Analysis of the Surface Ozone During Summer and Autumn at a Coastal Site in East China

The levels and temporal variations of surface ozone at a coastal site in East China during summer and autumn were analyzed and the influences of meteorological parameters on ozone were investigated. An inland city was chosen as a comparison site. The main results and conclusions of this study are: (1) ozone pollution, with a maximum 1 h concentration of 150.98 ppbv, was severe during summer and autumn at the coastal site; (2) the ozone level was obviously higher at the coastal site than that at the inland site in September; (3) besides temperature and solar radiation, sea-land breeze circulation is an important factor influencing the ozone level at the coastal site, and sea breeze often induce high ozone levels (the average ozone concentration for sea breeze was about 13 ppbv higher than that for land breeze).     

Characteristics of antibody responses in tick-borne encephalitis vaccination breakthroughs

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus is an important human pathogenic flavivirus that is endemic in Europe and Asia. The disease can be effectively prevented by inactivated vaccines and vaccination breakthroughs (VBTs) are rare. We investigated the characteristics of antibody responses in such VBTs in comparison to those in unvaccinated TBE patients. In contrast to the unvaccinated controls, most of the VBTs displayed a delayed IgM antibody response and had high avidity and strongly neutralizing antibodies already in the first sample taken upon hospitalization. The antibody profile of these patients therefore had the characteristics of an anamnestic immune response. In the VBTs analyzed, immunological priming and memory were apparently not sufficient or fast enough to prevent the disease.     

Presence of lysine at aa 335 of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein of mumps virus vaccine strain Urabe AM9 is not a requirement for neurovirulence

The recent global resurgence of mumps has drawn attention to the continued need for robust mumps immunization programs. Unfortunately, some vaccines derived from inadequately attenuated vaccine strains of mumps virus have caused meningitis in vaccinees, leading to withdrawal of certain vaccine strains from the market, public resistance to vaccination, or in some cases, cessation of national mumps vaccination programs. The most widely implicated mumps vaccine in cases of postvaccination meningitis is derived from the Urabe AM9 strain, which remains in use in some countries. The Urabe AM9 vaccine virus has been shown to exhibit a considerable degree of nucleotide and amino acid heterogeneity. Some studies have specifically implicated variants containing a lysine residue at amino acid position 335 in the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein with neurotoxicity, whereas a glutamic acid residue at this position was associated with attenuation. To test this hypothesis we generated two modified Urabe AM9 cDNA clones coding either for a lysine or a glutamic acid at position 335 in the HN gene. The two viruses were rescued by reverse genetics and characterized in vitro and in vivo. Both viruses exhibited similar growth kinetics in neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines and were of similar neurotoxicity when tested in rats, suggesting that amino acid 335 is not a crucial determinant of Urabe AM9 growth or neurovirulence.     

A CT-free, intra-operative planning and navigation system for minimally invasive anterior spinal surgery - an accuracy study.

OBJECTIVE: A comprehensive study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of a newly developed CT-free, intra-operative planning and navigation system for anterior spine surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Instruments and an image intensifier were tracked using the SurgiGATE navigation system. A laboratory study was performed on 27 plastic vertebrae. Fiducial markers were implanted in the vertebrae for accuracy evaluation purposes, and a dynamic reference base was placed on the vertebrae to establish a patient coordinate system (P-COS). Two fluoroscopic images were used for intra-operative planning. The graft bed plan was recorded in P-COS, followed by surgical formation of the graft bed, which was visualized. To evaluate the accuracy, the vertebrae were scanned with CT, and the markers were used to calculate an accurate paired-point registered transformation between the CT coordinate system and P-COS. RESULTS: Using the new SPO module, accurate planning and navigation of a resection of the vertebral body is possible using two fluoroscopic images. The overall mean error between the planned resection volume and the actual resection was 0.98 mm. In addition, the module can serve as an educational tool for training spine surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: The new fluoroscopy-based system can be used safely for accurate performance of anterior resection during spondylodesis. New methods for safe and accurate registration during anterior spine surgery need to be developed.     

HBV转录激活蛋白HBx、MHBst78MHBst155真核重组载体构建

目的分别构建人乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)X蛋白、羧基端截断的中分子表面蛋白MHBst78、MHBst155编码基因的真核重组表达载体,以便进一步研究其转录激活功能及对宿主细胞信号传导通路的影响。方法设计合成3对寡核苷酸引物,以adr亚型HBV质粒pHBVDNA为模板,采用PCR法分别扩增HBVX基因、MHBst78与MHBst155编码基因片段;用HindⅢ,KpnⅠ双酶切HBVⅩ基因;用HindⅢ和BamHⅠ双酶切MHBst78与MHBst155编码基因片段后,分别定向插入到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1相应酶切位点,转化宿主菌JM109,提取质粒,分别用上述内切酶酶切及DNA测序鉴定重组质粒。结果酶切重组体显示所切下的片段大小均与预计相符,测序结果与文献报道序列及预计结果一致。结论成功构建了HBVX基因、羧基端截断的HBV中分子表面蛋白MHBst78、MHBst155编码基因的真核重组表达载体,为进一步研究HBV转录激活蛋白HBx、MHBst78MHBst155对宿主细胞信号转导通路的影响奠定基础。     

肾上腺区神经节细胞瘤(附18例报告)

目的较全面的了解神经节细胞瘤的临床特点及治疗方法。方法回顾性分析18例病理确诊的神经节细胞瘤患者临床表现、实验室检查、影像学检查和治疗效果。结果15例是无临床症状的影像学偶然发现病例,内分泌检查均在正常范围;另外3例以阵发性高血压为主要临床表现,其中1例尿儿茶酚胺升高,肾上腺髄质显像(MIBG)阳性。18例B型超声检查均为低回声;13例CT平扫见散在点状高密度影,12例CT增强扫描肿瘤周边强化明显。手术前诊断为嗜铬细胞瘤12例,神经节细胞瘤4例,肾上腺无功能腺瘤2例。18例行肿瘤切除,随访6个月~7年,高血压症状消失,2例肿瘤复发。结论肾上腺区神经节细胞瘤与肾上腺髄质肿瘤难以鉴别,综合各项影像学检查对诊断有较高的参考价值。手术治疗是唯一的有效方法。     

Obesity: determinants and therapeutic initiatives.

There are several possible determinants of obesity, including impaired thermogenesis and the differential utilization of fuels in different tissues. Whereas hypometabolism may initiate obesity in some people, once obese, individuals tend to manifest a higher resting metabolic rate because of their greater fat-free mass, exhibit an impaired thermic response to food, and expend more calories than lean individuals for equivalent amounts of activity. As a result, over a 24-h period, obese people generally expend more energy than lean people. A second determinant of obesity is related to fuel utilization and suggests that those predisposed to be obese may have an innate insulin resistance in muscle, leading to decreased uptake, oxidation, and storage of glucose in this tissue. As a result, the glucose is shunted to adipose tissue, where it is stored. With regard to treatment of obesity, emphasis on increased energy expenditure through the inclusion of reasonable amounts of activity is essential. However, this must always be combined with restraint in caloric intake.     

CT在外伤性胃肠道穿孔急诊中的价值

目的:探讨急诊外伤性胃肠穿孔的CT征象及诊断价值。方法:收集18例经手术证实的外伤性胃肠道穿孔的临床资料及CT征象,分析与总结胃肠道破裂穿孔CT扫描的各种有价值的表现。结果:18例外伤急诊患者中,胃、十二指肠、空回肠与结肠穿孔各1,2,12,3例,其中空回肠为多处破裂,CT主要征象为腹腔散在积液征、游离气腹征、肠系膜与肠壁增厚模糊征、造影剂外溢征。结论:CT扫描在外伤性胃肠道穿孔急诊患者的检查中有定性诊断价值,综合分析各种征象,会明显提高CT的诊断正确率。