Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and compare it with contrast-enhanced CT(CECT). Methods Eighty-one focal liver lesions were evaluated with CEUS and CECT, diagnostic value of two modalities were calculated, vaseularity manifestations of two modalities in arterial phase were compared. Results The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of CEUS were 96.6 %, 86.9 %, 94.9 %, 90.9 %, 93. 80%, respectively, and the diagnostic value of CECT were 98.3%, 82. 6%, 93.4%, 95.0%, 93.8%, respectively. Among all the metastasis, hypervascular manifestation lesions in arterial phase of CEUS and CECT were 72% (18/25) and 32% (8/25)( P <0.05). Conclusions The diagnostic value of CEUS and CECT in focal liver lesions are comparably satisfying,and there is no significant difference between them, the combination use of two modalities would improve the diagnosis performance. CEUS can show more hypervaseular metastasis than CECT in arterial phase.

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to explore the differences of membrane thickness and pressure on the paranasal sinus membrane in goats and analyze their causes. The results can provide theoretical basis and guidance for the issues of the maxillary sinus floor augmentation related to the membrane.

METHODSThe membrane was cut into two sizes from every sinus membrane. The membrane was fixed in formalin to obtain tissue specimens for the membrane thickness study and pressure study. The correlation between the two parameters was then analyzed, and appropriate statistical methods and software were selected.

RESULTSThe top of maxillary sinus, the bottom of maxillary sinus and the frontal sinus membrane thickness were (410.03 ± 65.97), (461.33 ± 91.37), (216.90 ± 46.47) µm. The pressure were (260.08 ± 80.12), (306.90 ± 94.37), (121.72 ± 31.72) kPa. The mean differences of the membrane thickness between the top of the maxillary sinus and the frontal sinus, bottom and frontal, and top and bottom were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean differences in membrane pressure were also statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe membrane thickness and pressure of the top and bottom of the maxillary sinus are higher than those of the frontal sinus membrane. However, the thickness and pressure of the bottom membrane are slightly higher than those of the top membrane. Pressure and membrane thickness are positively correlated in the sinus membrane.

Animals ; Goats ; Maxillary Sinus ; Sinus Floor Augmentation ; Software

A method was developed for the determination of zeranols (α,β-zearalanol,α,β-zearalenol,zear-alanone,zearalenone) with RRLC-MS/MS in the plant tissue. The samples were extracted with acetonitrile and reextracted with aqueous alkaline solution,cleaned up with MAX column and then determined by RRLC-MS/MS using multiple reaction monitoring ( MRM) scan mode. The results showed that the working curves were linear in the range of 0 -20 μg/kg. The limits of detection ( LOD) of zeranols were 0.5 μg/kg and the limits of quantification (LOQ) was 1. 0μg/kg. Extraction recoveries for zeranols ranged from 75. 8% to 105.4% and RSD was between 2.4% and 12.1%. The method is suitable for the determination of zeranols in the plant tissue.

OBJECTIVETo detect antisense-micro ribonucleic acid-21 oligonucleotide (AS-miR-21)'s inhibiting effect to tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSLiving image and TUNEL experiments were performed, based upon the xenograft animal models set up by introduction of Tca8113-luc cells which were stably transfected with pGL6 luciferase report gene plasmid into nude mice, while the tumors were injected with AS-miR-21.

RESULTSTca8113-luc cell line which steadily expressed luciferase activity was constructed by transfecting pGL6 report gene plasmid. The subcutaneous tumor formation rate was much higher in nude mice introduced with the cells, and the tumors grew well. After injection of AS-miR-21 into mice tumors, it was obviously viewed that tumors grew slower, the volume of the tumors was smaller, the photon number in live body imaging was getting less, the necrosis in the tumor specimens was rare, cell nuclei was getting smaller, dyeing color was lighter, heteromorphism and new vessels were decreased, micro ribonucleic acid-21 expression in tumor cells was considerably lower, and apoptotic index was increased.

CONCLUSIONAll the results indicate that the injection of AS-miR-21 can inhibit growth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma in nude mice model, and effectively promote cell apoptosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; Plasmids ; RNA ; Tongue Neoplasms ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo detect the biological influence to human tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) cells of micro ribonucleic acid-21 (miR-21).

METHODSReferring to mature miR-21 sequence, the sense and antisense oligonucleotide (sense-miR-21 and AS-miR-21) modified by 2'O-Me were designed to transfect into TSCC cells (Tca8113 and high metastasis cells) by liposome transfection technology, in order to establish an in vitro TSCC cell model. The expression changes of miR-21 in the transfected cells were detected with real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). The changes of cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell early apoptosis, cell migration and invasion capabilities were detected respectively by the technologies of methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), flow cytometry, Annexin V cell early apoptosis assay, scratch assay and Transwell assay, to check AS-miR-21's effect on the biological characteristics of human TSCC cell lines.

RESULTSFor the TSCC cells, the antisense oligonucleotide of targeting miR-21 could effectively inhibit cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, and inhibited the capability of cell's migration and invasion.

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of miR-21 decrease after AS-miR-21 transfected into TSCC cells, and miR-21 can affect biological behavior of TSCC cells.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; RNA ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tongue Neoplasms ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo observe the patterns of benign and malignant breast lesions using real-time gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasound and assess its value in the differential diagnosis of begign and malignant breast tumors.

METHODSTotally 116 breast lesions (benignity n = 63; malignancy n = 53) underwent real-time gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The patterns of their enhancement were assessed from 6 aspects: degree of enhancement, process of enhancement, completeness of enhancement, homogeneity of enhancement, boundary of the enhanced lesions, and exhistance of radial enhancement around the lesions. The results were compared with the pathologic findings.

RESULTSContrast-enhanced sonographic patterns were significantly different between benign and malignant breast lesions. Most malignant lesions were non-centripetally, incompletely, and inhomogeneously enhanced. After having been injected with the microbubble contrast medium, the boundary of the lesions became unclear, and the radial enhancement around lesion were mainly seen in the malignant lesions.

CONCLUSIONThe patterns of real-time gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasound are remarkably different between malignant and benign breast lesions, showing promising values for its clinical application.

Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Contrast Media ; administration & dosage ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Microbubbles ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

OBJECTIVETo observe the performance of liver metastases with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and assess its clinical application.

METHODSTwenty-one patients with 21 untreated liver metastases underwent CEUS with low mechanical index imaging. The characteristic appearances of CEUS in different vascular phases were observed.

RESULTSOf 21 metastases, 19 (90.5%) were identified as fast-in and fast-out enhancement pattern. In the arterial phase, all the 21 lesions showed enhancement but with varied appearances: 12 (57.1%) showed early diffuse enhancement, 8 (38.1%) showed ring-like enhancement, and the remaining one lesion of large size showed slowly enhomogenous minor enhancement. In the late phase, sharp defects were found in 20 lesions (95.2%), and more lesions were detected in 3 patients (14.3%).

CONCLUSIONCEUS can show the characteristic appearance of liver metastases, and can be used for the screening and diagnosis of liver cancers.

Contrast Media ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the polymorphisms of DNA repair gene (XRCC1 194, 280 and 399) and the chromosomal damage induced by benzene.

METHODSThe chromosomal damage of the peripheral lymphocytes in 459 workers occupationally exposed to benzene and 88 non-exposed controls were detected with cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay. PCR-RFLP technique was used to measure polymorphisms in XRCC1 194, 280 and 399.

RESULTSIt was found that the MN frequency (2.12‰ ± 1.88‰) of the exposed group was significantly higher than that (1.19‰ ± 1.68‰) of the control group (P < 0.05), in the exposed group, the MN frequency (3.00‰ ± 2.76‰) of older workers (> 35 years) was significantly higher than that (2.02‰ ± 1.71‰) of younger workers (≤ 35 years) (P < 0.05). The effect of genetic polymorphisms of XRCC1 on CBMN was not found. The haplotypes AAA/BAA, AAB/AAB, ABA/ABA, ABB/ABB could associated with the increased frequencies of total micronucleus (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBenzene exposure could result in chromosome damage. Age of workers and diplotypes of XRCC1 could associated with chromosomal damage induced by benzene.

Adult ; Benzene ; adverse effects ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective ; Micronucleus Tests ; Occupational Exposure ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1 ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo construct replication selective adenovirus AdhepE1 targeting human melanoma and observe its specific killing of human melanoma cells in vitro.

METHODSAdenovirus E1 region, the murine tyrosinase promoter and enhancer DNA sequences were acquired respectively by PCR cloning. The shuttle plasmid of replication-selective adenovirus targeting human melanoma was constructed by DNA recombination. Replication-selective adenovirus AdhepE1 was generated by homologous recombination. The human melanoma cell line SK-Mel-1 and hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 were attacked separately by lower dose of AdhepE1. Change of cell morphology was observed and the surviving cells were calculated. The expression of E1A was assayed by RT-PCR to verify the specific-replication of AdhepE1.

RESULTSReplication selective adenovirus AdhepE1 targeting human melanoma was acquired by PCR. Human melanoma cell line SK-Mel-1 was sensitive to oncolytic killing of AdhepE1 whereas HepG2 was little responsive. The results of RT-PCR suggested that AdhepE1 replicated specifically in human melanoma cells.

CONCLUSIONAdhepE1 can selectively kill human melanoma cells.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Melanoma ; therapy ; virology ; Mice ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Virus Replication

Objective·To investigate the changes and distribution of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF1) expression around the puberty and to explore the position relationship among gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), KiSS1 and TTF1 expression in the hypothalamus of female SD rats. Methods?·?Female SD rats were divided into three groups: juvenile (JUV), early puberty (EP), and adult (AD). Tissue immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of TTF1, KiSS1 and GnRH immunoreactive cells in the hypothalamus and the relative position among them. Real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of KiSS1, GnRH, TTF1 on mRNA levels in the hypothalamus, anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV), and arcuate nucleus (ARC) respectively. Western blotting was performed to detect the changes in protein level of KiSS1 and TTF1. Results?·?TTF1 was densely expressed in hypothalamus nucleus AVPV, ARC and median eminence (ME) of female rats. GnRH,KiSS1 and TTF1 were adjacently expressed in ARC and ME. The mRNA level of TTF1 in the hypothalamus showed an upward trend after a slight decrease, while in AVPV and ARC tended to be consistent and showed an upward trend. The GnRH mRNA expression levels were significantly increased and reached the peak at AD. The mRNA expression levels of KiSS1 showed a sharp rise which was prior to the peak expression of GnRH mRNA at EP and then sustained the high level until AD. The protein expression level of TTF1 reached the peak at AD and the KiSS1 expression showed a sustained growth. Both of them showed an upward trend and basically consistent with the mRNA expression trend. Conclusion?·?Neuronal nuclei protein TTF1 mainly expressed in the nuclei AVPV, ARC, and ME of female rat hypothalamus. It was prominent in cells of ARC and ME which were localized GnRH, KiSS1, TTF1 positive neural cells. During the development of puberty onset, KiSS1 mRNA preceded GnRH mRNA to reach the peak at EP. The expression of TTF1 mRNA increased and reached a peak at AD, which was consistent with the overall increase of KiSS1 and GnRH expression. Protein expression of KiSS1 showed a corresponding upward trend together with their mRNA expression. TTF1 protein expression increased and peaked in AD.