Prevalence of coccidian infection in suckling piglets in China.

To determine the prevalence of coccidian infection in suckling piglets in China, fecal samples from 779 litters of suckling piglets were collected on 80 different farms in 17 provinces from September 2009 to December 2010. These samples were examined through saturated saline flotation technique. The prevalences of coccidian infection ranged from 0 to 32.5% among different provinces and the average was 16.7% (130/779). The highest prevalence of 19.9% (69/346) was found in 8-14 day-old litters of suckling piglets. Seven coccidian species were detected in the positive litters of suckling piglets, including Isospora suis (63.9%), Eimeria debliecki (46.9%), Eimeria polita (19.2%), Eimeria suis (20.8%), Eimeria perminuta (13.9%), Eimeria scabra (4.6%), and Eimeria yanglingensis (1.5%). 55.4% of the positive litters of suckling piglet infected more than one coccidian species. The results of this investigation will provide the relevant basic data for control strategies against porcine coccidiosis on pig farms in China.

[Protective role of pericardial tissue on injured myocardium in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To define the protective role of pericardial tissue and identify the subcellular population with potential contribution to cardiac protection after injury in a rat model. METHODS: Myocardial infarction (MI) was created by the ligation of left anterior descending artery (LAD) in rats while the pericardial sac was either completely removed (-PC, n = 10) or surgically closed after ligation (+PC, n = 8). The follow-up functional and structure benefits were analyzed by echocardiography and 2,3,5- triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium, chloride(TTC) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) staining. The contributions of cardiac stem cells (sca-1, c-kit and KDR) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The integrity of pericardial sac showed significant benefits of cardiac contractile function (ejection fraction and short axis fractional shortening) in comparison to the controls (52 ± 12 vs 37 ± 12 and 36 ± 14 vs 25 ± 13, both P < 0.05). The observed functional amelioration after MI was obvious based on structural repair examined by TTC staining and BrdU incorporation, showing significantly more de novo cardiomyocytes in +PC rats. Interestingly, we have immunohistologically identified a sub-population of KDR+(flk-1+) cells in pericardial tissue which clone genetically distributed and mildly expressed cardiac specific proteins (cTnT). It suggested that the KDR+ cells might act as cardiac progenitors and therefore play an important role in cardiac repair. Meanwhile, rare SCA-1 and c-kit positive cells were detected in pericardial tissue. CONCLUSION: The intact pericardial tissue exerts protective effects after MI. It may be related with a specific cell population of KDR+ cells from pericardial tissue.

[The choice of thoracoscopic sympathectomy in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis among different procedures].

OBJECTIVE: Retrospective analyze the long-term efficacy and compensatory sweating of thoracoscopic sympathectomy in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis by different operative methods in order to search after a better operative method. METHODS: Retrospective study of 643 cases (498 cases available) palmar hyperhidrosis who accepted video-assisted thoracoscopic bilateral sympathectomy during from 1995 to Aug 2008. The patients were divided into four groups by different operative methods. (1) Group A(n = 82): Thoracoscopic T2-4 sympathectomy was performed. (2) Group B (n = 135): Thoracoscopic T2 sympathectomy was performed. (3) Group C (n = 41): Thoracoscopic T2 sympathetic nerve clipped. (4) Group D (n = 240): Thoracoscopic T3-4 level sympathectomy plus bypass fiber (Kuntz fiber) resection on same level was performed. RESULTS: All procedures were successfully performed under thoracoscope without severe morbidity and mortality. The curative rate of palmar hyperhidrosis was 100.00%. The incidence of compensatory sweating were 54.9% (group A), 48.1% (group B), 48.8% (group C) and 28.8% (group D) respectively with significantly decrease in group D contrast to other three groups. The incidence of high-grade compensatory sweating which have important influences on daily life were 9.8% (group A), 10.4% (group B), 9.8% (group C) and 2.9% (group D) respectively with significantly decrease in group D. Other pairings have nonsignificance. The relapse rate were 1.2% (group A), 2.2% (group B), 7.3% (group C) and 0.8% (group D). Only when group D contrasted to group C has significantly decrease in the relapse rate (χ(2) = 8.423, P = 0.004). Other pairings have nonsignificance. CONCLUSION: The procedure of T3-4 sympathectomy plus bypass fiber resection is reasonable operative method to cure hyperhidrosis with the better curative effect and lowest incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis.

[Follow-up of twelve cases of heart transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of heart transplantation. METHODS: Twelve patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation, one of which underwent combined heart and kidney transplantation (HKT), from June 1997 to June 2002 were followed up to observe the complications, work ability, life quality and psychic status. RESULTS: One of the 12 patients died of acute rejection and one died of acute renal failure during perioperative period. Ten cases (83.3%) survived the operation. Then one of the 10 patients died of acute rejection due to stopping Cellcept 7 months after operation; and the other 9 patients had lived well for 1 to 9 years, of which one recipient undergoing HKT survived for nearly 3 years. One year after operation the 9 patients showed class I heart function (NYHA), and all resumed their original work. One patient suffered from schizophrenia 1 week after operation. After the operation every year all cases were to receive coronary angiography with the results showing thinner coronary artery and less lateral branches, and myocardium, emission computed tomography (ECT) scanning that revealed local ischemia in anterior or posterior myocardium in 2 cases 4 and 5 years after respectively, however, no symptom of coronary artery disease was seen in all patients. Two cases, including the one receiving HKT, had symptoms of diabetes mellitus. Two patients thoracotomy during the perioperative period because of cardiac tamponade or too much blood drainage. All cases suffered from right heart failure, mouth ulcer and hypertension due to taking CsA and they had to take antihypertension drug to control their blood pressure. No malignant tumor had been found. CONCLUSION: Heart transplantation is an effective treatment for end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy. But many complications may follow. Some of them may endanger patients' life, and others may affect the quality of life. To trace the patients closely and deal with various complications in time will improve the effect of cardiac transplantation.