Objective To determine the value of 18F-FDG PET-CT in detecting the primary origin of cancer of unknown primary (CUP).Methods A total of 48 patients (age range 41-82 years,mean age of 57±16 years, 20 females) were retrospectively selected. All patients were diagnosed as CUP and were examined by 18F-FDG PET-CT scan.The patients were divided into cervical lymph node metastasis group (28 cases) and extra-cervical lymph node metastasis group (20 cases) according to different metastasis site.Sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET-CT to detect primary tumor site was compared between these two groups.Results 18F-FDG PET-CT detected primary tumors in 32 of 48 patients (66.7 ％), the cervical lymph node metastasis tumors in 22 of 28 patients (78.6 ％), and extra-cervical lymph node metastasis tumors in 10 of 20 patients (50.0 ％).There was significant difference between cervical lymph node metastasis group and extra-cervical lymph node metastasis group (x2 =4.286,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion 18F-FDG PET-CT has a high sensitivity to detect primary origin of CUP,especially for patients with cervical lymph node metastasis.

Humans ; Noise, Occupational ; Occupational Exposure

Objective To assess the value of serum N terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-Pro-BNP) in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure(CHF) and evaluation of cardiac function in children with ventricular septal defect (VSD).Methods Fifty one children were enrolled from March 2004 to March 2005.NT-Pro-BNP was measured by enzyme immunoassay technique.At the same time,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and left ventricular shortening fraction(LVFS) were detected with echocardiography.Results The data of NT-Pro-BNP were showed but the logarithms of which were normal distribution.The values of NT-Pro-BNP were developed successively along with the severity of cardiac function.But there was no difference between the group of no heart failure and mild heart failure.But the values of LVEF and LVFS had no differences in the control,the mild and the moderate heart failure and the same time all of which beyond the standard of diagnosing heart failure.NT-Pro-BNP could reflect the degree of heart failure or cardiac function (r=0.826).But LVEF and LVFS can not reflect the degree of the cardiac function.Conclusions NT-Pro-BNP can reflect the degree of the cardiac function in VSD,and the degree of the heart failure can be classed by the levels of serum NT-Pro-BNP.But the value of LVEF and LVFS can not reflect the degree of the heart failure in the same disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of the fertilization strategy and embryo transfer (ET) time with the incidence of ectopic pregnancy.

METHODSWe selected 3,331 fresh and 2,706 frozen-thawed ET cycles for the patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The fresh transfers included 2 546 IVF-ET and 785 ICSI-ET cycles and 2,220 day-3 embryo and 1,111 day-5 blastocyst transfers, while the frozen-thawed transfers included 2,080 IVF-ET and 626 ICSI-ET cycles and 741 day-3 embryo and 1 965 day-5 or -6 blastocyst transfers. We compared the incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy associated with different fertilization strategies and ET time.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy was 1. 41% (36/2 546) in the IVF-ET cycles and 3.44% (27/785) in the ICSI-ET cycles of the fresh transfers, significantly lower in the IVF-ET than in the ICSI-ET cycles (P < 0.01), and it was 1.01% (21/2,080) in the IVF-ET cycles and 0.80% (5/626) in the ICSI-ET cycles of the frozen-thawed transfers, with no remarkable difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The IVF-ET and ICSI-ET cycles included 2,220 fresh day-3 (F-D3) embryos, 1,111 F-D5 blastocysts, 741 frozen-thawed day-3 (T-D3) embryos, and 1,965 T-D5/6 blastocysts. The incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy was 1.71% (n = 38) in the F-D3, 2.25% (n = 25) in the F-D5, 1.35% (n = 10) in the T-D3, and 0.81% (n = 16) in the T-D5/6 group, respectively, significantly lower in the T-D5/6 than in the other three groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy is associated with fertilization strategies, which is significantly lower in frozen-thawed than in fresh embryo transfers.

Blastocyst ; Embryo Transfer ; adverse effects ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; adverse effects ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; adverse effects ; methods ; statistics & numerical data

Background and purpose:Thalidomide can enhance the radiation sensitivity on tumor effectively, but the mechanism of radiosensitization is still unclear. The present study aimed to investigate whether thalidomide could enhance the radiation sensitivity on colon cancer transplanted tumor of mouse, and to investigate the underlying mechanism. Methods: We established the model of colon26 colonic carcinoma, and the mice were divided into 4 groups:Control group, the thalidomide group, the radiotherapy group and thalidomide+radiotherapy group. From the day of treatment, tumors were measured every other day. Then, the xenograft tumor growth curve was depicted. Tumor volumes were measured in different treatment groups, then, the inhibitory rates of tumor growth were calcutated. Using immunohistochemical method in to detect the expression of microvessel density (MVD) in tumor tissue. Results:The mean tumor volumes at day 22 were (4.97±1.20)cm3 (control group), (2.90±0.92)cm3 (T group), (2.66±0.88)cm3 (R group), and (1.89±0.76)cm3 (T+R group). The tumor inhibition rate in the combination group (61.9%) was signiifcantly higher than the other groups (41.7%, 46.5%, P<0.05). The radiotherapy sensitization enhancement ratio of the combined treatment group was 2.27 times than in the radiotherapy group. Thalidomide combined with radiation therapy can significantly inhibit microvessel density of tumor:The decreasing MVD of T+R group, T group and R group were respectively 46.8%, 40.7%and 37.7%, and there was statistical significance between T+R group and T group (P<0.05 ), so as between T+R group and R group. It could be found more necrotic cells in tumor of group, and there was statistical signiifcance between T+R group and control group (P<0.05). Conclusion:Thalidomide can enhance the radiosensitivity mice of colonic carcinoma, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis related.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the rate of morphologically normal sperm (MNS) on the clinical outcomes of conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) in patients with one retrieved oocyte.

METHODSFrom January 2013 to January 2015, a total of 256 couples with one retrieved oocyte underwent conventional IVF in our center. According to the rate of MNS, the patients were divided into two groups: MNS < 4% (134 cycles) and MNS ≥ 4% (122 cycles). We compared the rates of no transferrable embryo cycles, fertilization, cleavage, normal fertilization, abnormal fertilization, high-quality embryo and transferrable embryo between the two groups. A total of 75 fresh embryo transfer cycles were performed, 43 in the MNS < 4% group and the other 32 in the MNS ≥ 4% group. We also compared the rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy and abortion between the two groups.

RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the rates of no transferrable embryo cycles, fertilization, cleavage, normal fertilization, abnormal fertilization, high-quality embryo and transferrable embryo (P > 0.05). The rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy and abortion exhibited no remarkable differences either in the fresh embryo transfer cycles between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe rate of MNS does not affect the clinical outcomes of conventional IVF in patients with one retrieved oocyte.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; Cleavage Stage, Ovum ; Embryo Implantation ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Single Embryo Transfer ; statistics & numerical data ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; physiology

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Female ; Hexanes ; analysis ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; statistics & numerical data ; Shoes

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can improve the clinical outcomes of the male patients with 100% teratozoospermia.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 152 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), including 75 cycles of IVF and 77 cycles of ICSI. We compared the rates of normal fertilization, high-quality embryos, transferrable embryos, implantation, clinical pregnancy, and abortion between the two groups.

RESULTSIn the 100% teratozoospermia patients the number of transferrable embryos was significantly lower in the IVF than in the ICSI group (78.91% vs 84.92%, P < 0.05), while the rates of normal fertilization and implantation were higher in the former than in the latter (60.26% vs 57.87% and 48.00% vs 39.55%, both P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the female age, Gn days, Gn dose, BMI, infertility duration, endometrial thickness, and basal serum FSH and E2.

CONCLUSIONICSI cannot improve the clinical outcomes of the male patients with 100% teratozoospermia.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; Azoospermia ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; statistics & numerical data

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a kind of molecules derived by oxygen in the metabolic process of aerobic cells, which mainly includes superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, alkoxyl, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorous acid, ozone, etc. They can destroy the structure and function of cells through the damage of biological macromolecules such as DNA, proteins and the lipid peroxidation. ROS also can regulate the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of cells through several signaling pathways and participate in fibrogenesis of many organs including hepatic and pulmonary fibrosis. Recent study shows that ROS might have an important effect on the forming of myelofibrosis. Consequently, ROS plays a significant role in the fibrogenesis of tissues and organs. In this review, the relevance between ROS and common tissues and organs fibrosis is summarized.
Animals ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Bone Marrow Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung ; pathology ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Reactive Oxygen Species

AIM In order to investigate whether resveratrol can be used as a kind of antiarrhythmic drug, the electrophysiological effect of resveratrol on pacemaker cells in sinoatrial node was studied. METHODS Using intracellular microelectrode technique to record the action potential of pacemaker cells in sinoatrial node of rabbits. RESULTS Resveratrol (30-120 μmol·L-1) significantly decreased amplitude of action potential, maximal rate of depolarization (Vmax), velocity of diastolic (phase 4) depolarization and rate of pacemaker firing, but did not affect maximal diastolic potential and duration of 90% repolarization of action potential. Pretreatment with L-type calcium channel agonist Bay-K-8644 (0.5 μmol·L-1) 10 min antagonized the effect of resveratrol (60 μmol·L-1). While applying cesium chloride (2 mmol·L-1), a hyperpolarization-activated current blocker, adding tetraethylammonium chloride (20 mmol·L-1), a potassium channel antagonist, or applying L-NAME (0.5 mmol·L-1), a NO synthase inhibitor, had no significantly influence on the electrophysiological effects of resveratrol. CONCLUSION Resveratrol exerts inhibitory electrophysiological effects on pacemaker cells in sinoatrial node of rabbits, which may be due to reduction in calcium influx via a NO-independent manner.