Objective To prepare the multi-functional ultrasound contrast agents,which were investigated for ultrasound(US)/MR dual-mode imaging and high-intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU)synergism in vitro.Methods Double emulsion method was used to prepare the superparamagnetic iron oxide(SPIO)-loaded PLGA microcapsules(s-PLGA),and its morphology,size,Fe3O4 loading capacity were assessed.Then,the prepared s-PLGA microcapsules with different concentrations were applied to perform ultrasound and MR imaging in vitro.In addition,the degassed bovine liver in vitro was directly injected into 200 μl s-PLGA in saline(0.5 mg Fe/ml)just before HIFU ablation,the saline(200 μl)and pure PLGA (200 μl)were employed for control.After HIFU ablation,the volume of coagulated tissue irradiated by HIFU was calculated.Results The s-PLGA microcapsules were observed with regular spherical morphology and its average size was(885.6 ± 133.2)nm.In vitro,the s-PLGA showed hyperechogenicity in US imaging and MR negatively enhanced effeet in T2WI,the volume of coagulated tissue irradiated by HIFU after local injection of s-PLGA was larger than that of saline and pure PLGA(P＜0.05).Conclusions The prepared s-PLGA microcapsules are successfully acted as dual-mode biological imaging contrast agents for ultrasound and MR imaging and HIFU synergism in vitro.

Objective To prepare a kind of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) and doxorubicin loaded multifunctional polymer microbubbles (MPMBs),and to explore its potential application as an ultrasound(US)/magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent in vitro.Methods The MPMBs and normal polymer microbubbles (PMBs) were made by double emulsion and freeze-drying methods.The physical property,drug encapsulation efficiency and the drug-loading efficiency of MPMBs were determined,and the release property and US/MR imaging enhancement of MPMBs were observed.Results The MPMBs had a regular shape and narrow size distribution.The drug encapsulation efficiency was (60.20±2.69) ％,and the drug-loading efficiency was (6.02 ± 0.27) ％.The in vitro release experiment showed that ultrasound can promote the release of doxorubicin in MPMBs.US imaging in vitro showed that the enhancement of MPMBs was better than PMBs,and MR imaging in vitro conformed that MPMBs could well enhance MR imaging.Conclusions The MPMBs is a multifunctional contrast agent with the treatment function as well as US/MR dual-mode imaging enhancement effect.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between plexinC1 (PLXNC1) rs2272335 polymorphism and the family clus-tering genetic susceptibility to primary liver cancer (PLC) in Guangxi and the expression of PLXNC1. Methods:Genotype and alleles of rs2272335 were determined in 20 liver cancer family groups (79 cases) and 10 healthy normal control groups (40 cases) in Fusui County through Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer. Immunohistochemistry detected the PLEXNC1 protein expression. Results:For the alleles of PLXNC1 (rs2272335) site, the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for individuals with [C] allele was 4.16-fold (95%CI=0.37-47.3, P=0.032) compared with that for individuals with [T] allele among the members of the healthy normal control group. The fre-quencies of the [C] and [T] alleles were similar in the HCC patients and the core individuals of liver cancer families (P>0.05). For the genotype of the PLXNC1 (rs2272335) site, the differences in frequencies of TT, TC, and CC genotypes were not statistically significant among the PLC patients and the core individuals of the liver cancer families and normal controls. The PLXNC1 protein expression in HCC (3.12±1.12) was higher than in hepatocellular paracancerous tissues (1.54±0.67) and in benign hepatocellular lesions (1.23±0.87) (P<0.05). Conclusion:The [C] allele of PLXNC1 (rs2272335) site might be the risk gene for the occurrence of PLC family clustering in Guangxi. PLXNC1 protein overexpression was closely correlated with PLC oncogenesis.

Objective To prepare polyclactic-co-glycolic acid(PLGA) polymer ultrasound contrast agent loading sudan black dye (SB-PLGA) and study the enhancement effect of it on rabbit lymph nodes imaging and as a sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in the feasibility and value of the indicator.Methods SB-PLGA ultrasound contrast agent was made by double emulsion and freeze-drying methods.Thigh subcutaneous rabbit VX2 tumor model of eight lymph nodes were set up with the foot pad subcutaneous injection of contrast agents to get contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of the popliteal lymph node and the second inguinal lymph node stations.Then the blue stained lymph nodes were resected by popliteal lymph node dissection and the second station lymph nodes were also observed after 30 mins respectively,lymph nodes were examined by frozen sections HE staining in parallel.Results SB-PLGA microbubbles had a tight size distribution.Ultrasound imaging can be significantly enhanced lymph node imaging,the second station lymph node imaging was not obvious.Popliteal lymph node dissection for lymph node staining,30minutes later,frozen sections HE staining were seen within the lymph node contrast agent present in the lymphatic sinus and a large entry of macrophages.Inguinal lymph node dissection showed the second station of lymph nodes no blue staining.Conclusions SB-PLGA ultrasound contrast agent is good for sentinel lymph node imaging and biopsy indicator.Contrast agent retention and accumulation in the lymph nodes by the uptake of macrophages may be associated with the mechanisms of lymph node enhanced imaging.

Objective To investigate the effects of azithromycin on airway remodeling and the expression of transforming growth factorβ1 (TGF-β1) in asthmatic mice.Methods BALB/c male mice were random divided into 3 groups:control group(A),asthma group (B),and azithromycin treated group (C),with 10 mice in each group.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected to count the number of white blood cells and eosinophilic granulocytes EOS.The morphological parameters of the bronchi were measured by computer image analysis and the pathologic changes of the bronchi and lung tissue were observed by HE staining.The expressions of TGF-β1 were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results The number of EOS in B group was significantly higher than that in control group(8.12 ±0.54 vs 0.70 ±0.40;8.12 ±0.54 vs 0.87 ±0.25,P ＜0.01).WAt and WAi and WAm in group C was significantly lower than that in group B (10.15 ±0.95 vs 15.36 ±0.85,4.16 ±0.32 vs 10.64 ± 1.03,3.77 ±0.15 vs 7.97 ±0.17,P ＜0.01)but higher than that in group A.The expression of TGF-β1 in group C was significantly lower than that in group B but higher than that in group A.TGF-β1 expression of lung tissue in C group was significantly correlated with EOS,(r =0.840,P ＜0.01) and WAt(r =0.735,P ＜0.01) and WAm (r =0.870,P ＜0.01).Conclusion Azithromycin inhibited airway remodeling in asthmatic mice,which might possibly be achieved through inhibiting the expression of TGF-β1.

Objective To investigate the correlation between heat-shock protein 70-2 (HSP70-2) gene+1267A/G polymorphism and coronary heart disease (CHD) in Han Chinese population. Methods Using the method of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) , the polymorphism and genotype and allele distribution of HSP70-2 gene + 1267A/G in 185 CHD patients and 149 controls were analyzed. Results The HSP70-2 gene + 1267A/G polymorphism was found in this study population.The distribution of HSP70-2 genotypes was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequency of G allele in CHD group was significantly higher than that in control (61.89% vs51.68%, P ＜ 0. 01). After multiple logistic regression analysis, HSP70-2 gene (GG + AG) genotype was an independent risk factor of coronary heart disease. Conclusion HSP70-2 gene + 1267A/G polymorphism was associated with CHD risk of Han Chinese population, the G allele might serve as a genetic risk factor of coronary heart disease.

