Objective To investigate the effect of sevoflurane pretreatment on the expression of tight junction protein Occludin and ZO-1 in the lung following ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Methods Ninty-six adult male Wistar rats weighing 250-350 g were randomly divided into 4 groups ( n = 24 each): group Ⅰ sham operation (group S);group Ⅱ I/R; group Ⅲ sevoflurane (group Sevo) and group Ⅳ Sevo + I/R. The animals were anesthetized, tracheostomized and mechanically ventilated. Right femoral vein and left carotid artery were cannulated for BP monitoring, blood sampling and drug and fluid administration. Lung I/R was induced by clamping left pulmonary hilum for 45 min followed by 120 min reperfusion in group Ⅱ and Ⅳ. In group Ⅲ the animals inhaled 2.2 % sevoflurane for 30 min. In group Ⅳ the animals inhaled 2.2 % sevoflurane for 30 min before lung ischemia. Six animals were killed at the end of 45 min ischemia (T1), and 60 and 120 min of reperfusion (T2, T3 ). The lungs were immediately removed for determination of W/D lung weight ratio and the expression of Occludin and ZO-1 protein (by Western blot). Tissues of lung were obtained for observation of histopathology with light microscope. Lung permeability index (LPI) was calculated. Another 6 animals were killed at 120 min of reperfusion for lung lavage. Results I/R significantly increased W/D ratio and LPI and significantly reduced Occludin and ZO-1 protein expression in the lung tissue as compared with group C and Sev. Sevoflurane pretreatment significantly attenuated the I/R-induced changes. The pathological damage to the lung tissue was significantly less in group SP than in I/R. Conclusion Sevoflurane pretreatment may protect the lungs from I/R injury by up-regulating the expression of Occludin and ZO-1.

Objective To investigate the changes in iNOS expression in brain injury induced by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) in rats.Methods Thirty-two male Wistar rats weighing 240-280 g were randomly divided into 2 groups: sham operation group (group S,n = 8) and group IB( n = 24).The hepatic IR was induced by clamping the hepatic artery and portal vein according te the method described by LONG et al.In group IR the rats were killed at 3,6 and 24 h of reperfusion after 40 min hepatic ischemia (8 rats at each time point).The rats in group S were also killed.The brains were removed for determination of NO content (by nitrate reductase assay),SOD activity (by xanthine oxidase method),MDA content(by colorimetric method),nitrotyrosine (NT) expression (by Western blot),and iNOS mRNA expression (by RT-PCR).Results Compared with group S,cerebral NO and MDA content were significantly increased at 6 and 24 h of reperfusion,expression of cerebral NT and iNOS mRNA up-regulated and SOD activity decreased at 6 h of reperfusion in group IR (P < 0.05 or 0.01).Cerebral NO and MDA content were significantly higher and SOD activity lower at 6 and 24 h of reperfusion than at 3 h of reperfusion in group IR (P < 0.05).Conclusion The expression of iNOS in brain tissues is up-regulated after hepatic IR and it produces a great amount of NO inducing brain injury through peroxynitrite (ONOO-).

Objective To study the effects of Wenshen Kechuan Tablets in relieving cough and asthma, and to make a preliminary investigation of its therapeutic mechanism. Methods The actions of relieving cough and asthma were studied with the cough model induced by ammonia water, asthma model induced by histamine- acetylcholine, asthma model induced by ovalbumin. In addition, the phenolsulfonphthalein excretion and lung overfall were measured. The therapeutic mechanism of Wenshen Kechuan Tablets was studied with the kidney- yang- insufficiency model induced by cortisol and the model of emasculated male mice. Results Wenshen Kechuan Tablets could significantly prolong the cough latent period and cough times within 3 min and increase phenol red secretion from trachea in cough model induced by ammonia water. Wenshen Kechuan Tablets could significantly prolong the asthma latent period and relieve spasm in guinea pigs with histamine- acetylcholine- induced asthma, prolong spasm latent period and reduce shock attack and lung overfall volume in guinea pigs with ovalbumin- induced asthma. Wenshen Kechuan Tablets had a protective effect on whole behavior and body weight increase in model mouse of insufficiency of kidney- yang, and show some androgen- like biological activity in emasculated male mice. Conclusion Wenshen Kechuan Tablets have obvious actions of relieving cough and asthma, the effects may be achieved by warming kidney- yang or by androgen- like biological activity.

Objective To compare the two liver volume measurements using multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT)for clinical reference.Methods Twenty-four patients with hepatic disease awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation underwent muhiphase MSCT of the upper abdomen.Liver volumes using two measurements(manual volume measurement and semi-automated volume measurement)before transplantation were compared with the actual liver volume(ALV)measured during transplantation by means of water displacement.Both measurements were timed.Correlation coefficient.one way ANOVA and Bland-Altman tests were used for statistical analysis.Results The mean liver volume estimated with the manual method and the semi-automated method were(1360±157)cm3 and(1345±152)cm3.respectively.The actual liver volume was(1307±153)cm3.There was no significant diffierence between the volumes measured using the three methods(F=0.032,P＞0.05).For all the patients,there Was significant correlation between liver volume measured by MSCT and the actual liver volume.There was a good correlation between the liver volume measured by manual method and the actual liver volume(r=0.976,P＜0.05),so did the correlation between the liver volume measured by semi-automated method and the actual liver volume (r=0.987,P＜0.05).And the semi-automated method took much shorter time[(9.2±1.8)min]compared with the manual method [(23.2±5.8)min ].Conclusion Semi-automated method provided acceptable measurements for liver volume.

Objective To compare 1HMRS and DTI findings of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients and normal elderly controls. Methods Fifteen mild AD patients, 20 moderate to severe AD patients and 20 aging controlled normal subjects (CN) were recruited. MRS imaging and DTI were performed on a 1.5 T MRI scanner. A ROI was positioned in the posterior part of the cingulate. MRS data were processed and the metabolite ratios were estimated, including the ratios of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, mI/Cr. Comparing with the axial MRS location, we chose the same level to posit the ROIs on both sides of the posterior cingulated fibers on fractional anisotropy map (FA) and mean diffusivity map (MD). Mean spectroscopy data and DTI values for each groups were analysed with Mann-Whitney U non parametric test. Correlations between MRS and DTI values for AD groups were estimated using partial correlations test controlling for the age related bias. Results Compared to normal aging groups, mild AD group showed a significantly lower FA value in the left side of posterior cingulum bundle (0. 549±0. 056 vs 0. 517±0. 058,Z =2. 014,P <0. 05). Whereas, moderate to severe group versus mild AD group revealed significantly elevated MI) value and a decrease in FA value in the right side of posterior cingulate ( FA 0. 517 ± 0. 059 vs 0. 432 ± 0. 073, Z = 3. 216, P < 0. 01 ; MD (0.726±0.041) × 10-3 mm2/s vs (0.761±0.057) × 10-3 mm2/s,Z = 1.970,P <0.05) . Obvious increasing mI/Cr ratio was found in mild AD group ( 0. 61 ± 0. 07 vs 0. 68 ± 0. 12, Z = 2. 911, P < 0. 01 ). NAA/Cr ratio showed gradually decrease in AD groups. Partial correlations analysis revealed a positive correlation between ml/Cr ratio and left posterior cingulated FA value in mild AD group ( r = 0. 586, P < 0. 05) and negative correlation between NAA/Cr and MD value in the right side of posterior cingulated region ( r = - 0. 505, P < 0. 05 ). Conclusions These findings suggested that there were different regional and temporal pattern in different course of AD disease, resulting from axonal loss or gliosis. Combining MRS with DTI alternations could be a better potential indicator and could better explain the pathological changes in AD progression.

