PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to characterize the enhancing patterns of hepatic metastasis from gastric adenocarinoma using multi-phase incremental bolus dynamic CT with obtained both in early and late phase contrast scan and to evaluate the its advantages. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Of 33 cases of multi-phase incremental bolus dynamic CT with proved hepatic~metastasis from gastric adenocarinoma, we classified dynamic enhancement patterns as three types according to early phase contrast enhancement, and then analized the late phase contrast enhancement, more metastasis detection, segmental abnormal arterial perfusions and correlation between pathologic type. RESULTS: Type I (totally hypodense lesion) was in 18 patients(55%), type II (peripheral high density area) was seen in 13 patients (39%), and type III (near totally hyperdense lesion) was seen in two patients(6%). But in late phase, masses showed totally hypodense area in 26 patients(79%), central high with peripheral low density area(PLDA) in six patients(18%) and totally isodense in one patient(3%). More metastatic masses were detected with early phase in 11 patients(33%) as compared with late phase contrast. Segmental arterial hyperperfusion around the lesions, which could represent intrahepatic portal branch invasion, was seen in 10 patients(30%). There was no correlation between pathologic type and enhancement pattern of lesions. CONCLUSION: Multi-phase incremental bolus dynamic CT could represent variable hemodynamic changes of hepatic metastatic masses and was useful to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative analysis of hepatic metastases.
Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Perfusion ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate alterations of regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR), and correlation between these alternations and cognitive dysfunction in patients with chronic traumatic brain injury (TRI) and normal brain MRI findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty TBI patients and 19 healthy volunteers underwen1 rest/acerazolamide brain SPECT using Tc-99m HMPAO. Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence scale test was also performed in the patient group. Statistical analysis was performed with statistical parametric mapping software (SPM97), RESULTS: CBF was diminished in the left hemisphere including Wernicke's area in all patients with lower verbal scale scores. In addition, a reduction in CBF in the right frontal, temporal and parietal cortices was related with depressed scores in information, digital span, arithmetic and similarities, In patients with lower performance scale scores. CBF was mainly diminished in the right hemisphere including superior temporal and supramarginal gyri, premotor, primary somatomotor and a port of prefrontal cortices, left frontal lobe and supramarginal gyrus. CVR was diminished in sixty-four Brodmann's areas compared to control. A reduction in CVR was demonstrated bilaterally in the frontal and temporal Iobes in patients with lower scores in both verbal and performance tests, and in addition, both inferior parietal and occipital lobes in information subset. CONCLUSION: Alterations of CBF and CVR were demonstrated in the symptomatic TBI patients with normal MRI finding. These alterations were correlated with the change of intelligence, of which the complex functions are subserved by multiple interconnected cortical structures.
Adult ; Brain ; Brain Injuries* ; Frontal Lobe ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Intelligence* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Occipital Lobe ; Rabeprazole ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Aged ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Epirubicin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND: Akt gene plays an important role in cell survival, proliferation, metabolism, and apoptosis. Although mechanism of Akt gene still remains unclear, it, a major element of survival signal, has aroused much attention in the domain of molecular biological research. OBJECTIVE: To construct eukaryotic expression vector pDC316-Akt1 for Aktl gene and to observe the expression in 293 cells. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An observational study was performed at Molecular Biological Laboratory of Academy of Military Medical Sciences of Chinese PLA between September and December 2006. MATERIALS: pCD316 plasmid was provided by Benyuan Zhengyang Company; DH5α and 293 cells were reserved in our laboratory. METHODS: Aktl DNA segment was cloned from total RNA of hepatic tissue using RT-PCR and inserted into eukaryotic expressing vector pDC316 between EcoRI and Hind Ⅲ sites after sequencing. And then, 293 cells were transfected with the recombinant by liposome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Aktl gene content in transfected 293 cells using Westem blotting. RESULTS: Sequencing test indicated that Aktl amino acid sequence was in accordance with wild Aktl sequence. Akt-pDC316 was transcripted in 293 cells, and Akt1 protein with relative molecular weight of 55 000 was highly expressed in 293 cells when assayed using Western blotting. CONCLUSION: Eukaryotic expression vector for Aktl gene highly expresses in 293 cells.

Objective: This study aimed to observe the long-term effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa preparation used in peritoneal injection of advanced colorectal cancer patients during surgery. Methods: A total of 83 colorectal cancer patients who received surgery between September 2006 and March 2008 were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups. Palliative resection and a 10 ml P. aeruginosa peritoneal injection were performed in 30 of 83 patients in the treatment group. Simple palliative resection was conducted in the other 53 patients, which comprised the control group. Both groups were then treated by regular chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Results:The follow-up visit was completed in 79 of 83 patients, with a high follow-up rate of 95.2%. No significant difference was found in the five-year overall survival time between the two groups (P=0.403). However, the five-year median survival time in the control group was only 13.9 ± 2.14 months, whereas that in the treatment group was 17.2 ± 2.12 months. Conclusion: Within a short period, peritoneal injection of P. aeruginosa during surgery could confer certain survival advantages for advanced colorectal cancer patients. However, the long-term effect of this therapy remains unknown.

Objective To construct recombinant adenoviral vector expressing autocatalysis caspase- 3 driven by human telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter amplified by two-step transcription amplification (hTERTp-TSTA),and investigate its antitumor effect in ovarian cancer iri vitro and in vivo.Methods Recombinant adenoviruses expressing autocatalytic caspase-3(rev-caspase-3)driven by hTERTp-TSTA were prepared,which were named as AdHTVP2G5-rev-casp3.AdHT-rev-casp3,Ad-rev-casp3 and AdHTVP2G5- EGEP,which express rev-easpase-3 driven by hTERTp,cytomegalovirus promoter(CMVp)and enhanced green fluorescent protein(EGFP),respectively,were used as controls.Western blot,cell counting kit (CCK-8),flow cytometry(FCM)and TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling(TUNEL)were used to detect the expression of p17,active subunit of caspase-3,and p85,and to measure cell survival rates, apoptotic rates and cell cycle distribution in ovarian cell line AO and normal human umbilical vein endothelial cell line HUVEC,following treatments of AdHTVP2G5-rev-casp3.subcutaneous tumor models and abdominally spread tumor models of human ovarian carcinoma using AO cells in BALB/e nude mice were established.Following treatments of AdHTVP2G5-rev-easp3,western blot was used to detect the expression of active caspase-3 in abdominally spread tumors and liver tissues,respectively,and the mouse survival rates and the volume of tumor nodules were measured,and the serum level of alanine transaminase (ALT)and aspartate transaminase(AST)were analyzed to monitor liver damages and HE staining was used to detect the histopathological changes of various organs.Results The levels of p17 expression in AdHTVP2G5-rev-casp3-treated AO cells were significantly higher than that in Ad-rev-casp3 or AdHT-rev- casp3 treated AO cells,while no expression was observed in AdHTVP2G5-rev-casp3-treated HUVEC.There was strong cell killing of AdHTVP2G5-rev-casp3 of hTERT positive AO cells,but not of the hTERT-negative HUVEC cells.Cell survival rate and apoptotic rate of AO cells treated with AdHTVP2G5-rev-casp3 were 17.8% and 40.2%,respectively,significantly different from that treated with AdHT-rev-casp3(75.2% and 16.1%)at the multiplicity of infection(MOI)of 70(P0.05) .Significant expressions of active caspase-3 were shown in AdHTVP2G5-rev-casp3-treated tumors,whereas no expression was shown in liver.In contrast,both tumors and liver tissues showed active caspase-3 expression following treatments of Ad-rev-casp3.AdHTVP2G5-rev-casp3 and Ad-rev-casp3 prolonged mouse survival[mean survival time of(259?14)d and(213?16)d],when compared with treatment with AdHT- rev-casp3[(177?12)d]and AdHTVP2G5-EGFP[(109?7)d;P

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease.Its invasion and metastasis,recurrence and part of the chemotherapy drug tolerance are currentlv difficulties of treatment.Breast cancer stem cells have the ability of selfrenewal,proliferation and differentiation potential,which may correlate closely with breast cancer recurrence,treatment failure.This assay aims to briefly analyse markers and significance of breast cancer stem cells,and the relationship between the treatment of breast cancer and breast cancer stem cells.

Objective To investigate the immune privilege of cotransplanted parathyroid cells induced by testicular Sertoli cells expressing Fas ligand (FasL).Methods Different testicular Sertoli cells and allogeneic parathyroid cells were cotransplanted respectively. Allografts survival,cells component and the apoptosis of infiltrative lymphocytes in vitro were analyzed.Results The parathyroid cells transplanted alone were all rejected with the mean survival time of ( 17.22 ? 3.63 ) days. When parathyroid cells were cotransplanted with testicular Sertoli cells,survival time of allografts was prolonged. When the quantity of testicular cells was increased to 4?10 6,most animals remained normal serum calcium and PTH throughout the follow-up period ( P

Objective To investigate the gene therapy of hypoparathyroidism (HPT) with hemopoietic stem cell s(HSCs) integrated with parathyroid hormone (PTH) gene.Methods Human PTH gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction from pcDNA 3.1 -PTH templates and inserted into murine stem cell virus (MSCV) vectors. The plasmids recombinated with PTH gene were transfected into PA317 packaging cells and screened for positive clones with Geneticin. The condensed recombinant retroviruses were obtained and used to infect HSCs coming from umbilical cord blood. The infected HSCs were injected into the mice suffering from HPT. The change of symptoms and serum level of PTH and calcium in each group of mice was observed.Results Human PTH gene was proved to be inserted into MSCV vectors and the titres were up to 2?10 7 colony forming unit (CFU)/ml in condensed retroviral solution. The secretion of PTH reached 15 ng per 10 6 cells per 48 h. The wild type viruses were not detected by PCR amplification. The mice suffering from HPT recovered quickly and the serum level of calcium and PTH remained normal for about 3 months after the HSCs recombinated with PTH gene were injected into them. In the groups of mice subject to the injection of the recombinant retroviruses containing PTH gene, the serum level of PTH and Calcium was significantly increased in a short time, and then declined slowly. And the mice took on the manifestation of hypoparathyroidism again. The mice only subject to the implantation of HSCs were all dead within 20 days.Conclusion A long term therapeutic effect could be obtained by infusing the HSCs which were integrated with PTH gene into the mice suffered from hypoparathyroidism.

Objective Measuring the concentration of PTH when pcDNA3.1?PTH was injected into the muscle of rabbits with hypoparathyroidism (HPT),studying the relationship between change of blood PTH and pcDNA3.1?PTH dosage.Methods Different dosages of pcDNA3.1?PTH(100?g/ml, 300?g/ml and 500?g/ml)containing human PTH gene were injected respectively into muscle of the experimental rabbits after parathyroidectomy in advance.Then the concentration of PTH in blood of rabbits was measured at following different times.Results PTH level began to increase from the first day,which reached in peak concentration at the seventh day after the injection of pcDNA3.1?PTH and persisting two months.Conclusion Human PTH gene was effective in therapying HPT rabbits,their best effective dosages were 300?g/ml and 500?g/ml respectively.