Objective To study effect of eleetromyograghie(EMG) biofeedback training on three kinds of u- rinary ineontifienee.Methods Nineteen patients with urinary incontinence were treated by means of EMG biofeed- back training twice a day for six weeks.The treatment was performed with a device,which can detect the EMG ampli- tude of the pelvic muscle and deliver electric stimulation accordingly.Results After 6 weeks of treatment,the inci- dence of uretbrorrhea was reduced by 41%,and the frequency of micturition was decreased by 38% ,while the fre- quency of urination in one day reduced to 9 to 13.The general subjectively rated improvement rate of patients was 53% ,while the general objectively one was 58%.Conclusion Biofeedback training has significant therapeutic: eftects on patients with urinary incontinence.

Objective The aim of our study was to study the CT findings of cryptococcosis in immunocompetent children.Methods CT scan and clinical data of 21 immunocompetent children with proven pulmonary cryptococcosis were retrospectively collected and analyzed.Results The CT scans demonstrated 1 mm subpleural nodule in the lingula of left lung in 1 patient and multiple nodules in 20 patients.Of 20 patients with multiple nodules,peripheral or subpleural distribution was found in 12 patients,and diffuse distribution in 8 patients.Of 20 patients with multiple nodules,Nodules of ＜ 10 mm was found in 18 patients,＜3 mm in 14 patients,and ＞ 10 mm in 2 patients.Round nodular with smooth margin was detected in 15 of 20 patients with multiple nodules.Lymphadenopathy was found in 17 patients including 3 patients with mild contrast enhancement and 2 patients with circular enhancement.Extrapulmonary lesions distributing in liver,spleen,kidney,and the nervous system were found in 14 patients.In follow-up,1 patient died and 20 patients fully recovered.ConclusionsPulmonary multiple nodules with lymphadenopathy is the characteristic CT findings in immunocompetent children with pulmonary crytococcosis which is prone to involve multiple extra-pulmonary organs.

At present,transplantation has been the predominant way to solve most of the end-stage diseases,ensued by the use of immunosuppressive drugs.Since the immunosuppressive drugs have narrow therapeutic index,the blood drug concentration is needed to mornior.Pharmacogenetics is one subject which focuses on the interaction between gene and the metabolism of the drug,providing great help for designing the regime of achieving the target drug concentration.Meanwhile,it facilitates the realization of individual therapy.This review thus focuses on the latest advancement on the pharmacogenetics of those immunosupprressants,hoping to provide help for the treatment.

Objective To evaluate 99Tcm-MIBI imaging in patients with hyperparathyroidism and its correlation with serum intact PTH level. Methods Seventy patients with suspicious hyperparathyroidism underwent 99Tcm-MIBI imaging and serum intact PTH measurement. Abnormal increased uptake lesion appeared at early phase and even more clearly at delayed phase was considered as the positive by 99Tcm-MIBI imaging. A cut-off value of PTH ＞ 88 ng/L was taken as the criteria for hyperparathyroidism diagnosis. The diagnostic efficacy of 99Tcm-MIBI imaging combined with serum PTH measurement was assessed according to post-surgical histopathology or clinical follow-up. For those operated patients, Pearson correlation coefficient between serum PTH and the gland volume was calculated. Results Hyperparathyroidism was confirmed in 38 patients by histopathology (n = 36) or follow-up (n = 2). The overall diagnostic accuracy of 99Tcm-MIBI imaging was 90.0% (63/70), in which the accuracy was 80.0% (12/15) for patients with normal serum PTH and 92.7% (51/55) for those with elevated serum PTH. False positive 99Tcm-MIBI imaging were found in 3 patients with normal serum PTH. The diagnostic accuracy of abnormally high serum PTH combined with 99Tcm-MIBI imaging was 94.3% (66/70). There was a positive correlation between serum PTH level and the volume of pathologic parathyroid glands (r = 0.782, P ＜ 0.001 ). Conclusions Serum PTH measurement may help to improve the diagnostic accuracy of 99Tcm-MIBI imaging in patients with hyperparathyroidism.

