Objective To investigate the effect of mycophenolic acid (MPA) on the proliferation of rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) and the effects of MPA on the secretion of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).Methods PMVECs were cultured by tissue-sticking method.Cells were divided into 5 groups,named as the control group,low-dose MPA group,moderate-dose MPA group,highdose MPA group and super high-dose MPA group,according to the final concentration of MPA (0,0.1,1,10 and 100 μmol/L,respectively).The proliferation of rat PMVECs was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8).The ET-1 and IL-6 secretion were assessed by radio-immunoassay.One-way analysis of variance was used to detect the differences between the group means.Results The cultured PMVECs of rats in vitro showed fusiform or polygonal in shape,and the expressed factor Ⅷ associated antigen stain was positive.At 24 h,the A values of the 5 groups (from control group to super high-dose MPA group) were 1.15±0.20,1.20±0.13,0.88±0.20,0.62±0.05 and 0.56±0.10,respectively,there was no significant difference in the A values on 450 nm between the control group and the low-dose MPA group (P=0.388),as well as the high-dose MPA group and super high-dose MPA group (P=0.292),but there were significant differences between any other two groups (P＜0.01).At 48 h,the A values of the 5 groups (from control group to super high-dose MPA group)were 2.61±0.21,2.52±0.23,1.99±0.17,0.84±0.16 and 0.65±0.12,respectively,there was no significant difference in the A values on 450 nm between the control group and low-dose MPA group (P=0.094),but there were significant differences in the A values between any other two groups (P＜0.01).At 72 h,the A values of the 5 groups (from control group to super high-dose MPA group) were 2.62±0.24,2.62±0.19,2.37± 0.38,0.79±0.17 and 0.61±0.17,respectively,there was no significant difference in the A values on 450 nm between the control group and low-dose MPA group (P=0.931),but there were significant differences in the A values between any other two groups (P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the ET-1 concentrations between the control group and low-dose MPA group (P=0.156),and high-dose MPA group and super high-dose MPA group (P=0.262),but there were significant differences in the concentrations between any other two groups (P＜0.01).There were no significant differences in the IL-6 concentrations of the five groups between any of the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion MPA can inhibit fetal bovine serum induced rat PMVECs proliferation and the secretion of ET-1 in a dose-dependent manner.

Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been established as the primary imaging modality for non-invasive characterization of the direction-dependent motion of water molecules in the living tissue. DTI provides each image voxel with a 3x3 tensor matrix that can be processed to probe tissue microstructure and microarchitecture. In this paper, the imaging principle and diffusion tensor calculation are introduced. Examples are given to describe image-processing techniques for DTI visualization, fiber tracking, and applications to central nervous system.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of Chinese medicine combined with ion-introduction of Radix Astragali Injection (RAI)for herpes simplex keratitis (HSK).Methods Ninety HSK patients (104 affected eyes)were randomized into two groups.Both of the two groups received anti-virus drugs,and the treatment group (45 patients with 53 affected eyes)received oral use of decoction of Chinese medicines (mainly composed of Semen Cassiae,Fructus Viticis,Periostracum Cidadae,Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis,Fructus Gardeniae,Fructus Forsythiae,Flos Chrysanthemi,Rhizoma Chuanxiong,etc.),and ion-introduction of RAI.The changes of vision and clinical symptoms before and after treatment were observed,and a 2-year follow-up was carried out.Results In the treatment group,19 eyes were cured,27 effective,7 ineffective,and the total therapeutic effective rate being 86.79%;in the control group,10 eyes were cured,21 effective,20 ineffective,and the total therapeutic effective rate being 60.78%.The therapeutic effect in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P

Objective To determine the clinical and serological characteristics of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.Methods Seventeen patients were studied who had clinical features of AIHA among 222 hospitalized SLE patients in the Department of Rheumatology of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital were studied.Among the SLE patients without AIHA,34 patients were chosen by random sampling as controls.The patients' demographic data,clinical manifestations,laboratory test results and other examinations were analyzed retrospectively.Student's t test was used for the comparison of continuous variables,and chi-square test was used for the comparison of proportions.Results The prevalence of AIHA was 7.6％ in cohort of lupus patients.The positive rate of IgG anticardiolipin antibody in the AIHA group was significantly higher than that in the control group (71％ vs 15％,x2=15.366,P＜0.01 ).The occurrence of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome between the two groups had no statistical significant difference (x2=0.000,P=1.000).The frequencies of arthritis (12％,x2=4.554,P=0.033),malar rash (6％,x2=4.443,P=0.033),leukocytopenia (12％,x2=8.061,P=0.005) and lymphocytopenia (41％,x2=5.075,P=0.024) were lower in the AIHA group than those in the control group.Three patients in the AIHA group had alveolar hemorrhage in the course of SLE,while there was none in the control group (x2=3.586,P=0.058).Conclusion When lupus patients with AIHA are compared with those without AIHA,the positive rate of anticardiolipin antibody is higher,but the occurrence of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome does not increase in SLE patients with AIHA.And the frequencies of arthritis,malar rash,leukocytopenia and lymphocytopenia are lower in those patients with AIHA,however,patients with AIHA are prone to develop alveolar hemorrhage.

Hyperlipidemic pancreatitis (HLP) has an increasing incidence.Primary HLP is common in patients with familial difficiency of lipoprotion lipase or apo-C Ⅱ.While for secondary HLP,the common reasons are excessive drinking,diabetes,obesity,fat-rich diet and special medications.Lipidlowering drugs,plasma exchange (PE) or continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH),low molecular heparin as well as insulin,have been widely used for the treatment of HLP.Changing of diet and lifestyle,in addition to controlling risk factors are the keys to preventing HLP.This article summarizes the latest perspectives and research progress of HLP.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the change in drug resistance of pseudomonas aeruginosa to imipenem bewteen Jan.2000and Jun.2005in the hospital where the authors work in order to provide the reference for rational choice of antibac-terials in clinic.METHODS:158strains of imipenem resistant pseudomonas aeruginousa had been isolated in clinic and their drug sensitivity to antibacterials was tested by KB slip diffusion method and analyzed statistically.RESULTS:Meropenem,amikacin,and ceftazidime were among the antibacterials that kept high antibacterial activity and had resistance rates less than35%included.CONCLUSIONS:Imipenem resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa strain has stronger resistance to commonly used antibacterials and its multidrug resistance is more severe.Rational use of antibacterials can help to control and lessen the drug resistance of bacteria.

This paper provides a new medical image segmentation algorithm using a deformable contour model, which integrates Fuzzy C-Means(FCM) Clustering technique and deformable contour model. An external fuzzy constrain is defined from the membership function value of FCM, which joins the external constrain of the deformable model and drives the deformable model towards the contour ideal edge of the object. Examples are presented to demonstrate the efficiency and feasibility of the approach on spinal MRI images and the results are encouraging.
Algorithms ; Cluster Analysis ; Fuzzy Logic ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; Spine ; anatomy & histology

Objective To investigate the manifestations of esophageal motility disorders and evaluate the association between them and dysphagia, laboratory tests and other accessory examinations in patients with Sj(o)gren's syndrome (SS). Methods Esophageal manometry was performed in 31 patients with SS and 18 healthy volunteers by the step pull-through method. Results Decreased upper esophageal sphincter pressure was detected in 19 of the 31 patients (61%) with SS, while 4 of 18 (22%) in controls. The frequency was significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls (P=0.008). Fifteen of 31 patients (48%) showed various patterns of esophageal dysfunction including ineffective esophageal motility in 6 patients, nutcracker esophagus in 3 patients and nonspecific dysmotility in 6 patients. No major differences were found in esophageal parameters (peak amplitude, wave duration and velocity) when comparing primary SS with secondary SS. These esophageal abnormalities were not correlated with clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and other auxiliary examinations. Conclusion Patients with SS may have esophageal motility disorders, which can presents with different patterns.

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ( LA_ICP_MS ) was applied for the determination of doping element chromium( Cr) content and distribution in Cr∶ZnSe crystals. Several different Cr∶ZnSe crystals were prepared by diffusion method as reference material to solve the problem of accurate quantization. The homogeneity of Cr in these samples was characterized by LA_ICP_MS and the concentrations achieved by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry ( ICP_AES ) . With signal pot and line scan sampling, the present method provided effective position and content distribution information of Cr in ZnSe crystals, achieved the in situ analysis. The correlation coefficient of Cr in calibration curve was 0. 9992 and the detection limit was 0. 08 mg/kg. It could provide effective means for the distribution statistics of doping element in different growth condition crystals.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on cultured Sprague-Dawley rat cortical neurons injured through hypoxia/reoxygenation.Methods Primary cultured cerebral cortical neurons were isolated from newborn rots.Neurons were pre-incubated with different concentrations (15,30 and 60 μg/L) of HGF.The cell viability was detected by MTT.Apoptosis was measured by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometer.Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and caspase-3 activity were determined by colorimetry.Results Compared with normal group,hypoxia/reoxygenation treatment significantly decreased cell viability,increased LDH activity and the percentage of apoptotic cells.Pretreatment of HGF for 12 h could remarkably reverse the decrease of cell viability and the increase of apoptosis rate in neurons induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation treatment.HGF pre-treatment also attenuated the activity of LDH and caspase-3 in a dose-dependent manner.The effects of HGF could be inhibited by a special PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor,LY294002.Condusion HGF could attenuate rat cortical neuron injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation.The neuroprotective effect of HGF may be related to activating PI3K/Akt pathway,and further suppressing the expression of caspase-3.