[Application of hybrid operating room in the treatment of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas].

Objective: To explore the experience in the treatment of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas with application of hybrid operating room. Method: A retrospective analysis was performed among 22 patients with spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas admitted to Department of Neurosurgery of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital who received operation in the hybrid operating room from March 2011 to February 2016. Modified Aminoff-Logue scores (ALS) for myelopathy was used to evaluate the spinal function.All the 22 patients were followed up 6-12 months after the operation. Result: All the patients were diagnosed by spinal digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The modified ALS pre-operation and post-operation 6 months were (4.7±1.8) and (2.0±1.5), respectively, with significant difference (P<0.01). There were 15 cases with mild dysfunction, 6 cases with moderate dysfunction, severe dysfunction in 1 case before operation.Fifteen cases were cured, 4 cases improved, 1 case had no change after 6 months follow-up.The improvement rate was 95.45%. Conclusion: The application of hybrid operating room in the treatment of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas achieves good outcome and provides a convenient and effective approach, which embodies the idea of precision medicine.

Intracranial aneurysm risk factor genes: relationship with intracranial aneurysm risk in a Chinese Han population.

Few studies have examined the genes related to risk fac-tors that may contribute to intracranial aneurysms (IAs). This study in Chinese patients aimed to explore the relationship between IA and 28 gene loci, proven to be associated with risk factors for IA. We recruited 119 patients with aneurysms and 257 controls. Single factor and logistic regression models were used to analyze the association of IA and IA rup-ture with risk factors. Twenty-eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 22 genes were genotyped for the patient and control groups. SNP genotypes and allele frequencies were analyzed by the chi-square test. Logistic regression analysis identified hypertension as a factor that increased IA risk (P = 1.0 x 10(-4); OR, 2.500; 95%CI, 1.573-3.972); IA was associated with two SNPs in the TSLC2A9 gene: rs7660895 (P = 0.007; OR, 1.541; 95%CI, 1.126-2.110); and in the TOX gene: rs11777927 (P = 0.013; OR, 1.511; 95%CI, 1.088-2.098). Subsequent removal of the influence of family relationship identified between 12 of 119 patients enhanced the significant association of these SNPs with IA (P = 0.001; OR, 1.691; 95%CI, 1.226-2.332; and P = 0.006; OR, 1.587; 95%CI, 1.137-2.213 for rs7660895 and rs11777927, respectively). Fur-thermore, the minor allele of rs7660895 (A) was also associated with IA rupture (P = 0.007; OR, 2.196; 95%CI, 1.230-3.921). Therefore, hypertension is an independent risk factor for IA. Importantly, the TSL-C2A9 (rs7660895) and TOX (rs11777927) gene polymorphisms may be associated with formation of IAs, and rs7660895 may be associated with IA rupture.

Identification of immunogenic proteins of Flavobacterium columnare by two-dimensional electrophoresis immunoblotting with antibacterial sera from grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes).

Flavobacterium columnare is a Gram-negative bacterium causing columnaris disease of freshwater fish worldwide, and development of efficacious vaccines has been a continuous challenge in aquaculture. In this study, 14 proteins were identified from cellular components of F. columnare using an immunoblotting approach in two-dimensional electrophoresis map gels with antibacterial sera from grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes), and then anti-grass carp-recombinant Ig (rIg) polyclonal antibodies. These proteins were characterized conclusively by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS). The 14 proteins are immunogenic molecules of F. columnare, including chaperonins DnaK, GroEL and trigger factor, and translation elongation factor G, translation elongation factor Tu, 30S ribosomal subunit protein S1, dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, SpoOJ regulator protein, alcohol dehydrogenase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase and two conserved hypothetical proteins. These identified immunogenic proteins may provide candidate molecules for the development of vaccines against columnaris disease.

Ig heavy chain genes and their locus in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella.

