In the present study, we observed the effects of cholinergic enhancement by pyridostigmine (PD), a cholinesterases inhibitor, on GH release in both normal (n = 13) and GH deficient children and adolescents (n = 8). Responses of GH to insulin hypoglycemia were also observed. In the normal subjects, PD-induced serum GH peak levels were significantly higher than that induced by insulin (P

Animals ; Calcium ; physiology ; Chloride Channels ; physiology ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; physiology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; physiology ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Laser techniques are widely applied in medical research and military affairs. The characters of laser make it the best way to evoke pain.Pain induced by laser stimuli is influenced by laser parameters such as wavelength, pulse duration and stimulus area in addition to the properties of skin such as the distance from the brain, type and color of skin. In this review,both laser evoked pain and factors influencing it are discussed.

Objective To explore imaging manifestations of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH). Methods CT and MR images in 14 patients with HEH proven by histopathology were retrospectively analyzed. Plain and two-phase contrast-enhanced CT scan were performed in 5 cases, non-contrast and multiphase contrast-enhanced MR scan were performed in 7 cases, CT and MRI were both performed in 2 cases. Characteristics of CT and MR T2WI images were classified and analyzed. All lesions were classified into three types:multiple, diffuse and solitary form. Results (1) Multiple form of HEH:228 lesions were found in 11 patients, including 178 lesions on MRI and 50 lesions on CT. On T2WI, three or two layered-target-signs with hyperintensity core were found in 79.2% (141/178) of the lesions. Three layer-target-sign included hyperintensity core, hypointensity rim and slightly high signal halo from the inside out. Two layer-target-sign included hyperintensity core and slightly high signal halo from the inside out. Characteristics of dynamic contrast-enhanced scan included peripheral two or three layered-rim-like enhancement in 66.3%( 118/178) of the lesions;peripheral, gradual rim-like enhancement with enhanced core in 27.0%( 48/178) of the lesions;heterogeneously mild enhancement in 2.2%( 4/178) of the lesions;centripetal enhancement in 4.5%( 8/178) of the lesions. Fifty lesions were found in CT, which showed low density nodules or masses with clear margins. Two-layered-black-target sign were found in 42 lesions in contrast-enhanced images, white-target sign were found in 3 cases, and centripetal enhancement was found in 5 cases. (2) Diffuse form of HEH:in one of the two cases of this type, the lesions could not be separated from normal liver parenchyma, gradual enhancements were found along with the vessels in the center of the lesions. (3) Solitary form of HEH: one case, the lesion showed heterogeneous density in non-contrast CT images and gradual enhancement in contrast-enhanced images. Conclusions We found some imaging characteristics of HEH. Two or three layered-target-sign on T2WI and black-target sign, white-target sign on contrast-enhanced images were unique imaging features of HEH.

Background and purpose:Stromal tumor is one of the common gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors. There is certain understanding about the typical cases. However, the diagnosis of those occurring in rare location or with rare imaging findings is often difficult. This research summarized this kind of cases,in order to increase the radiological knowledge of the disease.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed clinical, radiological and pathological data from 550 patients who had stromal tumor conifrmed by pathology in our hospital. Those with incomplete data were eliminated. Forty-nine patients were selected for further study according to the typical imaging findings.Results:Among these 49 patients, 9 were pathologically confirmed to have extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumor, while 40 patients had gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Among the patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor, 22 were found in rare locations, 12 in retroperitoneal space, 3 in omentum majus and mesenterium, 5 in esophagus, and 2 in prostate. Obvious cystic degeneration was found in 16 patients. Bulky calciifcation, such as lfake or annulus, was found in 7 patients. The analysis result of risk-stratiifcation showed 19 patients were conifrmed as high-grade among the patients with tumors found in rare locations, 15 as high grade among those with obvious cystic degeneration, and 7 as high-grade among those with extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumor.Conclusion:Rare stromal tumor often occurs in the locations, such as retroperitoneal space, omentum majus and mesenterium. Obvious cystic degeneration and bulky calciifcation can be seen. The risk-stratiifcation of these patients often showed high-grade. Comprehensively analyzing its clinical features and imaging ifndings can help improve the diagnostic accuracy.

Objective To evaluate the surgical technique and procedures of transumbilieal breast augmentation with an inverse U-shape incision and insertion of saline-filled breast implants. Methods With specialized instruments, the subcutaneous tunnel was undermined to the inframammary crease after inverse U incision made along the umbilical border. The subpectoral space was dissected with a dissector after the advancement of obturator across the inframammary crease. The expander was inserted into the subpectoral pocket to be filled to obtain the high degree of symmetry of the breasts. Finally, the previous-ly prepared implants were inserted after the expander deflated and removed. Results All patients gained satisfactory results with no complications, such as hematoma, infection, implant deflation and Baker Ⅲ or Ⅳ capsular contracture. Conclusions Breast augmentation could be performed through umbilical inci-sion with the usage of saline-filled breast implant. This is an alternative of incisions in breast augmenta-tion.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for early postoperative cognitive function in the patients with peritoneal surface malignancies after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intra-peritoneal chemotherapy(CRS-HIPEC).Methods Fifty-one patients(21 men and 30 women), ranged from 25 to 65 years,42-80 kg,ASA Ⅰ-Ⅲ,undergoing CRS-HIPEC under combined intrave-nous-inhalational anesthesia,were studied.Patients were assigned into postoperative cognitive dys-function (POCD)group or non-POCD group according to their performances of visual verbal learning test,concept shifting task,letter-digit coding test and stroop color-word test 1 day before operation and 7 days after operation.Years of education,medical history,duration of operation,intraoperative blood loss,frequency of cardiovascular events,amount of fluid infused per hour and VAS scores were recorded.Venous blood samples were taken at five time points:before surgery(T0 ),30 minutes after the beginning of the procedure(T1 ),30 minutes after the beginning of HIPEC(T2 ),at the end of the surgery(T3 )and 24 hours after the surgery(T4 ),to determine the concentration of serum amyloid A (SAA).pH,PaCO 2, Hb,blood glucose were recorded at T0-T2.Then the data was statistically analyzed.Results According to the diagnostic criteria,twenty patients developed POCD 20 (39.2%). There were significant differences between POCD and non-POCD groups on age,gender, pre-operative complications and the origin of tumor(P <0.05).The concentration of SAA increased from T2 and reached the peak at T4 ,and SAA concentration for patients in POCD group was higher than that for patients in non-POCD group(P <0.05).Compared with non-POCD group,the levels of blood glucose were significantly increased in POCD group at T2 (P <0.05).Conclusion CRS-HIPEC resul-ted in exaggerated and prolonged inflammatory response.Advanced age,female,diabetes,hyperten-sion,peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer are associated with early POCD in the patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC.

Purpose To evaluate the correlation among diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), tumor Cellularity and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) for the high and low grade astrocytoma. Materials and Methods DWI was applied with 33 patients with astrocytoma confirmed by pathology, and ADC value was measured. Tumor Cellularity was measured using Scion Image 4.0.3.2. The expression of HIF-1α was tested using immunohistochemisty. Results Mean ADC value was higher in the low grade astrocytoma than that in the high grade astrocytoma (t=7.300, P<0.001). The tumor Cellularity was higher in the high grade astrocytoma than that in the low grade astrocytoma (t=-3.845, P<0.01). HIF-1αexpression could be demonstrated in the low grade [(20.08±10.01)%] and high grade [(47.91±19.03)%] astrocytoma. The negative correlation was demonstrated between ADC value and HIF-1αand tumor Cellularity (r=-0.756,-0.617;P<0.001). The positive correlation was demonstrated between HIF-1αand tumor Cellularity (r=0.622, P<0.001). Conclusion ADC value can be used to discriminate the low and high grade astrocytoma, and the role of HIF-1αshould be further to study with enlarged sample.

Objective The present study investigated the expression of the citrullinated proteins in the synovium and serum of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)patients.Methods The expression of the citrullinated proteins in the synovium and serum of RA patients was analyzed by two-dimensional western blotting analysis (2-D WB),mass spectrometry MALDI-TOF/TOF MS,western blotting,immunohistochemistry and ELISA.Then we analyzed the data with one-way ANOVA,LSD test,Kruskal-Walls test and Spearman correlation analysis.Results Alpha-1-antitrypsin(A1AT),fibrinogen beta chain(FIBB),keratin type Ⅱ cuticular Hb4(KRT84),tubulin beta chain(TBB)and vimentin(VIME)were detected in RA serum and anti-citrulline antibody could be detected using 2-D WB.A1AT,KRT84 and TBB were expressed significantly in the synovial membranes and synovial fluids of RA patients.Furthermore,high levels of autoantibodies against KRT84 were detected in the blood of RA patients when compared with samples from the healthy controls.Conclusion Current study has identified novel autoantigens in RA,including A1AT,FIBB,KRT84,TBB and VIME using 2-D WB with purified RA sera and anti-citrulline antibody.FIBB and VIME have been confirmed to be autoantigens in the literature,this demonstrates the feasibility of our protocol and the reliability of our study results.

Objective To establish an evaluation system to assess the effect of personnel training program for health professionals in the hospital,in order to achieve the goal that improve the overall competitiveness of the hospital.Methods Comparing and analyzing the differences in research project,research achievements,personnel capacity building before and after implementation of the training program.Paired T-test was used to exam the differences.Results There are statistically significant differences for proposed analyses (p ≤ 0.05).Conclusions The outcome of this study indicates that the personnel training program is extremely important to further development of the hospital.