Objective To study the values of quantitative parameters of DCE-MRI in diagnosis of benign and malignant liver tumors and to explore its diagnostic efficacy.Methods Consecutive 25 patients with benign or malignant liver tumors underwent plain scanning and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI,and total 28 lesions were confirmed by pathology or follow-up.The DCE-MRI quantitative parameters (Ktrans ,Kep ,Ve and iAUC)of the lesions and the surrounding normal liver tissue were acquired.The inde-pendent sample t test was used to compare the quantitative parameters between different tumors.The optimal parameters values of benign and malignant liver tumors were determined by plotting ROC curves.Results The mean quantitative parameters of HCC and benign lesions were larger than those of the surrounding normal liver tissue.Ktrans ,Kep and iAUC between HCC and surrounding nor-mal liver tissue had significant differences (P <0.05),Ktrans and iAUC between benign lesions and surrounding normal liver tissue had a significant difference (P <0.05).Ktrans ,Kep and iAUC between HCC and benign lesions had significant differences (P <0.05). The diagnostic effectiveness of Ktrans = 0.21 5 min-1 ,with sensitivity of 81.3% and specificity of 66.7%,was greater than that of Kep =0.477 and iAUC=24.706.Conclusion The DCE-MRI quantitative analysis can provide a reference for the differential diagnosis of HCC from benign liver tumors.

Fourteen compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of 90% EtOH extracts of the dried fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla by silica gel, MCI, RP-18, Sephadex LH-20, TLC and semi-preparative HPLC column chromatography. Their structures were identified by HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR, NMR, ECD and X ray single crystal diffraction spectroscopic data as: (2R,5R,7R,10S)-2,7-dihydroxyl-eudesmane-3(4),11(12)-diene (1), α-rotunol (2), diketone I (3), (1S,4S,5R,7S)-1-hydroxyl-eremophilane-9(10),11(12)-diene-8-one (4), cyperusol A₁ (5), (6R,9S,10S)-10-hydroxyl-11,12,13-trinor-cadinane-4(5)-ene-3-one (6), (2E,4E)-6-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylhepta-2,4-dienal (7), oxyphyllacinol (8), yakuchinone A (9), (5R)-5-hydroxy-1,7-diphenylhept-3-heptanone (10), (5S)-5-hydroxy-7-(4″-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenylhept-3-heptanone (11), (5S)-5-hydroxy-7-(4″-hydroxyl-3″-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone (12), 7-(4″-hydroxy-3″-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3,5-heptadione (13), bis-(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (14). Compounds 1-6 were sesquiterpenoids in which compound 1 is a new eudesmane sesquiterpenoid and compound 7 was a monoterpenoid. Compounds 8-13 were diarylheptanoids, and compounds 2-6 and 14 were isolated from A.oxyphylla for the first time. The experiments on H₂O₂ induced SH-SY5Y cells showed that compounds 2, 6, 7, 12 and 13 had neuroprotective effects at low and medium concentrations. In particular, compound 6 showed obvious neuroprotective effect at low, medium and high concentrations whose cell viability was higher than that of the positive control.

OBJECTIVEOtoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) are tests widely used in neonatal hearing screening. This study aimed to investigate the differences and clinical value of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) and ABR in hearing screening of high-risk neonates admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

METHODSDPOAE and ABR were measured with the Smart-OAE analyser and the Smart-EP brain-stem electric response audiometry apparatus, respectively, in 600 high-risk neonates (1,200 ears). The testing results of DPOAE and ABR were compared.

RESULTSOf the 600 neonates (1,200 ears), the incidence of ABR abnormality (78.6%, 943/1,200) was remarkably higher than that of DPOAE abnormality (22.3%, 268/1,200). Two hundred and forty-one ears (20.8%) were negative and 252 (21%) were positive in both DPOAE and ABR tests. A total of 707 ears (58.9%) presented with a discordant result in DPOAE and ABR. The false positive and false negative rates of the DPOAE test were 6.0% (16/268) and 74.1% (691/932) respectively.

CONCLUSIONSIn high-risk neonates the diagnostic value of DPOAE for identification of hearing loss, when used alone, is limited. The ABR test appears to be more reliable for hearing screening in high-risk neonates. It is suggested that hearing screening for high-risk neonates should be conducted with ABR first, followed by OAE after failure on ABR.

Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; physiology ; Female ; Hearing Tests ; methods ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Male ; Neonatal Screening ; methods ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) on the infiltrative patterns of human monocytic leukemic cell line SHI-1 in nude mice.

METHODS1) 1 x 10(7) TIMP-2 gene transduced SHI-1 (SHI-1-TIMP-2) and SHI-1 transduced MSCV gene (SHI-1-MSCV) cells were inoculated via tail vein into 6-week nude mice, which pretreated by splenectomy, cytoxan intraperitoneal injection, and sublethal irradiation(referred as SCI nude mice). 30 days after inoculation, half of the mice were sacrificed, and the infiltration patterns were investigated by histological exam and human CD45 immunohistochemistry, other mice were observed for survival time. 2) Leukemic cells inoculated subcutaneously into the axillary area of mice without any pre-treatment. On day 23 and 30, mice were sacrificed to measure the volume of neoplasm. TIMP-2 protein expression and the micro vein density were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSIn SCI nude mice inoculated via caudal vein with SHI-1-TIMP-2 cells, the survival time was shorter and infiltration (including in central nervous system) was higher than that in those inoculated with SHI-1-MSCV cells. However, in inoculated subcutaneously group, the neoplasm though grew rapidly at first, over expression of TIMP-2 limited the tumor growth and angiogenesis.

CONCLUSIONThe functions of TIMP-2 are diversity; the role of TIMP-2 in tumor infiltration and metastasis was worthy of further investigation.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Leukemia, Experimental ; genetics ; pathology ; Leukemic Infiltration ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of (18)F-FDG and (11)C-MET PET-CT scan in differentiation of brain ringlike-enhanced lesions on MRI imaging.

METHODSForty-one brain ringlike-enhanced lesions on MRI imaging including 30 brain tumors and 11 non-neoplastic lesions confirmed pathologically or clinically underwent (18)F-FDG and (11)C-MET PET-CT brain scan. Among them, 15 patients who were suspected to have brain metastasis received body scan by (18)F-FDG PET-CT. Both images were analyzed visually and semi-quantitatively.

RESULTSVisual analysis: for brain tumors the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of (18)F-FDG PET-CT was 53.3%, 72.7%, 58.5%, versus 96.7%, 90.9%, 95.1% of (11)C-MET PET-CT, respectively. All the primary foci in 9 patients with brain metastases were detected by body (18)F-FDG PET-CT scan. Semiquantitative analysis: There was a significant difference in the uptake between highly differentiated malignant and poorly differentiated tumors as well as non-neoplastic lesions for both tracers (P < 0.01), while between low-grade malignant tumors and non-neoplasm lesions, there was a difference in uptake only by (11)C-MET (P < 0.01). No significant difference between the uptakes in brain metastasis and glioblastomas was found by both tracers (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth (18)F-FDG and (11)C-MET PET-CT are useful in differentiation of brain ringlike-enhanced lesions on MRI imaging. (11)C-MET PET-CT is more helpful than (18)F-FDG PET-CT in differential diagnosis of low-grade neoplastic from non-neoplastic lesions. Combination of (18)F-FDG and (11)C-MET PET-CT scans can improve the accuracy of differential diagnosis for brain ringlike-enhanced lesions on MRI imaging.

Acetates ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Abscess ; diagnosis ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; secondary ; Carbon ; Carbon Radioisotopes ; Child ; Craniopharyngioma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; secondary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Glioblastoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; secondary ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; secondary ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of diallyl sulfide (DAS) in protection against acute lung injury in rats induced by paraquat(PQ). METHODS A total of 100 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group,PQ 70 mg·kg-1 model group,and DAS 25,50 and 100 mg·kg-1 treatment groups,with 20 rats in each group. A poisoning model was estalolished after administration ig at a single dose of PQ 70 mg·kg-1,while the normal control group was ip given the same volume of normal saline. DAS 25,50 and 100 mg · kg-1 was intraperitoneally injected 30 min before and after PQ exposure. Five rats in each group were sacrificed at 1,3,6 and 12 h,respectively. The inferior lobe of the right lung was observed by HE staining under an optical microscope. Tissue of the upper lobe of the right lung was used to detect the content of nitric oxide (NO). Alveolar macrophages (AMs) were collected and cultured for 24 h,and the content of nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)in the supernatant was detected. AMs were cultured for 72 h and the expression of iNOS protein in AMs was detected by immunocytochemistry method. RESULTS Compared with normal control group,the alveolar structure of PQ group was severely damaged and the pathological score was significantly increased(P<0.01). The NO content of PQ group was significantly higher than in normal control group(P<0.01). The content and protein expression of iNOS were significantly increased in PQ group(P<0.01). Compared with PQ group,the lung injury score of rats in DAS 50 mg·kg-1 group at 3,6 and 12 h and in the DAS 100 mg·kg-1 group at each time point was decreased(P<0.05). Compared with PQ group,the NO content of DAS 25 and 50 mg · kg-1 group was decreased(P<0.05),and the NO content of DAS 100 mg · kg-1 group was significantly reduced(P<0.01). The content of iNOS was reduced in DAS 100 mg · kg-1 group(P<0.05). Compared with PQ group,the expression of iNOS protein in DAS groups was decreased(P<0.05). CONCLUSION DAS can inhibit the oxidative damage in rats induced by PQ.

BACKGROUNDInteractions of tumor cells with the microenvironment were deemed to promote the tumor invasion and metastasis. CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) had reported to participate in this process. However the roles of bone marrow microenvironment in leukemic infiltration were not well investigated.

METHODSA co-culture system between SHI-1 cells and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) is used to simulate the interactions of leukemic cells with their microenvironment. The trans-matrigel invasion was used to detect the capability of SHI-1 cells invasion. The BMSCs and SHI-1 cells were mixed in a ratio of 1:10 and added to the millicell chamber coated with matrigel. Either the co-culture supernatant or the functional blocking peptide of CXCR4 and EMMPRIN were added to the trans-matrigel invasion system. The expressions of EMMPRIN in SHI-1 cells and BMSCs were detected by RT-PCR. The changes of the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2, 9 (MMP-2, MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2), and CXCR4 mRNA in SHI-1 cells were determined by real-time PCR. The concentration of stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1) in serum free supernatant was measured by ELISA.

RESULTSBoth SHI-1 cells and BMSCs express EMMPRIN. SHI-1 cells could hardly invade the matrigel membrane; the coculture supernatant did not induce the invasion of SHI-1 cells. When contacting directly with BMSCs, SHI-1 cells invaded to the lower chamber of millicell were significantly increased. The functional blocking peptide of CXCR4 and EMMPRIN could significantly inhibit the invasion triggered by BMSCs. When co-culturing with BMSCs, the expression of CXCR4, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 mRNA in SHI-1 cells were significantly elevated in company with a significantly higher level of SDF-1 in the co-cultured serum-free supernatant.

CONCLUSIONThe interactions of leukemic cells and BMSCs play important roles in leukemic cell infiltration.

Basigin ; physiology ; Cell Communication ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Coculture Techniques ; Humans ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; pathology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; physiology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; physiology

Objective To investigate thrombelastogram (TEG) correlation between parameters and platelet count in perioperative period patients.Methods Selected 139 patients,69 cases with thrombocytopenia,35 cases with normal platelet number and 35 cases with thrombocytosis from 2012 January to 2014 May,monitored TEG,blood coagulation function and the change of blood routine during perioperative period.Spearman test was used to analyze the different level of platelet count and other coagulation parameters.Results The positive correlation between platelet count and TEG parameters were:MA (r=0.57,P＜0.57),Angle (r=0.54,P＜0.000 1),CI (r=0.57,P＜0.000 1),and R was negatively correlated with platelet count (r=-0.27,P＜0.000 1).There was no significant correlation between PT,APTT and platelet count.In mild lack of platelet group [(87.34 ± 10.43) × 109/L] and normal group [(198.47 ± 45.30) × 109/L],platelet count was positively correlated with MA and Angle.In severe lower [(39.33±10.63) × 109/L] and higher group [(330.34±35.43) × 109/L],there was no correlation between platelet platelet count with MA or Angle.Conclusion Platelet count was significantly correlated with CI,Angle and MA,but in patients with moderately severe lower platelet and platelet increase the platelet count do not reflect the aggregation function,MA is more sensitive response to platelet function.

AIM: Trigonelline (Tr) is the second most abundant alkaloid in coffee beans. This study developed an assay combining hydrophilic interaction chromatography with ultra performance liquid chromatography (HILIC-UPLC) for the quantification of Tr in rat plasma to determine its pharmacokinetic behavior. METHODS: After the administration of Tr by gavage as well as intravenous injection and that of methanol extract of coffee beans (MECB) orally, blood samples from the experimental rats were analyzed using the HILIC-UPLC assay. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using the standard non-compartmental method and calculated using Practical Pharmacokinetic Program Version 87/97. RESULTS: The HILIC-UPLC assay was validated with the linear range of 0.12-100 μg·mL(-1) and a lower limit of quantitation of 0.12 μg·mL(-1). Its accuracy, precision, recovery, and stability were within acceptable limits. The AUC(0-∞) (where AUC is the area under the plasma concentration-time curve) values were determined to be (4 066.83 ± 1 244.41) and (3 544.29 ± 908.80) min·μg·mL(-1) after Tr was orally and intravenously administered, respectively. It was (4 566.75 ± 1 435.64) min·μg·mL(-1) after MECB was orally administered. The absolute bioavailability of Tr alone reached 57.37%, whereas that of Tr in MECB was 64.42%. The relative bioavailability of the alkaloid was 112.29%. CONCLUSIONS The HILIC-UPLC assay for Tr determination is simple and accurate, and also exhibits good reproducibility. The bioavailability of stand-alone Tr and that of Tr in MECB were both good. Tr alone and that in MECB orally administered did not exhibit any significant difference.
Alkaloids ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Coffea ; chemistry ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo assess the mean age of sexual activity termination, the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED), and their related factors in the old male population in Beijing.

METHODSWe included in this study 764 males aged over 60 years old received in the health examination clinic and investigated the prevalence of ED and the related factors using the sexual health assessment resource (SHARE) and IIEF-5 questionnaires.

RESULTSThe average age of sexual activity termination (no sexual intercourse in over 2 years) was 68.4 +/- 5.2 years among the subjects. The prevalence of ED was 89.4% , of which the rates of mild, moderate and severe ED and non-sexuality were 6.7, 18.6, 28.4 and 35.7% , respectively. Those who had no sexual intercourse for over 2 years because of severe ED accounted for 26.8% among the 60-64 years old males and more than 50% in the >70 yr group. The main risk factors for ED-induced sexual activity termination included age, diabetes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, obesity, and low urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

CONCLUSIONED is a common problem as well as the main risk factor for sexual activity termination, and age and general health status are significantly associated with the prevalence of ED among aging males.

Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Sexual Behavior ; Surveys and Questionnaires