Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of sequential acupuncture in treating post-stroke dysphagia. Methods One hundred and ten patients with post-stroke dysphagia were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 55 cases each. The control group received routine medication and the treatment group, “cortex-pharynx-tongue root” sequential acupuncture in addition. The pre-/post-treatment difference in the Kubota’s water drinking test score was observed in the two groups and the clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups after 14 days of treatment.Results There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the Kubota’s water drinking test score in the two groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment differences in the Kubota’s water drinking test score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 89.1% in the treatment group and 67.3% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Sequential acupuncture is an effective way to treat post-stroke dysphagia.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and role of single-dose three-dimensional dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography(SD 3D DCEMRA)in evaluating soft-tissue hemangioma of limbs.Methods The transit time(TT),signal intensity of peak enhancement(SPE)and duration of peak enhancement(DPE)of the femoral,popliteal and anterior tibial arteries at the level of the middle section were assessed in 30 healthy volunteers after intravenous bolus injection of single-dose contrast media at the rate of 3 ml/s.Forty-five patients with soft-tissue hemangioma and 9 patients with schwannoma of the extremities underwent both conventional MRI and SD 3D DCEMRA.The acquisition time of SD 3D DCEMRA ranged from 10 to 12 s,and early arterial,late arterial and venous phases of SD 3D DCEMRA images were acquired consecutively.The conventional MRI and SD 3D DCEMRA findings of the 45 patients with hemangioma were observed and compared with those of the 9 cases of sehwannoma.Results(1)The TT,SPE and DPE of the femoral,poplitcal and anterior tibial arteries were(15?5)s,(400?50),(11.9? 2.6)s;(19?7)s,(320?45),(16.8?3.6)s and(27?10)s,(270?39),(22.0?6.6)s respectively. The comparison of TT(F=6.91,P0.01).The tumoral feeding artery was visualized in all cases(100%).(3)Two cases of hemangioma missed on conventional MRI were correctly diagnosed on SD 3D DCEMRA owing to the visualization of both the tumoral mass and the feeding artery.(4)For schwannoma,neither the dynamic visualization of tumoral mass nor the feeding artery was demonstrated on SD 3D DCEMRA.Conclusion SD 3D DCEMRA is technically feasible to evaluate the limb soft-tissue hemangioma.Dynamic visualization of tumoral mass and demonstration of the tumoral feeding artery are the characteristic features of the tumor on SD 3D DCEMRA.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; genetics ; surgery ; Adult ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; surgery ; virology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Genes, myc ; HIV ; isolation & purification ; HIV Infections ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphoma, AIDS-Related ; drug therapy ; genetics ; surgery ; virology ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; pathology ; Translocation, Genetic

Objective:To use polyamidoamine(PAMAM)dendrimer as gene delivery system for survivin gene anti- sense oligodeoxynucleotide(asODN)transfection for inhibition of HepG2 cancer cell growth.Methods:The first to the fifth generation of PAMAM and asODN were used to prepare a complex:PAMAM-asODN.The morphology of PAMAM- asODN was observed using agrose electrophoresis and atomic force microscope(AFM).PAMAM-asODN was then used to transfect HepG2 cells and cells transfected with asODN served as control.The transfection efficacy of PAMAM-asODN into HepG2 cells was observed under confocol microscope,the surviving mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR,and the inhibition of HepG2 cell growth was determined by MTT assay.Results:Agrose electrophoresis showed strong complexing action between PAMAM and asODN and they formed a complex with a diameter of 25 nm.Confocol microscope showed the transfection efficacy of PAMAM-asODN was higher than that of asODN.RT-PCR showed a decreased expression of sur- vivin mRNA in PAMAM-asODN transfected cells.MTF results demonstrated that the growth of HepG2 cell was obviously inhibited after transfection of PAMAM-asODN and the inhibition rate increased with culture time,concentration of com- plex,the generation of PAMAM.PAMAM-asODN at 6.0?mol/L G4.0 resulted in a 55% inhibition of HepG2 cells 96 h after culture.Conclusion:PAMAM dendrimers can efficiently mediate the entry of survivin asODN into HepG2 cells,re- sulting in inhibition of HepG2 cells.PAMAM might be a promising gene carrier for potential molecular therapy of cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the genetic polymorphisms of the six transmembrane protein of prostate 2 gene (STAMP2) and essential hypertension in Xinjiang Uygur population.

METHODSThe sequences of STAMP2 gene functional region were sequenced in Xinjiang Uygur population with hypertension. The representative variations selected were genotyped by TaqMan-PCR method in 2047 Uygur individuals, including 810 patients with hypertension and 1237 healthy subjects. The association of the genetic variations of the STAMP2 gene with hypertension in Uygur was analyzed.

RESULTSIn the three representative variations (rs8122, rs1981529 and rs34741656) genotyped, there were no significant differences in genotype distribution and allele frequencies between the essential hypertension and control groups (P > 0.05). In ANCOVA analysis, none of the polymorphisms was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in haplotype frequencies between the two groups either(P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere was no association of the three polymorphisms (rs8122, rs1981529 and rs34741656) in the STAMP2 gene with essential hypertension in Xinjiang Uygur population.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of urine gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the screening of children at risk of inherited metabolic diseases (IMD), and to identify the disease spectrum of IMD and the clinical characteristics of children with IMD.

METHODSThe clinical data of 15 851 children at risk of IMD who underwent urine GC-MS in the Tianjin Children's Hospital between February 2012 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSIn the 15 851 children, 5 793 (36.55%) were detected to have metabolic disorders. A total of 117 (0.74%) children were confirmed to have IMD, including 77 cases of methylmalonic acidemia (65.8%). The clinical manifestations of confirmed cases in the neonatal period mainly included jaundice, metabolic acidosis, abnormal muscular tension, feeding difficulty, poor response, and lethargy or coma. The clinical manifestations of confirmed cases in the non-neonatal period mainly included delayed mental and motor development, metabolic acidosis, convulsion, recurrent vomiting, and anemia.

CONCLUSIONSGC-MS is an effective method for the screening for IMD in children at risk. Methylmalonic acidemia is the most common IMD. The clinical manifestations of IMD are different between the confirmed cases in the neonatal and non-neonatal periods.

Acidosis ; etiology ; Adolescent ; Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; complications ; diagnosis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Developmental Disabilities ; etiology ; Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; complications ; diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value of 3.0 T diffusion-weighted imaging with background suppression (DWIBS) magnetic resonance (MR) for lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer.

METHODSThirty-five patients with rectal cancer who underwent preoperative routine MRI+DWI examination were enrolled in the study and were treated by rectal cancer resection plus lymph node dissection. Metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes were confirmed by postoperative pathology. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, long-axis and short-axis diameters of lymph nodes were measured. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the diagnostic efficacy of ADC, long-axis and short-axis diameters for differentiating metastatic lymph nodes from non-metastatic lymph nodes.

RESULTSA total of 151 lymph nodes were confirmed with exact location in 35 patients. Sixty-five metastatic lymph nodes and 86 non-metastatic lymph nodes were identified. The ADC values of metastatic lymph nodes and non-metastatic lymph nodes were(0.86±0.14)×10(-3) and (0.94±0.16)×10(-3) mm(2)/s respectively. The long-axis diameter were(9.78±3.13) and (7.90±1.77) mm, respectively. The short-axis diameter were (7.65±2.00) and (6.45±1.19) mm, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes in ADC values, long-axis diameter, and short-axis diameter(all P<0.01). The areas under the ROC curve of ADC value, long-axis diameter, and short-axis diameter were 0.648, 0.706, and 0.692, respectively. Optimal cutoff values for these parameters were 1.05×10(-3) mm(2)/s, 7.95 mm, and 5.90 mm, respectively, and the corresponding sensitivities and specificities were 93.8% and 30.2%, 75.4% and 61.6%, 90.8% and 38.4%.

CONCLUSIONSQuantitative measurement of ADC value may reflect the degree of diffusion restriction of metastatic lymph nodes by DWIBS at 3.0 T MR. Accurate diagnosis of metastatic lymph nodes in rectal cancer demands comprehensive evaluation combining ADC value with diameter measurement.

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology

Objective To investigate the effect ofstromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) on the regulation of neural stem cells (NSCs) migration.Methods NSCs were obtained from the cerebral cortex of embryonic rats and cultured in serum-free medium,and their stem cell properties were assessed by means of induced differentiation in vitro into neurons and astrocytes.After in vitro cell culture,the purity of NSCs and the co-expression rate of CXCR4/nestin were detected by flow cytometry.Blind-well chambers were employed to detect the chemotactic effects of SDF-1 by counting the cells which had crossed a 8 μm pore membrane when confronted with varying concentrations of SDF-1 (0,1,10,50,100,500 and 1000 ng/mL),and the distribution of cells migrated out of the same neurosphere was overviewed by μ-slides in the persistent concentration gradient of SDF-1.Results Neurospheres were formed by persistent proliferation of NSCs, which were capable of differentiating into neurons (β-tubulin+) and astrocytes (GFAP+) in media without mitogens,and flow cytometry analyses showed that most of the cultured cells expressed nestin and the co-expression rate of CXCR4/nestin was nearly 80%.SDF-1 showed great chemotaxis to NSCs,and the amount of cells having migrated through the membrane in 500 ng/ml SDF-1 group was higher than that in other groups (P<0.05).When the cells were confronted with a linear concentration gradient (from 500 to 0 ng/mL),which was generated by diffusion and stable for at least 48 h,the cells migrated out ofa neruosphere could distribute irregularly with more cells locating in the region of higher concentration of SDF-1 and longer migration distance away from the center of the neurosphere than the opposite.Conclusion SDF-1 binding to its specific receptor CXCR4 was capable of inducing NSCs migrating directionally to the source of SDF-1.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics, image findings, laboratory examination, the therapeutic methods and clinical outcomes of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) in pediatric patients.

METHODTwenty-six pediatric patients with BO were reported. All data were collected from cases who were hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College from June 1(st), 2009 to the April 30(th), 2011, and infectious agents, clinical manifestations, risk factors, changes in imageology, laboratory examination, therapeutic methods and treatment responses were analyzed.

RESULTThe ranges of age at onset was 4.5 months-8 years in 26 cases (18 boys and 8 girls). The course of disease was (6.2 ± 3.5) months. The period of followed-up ranged from 2 to 24 months. The common clinical characteristics were persistent wheezing of different severity (26 cases, 100%), cough (24 cases, 92%), intolerance to exercise (22 cases, 85%), short of breath (21 cases, 81%), retraction (20 cases, 77%), wheezy phlegm (16 cases, 62%), keeping with crackles (10 cases, 38%), cyanosis around the mouth (3 cases, 12%) and no clubbed fingers (toes). In 18 cases the etiology was detected, mycoplasma (11 cases, 42%), respiratory syncytial virus (4 cases, 15%), parainfluenza virus (2 cases, 8%), influenza virus A (2 cases, 8%) and influenza virus B (2 cases, 8%), human bocavirus (HBoV) (1 case, 4%). There were 8 cases (31%) with combined infection. Chest X-ray in 10 cases indicated changes suggestive of bronchopneumonia (38%), in only 1 case there was an image of interstitial pneumonia disease (4%). All the patients were diagnosed by high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT). All cases were demonstrated to have air retention, poor blood perfusion in lung, just like "Westemark sign" with HRCT. In 19 cases antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) was determined and 10 patients (53%) were positive for P-ANCA, and 8 cases (42%) were positive for C-ANCA. All patients received oral corticosteroid and low doses azithromycin. In 13 cases (50%) the treatment effectively reduced the severity of disease and the frequency of cough and wheezing. The average number of days for symptom improvement was (7.1 ± 4.8) days.

CONCLUSIONRespiratory infection plays an important role in BO in children. The chronic and persistent wheezing, cough, intolerance to exercises, short breath, retraction were the main clinical manifestations. But these symptoms are non-specific. Chest X-ray can not provide enough information for diagnosis. Classical "Westemark sign" with HRCT is an important sign. ANCA with a high positive rate (approximately 50%) suppose immuno-lesion in BO. Oral corticosteroid and methotrexate may relieve clinical symptoms.

Bronchiolitis Obliterans ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome

ObjectiveTo analyze the MRI manifestations of Peyronie's disease and investigate the value of high-field MRI in the diagnosis of the disease.

METHODSUsing a small surface coil, we performed 3.0 Tesla MRI for 14 patients with clinically diagnosed Peyronie's disease. The MRI protocol included routine sequences (T1WI, T2WI, and enhanced T1WI) and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). Each patient had received 2－4 penile ultrasound examinations previously. We compared the MRI findings with the results of ultrasonography.

RESULTSMRI manifested 25 penile plaques in the 14 patients, 3 (7 plaques) with inflammation, 4 (8 plaques) with fibrosis, and the other 7 (10 plaques) with calcification displaying a low signal intensity on SWI. Ultrasonography had revealed the 10 calcified plaques in all the 20 examinations, but exhibited the 7 inflammatory and 8 fibrotic ones in only 3 of the 23 examinations. The combination of MRI SWI sequences was necessitated for the detection of calcified plaques and achieved higher detection rates than ultrasonography for inflammatory and fibrotic plaques (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHigh-field MRI has high sensitivity and accuracy in the diagnosis of Peyronie's disease, which can effectively display penile plaques of different nature in the early stage through multi-parametric sequences.

Calcinosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; instrumentation ; methods ; Male ; Penile Induration ; diagnostic imaging ; Penis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography