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The ceramics of 0·5Ba(ZrxTi1-x)O3-0·5(Ba0·75Ca0·25)TiO3(x = 0·15, 0·20, 0·25 and 0·30) (BZT-BCT) were synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction method. And then, the dielectric, ferroelectric and electrostrictive properties of the ceramics were investigated near morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). Meanwhile, its crystallographic structure had been found to change from tetragonal phase to pseudocubic phase by the raising Zr4+ content from 0·15 to 0·30. And the grains morphology was observed from SEM. Finally, when the ceramics sintered at 1400°C for 2h with x = 0·15, The excellent properties were obtained: The electrostrictive strain reaches 0·16% under 40 kV cm− 1, and Tm=102°C, which demonstrated that the BZT-BCT has superior strain capacity as a lead-free system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the pathogenesis and management of the hydrocephalus in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Eight cases of hospitalized lupus patients with hydrocephalus in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from Jan 1990 to Mar 2017 were analyzed retrospectively.We collected the patients' medical records including medical history, CT and/or MRI images and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid via lumbar puncture in order to investigate the pathogenesis of the hydrocephalus in patients with SLE and summarize treatment experience. Results: All the 8 patients with SLE complicated with hydrocephalus were treated with steroids or immunosuppressive agents, and 5 cases were diagnosed with the central nervous system infection. Three cases received ventriculoperitoneal shunt, 5 cases received treatment of medicine.They all were followed up for 2-12 months, of which 3 cases were markedly effective, 1 case effective and 4 cases dead. Conclusion: The pathogenesis of lupus combined with hydrocephalus may have a certain relationship with the central infection, should take effective anti-infection treatment.We recommend cerebrospinal fluid shunt surgery intervention.

Objective: To study and the value of morning plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and urinary free cortisol (24 h UFC) within 3 days after operation in patients with Cushing's disease in predicting the long-term outcome. Methods: The clinical data of 140 patients with Cushing's disease who were treated in Department of Neurosurgery of PUMCH from 2012 to 2014 were analyzed retrospectively.The univariate analysis, multivariate Logistic analysis, ROC curve analysis and other statistical methods were used to study the predicting value of morning plasma ACTH and 24 h UFC in 3 days post operation. Results: Univariate analysis showed that in the two groups of the early remission and no remission, there was significant statistical difference between the preoperative ACTH, preoperative 24 h UFC, postoperative ACTH and postoperative 24 h UFC ( P <0.05, <0.01, <0.01). Logistic analysis showed that ACTH and 24 h UFC after operation of two groups had significant difference ( P <0.01, <0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that postoperative cutoff values of ACTH and 24 h UFC were 4.11 pmol/L (18.7 pg/ml) and 281.42 nmol (102 μg)/24 h. ROC analysis was performed to evaluate the predicting performance of postoperative ACTH, resulting in an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.917 (95% CI : 0.858-0.957, P <0.01). In comparison, 24 h UFC had an AUC of 0.814 (95% CI : 0.739-0.875, P <0.01). The predicting value of ACTH is significantly better than that of 24 h UFC ( P =0.005). Conclusion: Early morning 24 h UFC and ACTH within 3 days after operation both showed considerable accuracy in predicting the long-term outcome of Cushing's disease, and the significance of ACTH was even greater than that of 24 h UFC.

Objective: To study the perioperative management and surgical treatment of patients with neurosurgical critical diseases and thrombocytopenia., Methods: Eleven patients with the diagnosis of neurosurgical critical diseases and thrombocytopenia who received surgical treatment in Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2010 to 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. All eleven patients received platelet transfusions preoperatively. The safety and efficacy of surgical treatment were analyzed by GOS score at 6 months after operations., Results: Platelet counts of six patients who received minimally invasive surgery reached 80×10(9) /L by platelet transfusions preoperatively. Platelet counts of five patients who received Craniotomy and ventriculoperitoneal shunt reached 100×10(9) /L by platelet transfusions preoperatively. Eight patients received platelet transfusions postoperatively according to a low platelet count 24 hours after operations. Two patients died after surgery and one died after discharge. All other eight survival patients got well recovery with an average GOS score of 4.5 at six months after operations., Conclusions: Patients with neurosurgical critical diseases and thrombocytopenia could receive surgical treatment in collaboration with relative departments.

Several studies have focused on the association between the ERCC2 rs13181 polymorphism and glioma risk, but the results were inconclusive. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to investigate the role of ERCC2 rs13181 on the risk of glioma. We searched and collated the relevant studies in both Chinese and English through the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases published through June 1, 2014. A total of 11 studies for ERCC2 rs13181 were selected; these included 3456 glioma cases and 4957 controls. Using fixed-effects model analysis, we found that no significant difference could be identified between the ERCC2 rs13181 polymorphism and the risk of glioma. Subgroup analysis showed that the ERCC2 rs13181 GT and TT genotypes were significantly associated with an increased risk of glioma in the Chinese population [odds ratio (OR) = 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.17-1.85; and OR = 1.50, 95%CI = 1.02-2.22, respectively], but no significant increased risk of glioma was detected with these genotypes in the Caucasian populations. No publication bias was identified in this meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis strongly suggested that ERCC2 rs13181 was associated with a higher susceptibility to glioma in the Chinese population.

The clinical significance of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and CD3-zeta chain expression of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and their correlation in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are not very clear. Serial histological slides from 137 esophageal SCC patients who had undergone tumor resection were immunohistochemically studied with anti-CD68, anti-CD3-zeta and anti-CD3-epsilon antibodies. TAMs infiltration (expressed as macrophage index, M(phi)I) and CD3-zeta expression (judged by Z/E = CD3-zeta+ cells/CD3-epsilon+ cells ratio) in different tissue compartments were observed. We found that the total tumor tissue region had significantly higher macrophage density and lower CD3-zeta expression (mean +/- SD: M(phi)I(normal): 225.3 +/- 85.9; Z/E(total): 0.52 +/- 0.25; n = 137) relative to adjacent histologically normal esophageal squamous epithelium (M(phi)I(normal): 60.5 +/- 31.7, P < 0.001; Z/E(normal): 0.79 +/- 0.35, P = 0.001; n = 70). Significantly higher M(phi)I(stroma) (P = 0.006) and lower Z/E(total) (P = 0.016) were detected in patients with lymph node metastasis than in those without. Patients with high M(phi)I(total) and M(phi)I(cancer) but low Z/E(total) had poorer surgical outcomes. Univariate analysis of M(phi)I(total) and multivariate analysis of M(phi)I(total) with specific clinico-pathological parameters demonstrated M(phi)I(total) to be an independent prognostic factor for survival in esophageal SCC patients (Cox proportional hazard model, P = 0.029 and P = 0.031, respectively).

The effects of moxibustion at "Zusanli" acupoint on serum endocrine hormones of male Wistar rats were studied by measured serum values of TSH, T3, T4, FSH, LH, testosterone and insulin with radioimmunoassay, 40 male rats were randomly divided into two groups, experiment group and control group, 20 rats each group. In the experiment group, the animals were given a moxibustion at "Zusanli" acupoints of both sides of rats 8:00-9:00 am, 10 min/side per day for 7 days. The control group was given nothing. All of both groups were killed and got serum at same time. The results indicate that the moxibustion can increase significantly serum value of insulin (p less than 0.01) and decrease prominently serum value of T4 (p less than 0.01), but no marked difference was found in FSH, LH, testosterone, TSH and T3. It is suggest that the raise of insulin may have relations with the effects of the moxibustion on neuro-endocrine system and improving microcirculation of pancreas gland, and that the drop of T4 may be caused by the moxibustion to inhibit the function of thyroid gland.