Objective To study the role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the pathogenesis of salt-sensitive (SS) hypertension and mechanism of the hypotensive effect of benazepril and ANP in patients with SS essential hypertension. Methods Sixty-four patients with essential hypertension were divided into SS (n=30) and non-salt-sensitive (NSS, n=34) groups by modified Sulliran's method. Plasma ANP, angiotensin Ⅱ (AⅡ) and aldosterone (ALD) were determined before and during the period of salt loading test. Thirty healthy subjects as controls were also enrolled. A self-comparative study of benazepril with the placebo was performed in SS group. Before and after the placebo and benazepril therapy, blood pressure (BP) and plasma ANP were determined. Results (1)Basal plasma ANP level in the SS group was significantly lower than that in the NSS group. Basal plasma ANP level in the NSS group was also significantly lower than that in the control group [(110.28±15.40) pmol/L vs NSS (145.52±26.53) pmol/L and control (197.74±26.20) pmol/L]. Plasma ANP in both SS and NSS groups [(133.56±34.03) pmol/L and (169.20±35.91) pmol/L respectively, both P<0.05 vs control]. Percentage of increase of plasma ANP in SS and NSS groups was of no difference (P>0.05) . (2) No significant difference of basal plasma AⅡ and ALD levels were found between SS and NSS groups (P>0.05). There were no significant changes of plasma AⅡ and ALD during salt loading in both SS and NSS groups ( both P>0.05). (3) After the benazepril treatment, plasma ANP was increased significantly [(146.74±31.86) pmol/L , P<0.01]; both systolic and diastolic BP were reduced significantly in SS group. (4) Basal plasma ANP level was negatively correlated with the magnitude of increase of mean arterial pressure (MAP) by salt loading (b=-0.06, P<0.05). Conclusion Deficiency of circulating endogenous ANP may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SS hypertension. Benazepril could reduce BP and increase plasma ANP significantly in patients with SS hypertension.

Objective To assess the feasibility of using an automatic tube current modulation (ATCM)method to obtmn consistent image quality with reduced radiation dose for young children undergoing chest scans with a set of 64-slice spiral CT.Methods Fifry young children underwent chest scans on a GE 64-slice VCT with automatic tube current modulation.The noise index(NI)for this study group was set to 8 or 9 based on the proposed reference for pediatric chest imaging in our hospital.We compared image quality and radiation dose for the study group with the age-matched control group of 50 young children acquired with standard protocol of fixed-mAs(120 and 150 mAs for under 1 and above 1 year old,respectively).The volume CT dose index(CTDIvol)values were recorded for beth groups.Two experienced pediatric radiologists assessed image quality on a 5-point scale with 5 being the best.Scores greater than or equal to 3 were considered clinically acceptable.The degree of interobserver concordance was determined by Kappa statistics.Results The average objective image noise and CTDIvol for control group was(4.78±0.58)and(6.68±0.62)mGy,respectively.For the study group the mean value of objective mAs wag(41.6±11.6)(20-79 mAs)with mean CTDIvol of(2.34 4±0.71)mGy,and the use of ATCM produced mean noise of(7.84±0.66).The average CTDIvol with the use of NI of 8-9 was about 65% lower than that with the fixed mAs setting.The mean image quality score for the study group and control group was(3.46±0.40)and(4.65±0.46)respectively.All studies had acceptable image quality,and there was good inter-observer agreement in diagnostic acceptability(Kappa=0.474 and 0.536).Conclusion The automatic tube current modulation method could be used to obtain consistent image qualityfor young children undergoing 64-slice MSCT chest scans.With proper noise level setting(NI=8 or 9),one may obtmn clinically acceptable images with much reduced radiation dose.

Objective To investigate the effect of hypert riglyceridemia on vascular endothelial function. Methods With high-resolution ultrasound, flow and nitroglycerin-induced dilatation of the brachial artery were determined in thirty hypertriglyceridemic patients and thirty healthy subjects as controls. Serum lipid and plasma endothelin (ET) were determined. Results In patients with hypertriglyceridemia,flow-induced vasodilatation was much reduced compared with that in the control subjects[(2.7±2.0)% vs (15.0±8.0)%, P<0.001］.However, vasodilatation in response to nitroglycerin were similar in both groups［(15.0±5.0)% vs (16.8±9.0)%, P>0.05].Plasma ET level in the hypertriglyceridemic group was significantly higher than that in the control group［(106.22±19.16) μg/L vs (72.37±14.06) μg/L, P<0.001].ConclusionEndothelium-dependent vasodilatation was impaired in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

