, tetW , and tetX , as well as those of class 1 integron ( intI1 ) genes, during anaerobic sludge digestion process were comprehensively quantified by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The effects of different doses of zero valent iron (Fe 0 ) on the decrease and increase in the quantities of TC-ARGs and intI1 genes were investigated. The influence of plasmid conjugation on the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of the target TC-ARGs was preliminarily analyzed. The correlations between the quantities of TC-ARGs and intI1 gene have been discussed. The results showed that the quantities of TC-ARGs and intI1 genes decreased in different degrees during anaerobic sludge digestion, and the abundance of tetX gene was reduced by 2.4 orders of magnitude. When Fe 0 was added, no significant reduction in the quantities of TC-ARGs and intI1 genes was observed. However, as the addition of Fe 0 increased, the quantities of TC-ARGs and intI1 genes increased correspondingly, as compared to those in the control group. The results obtained from the quantities of TC-ARGs carried by plasmid DNA showed that plasmid conjugation probably promoted the HGT of TC-ARGs. A positive significant correlation was found between the quantities of tetG and intI1 genes, indicating that intI1 might play an important role in the evolution of tetG during sludge anaerobic digestion process.

The contents of ten heavy metals (As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Zn, Ti, Mn, and Hg) were determined in the surface soils surrounding a municipal solid waste incineration plant in Shanghai using atomic spectroscopy. The spatial distribution and sources of the detected heavy metals were studied by enrichment factor and multivariate statistical and spatial interpolation analyses. In addition, their potential ecological risk was assessed. The results showed that all heavy metals, except Hg and As, were detected with mean contents ranging from 0.399 to 4220 mg·kg -1 . The mean contents of Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Mn were higher than their respective background values in Shanghai. In particular, the mean content of Cd was 2.9 times its background value. The results of the Pearson's correlation, principle component, enrichment factor, and spatial distribution analyses of these heavy metals indicated that Ti, Mn, and Ni primarily originated from natural sources, while Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn originated from industrial manufacturing, combustion, and traffic emissions. The potential ecological risk assessment showed that soils surrounding the municipal solid waste incineration plant suffered from a moderate-level risk. The mean value of the potential ecological risk index of these detected heavy metals was 108.92, of which Cd contributed as high as 79.63%, deserving much attention.

To investigate the effects of zero valent iron (Fe 0 ) on the decline of antibiotic resistance genes during thermophilic anaerobic digestion of sludge, the abundances of seven tetracycline resistance genes (TC-ARGs, including tetA, tetC, tetG, tetM, tetO, tetW , and tetX ) and class 1 integron gene ( intI1 ) were quantified by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Also, the concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were determined. The correlations between the abundances of TC-ARGs and intI1 gene and the concentrations of VFAs were discussed. The results showed that appropriate dose of Fe 0 such as 0.10 g·g -1 VSS could enhance the anaerobic digestion process of sludge, and the production of total VFAs and acetic acid increased significantly. The decrease in the abundances of TC-ARGs and intI1 gene was also enhanced. However, excessive Fe 0 such as 1.17 g·g -1 VSS could not further improve the reduction in the abundances of TC-ARGs and intI1 gene, probably resulted from the occurrence of horizontal gene transfer. The abundances of TC-ARGs except tetO gene, as well as intI1 gene exhibited significant negative correlation with the concentration of acetic acid, indicating that acetic acid probably had an enhanced effect on the decline of TC-ARGs and intI1 gene during thermophilic anaerobic digestion of sludge.

Effect of low-concentration ciprofloxacin (CIP) on nitrification and nitrifying microorganisms of biofilms was studied in biological aerated filters (BAF). Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to determine the abundance variance of four ciprofloxacin resistance genes (CIP-ARGs) during nitrification in biofilms. The correlations between the abundances of CIP-ARGs and nitrifying microorganisms were also discussed. The results showed that CIP had little influence on the ammonium oxidation process of biofilm microorganisms, whereas inhibition of the nitrite oxidation process was found. The quantitative results of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) including Nitrobacter and Nitrospira indicated that the inhibition on the transformation of nitrite was resulted from the inhibition on Nitrobacter and Nitrospira. In addition, little influence of CIP on the relative abundance of aac and qepA in biofilms was found, but the influence on parC and oqxB was great. The abundance of Nitrotacter exhibited significant positive correlation with the abundance of parC. Similar significant correlation was also found between the abundances of Nitrospira and oqxB. It could be speculated that the genetic elements of different nitrifying microorganisms in biofilms possibly carried CIP-ARGs.

