Gastroenterology ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine

Objective To analyse the characteristics of orbital benign and malignant masses on diffusion weighted imaging in combination with conventional MR imaging and evaluate the diagnostic value of apparent diffusion coefficient in distinguishing benign and malignant orbital lesions.Methods Seventy- seven cases with orbital masses,including fifty-five benign lesions and twenty-two malignant tumors,who underwent conventional MRI and diffusion imaging scanning were studied with use of a 1.5 T magnetic resonance system.Quantitative ADC measurements of masses(ADC_M)and of the white matter of eontralateral temporal lobe(ADC_W)were made with two different b-values of 0 and 1000 s/mm~2.The ADC ratio(ADCR)of the lesion to the control was calculated.The receiver operating characteristic curves(ROC) were constructed using various cut points of ADC_M and ADCR for different parameters to differentiate between benign and malignant masses.The area under the ROC curve for each parameter was also calculated. Results All cases were proved by histopathology.The mean ADC_M and ADCR of benign orbital masses were(1.56?0.75)?10~(-3)mm~2/s and 1.85?0.91,respectively.The mean ADC_M and ADCR of malignant orbital masses were(1.09?0.42)?10~(-3)mm~2/s and 1.28?0.53,respectively.There were significant difference both between ADC_M and ADCR of benign and malignant masses(t=2.803,2.735,P

Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics and plasma level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) between the patients with hypertensive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in elder age (HHCME) and the patients with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (HTN-LVH).
Methods: Our work included 2 groups, HHCME group,n=47 and HTN-LVH group,n=44. Duplex Doppler echocardiography was performed to determine left atrial diameter (LAd), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), velocity of early diastolic period (VE) and velocity of end-diastolic period (VA) in mitral valve oriifce. Plasma level of NT-proBNP was measured by ELISA. The above indexes were compared between 2 groups.
Results:①Compared with HTN-LVH group, HHCME group presented decreased LVEDd and increased IVST, LVEF, allP<0.001. There were no signiifcant differences in VE/VA ratio and LAd between 2 groups, allP>0.05.②Plasma level of NT-proBNP was higher in HHCME group,P<0.01. With the adjusted age, gender, history of hypertension, LAd, IVST, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, the level of NT-proBNP in HHCME group (1317.19 fmol/ml) was still signiifcantly higher than that in HTN-LVH group (526.19fmol/ml),P<0.01.
Conclusion: The plasma NT-proBNP level was higher in HHCME patients than that in HTN-LVH patients which indicated that HHCME patients may have worse prognosis. NT-proBNP might be helpful for differencing HHCME.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of cerebellar fastigial nucleus treated by electrical stimulation on patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods140 cerebral infarction patients with hemiplegia were randomly divided into the experimental group and control group with 70 cases in each group.The experimental group was treated with routine drugs and electrical stimulating on cerebellar fastigial nucleus;the control group was only treated with routine drugs.The changes of motor function of limbs and activities of daily living of two groups were evaluated after treatment.ResultsAfter 21 days treatment,the score of Fugl-Meyer assessment of the experimental group was 39.2±(7.7) and that of the control group was 26.3±8.1.There was a significant difference between two groups(t=4.22,P<0.01).The score of Barther index of the experimental group was 43.8±8.4 and that of the control group was 29.7±7.5.There was also a significant difference between two groups(t=4.97,P<0.01).ConclusionThe electrical stimulation on cerebellar fastigial nucleus is a new effective way to treat acute cerebral infarction.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of conventional and dynamic contrast- enhanced MRI in lymphoma of the orbit.Methods Thirteen cases of lymphoma of the orbit,including B-C (10 cases),T-C (1 case),T-NK-C (1 case)lymphoma,and multiple myeloma (1 case),were studied using conventional MR and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging with 3D fast spoiled gradient echo sequence.Calculated values included time to peak (Tpeak),washout ratio (WR),slope and enhancement ratio (ER),and time-intensity curves (TICs),and Tpeak,WR,slope and ER were calculated preoperatively.Results Eleven of the 13 lymphomas of the orbit was seen in the anterior portion of the orbit including eyelid and lacrimal gland.On conventional MRI,10 cases showed iso-intensity on T_1WI and T_2WI and all 13 cases showed moderate enhancement after contrast administration.TIC of all 13 cases showed rapid enhancing and wash-out,Tpeak was (58.7?8.5)s,and WR was (30.9?9.4)%.The accurate diagnosis with only conventional MRI was achieved in 6 out of 13 cases,while the accurate diagnosis was achieved in all 13 cases by using combined conventional MRI and dynamic enhanment MRI.Conclusion onventional MRI combined with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI is useful for the diagnosis of lymphoma of the orbit.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of single herb pilose antler (PA) on the expression of Smad2 and Smad3 in the cartilage of osteoarthritis (OA) rats.

METHODSOne hundred 3-month old female healthy SD rats, (200 +/- 20) g, were recruited and routinely fed for 1 week. They were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the low dose PA group, the high dose PA group, the normal saline control group, the model group, and the normal control group, 20 in each group. The model was prepared using classic Hulth method except the normal control group. After 6-week modeling, the model was confirmed successful by pathologic observation. PA at 0.021 g/100 g and 0.084 g/1 00 g was given by gastrogavage to rats in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group respectively. Normal saline was administered to those in the normal saline control group. No treatment was given to rats in the normal control group and the model group. Bilateral knee cartilages were harvested at week 2,4, and 6. mRNA and protein expressions of Smad2 and Smad3 were detected by immunohistochemical assay, fluorescent quantitative PCR, and Western blot.

RESULTSOA model was successfully prepared by pathological observation. Results of immunohistochemical assay showed that Smad2 and Smad3 expressed extensively in the cartilage, and located inside the chondrocyte membrane. Compared with the model group, mRNA expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously increased in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 2, 4, and 6, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the same group at week 4 after gastrogavage, mRNA expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously decreased in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 6, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, protein expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously increased in the chondrocytes of the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 2 and 4, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Compared with the same group at week 2 after gastrogavage, protein expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously increased in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 4, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Compared with the same group at week 4 after gastrogavage, protein expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously decreased in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 6, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS(1) The pilose antler could repair cartilages by regulating mRNA and protein expressions of Smad2 and Smad3. (2) Up-regulating mRNA and protein expressions of Smad2 and Smad3 might be one of important mechanisms for the pathogenesis of OA.

Animals ; Antlers ; chemistry ; Cartilage ; cytology ; metabolism ; Chondrocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Osteoarthritis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smad2 Protein ; metabolism ; Smad3 Protein ; metabolism

This study was to investigate the chemical constituents of the aerial part of Zygophyllumfabago, by phytochemical methods. The compounds were isolated by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies from the EtOAc extract. Their structures were characterized by various spectroscopic data (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS) and comparison with the literature. As a result, thirteen compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as 1-hydroxyhinesol(1), hinesol(2), atractylenolactam(3), beta-eudesmol (4), 5alpha-hydroperoxy-beta-eudesmol(5), 12-hydroxy-valenc-1(10)-en-2-one(6), pubinernoid A(7), (6S,7E)-6-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-3,9-dione(8), 3-hydroxy-5alpha, 6alpha-epoxy-beta-ionone (9), (3S,5R, 6S, 7E)-3, 5, 6-trihydroxy-7-megastigmen-9-one(10), (6R,7E,9R)-9-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-3-one(11), (S)-3-hydroxy-beta-ionone(12), and blumenol A(13). Compounds 1-7 were sesquiterpenoids and 8-13 were megastigmane type norsesquiterpenoids. All the compounds were obtained from Z. fabago for the first time, and compound 1 was a new natural product.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Terpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Zygophyllum ; chemistry

AIM To study the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor ? (TGF ?)and the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)during the course of rats gastric ulcer natural cure expressing and its possible biology meaning. METHODS We injected acetic acid to make the ulcer animal model, location expression characteristic of EGF and TGF ? and EGFR were studied by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The normal rats stomach mucosa EGF,TGF ? and EGFR all expressed weakly at masculine. EGF and TGF ? was located at cytoplasm,and EGFR expressesed at cytoplasm and cell membrane and the expression position of the three ovrlopped with each other. EGF concentrated mainly on the cervical part of gastric gland, and TGF ? and EGFR, on the cervical and base parts of the gastric gland. Positive 9 expression cells were primarily parietal[FQ(11?46,X-WZ] and neck cells of the stamook muc. For materials taken during the course of ulcer natural recovery, regular ohanges were observed in TGF, TGF ? and EGFR expression. Higher expression was found in ulcer tissunes than in normal tissues, while the expression was not detectable in necrotic tissues and rarely detectable in granlation and scar tissnes. The expression became apparant only during healing and scar stages of ulcer but not in early stage. CONCLUSION ①TGF ?/EGFR autocrine system probably plays a leading role in maintaining rats mucosa completeness under the normal circumstances; ②EGF/EGFR and TGF ?/EGFR autocrine system may have important effect on the differentiation, hyperplasia, moving of cell and restraining the gastric acidity.

Bletilla striata has been used as traditional Chinese medicine for several centuries. In recent years, the quality and quantity of wild B. striata plants have declined sharply due to habitat deterioration and human over-exploitation. Therefore, it is of great urgency to evaluate and protect B. striata wild plant resource. In this study, sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers were applied to assess the level and pattern of genetic diversity in twelve populations of B. striata. The results showed a high level of genetic diversity (PPB = 90.48%, H = 0.349 4, I = 0.509 6) and moderate genetic differentiation among populations (G(st) = 0.260 9). Based on the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA), twelve populations gathered in three clusters. The cluster 1 included four populations. There are Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Xuancheng and Hangzhou. The seven populations which come from Hubei Province, Hunan Province, Jiangxi Province and Guizhou Province belonged to the cluster 2. The cluster 3 only contained Wenshan population. Moreover, Mantel test revealed significant positive correlation between genetic distances and geographic distances (r = 0.632 9; P < 0.000 1). According to the results, we proposed a series of conservation consideration for B. striata.
China ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Orchidaceae ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics

To study the effects of different post design on retention. 27 simulated tooth roots made of PMMA were divided into three groups, then manufactured the cement-expanded composite screw post-core system (CECSP), cement screw post-core system (CSP) and cast metal post-core system (CMP). The root and post-core system was tensiled by the speed of 10 mm/min on the Instron 4302 and recorded the retention force. It appeared significantly different between retention force of CECSP and CSP and CAM (P < 0.05). As a result, the retention mechanical properties of CECSP was much better than those of cement screw post-core system and cast metal post-core system. Therefore, it is possible to find a new way for restoration of endodontically treated teeth.
Acrylic Resins ; Cementation ; Composite Resins ; Crowns ; Dental Materials ; chemistry ; Dental Prosthesis Retention ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Humans ; Polyurethanes ; Post and Core Technique ; Tensile Strength