Objective To explore the CT features of infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma (IHH).Methods CT imaging features of 16 IHH patients confirmed by surgical pathology and clinical diagnosis were retrospectively reviewed.Results Of 16 patients,there were single lesion in 10 cases and multiple lesions in 6 cases.All the lesions were rich in blood supply,and the arterial phase showed obviously rings enhanced.Some linear enhancement towards to the center below the annular enhancement of solitary lesions were found.There were patchy enhancement in annular enhancement center area,and the area of enhancement obvious increasing in venous phase and delayed phase in 4 cases with multiple lesions,enhancement mode was similar to single lesion in 1 case with multiple lesions.The lesions of IHH Ⅱ were small and multiple,and showed intermittent line shaped edge enhancement;some lesions below the linear enhancement showed small nodular enhancement and the area of nodular enhancement enlarged in venous phase,the range of linear enhancement was not obvious.Conclusion CT manifestations of IHH have some characteristics,and the enhancement of CT is more important in the diagnosis of this disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (tadalafil) on the testis following testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

METHODSEighty-four healthy adult male SD rats were randomly and equally divided into groups A (sham operation), B (testicular torsion + low-dose tadalafil), C (testicular torsion + high-dose tadalafil), and D (testicular torsion + placebo). Models were established in the latter three groups by 7200 torsion of the right testis for 2 hours. The animals in groups A and B were treated by gavage with tadalafil at the dose of 0. 5 mg per kg per day, those in group C at 2 mg per kg per day, and those in group D with saline at the same dose. After 3, 7, and 14 days of treatment, the torsioned testes were harvested for evaluation of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the testis tissue. The pathological changes in the testis were observed under the light microscope.

RESULTSAt 3, 7, and 14 days, the SOD activity was (254.46 +/- 7.43), (278.49 +/- 8.33), and (317.99 +/- 3.31) nU/mg prot in group B, and (277.12 +/- 8.80), (309.40 +/- 2.14), and (320.39 +/- 4.72) nU/mg prot in group C, all obviously higher than in D ([223.21 +/- 4.65], [231.45 +/- 4.16] and [248.28 +/- 5.74] nU/mg prot), while the MDA content was lower in the former two groups than in the latter. At 3 and 7 days, the SOD activity was significantly higher and the MDA level significantly lower in group C than in B (both P < 0.01) , while at 14 days, neither showed any remarkable differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). No obvious histopathological change was observed in the testis tissue of group A. At 3 and 7 days, pathological examination of the testis tissue revealed significant differences in the number of seminiferous epithelial layers, testicular histological score, and seminiferous tubule diameter in group B (P < 0.01), but the three indexes at 14 days in group B and at 7 days in group C exhibited no remarkable differences from those at 14 days in group A.

CONCLUSIONTadalafil can alleviate testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury following testis torsion/detorsion in a time- and dose-dependent manner.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Carbolines ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Seminiferous Tubules ; pathology ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; complications ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tadalafil ; Testis ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was designed to investigate the effect of TSA on human umbilical vein endothelial cells and to reveal its possible mechanisms and relationship between apoptosis and activity of telomerase reverse transcriptase.

METHODSsulforhodamine B method was employed to determine the growth rate of umbilical vein endothelial cells. The cell apoptotic rate was measured by flow cytometry (FCM). The hTERT and p21(Waf1) mRNA expression before and after TSA treatment were detected by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The quantitative of hTERT protein expression in cells were detected by flow cytometry. After transfection, the cell telomerase activity was detected by PCR and telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay (PCR-TRAP-ELISA) and early apoptosis was measured by Annexin V/PI stain and flow cytometry.

RESULTSAfter being treated with TSA, the proliferation of umbilical vein endothelial cells was inhibited. Slight apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were detected. However, the same concentration of TSA induced serious apoptosis in HeLa cells. Up-regulation of hTERT mRNA expression was observed within 48 h after TSA treatment, but the change of p21(Waf1) expression was not significant. The umbilical vein endothelial cells hTERT protein expression level was increased within 24 h. After transfection of the dominant negative, wild type and control hTERT plasmid, a significant difference of telomerase activity in these cells was observed by PCR-TRAP-ELISA assay. WT-hTERT-transfected cells were more resistant to apoptosis induced by trichostatin A.

CONCLUSIONHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells could be resistant to apoptosis induced by high concentrate TSA, and hTERT might play an important role in this process.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids ; pharmacology ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology