Objective: To study the application of CT and MRI fusion technique in the diagnosis and treatment of intraocular and orbital tumors. Methods: 2D-images of 13 patients with intraocular and orbital tumors were fused by special-point registration and Iterative Local Closest Point(ILCP) method; 3D-fusion images were reconstructed by Ray Tracing method. Results: A 3D-CT-MRI fusion images of intraocular and orbital tumors were reconstructed and displayed. The CT and MRI data of intraocular and orbital tumors were displayed on the same image as a comprehensive whole,which provided a stereogram of 3D-structure of the normal and abnormal orbital tissues. Anatomical structure of the orbit was clearly visualized by 3D-CT-MRI image. Conclusion: The multi-modality fusion technique can provide more accurate and comprehensive information for clinical diagnosis of intraocular and orbital tumors, which is helpful for doctors' planning of surgical operations,clinical education and doctor-patient communication.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the third-generation instrumentation including TSRH, CD and ISOLA in the treatment of adult scoliosis. Methods:Thirty-five adult patients with idiopathic or degenerative scoliosis who received treatment with third-generation instrumentation (TSRH,CD and ISOLA) between July 1999 to January 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. The mean preoperative cobb angle of major curves of the frontal plane was 58.1°(42°-95°). The patients received a combined anteroposterior approach or a single posterior procedure. The mean follow-up time was 20 months(10-48 months). Preoperative and postoperative Cobb angles of the frontal plane and sagittal plane and the distance between C7 and CVLS were measured. The subjective assessment was judged by questionnaire. Results: Postoperative clinical appearance of all patients improved significantly. Mean correction of major curves of the coronal plane was 53.2%. Mean loss of correction of the coronal plane in the last follow-up was 4.3°. The distance between the midline of C7 and CVSL was corrected from 2.6 cm to 0.24 cm. The results of follow-up showed that 89.3% patients were satisfied with the outcome. Pneumatothorax and haematothorax occurred in 2 patients. Three patients still complained of low back pain one year after operation because of adjacent degeneration in 2 patients and pseudoarthrosis in the remaining 1 patient. Conclusion: Imageologic findings and subjective assessment of the patients showed that the third-generation instrumentation can achieve good correction and trunk balance in the treatment of adult scoliosis with fewer complications.

Objective:To optimize the injection protocol of contrast medium for contrast-enhanced MRA (CEMRA) of pulmonary artery and to evaluate the diagnostic value of CEMRA and pulmonary perfusion imaging (PPI) in an experimental model of acute pulmonary embolism. Methods:CEMRA and PPI were performed in 6 normal pigs with different doses of gadolinium contrast agent (5ml, 10ml, 15ml, 20ml and 25ml) at an injection rate of 3ml/s, and 3 pulmonary embolism models were injected with 20 ml contrast agent at 3 ml/s. DSA was also performed for comparison. Results:The signal intensities and the signal to noise ratios of the pulmonary arteries kept increasing with the dose increase of the contrast agent, but the best angio-pulmonary contrast dose was 10-15ml (0.25-0.375mmol/kg), while the optimal dose for PPI was 15-20ml (0.375-0.5mmol/kg). Although CEMRA demonstrated less obstructed pulmonary arteries than DSA (5/10 vs 8/10)did, it detected all obstructions when combined with PPI. The pulmonary infarction zones showed wedge-shaped perfusion defects on the PPI images, with the signal intensities lower than those of the normal areas (137.86±45.32 vs 330.14±46.52, P<0.001). Conclusion:It is suggested that the optimal dose of the contrast agent is 0.25mmol/kg to 0.375mmol/kg for CEMRA, and 0.375mmol/kg to 0.5mmol/kg for lung perfusion. CEMRA combined with PPI may be better than DSA in demonstrating pulmonary embolism.

Objective: To investigate the function and mechanism of phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) in cell-matrix adhesion in colorectal cancer. Methods: Highly metastatic colorectal cancer cell line LoVo and lowly metastatic colorectal cancer cell line SW480 were subjected to cell-matrix adhesion assay. U73122 (a specific inhibitor of PLC) and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) (an inhibitor of NF-κB) were used to study the effect of PLCγ1 and NF-κB on cell-matrix adhesion. Furthermore, Western blot and gel electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) were performed to detect the mechanism of PLCγ1 in colorectal cancer cell adhesion to matrix. Results: Inhibition of PLCγ1 or NF-κB resulted in reduction of cell-matrix adhesion in a dose-dependent manner in LoVo cells(P<0.05), but had no marked effect on SW480 cells. Western blot analysis showed that epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated the phosphorylation of PLCγ1 in LoVo. The results of EMSA indicated that inhibition of PLCγ1 signaling pathway also down-regulated the activity of NF-κB while EGF reversed the function. Conclusion:These data suggest that PLCγ1 plays a pivotal role in the EGF-induced cell-matrix adhesion of highly metastatic colorectal cancer cells and that NF-κB is also functional in this signaling pathway.

Objective:To prepare arsenic trioxide(As_2O_3)albumin microspheres and to analyze their physicochemical properties and in vitro antitumor activities.Methods:As_2O_3 albumin microspheres were prepared by emulsification-heat solidification.Physicochemical and the slow-release properties of the microspheres were identified by the electron microscope, thermal stabilization analysis and dynamic dialysis system in vitro.MTT method was used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of the released fluid on human osteosarcoma cell line U-2 OS cells and human lung adenocarcinoma cell line SPC-A-1 cells.Results: The mean diameter of the microspheres was(156?3.56)?m(ranging 56.4-256.7?m),with the As_2O_3 content being (55.22?11.19)% and t_(1?2)of release time being 23.34 h.The slowly released fluid showed a significant inhibitory effect on U- 2 OS and SPC-A-1 cells.Conclusion:As_2O_3 albumin microspheres prepared in the present study have satisfactory physicochemical,slow-releasing,and tumor-inhibition properties.

