Objective To explore the characteristics of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) of lumbar sacral nerve roots (LSNR)in normal and degenerative lumbosacral vertebrae. Methods The research recruited 20 normal volunteers and 31 patients with spinal stenosis on conventional MRI and DWI scans in lumbosacral spine. We measured the areas from lumbar 3 to sacral 1 at the intervertebral spaces and reconstructed the 3D maximum intensity projection (MIP) and counted the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)of LSNR and ganglions. Results In the control group, 196 (98%) LSNR ran symmetrically and lateroinferiorly and 200 ganglions were well defined on MIP of DWI. In the patients group, 74 LSNR showed changes of compression on both T1WI and T2WI, in which DWI appeared thin and distorted in 59 (80%). The ADC value of LSNR were(1.70 ± 0.40)× 10-3 mm2/s and(1.98 ± 0.57) × 10-3 mm2/s separately in normal volunteers and patients (P=0.000), while the ADC values of ganglions were(1.42 ± 0.21)× 10-3 mm2/s and (1.54 ± 0.53)× 10-3 mm2/s respectively in normal volunteers and patients (P=0.000). Conclusion DWI can display the pattern and course of LSNR and ganglions, which indicate that ADC values of compressed LSNR and ganglions are higher than normal ones.

Objective To evaluate the effect of conversion from mycophenolic acid (MPA) to mizoribine (MZR) in renal transplant recipients with gastrointestinal tract (GI) symptoms.Methods A total of 355 renal transplant recipients with GI symptoms caused by MPA administration were enrolled from April 2015 to March 2017 in 25 different renal transplant centers in China.The symptomatic improvement of GI before (baseline) and after conversion to MZR (1,2,4 weeks) was assessed by each item of GI symptoms indication.In addition,the efficacy and safety of the conversion therapy during 12 months were determined.Results Patients showed improvement in GI symptoms including diarrhea,abdominal pain,abdominal distention and stomachache after conversion to MZR 1,2,4 weeks (P＜0.05).In patients with different severity of diarrhea,conversion to MZR therapy significantly improved diarrhea (P＜0.05).During 12 months,no patient experienced clinical immune rejection.We did not observe any infections,leucopenia and other serious side effects.Conclusion MZR could markedly improve GI symptoms caused by MPA administration in renal transplant recipients.

Objective: To explore the effect of insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ) receptor on radiosensitivity of HepG2 cells and the underlying mechanism. Methods: HepG2 cells were divided into the following groups: negative control group, siRNA group, irradiation group and combined group. HepG2 cells were transfected with IGF-Ⅰ receptor siRNA combined with irradiation therapy to investigate the effect on cell proliferation by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and cell cycle using flow cytometry. Expression of IGF-Ⅰ receptor, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin-dependent kinases 1(CDK1) and Survivin were detected using Western blotting and Q-PCR. Results: The expression of IGF-Ⅰ receptor in HepG2 cells was decreased significantly after siRNA transfection compared with the control group. After the combinational therapy, cell viability was decreased significantly according with control group [(1.02±0.08) vs. (1.08± 0.10) vs. (0.60±0.07)]; In addition, cell cycle was arrested in G2/M[(20.3±0.3)% vs. (22.6±0.4)% vs. (34.7±0.5)%] and CDK1 expression was reduced significantly. The relative expression of Survivin in siRNA group was lower than negative control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Inhibition of IGF-Ⅰ receptor can enhance the radiosensitivity of HepG2 cells through cell cycle arrest.