Objective To assess the value of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNEN) and to analyze the factors influencing thepreoperative imaging diagnosis of PNEN.Methods From January 2016 to November 2016, patients with PNEN diagnosed by surgery and biopsy were collected. CT and MRI data of them were analyzed. The CT values or signal intensity of the lesions and the pancreatic parenchyma were measured and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the lesion was calculated. Detecting sensitivity and diagnosis accuracy of CT and MRI were compared. Detecting sensitivity of different MRI sequences was also analyzed. Diagnosis accuracy of non-functional PNEN and functional PNEN was compared and analyzed. Lesion CNR was compared between arterial phase and portal venous phase of the contrast enhanced CT. The sensitivity, accuracy and constituent ratio were compared by nonparametric analysis. Independent sample t test and one-way analysis of variancewere performed for the quantitative parameters comparison. Results A total of 54 patients with 56 lesions of PNEN were included for two of whom had two lesions each. CT and MRI were both performed in 44 patients (46 lesions).Detecting sensitivity and diagnosis accuracy of CT were 97.8% (45/46) and87.0% (40/46), respectively. Detecting sensitivity of MRI were 97.8% (45/46) and89.1% (41/46), respectively. There was no significant difference in detecting sensitivity and diagnosis accuracy between CT and MRI (both P>0.05). The CNR of lesion in arterial phase was higher than that of portal venous phase(4.7±3.8 vs 3.4±2.5), and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.949, P<0.05). Detecting rates of T1 weighted imaging with fat suppression (T1WI-FS) image, T2 weighted imaging with fat suppression (T2WI-FS) image, diffusion weighted imagingand dynamic contrast enhanced T1WI-FS image were 90.0% (45/50), 88.0%(44/50), 86.0%(43/50), and 91.7% (44/48), respectively. There was no significant difference in detecting rate among these images sequences (Q=2.526, P=0.510). Tumor diameter in non-functional PNEN was significantly larger than that in functional PNEN ((2.9±1.6) cm vs (1.7±0.7) cm)(t=3.479,P<0.05). The overall diagnosis rate of non-functional PNEN with CT and MRI before operation was 70.8% (17/24), which was significantly lower than that of functional PNEN (100.0%, 31/31) (χ2=10.360，P=0.002).Conclusions CT and MRI are both sensitive in detectingPNEN, and they were two complementary modalities. CT image in arterial phase delineated the lesion better than that in portal venous phase. MRI images with different sequences can becomplementary and there is no significant difference in detecting sensitivity for PNEN among different sequences. CT and MRI play an equal rolein the diagnosis of PNEN before operation. Because of atypical CT and MRI findings, the diagnosis of non-functional PNEN is more difficult thanfunctional PNEN.

Objective To explore the value of axillary MRI in differential diagnosis of metastatic axillary lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer.Methods Axillary MRI was performed in 44 breast cancer patients proved by pathology.Long axis,short axis,cortex thickness,ADC value,hilus,margin,perifocal fat gap,signal intensity on DWI,enhancement pattern and time-signal intensity curve were analyzed.The diagnostic ability of long axis,short axis,cortex thickness and ADC value were analyzed with ROC curves.Results Twenty-four patients (24/44,54.55 ％) were proved with metastases axillary lymph nodes,the other 20 patients (20/44,45.45％) were negative.Long axis,short axis,cortex thickness,ADC value,hilus absence,irregular margin,fuzzy perifocal fat gap,high signal intensity on DWI and heterogeneous enhancement showed statistically significant between patients with metastatic and without metastatic axillary lymph nodes (all P＜0.05).The area under ROC curve of long axis,short axis,cortex thickness and ADC value were 0.797,0.765,0.848,0.749 respectively.Conclusion MRI plays an important role in differential diagnosis of axillary lymph nodes me tastasis.The cortex thickness larger than 0.54 cm can help to predict metastatic axillary lymph nodes.

Pulmonary dysfunction caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury is the leading cause of mortality in lung transplantation. We aimed to investigate the effects of sevoflurane pretreatment on lung permeability, tight junction protein occludin and zona occludens 1 (ZO-1) expression, and translocation of protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha after ischemia-reperfusion. A lung ischemia-reperfusion injury model was established in 96 male Wistar rats following the modified Eppinger method. The rats were divided into four groups with 24 rats in each group: a control (group C), an ischemia-reperfusion group (IR group), a sevoflurane control group (sev-C group), and a sevoflurane ischemia-reperfusion group (sev-IR group). There were three time points in each group: ischemic occlusion for 45 min, reperfusion for 60 min and reperfusion for 120 min; and there were six rats per time point. For the 120-min reperfusion group, six extra rats underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded at each time point. The wet/dry weight ratio and lung permeability index (LPI) were measured. Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot were used to measure pulmonary occludin and ZO-1, and Western blot was used to measure cytosolic and membranous PKC-alpha in the lung. Lung permeability was significantly increased after ischemia-reperfusion. Sevoflurane pretreatment promoted pulmonary expression of occludin and ZO-1 after reperfusion and inhibited the translocation of PKC-alpha. In conclusion, sevoflurane pretreatment alleviated lung permeability by upregulating occludin and ZO-1 after ischemia-reperfusion. Sevoflurane pretreatment inhibited the translocation and activation of PKC-alpha, which also contributed to the lung-protective effect of sevoflurane.
Anesthetics, Inhalation/*therapeutic use ; Animals ; Capillary Permeability/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Lung/*drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Lung Diseases/*drug therapy/genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Male ; Methyl Ethers/*therapeutic use ; Protein Kinase C-alpha/*metabolism ; Protein Transport/drug effects ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury/*drug therapy/genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein/analysis/*genetics

Objective To assess the volumetric variation of liver and spleen in early diagnosis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.Methods One hundred and thirty-seven subjects underwent dynamic enhanced examination of liver and spleen using multi-slice CT(MSCT).Forty potential living liver donors were served as controls.Sixty-three histologically proved fibrotic patients were divided into slight liver fibrosis(F≤2,n=44)and advanced liver fibrosis(F≥3,n=19)according to the Ishak system.Liver cirrhosis group consisted of 34 patients diagnosed clinically and radiologically.The measurement of total liver volume(TLV),right liver lobe volume(RV),left lateral liver segment volume(LLV),left medial liver segment volume(LMV),eaudate lobe volume(CV)and spleen volume(SV)were obtained bv MSCT.The ratios of segmental liver and SV to TLV were also calculated.Results The values of liver volumes(TLV,RV and LMV)reduced gradually among control(1470.38 cm3,933.34 cm3,216.20 cm3,respectively),slight liver fibrosis(1239.99 cm3,799.74 cm3,184.69 cm3,respectively),advanced liver fibrosis(1219.76 cm3,765.22 cm3,179.44 cm3,respectively)and cirrhosis(1078.21 cm3,543.73 cm3,163.12 cm3,respectively) groups.The volume of SV and the ratios of CV/TLV and SV/TLV increased gradually among control (256.29 cm3,3.09%,17.53%),slight liver fibrosis(284.41 cm3,3.20%,22.91%),advanced liver fibrosis(343.13 cm3,3.58%,28.80%)and cirrhosis(863.38 cm3,4.16%,82.91%)groups.There was significant difference among control,liver fibrosis and cirrhosis group in TLV,RV,LMV and SV/TLV(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference in all parameters between the slight liver fibrosis group and the advanced liver fibrosis group(P＞0.05).There was significant correlation of TLV,LMV,SV,RV,CV/TLV,SV/TLV,RV/TLV and LLV/TLV with liver cirrhosis and its staging.Conclusion Variations in liver and spleen volume,the ratios of segmental liver and SV/TLV are correlated with the extent of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.which will be helpful in early detection of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Objective To evaluate the role of multi-slice CT (MSCT) perfusion in early diagnosis of liver fibrosis. Methods Thirty-three subjects underwent CT perfusion of the liver. Among whom, 11 subjects were volunteers without hepatic disease and the other 22 subjects were pathologically confirmed with liver fibrosis who were further divided into slight (n= 10) and severe (n=12)liver fibrosis according to the lshak system. Parameters of CT perfusion were measured and compared among three groups. Results The mean hepatic arterial fraction in controls, light and severe fibrosis tended to increase with the severity of liver fibrosis[(18. 49 ± 9. 69) %, (19. 92 ± 6.01) % and (21.31±7.47)% ,respectively], and the mean mean transit time tended to decrease with the severity of liver fibrosis [(13.80 ± 2. 60) s, (12.35 ± 1.31) s and (12.19 ± 3.33) s, there was no significant difference in all parameters between any two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions Quantitative measurement of hepatic blood supply can be obtained by CT perfusion. Some parameters will be helpful in staging fibrosis to a certain extent. But its clinical usefulness for the evaluation of the early diagnosis may not be affirmed yet.