Objective To choose proper proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(~1XH-MRS) parameters to fit for practical femoral marrow cavity and to produce short-timed,well-repeated and excellent ~1H-MRS images.Methods The tentative study of ~1H-MRS on the normal femoral bone marrow in 26 volunteers was performed with a 1.5 T MR after the informed consent.The single-voxel spectroscopy and stimulated echo acquisition mode were used for ~1H-MRS collection.~1H-MRS parameters for 12 volunteers were 128 acquisitions,1 cm?1 cm?1 cm volume of interest(VOI)size and repeatedly 2—3 times within the same location.~1H-MRS parameters for another:14 volunteers were different numbers of acquisition (128 and 256 times,respectively)and different VOI sizes(2 cm?2 cm?2 cm and 1 cm?1 cm?1 cm, respectively).Results For ~1H-MRS with 1 cm?1 cm?1 cm size of VOI and 128 times of acquisition with the full width haft max of water≤8—12 Hz,the base-line was steady and the signal-noise ratio was high up to 11.31.~1H-MRS was different in the different femoral locations showing the maximum peak sites at near 0.90 ppm(?10~(-6))or 1.65 ppm,but~1H-MRS within the same location was always same or similar with different VOI sizes(1 cm?1 cm?1 cm or 2 cm?2 cm?2 cm)or different numbers of acquisition(128 or 256 times).~1H-MRS acquisition time was not related with the size of VOI but with the numbers of acquisition.128 and 256 times of acquisition cost 199 s and 391 s,respectively.Conclusion With the technique of small size of VOI(1 cm?1 cm?1 cm)and decreased numbers of acquisition(128 times),it is propable to get well-repeated and excellent ~1H-MRS within less time.It is also more practical for clinics to achieve ~1H-MRS of the femoral marrow with the proper technique.

OBJECTIVETo prove the therapeutic effects of Sihuang powder (composed by four traditional Chinese herbs: root of baikal skullcap, bark of amur corktree, root of sorrel rhubarb, fruit of cape jasmine, which were mixed with wild Chrysanthemum flower solution)in treating acute synovitis in experimental rabbit knee osteoarthritic models induced by papain injection and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSThirty-two New-Zealand white rabbits were divided into 6 groups: blank group, model group, Sihuang powder with high dosage group (2 g/kg), Sihuang powder with low dosage group (1 g/kg), Yingtaiqing group and wild Chrysanthemum flower group. The latter four groups were treated respectively with low and high dose Sihuang powder synovium and cartilage were tested concentrations of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and IL-1 level and then were prepared for pathologic and histologic observation 10 days later. Cartilage pathologic changes were record and synovium pathologic changes were valued by means of Mankin's value system.

RESULTSThe NO concentration of synovium in Sihuang powder with high dosage group was lower than that of model group, and there was significantly differences between the two groups (P < 0.01). The IL-1 level of synovium was failed after treated with Sihuang powder with high dosage (P < 0.05). Sihuang powder with low dosage and Yingtaiqing also could restrain IL-1's release (P < 0.05). In Mankin's value system, Sihuang powder with high dosage almost eliminated inflammatory cells infiltrating in synovium, which was seldom found in other groups. The value of Sihuang powder with high dosage group was the lowest in treatment groups (P < 0.005). Sihuang powder with low dosage group and wild Chrysanthemum flower group also decreased the degree of inflammatory in synovium (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSihuang powder can reduce the concentration of NO and IL-1 and improve inflammatory cell infiltrate in lining cells of synovium. Moreover, it can alleviate swelling and pain of joint, improve joint movement and postpone degeneration of the cartilage.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Interleukin-1 ; analysis ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Osteoarthritis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Papain ; toxicity ; Powders ; Rabbits ; Synovitis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology

Objective To evaluate the situation of musculoskeletal imaging research at home and abroad and the disparity and consistency between them.Methods Statistic analysis was done with the musculoskeletal articles published in those journals during the last decade,including Chinese Journal of Radiology,Journal of Clinical Radiology,Radiology,American Journal of Roentgenology(AJR)and the British Journal of Radiology(BJR).Results The development of museuloskeletal imaging research was very imbalaneed among different areas and hospitals in China.The rate of clinical research treatise and imaging technique articles at home was 76.3%(357/468)and 10.0%(47/468),respectively,while that was 75.7%(731/966)and 10.8%(105/966),respectively abroad.The rate of MR image technique articles in China was lower than that abroad.The rate of articles on basic research at home and abroad was 5.3%(25/468)and 7.9%(76/966),respectively.The rate of articles about museuloskeletal imaging simply using CT or MR at home was 20.1%(94/468)and 29.7%(139/468),respectively,while that was 5.1%(49/966)and 60.4%(548/966),respectively abroad.The rate of articles about interventional therapy and synthetic imaging at home was 9.2%(43/468)and 29.3%(137/468),respectively,while that was 4.7%(45/966)and 22.5%(217/966),respectively abroad.With regard to the diseases category,the research focused on the bone tumors and the tumor-like disease in China,while in other countries,the research focus had been diverted to the trauma of bone and joint,and the anatomy and disease of muscle and ligament,which was unsatisfactory in China.More focus had been put on imaging anatomy, cartilage disease and osteoporosis in other countries than in China.The research on the radiation dosage the subject received in the examination,the apphcation of Micro-CT and Micro-MR to musculoskeletal imaging was developed in other countries,but it had not been reported in China.Conclusion Although great success has been achieved in the research of musculoskeletal imaging in the last decade,there is still much disparity comparing with other countries,and the research is very imbalanced among different areas and hospitals in China.We should emphasize the application of MRI to musculoskeletal system and pay more attention to the basic research and imaging anatomy research,especially the research on ligament,muscle and cartilage.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance of promoter methylation status of hPer3 gene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and the in vitro effect of decitabine (DCA) on AML cell lines HL-60 and U937.

METHODSThe promoter methylation status of hPer3 gene and mRNA expression levels in bone marrow of 206 AML and 40 iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients (as control) were detected by methylation specific PCR (MS-PCR) and real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The HL-60 and U937 cell lines were treated with different concentrations of DCA for 48 and 72 h. The inhibition rates of cell proliferation were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT); the early apoptosis rates by staining with Annexin V and PI; the CD14 and CD11b expressions by flow cytometry (FCM); the promoter methylation status of hPer3 gene by MS-PCR; and the hPer3 mRNA expressions levels by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe promoter methylation rates of hPer3 in newly diagnosed (ND) group, partial remission(PR) group, complete remission (CR) group, relapse (R) group and control group were 93.65% (59/63), 54.39% (31/57), 24.66% (18/73), 61.54% (8/13) and 0% (0/40), and the hPer3 mRNA expression levels were 0.19 ± 0.08, 6.28 ± 2.11, 52.76 ± 14.17, 8.18 ± 4.36, 75.03 ± 18.16, respectively. There was a significant statistic difference between any two group (P < 0.01) excepting for between PR and R group (P > 0.05). After DCA treatment, the promoter hypermethylation status of hPer3 was reduced and the mRNA and CD14, CD11b expression levels were up regulated in a dose dependent manner with an induction of cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONSPromotor methylation status and mRNA expression of hPer3 gene may be indicators for evaluating AML. DCA can induce the expression of hPer3 gene and cells apoptosis in AML.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Period Circadian Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; U937 Cells ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study evaluated the clinical value of detachable-balloon embolization for traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula (TCCF), focusing on the frequency, risk factors, and retreatment of recurrence. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with TCCF underwent transarterial detachable-balloon embolization between October 2004 and March 2011. The clinical follow-up was performed every 3 months until up to 3 years postprocedure. Each patient was placed in either the recurrence group or the nonrecurrence group according to whether a recurrence developed after the first procedure. The relevant factors including gender, fistula location, interval between trauma and the interventional procedure, blood flow in the carotid-cavernous fistula, number of balloons, and whether the internal carotid artery (ICA) was sacrificed were evaluated. RESULTS: All 58 TCCFs were successfully treated with transarterial balloon embolization, including 7 patients with ICA sacrifice. Recurrent fistulas occurred in seven patients during the follow-up period. Univariate analysis indicated that the interval between trauma and the interventional procedure (p=0.006) might be the main factor related to the recurrence of TCCF. The second treatments involved ICA sacrifice in two patients, fistula embolization with balloons in four patients, and placement of a covered stent in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Detachable balloons can still serve as the first-line treatment for TCCFs and recurrent TCCFs despite having a nonnegligible recurrence rate. Shortening the interval between trauma and the interventional procedure may reduce the risk of recurrence.
Balloon Occlusion ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retreatment ; Risk Factors ; Stents

Objective To describe the epidemiological and serological features on a family associated outbreak caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection occurred in Beijing in August 2007.Methods Mutual exposure of the family members was investigated and retrospective medical record was reviewed for the hospitalized patients.Serum antibodies to MP were measured and chest X-rays were taken for all the family members.Results This family consisted of 5 members,with fixed members as the boy (13 years old ),his father (43 years old) and mother (44 years old),grandmother (64 years old) and uncle (32 years old ) who was involved in taking care of the sick boy and his father.During 23 days of the event,four of all the five family members were ill.Three (boy,father and uncle) had radiographic pneumonia,whose paired sera all showed a ≥ fourfold increase in antibody titer,and two of them were confnrmed by chest X-ray on day 2 after onset of fever.The grandmother suffered from bronchitis,with positive(PA) serum antibody to MR Serum MP-IgG from the father and uncle was positive,3 days and 2 days after the onset of fever.The chances of contact between grandmother with the boy and uncle with the father were both only in the hospital wards.Only the mother remained asymptomatic,with her serum MP-IgM (-)and MP-IgG ( + )for which the blood sample was collected 37 days after close contact with the boy.The longest time of exposure to the patients was between mother and the boy but only the mother did not increase her total workload or feeling for fatigue.Conclusion Results of MP-IgG from post-infection did not completely defend against the repeated MP infection.Combined risk factors as index patients with severe cough,prolonged close contact,poorly ventilation of the environment,and family members with excessive fatigue might work as the causes of this family MP outbreak.

To screen differentially expressed genes involved in osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) at defined stages, subtractive cDNA library was established by means of suppression subtractive hybridization. The BMSCs cultured for 12 and 21 d were used as driver and tester, respectively. A subtract library was successfully constructed and five positive clones were selected from the library. Sequencing analysis and homology comparison showed that the five clones differentially expressed in BMSCs cultured for 21 d were at least 90% homologous with the known genes in human GenBank. It was interestingly found that the osteogenic BMSCs cultured for 21 d differentially expressed decorin and Bax inhibitor 1. RT-PCR was performed to confirm the differentially expressed genes. The results showed that the expression of Bax inhibitor 1 was significantly higher in the cells of 21-day than that of 12-day, while the expression of decorin was only detected in the cells of 21-day.
Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Decorin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology

The aim of study was to explore the influence of the number of megakaryocytes in bone marrow smear and trephine biopsy on clinical outcome of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The clinical outcome of 115 patients with ITP was compared by different clinical subtype, number of blood platelet, number of megakaryocyte in bone marrow smear and trephine biopsy. The results showed that: (1) the clinical outcome of acute ITP was better than that of chronic ITP, the short clinical outcome of acute ITP and chronic ITP were 86.6% vs 60.4% respectively (p < 0.01), the long clinical outcome of them were 82.5% vs 68.9% respectively (p < 0.05); (2) different number of blood platelet at occurrence of diseases had no obviously influence on clinical outcome of patients with ITP; (3) all cases were subgrouped according to number of megakaryocyte in bone marrow smear, the number of megakaryocyte in bone marrow smear less than 7/4.5 cm(2) was defined as group I, the number of megakaryocyte between 7/4.5 cm(2) to 35/4.5 cm(2) was defined as group II, and the number of megakaryocyte in bone marrow smear greater than 35/4.5 cm(2) was defined as group III. The effective rates of 3 groups in short term treatment were 53.3%, 73.8% and 86.2% respectively, and there were statistical difference between these 3 groups (p < 0.01), the effective rates of these 3 groups in long term treatment were 42.8%, 84.6% and 85.5% respectively, and there was no statistical different between group II and group III (p > 0.05), but both had statistical difference, as compared with group I (p < 0.01). (4) all cases were subgrouped by the number of megakaryocyte in trephine biopsy on time of disease occurrence, the number of megakaryocyte in bone marrow smear less than 8/mm(2) was defined as group I, the number of megakaryocyte between 8/mm(2) to 15/mm(2) was defined as group II, the number of megakaryocyte greater than 15/mm(2) was defined as group III. The effective rate of these 3 groups in short term treatment were 53.8%, 85.0% and 90.3% respectively, group II and III had no statistical difference each other (p > 0.05), but both groups had statistical difference as compared with group I (p < 0.01). Effective rate of these 3 groups in long term treatment were 33.3%, 63.1% and 87.9% respectively, and there were statistical difference between them (p < 0.01). (5) the number of blood platelet at time of disease occurrence was not related to number of megakaryocyte in bone marrow smear and in trephine biopsy section(r = 0.31, p > 0.05; r = 0.41, p > 0.05). The number of megakaryocyte in bone marrow smear had positive correlation to that in trephine biopsy slides (r = 0.52, p < 0.01). In case to use single factor Logistic regression, the results showed that number of megakaryocyte in bone marrow smear and trephine biopsy had obvious influence on long term treatment of ITP. It is concluded that the number of megakaryocyte in trephine biopsy can be used as a available supplement method for bone smear, and can forecast the therapeutic effect of patients with ITP.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; pathology ; Cell Count ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and transforming growth factor-β(1) (TGFβ(1)) on the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I in human atrial fibroblast in vitro, and to explore the possible molecular mechanism of atrial fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSHuman atrial fibroblast, isolated from aseptic right atrial appendage tissues of 10 sinus rhythm (SR) and 10 chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) patients, were cultured with HGF and TGFβ(1). mRNA expressions of collagen I and α-SMA were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the protein expression of α-SMA was determined by immunofluorescence and Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Compared with SR group, left atrium was significantly dilated in CAF group (t = 2.692, P < 0.05), the mRNA expression of collagen I and α-SMA of atrial fibroblasts were significantly upregulated (all P < 0.01), mRNA expression of collagen I was positively correlated with left atrial dimension (LAD) (r = 0.836, P = 0.014), AF duration (r = 0.739, P = 0.045) and α-SMA mRNA level (r = 0.886, P = 0.012). (2) Compared with SR group, the expression of α-SMA protein in CAF atrial fibroblasts were significantly increased (P < 0.01). (3) TGFβ(1) further stimulated while HGF significantly attenuated the expression of collagen I and α-SMA in CAF atrial fibroblasts (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIncreasing expression of collagen I and α-SMA in human atrial fibroblasts might promote atria remodeling leading to the development and sustaining of AF. HGF is involved in the negative regulation on the expression of α-SMA and collagen I.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Atrial Fibrillation ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; Gene Expression ; Heart Atria ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology ; Young Adult

To explore the new method of discriminating Astragali Radix and Hedysari Radix by using PCR amplification of specific alleles, 30 samples of the different Astragali Radix materials and 28 samples of Hedysari Radix were collected. The total DNA of all samples were extracted, trnL-trnF sequence from Astragali Radix and Hedysari Radix was amplified by PCR and sequenced unidirectionally. These sequences were aligned by using Clustul W. Primer was designed and the PCR reaction systems including annealing temperature, dNTP, etc were optimized. All samples were amplified by PCR with specific primer, DNA from Astragali Radix would be amplified 136 bp, whereas PCR products from all of Hedysari Radix were 323 bp. This method can detect 10% of intentional Hedysari Radix DNA into Astragali Radix. PCR amplification of alleles can be used to identify Astragali Radix and Hedysari Radix successfully and is an efficient molecular marker for authentication of Astragali Radix and Hedysari Radix.
Alleles ; Astragalus Plant ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction