Viscoelasticity in trapezius myofascial pain syndrome: quantitative assessment using Real-Time Shear-Wave Elastography.

Objective: To investigate the differences in the viscoelastic properties between normal trapezius muscles and those in patients with trapezius myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) using real-time shear-wave elastography (SWE).

Materials And Methods: This study included 31 patients with trapezius MPS and 31 volunteers. Sixty-one trapezius muscles (41 and 20 on the affected and non-affected side, respectively) of patients with MPS and 62 normal trapezius muscles in volunteers were assessed.

Upper trapezius muscle elasticity in cervical myofascial pain syndrome measured using real-time ultrasound shear-wave elastography.

Background: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common cause of neck pain, which is a global public health problem. Because MPS does not present morphological changes within lesioned muscles, there are no imaging diagnostic criteria for this condition. In this study, we evaluate elasticity changes in upper trapezius muscles most frequently involved in cervical MPS using real-time ultrasound shear-wave elastography, and we examine their potential diagnostic value.

Functional Liver Imaging in Radiotherapy for Liver Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Backgrounds: Functional liver imaging can identify functional liver distribution heterogeneity and integrate it into radiotherapy planning. The feasibility and clinical benefit of functional liver-sparing radiotherapy planning are currently unknown.

Methods: A comprehensive search of several primary databases was performed to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria.

Research on human glioma stem cells in China.

Research on human glioma stem cells began early in the 21 century and since then has become a rapidly growing research field with the number of publications increasing year by year. The research conducted by our diverse group of investigators focused primarily on cell culture techniques, molecular regulation, signaling pathways, cancer treatment, the stem cell microenvironment and the cellular origin and function of glioma stem cells. In particular, we put forward our view that there are inverse or forward transformations among neural stem cells, glial cells and glioma stem cells in glioma tissues under certain conditions.

Combined use of Onyx and coils for transarterial balloon-assisted embolization of traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas: a report of 16 cases with 17 fistulas.

Objective: The combination of coils and Onyx for the treatment of carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) is an interesting new development. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate our preliminary experience with the combined use of coils and Onyx for the treatment of traumatic CCFs.

Methods: Between April 2009 and July 2014, 16 patients with 17 traumatic CCFs were embolized with the so-called 'armored concrete' treatment modality using coils, Onyx-18, and a non-detachable balloon via the transarterial approach.

Doppler Echocardiographic Measurements in Normal Chinese Adults (EMINCA): a prospective, nationwide, and multicentre study.

Aims: Currently, available Doppler echocardiographic reference values are derived mainly from North American and European population studies, which may not applicable to the Chinese population. We aimed to establish normal reference values of Doppler echocardiographic parameters in a nationwide, population-based cohort of healthy Han Chinese adults.

Methods And Results: A total of 1394 qualified healthy subjects (mean age 47.

Echocardiographic measurements in normal chinese adults focusing on cardiac chambers and great arteries: a prospective, nationwide, and multicenter study.

Background: Currently available echocardiographic reference values are derived mainly from North American and European population studies, and no echocardiographic reference values are available for the Chinese population. The aim of this study was to establish normal values of echocardiographic measurements of the cardiac chambers and great arteries in a nationwide, population-based cohort of healthy Han Chinese adults.

Methods: A total of 1,586 healthy Han Chinese volunteers aged 18 to 79 years were screened at 43 collaborating laboratories throughout China.

[Surface-enhanced Raman spectra analysis of trace degradation products from goat horn].

Nano-silver colloid was synthesized by using microwave method on the mixtures of sodium citrate solution and silver nitrate solution. The method has advantages of fast heating speed, uniform temperature distribution and easily controlled reaction conditions. The sizes and size distributions of the silver particles were characterized by means of quasi-elastic laser scattering (QLS).

[Correlations of integrons and resistance gene cassettes in Gram-negative bacteria with multi-drug resistance].

Objective: To explore the correlations of integrons, gene cassettes and drug resistance phenotypes in 90 multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

Methods: Class I/II/III integron and variable region of positive strains of 90 Gram-negative bacteria were amplified by PCR and types of integron variable region gene cassettes analyzed by DNA sequence. And the resistant rates of integron positive and negative strains were tested by drug susceptibility.

Establishment of a green fluorescent protein tracing murine model focused on the functions of host components in necrosis repair and the niche of subcutaneously implanted glioma.

Due to progress in the research of glioma stem cells and the glioma niche, development of an animal model that facilitates the elucidation of the roles of the host tissue and cells is necessary. The aim of the present study was to develop a subcutaneous xenograft green fluorescent protein nude mouse model and use this model to analyze the roles of host cells in tumor necrosis repair. Tumors derived from the human glioma stem/progenitor cell line SU3 were subcutaneously implanted in green fluorescent protein nude mice.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of horns derived from three domestic bovines.

The microstructure and mechanical properties of horns derived from three domestic bovines (buffalo, cattle and sheep) were examined. The effects of water content, sampling position and orientation of three bovid horns on mechanical properties were systematically investigated by uniaxial tension and micron indentation tests. Meanwhile, the material composition and metal element contents were determined by Raman spectroscopy and elemental analysis respectively, and the microstructures of the horns were measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Feasibility of single-beat full-volume capture real-time three-dimensional echocardiography for quantification of right ventricular volume: validation by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: The lack of an accurate noninvasive method for assessing right ventricular (RV) volume and function has been a major deficiency of two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. The aim of our study was to test the feasibility of single-beat full-volume capture with real-time three-dimensional echo (3DE) imaging system for the evaluation of RV volumes and function validated by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI).

Methods: Sixty-one subjects (16 normal subjects, 20 patients with hypertension, 16 patients with pulmonary heart disease and 9 patients with coronary heart disease) were studied.

[Host glial cell canceration induced by glioma stem cells in GFP/RFP dual fluorescence orthotopic glioma models in nude mice].

Objective: During the process of tissue remodeling in human tumor transplantation models, the roles of the inoculated tumor cells and host tissue in tumor progression is still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships and interactions between these two sides using GFP-RFP double fluorescence tracing technique.

Methods: Red fluorescence protein (RFP) gene was stably transfected into glioma stem cell line SU3, then SU3-RFP cells were transplanted into the brain of athymic nude mice with green fluorescence protein (GFP) expression.

[Screening for EXT1 and EXT2 gene mutations in a ethnic Han Chinese family from Shanxi with hereditary multiple exostoses].

Objective: To screen for potential mutations in an ethnic Han Chinese family from Shanxi with hereditary multiple exostoses.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were used to screen potential mutations in EXT1 and EXT2 genes.

Results: For EXT1 gene, two synonymous mutations (P477P and E587E), three intronic mutations (c.

Mutations of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in patients with phenylketonuria in Shanxi, China.

The variation in mutations in exons 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 of the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene was investigated in 59 children with phenylketonuria (PKU) and 100 normal children. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected by sequence analysis. The mutational frequencies of cDNA 696, cDNA 735 and cDNA 1155 in patients were 96.

Incubation and application of transgenic green fluorescent nude mice in visualization studies on glioma tissue remodeling.

Background: The primary reasons for local recurrence and therapeutic failure in the treatment of malignant gliomas are the invasion and interactions of tumor cells with surrounding normal brain cells. However, these tumor cells are hard to be visualized directly in histopathological preparations, or in experimental glioma models. Therefore, we developed an experimental human dual-color in vivo glioma model, which made tracking solitary invasive glioma cells possible, for the purpose of visualizing the interactions between red fluorescence labeled human glioma cells and host brain cells.

[Detection of exon 7 mutations of PAH gene in classical phenylketonuria by high-resolution melting analysis].

Objective: To establish a simple, rapid, inexpensive and sensitive method for detecting hot region for mutations in exon 7 of PAH gene.

Methods: High-resolution melting (HRM) technology was used to detect a c.728G>A mutation in exon 7 in 88 patients with classical type phenylketonuria.

[Study on three common mitochondrial DNA mutations in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy].

Objective: To screen for genetic mutations in 35 patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were used to screen for the presence of mitochondrial DNA mutations.

Results: The total detection rate of top 3 common LHON mutations were 20.

Fucoidan protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced rat neuronal damage and inhibits the production of proinflammatory mediators in primary microglia.

Background: Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown algae, possesses potent antiinflammatory effects.

Aims: To examine the effect of fucoidan treatment on inflammation-mediated dopaminergic neuronal damage and its potential mechanisms.

Methods: Microglial activation and injury of dopaminergic neurons were induced by intranigral injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the effects of fucoidan treatment on animal behavior, microglial activation and survival ratio of dopaminergic neurons were investigated.

[Preliminary studies on cell derivation of neovascularization in human glioma and its functional evaluation].

Objective: The finding of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in many solid tumors indicates that tumor cells themselves could participate in the construction of tumor vessels. However the origin of these cells is still not fully elucidated, and whether these vessels have the ability of blood-supply is still unclear. Preliminary studies were performed to investigate whether part of tumor neovascularity is derived from tumor stem cells (TSCs) and whether TSCs-derived vessels are functional.

[Study on the mutations of phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in patients with phenylketonuria in Shanxi province].

Objective: To study the mutations in exons 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene (PAH) in Shanxi population.

Methods: The mutations in exons 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 and flanking sequences of PAH gene were detected by PCR-DNA sequencing, in 59 patients with phynelketonuria(PKU) and 100 healthy children from Shanxi province.

Results: By sequence analysis, three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Q232Q (CAA>CAG), V245V (GTG>GTA) and L385L (CTG>CTC) were detected in both the patients and healthy children, with the frequencies of nt 696, 735 and 1155 of the PAH cDNA up to 96.

Development of clinically relevant orthotopic xenograft mouse model of metastatic lung cancer and glioblastoma through surgical tumor tissues injection with trocar.

Objective: Orthotopic models are important in cancer research. Here we developed orthotopic xenograft mouse model of metastatic lung cancer and glioblastoma with a specially designed system.

Methods: Tiny fragments of surgical tumors were implanted into the mice brain with a trocar system.