Objective To evaluate the value of iterative modal reconstruction (IMR) for reducing radiation dose and controlling image quality in cardiac CT. Methods Ten pigs were included. All pigs were scanned on a 256?slice prospectively ECG?gated cardiac CT utilizing routine dose (group A) and tube current reduced by 30%(group B), 50%(group C) and 70%(group D), respectively. Filtered back projection (FBP), hybrid iterative reconstruction (iDose4) and IMR were used for all data, respectively. Image noise and contrast?to?noise ratio (CNR) of ascending aortic root were measured, while overall image quality and coronary artery image quality was rated (five point scale). All results reconstructed by FBP, iDose 4 and IMR were compared. Objective measurements were compared with one?way analysis of variance, and subjective assessments were compared with Kruskal?Wallis H test andχ2 test. Results Compared with that of FBP and iDose4, image noise of IMR was(15.1 ± 6.1),(18.8 ± 5.5),(22.1 ± 4.8)and(33.0 ± 4.0)HU, respectively in group A, B, C and D with significant reduction (F=82.77, 90.71, 96.59, 95.51 respectively, all P<0.01). Using IMR, groups A, B, C, D had higher CNR (42.0±11.1, 37.2±10.4, 31.4±8.7, 23.7±7.0;F=50.65, 53.55, 76.60, 57.36, all P<0.01) and overall image quality (5.0 ± 0.0, 4.8 ± 0.4, 4.6 ± 0.5, 4.5 ± 0.5;H=20.96, 15.63, 18.66, 23.56, all P<0.01) than FBP and iDose4. Using IMR, group A (100%, 40/40) and group B (100%, 40/40) had no significant difference (P>0.05) in the diagnosis rates of proximal coronary arteries compared with that using FBP and iDose4, while group C (100%, 40/40) and group D(92%, 37/40) had significantly increased diagnosis rates (χ2=20.05, 45.72, both P<0.01). The diagnosis rates of distal coronary arteries of IMR reconstruction which were 100%(50/50), 98%(49/50), 90%(45/50), 78%(39/50), respectively in groups A, B, C, D had significant increase compared with that of FBP and iDose4 reconstruction (χ2=7.39, 16.75, 34.62, 81.33, all P<0.05). Conclusions IMR can significantly reduce image noise, improve CNR and image quality compared with iDose4. Application of IMR can reduce radiation dose but without compromising image quality.

The degradation of nitrobenzene(NB) using a combination of Fe0 and anaerobic microorganism was studied. Nitrobenzene could be degraded effectively and the synergistic effect between Fe0 and anaerobic microorganism was apparent,and the nitrobenzene removal efficiency increased with the increasing of Fe0;the optimum pH was 5.0～6.0;as cometabolizing substrate,glucose could promote the degradation of nitrobenzene;In case of high concentration of Fe2+ and Fe3+,the anaerobic biodegradation activity of nitrobenzene were inhibited in a certain degree;0.5 mg/L Fe2+ and Fe3+ were the optimum to accelerate biodegradation rate of nitrobenzene; the degradation kinetics of nitrobenzene were followed by first-order reaction, reaction rate constant reduced along with the concentration of nitrobenzene increased.

OBJECTIVETo study the content of mineral elements and the principal components in Gastrodia elata.

METHODMineral elements were determined by ICP and the data was analyzed by SPSS.

RESULTK element has the highest content-and the average content was 15.31 g x kg(-1). The average content of N element was 8.99 g x kg(-1), followed by K element. The coefficient of variation of K and N was small, but the Mn was the biggest with 51.39%. The highly significant positive correlation was found among N, P and K . Three principal components were selected by principal components analysis to evaluate the quality of G. elata. P, B, N, K, Cu, Mn, Fe and Mg were the characteristic elements of G. elata.

CONCLUSIONThe content of K and N elements was higher and relatively stable. The variation of Mn content was biggest. The quality of G. elata in Guizhou and Yunnan was better from the perspective of mineral elements.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Minerals ; analysis ; Principal Component Analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanism of curcumin in reducing blood lipids by establishing gene expression system of human low density lipoprotein receptors (LDL-R) in Xenopus Laevis oocytes (XLO).

