A.Conclusion The inhalation of yellow phosphorus and its compounds in rats may induce intoxication of rats with manifestations of ALI/ARDS.Xuebijing injection and decadron have therapeutic effects on such intoxication,then Xuebijing injection combined with both decadron can decrease decadron dosage.

OBJECTIVETo optimize scan delay time of multi-slice spiral CT portal venography (MSCTP) using test bolus injection.

METHODSSixty individuals with no hepatic diseases were randomly divided into 4 groups (A, B, C and D). The time-density curves (TDC) of the portal vein (PV) were acquired by test bolus (15 ml, 5 ml/s) at the level of liver hilus. In the 4 groups, the MSCTP were delayed for 4, 6, 8 and 10 s according to the peak time of TDC, respectively. The maximum CT value of the portal vein and liver parenchyma were recorded. The maximum intensity projection (MIP) and volume rendering (VR) were employed for three-dimensional reconstruction and the image quality of the 4 groups was estimated.

RESULTSThe average peak time of healthy individuals ranged between 24 and 32 s (95% confidence interval) by means of the test bolus (15 ml). Group C (delay time of 8 s) had a much better image quality of the portal vain than the other groups, and the small branches of the portal vein (6th and 7th orders) were clearly visualized; the major portal vein branches (1st to 4th orders) were also enhanced with sharp edges. Although the hepatic vein was also observed in the portal venous phase in group D, the details of the portal vein on the hepatic edge were distinct and well defined.

CONCLUSIONAt the injection rate of 5 ml/s, the optimum scan time delayed is 8 to 10 s in normal individuals according to the peak time of the test bolus.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phlebography ; methods ; Portal Vein ; diagnostic imaging ; Reproducibility of Results ; Time Factors ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

AIMTo study the effect of curcumin on pulmonary arterial pressure and type I collagen of pulmonary arterioles in pulmonary hypertensive rats induced by chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia.

METHODSThirty six rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (NC), hypoxic hypercapnic group (HH) and hypoxic hypercapnia + curcumin group (HC). Collagen I in pulmonary arterioles was observed by the technique of immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS(1) The findings from hemodynamics showed that the mPAP in group HH was significantly higher than that in group NC and HC. Differences of mCAP among groups were not significant (P > 0.05). (2) Light microscopy showed the value of WA/TA (vessel wall area/total area), SMC (the density of medial smooth muscle cells) and thickness of pulmonary arterial media smooth cell layer(PAMT) were significantly higher in group HH than group NC (P < 0.01) and group HC (P < 0.01). (3) Electron microscopy showed that structure of the endothelial cells in pulmonary arterioles in group HC was near to normal, and the proliferation of medial smooth muscle cells and collagen fibers in adventitia was much lighter than those of group HH. (4) Expression of collagen I in pulmonary arterioles was significantly higher in group HH than group NC (P < 0.01) and group HC (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCurcumin can decrease pulmonary arterial pressure, improve pulmonary vessel remodeling and inhibit the deposition of collagen I in pulmonary arterioles.

Animals ; Arterioles ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Hypercapnia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility of dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) in rabbit models of implanted hepatic VX2 tumor.

METHODSMRI and PWI images were obtained from 16 rabbit models of implanted hepatic VX2 tumor and 4 normal rabbits at 14, 18, 22, and 26 days after tumor implantation, respectively, and the mean time to enhancement (MTE) and maximum slope of increase (MSI) were estimated and compared with pathological changes.

RESULTSIn the rabbit models of implanted hepatic tumor the MTE tended to increase and MSI to descend 14, 18, 22, and 26 days after tumor implantation, showing significant differences from the control group. Coagulation necrosis and fibrous hyperplasia in the tumors appeared to progress with time as found pathologically.

CONCLUSIONDynamic MR PWI quantitative analysis of rabbit models of implanted hepatic VX2 tumor provides valuable means for observing the growth behaviors of VX2 tumor and may be clinically applicable in the evaluation of hepatic diseases.

Animals ; Contrast Media ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; methods ; Male ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) protein and mRNA in bile duct carcinomas and the adjacent tissues and to elucidate its role in bile duct carcinogenesis.

METHODSThe expression of hTERT protein and hTERT mRNA in the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of 71 cases of bile duct cancers and 39 cases of adjacent tissues was detected by streptavidin-peroxidase immunostaining and in situ hybridization. The correlation was analysed statistically between the expression of hTERT protein and mRNA and clinicopathological parameters bile duct carcinomas.

RESULTSThe positive rate of hTERT protein expression and mRNA expression in malignant specimens was 78.9% (56/71) and 67.6% (48/71), while that in the adjacent tissues was 35.9% (14/39) and 23.1% (9/39), respectively. All the positive signals were found in the hyperplastic biliary epithelia. No significant correlation was established between hTERT expression and clinicopathological parameters.

CONCLUSIONhTERT gene transcription and protein expression is most likely involved in the proliferation and malignant transformation of bile epithelia and the malignant progression of bile duct carcinomas. The detection of hTERT expression may serve elucidating the carcinogenesis of bile duct.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Telomerase ; analysis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine the contents of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) in pancreatic cancer to provide a basis for the clinical use of capecitabine in pancreatic cancer patients.

METHODSThe contents of TP and DPD in pancreatic cancer and adjacent normal tissues from 20 patients were determined by ELISA and the TP to DPD ratios in the cancer and adjacent normal tissue were compared.

RESULTSTP content was 5- to 283-fold higher in tumor tissue (mean 74-fold) than in the adjacent normal tissue (P < 0.01). DPD in the cancer tissue increased significantly. So did the TP to DPD ratio, when compared to that in normal pancreatic tissue (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe increased TP to DPD ratio in pancreatic cancer suggests that capecitabine could be activated by the cancer, these capable of selectively kill the tumor cells.

Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP) ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Pancreas ; enzymology ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; enzymology ; surgery ; Thymidine Phosphorylase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of HBV X gene (HBx mRNA) in extrahepatic biliary tract carcinomas and the adjacent non-cancerous tissues, and to analyzed the relationship between HBV infection and incidence of biliary tract carcinomas, thereby to elucidate the possible role of HBx in the carcinogenesis of biliary tract.

METHODSThe plasmid pSPX46 was digested by appropriate restriction enzyme. HBx fragment was obtained through gel extraction kit. The digoxigenin-labeled DNA probes for HBx mRNA were prepared by a random prime technique. The expression of HBx mRNA was detected in formalin-fixed- paraffin-embedded specimens from 71 cases of biliary tract carcinomas and 39 specimens of non-cancerous tissues adjacent to cancer by in situ hybridization. The correlations between HBx mRNA expression and clinicopathological parameters were statistically analysed in 71 cases of biliary duct carcinomas.

RESULTSForty-three of 71 malignant specimens had detectable HBx mRNA expression with a positive rate being 61%. Only 7 of 39 specimens of non-cancerous tissues adjacent to cancer had weak HBx mRNA expression, with a positive rate being 18%, and all these positive signals were found in the hyperplastic biliary epithelium. No significant correlation was found between HBx mRNA expression and clinicopathological parameters, but a strong positive correlation was found between HBx mRNA and protein expression.

CONCLUSIONThere is a high frequency of HBx mRNA expression in extrahepatic biliary tract carcinomas. HBV infection and its gene integration might play a role to certain extent in the development of biliary tract carcinomas.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Base Sequence ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; pathology ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms ; complications ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics

Objective To study the MRI appearance and clinical features of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) to improve accurate diagnosis of DNT. Methods The clinical data and MRI appearance of 12 patients with DNT confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively. Routine MRI was performed in all of the 12 patients, and also dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging in 10 of them. Results Eight lesions resided in the temporal lobes, 2in the frontal lobe, and the other 2 in the parietal lobe. All of the 12 DNTs located in supratentorial hemisphere cortex, and 6 of them encroached the adjacent white matter. The lesions appeared as hypointense or iso-hypointense signal on T1WI of MRI, and hyperintense on T2WI and FLAIR of MRI.Cystic structure was shown in all the lesions or as its main part, and mesh-separated structure was also noted in some of the tumors. Five lesions appeared as a triangle in shape, 5 in gyrus-like shape and the remaining 2 in round shape. All the tumors had no significant mass effect with 1 having mild edema around the tumor. Enhanced MR imaging showed only 1 lesion having slight and heterogeneous enhancement. Conclusion DNT is accorded with general tumor's biological characteristics. MRI has great value on DNT's diagnosis. If a cystic lesion locates in the hemisphere cortex with a triangle in shape or gyrus-like shape, having no significant mass effect and peripheral edema, it has a great possibility of being DNT.

Objective To investigate the parameter values and changes of local fiber bundles of the medial structures of the temporal lobe in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE) with MR diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)and MRI diffusion-tensor tracking(DTT),and evaluate the diagnostic value of DTI in the localization of seizure focus in patients with TLE:Methods Sixteen patients with TLE,admitted to our hospital from December 2010 to February 2011,and 20 healthy volunteers received conventional MRI and DTI.The values of apparent diffusion coefient(ADC),fractional anisotropy(FA)and relative anisotropy(RA) of the bilateral medial structures of the temporal lobe (including the amygdala,hippocampus and cortex)were measured,respectively.The differences of the fiber bundles between the epilepsy patients and the controls were observed with DTT.Results No significant differences in measured values of ADC,FA and RA were noted between the left and right medial structures of temporal lobe in the controls(P＞0.05).The values of ADC,FA and RA in the left/right medial structures of temporal lobe in TLE patients had significant differences as compred with those in controls(P＜ 0.05); the values of ADC showed gradual reduction in the ipsilateral side,contralateral side and controls,successively; and the changes in the hippocampus tail was the most obvious.The values of FA and RA showed gradual increment in the ipsilateral side,contralateral side and controls successively;the changes of parameters values in the amygdala and the hippocampus body were more remarkable than those in the hippocampus tail.Conclusion The DTI can show the micromechanics′ characteristics of the medial structures of the temporal lobe in patients with TLE,which can help the location of seizure focus in patients with TLE.Increasing the understanding of the medial structures of the temporal lobe will help the preoperative integral assessment and improve the surgical effect.

Humans ; Moxibustion ; Depression ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Esophagitis, Peptic