Objective To discuss the imaging diagnostic features of adrenal injury. Methods The imaging features of the 29 patients of adrenal bruise and hernatoma (20 male and 9 females, average age 37) were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical appearances were all flank and hack pain, local sensitive to percus-sion and associated injury appearance. Among the 29 cases, 25 cases(86%) had adrenal injuries on right side, 2 cases(7%) on left side, and 2 cases(7%) on both sides, and no apparent abnormality was found in the relevant endocrine examination after injury. CT (n=29), MRI (n=5) and ultrasonography (n=6) were checked. CT follow-up were taken in 23 eases. MRI (n=1) and ultrasonography (n=l) were followed as well. Results The first-time exam coincidences of CT, MRI and sonography were 28/29 (97%), 5/5 (100%) and 3/6 (50%) respectively. One case of simple right-side adrenal hematoma 3 weeks after injury wasn't clearly diagnosed by CT, which was later diagnosed by MRI. The CT features of adrenal bruise were local or diffuse intumescence and focus high-density hemorrhage shadow. The CT appearances of acute stage adrenal hematoma were round-like high-density shadow without enhancement and the diameters were 1-3 cm. MRI appearances of 5 cases of subacute and chronic phase hematoma were typical high signal of T1WI, T2WI and DWI and toroid low signal around T2WI. Hematorna was not be enhanced when CT or MRI en-hancement scanning, and formed characteristic "nut-like" image feature with toroid high-density or high sig-nal enhanced shadow forming around. Uhrasonography appearances of 3 cases of hematoma were abnormal shadow of the adrenal gland. Conclusions CT is the prior imaging method for adrenal bruise and hemato-ma. MRI has the characteristic appearance for the few cases which are difficult to be identified by CT and ul-trasonography. Characteristic "nut-like" image feature is helpful for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Adult ; Colonic Neoplasms ; genetics ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Instability ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Rectal Neoplasms ; genetics

Objective To assess whether asymmetric spin echo version of echo planar imaging (ASE EPI) sequence can reflect cerebral oxygen metabolism by means of the changes in oxygen extraction fraction values before and after surgical operations in the canine model of ischimia. Methods A total of 12 healthy crossbreed dogs were enrolled in this study. All canines underwent cerebral MR imaging including coronal T2WI, DWI, MRA, ASE EPI and 3D PCASL. The bilateral carotid arteries (CA) were separated by surgical operations. The bilateral CA were ligated in 6 dogs, and the other 6 dogs had embolization in ligated bilateral CA. The cerebral MR imaging with the above protocol was repeated at 1 hour after surgical operation for each dog. All dogs were executed when they finished the MR examinations. Then the whole brains of the dogs were taken out for cutting coronal sections and 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The ASE EPI data were processed by the Functool software in the workstation to generate OEF maps. For measuring the OEF values before and 1 hour after surgical operations, one and the same region of interest (ROI) was respectively placed in the left and right hemispheres on the OEF maps for each dog. 3D PCASL data were processed by the Functool software in the workstation to yield CBF maps. The method for measuring the CBF values before and 1 hour after surgical operations on CBF maps was same as that for measuring on OEF maps. The changes of measurements before and after surgical operations were compared between the dogs with ligated bilateral CA and the dogs with embolization in ligated bilateral CA by using an independent samples t test. The measurements before and after surgical operations were respectively compared in the dogs with ligated bilateral CA and the dogs with embolization in ligated bilateral CA by using a paired t-test. The cutting slices with TTC staining were analysed for determining ischimia. Results The CBF values of the dogs with ligated bilateral CA were (59.81±23.59) and (38.56± 12.98) ml/(min · 100 g) before and after surgical operations, respectively. The CBF values of the dogs with embolization in ligated bilateral CA were (58.94±18.35) and (28.01±11.41) ml/(min·100 g) before and after surgical operations, respectively. The CBF values were significantly lower before surgical operations than after surgical operations in the dogs with ligated bilateral CA and the dogs with embolization in ligated bilateral CA, respectively (t=8.92 and 13.42, respectively; P=0.00, respectively). The CBF values were decreased more significantly in the dogs with embolization in ligated bilateral CA than in the dogs with ligated bilateral CA (t=2.92, P=0.00). The OEF values of the dogs with ligated bilateral CA were 0.29±0.02 and 0.32 ± 0.06 before and after surgical operations, respectively. The OEF values of the dogs with embolization in ligated bilateral CA were 0.29 ± 0.02 and 0.35 ± 0.06 before and after surgical operations, respectively. The OEF values were significantly higher before surgical operations than after surgical operations in the dogs with ligated bilateral CA and the dogs with embolization in ligated bilateral CA, respectively (t=-7.21 and-4.43, respectively;P=0.00, respectively). The OEF values were increased more significantly in the dogs with embolization in ligated bilateral CA than in the dogs with ligated bilateral CA (t=2.18, P=0.03). The pathological results showed that the dogs with embolization in ligated bilateral CA had swollen cortex with focal infarction which was matched with the hyperintensity areas on the OEF and DWI images. However, the dogs with ligated bilateral CA only had swollen cortex whereas didn't have focal infarction. Conclusions ASE EPI sequence can reliably reflect cerebral oxygen metabolism in ischemia. This sequence has an important role for assessing hemodynamic state in patients with cerebral vascular diseases.

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Erlotinib Hydrochloride ; Female ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Quinazolines ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of red peony root (RPR) on serum proteome in rat suffering from noxious heat with blood stasis Syndrome (NH-BS).

METHODSThe differences of serum proteome among rats in four groups, treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), RPR, LPS + RPR and saline respectively, were analyzed by bi-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) assay. LPS was administered by intravenous injection and RPR by oral intake.

RESULTS(1) Serum of rats with LPS induced NH-BS showed significant changes in volume of serum protein (xPr) in 13 points on 2DE collagen, the volume of xPr 16 and 19 were significantly lower, volume of xPr 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 23 were significantly higher respectively, as compared with those in the normal control group. (2) After being treated with RPR, the increased volume of xPr 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 significantly decreased, and the decreased xPr 16 significantly increased, with xPr 2, 3 restored to normal level but the xPr16 still lower and xPr 1, 4, 9 higher than those in the normal group. RPR showed interaction with LPS on xPr 1, 3, 9, and 16. (3) For xPr 19, the interaction of RPR with LPS might be synergistic. (4) In the group treated with RPR, volumes of xPr 13 and 14 were significantly higher and those of 15, 17 were significantly lower than those in the normal group respectively, but the similar changes didn't found in the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONThe molecular basis of therapeutic effect of RPR on NH-BS might be through the regulation of xPr 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 and 16.

Animals ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxemia ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Paeonia ; Phytotherapy ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To evaluate the changes of nerve conduction velocity in degenerative rabbit sciatic nerve authograft induced by 60Co irradiation after orthotopic replantation. Methods A 30-mm-long segment was severed from normal adult rabbit sciatic nerve and exposed to 60Co irradiation at the dose of 350 Cry to induce neural degeneration. The nerve segment was then replanted orthotopicaily, and the nerve conduction velocity was determined using electrophysiological test at 4, 6 and 8 months after the replantation. Results At 6, 8 months after the replantation, the nerve conduction velocity in the degenerative nerve autograft showed no significant difference from that in normal sciatic nerve (P>0.05). But at 4 months after the replantation, the nerve conduction velocity in the autograft was significantly lower than the normal velocity (P<0.05). Conclusion The nerve conduction velocity can be obtained by replantation of a long (3 mm) degenerative nerve segment due to 60Co irradiation.

OBJECTIVETo observe anti-HEV IgG response to vaccination of recombinant antigen fragments and evaluate its protection from Hepatitis E Virus infection in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

METHODSTwelve monkeys were divided into three groups and immunized respectively with three different recombinant antigens: namely Ag1 (carboxyl terminal 431 amino acids of ORF2), Ag2 (128aa fragment at the carboxyl terminal of ORF2), and Ag3 (full length ORF3 ligated with two ORF2 fragments encoded by 6743-7126nt and 6287-6404nt). The monkeys were challenged intravenously with fecal suspension from experimentally infected rhesus monkeys, and the other three monkeys served as the placebo group for challenge with HEV. The dynamic changes of the levels of ALT and anti-HEV IgG were examined. Pathological changes of liver tissue were observed by light microscope. Excretion of virus was detected by RT-nPCR.

RESULTSHepatic histopathology of two monkeys in the placebo group was consistent with acute viral hepatitis, and ALT was elevated 3-4 weeks after inoculated with virus, up to 10-20 times higher than normal level. The liver tissue of monkeys immunized with antigen kept normal, ALT in several monkeys elevated mildly, and anti-HEV IgG conversation occurred at 1-2 weeks after vaccination, with the titer reaching 1:12,800. The virus RNA could be detected by RT-nPCR from days 7 to 50 in monkeys of control group, and from days 7 to 21 in vaccinated monkeys after challenged with virus.

CONCLUSIONSThe recombinant antigens could induce the production of anti-HEV IgG, which protected rhesus monkeys from acute Hepatitis symptoms related to HEV infection.

Animals ; Antigens, Viral ; immunology ; Hepatitis E ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis E virus ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin G ; immunology ; Macaca mulatta ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology ; Vaccination ; Viral Hepatitis Vaccines ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of atorvastatin on advanced glycation end products (AGE) induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and whether this effect could be linked to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB).

METHODSGrouping: (1) Blank control group; (2) BSA group; (3) AGE group: cells were incubated with different concentrations of AGE (10(-4), 10(-3), 10(-2) and 10(-1) g/L) for 24 hours; (4) AGE + Atorvastatin group: cells were incubated with different concentrations of atorvastatin (0.1, 1, 10 µmol/L) for 1 hour, then incubated with AGE (10(-1) g/L) for 24 hours; (5) PPAR-γ agonist (15 d-PGJ2) group: cells were incubated with 15 d-PGJ2 (10 µmol/L) for 1 hour, then incubated with AGE (10(-1) g/L) for 24 hours; (6) PPAR-γ inhibitor (GW9662) group: cells were incubated with GW9662 (5000 nmol/L) for 1 hour, then incubated with atorvastatin (1 µmol/L) and AGE (10(-1) g/L) for 24 hours. Collagenase was used to isolate the endothelial cell from human umbilical vein; RT-PCR was performed to examine the mRNA expression of MCP-1 and PPAR-γ; Western blot was performed to detect NF-κB p65 protein.

RESULTS(1) The expression of MCP-1 mRNA was increased in proportion with increasing concentrations of AGEs which could be blocked by atorvastatin in a dose-dependent manner. (2) AGE (10(-1) g/L) significantly downregulated the expression of PPAR-γ mRNA (0.22 ± 0.08 vs. 0.69 ± 0.09, P < 0.01) while upregulated the expression of phospho-NF-κB p65 protein (0.78 ± 0.06 vs. 0.31 ± 0.01, P < 0.01) and nonphospho-NF-κB p65 protein (1.61 ± 0.16 vs. 0.59 ± 0.14, P < 0.01) compared with the control group which could be significantly attenuated by atorvastatin. (3) PPAR-γ agonist decreased the expression of phospho-NF-κB p65 protein (0.21 ± 0.01 vs. 0.78 ± 0.06, P < 0.01), nonphospho-NF-κB p65 protein (0.67 ± 0.14 vs. 1.61 ± 0.16, P < 0.01) and MCP-1 mRNA (0.17 ± 0.02 vs. 0.93 ± 0.12, P < 0.01) compared with AGE (10(-1) g/L) group. (4) PPAR-γ inhibitor antagonized the effect of atorvastatin on the expression of phospho-NF-κB p65 protein, nonphospho-NF-κB p65 protein and MCP-1 mRNA stimulated by AGE in HUVECs (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe anti-inflammatory properties of atorvastatin in AGE stimulated HUVECs may partly be attributed to the effect on upregulation of PPAR-γ and downregulation of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Atorvastatin Calcium ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; metabolism ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

Novel solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) system is prepared with Compritol ATO 888 and tricaprylic glyceride. DSC, XRD, SAXS and NMR are employed to study the novel carrier property and microstructure. When the peak melting point decreased from 70.8 degrees C to 61.4 degrees C, the enthalpy sharply decreased. It could be concluded that the regular crystal lattices in the novel carriers are broken out for the oil joined in them. Melting behavior is occurred at -17.7 degrees C while novel SLN is composed of oil and solid lipid mixture from the DSC measurement. Most alpha phase and least beta' phase are in the nano carrier system whether drug loading or not from the XRD investigation. There is only 0.1 nm change of long space among the novel SLN made of mixture and the lipid matrix and traditional SLN; therefore, it is impossible of the oil molecular insert into the solid glyceride structure. Since the different melting behavior (DSC measurements) and molecular move state (NMR investigations), two lipid matrix are still in two state of liquid and solid lipid in the novel SLN carrier. Presume the microstructure of the novel SLN prepared by our experiment would be that liquid oil has formed superfine nano accommodation encapsulated with solid lipid, but the whole particle is still in nano size range.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Caprylates ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Epoxy Compounds ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Fatty Acids ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Phenanthrenes ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Triglycerides ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo explore the levels of DR4 and DR5, the death receptor of soluble tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) in the patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and the effect of shengmai injection (SI) on them.

METHODSSixty-four CHF patients were randomized into two groups, the SI group treated by SI and the control group treated with conventional treatment. Another 30 healthy persons were enrolled as the healthy control group. The serum levels of sDR4 and sDR5 were determined by sandwich ELISA before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe serum levels of sDR4 and sDR5 were obviously higher in CHF patients than in the healthy control subjects (P < 0.01), showing a rising trend with the aggravation of the degree of cardiac function impairment. Levels of sDR4 and sDR5 were lowered in the two treated groups after treatment, with better effects gotten in the SI group.

CONCLUSIONClose relationship presents between cardiac function status and levels of DR4 and DR5 in patients with CHF. DR4 and DR5 might play an important role in the occurrence and progression of myocardial cell apoptosis in patients with CHF, and SI may acts vitally to slow down the progress of CHF and improve patients' heart function by decreasing the levels of sDR4 and sDR5.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apoptosis ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; blood