A batch equilibrium method was used to investigate the adsorption characteristics of ciprofloxacin (CIP), tetracycline (TC), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and triclosan (TCS) onto Huangpu River sediments. Effects of adsorption time, initial concentration, solution pH and temperature on the adsorption process were studied. The results showed that the adsorption process of these PPCPs onto sediments was a two-step process: a rapid adsorption followed by a slow balance. The equilibrium time was about 4 h. The pH value had a significant effect on the adsorption of CIP, TC and TCS, whereas the effect on SMX adsorption was negligible. The kinetic results indicated that the adsorption processes followed the pseudo-second-order model, with adsorption rate in the range of 4.89 x 10(-3)-1.96 x 10(-2) kg x (min x mg)(-1). Adsorption isotherms were well described by the Freundlich and linear equations. As temperature increased, the amount of SMX and TC adsorbed increased, whereas CIP and TCS decreased. CIP, TC and TCS had a strong tendency to adsorb onto sediments, while the adsorption of SMX was unfavorable. When the initial concentration of PPCPs was 10 mg x L(-1), the equilibrium adsorption capacities of CIP, TC, SMX and TCS reached 702.8, 733.1, 54.7 and 695.0 mg x kg(-1), respectively.

Occurrence and distribution of twelve pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) were investigated in a sewage treatment plant in Shanghai using solid-phase extraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-HPLC-MS/MS). Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to determine the distribution and removal of seven erythromycin resistance genes (ERY-ARGs). The results showed that five PPCPs including sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin, tetracycline, carbamazepine and triclosan were detected in the collected wastewater samples with concentrations in the ranges of 24.5- 38.7, 47.5-49.2, 43.1-85.4, 2.5-3.9 and 423.2-8 973.3 ng x L(-1), respectively. During the wastewater treatment process, a significant reduction of triclosan was observed, but the removal efficiencies for the other detected PPCPs were relatively low. Additionally, all target ERY-ARGs were detected in the wastewater samples ranging from 9.28 x 10(3) (ermA) to 1.83 x 10(8) (ereA) copies x L(-1) in raw influent. Though significant reductions (1.19 log-3.97 log) of ERY-ARGs were obtained, their concentrations found in the final effluent were still high. Moreover, the concentration of ERY-ARGs exhibited significant positive correlation with the concentration of erythromycin and triclosan (P < 0.05), respectively, elucidating that erythromycin played an important role in the occurrence and spread of ERY-ARGs, while triclosan may confer cross-selection for ERY-ARGs.

Sludge flocs morphology and effluent qualities of nonwoven bioreactor during filamentous bulking and normal sludge status were compared. Flux variations, analysis of filtration resistances and extracellular polymer substances (EPS) contents during filamentous bulking and normal sludge status were studied. The results showed that the average particle size of bulking sludge flocs and normal sludge flocs was 448.6 microm and 234.8 microm, respectively. During the bulking sludge status, the average COD and NH4(+) -N removal rate and effluent turbidity were 90.1%, 93.1% and 1.33 NTU, respectively, compared with 91.4% , 97.0% and 0.99 NTU during the normal sludge status. Filamentous bulking had little impact on COD removal, while it inhibited NH4(+) -N removal to a certain extent and had slight impact on effluent turbidity. Average membrane flux decay rates during the bulking sludge status and the normal sludge status were 3.29 L x (m2 x h2)(-1) and 4.87 L x (m2 x h2)(-1), respectively, and the fouling during bulking sludge status was slighter. Reversible fouling was the main fouling when sludge was bulking while irreversible fouling was the main fouling when the sludge was in normal status. The prior occurrence of reversible fouling could reduce irreversible fouling therefore slow down the flux decline. Soluble microbial products (SMP) contents in normal sludge mixed liquid and bulking sludge mixed liquid were 21.369 mg x L(-1) and 10.182 mg x L(-1), respectively, protein/polysaccharide (P/C) was 0.370 and 0.497, respectively, SMP gross was related to fouling resistance and P/C was associated with reversible fouling proportion. The relation between loosely bound EPS in mixed liquid sludge and membrane fouling was similar to SMP. Sludge with more EPS could accumulate on membrane more easily, and the EPS that accumulated on membrane was mainly protein. EPS gross in mixed liquid sludge, EPS in membrane surface sludge and their P/C all had positive correlations to reversible fouling.

Strain Pseudomonas sp. I-24 (I-24) cannot utilize iopromide (IOP) as the sole carbon and energy source, so different carbon sources (starch, malt sugar, glucose and glycerol) were used as the additional carbon sources to study their effects on I-24 growth and IOP degradation in flask tests. The results showed that the IOP degradation process by I-24 matched the first-order kinetics. Among these four co-substrates, starch was found to be the most efficient to enhance IOP degradation. The corresponding degradation efficiency was as high as 92.7% and the highest enzymatic activity of 0.182 mU appeared in the third day. The optimum starch concentration was 1 g x L(-1). Since glucose and malt sugar better promoted I-24 growth and electron transport system activity (ETSA), indicating that the IOP degradation process would probably be restrained by excess growth, which decreased the degradation efficiency of IOP. In addition, no direct correlation between ETSA and co-metabolism process was found. The detected enzymatic activity of I-24 in control sample indicated that the key enzymes could be still induced in low-concentration of co-substrates.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic value of serum beta-hydroxybutyrate (betaOHB) in diabetic ketosis or diabetic ketoacidosis., Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of clinical data, in West China Hospital from May 2011 to May 2013, of 1 209 patients with non-ketosis diabetics (DM group), 262 patients with diabetic ketosis or diabetic ketoacidosis (DK/DKA group), and 480 healthy people undergoing routine medical examinations (normal control group). Logistic regression analyses and ROC curves were performed in determining the diagnostic value of betaOHB for DK/DKA., Results: The level of serum betaOHB was much higher in the DK/DKA patients than that of the participants in the DM group and normal control group (P < 0.01). The serum betaOHB turned negative earlier than urine ketone (P < 0.01) in the DK/DKA patients. The logistic regression analysis indicated that betaOHB was one of the independent risk factors for DK/DKA. The betaOHB had an area under of 0.975 in ROC curve, with 1 mmol/L [sensitivity (Sen.) 85.1%, specificity (Spe.) 95. 3%, positive predictive value (PV+) 80.36%, negative predictive value (PV-) 96.89%] as a diagnostic point for DK/DKA and 0.66 mmol/L (Sen. 95%, Spe. 89.2%, PV+ 66.41%, PV- 99.9%) as a screening point., Conclusion: Diabetic patients with a level or higher than 1 mmol/L serum betaOHB can accurately predict DK/DKA. Patients with a level or lower than 0.66 mmol/L serum betaOHB are unlikely to have DK/DKA.

Objective: To determine the association of procalcitonin (PCT) with trauma severity and post traumatic sepsis in children., Methods: The blood samples of 30 children with acute trauma in a Pediatric unit were collected for four consecutive days. The levels of PCT, IL-6, CRP and WBC were measured. The pediatric trauma score (PTS), length of stay in hospital, incidence of sepsis and clinical outcomes of the children were recorded. The value of PCT for predicting prognosis of children with trauma was compared with other inflammatory markers., Results: Plasma PCT levels increased significantly in the patients in our study. Sepsis occurred in 23.33% of the patients. The patients with sepsis had higher levels of PCT than those with and without systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and the healthy controls (P < 0.05). The peak level of PCT emerged on day 2 after trauma. The plasma PCT levels were positively correlated with trauma severity. The level of PCT on day 2 was an independent predictor for post-trauma sepsis and SIRS., Conclusion: Plasma PCT levels increase markedly in post trauma children. Plasma PCT of day 2 after trauma is an independent predictor of post-traumatic sepsis and SIRS complications. There is a significant correlation between the severity of injury and plasma PCT.

Enhancement of semi-aerobic landfill performance through a cowl installed on the gas ventilation pipeline using a simulated landfill box with 2 m x 1 m x 2 m in size was investigated, aiming at the maximum methane emission reduction. Influence of cowl on semi-aerobic environment formation was explored, and variety of methane and carbon dioxide concentrations at different wind speeds and mechanism of cowl operation were identified to provide information on design and improvement of semi-aerobic landfill. The results show that the cowl speeds up the semi-aerobic environment to shape, from over 50 days down to approximately 40 days, and reduces methane emission by promoting methane transformation to carbon dioxide. When the cowl is taken off suddenly during the normal operation, carbon dioxide concentration falls to 15.88% from the initial 16.67% immediately, and methane concentration increases to 16.12% from 6.14%. However, the carbon dioxide and methane concentration becomes 19.18% and 10.05%, respectively, as the cowl is taken on again. Additionally, methane emissions in the exhaust gas were monitored at different wind speeds of 2.0, 3.5, 5.0, 6.5, 8.0 m/s, and finds that the methane concentration reduces from the initial 15% to below 5% when the wind speed increases from 2 m/s to 8 m/s.

Objective: To investigate whether the PJ interval in the patients with pre-excitation syndrome can be shortened by pathway conduction, and to explore the clinical implications of the prolonged PJ interval., Methods: 143 patients with single pathway, who experienced successful radiofrequency (RF) ablation, were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 132) with normal atrioventricular and ventricular conduction (sub-divided into 10 subsets further according to the location of the pathway) and Group B (n = 11) with first degree atrioventricular block or with bundle branch block. The ECG images with and without pathway conduction were analyzed., Results: (1) The PJ interval in the patients with right posterior pathway or with right septal pathway was shortened significantly after the RF [(226 +/- 18) ms vs (236 +/- 19) ms and (221 +/- 18) ms vs (238 +/- 31) ms respectively, both P < 0.05 ]; (2) The PJ interval in Group B was shortened to different extents. The PJ interval values in 4 patients with first degree atrioventricular block were shortened, but still beyond normal extent. The PJ interval values in 4 patients with bundle branch block were shortened to normal extent., Conclusion: If the pre-excitation syndrome patients have normal atrioventricular conduction the PJ interval is normal or the PJ interval may be shortened. If the patients have prolonged atrioventricular conduction, the PJ interval may be shortened by the pathway prograde conduction. PJ interval prolongation indicates atrioventricular conduction delay or ventricular conduction block, but bundle branch block cannot be excluded when the PJ interval is normal.

Objective: To observe the performance of liver metastases with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and assess its clinical application., Methods: Twenty-one patients with 21 untreated liver metastases underwent CEUS with low mechanical index imaging. The characteristic appearances of CEUS in different vascular phases were observed., Results: Of 21 metastases, 19 (90.5%) were identified as fast-in and fast-out enhancement pattern. In the arterial phase, all the 21 lesions showed enhancement but with varied appearances: 12 (57.1%) showed early diffuse enhancement, 8 (38.1%) showed ring-like enhancement, and the remaining one lesion of large size showed slowly enhomogenous minor enhancement. In the late phase, sharp defects were found in 20 lesions (95.2%), and more lesions were detected in 3 patients (14.3%)., Conclusion: CEUS can show the characteristic appearance of liver metastases, and can be used for the screening and diagnosis of liver cancers.

Objective: To observe the patterns of benign and malignant breast lesions using real-time gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasound and assess its value in the differential diagnosis of begign and malignant breast tumors., Methods: Totally 116 breast lesions (benignity n = 63; malignancy n = 53) underwent real-time gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The patterns of their enhancement were assessed from 6 aspects: degree of enhancement, process of enhancement, completeness of enhancement, homogeneity of enhancement, boundary of the enhanced lesions, and exhistance of radial enhancement around the lesions. The results were compared with the pathologic findings., Results: Contrast-enhanced sonographic patterns were significantly different between benign and malignant breast lesions. Most malignant lesions were non-centripetally, incompletely, and inhomogeneously enhanced. After having been injected with the microbubble contrast medium, the boundary of the lesions became unclear, and the radial enhancement around lesion were mainly seen in the malignant lesions., Conclusion: The patterns of real-time gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasound are remarkably different between malignant and benign breast lesions, showing promising values for its clinical application.