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Background Changes in the protein composition of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles induce a shift in their electronegativity, a phenomenon implicated in both pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic signalling (1). While high levels of LDL foster the build-up of atherosclerotic plaques, and as such the susceptibility for the development of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), LDL levels assessed at the time of presentation fail to associate with fatal events following the index event (2). Experimental data suggest that altered LDL electronegativity exerts functional effects on both the myocardium and vasculature (1,3). Purpose We aimed to study the association between LDL electronegativity, assessed at the time of acute presentation, and all-cause mortality following the index ACS. Methods We designed a case-cohort study in 2'619 ACS patients prospectively recruited in the investigator-driven, multicentre SPUM-ACS study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01000701). Plasma LDL levels were quantified at baseline and LDL was chromatographically resolved into 5 subfractions (L1-L5), with the L1/L5 ratio serving as a proxy for overall LDL electronegativity. By employing least-squares ordinary regression models determinants of plasma L1, L5, and the L1/5 ratio were studied, and the association with mortality of both LDL levels and its electronegativity were estimated using weighted Cox regression models. Results Cases and controls showed similar lipid profiles, but distinct LDL electronegativity, demonstrated by an increase in the L1/L5 ratio in cases vs. controls (P Conclusions In contemporary patients with ACS, LDL electronegativity independently predicts fatal events after the acute event, while LDL levels do not. Our results suggest that LDL quality rather than quantity provides predictive utility for premature death within 1 year after the index ACS. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Swiss National Science FoundationSwiss Heart FoundationTheodor-Ida Herzog StiftungFoundation for Cardiovascular Research – Zurich Heart House

On February 6, 2017, one male patient aged 25 years with total burn area of 99% total body surface area (TBSA) and full-thickness burn area of 95% TBSA was transferred from a primary hospital to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine one day post injury. On admission, the patient was clearly conscious, with tracheotomy ventilator assisted ventilation, and received rehydration, antishock, anti-infection, nutritional support, debridement, skin grafting, and negative pressure treatment. During the hospitalization, the patient was in critical condition and 28 central venous catheterizations and 1 peripherally inserted central catheter were performed.Based on multidisciplinary cooperation and on the premise of full risk assessment, nurses focused on strengthening the nursing of central venous catheter related infection. The measures for central venous catheter care were improved after detection of carbapenems resistant2017年2月6日，浙江大学医学院附属第二医院收治1例25岁烧伤总面积99%体表总面积(TBSA)男性患者。患者伤后1 d由基层医院转入，其中Ⅲ度烧伤面积达95%TBSA。入院时患者意识清楚，气管切开呼吸机辅助通气，实施补液抗休克、抗感染及营养支持，清创植皮负压治疗等处理。住院期间病情危重，先后行28次中心静脉置管术和1次经外周穿刺中心静脉导管置入术。护士依托多学科合作，在做好充分风险评估的前提下，重点加强中心静脉导管相关性感染的护理，导管尖端附着物、创面分泌物和血微生物培养检出抗碳青霉烯类抗生素肺炎克雷伯菌后，改良中心静脉导管护理措施。积极预防中心静脉导管周围血栓形成。在翻身床使用、浸浴治疗、患者躁动期间重点做好非计划性拔管的预防。入院第171天，静脉治疗专科护士在右上臂瘢痕形成处行经外周穿刺中心静脉导管置入术，留置55 d后拔除导管，患者康复出院。随访18个月，恢复良好。.

