The diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasonography in biliary atresia

BACKGROUND: It is a globally challenging problem to differentially diagnose biliary atresia (BA) from other disease processes causing infantile cholestatic jaundice. The high frequency ultrasonography (HUS) yields much improved spatial resolution and therefore, might show better image in BA diagnostic examination. The present study was to evaluate the HUS on the diagnosis of BA in infants with jaundice. METHODS: Fifty-one infants with neonatal jaundice were scanned with ultrasonography. Images included gallbladder, bile duct, right hepatic artery (RHA), portal vein (PV) and triangular cord (TC) sign, magnetic resonance imaging and additionally laboratory tests and histopathology reports were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-three BA and 28 non-BA cases were con firmed. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of HUS were 91.3%, 92.9%, and 92.2%, respectively. All of these indices were significantly higher than those of conventional ultrasonography (P【0.01) and MR cholangiopancreatography (P【0.05). The HUS features, included a positive TC sign, an increased RHA diameter and RHA-diameter to portal-vein-diameter ratio (RHA/PV) and abnormal gallbladder, were important in the diagnosis of BA. CONCLUSION: HUS provided better imaging of BA and should be considered as a primary modality in the differential diagnosis of infantile jaundice.

Ultrasonic flaw detection of discontinuous defects in magnesium alloy materials

Phased array ultrasonic testing, an effective ultrasonic testing(UT) technology, has been widely used in steel inspection because of its high accuracy, sensitivity, and efficiency. However, as its application in as-cast magnesium alloys has just begun, more research is needed. Considering the important role of the gain compensation in quantifying defects in magnesium alloys by ultrasonic phased array technology, the effects of microstructure, the position, size, and overlap of defects, and boundary distance(distance from the defect position to the side surface of the test casting) on gain compensation of as-cast AZ80 and AZ31 magnesium alloys were studied. Results show the gain compensation increases with the increase of grain size. There is a strict linear positive correlation between gain compensation and defect depth, but such relationship no longer exists due to the defects overlap, orientation and boundary distance. In addition, there is a strict linear negative correlation between the gain compensation and defect size.

Indole Alkaloids Inhibiting Neural Stem Cell from Uncaria rhynchophylla

Uncaria rhynchophylla is commonly recognized as a traditional treatment for dizziness,cerebrovascular diseases,and nervous disorders in China.Previously,the neuro-protective activities of the alkaloids from U.rhynchophylla were intensively reported.In current work,three new indole alkaloids(1–3),identified as geissoschizic acid(1),geissoschizic acid N4-oxide(2),and 3b-sitsirikine N4-oxide(3),as well as 26 known analogues were isolated from U.rhynchophylla.However,in the neural stem cells(NSCs)proliferation assay for all isolated compounds,geissoschizic acid(1),geissoschizic acid N4-oxide(2),isocorynoxeine(6),isorhynchophylline(7),(4S)-akuammigine N-oxide(8),and(4S)-rhynchophylline N-oxide(10)showed unexpected inhibitory activities at 10 μM.Unlike previous neuro-protective reports,as a warning or caution,our finding showcased a clue for possible NSCs toxicity and the neural lesions risk of U.rhynchophylla,while the structure–activity relationships of the isolated compounds were discussed also.

Establishment of basal cell carcinoma animal model in Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis)

Basal cell carcinoma （BCC） is the most common skin cancer worldwide, with incidence rates continuing to increase. Ultraviolet radiation is the major environmental risk factor and dysregulation of the Hedgehog （Hh） signaling pathway has been identified in most BCCs. The treatment of locally advanced and metastatic BBCs is still a challenge and requires a better animal model than the widely used rodents for drug development and testing. Chinese tree shrews （Tupaia belangeri chinensis） are closely related to primates, bearing many physiological and biochemical advantages over rodents for characterizing human diseases. Here, we successfully established a Chinese tree shrew BCC model by infecting tail skins with lentiviral SmoA1, an active form of Smoothened （Smo） used to constitutively activate the Hh signaling pathway. The pathological characteristics were verified by immunohistochemical analysis. Interestingly, BCC progress was greatly enhanced by the combined usage of lenUviral SmoA1 and shRNA targeting Chinese tree shrew p53. This work provides a useful animal model for further BCC studies and future

Effect of maxillary expansion on orthodontics

Objective:To explore the effect of maxillary expansion on orthodontics.Methods:Eight beagle dogs were randomly divided into two groups,with 4 dogs in each group.Dogs in group1 were executed immediately and received the direct physical measurement.The magnetic expansion appliance was used in group 2 for the maxillary expansion.After the expansion,the model was taken again and they were executed after cone beam CT(CBCT) scanning.The model measurement method was adopted in group 1 to measure the dental measurement indicators and width of base bone arch.The CBCT measurement method was employed to measure the above dental indicators and bone indicators.The difference in the indicators measured by different methods was compared and analyzed.Results:Before the expansion,there was no significant difference in the bone measurement indicators between the CBCT measurement method and direct physical measurement method.After the expansion,there was no significant difference in indicators between the CBCT measurement method and direct physical measurement.But there was significant difference among the model measurement method,CBCT measurement method and direct physical measurement method.There was the significant difference in the dental indicators between the CBCT measurement method and model measurement,as well as the bone indicators of posterior marginal spacing of greater palatine foramen,posterior marginal spacing of incisive foramen,width of base bone arch and spacing of implant anchorage.Conclusions:There is no significant difference between the effect of CBCT measurement method and direct physical measurement method,but CBCT is significantly better than the model measurement.

Preparation and Application of Polymerized High Internal Phase Emulsion Monoliths for the Preconcentration and Determination of Malachite Green and Leucomalachite Green in Water Samples

Polymerized high internal phase emulsion(polyHIPE)monoliths were prepared and applied as adsorbent materials for solid-phase extraction(SPE)of malachite green(MG)and leucomalachite green(LMG)from water samples.The polyHIPE monoliths were prepared by post-functionalization of monolithic surface with 6-aminocaproic acid(ACA)via ring opening reaction of epoxy groups in glycidyl methacrylate(GMA)-based polyHIPEs,and then applied to the preconcentration and determination of trace MG and LMG in environmental water samples by combing with high-performance liquid chromatog-raphy(HPLC).Taking MG and LMG as targets,main factors affecting SPE performance of the polyHIPE monoliths were investigated.Under the optimized conditions,the ACA-functionalized polyHIPE monoliths could effectively preconcentrate MG and LMG from 150 mL of water samples,and the recoveries of MG and LMG at three spiked levels were ranged from 84.8 to 97.4%with the relative standard deviations(RSDs)lower than 6%.The proposed method exhibited good linearity in the range of 2-200 ng mL^(-1),with low limits of detection of 17.0 and 8.7 pg mL^(-1)for MG and LMG,respectively.In addi-tion,the prepared ACA-modified polyHIPE monolith showed good durability and stability,and it could be reused for 200 cycles without obvious losing the extraction performance.

Live microalgal cells modified by L-cys/Au@carbon dots/bilirubin oxidase layers for enhanced oxygen reduction in a membrane-less biofuel cell

Electrochemical oxygen reduced reaction(ORR)is a critical element in clean energy development.Despite efforts to enhance gas transfer to the reaction interface,the low solubility of O_(2)molecules and slow diffusion rate in liquid electrolyte is still a significant challenge.Herein,we design an artificial outer membrane on microalgal cells,which consists of a carbon dots/bilirubin oxidase(CDs/BOD)ORR catalyst layer and a L-cystine/Au nanoporous O_(2)supply layer.O_(2)generated by photosynthesis from microalgal cells then can be directly transported to the CDs/BOD catalytic interfaces,overcoming the sluggish gas transfer in the electrolyte.Thus,the cathode constructed by the fabricated microalgal cells realizes an ORR current density of 655.2μA/cm^(2) with fast ORR kinetics,which is 2.68 times higher than that of a BOD cathode fed with pure O_(2).A membrane-less glucose/O_(2)biofuel cell is further developed using the hybrid artificial cells as the cathode,and the power density is 2.39 times higher than that of a BOD cathode biofuel cell in O_(2)saturated solution.This biomimetic design supplies O_(2)directly to the carbon dots/BOD catalyst layer from the microalgae membrane through a nanoporous L-cys/Au layer,providing an alternative solution for the transfer barrier of O_(2)in the electrolyte.

Synthesis and characterization of acetylated sept-D-glucopyranose carbamate as an oligosaccharide donor

An oligosaccharide donor, acetylated sept-o-glucopyranose tetradecyl carbamate, was designed and synthesized. This compound could be easily linked to hydroxyl-containing compounds through an Oglycosidic bond. Characterization of all the oligosaccharide intermediates and the final product was thoroughly discussed.