ObjectiveTo compare multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) with cardiac catheterization and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in comprehensive evaluation of the global cardiovascular anatomy in patients with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD).MethodsThe clinical and imaging data of 116 patients with PA-VSD confirmed by surgery were reviewed. Using findings at surgery as the reference standard, data from MDCT, TTE and catheterization were reviewed for assessment of native pulmonary vasculature and intracardiac defects.ResultsMDCT was more accurate than catheterization and TTE in identification of native pulmonary arteries. MDCT is also the most accurate test for delineation of the major aortopulmonary collateral arteries. The inter-modality agreement for evaluation of overriding aorta and VSD were both excellent. In the subgroup with surgical correlation, excellent agreement was found between TTE and surgery, and substantial agreement was also found at MDCT.ConclusionMDCT can correctly delineate the native pulmonary vasculatures and intracardiac defects and may be a reliable method for noninvasive assessment of global cardiovascular abnormalities in patients with PA-VSD.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a kind of heart muscle disease characterized by the gradual replacement of the right ventricular myocardium with fibrous tissue and fat. It could be the major cause of sudden cardiac death with ventricular tachycardia, and there is a variation in the history of the disease. We reported an unusual case of ARVC in a middle-aged woman with congestive heart failure as her first presentation for a long time.
Background:This study aimed to explore the cellular morphology of respiratory epithelium in Mycoplasma pneumonia (MpP) patients.Materials and Methods:The cast-off cell morphological findings from bronchoscopic brushings in MpP and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by typical pathogens were reviewed.Results:Compared with the CAP group, cellular dysplasia in respiratory tract epithelial brushings was significantly greater in MpP patients (P = 0.033).Conclusion:Unique biological characteristics and mechanisms of pathogenesis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) may result in dyskaryotic changes in respiratory epithelium in adult MpP.
Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that has been utilized for approximately two thousand years. However, as cultivation has increased, there have been more reports of A. carmichaelii infections caused by four major pathogenic fungal species, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Mucor circinelloides, and Sclerotium rolfsii, resulting in increased disease incidences and limited production and quality. To detect these infections, we developed a LAMP-based toolbox in this study. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, translation elongation factor-1α (EF-1α), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA, and alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (ADH1) gene, respectively, were used to design species-specific LAMP primer sets for F. oxysporum, F. solani, S. rolfsii, and M. circinelloides. The results showed that the LAMP-based toolbox was effective at detecting pathogens in soil and plant materials. We also used this toolbox to investigate pathogen infection in the main planting regions of A. carmichaelii. Before harvesting, F. oxysporum, M. circinelloides, and S. rolfsii, were commonly found in the planting fields and in infected A. carmichaelii plants. Therefore, the toolbox we developed will be useful for tracking these infections, as well as for disease control in A. carmichaelii.
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