Objective To investigate the clinical utility of dual-energy virtual non-contrast CT(VNCT)of dual source CT in the di-agnosis and differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule(SPN).Methods Thirty-six patients with suspected SPN underwent chest plain single energy CT and dual-phase contrast enhanced CT (DECT)(25 and 90 s).The images of dual energy were sent to a commercial workstation for VNC image generation.CT values of SPN on VNC and true non-contrast(TNC),as well as signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)were compared.The accuracy of calcification detection was compared according to the diameter and density of the calcification.The TNC images were used as the reference.Results CT values,SNR and CNR of VNC had no statistical difference among TNC and VNC at 25 s and 90 s(P >0.05).DECT VNC(5mm slice)could accurate detected calci-fication(diameter>2 mm,CT value>1 50 HU)in SPN.The 2 mm slice performed significantly better than 5 mm slice VNC images. Conclusion The VNC could provide consistent diagnostic information with TNC.The thin slice DECT VNC images can be used in clinical practice to replace TNC without losing small calcification in SPN,which has potential to reduce the patient radiation dose.

AIM: To study the relationship between nitric oxide (NO) and gastric mucosal injury induced by reserpine in rats. METHODS: Sixteen healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and experimental group (n=8). NO contents and malondialdehyde(MDA) contents in plasma, gastric mucosa of the rats were respectively determined with Cadmium-reduct plus Greiss and TBA; nitric oxide synthase in gastric walls of the rats were observed using NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry and quantitatively measured with image analyzer.RESULTS: The NO contents in both plasma and gastric mucosa of experimental group were significantly lower than that in control group (P

BACKGROUND:Autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation,as the current latest therapy is widely used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases,however,the treatment on myasthenia gravis is still in the primary stage.OBJECTIVE:To create the model of myasthenia gravis with autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in rats and to observe clinical manifestation,attenuation rate of repetitive nerve electric stimulation action potential and titer of serum acetylcholine receptor Ab in the models.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:The randomized control animal experiment was performed at the Human Anatomy Laboratory,Medical College of Zhengzhou University between July and December 2007.MATERIALS:Totally 50 female Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups,a normal group(n=10),an adjuvant control group(n=10),a stem cell transplantation group(n=15),and a model control group(n=15).METHODS:Rats in the normal group were intact.Rats in the adjuvant group were subjected to the same volume of saline and cyclophosphamide.Rats in the stem cell transplantation group were used to make experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by intraperitoneally infusing with serum of myasthenia gravis patients.Bone marrow stem cells were mobilized by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.Autologous peripheral blood stem cells were collected and then were transplanted via tail vein injection after the pretreatment regimen of cyclophosphamide.Rats in the model control group were treated with an equal volume of peripheral blood,and with other procedures as the stem cell transplantation group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Swimming time and survival rate of rats from each group after stem cell transplantation;attenuation rate of repetitive nerve electric stimulation action potential and titer of serum acetylcholine receptor Ab were measured at 4 and 9 weeks after stem cell transplantation.RESULTS:The survival rate was higher in the stem cell transplantation group than in the model control group(P

Objective To observe the curative effect and adverse reactions of intercostals nerve block combined with fentanyl transdermal system in treatment of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS). Methods Intercostals nerve block combined with fentanyl transdermal system was used for treatment of 141 patients with PIPS. The degree of pain relief was evaluated by numerical rating scale (NRS),the quality of life of patients was evaluated by the quality of life score standard,and the adverse reactions were also observed. Results The overall remission rate was 97.85%,there were 51 cases (36.43%)with complete remission, 80 cases (57.14%)with significant remission,and 6 cases (42.85%) with moderate remission. The adverse reactions included nausea,vomiting, constipation,dizziness,skin pruritus and dysuria,no serious liver and kidney function damage and respiratory inhibition. The quality of life of all patients was improved. Conclusion Multimodal analgesia has better curative effect and less adverse reactions in treatment of PTPS,so it deserves clinical promotion.

