Argon-helium cryosurgical system has been widely used in the treatment of solid tumors.The basic mechanism of this technique is that the ultra low temperature(below 140℃ ) can act on the diseased tissues, resulting in the formation of ice crystals both inside and outside of the cells and causing the rupture of the cells, which will further produce a series of physical and chemical changes and finally bring about the necrosis of tumor cells.This paper aims to introduce the argon-helium cryosurgical system, focusing on its guiding mode, freezing extent and time, freezing immunity, curative effect and combination of treatments.

Objective Human serum albumin ( HSA) is a kind of plasma protein , which can transport various small molecu-lar substances to the body.A disulfide bond breaking strategy is used to fabricate HSA-curcumin nanoparticles(NPs-CCM) in order to improve the solubility and tumor targeting capability of curcumin . Methods NPs-CCM were fabricated with dithiothreitol as the re-ducing agent .The size and shape of the nanoparticles were observed with high resolution electron microscopy .We explored the change of hydrophobic region during the process of degeneration of albumin , the releasing behavior in the solution and the tumor targeting capa-bility in vivo and vitro of NPs-CCM. Results The diameter of NPs-CCM was about 150 nm.The determination of surface hydropho-bicity showed that ANS fluorescence intensity decreased gradually as the extension of degeneration time , at the time 0 min, 2 min, 5 min and 10 min, ANS relative fluorescence intensity was 5492(5432-5673), 2486(2319-2878), 1998(1904-2317), 1503 (1280-1584) respectively.The hydrophobic region of albumin gradually reduced during the degeneration time .The curcumin re-leased from NPs-CCM amounted to about 50% within 40 h, and the NPs-CCM can be absorbed by tumor cells and accumulation in tumor tissue. Conclusion Albumin can improve the solubility and tumor targeting capability of curcumin , and it has potential clinical application value.

Objective To investigate the expression of apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2 and Bax after cerebral ischemic reperfusion in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas and the effect of curcumin on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in gerbils.Methods Gerbils were randomly divided into sham group(SH),ischemia-reperfusion group(IR),curcumin group(CU) and solvent control group(SC).Forebrain ischemia was induced by occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries.Observations were made in each group 1d,3d,5d and 7d after ischemia.Open field test was used to examine the behavioral change.The apoptotic neurons in hippocampal CA1 region was counted,and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas was detected by SABC immunocytochemical technique.Results The behavioral mark and the number of apoptotic neurons in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas were much smaller in CU group than in IR group(P

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) combined with argon-helium cryoablation in treating small renal cancers. Methods During the period from February 2008 to July 2013, a total of 44 patients with small renal cancer were treated with TAE and argon-helium cryoablation at The Medical Imaging Department of Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command. The renal function was reexamined one month after the treatment. Contrast-enhanced CT or MRI was performed in all patients within 1-3 months after the treatment. By using mRECIST, the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated. All patients were followed up for 12-46 months (mean 28 months). Results A total of 48 lesions in the 44 patients were treated with sequential therapy of TAE and argon-helium cryoablation. Of the 48 lesions, complete remission (CR) was achieved in 38, partial remission (PR) in 6 and stable disease (SD) in 4, the remission rate (CR+PR) was 91.7%. No severe complications occurred in all patients, except one who developed localized hemorrhage during the performance of argon-helium cryoablation, which was improved after symptomatic medication. The mean postoperative hospitalization time was 4 days. Three patients were lost to follow-up, one patient died of esophageal cancer-related complication. The remaining patients were survival during the follow-up period, among them recurrence occurred in five within 13-22 months after the treatment, and the sequential therapy of TAE and argon-helium cryoablation had to be carried out once more. Conclusion For the treatment of small renal cancers, the sequential therapy of TAE combined with argon-helium cryoablation is minimally-invasive, safe and effective, and TAE that is performed before argon-helium cryoablation can reduce the incidence of bleeding occurring in the freezing process. Therefore, this technique should be recommended in clinical practice.

Objective To explore the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE).MRI in the early diagnosis of brucellosis spondylitis.Methods Fifty-six patients (24 female and 32 male) with Brucellosis with average age of (49± 3)years were retrospectively analyzed.Inclusion criteria:The patients with clinically diagnosed brinell coli spondylitis,drops of serum agglutination test degree 1:100＞(++),Hu＞red plate agglutination test (+ +),enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect specific antibody IgG/IgM (+).Exclusion criteria:Pregnant and lactating women,patients with MRI examination contraindications and spinal tuberculosis,myeloma or other spinal disease,patients with the cervical,thoracic and lumbar 5 vertebral body involvement.The patients were classified into early lesion group and lesion group.Early lesion group was defined as low back pain less than a month,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay positive IgM and negative IgG results,and no abnormality in conventional MR imaging,while lesion group was defined as low back pain for longer than 3 months,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay positive IgG and negative IgM and marked lesion in conventional MR imaging.All the patients conducted with conventional MRI and DCE-MRI scan.The differences of the Ktrans,Kep,Ve and Vp between the vertebral lesions,early lesions of vertebral body and normal tissues were measured and compared.Results The values of Ktrans,Kep,Ve and Vp were significantly different between the vertebral lesions [(0.856±0.539) ml/min,(1.482±0.711) ml/min,0.542±0.267,0.034±0.017] and normal tissues [(0.315±0.298) ml/min,(0.713±0.548) ml/min,0.358±0.259,0.056±0.03](all P＜0.05).The values of Ktrans,Kep and Vp were significantly different between the early lesions of vertebral body and normal tissues (all P＜0.05),while no difference was found for Ve between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion DCE-MRI quantitative analysis plays a role in the early diagnosis of the brucella spondylitis.

Objective To quantitatively analyze brucellar spondylitis, tuberculous spondylitis and spinal metastatic tumors by dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI, and to evaluate the quantitative DCE-MRI in the differential diagnosis of brucellar spondylitis, tuberculous spondylitis and spinal metastatic tumors. Methods This was a retrospective study including 30 patients with brucellar spondylitis, 30 with tuberculous spondylitis, and 30 with spinal metastatic tumors. The clinical and demographic data were collected. All patients received routine MRI and DCE-MRI examinations. Volume transfer constant(Ktrans), rate constant(Kep), extravascular extracellular volume fraction(Ve) and plasma volume fraction(Vp) of diseased vertebral bodies of the patients with brucellar spondylitis, tuberculous spondylitis and spinal metastatic tumors were measured on perfusion parameter maps. All indexes showed non-normal distribution. Differences of all indexes were compared and analyzed statistically with rank-sum test among the above diseases. Results For brucellosis spondylitis, spinal tuberculosis, and vertebrae metastasis, the values of Ktrans were(0.716 ± 0.017),(0.316 ± 0.004),(0.986 ± 0.012)min-1, the values of Kep were(1.326 ± 0.018), (0.747 ± 0.005),(2.899 ± 0.054)min-1, the values of Ve were 0.541 ± 0.011, 0.427 ± 0.017, 0.338 ± 0.007 and the values of Vp were 0.034 ± 0.003, 0.029 ± 0.003, 0.049 ± 0.007. The differences suggested statistical significance(H=50.24, 52.49, 48.31, 46.54, P<0.01) among the three diseases. Conclusion DCE-MRI quantitative analysis is helpful in the differential diagnosis of brucellar spondylitis, tuberculous spondylitis and spinal metastatic tumors.

AIM: To explore the regulatory effects of cytokines such as EGF, bFGF on expression of neural-specific molecules in mononuclear cells (MNCs) cultured in H-DMEM medium. METHODS: The umbilical cord blood samples were collected from health puerperal natural delivery. The mononuclear cells were isolated by centrifugation over Lymphoprep and planted in T-75 flasks containing H-DMEM medium with or without addition of EGF, bFGF or EGF plus bFGF at a final concentration of 20 ?g/L, respectively. Phenotypic changes were monitored by inverse phase-contrast microscopy. Tau and MAP2 mRNA were determined by reverse-transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Tau and MAP2-positive cell were determined by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: The expression of tau protein mRNA was negative in uncultured cells, but MAP2 mRNA was positive. In cultured cells, tau protein mRNA expressed positively, MAP2 mRNA expression was upregulated by EGF+bFGF, EGF or bFGF compared with control group (no cytokines). The upregulatory capability of EGF+bFGF to MAP2 mRNA expression was stronger than that of EGF or bFGF alone. The same upregulatory tendency was noted in tau mRNA expression. In the group of control, bFGF, EGF, EGF+bFGF, the rate of MAP2-positive cells was 14.4%, 19.6%, 25.6%, 33.5%, respectively. Tau protein-positive cells were 13.5%, 15.3%, 21.4%, 29.8%, respectively. Under inverse microscopy, the freshly isolated MNCs were small and round, after culturing, the cells became larger with some big, long cytodenrites in the EGF+bFGF group, with 1 or 2 threadlike cytodenrites in the EGF group, or with some short multi-dendron like-astrocyte in the bFGF group and control group, but the number of astrocyte-like cells in the control group was less than that in bFGF group. CONCLUSION: MNCs derived from human umbilical cord blood cells express some neural specific molecules and are upregulated by cytokines, especially EGF and bFGF, which have the synergetic action. [