Objective To investigate the expression of connective tissue growth factor( CTGF) and the effects of azithromycin in airway remodeling in asthmatic mice.Methods BALB/c female mice were randomly divided into 3 groups;control group(A),asthma group(B) ,and azithromycin treated group(C),with 10 mice in each group.Mice were sensitized and challenged continually with ovalbumin( OVA).The distribution and types of collagens were detected by cirius red staining.Lung hydroxyproline content was determined by acid hydrolysis.CTCF expression in mice pulmonary tissues was detected by SABC immunohistochemistry.Results After continual challenging with OVA,collagen hyperplasia was found in the airway wall and CTCF positive expression in airway epithelium.CTCF expression was closely associated with lung hydroxyproline content(r = 0.65,P <0.01).Conclusion Asthma continually challenged with OVA could result sub-epithelial fibrosis and remodeling in airway,which could be associated with the upregulation of CTCF over-expression.Azithromycin inhibited airway remodeling in asthmatic mice,possibly by inhibiting the expression of CTGF.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum amyloid A (SAA) and disease activity (DAS28) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Forty-four patients with RA, 35 patients with systemic lupus erythe-matosus (SLE), 18 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 30 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in this study. The levels of SAA were measured by ELISA. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was measured by the Westergren method. The value of serum C reactive protein (CRP) was examined by immunonephelometry assay. The correlation between SAA and DAS 28, ESR and CRP was assessed, respectively. Results The SAA levels were significantly higher in RA group than those of SLE, OA, and HC groups (P<0.05). The serum ESR and CRP levels were both higher in RA group than those of OA and HC groups (P>0.05), but there was no significant difference between RA group and SLE group. There was positive correlation between SAA and DAS28, ESR, and CRP levels (rs=0.790, P<0.001;rs=0.674, P<0.001;rs=0.679, P=0.004), respective-ly. Conclusion SAA may be a new serological marker to assess disease activity in RA.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and methods of diagnosis and treatment of granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGLL).Methods Clinical data of 3 patients with LGLL were retrospectively analyzed and relevant literature was reviewed.Results 3 patients were all onset with lymphocytosis,whose conditions progressed slowly.The diagnosis of 2 patients was T-LGLL with immunological characteristics of CD3+ CD4 CD8+ CD56-CD57+.The other patient' s diagnosis was NK-LGLL,whose immunological characteristic was CD3-CD4-CD8-CD56+ CD57-.Two of them didn' t need any treatment.One of them was treated with cyclosporine because of agranulocytosis and recurrent infection.Conclusions LGLL is a group of heterogeneous diseases,which clinical characteristic and prognosis are different.Flow cytometric immunopheotype,TCR Vβ analysis and TCR gene rearrangement are helpful to diagnosis.

Objective: To observe the effect of the intravenous infusion of vasostatin-2 (VS-2) on hemodynamics in experimental rats with spontaneous hypertension (SH).
Methods: A total of 36 (14-16) weeks male SH rats with the mean body weight at (160-250) g were randomly divided into 6 groups:①Control group, the rats received normal saline (100μl/kg),②Catestatin (20μg/kg) group,③VS-2 (5μg/kg) group,④VS-2 (10μg/kg) group,⑤VS-2 (20μg/kg) group and⑥VS-2 (40μg/kg) group. n=6 in each group. The average blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and barorelfex sensitivity (BRS) were monitored and compared upon VS-2 treatment and between VS-2 and catestatin treatments in conscious and freelance rats.
Results: Compared with prior treatment, VS-2 (20μg/kg) and VS-2 (40μg/kg) could obviously decrease the HR, BP and BRS in SH rats. In VS-2 (20μg/kg) group, HR by bpm was (341.3 ± 19.3) vs (365.5 ± 25.5), BP by mmHg was (133.0 ± 8.9) vs (147.5 ± 11.2) and BRS by ms/mmHg was (0.52 ± 0.18) vs (0.37 ± 0.12);in VS-2 (40μg/kg) group, HR was (348.8 ± 30.8) vs (374.5 ± 34.8), BP was (131.5 ± 9.3) vs (151.7 ± 10.8) and BRS was (0.53 ± 0.05) vs (0.38 ± 0.03), all P<0.01. Catestatin treatment could also decrease the HR as (318.7 ± 13.4) vs (365.5 ± 25.5), BP as (119.7 ± 7.3) vs (147.5 ± 11.2) and BRS as (0.58 ± 0.15) vs (0.35 ± 0.11), all P<0.01. Compared with catestatin (20μg/kg), the rats received VS-2 (20μg/kg) had the weaker reduction of HR as (318.7 ± 13.4) vs (341.3 ± 19.3), BP as (119.7 ± 7.3) vs (133.0 ± 8.9), all P<0.01, while BRS was similar as (0.58 ± 0.15) vs (0.52 ± 0.18), P>0.05.
Conclusion: Intravenous infusion of VS-2 may obviously affect HR, BP and BRS in experimental SH rats;compared with the same dosage of catestatin, VS-2 had the weaker reduction of HR, BP and BRS.