The sinemydid turtle from the Lower Cretaceous Mengyin Formation of Shandong, China and its implication for the age of the Luohandong Formation of the Ordos Basin.

Chronostratigraphic correlation of terrestrial Early Cretaceous biotas in China is highly problematic due to the lack of marine deposits, few absolute dates, and limited number of index fossils. This often leaves vertebrate faunas as one of the few potential tools for a preliminary biostratigraphy. Taxonomic identity of fragmentary fossils is, however, often uncertain and many faunas are insufficiently sampled.

Stable Isotopes Reveal Rapid Enamel Elongation (Amelogenesis) Rates for the Early Cretaceous Iguanodontian Dinosaur Lanzhousaurus magnidens.

Lanzhousaurus magnidens, a large non-hadrosauriform iguanodontian dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Hekou Group of Gansu Province, China has the largest known herbivorous dinosaur teeth. Unlike its hadrosauriform relatives possessing tooth batteries of many small teeth, Lanzhousaurus utilized a small number (14) of very large teeth (~10 cm long) to create a large, continuous surface for mastication. Here we investigate the significance of Lanzhousaurus in the evolutionary history of iguanodontian-hadrosauriform transition by using a combination of stable isotope analysis and CT imagery.

Detection and differentiation of early hepatocellular carcinoma from cirrhosis using CT perfusion in a rat liver model.

Background: Functional imaging such as CT perfusion can detect morphological and hemodynamic changes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Pre-carcinoma and early HCC nodules are difficult to differentiate by observing only their hemodynamics changes. The present study aimed to investigate hemodynamic parameters and evaluate their differential diagnostic cut-off between pre-carcinoma and early HCC nodules using CT perfusion and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

The association between oxidized low-density lipoprotein antibodies and hematological diseases.

Background: The aim of the study is to compare the profiles of antibodies (IgM and IgG) against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) of hematological diseases.

Methods: The serum antibodies of oxLDL-IgM and oxLDL-IgG for 446 cases with hematological diseases and 90 patients with primary hypertension and 90 healthy controls were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a cross-section survey. The association of serum oxLDL-LgM and oxLDL-IgG with hematological diseases was analyzed by multiple linear regression model.

Association of serum levels of AngII, KLK1, and ACE/KLK1 polymorphisms with acute myocardial infarction induced by coronary artery stenosis.

Introduction: The study aims to confirm the association of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with serum angiotensin II (AngII), kallikrein1 (KLK1), and ACE/KLK1 polymorphisms.

Materials And Methods: Serum AngII/KLK1 levels and ACE and KLK1 genotypes were determined in 208 patients with AMI and 216 normal controls. Binary logistic regression was used for data analysis.

Melanosomes or microbes: testing an alternative hypothesis for the origin of microbodies in fossil feathers.

Microbodies associated with fossil feathers, originally attributed to microbial biofilm, have been reinterpreted as melanosomes: pigment-containing, eukaryotic organelles. This interpretation generated hypotheses regarding coloration in non-avian and avian dinosaurs. Because melanosomes and microbes overlap in size, distribution and morphology, we re-evaluate both hypotheses.

A new titanosaurian sauropod from the Hekou Group (Lower Cretaceous) of the Lanzhou-Minhe Basin, Gansu Province, China.

Increased excavation of dinosaurs from China over the last two decades has enriched the record of Asian titanosauriform sauropods. However, the relationships of these sauropods remain contentious, and hinges on a few well-preserved taxa, such as Euhelopus zdanskyi. Here we describe a new sauropod, Yongjinglong datangi gen.

CT assessment of liver hemodynamics in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after argon-helium cryoablation.

Background: Assessment of tumor response after argon-helium cryoablation is critical in guiding future therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aimed to evaluate liver hemodynamics in hepatocellular carcinoma after argon-helium cryoablation with computed tomography perfusion.

Methods: The control group comprised 40 volunteers without liver disease.

[Studies on glial isomerization of lamina cribrosa in rat].

Objective: To explore the mechanism of optic nerve damage in glaucoma by study on structure of glial lamina cribrosa(LC) in rats.

Methods: Experimental study. Albino Swiss(AS) rats were divided into 3 groups.

Previously unrecognized ornithuromorph bird diversity in the Early Cretaceous Changma Basin, Gansu Province, northwestern China.

Here we report on three new species of ornithuromorph birds from the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation in the Changma Basin of Gansu Province, northwestern China: Yumenornis huangi gen. et sp. nov.

Early changes of hepatic hemodynamics measured by functional CT perfusion in a rabbit model of liver tumor.

Background: Early detection and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma is crucial to improving the patients' survival. The hemodynamic changes caused by tumors can be serially measured using CT perfusion. In this study, we used a CT perfusion technique to demonstrate the changes of hepatic hemodynamics in early tumor growth, as a proof-of-concept study for human early hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Roles of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, RANTES and Fractalkine on promoting vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques].

Objective: To elucidate the roles of monocyte chemotactic factors (MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine) on the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with stable (SAP) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP).

Methods: Patients with SAP (n = 50) and UAP (n = 50) underwent coronary angiography (CAG) and intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) were included in the study. Monocyte chemotaxis was assayed by the transwell chamber.

Assessment of tumor vascularization with functional computed tomography perfusion imaging in patients with cirrhotic liver disease.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor in China, and early diagnosis is critical for patient outcome. In patients with HCC, it is mostly based on liver cirrhosis, developing from benign regenerative nodules and dysplastic nodules to HCC lesions, and a better understanding of its vascular supply and the hemodynamic changes may lead to early tumor detection. Angiogenesis is essential for the growth of primary and metastatic tumors due to changes in vascular perfusion, blood volume and permeability.

The first well-preserved Early Cretaceous brachiosaurid dinosaur in Asia.

A new genus and species of brachiosaurid sauropods, Qiaowanlong kangxii gen. et sp. nov.

[Impacts of kidney transplantation on erectile function and its contributing factors evaluation].

Objective: To study the impacts of kidney transplantation on erectile function and analyse its contributing factors.

Methods: In order to evaluate the severity of erectile dysfunction (ED), a total of 250 married male kidney transplant recipients (KTR) with functioning graft were assessed with the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. Data of clinical characteristics, medical and sexual history and laboratory examination were collected.

A nearly modern amphibious bird from the Early Cretaceous of northwestern China.

Three-dimensional specimens of the volant fossil bird Gansus yumenensis from the Early Cretaceous Xiagou Formation of northwestern China demonstrate that this taxon possesses advanced anatomical features previously known only in Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic ornithuran birds. Phylogenetic analysis recovers Gansus within the Ornithurae, making it the oldest known member of the clade. The Xiagou Formation preserves the oldest known ornithuromorph-dominated avian assemblage.

Influence of continuous veno-venous hemofiltration on the course of acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To investigate whether continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) in different filtration rate to eliminate cytokines would result in different efficiency in acute pancreatitis, whether the saturation time of filter membrane was related to different filtration rate, and whether the onset time of CVVH could influence the survival of acute pancreatitis.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients were classified into four groups randomly. Group 1 underwent low-volume CVVH within 48 h of the onset of abdominal pain (early CVVH, n = 9).

[A novel missense mutation, K124N, in the troponin T gene of Chinese populations with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To study the cardiac troponin T (TNNT2) gene mutation in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and to analyze the correlation between the genotype and phenotype.

Methods: Specimens of peripheral blood were collected from 71 unrelated Chinese probands with HCM, aged 40 +/- 18. The genome DNA was extracted.

[A correlation study of serum inflammatory factors and intravascular ultrasound features of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with angina pectoris].

Objective: To elucidate the relationship between serum inflammatory factors and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) findings of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with stable and unstable angina.

Methods: Thirteen patients with stable angina (SA) in group A and nineteen patients with unstable angina (UA) in group B underwent study. Concentrations of hsCRP, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 were measured by means of Enzyme-Linked-Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and IVUS was used to analysis the coronary lesions.

Combination radiation and adenovirus-mediated P16(INK4A) gene therapy in a murine model for head and neck cancer.

Since adenoviral P16(INK4A) gene transfer has shown limited promise in preclinical studies, we developed a strategy combining ionizing radiation (x-rays) with Ad-P16 gene therapy. Both radiation (2 Gy) and Ad-P16 alone demonstrated anti-tumor responses. The combination of radiation and Ad-P16 in vitro showed an augmented therapeutic response.