Interaction between drug and protein is a major research field of life science.This article reviews the methods used in related research in the past 5 years,including spectroscopy,equilibrium dialysis,ultrafiltration,microdialysis method, capillary electrophoresis,NMR,X-ray diffraction,electrochemical,affinity chromatography,HPFA,HPLC,etc.It has been showed that combined usages of several technologies are always needed to elucidate an interaction between drug and protein.

Objective:Clonidine,by activating peripheral?-adrenoceptors,produces transient pressor response after i.v. injection in anesthetized animals.Moxonidine,with at least 40-fold higher affinity to I_1-imidazoline receptors than to?_2-adreno- ceptors,produces also a transient pressor response.This work was designed to investigate whether I_1-imidazoline receptors are involved in this pressor effect of moxonidine.Methods:Female spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs,aged 14-16 weeks) were anesthetized with urethane.To observe the transient pressor responses,moxonidine 0.1,0.3,1.0 mg/kg(intravenous, i.v.),2.0?g(intracerebroventricular,i.c.v.)and 1.0,10.0 mg/kg(intragastric,i.g.)were administrated in different groups of rats.To evaluate the roles of?_1-adrenoceptors,?_2-adrenoceptors and I_1-imidazoline receptors in the transient pressor responses to moxonidine,prazosin(10.0?g/kg),yohimbine(2.0 mg/kg),phentolamine(0.2 mg/kg),idazoxan(1.0 mg/kg) or yohimbine+idazoxan(2.0 mg/kg+1.0 mg/kg)were intravenously given to the animals before moxonidine 0.3 mg/kg (i.v.).Results:It was found that i.v.moxonidine produced a greater pressor response than clonidine when producing a similar reduction of blood pressure.This effect of moxonidine was not influenced by prazosin,but was partly inhibited by yohimbine, phentolamine or idazoxan,and completely blocked by the combination of yohimbine and idzaxon.Neither i.c.v.injection nor i.g.administration of moxonidine induced transient pressor responses.Conclusion:The transient pressor response of i.v.mox- onidine is mediated by both peripheral I_1-imidazoline receptors and?_2-adrenoceptors.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of mustard gas on reproductive system in rats.Methods:Forty male SD rats and 40 female rats were equally divided into mustard gas-treated group and control group.Animals in mustard gas-treated group were injected with 5 mg?kg body weight(LD_(50))of mustard gas,and those in control group received propylene glycol injection.Serum hormonal determinations(estriol,testosterone,luteinizing hormone,follicle-stimulating hormone)were completed by collecting ocular vein blood at 1 day,3 days,5 days,7 days and 28 days after injection.The rats were then killed were anatomized.Microscope was used to observe pathological changes in germ cells(ovary or testes).Two female rats and 3 male rats died during 4th and 5th day after injection.Results: The changes of serum hormone and pathology nearly restored to the normal levels in the female rats after injection of mustard gas for a short period.Most of the spermatogenic cells were still necrotic and seminiferous tubules still had hollow cross 1 month after injection in male rats.The FSH levels in the sera of male rats were significangtly increased from(1.2100?0.3546)mmol/L in control group to (1.4750?0.0451)mmol/L 28 days after injection(P

Objective:To study the treatment outcome of percutaneous image-guided radiofrequency ablation(RFA)for larger hepatocellular carcinomas(with the maximal diameter longer than 4 cm)and to summarize our experience.Methods:From December,1999 to March,2007,441 patients with larger hepatocellular carcinomas,who had missed the best time for surgery, received RFA treatment in our department.The maximal diameter of the tumor was 4-8.2 cm,with a mean of(4.6?0.63)cm. The patients were followed up and the necrosis of the tumor,complication,local recurrence and survival of patients were observed.Results:The complete necrosis rate of tumors was 72.9%.The rate of RFA-associated complication was 20.9% and the rate of severe complication was 9.5%.Seven patients died of RFA.Valid follow-up data of 359 patients were obtained, including 379 tumors with diameter longer than 4 cm.A total of 302 tumors were completely necrotic and 130 of them had recurrence,with a recurrence rate of 43.0%.For patients with a tumor diameter of 4-5 cm,the 1-year,3-year,and 5-year survival rates were 78.2%,48.1%s,and 17.6%,respectively,with a median survival period of 27 months;for patients with a tumor diameter of 5-6 cm,the rates were 66.3%,36.4% and 9.7%,respectively,with a median survival period of 18 months;for patients with a tumor diameter longer than 6 cm,the rates were 53.6%,28.1%,and 0,respectively,with a median survival period of 11 months.Conclusion:RFA is an effective treatment for patients with larger HCC who are not suitable for surgery,but the patients should be selected according to the indications.

Objective:To investigate the effect of the ERK1/2 signal-transduction pathway on differentiation of rat mesencephalic neural stem cells(NSCs)in presence of bone marrow stromal cell-conditioned medium(BMSCs-CM)in vitro.Methods:NSCs were cultured on poly-L-lysine(PLL)coated 35 mm dishes.The neurospheres adhered to the bottom 30 min later;then the culture medium of natural differentiation group was replaced by neurobasal medium containing 2% B27;the control group was replaced with BMSCs- CM;and the inhibition group was replaced with BMSCs-CM containing PD98059(5?mol/L).The proportions of neurons and astrocytes and their morphological difference were observed by immunocytochemistry technique 7 d later.Results:We successfully cultured NSCs from adult rat BMSCs-CM.The proportion of neurons in the natural differentiation group(15.70?10.3)% was lower than that in the control group([51.17?10.30]%,P