ObjectiveTo study X-ray and high resolution computed tomograghy(HRCT)features and tIleir relationship with pulmonary function test in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis(PAP).MethodsThe findings of X-ray and HRCT and the Resultsof pulmonary function tests in 19 patients with PAP were reviewed retrospectively.X-ray and HRCT scores were rated in the aspects of opacity density,extent,and severity.The relationship between the imaging scores and pulmonary function tests were determined.ResultsX-ray showed a symmetrical perihilar predominance appearance in patients with PAP.HRCT scan showed bilateral clear-defined pathchy areas of ground-glass opacity and interlobular septal thickening,a pattern commonly characterized as"crazy paving".Nineteen PAP respiratory function Resultswere:DLCO/Pred=(54.49±16.78)%,FEV1/FVC=(86.00±6.70)%.Chest radiographic extent score and severity score correlated with diffusing capacity(r=-0.661,P＜0.01,r=-0.475,P＜0.05).HRCT severity score was 16.47±5.26.Among all the HRCT scores,severity score correlated significantly with the presence of restrictive ventilatory defect and diffusing capacity defect(DLCO/Pred,r=-0.809,P＜0.01;FEV1/FVC,r=0.573,P＜0.05).ConclusionsIn patients with PAP,there Is close relationship between X-ray,HRCT findings and pulmonary function.HRCT correlates more closely with pulmonary function.

Objective To explore the image quality of coronary artery imaging with dual source computed tomography (DSCT) and analyze the coronary artery lesions. Methods Two hundred cases with clinically suspected coronary heart disease, who underwent plain and enhanced DSCT coronary artery imaging without oral Betaloc preparation were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: the senile group of 126 cases with the average age of (71.3±7.7) years old and the control group of 74 cases with the average age of (50.4±6.2) years old. The clinical characteristics, the average heart rate and breath-holding time for plain and enhanced scan, the average calcium score, the image quality evaluation and the coronary stenosis were compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the control group, the incidences of chest pain or discomfort, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and old myocardial infarction were significantly higher in the senile group. The average calcium score and the numbers of <50% and ≥50% stenosis were also significantly higher in the senile group than those in the control group (364.9±442.6)points vs. (44.8±106.9)points, 159 vs. 45 branches, 212 vs. 32 branches, respectively, all P<0.01). The average heart rate and breath-holding time of plain and enhanced scan had no significant differences compared with the control group. The proportion of the coronary segments with grade 1 ,grade 2 and grade 3 image quality also had no significant difference compared with the control group (96.5%,2.3% and 1.2% vs. 97.1%, 2.0% and 0.9%, P>0.05). Conclusions DSCT coronary artery imaging in senile patients is noninvasive, safe and simple, and excellent coronary artery image can be obtained without oral Betaloc preparation. It can be used as a routine examination in the clinical diagnosis of coronary heart disease.

AIM: To explore the effects of prostaglandi n I 2 (PGI 2) on mesenteric microcirculation and hemorheology during renal isch emia/reperfusion (IR) injury. METHODS: 36 rabbits were randomly distributed into the sham oper ated group (sham group), renal ischemia/reperfusion injury group (IR group) and PGI 2+IR group(PGI 2 group). IR group received clamping for 60 min follow ed by 120 min of reperfusion. A microcircular microscope image analysis system w as used to study the changes of mesenteric microcirculation and hemorheology at 60 min of ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion, respectively, while the blood sa mples were obtained for the measurement of hemorheological indexes. RESULTS: ① In IR group during the period of renal IR, the numb er of adhesive leukocytes and microthrombus, hemorrhage and hemorheological ind exes such as blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, blood reduction viscosity, he matocrit, erythrocyte aggregation index, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, eryt hrocyte sedimentation rate K and plasma fibrinogen were significantly higher, w hile microvascular diameters, blood flow velocity and erythrocyte deformation i ndex were significantly lower compared with sham group (P0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PGI 2 ameliorates the disturbance of mesenteric microcirculation and hemorheology caused by renal IR injury with the best effect at 10 ng?kg -1?min -1.

AIM:To investigate the expression pattern of apolipoprotein M (apoM) protein in renal cortex of acute renal failure (ARF) rats with reperfusion. METHODS:Seventy-five male rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (n=25),ARF group (n=25) and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamat (PDTC) group (n=25),five subgroups at time points of 3 h,6 h,12 h,24 h and 48 h after reperfusion were set up in each group. The expressions of apoM in cytoplasm and NF-?B p65 in nucleus of renal cortex were detected at the indicated time points. RESULTS:The expression of apoM in ARF group was obviously higher than that in sham operation group (P

AIM: To investigate the expression pattern of apolipoprotein M (apoM) protein in renal cortex of a-cute renal failure ( ARF) rats with reperfusion. METHODS: Seventy - five male rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (re =25) , ARF group (n =25) and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamat (PDTC) group (n =25) , five subgroups at time points of 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after reperfusion were set up in each group. The expressions of apoM in cytoplasm and NF - κB p65 in nucleus of renal cortex were detected at the indicated time points. RESULTS: The expression of apoM in ARF group was obviously higher than that in sham operation group ( P <0.01 ) , and two peaks were detected, the first peak was at 6 h after reperfusion, while the second one was from 24 h to 48 h. The tendency of apoM expression in PDTC group was similar to that in ARF group, while the expression in every subgroup was prevalently lower than that in ARF group (P < 0.01). Otherwise, a significant correlation ( r = 0.852, P < 0.01) was found between the expression of apoM and NF -κB p65.CONCLUSION: The results indicate that apoM feasibly take part in the pathogenesis of ARF through the inflammatory reaction mediated by NF - κB.

To investigate the effects of hypoxia chemically induced by CoCl2 on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 ( MCP-1 ) in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes.3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured in vitro and differentiated into the matured adipocytes.Cell differentiation and lipid accumulation was determined by Oil Red O staining.CoCl2 was used as a chemical hypoxia-inducible reagent to mimic hypoxic microenvironment.The effect of CoCl2 on cell viability was estimated by MTT assay.Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) expression under hypoxia was detected by realtime fluorescent PCR and Western blot,while MCP-1 expression was detected by real-time fluorescent PCR and ELISA.CoCl2 induced hypoxia led to a marked recruitment of HIF-1α in mouse 3T3-L1adipocytes.Similarly,both mRNA and protein levels of MCP-1 were up-regulated.Exposure of 3T3-L1 adipocytes to CoCl2 induced hypoxic microenvironment in vitro,and hypoxic induction of MCP-1 expression and secretion may be mediated by HIF-1 α and may contribute to chronic low grade inflammation in adipose tissue.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of dual-source computed tomography(DSCT)coronary angiography in a population with premature heart-beats.Methods Seventy patients with suspected coronary artery disease and premature heart-beats were routinely imaged on a DSCT scanner(Somatom Definition,Siemens AG,Germany).The images were reconstructed before and after ECG editing.Two readers independently assessed image quality of all coronary segments using a four-point grading scale from excellent(1)to non-assessable(4).The results ofthe two groups were compared with a paired t-test,and a P value of less than 0.05 Was considered significant.Results The mean heart rate during examination ranged from 49 to 111 bpm[mean(70.7±12.4)bpm].Twenty-eight of 70 patients with relatively small variability of the heart rate[(41.0±18.4)bpm]got diagnostic image quality without ECG editing.In other 42 patients with larger variability of the heart rate[(71.4±28.7)bpm],the meal image quality scores were 2.09±1.27 and 1.50±0.79 before and after ECG editing,there Was a significant difference(t=13.764,P＜0.01).The proportion of non-assessable segments Was reduced from 24.8%(154/620)to 3.4%(21/620)through ECG editing(X2=121.846,P＜0.01).Finally,the diagnostic image accounted 98.0%(1014/1035)in all segments of 70 patients.Conclusion DSCT can provide diagnostic images for patients with premature heart-beats.The image quality in patients with larger variability of the heart rate can be significantly improved through ECG editing.

Objective. To make a preliminary investigation of the patency and function of coronary artery bypass grafts(CABG) by magnetic resonance(MR) images and to establish a suitable method for follow-up study after CABG operation among Chinese.Methods. MR imaging was performed with a Toshiba 1.5-T unit in 27 patients with 74 grafts. All patients were examined with a breath-hold ECG-gated two-dimensional fast field echo (FFE) sequence to evaluate the patency of bypass grafts, among them 16 patients with 42 grafts were further examined with a phase shift magnetic resonance angiography flow (PSMRAflow) sequence to evaluate the grafts patency as well as the flow velocity and flow volume vs. time.Results. The results showed that 66 of the 74 grafts in the patients of the present series studied with FFE were patent with a patency rate of 89.2%. The results evaluated both with FFE and PSMRAflow remained the same except that two grafts were patent with FFE and the results with PSMRAflow were uncertain. Diastolic perfusion pattern curves were found in 25 of the 32 grafts in patients of the present series. Comparing the flow curves of the grafted left internal mammary artery with those of the native right internal mammary artery in 7 patients, the systolic peak velocity value(SPV) of the grafted arteries was significantly lower than that of the ungrafted ones, whereas the diastolic peak velocity value(DPV) and the ratio of DPV to SPV were significantly greater than that of the ungrafed ones.Conclusion. The FFE and PSMRAflow sequences were efficient in evaluating patency and obtaining the curves of flow velocity and volume of the bypass grafts. Therefore, they may offer a non-invasive screening method for follow-up study in patients after CABG surgery, although its accuracy should be further evaluated in more patients and comparatively studied with other methods.

Objective To explore the effects of Chinese herbal compound Tangbikang on the expressions of p38 MAPK of sciatic nerve and plasma TNF-α in diabetic rats. Methods Ten of the sixty male SD rats were selected randomly as normal group, and the rest were fed with high-fat diet and low-dosage STZ was used to induce type Ⅱdiabetic rat models. Model rats were randomly divided into model group, mecobalamine group and Tangbikang low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups, 10 rats in each group. Each medication group was intervened with relevant medicine. Rat unilaterals sciatic nerves were taken after 16 weeks. The content of TNF-α in plasma was determined by radioimmunoassay. Western blot method was used to detect the expressions of p38 and p-p38 MAPK protein of sciatic nerve. Results Compared with normal group, the expressions of p38 and p-p38 protein and content of TNF-αin model group significantly increase (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expressions of p-p38 protein and the content of TNF-α significantly decreased after medicine intervention in different doses Tangbikang groups and mecobalamin group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expression of p38 protein in Tangbikang high-dose group significantly decreased (P<0.05), with statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion Tangbikang can reduce the expression of p38 and p-p38 MAPK protein of the rat sciatic nerve, and reduce the content of TNF-α protein in rat plasma, which may be one of the effective targets of neuroprotection and abirritation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of patient's heart rate(HR)on coronary CT angiography(CTA)image quality(IQ)and reconstruction timing in dual-source CT(DSCT).Methods Ninety-five patients with suspicion of coronary artery disease were examined with a DSCT scanner(Somatom Definition.Siemens)using 32×0.6 mm collimation.All patients were divided three groups according to the heart rate(HR):group 1,HR≤70 beats per minute(bpm),n=26;group 2,HR＞70 bpm to≤90 bpm, n=37;group 3,HR＞90 bpm,n=32. No beta-blockers were taken before CT scan.50-60 ml of nonionic contrast agent were injected with a rate of 5 ml/s. Images were reconstructed from 10%to 100% of the R-R interval using single-segment reconstruction. Two readers independently assessed IQ of all coronary segments using a 3-point scale from excellent(1)to non-assessable(3)for coronary segments and the relationshiD between IQ and the HR. ResuitsOverall mean IQ score was 1.31 ±0.55 for all patients with 1.08±0.27 for group 1,1.32±0.58 for group 2 and 1.47±0.61 for group 3. The IQ was better in the LAD than the RCA and LCX(P＜0.01).Only 1.4%(19/1386)of coronary artery segments were considered non-assessable due to the motion artifacts.Optimal image quality of all coronary segments in 74 patients(77.9%)can be achieved with one reconstruction data set.The best IQ was predominately in diastote(88.5%)in group 1,while the best IQ was in systole(84.4%)in group 3. ConclusionsDSCT can achieve the optimal IQ with a wide range of HR using single-segment reconstruction. With the increasing of HR,the timing of data reconstruction for the best IQ shifts from mid-diastole to systole.