Objective To investigate the effects of ischemic preconditioning (IP) on the expression of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in hippocampus in a gerbil model of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and the role of ERK and JNK in the mechanism of ischemic cerebral preconditioning. Methods Gerbils of both sexes weighing 50-70kg were randomly divided into 4 groups : ( Ⅰ ) sham operation group; ( Ⅱ ) IP group; (Ⅲ) I/R group and ( Ⅳ ) IP + I/R group. Cerebral ischemia was produced by occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries and confirmed by isoelectricity on EEG. In sham operation group bilateral common carotid arteries were exposed but not occluded. In IP and I/R groups the animals were subjected to 3 min (IP group) or 5 min (I/R group) cerebral ischemia respectively. In IP + I/R group the animals first underwent 3 min cerebral ischemia followed by 24h reperfusion and then were again subjected to 5 min cerebral ischemia. Open field test was performed to evaluate the behavioral deficit 1,3,5 and 7 days after ischemia. The animals were sacrificed at 15 min, 2, 4, 6h and 1, 3, 5, 7 days after ischemia. The brains were immediately removed for detection of apoptosis (TUNEL) and expression of p-ERK and JNK (immuno-histochemistry) in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions and microscopic examination. Results Compared with I/R group the behavioral deficit was significantly decreased and the number of living pyramidal neurons was significantly increased and apoptotic neurons significantly decreased in IP + I/R group. No p-ERK expression was detected in CA1 region in all of the 4 groups but in CA3 region the p-ERK expression was significantly higher in group IP + I/R than in group I/R. The p-JNK expression increased gradually during reperfusion in both CA1 and CA3 regions and was still detectable 7 days after ischemia and was significantly lower in CA1 region in group IP + I/R than in group I/R.Conclusion IP protects hippocampal neurons from I/R injury by inhibiting the expression of p-JNK in CA1 region and enhancing the activity of p-ERK in CA3 region

Objective To investigate the predictive value of clinical and radiographic features in fungal pathogen identification in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary invasive fungal infection (IFI).Methods All consecutive immunocompromised adult patients with pulmonary IFI in respiratory intensive care unit (ICU)in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were recruited during a 2 year period.All patients met the 2008 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Mycoses Study Group (EORTC /MSG) criteria were studied for proved or probable IFI responding to antifungal agents.The data of demographic,clinical and radiographic features,as well as serological test results of the patients were collected.Differences in the clinical and radiographic features of pulmonary IFIs caused by yeasts and molds were compared by χ2 test.A logistic regression model was used to perform discriminant analysis,and the effect of discrimination was assessed for accuracy.Results The study included 143 patients with a probable diagnosis of IFI who had the following risk factors:diabetes mellitus (43.4%),chronic lung disease (32.2%),broad-spectrum antibiotics administration (≥14 days;35.7%),malignancy (23.1%),corticosteroid therapy (≥14 days;23.1%),chronic renal failure and renal replacement therapy (16.1%),and immunological disease (10.5%).Frequent broad-spectrum antibiotics administration was associated with yeast infection (P <0.05 ),while mold infection was associated with chronic lung disease (P <0.05 ) .Yeast was more often isolated from patients with concurrent bacterial infection and on mechanical ventilation (P <0.05 ) . Thoracic high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT)showed the following images:bronchial pneumonia/pulmonary consolidation (53.1%),massive shadowing (29.4%),small nodules (24.5%),large nodules (18.9%),pleural effusion (18.9%),halo sign (14%),and cavity (9.8%).Imaging showed that mold was more common than yeast in patients with pleural and pericardial effusions (P <0.05).Logistic regression modeling showed that broad-spectrum antibiotics administration,prolonged mechanical ventilation,and pleural and pericardial effusions were statistically significant in fungal identification (P <0.05 ),with a predictive accuracy of 77.6%.Conclusions For immunocompromised patients with pulmonary IFI,most of the risk factors ,the main clinical and chest HRCT features did not help to predict the type of fungal pathogen,and yeast but not cryptococcus may be accompanied or colonized.

Objective:To develop an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for semi-quantification of major allergen parvalbumin in fish.Methods:The soluble proteins were prepared from both white and dark muscles of seven species of freshwater fish and five species of marine fish.Tricine-SDS-PAGE and Western blot were performed to examine the protein patterns of fish muscle extracts.Natural parvalbumin being used to make calibration curve was purified from silver carp (Hypophthalmichthy molitrix) by ammonium sulphate fractionation,followed by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography.The molecular mass of purified protein was estimated by Tricine-SDS-PAGE and identified by Western blot with anti-frog parvalbumin monoclonal antibody PARV-19.ELISA using PARV-19 was carried out to evaluate parvalbumin contents in white and dark muscles.Results:Tricine-SDS-PAGE revealed species-specific differences in proteins of heated extracts.Western blot confirmed that the major bands were showed in Tricine-SDS-PAGE with the molecular masses of 10-14 kD corresponded to parvalbumins recognized by PARV-19 and various numbers of isoforms of parvalbumin existed in different species of fish.There might be some differences in the parvalbumin contents and the epitope region was recognized by PARV-19 based on the differences in relative intensities of protein immunodetection.The ELISA showed that the contents of parvalbumin were 4 to 33 folds higher in the white muscle than in the dark muscle and varied greatly in different species of fish.Conclusion:These results validate that the dark muscle might be less allergenic than the white muscle due to the lower content of parvalbumins,and it is suggested that the commercial anti-parvalbumin antibody PARV-19 can be used to detect parvalbumins from the commercially important species of fish tested in this study and the method we develope succeeds to detect the major allergen in various species of fish.