Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of breast MRI in patients presenting with microcalcifications on mammography.Methods Eight four patients were retrospectively analyzed,who had mammographically detected BI-RADS (breast imaging reporting and data system) 3 to 5 microcalcifications and underwent breast MRI before surgical biopsy.All mammography and MR images were reviewed with BI-RADS.With histopathological diagnosis as golden standard,the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of the two methods were calculated and compared with x2 test or Fisher exact test.The diagnostic efficacy of the two methods was compared with ROC curve.Results Pathologic examination revealed 91 lesions in 84 patients including 49 benign lesions and 42 malignant lesions.For 21 lesions of category 3 microcalcifications,the specificity of mammography and MR was 100.0％ (21/21) and 95.2％ (20/21),which had no significant difference (P=1.000).For 51 lesious of category 4,sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of mammography were 100.0％(23/23),0 and 45.1％(23/51).The corresponding values for MR were 91.3％(21/23),82.1％ (23/28) and 86.3％ (44/51).The difference for specificity and accuracy between the two methods was statistical significant(x2 value was 30.030 and 19.182,respectively,with P＜0.01),but not for sensitivity(x2=0.523,P=0.470).Nineteen lesions of category 5 were all correctly diagnosed on mammography and MRI.For all the 91 lesions,the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of mammography were 100.0％(42/42),42.9％(21/49) and 69.2％(63/91),respectively.The corresponding values for MRI were 95.2 ％(40/42),87.8％(43/49) and 91.2％(83/91).There was significant difference for specificity and accuracy between the two methods (x2 value was 21.798 and 13.851,respectively,with P＜0.05),but not for sensitivity (x2=0.512,P=0.474).The areas under ROC curve for mammography and MR were 0.844,0.945(P＜0.01),for the estimation of the benign and the malignent.Conclusions Compared with mammography,breast MRI significantly improved the diagnosis of category 4 microcalcifications with increased specificity and accuracy.But for microcalcifications of category 3 and 5,MR didn't improve the diagnostic effect.

Objective: To observe the protective effect of Silybin Capsules (SC) on mice hepatic toxic injury induced by isonicotinic acid hydrazide (INH) and rifampin (RFP) when used in combination Methods: The serum level of ALT, liver index, contents of glutathion (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA), activity of microsomal cytochrome P450 and its isoform P4502E1 in liver were measured. Results: SC obviously inhibited the rising of liver index, serum ALT, liver MDA and the activity of microsomal cytochrom P450 and its isoform P4502E1, and increased the liver GSH. Histopathological examination showed that Silibinin Capsules evidently alleviated the condition of the degeneration of hepatic cells and that of necrosis. Conclusion: The protective effect of SC on mice hepatic injury induced by both IIVit and RFP may be related to stabilizing the liver membrane, inhibiting the the lipid peroxidation, scavenging the free radical and decreasing the activity drug metabolizing enzyme.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; metabolism ; Fibrinolysis ; drug effects ; Glycoproteins ; blood ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; blood ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Heart Disease ; blood ; drug therapy ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of Compound Danshen Injection (CDI) in regulating the expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3) in human amnion epithelium cells (hAECs), and to study the relation between c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signal pathway and AQP3.

METHODShAECs were isolated and primarily cultured from term pregnancy with normal amniotic fluid volume and from term pregnancy with oligohydramnios, and then hAECs were further divided into four groups, i.e., the blank control group (A), the SP600125 group (B), the CDI group (C), and the SP600125 +CDI group (D). The cell viability was measured by cell counting kit-8 assay (CCK-8). The expression of total JNK, phosphorylated JNK, and AQP3 were determined by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) In hAECs with normal AFV or with oligohydramnios: There was no statistical difference in the cell viability or the expression of total JNK among the 4 groups (P > 0.05). But there was statistical difference in the expression of p-JNK (P < 0.05). Compared with A group, the expression of p-JNK was obviously down-regulated in B group, but obviously up-regulated in C group (P < 0.05). The expression of p-JNK was significantly lower in D group than in C group, but higher than that in A group or B group (P < 0.05).The AQP3 expression in the hAECs with normal amniotic fluid volume of C group and D group were higher than that in the A group (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in the AQP3 expression between C group and D group (P > 0.05). In hAECs with oligohydramnios, the expression of AQP3 obviously decreased in B group, but up-regulated in C group (both P < 0.05). The expression of AQP3 was lower in D group than in C group, but higher than in B group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCDI could regulate the AQP3 expression in hAECs with oligohydramnios via activating the JNK signal pathway.

Amnion ; cytology ; drug effects ; Aquaporin 3 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology

With the successful implementation of Human Genome Project, more and more scientists started to pay attention on the second genome of human body: Microbiome. This paper will briefly introduce the latest developments of the Human Microbiome Project, the human oral microbiome research, and new technologies of microbial gene research.
Humans ; Metagenome ; Microbiota ; Mouth ; microbiology

OBJECTIVE: To establish a technical process for the separation and purification of total flavones from Licorice. METHODS: The static absorption capacity of macroreticular adsorptive resins D101、Hz-806、AB-83 for total flavones from licorice were compared. The macroreticular adsorptive resin columns on the Licorice extractives were eluted respectively with different concentrations of ethanol, then the content, the weight of residue and purity coefficient of flavones from Licorice in the eluant were detected. RESULTS: The optimal technological conditions were found in AB-8 as follows: flow rate=3ml/min, sample concentration=1.5 mg/ml, pH=5 and 80% ethanol was used as eluting agent. CONCLUSIONS: AB-8 macroreticular adsorptive resin can effectively separate and purify total flavones from licorice, the purity coefficient thus obtained being over 50%, which meets the requirement of the study of effective components of herbal medicine.

Objective To assess the diagnostic potential of circulating galactomannan (GM),(1,3)-β-D-glucan (BG), and a combination of both biomarkers among high-risk pediatric patients.Methods Circulating GM antigen was detected by ELISA kits (Platelia~(TM) Aspergillus) and BG antigen by a turbidimetric kinetic method (GKT-5M Set Kinetic Fungus Detection Kit).Positive tests were defined by two consecutive values of GM index ≥0.5 or by a single value ≥0.8, and by BG detection ≥ 10 pg/ml.Results A total of 130 patients were enrolled.Two was identified with proven IFI, twenty probable IFI.Sensitivity, specificity were 81.8%, 82.4% for plasma BG detection, respectively; 75.0%, 94.4% for GM detection, respectively; 50.0%, 96.3% for combined GM and BG detection, respectively.Conclusions Both circulating GM and BG detections are available for most of the common pathogens and demonstrated desirable sensitivity and specificity among pediatric high-risk population.Both assays can be used as prospective screening tools.Combination of detections of both biomarkers would improve specificity for IA diagnosis.

Calcium hydroxide (CH) is applied to improve disinfection of root canals in most root canal retreatment. This study aimed to analyze the CH removal efficacy using 7 different root preparing files (K file, pre-curved K file, EndoActivator, Ultrasonic file, pre-curved ultrasonic file, F file and needle irrigation alone) with apical transportation. Standardized models of curved canal with such apical transportation or not were set up before applying CH to root canal for 7 days. Seven techniques described above were used for its removal. Then the roots were disassembled and digital photos were taken. The ratio of residual CH in the overall canal surface was calculated using the image analyzer image pro plus 6.0. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey test. Results revealed that CH was effectively removed (P<0.05) by using all 6 mechanical methods except irrigation alone. In curved root canals with apical transportation, EndoActivator, pre-curved ultrasonic file and F file were found to be more effective in removing CH than the other four file (P<0.001), while there was no significant difference among EndoActivator, pre-curved ultrasonic file and F file groups (P>0.05). The percentage of residual CH in the canal with apical transportation was higher than that in the canal without apical transportation (P<0.05). In conclusion, CH can be hardly removed completely. Canal with apical transportation will result in insufficient CH removal. EndoActivator, pre-curved ultrasonic file and F file are more effective in the curved root canal with apical transportation.

Background Eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA)function as the critical lipid mediators involved in several biological events in human body and play important role in suppressing the genesis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),migration and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells.Many ocular diseases were proved to be associated with neovascularization.Objecfive The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of EPA on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) indueed by VEGF. Methods HUVEC strain was cultured and passaged,and difierent concentrations of EPA were added to the medium with and without VEGF.The cultured cells were identified by antiofactor Ⅷ polyclonal antibody.The suppressing role of different concentrations of EPA on the proliferation of VEGF-induced or-uninduced HUVEC was assessed by MTT method.The influence of difierent concentrations of EPA on the cellular cycle of VEGF-induced HUVEC was assayed using flow eytometry.The expression of Flk-1,a receptor of VEGF,in the HUVEC Was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Cultured HUVEC showed the ftlsiform in shape and presented with the cobblestone-like arrangement with the positive response for Ⅷ factor-related antigen.Various concentrations of EPA showed obviously inhibitory effect on VEGF-induced or-unindueed HUVEC at a dose-dependent manner (F=23.072.P=0.000).The inhibitory ability of EPA on VEGF-induced HUVEC was stronger than VEGF-uninduced HUVEC(F=41.417,P=0.000).In 24,48 and 72 hours,the action of EPA on the proliferation of HUVEC was gradually enhanced with the prolong of time(F=1.495,P=0.236).Cell cycle analysis indicated that EPA arrested VEGF-induced HUVEC in G0/G1 phase.The ratio of HUVEC in G0/G1 phase in EPA group was(75.83±1.56)%,and that in control groups was(68.62±1.44)%,showing a significant difference between them(t=-5.88,P=0.00),and no apoptosis of HUVEC was found in both groups.Flk-1 was strongly expressed in the cellular nucleus and cytoplasm in control group.However,the positive expressing intensity of Flk-1 in the HUVEC weakened,and the positive cell number was evidently less in EPA group. Conclusion EPA can inhibit the proliferation of VEGF induced HUVEC through arresting the synthesis of DNA of HUVEC and downregulate the expression of Flk-1 in HUVEC.These results suggest that EPA might exert an antiangiogenic effect.

To explore the role of confirmatory factor analysis in checking the construct validity of index system in clinical sciences and technologies and to determine the weighting of each index.Data were collected based on the achievements regarding the index system of sciences,technologies and analyzed by softwares SPSS and AMOS.Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess the construct validity and to identify the weighting.The P values for testing the two-order confirmatory factor models were bigger than 0.05,indicating that the actual data were in agreement with theory in designing the index system.Statistics on the goodness fit index(GFI)such as GFI were bigger than 0.90,indicating that they were satisfactory.Weightings for each index were identified based on factor loading of confirmatory factor analysis,showing that they were highly correlated with that from the Delphi method.Confirmatory factor analysis appeared to be an appropriate method in analyzing the associations among the index variables,and could be widely used to assess the construct validity of index system and identifing the weightings.