Objective To observe MSCT features of partially or completely low enhancement of pancreas neuroendocrine tumors (PNENs).Methods The clinical data and MSCT features before pancreatectomy in 44 patients with confirmed PNENs were retrospectively reviewed.The MSCT findings were evaluated including tumor size, location, margin, density, intratumoral structure, bile duct and pancreatic ductal dilation and distant metastasis.Tumors were classified into complete enhancement type, partially or completely low enhancement type for further comparative analysis based on MSCT enhancement during pancreatic stage.Results A total of 56 PNENs in 44 patients were found, and there were 31 partially or completely low enhanced PNENs and 25 completely enhanced PNENs.The former were larger than the latter [mean tumor size, (3.3±2.2)cm vs (1.4±0.9) cm], and irregular shape and cystic components within tumors were more often observed (all P<0.05).There were no significant differences between the two types of PNENs in terms of gender, the presence of functional tumor, tumor location, clear tumor margin, intratumoral calcification, bile and pancreatic duct dilation and metastasis.76.0%(19/25) of completely enhanced PNENs reached peak enhancement in arterial phase, and 71.0%(22/31) of low enhancement PNENs reached peak in pancreatic phase.Enhanced intratumoral blood vessels in the arterial phase were more frequent in low enhancement PNENs, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).There were significant differences on pathological grade between the two types of PNENs (G1=21,G2=4,G3=0 vs G1=18,G2=5, G3=8), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusions Compared with complete enhancement PNENs, partially or completely low enhancement PNENs had bigger size, irregular shape, and cystic component.Intratumoral blood vessels in the arterial phase were observed, peak enhancement arrived later and the pathological grade was higher.

Objective To establish a predictive model and to find the preoperative predictors for the nature of lesion in the setting of chronic pancreatitis. Methods The 121 patients from 7 tertiary medical centers in Shanghai from July 1998 to April 2007 with focal mass lesions in the setting of chronic pancreatitis were selected as the study population. The final diagnosis had to be confirmed histologically by surgical specimens (n =97) or by follow-up (n = 24). A case control study was conducted; the patients were divided into pancreatic cancer group and chronic pancreatitis group. The age, sex, past history, initial clinical presentations, lab results and imaging exams were collected by reviewing the medical records of these patients. χ~2 test and t test was used for univariate analysis, then the factors with P≤0. 25 were selected for further multivariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression model was used to estimate odds ratio and 95% CI. Results Of 121 , 21 patients had a final diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and other 90 patients had a final diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. Abdominal tenderness, direct bilirubin, CA19-9 and CEA were independent predictors of cancer in patients with focal mass lesions. Their odds ratios (95% CI) were 5. 691 (1.468, 22.070) , 1.011 (1.001 , 1.021) , 1.003 (1.001, 1.005) , 101.9 (0.988, 1.051) , respectively. Their P values were 0. 012, 0. 030, 0.003 and 0. 23 , respectively. Conclusions The logistic regression model may accurately predict the nature of lesion in the setting of chronic pancreatitis and may have certain clinical implication.

Objective To evaluate the effect of high-level spinal cord injury (SCI) on the myocardial energy metabolism in rats.Methods Sixty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 250-300 g,were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=30 each) using a random number table:sham operation (group S) and SCI group.SCI was induced in anesthetized rats by dropping a 10 g weight onto C7 spinal cord from 5 cm height falling freely inside a vertical hollow glass tube.At 6,12,24,48 and 72 h after SCI,6 rats in each group were chosen and arterial blood samples were taken for measurement of serum creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB) activities.The rats were then sacrificed and myocardial specimens were obtained for examination of myocardial ultrastructure and for determination of ATP weight ratio,levels of Na+-K+-ATPase,Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase,non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and lactic acid (LD),and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) mRNA and protein (using fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot).Results Compared with group S,the serum CK and CK-MB activities were significantly increased,the ATP weight ratio,activities of Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase and levels of NEFA and LD were decreased,and the expression of PPAR-α mRNA and protein was down-regulated in SCI group.No pathological changes of myocardium were found in group S,and the pathological changes of myocardium were obvious in SCI group.Conclusion High-level SCI can lead to decrease in the myocardial energy metabolism in rats,and down-regulated expression of PPARα is involved in the mechanism.

A 16-year-old male presented with a 11-year history of progressively enlarging erythema and crusting on the right cheek.Physical examination revealed an irregularly shaped,sharply marginated,dark erythematous patch sized 6 cm x 10 cm and plaques with mild verrucous proliferation.There were strip-like scar at the margin of lesions and multiple ulcers measuring 0.5 to 1 cm in diameter with firm crusts.No small jellycolored nodules were observed.Direct microscopy of multiple scrapings under the crusts showed many light brown,septate,branching and irregular hyphae.Olivaceous-black woolly colonies grew at 25 C and 35 C on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and potato dextrose agar; flask-shaped conidiogenous cells with funnel-shaped collarettes and ellipsoidal conidia arranged in flower-like shape were observed microscopically.PAS staining showed numerous septate and branching hyphae,pseudohyphae and yeast-like cells.There was a 99.73％ similarity in the species-specific rDNA sequence between the isolate and phialophora verrucosa standard strain CDC-B2152.The patient was diagnosed with cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Phialophora verrucosa.The lesion subsided after treatment with amphotericin B and itraconazole,but recurred after drug withdrawal.Itraconazole and terbinafine were administered for the retreatment of this patient.

Objective To explore the effects of estrogen on apolipoprotein M ( apoM ).Methods ApoM mRNA was assayed in HepG2 cells by RT-PCR after incubation of estrogen with or without estrogen receptor antagonist at different concentrations and durations.SD female rats were divided into five groups:OVX group,Sham group,OVX+ EB group,normal group and normal + EB group.From a week of being operated,the rats were injected subcutaneously estradiol beuzoate or vehicle.After 12-hrs fasting,serum levels of triglycerides (TG),LDL-cholesterol,HDL-cholesterol,total cholesterol ( TC ) at months 1,2 and 3 after operation were measured.The expression of apoM in rats was detected by using real time RT-PCR and Western blot.Results Estrogen increased mRNA levels of apoM and apoAI in the HepG2 cells with a dose- and time-dependent manner,which could be abolished by addition of estrogen receptor antagonist.Serum apoM,TG,TC,HDL and LDL levels were significantly increased in the ovariectomized or normal rats which received estrogen treatment than those in OVX or normal group rats at month 1 after treatments.Conclusions Estrogen upregulates apoM expression via its receptor.

Objective:To explore the effect of shoulder subluxation on the peripheral nerves in the hemiplegic upper limbs of stroke survivors.Methods:Twenty stroke survivors with shoulder subluxation were enrolled. Conduction in their suprascapular, axillary, musculocutaneous, radial, median and ulnar nerves was monitored and needle electromyography was used to monitor activity in the supraspinatus, deltoid, biceps brachii, extensor digitorum, abductor pollicis brevis and abductor digiti minimi muscles of their affected upper limbs at rest. Upper limb and hand function were assessed using the Brunnstrom scale. The rate of change in the amplitude of the compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) was correlated with the patient′s disease duration, age, and upper limb and hand Brunnstrom stages.Results:Compared with the healthy side, a significant decrease was observed in the CMAP amplitudes of the suprascapular, axillary, musculocutaneous, radial, median and ulnar nerves of the hemiplegic arm, and the latency of the suprascapular and axillary nerves was significantly prolonged. There was no inter-arm difference in the conduction velocity of the musculocutaneous, radial, median and ulnar nerves. The rates of change in the CMAP amplitudes of the suprascapular, axillary and musculocutaneous nerves were significantly higher than those of the radial, median and ulnar nerves. The sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitudes of the median, ulnar and radial nerves on the hemiplegic side were significantly lower than on the healthy side, but there was no significant difference in the sensory conduction velocity between the two sides. On the hemiplegic side, the median nerve had the highest rate of change rate in the SNAP amplitude, followed by the radial and ulnar nerves, but there was no significant difference among them. Nor was there any significant difference in the rate of change in sensory nerve conduction velocity. The muscles of the affected upper limbs had higher potentials in the proximal than that in the distal nerves after shoulder subluxation. The rate of change in the CMAPs was not significantly correlated with a patient′s disease duration, age, or upper limb or hand Brunnstrom stage on the hemiplegic side.Conclusions:Shoulder subluxation after a stroke can cause greater damage to the peripheral nerves in the shoulder and upper arm than to those in the forearm and hand, possibly affecting the recovery of upper limb function.

With the expansion of aging population, Alzheimer′s disease (AD) is increasingly imposing a substantial burden on the society. Because of irreversible neuronal death in the brain, effective control of AD relies on early diagnosis for timely therapeutic intervention, and this requires efficient laboratory tests and molecular imaging. Current laboratory tests for AD includes measurements of Aβ peptides, Tau, and a number of other recently discovered molecules in the cerebrospinal fluid and the peripheral blood. PET-based imaging of glucose metabolism, amyloid Aβ, Tau neurofibrillary tangles, TSPO protein, and neuronal receptors, has also proven to be useful in clinical finding of AD. This review will focus on the progress in studies of these biomarkers and methodologies for ADdiagnosis.

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of outbreaks and analyze the genetic characteristics of the whole genome of influenza H3N2 virus among avian-human-swine, and to elaborate the source of influenza virus. Methods: The epidemic information was collected using the case investigation, the pharyngeal swab samples from influenza-like-illness cases were detected by real-time PCR and virus isolation. The phylogeny and molecular features of whole-genome were analyzed with EditSeq and MEGA 5.05 software. Results: The prevalence rate of this outbreak was 34.88%, 15 samples of throat swabs were collected, the positive rate of nucleic acid detection was 73.33%, 5 strains of seasonal influenza A (H3N2) influenza viruses were isolated. The phylogenetic analysis showed the eight gene segments of the isolated influenza viruses belonged to the same cluster with 2015-2016 influenza vaccine strain A/Switzerland/9715293/2013(H3N2), and no recombination was found. Compared with vaccine strain, 14 variant amino acids of protein of HA were identified, and 8 of them were located in antigenic sites. All strains were sensitive to neuraminidase inhibitors while they showed resistance to blockers of M2 ion channel. The glycosylation sites analysis showed that two new glycosylation sites NRT151-153 and NAT245-247were added. Conclusions The outbreak was caused by seasonal influenza A (H3N2) virus which had an antigenic drift and no genetic avian-human-swine recombination was found.

Objective: To  investigate  the  effect  of  X-ray  on  the  polarization  of  mouse  microglia  BV-2  cells. Methods: BV-2 cells at the logarithmic growth stage were randomly divided into the Sham irradiation group and 10 Gy irradiation group. The latter group was given a single X-ray irradiation at a dose of 1.28 Gy/min for 7 min 49 s. The activation rate of BV-2 cells was observed and analyzed under a microscope at 1, 3, 6, 24 h and 48 h after irradiation.The changes of cell morphology were observed by HE staining and immunofluorescence staining; The levels of M1-type activation markers (TNF-α and IL-1β) and M2-type activation marker TGF-β1 in the supernatant of BV-2 cells were detected by ELISA. The levels of polarization-related proteins of M1-type (CD86 and iNOS) and M2-type (CD206) in BV-2 cells were detected by Western blotting. Results　: Morphological results showed that BV-2 cells became larger, and their protrude became coarse and shorter, showing "amoeba" like changes after 10 Gy X-ray irradiation. Compared with the Sham group, the activation rate of BV-2 cells was significantly increased at 3 h, and reached the peak at 6 h, and began to recover at 48 h after irradiation. ELISA results showed an obvious increase in the level of TNF-α and TGF-β1 48 h after irradiation.The level of IL-1β showed a transient decrease at 3～6 h, increased at 24 h, and reached the peak 48 h after irradiation. Western blotting results showed that CD86 protein level did not change significantly at each time points after irradiation, and iNOS protein level in- creased significantly at 1, 6, 24 h and 48 h after irradiation. A fluctuating change in CD206 protein level was found after irradiation. Conclusion　 10 Gy X-ray irradiation can induce the activation of BV-2 cells in vitro, and the polarization type changes with the time after irradiation.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of augmented reality training based on enriched environment on walking dysfunction after stroke. MethodsFrom January, 2021 to June, 2022, 36 stroke patients in the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School were randomly divided into control group (n = 18) and experimental group (n = 18). Both groups received conventional rehabilitation treatment. The control group was supplemented with conventional walking training, and the experimental group was supplemented with augmented reality training based on enriched environment, for four weeks. They were assessed with Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), 10-meter walk test (10MWT) and Barthel Index (BI) before and after treatment, and the gait parameter was compared. ResultsNo adverse event occurred during treatment. After treatment, the BBS score, TUGT time, 10MWT speed, BI, gait speed, gait frequency and the proportion of single-leg support on the affected side significantly improved in both groups (|t| > 5.161, P < 0.001). All the above indexes were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.106, P < 0.05), except for BI (t = 1.099, P = 0.282). ConclusionAugmented reality training based on enriched environment could improve the walking function of paitents after stroke, which is better than conventional walking training.