Search

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a vasculitis that typically affects small- and middle-sized arteries of multiple organs. The kidney is most commonly involved. To date, few cases of PAN involving the celiac artery and no cases of iliac artery or internal carotid artery involvement have been published. The most frequent lesions reported were due to occlusions and aneurysms. Finally, no cases of PAN causing arteriovenous fistula have been reported. Here we present a case of PAN with multiple aneurysms and renal arteriovenous fistula that was successfully diagnosed and followed-up by ultrasound. This case report describes the challenges in diagnosing PAN and highlights the importance of a holistic approach when encountering patients with multiple vascular diseases. Ultrasound should be considered the first-line approach in the diagnosis of PAN.

Tropane alkaloids are used medicinally as anticholinergic agents with increasing market demand, so the improvement and production of active components from medicinal plants using molecular biotechnology show great potential for applications that should benefit human healthcare. Two tropinone reductases constitute a branching point in the biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids. In the present paper, we report for the first time the cloning and characterization of two fulllength cDNAs encoding TRI (tropinone reductase I) (GenBank accession number EU424321) and TRII (tropinone reductase II) (GenBank(R) accession number EU424322) from the solanaceous plant Anisodus acutangulus by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Sequence comparison indicated that AaTRI (A. acutangulus TRI) and AaTRII (A. acutangulus TRII) had high homology with other tropinone reductases from Hyoscyamus niger, Datura stramonium etc., but AaTRI and AaTRII showed identity of only 60.8%. Phylogenetic-tree analysis showed that AaTRI and AaTRII belong to different clusters and have the closest relationship with H. niger TRI and TRII respectively. Expression-pattern analysis showed that AaTRI and AaTRII were expressed in all tissues tested, including root, stem and leaf, but the transcript level of AaTRI was much lower than AaTRII. Expression of AaTRI and AaTRII could be enhanced by methyl jasmonate, with a weak effect for AaTRI and a strong effect for AaTRII. AaTRI-transformed hairy-root lines were accompanied by a mean 1.87-fold higher level of hyoscyamine and a mean 8-fold higher level of scopolamine compared with control roots, indicating that AaTRI is a promising target for genetic engineering to increase tropane alkaloid in A. acutangulus.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the value of color Doppler sonography (CDS) in the diagnosis of acute renal artery thrombosis or embolism (ARATE). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the CDS findings of 10 patients with ARATE, which were confirmed by the clinical data and digital subtraction angiography or computed tomography (n=8) or by the results of surgical pathology (n=2). We analyzed the echogenicity and size of the kidneys on gray-scale images and blood flow parameters of the main renal artery, renal vein, and the intrarenal artery (segmental or interlobar artery) of the kidneys on CDS in all cases. Results Four patients with acute main renal artery thrombosis (two transplanted kidneys and two native kidneys) correctly detected by CDS underwent emergency thrombolysis via renal artery. The results of CDS in six native kidneys with renal artery embolism included two cases with satisfactory CDS demonstrations, two cases with undetermined CDS findings, one case interpreted as severe renal artery stenosis, and one misdiagnosed case. Conclusions CDS is a useful imaging tool in the diagnosis of large renal infarcts caused by thrombosis or embolism in the main renal artery. However, small infarcts, which need other imaging modalities for further evaluation and confirmation, may be neglected by CDS.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of velocity parameters for the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis (RAS) with color Doppler sonography and to determine the optimal threshold values for these parameters. Methods. The study group was composed of 187 renal arteries, which were examined by color Doppler sonography and angiography. Four Doppler parameters, including the peak systolic velocities (PSVs) in the renal and interlobar arteries, the renal-aortic ratio, and the renal-interlobar ratio (RIR), were measured. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal parameter. The sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values at various threshold values were calculated. Results. Doppler sonographic examination was technically successful in 96% of renal arteries (180/187). The RIR was determined to be the best parameter. With threshold values of RIR greater than 5, PSV greater than 150 cm/s in the renal artery, renal-aortic ratio greater than 2, and PSV less than 25 cm/s in the interlobar artery, the sensitivity values were 88%, 81%, 70%, and 74%, respectively. An RIR greater than 5 and PSV less than 15 cm/s in the interlobar artery provided the optimal combination of parameters, with sensitivity and specificity of 91% and 87%, respectively. Conclusions. The RIR is the best velocity parameter in the detection of RAS (≥50%), and its best cutoff is 5. Valuing influencing factors of PSV in the renal artery will help reduce misdiagnosis. The combination of RIR greater than 5 and PSV less than 15 cm/s in the interlobar artery provides the best diagnostic efficiency of RAS. Key words: Doppler sonography; hemodynamics; renal artery stenosis.

Grid Geospatial Information Service (Grid GIS) system aims to study and develop grid-based uniform spatial information access and analysis system. Data resources of Grid GIS include not only original and traditional GIS data but remotely sensed data. Analysis function is made up of not only single spatial information access but complex and quick data processing. The Grid GIS system can provide not only convenient and quick spatial information access service but a second developing environment to satisfy all kinds of user requirements. In this paper we mainly discuss Grid GIS system framework and running-framework design. To clearly demonstration how to develop the Grid GIS system, we describe service and interface criterion. Series of geospatial information standards are also discussed to adapt system extend requirement.

This study aimed too evaluate the proliferation and apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cell lines HO8910 and SKOV3 after exposure to a simulated laparoscopic carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumoperitoneum environment at different pressures and lengths of exposure time. The effects of the simulated laparoscopic CO2 pneumoperitoneum environment at different CO2 pressures (0–16 mmHg) and exposure times (1–4 h) on tumor cell growth and apoptosis were assessed by 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol]-2; 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) chromometry and proliferative index (PI) staining or Annexin V and PI double-staining flow cytometry. Cells cultured in a standard environment were used as the control group. In this study, HO8910 cell growth tended to slow down with the increase in CO2 pressure and exposure time. A significantly lower PI was observed at 72 h of culture after exposure to both 8 and 16 mmHg of pressure, as compared with the control and 0 mmHg pressure group (p < 0.05). The PI of SKOV3 cells tended to decline after exposure. Significantly lower PI was observed in the group with exposure to 16 mmHg for 4 h over a 72-h period, as compared with the control groups exposed to 0 mmHg (p < 0.05). The inhibition of cell growth was associated with an increase in the proportion of cells at stage G1. The apoptotic index and the percentage of apoptotic cells tended to increase with an increase in pressure and a prolonged time of exposure. The results suggest inhibited cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells were positively related to CO2 pressure and exposure time.

To study the sonographic features and patterns of cystic renal carcinomas.Thirteen cases of cystic renal carcinoma confirmed by operation and pathology were examined by ultrasonography, and the cystic walls, septa and solid mural nodules were studied.Solid mural nodules of some cases and irregular thickening of the cystic walls and septa were characteristic findings for the ultrasonic diagnosis of cystic renal carcinomas. According to their pathologic mechanisms and sonographic features, cystic renal carcinomas were classified into 3 patterns: unilocular cystic mass, multiloculated cystic mass and cystic-solid mass.Typical cystic renal carcinomas can be well diagnosed, while atypical cases may be misdiagnosed as benign renal cysts by ultrasonography. Color Doppler ultrasonography and needle aspiration guided by ultrasonography are helpful in the diagnosis of these atypical cases.

To discuss the diagnosis of and conservative management for lower uterine segment pregnancy with placenta increta complicating first trimester abortion.Four patients with previous caesarean section and severe hemorrhage in induced abortion in the first trimester were studied. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) was used to control bleeding and preserve the uterus.UAE controlled heavy uterine bleeding satisfactorily. One of the four patients asked for a hysterectomy after UAE, and her pathology report confirmed "lower uterine segment pregnancy with placenta increta".Previous caesarean section is a risk factor for lower uterine segment pregnancy with placenta increta. UAE is one of the best conservative management methods for heavy hemorrhage, especially for women who desire future fertility.

Prior evidence has supported the existence of multiple susceptibility genes for schizophrenia. Multipoint linkage analysis of the 270 Irish high-density pedigrees that we have studied, as well as results from several other samples, suggest that at least one such gene is located in region 6p24-21. In the present study, family-based association analysis of 36 simple sequence-length-polymorphism markers and of 17 SNP markers implicated two regions, separated by approximately 7 Mb. The first region, and the focus of this report, is 6p22.3. In this region, single-nucleotide polymorphisms within the 140-kb gene DTNBP1 (dystrobrevin-binding protein 1, or dysbindin) are strongly associated with schizophrenia. Uncorrected, empirical P values produced by the program TRANSMIT were significant (P.01) for a number of individual SNP markers, and most remained significant when the data were restricted to include only one affected offspring per nuclear family per extended pedigree; multiple three-marker haplotypes were highly significant (P=.008-.0001) under the restricted conditions. The pattern of linkage disequilibrium is consistent with the presence of more than one susceptibility allele, but this important issue is unresolved. The number of markers tested in the adjacent genes, all of which are negative, is not sufficient to rule out the possibility that the dysbindin gene is not the actual susceptibility gene, but this possibility appears to be very unlikely. We conclude that further investigation of dysbindin is warranted.

Pulsed Doppler ultrasonography has been applied to various renal vascular lesions to diagnose renal artery stenosis, renal arterial aneurysm, renal vein thrombosis, and renal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) caused by biopsy or injury. 1-10 It is useful for detecting vascular lesions noninvasively and simply. Arteriovenous fistula between major abdominal vessels is an uncommon entity that occurs usually between the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava. Arteriovenous fistula involving the extrarenal vessels has until recently been considered rare. Current methods of detection used for diagnosing this condition include physical examination, arteriography, intravenous digital subtraction angiography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and surgical exploration. In this report, we described a case of extrarenal renal AVF that was diagnosed on the basis of color Doppler flow imaging and confirmed by digital subtraction angiography and at surgery afterward.