BACKGROUND:Glycyrrhiza flavonoids can protect muscle tissues against oxidative and inflammatory injuries.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of Glycyrrhiza flavonoids on energy storing and release of adipose tissue by studying expressions of perilipin mRNA and protein in skeletal muscle tissues of rats after exhaustive exercise.
METHODS:Fifty male healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were used and equaly randomized into five groups: quiet control, exercise alone (intragastric administration with saline), exercise combined with low-, moderate-, high-dose Glycyrrhiza flavonoids (intragastric administration with Glycyrrhiza flavonoids) groups, respectively. Perilipin mRNA and protein expressions in skeletal muscle tissues containing gastrocnemius muscle and musculi soleus were determined at 6 weeks after exhaustive exercise.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Expression of perilipin mRNA in rat gastrocnemius muscle in quiet control group was significantly decreased compared with exercise alone and al combined intervention groups (P < 0.05 orP < 0.01). Protein expression of perilipin in exercise combined with moderate- or high-dose glycyrrhiza flavonoids group was significantly increased compared with quiet control group (P < 0.05). Expression of perilipin mRNA in rat musculi soleus was significantly decreased compared with exercise combined with moderate-dose glycyrrhiza flavonoids group (P < 0.05). These findings confirm that Glycyrrhiza flavonoids are benefit for improvement of aerobic metabolism capacity of gastrocnemius muscle through regulating lipolysis pathway.

Objective To observe the multi-detector spiral CT manifestations of primary gastric lymphoma. Methods Multi-detector spiral CT findings of 21 patients with pathologically confirmed primary gastric lymphoma were retrospectively analyzed, the lesions' site, extent, thickness of gastric wall, the enhancement pattern, the situation of gastral cavity and gastric mucosa, and the encroachment of perigastric lymph nodes and other organs were observed. Results Tumors in all 21 patients were non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Multiple lesions were found in 19 patients, while single lesion was detected in 2 patients. CT demonstrated irregular thickening of the gastric wall (8-62 mm) in all 21 patients, including diffuse thickening (n=10), segmental thickening (n=9) and local thickening (n=2). Homogeneous enhancements were found in 19 patients, and lamellar inhomogeneous necrosis were found in 2 patients. Intact mucosal lines were found in 12, and destructed mucosal line in 9 patients, while obscure serous membranes were found in 2, and distinct serous membrane in 19 patients. The stomach showed distensible without significant narrow in 12 patients. The enlargement of perigastric lymph nodes were found in 6 patients. No hepatic encroachment was found. Conclusion Multi-detector spiral CT manifestations of primary gastric lymphoma are relatively specific, and multi-detector spiral CT shows high value for the diagnosis of the disease.

Objective To evaluate the effects of different reconstruction settings of knowledge-based iterative reconstruction technique (IMR) on noise reduction and image quality in hepatic contrast-enhanced CT(CECT) at different radiation dose levels.Methods Patients who underwent hepatic CECT because of their diseases were enrolled in this prospective study.According to random number table,patients were randomly assigned to two groups (standard dose group,SD-group,n=29; low dose group,LD-group,n=25).All patients underwent both non-enhanced CT and triphasic CECT scan including hepatic arterial phase (HAP),portal-venous phase (PVP) and delayed phase.PVP images of SD-group were acquired with tube voltage of 120 kVp and tube current-time products of 250 mAs,and 80 kVp and 500 mAs for LD-group.PVP images were reconstructed with both filtered back projection (FBP) and IMR techniques.Settings applied in IMR reconstructions consisted of body routine (BR) and body soft tissue (BST) with three levels (L1 to L3),and image series included:L1BR,L2BR,L3BR,L1BST,L2BST and L3BST.Subjective assessment of image quality including low contrast detectability (LCD),image distortion (ID) and diagnostic confidence (DC) as well as objective image quality including image noise,signal to noise ratio (SNR) and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) were compared between groups.Effective radiation dose was recorded.Objective image quality and subjective image quality were compared by using Friedman H test and ANOVA,respectively.In addition,Student t test was used to compare effective radiation doses between groups.Results In SD-group,IMR settings of L2BST,L3BST scored highest in LCD with median score of 4;L3BST and L2BST scored lowest in ID with median score of 3,while FBP and L1BR scored highest with median score of 4; L1BR,L2BR and L1BST scored highest in DC with median score of 4,while L3BST scored lowest with median score of 3.In LD-group,the distribution of all reconstruction settings scores in LCD and ID were similar to those in SD-group; however,L1BST scored highest with median score of 4,and FBP scored lowest with median score of 2 in DC.There were statistical differences in LCD,ID and DC among all the reconstruction settings for both groups (P＜0.05).In terms of FBP technique,the image noise,SNR and CNR were (9.8±2.0)HU,13.3±3.3 and 6.0±1.9 in SD-group,and (16.2±4.1)HU,12.9±3.3 and 6.6± 2.3 in LD-group,respectively.In SD-group,image noise exhibited a trend of decrease from L1BR to L3BST [from (4.5±0.9) HU to (3.2±0.2)HU],while SNR,CNR trended to increase (SNR:from 21.4±1.4 to 24.6±4.6; CNR:from 9.4±2.2 to 10.9±2.9,respectively).The image noise,SNR and CNR in LD-group showed the same trends as SD-group [image noise:from (5.8±0.2)HU to (3.9±0.6)HU; SNR:from 26.3±4.5 to 33.1±6.9; CNR:from 13.6±4.0 to17.4±5.1,respectively].In both groups,there were statistically differences in image noise,SNR and CNR among all IMR settings and FBP (F values were 15.50 to 131.39,P＜0.01).The effective radiation dose of the LD-group was significantly lower than that of the SD-group [(4.19±0.22) versus (7.32±0.58) mSy,t=15.27,P＜0.01).Conclusions IMR can reduce image noise and improve image quality in hepatic CECT at both standard and low dose levels.L1BR,L2BR and L1BST are the most optimized reconstruction settings for the standard dose protocol,while L1BST performs best for the low dose protocol.

Purpose To compare the image quality of contrast-enhanced hepatic CT using iterative reconstruction technique (IMR) at different radiation doses, and to explore the value of IMR in contrast-enhanced hepatic CT under different radiation doses. Materials and Methods Fifty-four cases undergoing contrast-enhanced hepatic CT were divided into two groups using different portal-venous phase protocols:29 cases in group A (120 kV, 250 mAs), 25 cases in group B (80 kV, 500 mAs). Portal venous phase CT images were reconstructed using IMR and filtered back projection to obtain 4 data sets:group A1 (120 kV, FBP), group A2 (120 kV, IMR), group B1 (80 kV, FBP) and group B2 (80 kV, IMR). Images were evaluated for noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) as well as low contrast detectability (LCD), image distortion (ID) and diagnostic confidence (DC). Effective radiation dose was recorded. Results The effective radiation dose in group B was 42.7%, lower than that in group A (t=15.27, P<0.001). Image noise in group A2 and B2 was significantly lower than that in group A1 and B1, with higher SNR and CNR (Fnoise=81.98, FSNR=65.19, FCNR=37.42, P<0.001). There was significant statistical difference in LCD among four groups, A2>B2>A1>B1 (χ2=58.21, P<0.001), and in image distortion, A1>B1>A2>B2 (χ2=12.94, P<0.001). There was significant difference between B2 and A1, and between B2 and B1 (P<0.05). For diagnostic confidence, the score was A2>A1>B2>B1 (χ2=34.06, P<0.001). There was no statistical significance between group A1 and group B2 (P>0.05). Conclusion Compared with FBP, IMR technique can reduce image noise and improve image quality at low and high radiation doses, with better effect on low dose (80 kV, 500 mAs) hepatic CT.

Objective To screen monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for early diagnosis of invisive Aspergillus. Methods Monoclonal antibodies against different antigens of Aspergillus fumigatus were produced. The two pairs of combinations of monoclonal antibodies were selected accoring the distinct epitopes and double-antibody sandwich ELISA based on mAbs above were established. The sensitivity and specificity of the methods were analyzed by detecting culture supernatants of clinical isolates and environmental isolatesof Aspergillus. spp, Penicillium Marneffei, Candidas, and serum from animal models and patients. The epitopes recognized by mAbs were identified by immunobotting. Results A total of 32 hybridoma cell lines that stably produced MAbs were obtained. Two double- antibody sandwich ELISAs were established. One method was specific for 19 clinical isolates and environmental isolates of Aspergillus. spp, whereas the other one was specific for the clinical and environmental isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus without cross-reation with other Aspergillus. spp. For the same kind of medium of Aspergillus fumigatus, the sensitivity of the first method was 10 fold higher than the second method. Conclusions The specific mAbs for early diagnosis of invisive Aspergillus were obtained. Antigen recognized by the specific mAbs was mannoprotein with molecular weights of approximately 25 000-75 000. This antigen was potential early diagnostic marker for invasive Aspergillus.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of mifepristone on the expression of chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit (beta-CG) and collagen type IV in female Rhesus monkey decidua and villus during the first trimester of pregnancy.

METHODSEighteen sexually mature female Rhesus monkeys were allowed to cohabitate with their male counterparts and diagnosed as being pregnant by B-ultrasound at days 38-45 of the menstrual cycle. They were randomly divided into mifepristone treatment group (15 mg/ml.kg.day, 3 days), control group(no treatment) and CMC-Na treatment group(0.5% CMC-Na, 1 ml/kg.day, 3 days). The content and distribution of chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit and collagen type IV in the female Rhesus monkeys were examined by immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the immunohistochemical reaction intensity of chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit in the plasm of stroma cells, glandular epithelial cells and decidual cells of decidua, and synctial trophoblast cells of villus significantly decreased in the mifepristone treatment group. The positive staining of collagen type IV surrounding the epithelial glandular basal membrane, decidual cells and blood vessels in decidua and surrounding the synctial trophoblast cells in villus were significantly reduced.

CONCLUSIONMifepristone may have a strong effect in decreasing the bioactivity of beta-CG in decidua and the synthesis of beta-CG in villus, and in accelerating the degradation of collagen type IV in decidua and villus.

Animals ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; analysis ; Chorionic Villi ; chemistry ; Collagen Type IV ; analysis ; Decidua ; chemistry ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Macaca mulatta ; Mifepristone ; pharmacology ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of spermatogenic arrest with the expression of AR and HSP90alpha.

METHODSThe two-step immunohistochemical method was used to examine the expression of AR and HSP90alpha in the testicular biopsy specimens of 57 infertile men with spermatogenic arrest, compared with those taken from 15 normal healthy men.

RESULTSAR was expressed in the nuclei of the spermatogonia, spermatocytes and round spermatids of the normal testicular biopsy, but the intensity of the AR expression showed difference in each type of cells. Furthermore, the high expression of AR in spermatogonia and spermatids was on the margin of the cytoplasm, and perinuclear (forming a ring-like structure) were very distinctive in the spermatogenic arrest testicular biopsy specimens. HSP90alpha was expressed in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and myoid cells in the normal testicular tissues, but highly expressed in the testicular tissues with spermatogenic arrest. The immunostaining intensity of HSP90alpha showed significant difference (P < 0.05) between the two kinds of testicular tissues.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicate that the abnormal expression sites of AR may make the androgen receptor unable to mediate androgen into the nucleus, which may down-regulate the gene transcription activity of spermatogenic cells. It is possible that the high expression of HSP90alpha may lead to a dramatic decrease in AR stability and an increase in AR abiquitirylation.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; metabolism ; Male ; Oligospermia ; complications ; metabolism ; Receptors, Androgen ; biosynthesis ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology

【Objective】 To establish a paper-free system of the total whole blood donation flow in constructing intelligent blood stations, and build digitalized whole blood donation system for practice. 【Methods】 A paper-free whole blood collection system was constructed through information process reforming, system frame designing and data network transportation constructing, and was applied in various blood donation scenario. 【Results】 Fixed blood collection sites carried out 49 063 donations via paper-free information system from November 2022 to July 2023, and 24 822 donations( group blood donation) were conducted via paper-free system from April to July 2022. Compared with the traditional paper-based model, paper-free system is safer, more standardized and more convenient, effectively enhancing the experience of blood donors. 【Conclusion】 The construction of paper-free whole blood collection system effectively enhances the experience of blood donors, improves the safety, accuracy, traceability of the data, and has good social value and economic value, which is worth popularizing.