The cDNA and genomic sequences of IgD and IgZ were characterized in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella in the present study, and with the identification of a BAC clone covering zeta, mu, and delta genes, the IgH locus containing these Ig genes and other V, D, J genes was also illustrated in this fish. Secretory and membrane-bound IgZ were identified, with two transmembrane exons spliced within the CH4 exon, as reported in IgM of mammals and IgZ in other teleost fish. The first and second constant domains of IgZ shows more than 90% nucleotide identity with respective domains of grass carp IgM. The IgD has a structure of delta1-(delta2-delta3-delta4)(2)-delta5-delta6-delta7-TM-UTR, with the repeat of delta2-delta3-delta4; but intron was not found between the two repeat, i.e. between the first delta2-delta3-delta4 (delta2.1-delta3.1-delta4.1) and the second delta2-delta3-delta4 (delta2.2-delta3.2-delta4.2), and the intron between delta3.1 and delta4.1 was much shorter than the intron between delta3.2 and delta4.2. The genomic organization of the IgH locus has a pattern of Vn-Dn-Jn-Czeta-Dn-Jn-Cmu-Cdelta, as reported in other teleost fish. Thirteen V(H), fourteen D, and twelve J(H) genes were observed in this locus, with the similarity of three D segments and four J(H) segments being the same in the upstream of Czeta and Cmu. The transcriptional enhancer located at the mu-delta intergenic region was also analyzed and it seems possible that this enhancer is functional as verified in zebrafish and channel catfish.

Catalysis by oxide-supported clusters of iridium and rhodium: hydrogenation of ethene, propene, and toluene.

The hydrogenation reactions of ethene, propene, and toluene were used as probes of the catalytic properties of small clusters of rhodium (Rh6) and of iridium (Ir4 and Ir6) (as well as of larger aggregates of these metals) on oxide supports (gamma-Al2O3, MgO, and La2O3). The catalysts were characterized in the working state by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, providing evidence of the cluster structures and cluster-support interactions; by infrared spectroscopy, providing evidence of hydrocarbon adsorbates and possible reaction intermediates on the clusters; and by kinetics of the hydrogenation reactions. The EXAFS data indicate that the metal clusters, while remaining intact and maintaining their bonding to the support during catalysis, underwent slight rearrangements to accommodate reactive intermediates. As the concentrations of reactive intermediates such as pi-bonded alkenes and alkyls on the clusters increased, the cluster frames swelled, and the clusters flexed away from the support. The data indicate self-inhibition of reaction by adsorbed hydrocarbons and differences between ethene hydrogenation and propene hydrogenation that may arise primarily from different adsorbate-adsorbate interactions.

Mesoporous aluminosilicates with ordered hexagonal structure, strong acidity, and extraordinary hydrothermal stability at high temperatures.

Highly ordered hexagonal mesoporous aluminosilicates (MAS-5) with uniform pore sizes have been successfully synthesized from assembly of preformed aluminosilcate precursors with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant. The aluminosilicate precursors were obtained by heating, at 100--140 degrees C for 2--10 h, aluminasilica gels at the Al(2)O(3)/SiO(2)/TEAOH/H(2)O molar ratios of 1.0/7.0--350/10.0--33.0/500--2000. Mesoporous MAS-5 shows extraordinary stability both in boiling water (over 300 h) and in steam (800 degrees C for 2 h). Temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia shows that the acidic strength of MAS-5 is much higher than that of MCM-41 and is comparable to that of microporous Beta zeolite. In catalytic cracking of 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene and alkylation of isobutane with butene, MAS-5 exhibits greater catalytic activity and selectivity, as compared with MCM-41 and HZSM-5. The MAS-5 samples were characterized with infrared, UV--Raman, and NMR spectroscopy and numerous other techniques. The results suggest that MAS-5 consists of both mesopores and micropores and that the pore walls of MAS-5 contain primary and secondary structural building units, similar to those of microporous zeolites. Such unique structural features might be responsible for the observed strong acidity and high thermal stability of the mesoporous aluminosilicates with well-ordered hexagonal symmetry.