Objective To observe the effects of decimeter wave irradiation on the rehabilitation of the acute peripheral nerve injury of rats. Methods Eighty Sprague-Dawley rats(200～250 g)were randomly divided into 2 groups:group A,the decimeter wave irradiation group and group B,the blank control group.The right sciatic nerves of all the rats were crushed with forceps to establish the experimental animal model of acute peripheral nerve injury.Then the rats of group A were exposed to decimeter wave irradiation for 10 minutes every day for 8 weeks.The rats of group B were also fixed on a table as those in group A but receive no decimeter irradiation.At different time points observation with light and electron microscopy,immunochemical staining,axon morphometric analysis,electrophysiological examination were carried out.Results Morphometric analysis showed that at different time points after operation the recovery of nerves in group A was better than that in group B.Axon morphometric analysis showed that the number,the diameter and the thickness of sheath of myelinated nerve fibers in group A were greater than those in group B. Electrophysiological assessment showed that the latency was shorter,the amplitude was higher,and the nerve conduction velocity was faster in group A than those in group B at the end of 8 weeks of decimeter wave treatment after operation.Conclusion Decimeter wave had significant effects on the rehabilitation of the acutely injured peripheral nerves.

Objective To observe the effect of superficial radial nerve transplanting to repair musculospiral nerve defection and using end-to-side neurorrhaphy to reconstruct the function of the donor site. Methods Thirtyfour cases underwent superficial radial nerve transplanting to repair musculospiral nerve defection and end-to-side neurorrhaphy was performed to reconstruct the function of the donor site. Results All cases were followed-up for 6 to 18 months,the functional recovery of the recipient of musculospiral nerve was excellent in 23 cases and good in 5 cases,with an excellent and good rate of 82. 53 %. Sensory recovery of donator nerve was excellent in 27 cases and good in 5 cases,with an excellent and good rate of 94. 12%. Conclusions Superficial radial nerve transplanting to repair musculospiral nerve defection and functional reconstruction of donor site is a better choice in treating neurologic defect.

[Objective]This study was designed to investigate the effects of small volume resuscitation with different fluids on the lung of endotoxie rats.[Methods]Thirty SD rats weighting 180-250 g were divided randomly into 5 groups(n=6):Group C[lipopolysaccharide(LPS)negative control group],Group E(LPS+4 mL/kg physiologic saline),Group HSS(LPS+4 mL/kg 75 g/L hypertonic saline solution),Group HES(LPS+4 mL/kg hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4),Group HSH(LPS+4 mL/kg 75 g/L hypertonic sodium chloride hydroxyethyl starch 40).Resuscitation was administrated 30 min after LPS injected.Pathological examination and score were made under optical microscope.Dry/wet ratios were observed.Levels of total protein of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were measured.Thibabituric acid(TBA)was used to measure tissue malonaldehyde(MDA)levels.Xanthine oxidase(XO)was employed to measure the tissue activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD).[Results]Compared with group C,in the other 4 groups,pathological changes were server.Levels of total protein of BALF were higher(P＜0.05).Pathological score of group E was significantly higher(P＜0.01).Dry/wet ratio of group E was lower(P＜0.05).Tissue activity of SOD of group E was lower(P＜0.01).Levels of tissue MDA in group E and HSS were significantly higher.Compared with group E,in group HSS,HES and HSH,pathological changes were slighter(P＜0.01).Pathological scores and tissue MDA levels were lower(P＜0.01).Dry/wet ratios were higher(P＜0.05).Tissue activity of SOD were higher(P＜0.01),levels of total protein of BALF were lower(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).[Conclusion]Small volume resuscitation with HSS,HES,and HSH had protective effects on the lung of endotoxie rats.HES and HSH had better effect on decreasing the capillary permeability of the lung of endotoxic rats lung compared with HSS.

