Analysis of only 0-1 min clip or 1-4 min Clip for focal liver lesions during contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of analysis of only 0-1min clips and 1-4min clips versus the entire clips in performing contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) of focal liver lesions (FLLs).Methods: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) examinations of 43 single FLLs were performed. All clips were analyzed in three ways, the entire clips, 0-1 min clips and 1-4 min clips, benign or malignant diagnosis and pathological diagnosis of each FLL were concluded by the three ways subsequently.Results: The results of correct diagnosis were assessed using Chi-square test. There was no difference with regard to benign or malignant diagnosis, between 0-1min clips and the entire clips, or between 1-4 min clips and the entire clips (p = 0.243 and p = 0.747, respectively). Moreover, no significant differences in pathological diagnosis existed between 0-1min clips and the entire clips, and 1- 4min clips versus entire clips (p=0.808 and p = 0.808, respectively). No significant differences existed among CEUS entire clip, 0-1min clip and 1-4min clip in identifying FLLs, and based on which the diagnosis of two different FLLs during CEUS with only one injection of contrast agent can be available.Conclusion: Only 0-1min clips or 1-4 min clips can be used to instead of the entre clip in performing CEUS of FLLs.Keywords: Focal liver lesions, Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, Ultrasonic diagnosis, Clip

CoPt nanoparticles and their catalytic properties in electrooxidation of CO and CH3OH studied by in situ FTIRS

CoPt nanoparticles supported on a glassy carbon electrode (denoted as CoPt/GC) were prepared by galvanic replacement reaction between electrodeposited Co nanoparticles and K2PtCl6 solution. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were both employed to characterize the CoPt nanoparticles. It was shown that the CoPt nanoparticles have irregular shapes and most of them exhibit a core-shell structure with a porous Co core and a shell of Pt tiny particles. The composition of the CoPt nanoparticles was analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), which depicts a Co : Pt ratio of ca. 21 : 79. Studies of cyclic voltammetry (CV) demonstrated that CoPt/GC possesses a much higher catalytic activity towards CO and methanol electrooxidation than a nanoscale Pt thin film electrode. In situ FTIR spectroscopic studies have revealed for the first time, that a CoPt nanoparticles electrode exhibits abnormal IR effects (AIREs) for IR absorption of CO adsorbed on it. In comparison with the IR features of CO adsorbed on a bulk Pt electrode, the direction of the IR bands of CO adsorbed on the CoPt/GC electrode is inverted completely, and the intensity of the IR bands has been enhanced up to 15.4 times. The AIREs is significant in detecting the adsorbed intermediate species involved in electrocatalytic reactions. The results demonstrated a reaction mechanism of CH3OH oxidation on CoPt/GC in alkaline solutions through evidencing COL, COM, HCOO-, CO32-, HCO3- and CO2 as intermediate and product species by in situ FTIRS

Pt-group bimetallic nanocrystals with high-index facets as high performance electrocatalysts

National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) [2012CB215500]; NSFC [21222310, 20933004, 21073152, 21021002]; Foundation for the Author of National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of China [201126]; Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University [NCET-10-0715]Bimetallic nanocrystals bound by high-index facets are promising catalysts, as they have both electronic effects from alloying and surface structure effects from high-index facets. Herein, we mainly focused on electrochemical preparation of two new Pt-Rh nanocrystals with high-index facets: {830}-bound tetrahexahedron and {311}-bound trapezohedron, and their excellent electrocatalytic properties for ethanol oxidation, especially the ability to break C-C bonds. Combining previous results about surface-modified tetrahexahedral Pt nanocrystals, we discuss the correlation of alloy and surface effects of the bimetallic system

Comparative Efficacy of Ivermectin and Levamisole for Reduction of Migrating and Encapsulated Larvae of Baylisascaris transfuga in Mice

The comparative efficacy of 2 anthelmintics (ivermectin and levamisole) against Baylisascaris transfuga migrating and encapsulated larvae was studied in mice. A total of 60 BALB/c mice inoculated each with about 1,000 embryonated B. transfuga eggs were equally divided into 6 groups (A-F) randomly. Mice of groups A and B were treated with ivermectin and levamisole, respectively, on day 3 post-infection (PI). Mice of groups A-C were killed on day 13 PI. Similarly, groups D and E were treated with ivermectin and levamisole, respectively, on day 14 PI, and all mice of groups D-F were treated on day 24 PI. The groups C and F were controls. Microexamination was conducted to count the larvae recovering from each mouse. The percentages of reduction in the number of migrating larvae recovered from group A (ivermectin) and B (levamisole) were 88.3% and 81.1%, respectively. In addition, the reduction in encapsulated larvae counts achieved by ivermectin (group D) and levamisole (group E) was 75.0% and 49.2%, respectively. The results suggested that, to a certain extent, both anthelmintics appeared to be more effective against migrating larvae than encapsulated larvae. However, in the incipient stage of infection, ivermectin may be more competent than levamisole as a larvicidal drug for B. transfuga

A simulation study on the measurement of D0-D0bar mixing parameter y at BES-III

We established a method on measuring the \dzdzb mixing parameter $y$ for BESIII experiment at the BEPCII $e^+e^-$ collider. In this method, the doubly tagged $\psi(3770) \to D^0 \overline{D^0}$ events, with one $D$ decays to CP-eigenstates and the other $D$ decays semileptonically, are used to reconstruct the signals. Since this analysis requires good $e/\pi$ separation, a likelihood approach, which combines the $dE/dx$, time of flight and the electromagnetic shower detectors information, is used for particle identification. We estimate the sensitivity of the measurement of $y$ to be 0.007 based on a $20fb^{-1}$ fully simulated MC sample.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Coinfection with influenza virus and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae aggregates inflammatory lung injury and alters gut microbiota in COPD mice

BackgroundAcute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is associated with high mortality rates. Viral and bacterial coinfection is the primary cause of AECOPD. How coinfection with these microbes influences host inflammatory response and the gut microbiota composition is not entirely understood.MethodsWe developed a mouse model of AECOPD by cigarette smoke exposure and sequential infection with influenza H1N1 virus and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). Viral and bacterial titer was determined using MDCK cells and chocolate agar plates, respectively. The levels of cytokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory cells in the lungs were measured using Bio-Plex and flow cytometry assays. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Correlations between cytokines and gut microbiota were determined using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient test.ResultsCoinfection with H1N1 and NTHi resulted in more severe lung injury, higher mortality, declined lung function in COPD mice. H1N1 enhanced NTHi growth in the lungs, but NTHi had no effect on H1N1. In addition, coinfection increased the levels of cytokines and adhesion molecules, as well as immune cells including total and M1 macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, NK cells, and CD4 + T cells. In contrast, alveolar macrophages were depleted. Furthermore, coinfection caused a decline in the diversity of gut bacteria. Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, Lachnospiraceae, and Rikenella were further found to be negatively correlated with cytokine levels, whereas Bacteroides was positively correlated.ConclusionCoinfection with H1N1 and NTHi causes a deterioration in COPD mice due to increased lung inflammation, which is correlated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota