Objective To assess the differential diagnosis and characteristics of renal benign and malignant tumors with three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound (3D-CEUS). Methods Totally 68 patients with renal tumors were examined by conventional ultrasound and two-dimensional contrastenhanced ultrasound(2D-CEUS). 3D imaging was reconstructed from 2D imaging, the differential diagnosis of renal tumors with 3D-CEUS was analyzed by comparing with 2D-CEUS. All patients with renal tumors were proved by operational pathology. Results Eighteen patients with renal benign tumors mostly displayed equal or low enhancement, showed "slowly in and slowly out" with 2D-CEUS, while displayed regular peripheral and internal vessels with 3D-CEUS. Fifty patients with renal malignant tumors mostly displayed high enhancement, showed "rapidly in and rapidly out" with 2D-CEUS,displayed winding peripheral vessels and disordered internal vessels with 3D-CEUS. 3D-CEUS may display the vascular characteristics of tumors and showed superior imaging quality to 2D-CEUS ( P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions 3D-CEUS can display the vascular characteristics of tumors and their spatial positions, it plays an important role in differential diagnosis between renal benign and malignant tumors.

Objective To explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) in the diagnosis of hematoma and active hemorrhage of renal trauma. Methods Totally 28 patients with renal trauma were examined by conventional ultrasound and CEUS,respectively,including 24 cases caused after renal biopsy,4closed trauma. The detectability of renal hematoma and active hemorrhage with these two methods were compared. All patients were identified by CT or follow-up studies with ultrasound. Results The detectability of renal hematoma with conventional ultrasound and CEUS were 67. 86% (19/28), 92. 86%(26/28), respectively. There was statistically different for detectability in the diagnosis ( P ＜0.05), and the extent of hematoma was more obvious with CEUS. CEUS diagnosed 7 of 26 were renal hematoma with active hemorrhage,which were difficult to be detected with conventional ultrasound. For renal hematoma,the features of CEUS were no enhancement found in every phase; for renal hematoma with active hemorrhage,the contrast agents overflowed from injured blood vessels and formed irregular remarkable enhanced regions. Conclusions CEUS is useful in diagnosing hematoma and identifying the extent and active hemorrhage of renal trauma,in addition,CEUS is valuable in detecting complications after renal biopsy.

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect s of a synthetic CRE-transcription factor decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (CRE-decoy ODN) on the upregulation of the expression of cholecystokinin (CCK) and fosB mRN A induced by chronic morphine administration in SK-N-SH cells. METHODS: The CRE cis-element, TGACGTCA, was palindromic, a sy nthetic single-stranded phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide composed of the CR E sequence self-hybridizes to form a duplex/hairpin. The CRE-palindromic decoy a nd control oligodeoxynucleotides were added to the medium (1 h before exposure t o morphine) at 150 nmol/L in the presence of cationic lipid DOTAP. After the cel ls were treated with 100 ?mol/L morphine for 48 h, 10 ?mol/L naloxone was use d for 15 min. The effects of CRE-decoy ODN on the DNA-binding activity of CREB, the expression of CCK and fosB mRNA were detected by electrophoresis mobi lity shift assay (EMSA) and RT-PCR, respectively. The stability of cell-incorpo rated [ 32P]-labeled CRE-decoy ODN was extracted with phenol:chloroform a nd then subjected to 20% nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and au toradiography. RESULTS: Chronic morphine administration and acute naloxone-prec ipitated withdrawal significantly activated the DNA-binding activity of CREB and the expression of CCK and fosB mRNA in SK-N-SH cells. The CRE-decoy ODN pen etrated into the cells, specifically downregulated these indexes. CONCLUSIONS: CRE-decoy ODN can significantly downregulates the e xpre ssion of CCK and fosB mRNA through specifically suppressing the DNA-binding activity of CREB activated by chronic morphine administration in SK-N-SH cells.

Objective To measure the renal tissue texture or flexibility with virtual touch quantization (VTQ) and to tentatively examine its clinical application in patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD).Methods A total of 750 patients (1500 kidneys) were performed with VTQ,including 400 cases in the control group,and 350 cases in the CKD group.A conventional ultrasound examination (two-dimensional,color Doppler) were first taken,and then the shear wave velocity (Vs) was measured which reflected the textural elastic.Results In both groups the Vs was the highest in renal cortex with significant difference (P<0.05); renal cortical region Vs in CKD group was lower than those in control group (P<0.05),while Vs of renal medulla and renal sinus had no significant difference in the two groups.The severity of renal dysfunction was increased along with a Vs decrease of renal cortex.Conclusion VTQ is helpful to assess renal function of patients with CKD.

Objective To analyze the misdiagnosis reasons in renal tumors with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and to improve cognition on CEUS. Methods Two-hundred and eighty-five cases were compared with pathology, the images in 22 cases misdiagnosed on CEUS were reviewed retrospectively and the reasons were analyzed. Results The diagnosis accuracy and misdiagnosis rate of CEUS were 92. 28 % (263/285) and 7. 72%(22/285), respectively. In these 22 cases, 9 cases misdiagnosed as renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were conformed by pathology as renal angiomyolipoma(RAMD), showed 5 cases "fast wash-in and fast wash-out", 4 cases "fast wash-in and slowly wash-out". Seven cases were conformed as RCC, in which 5 were misdiagnosed as RAML, showed 4 cases "fast wash-in and slowly wash-out", 1 cases "simultaneously wash-in and simultaneously wash-out", and 2 were misdiagnosed as renal cyst with no enhancement founded. Four cases misdiagnosed as hematoma were conformed as pyelo-carcinoma, with no enhancement founded in renal pelvis. The remaining 2 cases misdiagnosed as inflammatory pseudotumor were conformed as RCC, showed "fast wash-in and slowly wash-out". Conclusions With the high diagnosis accuracy,CEUS is an important method in diagnosis of renal tumors. Analyzing the misdiagnosed reasons may improve the cognition on CEUS and decrease the misdiagnosis.

Objective To investigate the source of the blood flow through ventricular septum in normal subject caused by slice-thickness artifact in echocardiography. Methods Echocardiography was performed in 50 normal subjects without ventricular septum defect by two models of echocardiography unit equipped with two models of transducer, observing the conditions and sections in which the blood flow through ventricular septum could be detected. Results The blood flow through ventricular septum was detected in 8 normal subjects using the certain model of echocardiography unit,especially in parasternal four chambers section and parasternal irregular sections, while the blood flow through ventricular septum wasn't detected in the other 42 subjects by any echocardiography unit. The blood flow through ventricular septum was caused by coronary vessel in atrioventrieular groove proved by combining dynamic observation with anatomy analysis. Conclusions The blood flow through ventricular septum in normal subjects, a kind of slice-thickness artifact in echocardiography,is caused by coronary vessel in atrioventricular groove mapped into intact ventricular septum.

Objective To discuss the imaging characteristics of chromophobic cell renal carcinoma (CCRC) and study the features on the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Methods The CEUS features of CCRC in 28 cases identified by pathology were reviewed. The blood supply and enhancement characteristic were observed and analyzed on time intensity curve parameters. Results The 28 cases of CCRC showed poor blood supply in contrast with the renal cortex. The CCRC presented with heterogeneity enhancement, part of the tumor took on a high wash-in and wash-out, and enhanced less intense than the surrounding renal cortex. The actinomorphous strong echo of the tumors might be revealed with CEUS in 15 cases (54%). The time intensity curve analysis demonstrated that the CCRCs' difference of peak intensity and area under the curve were lower than the renal cortex (P＜0.05), but arrival time, time-to-peak and slope of ascending curve were higher than the renal medulla (P＜0.05). Conclusion The actinomorphous enhancement and poor blood supply in the tumor of CEUS could provide diagnostic evidence for CRCC.

Objective To investigate the value of contrast enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) with microbubbles targeted to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor type 2 (VEGFR2) for imaging tumor angiogenesis in murine tumor models.Methods Established human renal cell carcinomas(RCC) subcutaneous xenograft tumor model in nude mice,microbubbles targeted to VEGFR2(MBV) was prepared,control microbubbles(MBC) and MBV were injected respectively in each mouse,the intensity of each microbubble was compared,the expressions of VEGFR2 in tumors were tested by immunohistochemistry.Results CEUS imaging showed the intensity of MBV and MBC was (6.50±1.43)dB,(2.59±0.99)dB,respectively.There was significantly higher intensity when using MBV compared with MBC (P<0.01).The time to wash out was longer in MBV contrast group compared with MBC group.Immunohistochemistry showed VEGFR2 was highly expressed in novel vessel walls.Conclusions Contrast microbubbles targeted to VEGFR2 can specially enhance the images of RCC and has tremendous significance in the assessment of angiogenesis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of histamine on the neurotoxicity induced by beta-amyloid(1-42)(Abeta42) in rat phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cells.

METHODSThe in vitro model of Alzheimer's disease was constructed with A beta42-treated PC12 cells. Cell morphology and MTT assay were used to evaluate the cell toxicity and histamine effects. The different histamine antagonists were applied to investigate the involvement of receptor subtypes.

RESULTThe neurotoxicity was induced by A beta42 in a concentration-dependent manner, which was reversed by histamine at concentration of 10(-7), 10(-6) mol/L. The effect was reversed by H(2) antagonist zolantidine and H(3)antagonist clobenpropit, but not by H(1) antagonist diphenhydramine.

CONCLUSIONHistamine reduces neurotoxicity induced by beta-amyloid(1-42), which may be mediated by H(2) and H(3)receptors.

Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Benzothiazoles ; pharmacology ; Diphenhydramine ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Histamine ; pharmacology ; Histamine H2 Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Histamine H3 Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Phenoxypropanolamines ; pharmacology ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Receptors, Histamine H2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Histamine H3 ; metabolism ; Thiourea ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

Objective To observe the effect of T-2 toxin on growth and development of rat epiphyseal plate of left knee and metaphyseal bone of femur and tibia in normal and low nutritional status, to find out possible pathogenic factors of Kashin-Beck disease and provide experimental basis for early intervention. Methods Ninety 3-week-old Wistar rats, weighing 60 - 70 g, were randomly divided into three groups: control group(general feed), T-2 toxin + general feed group, T-2 toxin + low nutrition feed group, thirty rats in each group with equally sex ratio. T-2 toxin (1.0 mg/kg) was administered orally 5 times a week via a gavage needle for 4 weeks. The change of hair, activity and body weight was observed. After 1, 2, 4 weeks, the epiphyseal plate of left knee and metaphyseal bone of femur and tibia (including distal femur and proximal tibia) were collected. Specimens were processed with HE and Masson staining. The morphology of chondrocytes and matrix collagen content in epiphyseal plate was observed. Trabecular bone volume fraction in tibial metaphyseal bone was analyzed by Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software. Results In the control group, rats were in good movement and hair with light, but in T-2 toxin + general feed group and T-2 toxin + low nutrition feed group, rats were found with reduced activities and hair with dark color. Body weights(g) of the control group, the T-2 toxin + general feed group and the T-2 toxin + low nutrition feed group were 81.0 ± 6.2, 79.0 ±5.1, 77.0 ± 7.5, respectively, by the end of first week; 101.8 ± 6.7, 97.0 ± 6.8, 93.0 ± 5.3, respectively, by the end of second week; 151.1 ± 15.7, 126.5 ± 11.9, 106.5 ± 11.5, respectively, by the end of fourth week. There was significant difference in groups by second week and the fourth week (F = 9.72, 41.65, all P ＜ 0.05 ). There was significant difference among multi-groups by the fourth week(all P ＜ 0.01 ). Under light microscope, at the second weeks, coagulative necrosis of chondrocytes was found in hypertrophic zone in the two groups with T-2 toxin; at the fourth weeks, cell necrosis increased. Masson staining showed collagen staining in the two groups with T-2 toxin significantly turned to clear pale coloration, indicating that the collagen matrix was significantly reduced. Image analysis showed there was significant difference in groups at the second and fourth week(F= 9.72, 41.65, all P＜ 0.05)in tibial metaphyseal trabecular bone volume fraction. There was significant difference between T-2 toxin + low nutrition feed group[(0.55 ± 0.12)％, (0.21 ± 0.0)％] and control group[(0.67 ± 0.09)％, (0.51 ± 0.14)％] by the second and fourth week(all P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions Under normal nutritional status, T-2 toxin can induce hypertrophic epiphyseal cartilage necrosis, collagen content decreased in epiphyseal plate, metaphyseal trabecular bone formation disorders; in the low nutritional status, T-2 toxin can lead to rat epiphyseal necrosis and significant metaphyseal bone disorder, but whether the performance is related to Kaschin-Beck disease needs to be studied further.