On January 31, 2018, a 21-year-old male patient with extremely severe burn-blast combined injury complicated with acute kidney injury caused by dust explosion of crospovidone was admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The following nursing measures were carried out, aiming at the condition of the patient. We strengthened the management of fluid intake and output volume, prevented hypothermia and unplanned disembarkation during the period of continuous renal replacement therapy with burn shock and acute kidney injury. For traumatic pneumothorax, we took a good care of the closed chest drainage tube and implemented a ventilation strategy of low tide and low positive end expiratory pressure. During the infection with carbapenem-resistant2018年1月31日，浙江大学医学院附属第二医院收治1例交联聚维酮粉尘爆炸致特重度烧冲复合伤并发急性肾损伤的21岁男性患者。针对患者的病情，落实下列护理措施：烧伤休克期合并急性肾损伤行连续性肾脏替代治疗期间，加强液体出入量管理、防范低体温和非计划下机；针对创伤性气胸做好胸腔闭式引流管护理，实施低潮气量、低呼气末正压的通气策略；感染耐碳青霉烯类抗生素肺炎克雷伯菌期间优化监护室环境消毒、做好多黏菌素B药物护理。经过71 d综合治疗和护理，患者康复出院。本病例提示，针对特重度烧冲复合伤患者的肾功能、肺功能情况，实施个体化治疗和护理措施有助于提高该类患者的治愈率，并改善预后。.

On February 11, 2019, a 37-year-old female patient with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders was admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and her acute osteomyelitis was caused by infection of multiple pressure ulcer wounds with2019年2月11日，浙江大学医学院附属第二医院收治1例37岁的视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病女性患者，其因多处压疮创面感染金黄色葡萄球菌引起急性骨髓炎。对其进行多学科协作诊疗，护士重点做好激素减量治疗期间视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病症候群的严密观察，警惕病情反跳；根据诊疗方案，分阶段落实创面护理，保持有效引流，确保负压合适，加强营养以促进创面愈合。经过积极治疗和精心护理，患者于入院后第39天康复出院。.

Some studies have confirmed that long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) played a vital role in the pathophysiology of various diseases, especially in oncogenesis and progression of tumors. Dysexpressed lncRNAs regulate different cellular processes, including proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical significance and function of lncRNA MIR4435-2HG in colorectal cancer.Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression of lncRNA MIR4435-2HG. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the overall survival and disease-free survival of patients with colorectal cancer. The cell proliferation was measured by Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The cell apoptotic rate was measured via flow cytometry method.LncRNA MIR4435-2HG is a novel cancer-related lncRNA that was recently found to exhibit high expression in colorectal cancer. The dysregulation of lncRNA miR4435-2HG was significantly related to the tumor size (p0.001), lymph node metastasis (p0.001), and tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging (p=0.022). The patients with higher expression of lncRNA miR4435-2HG showed worse prognosis than those with low expression of lncRNA miR4435-2HG group. Besides, the downregulated lncRNA miR4435-2HG expression could repress cell proliferation and enhance cell apoptosis.LncRNA MIR4435-2HG functions as an oncogene that promotes colorectal cancer progression, and likely represents a biomarker or therapeutic target of colorectal cancer.

Aim After extended left colectomy, traditional colorectal anastomosis is often not feasible because of insufficient length of the remaining colon to perform a tension-free anastomosis. Total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis could be an alternative but this can lead to unsatisfactory quality of life. Trans-mesenteric colorectal anastomosis or inverted right colonic transposition (the so-called Deloyers procedure) are two possible solutions for creating a tension-free colorectal anastomosis after extended left colectomy. Few studies have reported their results of these two techniques and mostly via laparotomy. The aim of this study was to describe the trans-mesenteric colorectal anastomosis and the inverted right colonic transposition procedure via a laparoscopic approach and report the outcome in a series of 13 consecutive patients. Method This was retrospective chart review of laparoscopic colorectal surgery with trans-mesenteric colorectal anastomosis or the inverted right colonic transposition procedure from January 2015 up to 2019. An accompanying video demonstrates these two techniques. Results Thirteen consecutive patients underwent either a laparoscopic trans-mesenteric colorectal anastomosis (n = 9) or an inverted right colonic transposition procedure (n = 4). One patient had intra-operative presacral bleeding that was stopped successfully without conversion. Two patients had a postoperative intra-abdominal abscess, but no anastomotic complications were recorded. The median number of bowel movements per day after 6 months was 2 (range 2-5). Conclusions Trans-mesenteric colorectal anastomosis or the inverted right colonic transposition procedure is feasible laparoscopically. The now well-established classical advantages of the laparoscopic approach are associated with good functional outcome after these procedures.

A 44 years old male patient suffered from flame burn of 20% total body surface area was admitted to our hospital on February 14th, 2018. On admission, his abdominal CT was not obviously abnormal. Eleven hours after burn, the patient had left upper abdominal pain, accompanied by reduction of urine output. Then he suffered from sudden hypotension and hypoglycemia. Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed by abdominal CT reexamination. Low glucose level was ameliorated slowly through positive rescue, and pancreatitis crisis progressed rapidly. The family members gave up rescue care, and patient discharged. The case indicates that physicians should pay attention to glucose levels of severe burn patients, and be cautious of appearance of postburn pancreatitis.2018年2月14日笔者单位收治1例火焰烧伤总面积为20%体表总面积的44岁男性患者。患者入院时腹部CT无明显异常，伤后11 h出现左上腹痛，伴尿量减少，后突发低血糖、低血压，复查腹部CT明确为急性胰腺炎，经积极抢救血糖恢复缓慢，胰腺炎病情进展迅速，家属放弃治疗，患者自动出院。该病例提示临床医师要关注严重烧伤患者的血糖水平变化，警惕患者并发伤后胰腺炎。.

On March 18, 2016, one 53 years old man with burns on perineal region and complicated by secondary multiple organ injuries by exposing to paraquat fluid was admitted to our department. Comprehensive treatment measures including protective mechanical ventilation, intensive care, vacuum sealing drainage, anti-infection, and organ protection were conducted sequentially. Through 33 days of comprehensive treatment and nursing, the patient's condition substantially improved and he left hospital. This case presents that paraquat fluid absorption through skin and mucosa can also lead to severe systemic poisoning, and multiple organ protection is the key to improve the prognosis of this patient.2016年3月18日，笔者科室收治1例53岁男性会阴部百草枯烧伤并发多脏器损伤患者，行保护性机械通气、重症监护、负压封闭引流、抗感染及脏器保护等治疗。经过33 d综合治疗和护理，患者康复出院。本病例提示百草枯经皮肤黏膜吸收也可导致全身严重中毒，各脏器保护治疗是改善患者预后的关键。.

To elucidate the influence of microRNA-125a on the biological behaviors of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells.MicroRNA-125a mimic and negative control (NC) were constructed and transfected into AML cell line HL60, respectively. Cell viability of HL60 cells transfected with microRNA-125a mimic or NC was determined by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. Regulatory effects of microRNA-125a on enzyme activities of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-xl, caspase-3, and caspase-9 in HL60 cells were quantified by a spectrophotometry. Changes in apoptosis and invasion of HL60 cells overexpressing microRNA-125a were detected by flow cytometry and transwell assay, respectively. Protein levels of cell cycle genes (cyclin B, cdc-2, mdm-2), pro-apoptotic gene p53 and anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 in HL60 cells transfected with microRNA-125a mimic or NC were assessed by Western blot. Finally, the mRNA levels of Bax, caspase-8, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and c-myc in HL60 cells with microRNA-125a overexpression were determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR).MicroRNA-125a expression remarkably increased by transfection of microRNA-125a mimic into HL60 cells, suggesting its sufficient transfection efficacy. MTT assay revealed an inhibited viability after microRNA-125a overexpression. Transfection of microRNA-125a mimic markedly enhanced enzyme activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9, but reduced activities of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl in HL60 cells than controls (p0.05). Moreover, microRNA-125a overexpression elevated apoptotic rate as FCM data indicated. Transwell assay demonstrated a decrease in the invasive rate of HL60 cells overexpressing microRNA-125a. Western blot analyses revealed that cell cycle genes all downregulated by transfection of microRNA-125a mimic in HL60 cells. The protein level of p53 upregulated and Bcl-2 downregulated in HL60 cells overexpressing microRNA-125a (p0.05). Furthermore, mRNA levels of pro-apoptotic genes Bax and caspase-8 were enhanced after microRNA-125a overexpression, while mRNA levels of NF-κB and c-myc were reduced (p0.05).MicroRNA-125a inhibits proliferative and invasive potentials, arrests the cell cycle in the G2/M phase of AML cells by regulating the NF-κB pathway.

The spatially developing compressible plane mixing layer with a convective Mach number of 0.7 is investigated by direct numerical simulation. A pair of equal and opposite oblique instability waves is introduced to perturb the mixing layer at the inlet. The full evolution process of instability, including formation of $ \mrm{\Lambda} $-vortices and hairpin vortices, breakdown of large structures and establishment of self-similar turbulence, is presented clearly in the simulation. In the transition process, the flow fields are populated sequentially by $ \mrm{\Lambda} $-vortices, hairpin vortices and ‘flower’ structures. This is the first direct evidence showing the dominance of these structures in the spatially developing mixing layer. Hairpin vortices are found to play an important role in the breakdown of the flow. The legs of hairpin vortices first evolve into sheaths with intense vorticity then break up into small slender vortices. The later flower structures are produced by the instability of the heads of the hairpin vortices. They prevail for a long distance in the mixing layer until the flow starts to settle down into its self-similar state. The preponderance of slender inclined streamwise vortices is observed in the transversal middle zone of the transition region after the breakup of the hairpin legs. This predominance of streamwise vortices also persists in the self-similar turbulent region, though the vortices there are found to be relatively very weak. The evolution of both the mean streamwise velocity profile and the Reynolds stresses is found to have close connection to the behaviour of the large vortex structures. High growth rates of the momentum and vorticity thicknesses are observed in the transition region of the flow. The growth rates in the self-similar turbulence region decay to a value that agrees well with previous experimental and numerical studies. Shocklets occur in the simulation, and their formation mechanisms are elaborated and categorized. This is the first three-dimensional simulation that captures shocklets at this low convective Mach number.

This work aims at constructing efficient high-order hybrid schemes to resolve both smooth and discontinuous regions of flow fields. To this end, a new kind of smoothness indicator, referred to as global smoothness indicators in this article, is designed first. The new smoothness indicators contain only simple difference operators and, therefore, are computationally very inexpensive. A family of high-order hybrid schemes is constructed based on the new smoothness indicators. In this kind of hybrid scheme, classic weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) schemes with work as a sub-scheme for capturing the discontinuities, while the corresponding linear optimal schemes of the WENO work as another sub-scheme for resolving the smooth region. It is shown theoretically that the convergence rates of the hybrid schemes always can reach the optimal order as the mesh is refined past a limit resolution. The robustness, high efficiency and high resolution of the hybrid schemes are demonstrated through several repre...

The evolution of three-dimensional temporally evolving plane mixing layers under strong vortex disturbances is investigated by DNS method. The convective Mach number and the Reynolds number used is set to be 0.8 and 200. The isentropic vortex is chosen as the model for vortex disturbances. Three different directions of the vortex axis (streamwise, spanwise, and normal directions) are considered in the simulations. For comparison, the computation with linear unstable oblique waves as disturbances is also executed. The results show that in the case of the streamwise vortex disturbance, significant increase in vorticity thickness can be found only in the early stage of development. In the case of the normal vortex disturbance, a high growth rate of the plane mixing layer is kept all the time, while in the linear wave case saturation occurs in the later stage of the simulation and the vorticity thickness stops increasing further. In the case of the spanwise vortex disturbance, the flow is quite quiet and the vorticity thickness attains the lowest growth rate.

This paper presents a new family of high-order compact upwind difference schemes. Unknowns included in the proposed schemes are not only the values of the function but also those of its first and higher derivatives. Derivative terms in the schemes appear only on the upwind side of the stencil. One can calculate all the first derivatives exactly as one solves explicit schemes when the boundary conditions of the problem are non-periodic. When the proposed schemes are applied to periodic problems, only periodic bi-diagonal matrix inversions or periodic block-bi-diagonal matrix inversions are required. Resolution optimization is used to enhance the spectral representation of the first derivative, and this produces a scheme with the highest spectral accuracy among all known compact schemes. For non-periodic boundary conditions, boundary schemes constructed in virtue of the assistant scheme make the schemes not only possess stability for any selective length scale on every point in the computational domain but also satisfy the principle of optimal resolution. Also, an improved shock-capturing method is developed. Finally, both the effectiveness of the new hybrid method and the accuracy of the proposed schemes are verified by executing four benchmark test cases.

The SnO2 thin film CO gas sensors have been fabricated on silicon nanostructured surface made using a femtosecond pulsed laser irradiation. The measurement shows a significant response to the CO gas at room temperature. While a SnO2 sensor fabricated on a flat surface shows no response when CO gas exists at room temperature. The high area/volume ratio and sharp structures of the nanospikes enhance the sensitivity of SnO2 at room temperature.

Species conservation equations for SF6+, SF6-, and electrons have been solved by the method of MacCormack with a Shuman filter and by the flux corrected transport (FCT) method. A detailed comparison of numerical results with analytical solutions to species conservation equations shows that in order to achieve the same accuracy the grid size required by both methods is the same. Compared with the FCT method, the algorithms of MacCormack's method with Shuman filter are the simpler and computational costs are lower.

Ni and Fe L3,2-edge magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and Cr K-edge x-ray absorption near-edge structure measurements have been performed for the Py/Cr(tCr)/Py (Py=Ni80Fe20) trilayers with tCr=5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 A. The MCD asymmetry ratios in the Ni and Fe L3-edges spectra are found strongly affected by the thickness of the Cr layer. The moments of the Fe and Ni 3d states are found, respectively, to decrease and increase suddenly when tCr increases beyond 20 A. The measured magneto-optical Kerr effect hysteresis loops show a ferromagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic phase transition at about the same Cr-layer thickness. The transition of the magnetic property is found to correlate with the structural transition of the Cr spacer layer from a pseudomorphic fcc-like structure to a bcc structure.

A complete dataset is presented for the modes of vibration of LnCl 3− 6 in Cs 2 NaLnCl 6 , from low temperature Raman and vibronic spectroscopy. Conventional force constant calculations with this dataset are unsatisfactory since, although the datafits are quite good, the physical significance of the derived force constant parameters is not clear in all cases. A parameterization of 30 vibrational wavenumbers at a time, comprising five datasets of six modes of vibration, enables the relative importance of the GVFF interaction force constants to be ascertained. The trans stretch—stretch force constant is about 2.5 times larger than the cis interaction constant, and the angle—angle interaction constants all have comparable magnitudes. However, the same ratios for the magnitudes of the interaction force constants fail to provide a satisfactory datafit for PrBr 3− 6 in Cs 2 NaPrBr 6 . This is attributed to the stronger trans directing influence of the bromide ligand than the chloride ligand, and an increased ratio for the trans/cis stretching interaction force constant provides a more satisfactory fit. Datasets are also presented for LnF 3− 6 and Cs 2 LiLnCl 6 . The nature of the cation A in Cs 2 ALnCl 6 appreciably modifies the moiety mode vibrational wavenumbers.

Three-dimensional direct numerical simulations are performed for the spatiallydeveloping plane mixing layer at concevtive Mach number 1.2. The shocks are generated by organized vortex structures and turbulent motions after the breakdown of large structures into small vortices. A simple and effective criterion based on dilation is used for shock identification. The 3-D view of shocks are obtained. It is shown that the origin of most of shocks in the mixing layer is closely bound up with vortices. Different types of shocks are illustrated based on their different generation mechanisms.

Kinetin has been shown to have anti-aging effects on several different systems including plants and human cells. The aim of this study was to examine the detailed inhibitory mechanisms of kinetin in platelet aggregation. In this study, kinetin concentration-dependently (50-150 microM) inhibited platelet aggregation in human platelets stimulated by agonists. Kinetin (70 and 150 microM) also concentration-dependently inhibited intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and phosphoinositide breakdown in platelets stimulated by collagen (1 microg/ml). Kinetin (70 and 150 microM) significantly inhibited thromboxane A2 formation stimulated by collagen (1 microg/ml) and arachidonic acid (60 microM) in human platelets. In addition, kinetin (70 and 150 microM) significantly increased the formation of cyclic AMP. Intracellular pH values were measured spectrofluorometrically using the fluorescent probe BCECF-AM in platelets. The thrombin-evoked increase in pHi was markedly inhibited in the presence of kinetin (70 and 150 microM). Rapid phosphorylation of a platelet protein of molecular weight (Mr) 47000 (P47), a marker of protein kinase C activation, was triggered by collagen (1 microg/ml). This phosphorylation was inhibited by kinetin (70 and 150 microM). In conclusion, these results indicate that the anti-platelet activity of kinetin may be involved in the following pathways: kinetin's effects may initially be due to inhibition of the activation of phospholipase C and the Na+/H+ exchanger. This leads to lower intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, followed by inhibition of TxA2 formation and then increased cyclic AMP formation, followed by a further inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchanger, ultimately resulting in markedly decreased intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and phosphorylation of P47. These results suggest that kinetin has an effective anti-platelet effect and that it may be a potential therapeutic agent for arterial thrombosis.

There is substantial evidence of increased platelet reactivity in vivo and in vitro during pregnancy, with the risk of developing pre-eclampsia. In this study, platelet function was studied during 28-40 weeks of gestation in a group of women who remained normotensive and in a group of nonpregnant female controls. Platelet aggregation stimulated by thrombin and adenosine diphosphate was markedly enhanced in washed platelets from pregnant subjects. Thrombin (0.04 U/ml)-evoked increases in intracellular Ca+2 mobilization of Fura 2-AM-loaded platelets were also enhanced in pregnant subjects. The binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-triflavin (2 microg/ml) to the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex in thrombin-activated platelets did not differ significantly between the nonpregnant and pregnant groups. Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) formation in both resting and thrombin-activated platelets from pregnant subjects was significantly greater than from nonpregnant subjects. Levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in both resting and prostaglandin E1-treated platelets (10 micromol/l) from pregnant subjects were significantly lower than those from nonpregnant subjects. There were no significant differences between nonpregnant and pregnant subjects in platelet cAMP levels in the presence of imidazole (600 micromol/l) and indomethacin (500 micromol/l). Intracellular pH values in platelets were measured spectrofluorometrically using the fluorescent probe, BCECF-AM. The increase in intracellular pH stimulated by thrombin (0.04 U/ml) in pregnant subjects was markedly greater than that in observed nonpregnant subjects. We conclude that the agonist-induced hyperaggregability of platelets in normal pregnancy may be due, at least partly, to stimulation of the Na+/H+ exchanger and subsequently to elevated intracellular Ca+2 mobilization, and then to increased TXA2 formation and a lowered level of cAMP, which leads to further increases in intracellular Ca+2 mobilization, and finally to enhanced platelet aggregation.

Current assessment of regional left ventricular function with electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging is generally performed by visual inspection. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a new computer algorithm for quantifying regional left ventricular wall thickening on ECG-gated SPECT images.Regional wall thickening was measured from count density changes during the cardiac cycle observed in 24-sector circumferential count distribution profiles generated from each of 8 frames of an ECG-gated SPECT study. Wall thickening was expressed as the percent count increase during systole relative to end diastole. The program was tested in a phantom simulation and in patient studies consisting of a pilot study (n = 40) and a validation study (n = 33). In the phantom study varying degrees of wall thickening were simulated. The pilot study included 20 normal subjects with low likelihood (3%) of coronary disease and 20 patients with prior myocardial infarction. Mean wall thickening - 2 standard deviations, measured in normal subjects, defined the lower limit of normal wall thickening. This criterion was tested in the validation study in 13 normal subjects and 20 patients with prior myocardial infarction. Abnormal wall thickening was characterized by extent (percent of circumferential profile) and severity (minimal thickening).The phantom study showed excellent linear correlation between wall thickening computed by the new software and actual wall thickening (r = 0.98). Interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility of quantitative assessment of minimal wall thickening were excellent (r = 0.98 and 0.99, P.001). Regional wall thickening varied considerably from apex to base in the same ventricle among normal subjects. The average lower limit of normal wall thickening was 25% to 30% at the apex, 19% to 24% in the mid-ventricle, and 13% to 20% at the base of the left ventricle. In the validation study 11 of 13 normal subjects had wall thickening profiles within the pre-defined normal range. All 20 patients with prior myocardial infarction had abnormal regional wall thickening. Minimal regional wall thickening in the infarct areas was 5.4% +/- 5.5%, compared with 30.1% +/- 9.1% wall thickening in comparable anatomic areas in normal subjects (P.001).Regional wall thickening can be quantified reliably from regional count density changes during the cardiac cycle on ECG-gated SPECT images. The new software measured the extent and severity of abnormal regional wall thickening relative to normal files. The method is highly reproducible. Clinical validation showed good differentiation between normal subjects and patients with prior infarction. Quantification of regional wall thickening may enhance diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility of interpretation of gated SPECT imaging.

Quantification of single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) images is generally based on determination of maximal counts on radial sectors of short-axis slices. We hypothesized that analysis of mean counts may reduce estimation error.We compared quantitative 99mTc-labeled sestamibi (MIBI) SPECT based on maximal myocardial counts with that based on mean myocardial counts for accuracy of quantifying relative regional myocardial perfusion in a canine model of permanent left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. MIBI and radiolabeled microspheres were injected during left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. Relative microsphere myocardial blood flow was expressed as a percentage of normal (left circumflex coronary artery territory) blood flow. SPECT imaging was performed in vivo and ex vivo. Relative MIBI uptake on SPECT short-axis slices was quantified with normalized circumferential profiles based on maximal and mean counts. In vivo and ex vivo SPECT relative myocardial count density was compared to relative myocardial blood flow in six dogs. In the comparisons, percent errors in estimating the relative blood flow and relative flow deficit with MIBI SPECT imaging were calculated. There was an excellent correlation between absolute myocardial tissue MIBI activity and regional myocardial blood flow for each of the six dogs (r = 0.90 to 0.98). The correlations between relative myocardial count density on SPECT and relative blood flow for individual sectors were similar for maximal and mean count profiles (maximal, 0.79 to 0.83; mean, 0.77 to 0.82). Comparing the nadirs of in vivo and ex vivo circumferential count profiles, the correlations were slightly better (maximal, 0.82 to 0.91; mean, 0.87 to 0.91). Average percent errors in assessing relative blood flow and relative flow deficit were decreased significantly by use of mean count profiles (p0.05).Relative SPECT count density with either maximal or mean count profiles correlated well with relative myocardial blood flow. Compared with maximal count profiles, quantification with mean count profiles improved estimation of relative flow.

Using cell surface markers and a panel of monoclonal antibodies, 515 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were immunophenotyped. T cell type ALL (T-ALL), non-T cell type ALL (Non-T-ALL) including common ALL (C-ALL), Null-ALL and B cell type ALL (B-ALL) were found. These major subtypes of ALL were further divided according to their phenotypes in detail. It was noticed that the phenotypes of these subtypes of ALL reflected basically the phenotypes of normal T or B cells at various differentiation stages or certain population of lymphocytes. The diagnosis of cell lineage was more precise when based on immunophenotyping than morphological description. The combination of morphological and immunological classification can improve the diagnosis of acute leukemias. In addition, it was observed that the immunophenotyping was relevant to clinicopathologic features, responses to therapy and prognosis of ALL patients. The incidences of major subtypes of ALL, the age distribution of ALL subsets and male sex bias with T-ALL in Chinese are discussed.

The immunophenotype of leukemicblasts from 111 patients with T-ALL or T-NHL were further examined by using a panel of standardized McAbs of CD nomenclature to human leukocyte differentiation antigens. Four major subsets of T-ALL were defined: pre T-ALL, immature T-ALL (I), common T-ALL (II) and mature T-ALL (III), with the percentages 20.7%, 20.7%, 20.7% and 37.0% respectively. In addition there was a case with M-T acute hybrid leukemia. Some of the clinical features of the patients with T-ALL and T-NHL were compared. It was found that male predominance, older age, higher leukocyte count, lower platelet level, relative higher hemoglobin level and increased incidence of extramedullary involvement, including hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy were alike for all subsets of T-ALL cases. However, the average white cell level and incidence of lymphadenopathy in the pre T-ALL subset significantly differed from those in other subsets. The correlation of immunophenotype with morphologic characterization was also discussed in this paper.

The majority of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy show hippocampal sclerosis, which pathologically represents neuronal loss and gliosis. We studied volumetric neuronal density on a representative mid to mid-posterior level slice of hippocampi surgically removed from intractable temporal lobe epilepsy cases, and compared the results between 25 non-tumor epilepsy (NTE) cases and 5 tumor-associated epilepsy (TAE) cases. Eleven age-matched non-epileptic autopsy cases were studied as controls. Cells were counted in the CA1 through CA4 fields and the stratum granulosum of the dentate fascia. In NTE every hippocampal field showed statistically significant loss of neurons, the neuronal density in each field ranging from 35% to 50% of that of control. The mean neuronal density between the TAE and NTE groups also showed statistically significant differences in all hippocampal fields. The neuronal density of hippocampal fields of NTE ranged from 43% to 58% of that of TAE. Tumor-associated epilepsy cases, however, failed to show any statistically significant deviation from the control in their neuronal density. The etiology of the difference in neuronal density between the TAE and NTE groups is discussed.

The state of antibody production and the tissue and species specificities together with the sperm immobilizing action of various antibodies in rabbits were examined after immunization with pig's sperm. Before the immunization, the titers of various antibodies against pig's sperm seemed to be generally higher in male than in virgin female, but they became no obvious difference between the two sexes after the immunization. Precipitins of the sera obtained by immunizing rabbits with pig's spermatozoa extract reacted not only with pig's spermatozoa extract but also with heterologous spermatozoa extract to moderate degree, but no cross reaction with pig's serum or heterologous serum was visible, and it was not associated with the sperm immobilization. The sperm-microagglutinin obtained by immunization with pig's spermatozoa showed strong species specificity and moderate tissue specificity. The motility of the sperm was not obviously inhibited by sperm agglutinin. The titer of it was the highest among the immune antibodies, but there are problems in detecting the specific antibody because spontaneous sperm agglutination is common and it is difficult to determine whether the agglutination is due to antisperm antibody or to a nonspecific factor. The evidence that strong tissue and species specific sperm-immobilizing antibody could be produced by immunizing rabbits with heterologous pig's sperm in both sexes gives us the confidence that sperm immobilization by immunization of both sexes with homologous sperm could contribute to human population control in the future.

In order to extend the usage range of a cascade having excellent aerodynamic performance, it is beneficial to investigate the similarity between different flow fields. Von Karman gave transonic similarity law of two-dimensional isolated airfoils many years ago. However, the law of cascades is still different from that of airfoils. This paper points out that, to guarantee similarity between two flow fields around cascades, it is necessary that five corresponding transonic similarity parameters must be kept equal. Also some examples have been presented in this paper for demonstration. They indicate that the similarity law will help us to obtain rapidly many similar transonic flow fields around cascades at different operating conditions from a known flow field around a given cascade.Copyright © 1981 by ASME

100 pieces of renal tissue from 4 patients with renal artery stenosis were studied histologically. Juxtaglomerular cells were found not only in the region close to the glomerulus but also in the proximal 2/3 of the afferent arteriole of the glomerulus, but not in the interlobular arterioles. In the cytoplasm of juxtaglomerular cells, three kinds of granules were found: crystalline granules (immature), the round or ovoid granules (mature), and the lobulated granules (fusion). Renin was synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and packaged in the Golgi complex. Electron microscopic findings suggested that the secretory microvesicles were produced on the surface of Golgi complex. They fused to form primary crystalline granules, which were enlarged by renin supplied by transportation vesicles and finally formed typical crystalline granules. The mature renin granules (round or ovoid) moved toward the periphery of the cytoplasma. Their limiting membranes on the side toward the basement membrane disintegrated and formed microvesicular bodies passing through the periplasm, and the basement membrane and were discharged into the interstitial matrix.