Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of CT target scanning combining with changing position for pulmonary nodules in special location .Methods CT target scanning combining with changing position was performed in 22 patients with pulmo‐nary nodules adjacent to heart or in posterior costophrenic angle ,which were found with routine spiral CT scanning .For objective analysis , the signal‐noise‐ratio (SNR) and contrast‐noise‐ratio (CNR) of lung were calculated .In terms of subjective assessment ,the image quality was rated on a 3‐point scale (0-2) for pulmonary inflation ,gravity‐dependent pulmonary perfusion and severity of artifacts , respectively .The CT features of pulmonary nodules were compared between different scanning techniques .Moreover ,the diagnostic confidence for pulmonary nodules was evaluated .The paired t test ,Wilcoxon signed‐rank test and Kappa test were used for statisti‐cal analysis .Results In comparison with conventional spiral CT scanning ,CT target scanning combining with changing position im‐proved the subjective image quality scores (P<0 .01) ,increased the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) , showed more detailed CT features (P<0 .05) ,and improved the confidence of diagnosis (P<0 .01) .Conclusion CT target scanning combining with changing position technique can show detailed features ,which should be recommended as the optimal scanning tech‐nique for pulmonary nodules adjacent to heart or in posterior costophrenic angle .

Objective:To study the effects of smokeless tobacco extract(ST)on the proliferation and the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70)expression of human periodontal ligament cells(hPDLCs).Methods:hPDLCs were cultured in vitro and identified by im-munohistochemistry(IHC).The cells were stimulated with ST at 0.01 6 -50 g/L respectively for 24 h,the proliferation was examine by MTT assay,HSP70 expression was detected by immunehistochemical staining and Western Blot.Results:ST inhibited the prolifer-ation and increased HSP70 expression in cytoplasm and nucleus at 0.4 -50 g/L dose dependantly.Conclusion:ST may inhibit the proliferation and increase HSP70 expression of hPDLCs in a dose depandant manner.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Xianxiong decoction on the mice with acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide.

METHODEighty female ICR mice were randomly divided into 8 groups: model group, Xianxiong decoction group, Daxianxiong decoction group, Xianxiong decoction group without Kansui Radix group, Xianxiong decoction group without Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma group, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Kansui Radix group, normal group and control group. Animals of each group, except normal group, were undertaken intraperitoneal injection and intranasal inhalation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on day 1, 2, 3 to establish acute lung injury (ALI) model. 30 min after modeling, 0.2 mL corresponding drugs were administrated to each mice, dexam ethasone and normal saline were given to the mice of control group and normal group respectively. White blood cell in blood, neutrophil percentage of blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) supernatant, the ratio of wet and dry lung tissue ( W/D), histopathological changes of lung tissue were estimated. Sixty ICR mice were randomly divided into normal, model, control, high, middle and low dose Xianxiong decoction groups and were modeled in the same way. ELISA was applied to detect the level of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in BALF, PCR for NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha mRNA in lung tissue, and Western blot for NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha. Half of 20 ICR mice were administrated with Xianxiong decoction of its maximum tolerant normal saline.

RESULTCompared with model group, the number of WBC in blood of Xianxiong decoction group mice decreased (P < 0.01), percentage of neutrophils in both blood and BALF decreased as well (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); it also significantly reduced the ratio of W/D (P < 0.01); and found the alveolar wall, the number of inflammatory cells infiltrating improved, compared with model group. Xianxiong decoction reduced the level of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in BALF (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05); its high and low dose groups only found TNF-alpha level declined. Five mice died 24 h after administration of Xianxiong decoction which indicated its toxicity when other influential factors were considered.

CONCLUSIONXianxiong decoction is effective on the ALI mice induced by LPS, but it is of toxicity at 3 g x mL(-1).

Acute Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the influence of retinoic acid receptor (RAR-α,RAR-β and RAR-γ)-mediated all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on renal tissue cell proliferation and apoptosis in rats with diabetic nephropathy,and to analysze the possible mechanism. Methods Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (group N,n=10) and diabetic model group (n=20).Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin(STZ) injection.After successful modeling,the model rats were randomly divided into diabetes group (group D,n=10) and ATRA treatment group (group T,n=10).Rats in group T received ATRA 10 mg·kg-1·d-1 by gavage from the 2nd day of successful modeling for 8 or 12 weeks,meanwhile group N and group D received same volume distilled water.In each group,5 rats were sacrificed respectively at the 8th week or the 12th week,then biochemical markers were measured and kidney pathology was examined.Apoptosis index(AI)of renal tissue cells of each group was tested by TUNEL.The expressions of RAR-α,RAR-β and RAR-γ in renal tissues were tested using indirect immunofluorescence.The expressions of type Ⅰ collagen and laminin as proliferation indicators,along with Smac and caspase-3 as the correlated factors of apoptosis in renal tissue of each group were tested by immunohistochemistry staining.The mRNA expressions of Smac and caspase-3 were tested using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Results Compared with group N,24 h urine protein,serum creatinine,blood urea nitrogen,ratio of kidney weight/body weight increased significantly (P＜0.05,respectively) in group D,and further increased with observation time.Compared with the group D,24 h urine protein and ratio of kidney weight/body weight decreased in group T (P＜0.05,respectively).Compared with group D,the group T presented minor pathological changes.TUNEL assay indicated that compared with group N,the group D showed an obvious increase in renal cell apoptosis in time-dependent manner,and the group T showed a decrease compared with the group D (P＜0.01,respectively).Compared with group N,the expression of RAR-α and RAR-β positive cells number in group D were decreased (P＜0.01,respectively).Compared with group D,the expression of RAR-α and BAR-β positive cells number in group T increased (P＜0.01,respectively).Renal tissues of each group did not show expressions of RAR-γ.After 12 weeks,compared with group N,expressions of type-Ⅰ collagen,laminin,Smac and caspase-3 protein in the glomerular mesangial area and basement membrane of renal tissues in group D increased significantly (P＜0.01,respectively),and enhanced with time.Compared with the group D,expressions of type Ⅰ collagen,laminin,Smac and caspase-3 protein in group T decreased (P＜0.01,respectively).Compared with the group N,group D had an obvious increase in the mRNA expressions of Smac and caspase-3,and a significantly decrease in group T (P＜0.01,respectively). Conclusions ATRA may prevent the cell proliferation and apoptosis in diabetic renal tissue through its receptor-mediated pathway,and may protect rats against diabetic nephropathy.

Calcinosis ; complications ; Decalcification Technique ; Humans ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; complications ; Meningioma ; complications ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Ultrasonics

The binding of pefloxacin mesylate (PFLX) to bovine lactoferrin (BLf) and human serum albumin (HSA) in dilute aqueous solution was studied using fluorescence spectra and absorbance spectra. The binding constant K and the binding sites n were obtained by fluorescence quenching method. The binding distance r and energy-transfer efficiency E between pefloxacin mesylate and bovine lactoferrin as well as human serum albumin were also obtained according to the mechanism of Förster-type dipole-dipole nonradiative energy-transfer. The effects of pefloxacin mesylate on the conformations of bovine lactoferrin and human serum albumin were also analyzed using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemistry ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Binding Sites ; Cattle ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Lactoferrin ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Pefloxacin ; chemistry ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Protein Binding ; Protein Conformation ; Serum Albumin ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Adult ; Child ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mushroom Poisoning ; diagnosis ; therapy

Objective To investigate the improvement of postpartum pelvic floor by rehabilitation training assessed with three-dimensional transperineal ultrasound . Methods One hundred cases of healthy postpartum women were randomly divided into two groups :control group and training group .The control group received the customary education ,and the training group received pelvic floor rehabilitation training . At 6 and 12 weeks postpartum ,levator hiatus area ,thickness of the levator ani muscle ,bladder neck mobility ,and bladder posterior horn were measured with three-dimensional transperineal ultrasound in all the subjects . Meanwhile ,the muscle strength situations were tested . Results At 12 weeks postpartum ,the anal levator hiatal area ,bladder neck mobility and bladder posterior horn in the training group were lower than those of the control group[ ( 21 .6 ± 3 .2) cm 2 vs ( 25 .6 ± 2 .4 ) cm 2 ,( 27 .9 ± 5 .3) mm vs ( 31 .5 ± 5 .9) mm ,( 126 .3 ± 21 .2)° vs (135 .3 ± 11 .6)°] ( P < 0 .05) . Compared with control group ,the thickness of the levator ani muscle increased in training group [ ( 13 .6 ± 2 .3) mm vs ( 15 .3 ± 2 .5) mm ] ( P < 0 .05) . The incidence of stress urinary incontinence in the training group ( 5% ) was significantly lower than the control group ( 12 .5% ) at 12 weeks postpartum ( χ2 = 5 .487 , P = 0 .025) . The muscle strength had no significant difference at 6 weeks postpartum . At 12 weeks postpartum ,the pass rate of class Ⅰ muscle fiber was 78 .5% ,and that of class Ⅱ muscle fiber was 83 .3% in the training group ;the pass rate of class Ⅰ muscle fiber was 28 .5% ,and class Ⅱ muscle fiber was 37 .3% in the control group , the improvement was significant at 12 weeks postpartum . Conclusions The result of the transperineal real-time ultrasonographic evaluation of post-natal pelvic floor rehabilitation training has high consistency with the measurement of muscle strength . The ultrasound examination is simple and accurate ,and has highly applicable value in evaluating the effect of post-pelvic rehabilitation training .

Objective To evaluate the safety of coronary intervention using iodixanol in patients with diabetic renal insufficiency.Methods Clinical data of 97 patients with diabetic renal insufficiency undergoing coronary intervention during June 2004 to June 2006 were retrospectively analyzed,50 of them with iodixanol,an iso-osmolar contrast medium (iodixanol group),and 47 with iopromide,a hypotanic contrast medium (iopromide group).Judkin's coronary angiography showed 167 diseased vessels in the patients,65 in anterior descending branches,44 in circumflex branches,and 58 in right coronary arteries. Levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were determined before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI),on the day of the procedure,the 3rd and 7th days after PCI,respectively,as well as radiocontrast media-induced nephropathy (CIN) was observed.Results Totally,192 drug-eluting stents were successfully implanted in 167 diseased vessels,and all patients' angina pectoris symptom disappeared soon after the procedure,with a full success.No acute or subacute stent thrombosis and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) occurred.Two patients (4%) in iodixanol group and 10 (21%) in iopromide group got CIN,with a statistical significance (P