Objective To assess the value of CT in the detection of spontaneous rupture of hepatocarcinoma as well as to assess CT finging of hepatocarcinoma rupture.Methods Clinical manifestation and CT findings of spontaneous rupture of hepatocarcinoma in 22 cases proved surgically and pathologically were reviewed. CT characters of variable pathological changes of ruptured hepatocarcinoma and its relationship to the rupture of hepatocarcinoma were also analyzed. The analysis involved the status of liver cirrhosis, ascites, intrahepatic locations of the tumor, extent of extrahepatic protrusion and central necrosis of the tumor.Results All ruptured tumours were located at the periphery of the liver, 12 cases had a protruding contour. The maximum diameter of tumours ranged from 2 to 16 cm. Discontinuity of the hepatic surface was seen in 16 cases,necrosis of core was seen in 12 cases. 3 cases with non-ruptured masses also showed contrast medium flow over the perihepatic border during the arterial phase. 2 cases showed a haematoma with attenuated rim inside the mass, but rupture was found during surgery. 1 case show detached broken bits drifting in mass ascites. In 5 cases, CT images during the arterial phase showed a non-enhancing low attenuating lesion with focal discontinuity and peripheral rim enhancement. Conclusion The accuracy of CT diagnosis of spontaneous rupture of hepatocarcinoma is very high. Moreover, CT is a necessary imaging modality in diagnosis of ruptured hepatocarcinoma suspected by clinical findings.

Objective To study the relationship between drug resistance and expression of the gene associated with drug resistance in Candida albicans,as well as the secretory proteinase activity of these isolates.Methods The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MIC)to fouconzole and itraconazole in 99 strains of Candida albicans isolated from respiratory tract were measured by broth microdilution method,the M27-A protocol recommended by NCCLS.The gene expressions of CDR1 and MDR1 were semi-quantitatively determined by RT-RCR.The secretory proteinase activity of these isolates was assayed by plate with medium containing bovine serum albumin.Results The rates of drug resistance to fluconzole and itraconazole were 4% and 12.1% respectively.CDR1 expression in the susceptible dose-dependent(S-DD)isolates was higher than those in the susceptible isolates and drug-resistant isolates(P

Objective To explore the value of CT in diagnosing abdominal leiomyosarcoma.Methods CT findings of abdominal leiomyosarcomas conformed pathologically in 9 patients were analyzed.Results The tumors localized in peritoneum in 3 cases,in stomach in 3 cases,in rectum,colon and uterus in 1 case respectively.On plain CT scan,the tumors appeared as unhomogeneous dense masses with mecrosis at the centre,the periphery of tumors was flocculation or ringlike,and having fluid-fluid level in 1 case.The delayed peripheral enhancement on contrast CT could be seen.Conclusion CT imaging can help to diagnosis the abdominal leiomyosarcoma.

This study investigated the conjoined cellular oxidative damage of human embryo kidney 293T (HEK293T) cells induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)) and nanometer titanium dioxide (nano-TiO(2)). RT-PCR technique was used to detect the expressions of Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1). The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase enzyme (CAT) and concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maldondialdehyde (MDA) were measured by different approaches. The results showed that CdCl(2) and nano-TiO(2) at a low concentration of 0.75 total toxic unit (TU) exerted an additive effects on HO-1 gene expression, CAT activities and MDA concentrations. When the total TU was increased to 1 or 1.25 TU, the interaction was synergetic. Moreover, the mixture with high proportion of CdCl(2) produced an additive effect on the OGG1 gene expression, and the interaction was changed to be synergetic when the concentration of CdCl(2) was lower than or equal to that of nano-TiO(2). Synergetic effects of CdCl(2) and nano-TiO(2) on cellular oxidative damage of HEK293T cells were found as indicated by the changes in the SOD activities and ROS concentrations. It was concluded that CdCl(2) and nano-TiO(2) exerts synergistic effects on the cellular oxidative damage of HEK293T cells, and the sensitivity of these indicators of oxidative damage varies with the proportion of CdCl(2) and nano-TiO(2) in the mixture.

BACKGROUND: Biliary complications are the common complication of liver transplantation. However, it is difficult to find the complications, since no obvious characteristic signs on the patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially,magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) may provide a comprehensive evaluation of the functions and complications of the transplanted liver as a safe, noninvasive and exact technique.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the manifestation of biliary system after liver transplantation by MRCP and its value of diagnosis of biliary complications.DESIGN: Comparative observation.SETTING: Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 13 male liver transplantation patients aged from 40-58 years, who received imaging examination at Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University from January 2003 to January 2005, were enrolled. Original causes of liver failure included cirrhosis (n =11) and primal hepatic carcinoma (n =2). Ten received orthotopic liver transplantation, while 3 received piggyback orthotopic liver transplantation. Anastomotic mode of bile duct was common bile duct end-to-end anastomosis. The interval between transplantation and MRI examination ranged from 15 days to 1 year. All patients knew the items of examination and agreed to participate in the experiment.METHODS: Thirteen patients with orthotopic liver transplantation underwent turbo spin-echo (TSE) and fast low angle shot (FLASH), MRCP, Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI to analyze the characteristics of each imaging after liver transplantation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The imaging findings of the reestablished bile duct and complications of bile duct at MRCP.RESULTS: The diameters of bile duct and caliber were normal, no stricture on anastomotic stoma in 3 patients.Thick-section planes of MRCP did not develop biliary duct of one case. Biliary dilation occurred in 8 patients. There were 5 cases of biliary strictures and 2 cases of choledochus stone. Mucocele of bile duct remnant was identified in 2 cases.Bile leakage occurred in 1 case after T-tube was removed. Rejection reaction occurred in 2 cases.CONCLUSION: MRCP not only can display the image of reestablished biliary tract after liver transplantation, but also can exactly diagnose complications rapidly.

BACKGROUND:It is generaly recognized that cervical rotation manipulation can increase the risk of detachment of unstable plaques in carotid atherosclerosis, but few studies are reported on the influence of cervical rotation manipulation on the stable plaque in early carotid atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE:To explore the influence of the cervical rotation manipulation on the lipid contents in carotid atherosclerotic plaque in a rabbit model of early carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS:After being fed for 15 days with normal diet, 30 male New Zealand White rabbits were further fed for 18 weeks with normal diet (n = 10; control group) or a high-fat diet containing 2% cholesterol, 10% lard and 88% normal granules to build rabbit models of early carotid atherosclerosis with stable carotid plaque (n = 20). At 14 weeks of feeding with high-fat diet, the experimental rabbits fed with high-fat diet were randomly divided into a cervical rotation manipulation group (n = 10) and a model group (n = 10). The rabbits in the cervical rotation manipulation group underwent cervical rotation manipulation to the left and right sides, once each side, with the maximal range of rotation. Total five cervical rotation manipulations, once every 3 days, were performed. RESULETS AND CONCLUSION:The 1 450 cm-1 and 1 660 cm-1 peaks of the Raman spectrum of lipid in the carotid atherosclerotic plaque of rabbit models were not distinctly present in the control group, however, they were obviously observed in the cervical rotation manipulation group and model group. Nevertheless, the relative intensity differences at spectrum characteristic peaks were not significant between cervical rotation manipulation group and model group (P > 0.05). The environmental findings indicate that the lipid content in carotid atherosclerotic plaque of rabbit models of early carotid atherosclerosis cannot be increased after short-term administration of cervical rotation manipulation.

Objective To study the MRI characteristics of osteoblastoma and to discuss its diagnostic value. Methods Nine patients with osteoblastoma proved by pathology were examined with T_2WI, nonenhanced T_1WI and Gd-DTPA enhanced T_1WI MR imaging before operation MR finding were analyzed. Results Of nine patients, tumor originated from spine in five patients, from skull in three patients and from pelvis in one patient. Of these patients, benign osteoblastoma were in six patients and malignant were in three patients. On MRI, the tumor was an expanded osteolytic lesion, osteoid production formation was low or equal signal intensity on T_1WI and medial or high signal intensity on T_2WI. MRI showed low signal intensity of the calcification or ossification in osteoblastoma on T_2WI, and low or equal signal intensity on T_1WI. The ossified ring of tumor was low signal intensity on both T_1- and T_2WI. The adjacent soft tissue masses were showed on MRI. All patients given gadolinium showed enhancement within the osteoid production and the adjacent soft tissue mass, and no enhancement with ossification and calcification, cystoid and the ossified ring on MRI. The boundary of malignant osteoblastoma was obscure, and adjacent tissue could be invaded.Conclusion MR imaging can show all the characteristics of osteoblastoma well . It is of important value in diagnosis, operative orientation and staging of osteoblastoma, especially for the lesion originated from spine and skull.

BACKGROUND: Although the fixed-point cervical vertebra rotating reduction has a notable treatment effect, yet it has not been deeply studied in the medical field. Some clinical surgeons feel difficult to make an accurate control on the power and rotatory joint position while operating, even results in iatrogenic injury. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the action mechanism of rotatory technique based on the central rotatory point of cervical vertebra fixed-point rotatory technique. METHODS: Samples were scanned through a 64-row spiral CT working platform at 1-mm layer distance. The picture's profilogram data were extracted from the image processing functional module in PHILIPS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, and then the three-dimensional structure of the upper cervical vertebra was reconstructed and displayed. Taking the axis spinous process peak (point A), odontoid process vertical axes (point B), and the midpoint (point C) of their link as the rotating axes (the rotating central point in simulation), spherical system on each point was set up. The intersection angle of the links between the axis' spinous process peak and the lower jaw, and between the odontoid process vertical axes and the lower jaw before and after rotation were all measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: While applying fixed-point rotation of the cervical spine, the rotatory centre is the vertical axle center of the odontoid process, rather than the handy axis spinous process peak. The rotatory angle of the axle centre is larger than the observation angle. A new concept of fixed-axis rotation should be accepted and its principle should be comprehended in order to appropriately apply the cervical rotatory technique.

Objective To choose optimal concentration and volume of Gd-DTPA solution as a oral gastrointestinal negative contrast agent for MRCP.To evaluate the role of Gd-DTPA solution in improving image quality of MRCP.Methods In vitro experiment:Gd-DTPA solution was made with different concentrations.T1WI,T2WI,two-dimensional single slice fast spin echo sequence and three-dimensional half-fourier acquisition single-shot fast spin echo sequence were performed to measure the signal intensity of these contrast agents respectively,so Gd-DTPA solution with the optimal concentration can be decided as oral negative gastrointestinal contrast agent on MRCP.Clinical study:The Gd-DTPA solution with optimal concentration and volume was regarded as an oral negative gastrointestinal contrast agent of MRCP.Twenty-four patients were performed with MRCP before and after (5--10 minutes and 10--15 minutes)administration of oral negative gastrointestinal contrast agent and image quality was analyzed.Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance with SPSS 10.0.Results When the concentration of Gd-DTPA solution was ≤0.01 mol/L,the contrast agent was hyperintense on T1WI.On T2WI,when the concentration was ≥0.015 mol/L,it was as hypointense as basic ground; On 2D FSE MRCP images,controls were hyperintense and the contrast agent with concentration ranging from 0.0025 mol/L to 0.03 moL/L was hypointense.On 3D HEAST MRCP image,controls were hyperintense and when the eoncentration of Gd-DTPA was ≥0.01 mol,the contrast agent was hypointense.The Gd-DTPA solution with the concentration of 0.01 mol/L and the volume of 100 ml was chosen as MRCP oral negative gastrointestinal contrast agent.On MRCP images after oral administration of the contrast agent,in 10-15 minutes,the average grade scores within 24 patients of the intrahepatic bile duct,the common hepatic bile duct,the gall bladder,the common bile duct and pancreatic duct(the average grade scores were respectively 3.63,3.46,3.08,3.71,3.87,3.88,3.79,3.71,3.50) were somehow higher than in 5--10 minutes(the average grade scores were respectively 3.54,3.46,3.00,3.79,3.96,3.87,3.71,3.67,3.54),but showed no statistical difference(P>0.05).However,the scores of the third branch of the intrahepatic bile duct,the common bile duct and pancreatic duct after oral administration of the contrast agent were significantly higher than those before administration of oral contrast agent(the average grade scores were respectively 2.79,3.71,3.50,3.42,3.25) (F=4.36,4.75,7.86,8.05,7.55,P<0.05).Conclusion The0.01 mol/L oral Gd-DTPA contrast agent is optimal because it can suppress the high signal from the retention of the stomach and duodenum completely.It can be regarded as MRCP oral negative gastrointestinal contrast agent.After oral contrast administration,the image quality of MRCP is improved obviously and the pancreaticobiliary tree is clear 5-10 minutes later.

Objective To observe the influence of the stress and displacement when the normal sacroiliac joint is exerted load simulating oblique-pulling manipulation, and to analyze the stress and displacement distribution when a three-dimensional finite element model of normal pelvis is exerted by oblique-pulling manipulation. Methods Lateral position was simulated on the three-dimensional finite element model of normal pelvis and it exerted loads horizontally forth and back, then the stress and displacement distribution were calculated. Results When the normal sacroiliac joint was exerted load simulating oblique-pulling manipulation, stress of the pelvis was mainly concentrated on the anterior inferior part of the left iliac fossa from the front view, with a maximum stress of 0.540E+07. The maximum value of internal and external strain of normal sacroiliac joint was 8.682 × 10-4m;the maximum value of anteropostreior strain was 3.337 × 10-4m;and the maximum value of up and down strain of normal sacroiliac joint was 3.284 × 10-4m. Conclusions The focus of the sacroiliac joint stress is mainly on the anterior and posterior superior borders when the normal pelvis exerted oblique-pulling manipulation. The internal and external strain of normal sacroiliac joint is maximal, the anteropostreior strain ranges the second, and the up and down strain is minimal.