BACKGROUND: Bone cement coated by different materials has various characteristics and causes varying therapeutic effects. OBJECTIVE: By comparing characteristics of CPC, CPC/D, and CPC/M/D3 to investigate the preparation of doxorubicin microspheres-coated bone cement. METHODS: Doxorubicin microspheres were prepared with multiple emulsion solvent volatilixation method. Doxorubicin microspheres were mixed with CPC as the ratio of 3:7 to prepare doxorubicin microspheres-coated bone cement. The samples were randomly divided into three groups: CPC group, containing bone cement alone; CPC/D group, containing doxorubicin;CPC/M/D group, containing doxorubicin microspheres. Scanning electron microscope at varying magnification was used to observe structural characteristics and measure the diameter of microspheres. X-ray diffraction was used to estimate the extent of CPC and CPC/M/D samples. The initial and final setting time of cement samples in the three different groups was measured at 25 ℃ and 37℃ respectively. The injectability and interval porosity of different samples were tested. The compressive strength of the specimens was measured using a universal material testing machine to record the maximal compressive strength and breaking strength. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: PLGA microspheres (100-150 μm) were globular and the surface was slick and sly. Micrestructure of bone cement was not obviously changed following mixing with drugs, thus the location and characteristics of drugs in bone cement were not determined. Micrespheres-coated bone cement (100-150 μm) was distributed among CPC powder. All the X-ray diffraction pattern of three different samples was in coincidence with standard X-ray diffraction pattern of hydroxyapatite, i.e., the major peak was located near 32°. Additional drugs and microspheres did not cause new phases. Obvious collapsing was not observed in the three samples following immediately adding in saline, but the collapsing appeared in both CPC/D and CPC/M/D samples after 24 hours. The setting-up time of CPC/M/D was the longest, but that of CPC was the shortest. On the other hand, the setting-up time was the longest at 37℃. The final setting-up time of CPC/M/D group was 45 minutes. The doxorubicin microspheres-coated bone cement showed the best property of injectability among the three kinds of cement. The interval porosity was the highest in the CPC/M/D group but the lowest in the CPC group. Interval porosity of doxorubicin microspheres-coated bone cement was up to 61.67%. The yield stress was the strongest in the CPC group but the weakest in the CPC/M/D group. Additionally, the yield stress of calcium phosphate cement dramatically decreased while doxrorubicin microspheres were coated. However, there was no significant difference between them. The preparation of doxorubicin microspheres-coated bone cement was reliable and the product had good structures and properties.

Objective To analyze the status of biobanks in public hospitals in Shanghai.Methods A questionnaire survey on biobanks was conducted in 9 representative public hospitals in Shanghai.Results The management system of hospital biobanks in Shanghai was basically shaped,but the human resources and financial inputs were in shortage,and some management and regulations were not in place yet.Conclusions The biobanks of public hospitals need more inputs,improvement,and standardized management.

Objective To study the CT and MRI findings of ectopic pituitary adenoma in the sphenoid sinus and evaluate their clinical significance. Methods All 8 cases of ectopic pituitary adenoma occurring in the sphenoid sinus were verified by pathology. CT and MRI findings were analyzed retrospectively. Results The lesions occurring in the sphenoid sinus showed no continuity to the intrasellar pituitary gland. The lesions with a well-defined margin showed an oval shape in 3 cases, and an irregular shape in 5 cases. The maximum diameter of the lesions ranged from 20 to 46 mm. On non-enhanced CT, lesion appeared as an isointense mass in 7 cases and a slight hypointense mass in one case. Two cases showed relatively homogeneous moderate enhancement on enhanced CT. The lesions resulted in adjacent bony displacement, remodeling and sclerosis of varying degree. In addition, 5 cases displayed local bony invasion. The bony sellar floor was observed to be intact in 3 cases while bony destruction was displayed in 5 cases. On MR T1WI, ectopic pituitary adenoma revealed isointense signal compared to gray matter in 6 cases and slight hypointense signal in 2 cases. On T2 WI, the lesions showed slight hyperintense singal in 2 cases and isointense signal in 6 cases. The signal of these lesions was inhomogeneous. The stippled and thinly stripped hypointense signal on T1WI and hyperintense signal on T2WI corresponded to the enlarged gland lumen of ectopic pituitary adenoma histopathologically. MR imaging demonstrated mild to moderate inhomogeneous enhancement. A cribriform-like pattern was found on enhanced T1 WI in all of these cases. The time-intensity curve (TIC) of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MR imaging showed rapidly enhancing and slow washout pattern in 2 cases. The Lesions were found to associate with empty sella in 5 cases, encase adjacent cavernous sinus in 5 cases, and invade the clivus in 4 cases. Conclusions Scattered hyperintense bubbles and strips on MR T2WI and cribriform-like appearance on enhanced T1WI were typical manifestations of ectopic pituitary adenoma in the sphenoid sinus. Combined findings of CT and MRI can provide us with more comprehensive information in both diagnosis and therapy.