Objective:To investigate the role of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP1) in atorvastatin-induced reduction of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 1 ( NLRP1 ) inflammasome expression. Methods:THP-1 cells were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (160 nmol/L) for 12 h to be differentiated into macrophages. The medium was then replaced with serum-free medium containing lipopolysaccharide and ( or ) atorvastatin. The mRNA expression of NLRP1 and SREBP1 were detected by Real-time PCR. The protein expression of NLRP1 and SREBP1 were determined by Western blot. Furthermore, we observed the effect of SREBP1 siRNA on atorvastatin-induced reduction of NLRP1 expression. Results:Atorvastatin inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP1 and SREBP1 in the THP-1 macrophages. SREBP1 siRNA showed no significant difference on lowering NLRP1 expression when compared with atorvastatin. Treating cells with SREBP1 siRNA and atorvastatin at the same time resulted in more obvious reduction of NLRP1 expression than single use of SREBP1 siRNA or atorvastatin. Conclusion:Atorvastatin might exert anti-inflammatory effect by repressing NLRP1 expression through the SREBP1 path-way.

Objective To report the clinical effects of microsurgery in treatment of infected extremities after blood vessel prosthesis were transplanted.Methods From Jan.1998 to Dec.2008,8 cases of major vascular injuries in extremities were blood-supplied by cross bridge vascular anastomosis from uninjured extremities,including 4 cases of femoral artery and vein,2 cases of popliteal artery and vein,and 2 cases of brachial artery and vein. Results After 3 years of follow-up,blood circulation of infected extremities were reestablished in each of 8 cases,as well as function and appearance recovered.Conclusion The procedure of cross bridge vascular anastomosis from uninjured extremities may efficiently restitute the blood supply of the infected extremities after blood vessel prosthesis were transplanted,and decrease the rate of amputation.

Objective To investigate the correlativity between elasticity modulus and pathological severity in chronic pancreatitis (CP).Methods Twenty-one pigs were divided randomly into experimental group (n=18) and control group (n=3) using random number method.The main pancreatic duct (MPD) was incompletely ligated to establish the CP model.In control group, MPD was not ligated.The animals were killed in batches at 4th, 8th and 12th week after surgery.The pancreatic tissue was taken for elasticity modulus test and pathological examination, and the pigs were classified into control, mild, moderate and severe groups based on the severity of fibrosis.Cell density, fat infiltration and extracellular edema were observed and classified into mild and severe.The difference of elasticity modulus among different groups were compared by Variance analysis, the correlation between pancreatic fibrosis and elastic modulus was analyzed with Spearman correlation analysis, and ROC curve was used to evaluate its efficacy of diagnosing CP.Results Sixteen CP models were established successfully expected for 2 deaths (mild, n=7;moderate, n=2 and severe, n=7).All of the control group (n=3) showed normal pancreas.The elasticity modulus of control, mild and moderate to severe group were 0.4268±0.0566, 0.3203±0.0518 and 0.2235±0.0685, respectively.The difference between the groups was statistically significant (F=13.658,P<0.01), and the elastic modulus and pathological grade had a negative correlation (r=0.969, P<0.01).AUC of elasticity modulus for differentiating normal and mild CP was 1.000, the best critical value was 0.3807, and both the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis were 100%.AUC for differentiating mild and moderate to severe CP was 0.8730, the best critical value was 0.2646, and the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis were 85.7% and 77.8%, respectively.The pancreatic elasticity modulus of low parenchymal cell density group and high parenchymal cell density group were 0.1931±0.0373 and 0.3485±0.0655, respectively, which in the high cell density group was significantly higher than that in the low cell density group (t=-5.719, P<0.01).The elasticity modulus of negative infiltration or slight fatty infiltration group and severe fatty infiltration group were 0.3401±0.0697 and 0.1855±0.0344, respectively, which in the negative infiltration or slight infiltration group was significantly higher than that in severe infiltration group (t=5.102, P<0.01).The elasticity modulus of negative or mild cell edema group and moderate to severe cell edema group were 0.2760±0.0825 and 0.3024±0.1056, respectively;there was no statistically significant(t=-0.586, P >0.05).Conclusions The elasticity modulus can be used to detect the pathological changes of CP, and evaluate the CP pathologic grades.