METHODSThe expression of LDL-R on cytomembrane was determined using immuno-fluorescent, ligand-fluorescent and immune colloidal gold techniques after human LDL-R containing p3.7 LDL plasmid was led into nucleus. And the expression of LDL-R gene in XLO was quantitatively determined by ELISA after being interfered with different concentrations of curcumin.

RESULTSThe human LDL-R gene could be expressed on XLO, which could be significantly enhanced by curcumin in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion One of the paths of curcumin in reducing blood lipids and anti-atherosclerosis was improving LDL-R gene expression and increasing the LDL-cholesterol absorption of cells.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Microinjections ; Oocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Receptors, LDL ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Xenopus laevis

OBJECTIVETo observe comparatively the effects of Bushen Jianpi Decoction (BJD) and its disassemble recipes on tumor growth in mice with transplanted primary hepatic carcinoma (PCH).

METHODSFifty mice with transplanted PCH were randomly and equally divided into 5 groups. The blank control group consisted of untreated model mice, and 4 treated groups consisted of model mice treated with 5-FU (q. o. d, intraperitoneal injection, x 5), BJD and it disassemble recipes (Bushen portion and Jianpi portion, abbreviated as BSP and JPP hereafter) q. d. by gastrogavage for 10 successive days. The body mass, tumor size, serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level, tumor cell apoptosis and percentage of cells, cell cycle as well as the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were observed.

RESULTSAmong the 4 treated groups, the heaviest body mass and the de-tumor body mass of mice, and the lowest tumor index were presented in the BJD treated group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05); ADC in the BJD treated group and the 5-FU treated group was lower than that in the BSP treated group and JPP treated group (P < 0.05); the lowest VEGF level and tumor mass presented in the 5-FU group, and the highest presented in the JPP group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Tumor inhibition rate and cell apoptosis rate in the 5-FU group was highest and in BJD group the secondary. As for cells of different cell cycles, comparisons between the 4 groups showed that S phase cell in 5-FU group < BJD group < BSP and JPP groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05); G0-G1 phase cell in BJD and BSP group < JPP group < 5-FU group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). No significant difference of G2-M phase cell was shown among them.

CONCLUSIONSThe acting mechanism of BJD and its disassembled recipes on transplanted PCH may be inhibiting VEGF expression and accelerating tumor cell apoptosis. Change of MRI's ADC value was keeping in step with changing of VEGF and cell apoptosis. Thereby, it could objectively reflect the metabolism of tumor cells, being a new means for assessing the effect of Chinese materia medica.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Mice, Nude

Various anatomic anomalies have been considered the causes of nutcracker syndrome (NCS). Posterior NCS refers to the condition, in which vascular narrowing was secondary to the compression of the retroaortic left renal vein while it is crossing between the aorta and the vertebral column. Here, we report an unusual case of posterior NCS associated with a complicated malformation of the interrupted left inferior vena cava with azygos continuation and retroaortic right renal vein, diagnosed by both color Doppler ultrasonography and CT angiography.
Adult ; Azygos Vein/*abnormalities ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Renal Nutcracker Syndrome/*radiography/*ultrasonography ; Renal Veins/*abnormalities ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vena Cava, Inferior/*abnormalities

Objective To investigate the flexibility of both the covered stents specially designed for use in intracranial vasculature and the delivering system in passing through the bone tube and the physiological curves of the cranial internal carotid artery(CICA)to reach the targeted area,the performance (adherence)of the covered stents in occluding vascular wall diseases and the impact on the vascular branches of the covered segment.Methods The covered stents specially designed for use in intracranial vaseulature were used to treat 13 patients with CICA diseases using endovascular techniques.There were 4 huge pseudoaneurysms,4 giant aneurysms,3 small wide-necked aneurysms,1 giant pseudoaneurysm with concurrent internal carotid cavernous fistula(CCF),and 1 CCF.Prior to the detachment of the covered stents,balloon occlusion test(BOT)of the internal carotid artery on the diseased side and whole-brain digital subtraction angiography(DSA)were performed in all the patients.Three to 16 months following procedure,DSA and clinical follow-ups were performed.Results Thirteen patients all tolerated the BOT well with the DSA demonstrating well-opened anterior and posterior communicating arteries.The covered stents and the delivering systems all successfully passed CICA to reach the targeted diseased area,with the diseased segments of the internal carotid artery including C3—C4 in 4 cases,C4—C5 in 4 and C6—C7 in 5.Immediately following the detachment of the covered stents,DSA demonstrated that 7 aneurysms were completely occluded,4 aneurysms had slight endoleak,and 1 CCF had markedly-decreased blood flow through the fistula.In the patient with concurrent pseudoaneurysm and CCF,the pseudoaneurysm disappeared and the blood flow through the fistula was markedly-reduced immediately following the stenting procedure.Apart from one patient with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who died due to extensive vascular spasm on the 9th day following the stenting procedure,all the other 12 patients had unobstructed stented vessels on the follow-up DSA images,with 2 demonstrating slight stenosis.In the 6 patients with post-procedure endoleak,DSA showed that the endoleak in 4 patients had disappeared,one endoleak disappeared following the second stenting,and one CCF remained low-flow fistula.There was no sequela related to the occlusion of branches in the covered arterial segment.Conclusion The covered stents specially designed for use in the intracranial vasculature and the delivering system are both flexible enough to pass the tortuous CICA to reach the intracranial diseased artery,and are effective in managing CICA diseases.Further follow-up is still needed to determine the long-term effect of the covered stents,and the adherence of the covered stents needs further investigation.

Eleven flavonol glycosides were isolated from the ethanol extract of Lysimachia clethroides by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were identified as astragalin (1), isoquercitrin (2), isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), quercetin-3-O-β-D-6"-acetylglucopyranoside (4), quercetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), prunin (6), 2-hydroxynaringin-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), kaempferol-3-O-rutinonoside (8), kaempferol-3-O-robinobioside (9), rutin (10) and kaempferol-3,7-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (11). Among them, compounds 4, 7 and 11 were obtained from the Lysimachia genus for the first time, while compounds 3, 5 and 9 were firstly reported from this plant. In the preliminary assays, compounds 2, 6 and 8 possessed significant inhibition against aldose reduc- tase, with IC50 values of 2.69, 1.00, 1.80 μmol · L(-1), respectively; none of compounds 1-11 exhibited obvious cytotoxic activity (IC50 > 10 μmol · L(-1)).
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavonols ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Primulaceae ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of ultrafiltration-membrane extracts of Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata (UMERRP) on theproliferation and genetic stability of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl2).

METHODSProtective effects on the proliferation, micronuclear rates, chromosome aberration rates, and apoptosis rates were observed by micronuclei test, karyotype analysis, and flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared with the CdCl2 group, UMERRP with different molecular weights at 0. 8 g/L could obviously promote the proliferation (P <0. 05). Compared with the control group, micronuclear rates, chromosome aberration rates, and apoptosis rates were obviously enhanced in the CdCl2 group (P <0. 05). Compared with the CdCl2 group, UMERRP with different molecular weights could obviously decreased CdCl2 induced micronuclear rates, chromosome aberration rates, and apoptosis rates (P <0. 05). Of them, BMSC micronuclear rates and chromosome aberration rates decreased most obvious in UMERRP groups with molecular weight below 10 000 (P <0. 05). The apoptosis rate decreased most obviously in UMERRP groups with molecular weight ranging 100 000 and 200 000 (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONUMERRP could reduce CdCl2 induced micronuclear rates, chromosome aberration rates, and apoptosis rates.

Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow ; Cadmium Chloride ; toxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Ultrafiltration

Objective To investigate the feasibility of complicate myomectomy.Methods Six- seven patients with complicated uterine myomas undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy were retrospectively analyzed.The myomectomy was done using ureteral infravision imaging system or/and with self-made myoma segregate-stick.Among the total,there are 29 cases of multiple myomas(the number of myomas≥5)and 23 cases of single myoma(the diameter of myoma≥7cm,including 19 cases of intramural myoma,4 cases of subserous myoma),6 cases of myoma of broad ligament of uterus and 9 cases of cervical myoma.Results All cases were performed successfully laparoscopically.No intra-operative laparotomy or complications occurred.The average operating time and blood loss were(114?32)min and(114?78)ml respectively. The average time of hospital stay was 5.1 d.The average operating time and blood loss in the group (including multiple myoma group,intramural myoma group and cervical myoma)were significantly exceeded the other groups(including myoma of broad ligament of uterus group and subserous myoma group). Conclusions Laparoscopic complicate myomectomy can be performed and the operation indication is enlarged using Ureteral Infravision Imaging System.Advancement in surgical instruments and expert operating skills are the key to operation success.