Objective To investigate the correlation between CT perfusion parameters of pulmonary carcinoma and standardized uptake values(SUV)derived from ~(18)F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography(~8F-FDG PET)and tumor microvessel density(MVD),and to determine the validity of CT perfusion in assessing tumor angiagenic activity of pulmonary carcinoma.Methods Fifty patients(mean age 57.5,17 females)with pulmonary carcinoma underwent CT perfusion using 16-slice helical CT.Blood flow(BF,ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1)),blood volume(BV,ml?100g~(-1)),mean transmit time(MTF,s)and permeability surface area product(PS,ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1))were analyzed.SUV of PET was calculated in 14 patients.The CD34 immunohistochemical staining was used for tumor microvessel counting.CT perfusion parameters of pulmonary carcinoma were correlatively studied with SUV and tumor MVD.Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the association between CT perfusion parameters and SUV and MVD.Results The average values of BF,BV,MTT and PS were 97.30 ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1), 8.86 ml?100g~(-1),6.75 s and 34.52 ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1),respectively.The average value of MVD was 61.82/FOV.The mean value of SUV was 5.96.There was positive correlation between BF and SUV(r= 0.727,P

Objective To characterize the imaging features of mediastinal cysts and gain a better understanding of atypical manifestations of various mediastinal cysts and improve the level of diagnosis. Methods The CT and/or MR images(CT n=28, MRI n=26, CT and MRI n=10), surgical information, and pathologic material in 44 histopathologically proved cases of mediastinal cyst were retrospectively reviewed. Results The mediastinal cysts were located in the anterior mediastinum(n=13), middle mediastinum(n=18), anterior-middle mediastinum (n=2) and posterior mediastinum(n=11). Bronchogenic cysts and pericardial cysts were atypically located in 7/20(35%)and 5/6 respectively. The density of 42.9% cysts on CT was close to that of water. Each of the cysts had a high signal intensity that was equal to or greater than cerebrospinal fluid on T_2-weighted MR images. One cyst showed marked loss of signal on MR hydrography. The signal intensities of the cysts were variable on T_1-weighted images. The signal intensity of MRI was not homogeneous in 5 and the reasons were different. Fourteen cases were misdiagnosed. Conclusion 1.The cysts with soft-tissue attenuation on CT in the anterior and posterior mediastinum may be easily misdiagnosed as neoplasm. Pericardial cysts located in the paratrachea may be easily misdiagnosed as bronchogenic cysts .2. MRI can be used to diagnose the cysts with high density on CT.3. Heterogeneous signal on MRI and loss of signal on MR hydrography might be the reasons for misdiagnosis.

Humans ; Forensic Medicine ; Poisoning/diagnosis*

OBJECTIVETo improve the diagnosis and treatment of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).

METHODSThe clinical data of four cases of lymphangioleiomyomatosis diagnosed in our hospital were analyzed and corresponding literature was reviewed.

RESULTSLymphangioleiomyomatosis, a rare disorder of unknown cause that occured almost exclusively in women of child bearing ages, was characterized microscopically by atypical smooth muscle proliferation. It could occur as a sporadic diseases or as a part of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). LAM was associated with progressive dyspnea, recurrent spontaneous pneumothoraces, chylous effusions, and hamartomas.

CONCLUSIONClinicians should be familiar with the characteristics of LAM so that diagnosis and treatment can be made earlier to improve the prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biopsy, Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of different points combination in the treatment of menopausal insomnia.

METHODSNinety-six cases of menopausal insomnia were randomized into 3 groups, Xinshu (BL 15), Shenshu (BL 23), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Shenmen (HT 7), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were chosen in the restore interaction between the heart and the kidney group (group A, 32 cases); Zhaohai (KI 6), Jiaoxin (KI 8), Shenmai (BL 62), Pucan (BL 61) were chosen in the acupuncturing qiao mai group (group B, 32 cases); auricular Shenmen (TF4) and sensitive spot at the distribution area of auricular vagus nervus were chosen in the ear acupuncture group (group C, 32 cases). Six days made one session and the treatments were finished after 4 courses. The polysomnography (PSG) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were employed before and after treatment to evaluate the alleviation of insomnia.

RESULTSThe parameters of the sleep latency (SL), rapid wave sleep latency (RL) and sleep efficiency (SE) were significantly improved in the three groups, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The SL and awaking time (AT) in group C [SL (401.08 +/- 16.54) min and AT (4.87 +/- 2.64) times] were significantly superior to those in the other two groups [SL (50.36 +/- 18.47) min, (54.87 +/- 20.92) min, AT (5.98 +/- 2.11) times, (6.13 +/- 3.04) times, all P < 0.05]. The S(3+4) (%) in group C was also significantly higher than those in the other two groups (both P < 0.05). It was indicated by PSQI that the sleep quality of group C (0.78 +/- 0.12) was significantly superior to that in group B (1.32 +/- 0.29), the total score and cured and markedly effective rate in group C [(4.34 +/- 1.43), 68.8% (22/32)] were superior to those in group A [(7.48 +/- 3.09), 53.1% (17/32), both P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONEar acupuncture has a better curative effect than the restore interaction between the heart and the kidney group and acupuncturing qiao mai group, it is worth of being promoted.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; psychology ; Middle Aged ; Sleep ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective :To explore the feasibility and clinical value of real time three‐dimensional transesophageal echo‐cardiography (RT‐3D TEE) in diagnosis of congenital heart valvular disease (CHVD).Methods :A total of 135 CH‐VD patients treated in our hospital were selected .All patients received surgery ,and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and RT‐3D TEE inspection successively within 7d before surgery .Heart valve lesion condition was observed , and diagnostic results of two methods and surgical outcome were compared and analyzed .Results :RT‐3D TEE could display the morphological structure ,lesion degree and peripheral blood flow of heart valves in CHVD patients in a multi‐angle ,stereoscopic and clear way .It could find heart valve disease which is difficult to be identified by TTE , and corrected the diagnostic deviation .With surgical results as the gold standard ,diagnostic coincidence rate of RT‐3D TEE was significantly higher than that of TTE (97. 04% vs.91. 11%, P＝0.039).CHVD diagnosed by RT‐3D TEE and TTE possessed a intermediate consistency (Kappa＝0.477 , P＝0. 001).Conclusion :RT‐3D TEE can pro‐vide more imaging information for the diagnosis of CHVD ,which can be used as an effective supplement for preop‐erative TTE examination .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mutational characteristics of cathepsin C (CTSC) gene in two Chinese patients with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS), and provide molecular basis for research of the pathogenesis of PLS.

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were obtained from patients and their parents respectively. Genomic DNA were extracted after consents. Polymerase chain reaction, direct DNA sequencing and restriction enzyme reaction were performed to screen mutations of CTSC gene.

RESULTSCompound heterozygous mutations of CTSC gene were identified in the two patients. Patient I carried the G139R and S260P mutations, patient II had the R250X and C258W mutations. The parents were heterozygous carriers without the clinical feature of PLS. None of the mutations were detected in normal controls. Furthermore, the S260P and C258W changes were novel mutations of CTSC gene, which had not been reported previously.

CONCLUSIONSMutations of CTSC gene are responsible for the phenotype of Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome in two Chinese patients. The results extend the mutation spectrum of CTSC gene and also provide basis for gene diagnosis of PLS in China.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cathepsin C ; genetics ; Child, Preschool ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation, Missense ; genetics ; Papillon-Lefevre Disease ; enzymology ; genetics

Aggressive Periodontitis ; genetics ; Cathepsin C ; genetics ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo identify asthenozoospermia-associated proteins in seminal plasma by the shotgun proteomic strategy.

METHODSSix seminal plasma samples were collected by Percoll respectively from healthy fertile and asthenozoospermia volunteers, balanced, mixed, and then the mixture was separated by SDS-PAGE. The proteins in the gel were enzymolyzed, extracted and identified by the shotgun proteomic strategy. The identified proteins with the unique peptide count > or =2 or the unique peptide count=1 but the total count > or =4 were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSA total of 172 differential proteins were identified, of which, 89 were exclusively from the asthenozoospermia and 83 exclusively from the healthy fertile men. According to the molecular function, these differential proteins were mainly the types of signal transduction and catalytic activity.

CONCLUSIONFunctionally, 10 of the proteins are particularly important, which include annexin VI isoform 2, isoform 1 of interleukin-6 receptor subunit beta precursor, Mr 400,000 protein, cytosolic dynein heavy chain, alpha-actinin-4, receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase eta precursor, vitamin D-binding protein precursor, protein S100-A11, protein S100-A9 and ANXA4.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; physiopathology ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Male ; Proteomics ; Semen ; chemistry ; Seminal Plasma Proteins ; isolation & purification ; Vitamin D-Binding Protein ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo identify proteins in the seminal plasma of healthy fertile men.

METHODSThree seminal plasma samples were collected from healthy fertile volunteers by Percoll isolation, and then the balanced mixture of the seminal plasma was separated by SDS-PAGE. The proteins in the gel band underwent enzymoloysis, and was extracted and identified by shotgun proteomic strategy.

RESULTSA total of 331 proteins were identified, with the molecular weight (MW) ranging from 8 000 to 572 068 and the isoelectric point (pI) from 4.36 to 11.05. Based on the molecular function and biological process of the proteins, 51 (15.4%) were classified as transport proteins, 11 (3.32%) as cell movement proteins, 63 (19.03%) as signal transduction proteins, 147 (44.4%) as proteases, 38 (11.5%) as enzyme regulator proteins, 21 (6.3%) as programmed cell death proteins, 12 (3.62%) as structural proteins and 59 (17.8%) as proteins with unknown molecular function.

CONCLUSIONShotgun proteomic strategy is a good method for protein identification. Annexin A, Annexin-associated proteins and the Ras-related protein Rab were the major members of the signal transducer proteins identified. Ca2+ and G protein signal pathways may play a most important role in the extracellular signal transduction into cells, but the interactions between these proteins remain unknown. The great quantity of enzymes and enzyme regulator proteins identified in the seminal plasma may be closely related with the maintenance of sperm motility and metabolism.

Adult ; Fertility ; Humans ; Male ; Proteomics ; methods ; Semen ; chemistry ; Seminal Plasma Proteins ; isolation & purification ; Sperm Motility