PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find some points that may help the differential diagnosis of ring lesions in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the liver through recognition of the characteristics of the morphology and the signal intensities of the ring lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T1- and T2-weighted axial spin-echo images and gadolinium-enhanced Tl-weighted images were obtained with a 1.0 T superconducting MR imager. We reviewed the MR findings of 23 hepatic ring lesions which were confirmed as hepatocellular carcinomas (13), metastases (4), liver abscesses (4), hydatid cyst (1), and hematoma (1). RESULTS: There were 19 single rings and 4 double rings (all the cases were liver abscesses) on Tl-weighted images, and 8 single rings and 14 double rings on T2-weighted images. The signal intensity of the ring was low in hepatocellular carcinoma on Tl-weighted images and in hydatid cyst on T2-weighted images. It was high on Tl-weighted images in subacute hemaroma. Target lesion as an inner high-signal-intensity ring surrounded by a high-signal-intensity ring on T2-weighted images was seen in metatasis, liver abscess, and hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION: It is helpful to recognize the chracteristics of morphology and signal intensities of the ring lesions in the differential diagnosis of hepatic focal lesions.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echinococcosis ; Hematoma ; Liver Abscess ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis

AIMOur previous studies showed that electroacupuncture (EA) could inhibited radiant heat induced pain and acute or chronic inflammatory pain in rats. In the present study, we observed whether EA with different frequencies could suppress neuropathic pain.

METHODSL5/L6 nerve ligation model was used to assess the effect of EA on neuropathic pain. Mechanical allodynia was represented by 50% withdrawal threshold, while cold-induced ongoing pain was detected by the number of paw lift in 5 min when the rat was put on a 5 degrees cold plate. Han's acupoint nerve stimulator (HANS) was connected to needles inserted into acupoints "jiaji" and "Zusanli" in both sides. The parameters were: (intensity: 0.5-1-2 mA, 10 min each; frequency 2 Hz or 100 Hz; pulse width: 0.6 ms for 2 Hz, 0.2 ms for 100 Hz).

RESULTSEA of both 2 Hz and 100 Hz could relieve the mechanical allodynia, where 2 Hz could induce the effect with shorter latency; they could also relieve the cold-induced ongoing pain, where the effect of 2 Hz outlasted the EA session by up to 48 h after repetitive stimulations over several weeks; a significant relieving effect on cold-induced ongoing pain could also be induced by needle insertion without stimulation.

CONCLUSIONEA could relieve neuropathic pain, the analgesic effect of 2 Hz EA is higher than 100 Hz EA.

Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Neuralgia ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The tissue-specific and MeJA-induced transcriptional levels of BcUGT3 and BcUGT6 in Bupleurum chinense were analyzed in the present study. The transcriptional levels of BcUGT3 in root, leaf, flower and fruit were similar and they all were higher than those in stem. The transcriptional level of BcUGT6 was the highest in leaf and the lowest in flower among in all tested tissues. With non-treated adventitious roots as control, BcUGT6's transcriptional levels were elevated to nearly 2 folds for 2 h, 8 h, 24 h, 2 d and 4 d in MeJA-treated adventitious roots of B. chinense. It showed that the transcriptional level of BcUGT6 was slightly affected by MeJA. While, BcUGT3's transcriptional levels were gradually elevated, and till 4 d after MeJA treatment, the expression level was about 7 folds than that of non-treated control. Using pET-28a (+), the expressions of two genes was investigated. Induced by IPTG, the target proteins were expressed in E. coli and then purified. All the results obtained in the present study will be helpful for follow-up bio-function analysis of BcUGT3 and BcUGT6.
Acetates ; pharmacology ; Bupleurum ; cytology ; enzymology ; genetics ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cyclopentanes ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; drug effects ; Hexosyltransferases ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Intracellular Space ; metabolism ; Oxylipins ; pharmacology ; Protein Sorting Signals ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Transport ; Sequence Analysis ; Transcription, Genetic ; drug effects

Objective To investigate the effects of antioxidant response element (ARE) activator- 5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[ C ]-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (CPDT) on organotypic spinal cord cultures and to study whether this activation can protect motor neurons from oxidative stress.Methods Organotypic spinal cord cultures were prepared using lumbar spinal cord slices from 8-day-old rat.Threo-hydroxyaspartate (THA) was continuously added into the culture medium for 3 weeks,which caused selective motor neuron death. Thus,the in vitro model of amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis (ALS) was established.15,30 ?mol/L of CPDT were added into the culture medium respectively.Ventral motor neurons survival was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibody SMI-32,a nonphosphorylated neurofilament marker. Ultrastructure was observed with electronic microscope.Results The pretreatment of organotypic spinal cord cultures with different concentrations of CPDT significantly increase the total number of ventral motor neurons (15?mol/L:(15.81?6.97) perexplant;30?mol/L:(16.25?6.74) perexplant respectively) compared with THA group ((5.31?5.76) perexplant) and the former had plentiful neurite extensions (n= 15,P

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the learning experience, knowledge, and performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in newly graduated nurses, and to identify differences related to learning experience. METHODS: The participants were 114 new nurses in the hospital. They were asked to complete a questionnaire, which included CPR learning experience. They were evaluated by a written test and a skill test using a manikin and check list. RESULTS: All participants attended CPR lectures and underwent practice while in university. Only 12.28% of participants were taught by a certified Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor. The mean scores of the written and skill tests were 79.82+/-12.69 and 64.41+/-11.71, respectively. The nurses lacked CPR knowledge related to checking breathing, the frequency of 30 chest compressions, compression rate, and automated external defibrillator use. They also lacked skill in performing CPR related to checking breathing and pulse and giving 2 breaths. CPR performance differed according to learning time (p=.047) and BLS educator (p=.029). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study reveal that CPR performance by newly graduated nurses is poor and suggest that CPR education by trained instructors, practice-based education, and reeducation programs must be provided to newly graduated nurses in the hospital.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Defibrillators ; Learning ; Lectures ; Manikins ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Respiration ; Thorax

To evaluate of the relationship between basal ganglia lesion and portal-systemic encephalopathy, eleven patients who had clinically proved liver cirrhosis with superior mesenteric vein larger than 10mm in diameter on ultrasonogram underwent brain MR imaging. No evidence of clinical or neuropsychiatric disturbance was observed in any patient at the time of the MR examination. Brain MR imaging revealed basal ganglia lesion characterized by bilateral, symmetric, high signal intensity without edema or mass effect on spin echo T1-weighted images in nine patients which included three patients with the past history of portal-systemic encephalopathy. It was concluded that excepted in the circumstances of other causes of the high signal intensity in basal ganglia on T1-weighted images such as fat, methemoglobin, melanin, neurofibromatosis, dense calcification, and parenteral nutrition, bilateral and symmetric high signal intensity lesion, in basal ganglia would be a useful MR finding of subclinical portal-systemic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis patients with no clinical or neuropsychiatric symptoms and larger than 10mm diameter of superior mesenteric vein in ultrasonography.
Basal Ganglia* ; Brain ; Edema ; Hepatic Encephalopathy* ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Melanins ; Mesenteric Veins ; Methemoglobin ; Neurofibromatoses ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: To understand the relationship between monthly household income and number of remaining teeth as an indicator of oral health, and to find the differences between middle-aged and older people in this respect. METHODS: This study was conducted on data extracted from the Korean National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey, which surveyed all Korean citizens in 2012. From these data, data of 4502 people about 40 years of age who completed the questionnaires and examination survey were selected and analyzed. This study investigated the main factors affecting the remaining teeth, and analyzed the moderating effect of age on the relationship between income level and remaining teeth. RESULTS: The average number of remaining teeth was 25.17 for middle-aged people and 15.95 for older people, which was significantly different. The number of remaining teeth for middle-aged people showed a significant relationship with income level, education level, and smoking habit. The number of remaining teeth in older people was related to the same factors, along with an additional factor of whether or not they underwent oral examinations. From the interaction analysis conducted to find the moderating effect of age on the relationship between the number of remaining teeth and income level, the number of remaining teeth was more affected by income level in older people than in middle-aged people. CONCLUSIONS: Income level was strongly related to oral health, particularly in older people. Therefore, it can be concluded that an oral health promotion policy is necessary for low-income people, particularly those in the older age group.
Diagnosis, Oral ; Education ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Oral Health ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tooth*

OBJECTIVETo identify the anatomical variability of the left spermatic vein (LSV) and determine its effect on the induction of experimental left varicocele (ELV) in adolescent rats.

METHODSWe equally randomized 30 adolescent male SD rats to groups A (LSV collaterals fully ligated and the left renal vein constricted), B (only the left renal vein constricted), and C (sham operation), observed the courses of the LSVs and measured their diameters. At 30 days after operation, we analyzed the changes in the left kidneys and the diameters of the LSVs.

RESULTSIrregular collaterals were observed in 90% of the LSVs and no abnormal changes were found in the left kidneys after surgery. The postoperative LSV diameter was remarkably increased in group A as compared with the baseline ([1.47 +/- 0.15 ] vs [0.16 +/- 0.08] mm, P < 0.01), but showed no significant difference in group B ([0.31 +/- 0.49] vs [0.15 +/- 0.07] mm, P > 0.05) and C ([0.17 +/- 0.07] vs [0.16 +/- 0.06] mm, P > 0.05), and it was significantly longer in A than in B (P < 0.01). The success rate of ELV induction was 100% in group A and 10% in group B, but no varicocele was observed in group C.

CONCLUSIONCorrect identification of the anatomical course of the LSV and ligation of its irregular collaterals are essential for the establishment of a stable and consistent ELV model.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Kidney ; pathology ; Ligation ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatic Cord ; blood supply ; Varicocele ; Veins ; abnormalities

T polymorphism,was selected as putative promoter.The recombinant constructions containing-1328-+812 of TGF-?_1 gene and CAT reporter gene(phTGF2.14T,phTGF2.14C)were constructed and transfected into HepG2 cells with liposomal trans- fection method,then the transfected HepG2 cells were treated with IL-10(4 ng/ml),HGF(10 ng/ml)or IFN-?(20 ng/ml). Reporter gene activity was analyzed by ELISA.Results:Reporter gene activity in cells transfected with phTGF2.14C was sig- nificantly higher than those transfected with phTGF2.14T(P

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of cartilage-perichondrium palisade complex and cartilage-perichondrium horseshoe complex in tympanoplasty for large tympanic membrane perforation.

METHODSNineteen patients (19 ears) undergoing tympanoplasty with cartilage-perichondrium palisade complex and 20 patients (20 ears) with cartilage-perichondrium horseshoe complex were compared for postoperative hearing and closure rate of tympanic membrane perforation.

RESULTSThe closure rates of the tympanic membrane were all 100% in both groups 3 months after the operation, while tympanoplasty with cartilage- perichondrium horseshoe complex resulted in significantly greater improvement of the postoperative air-bone gap in speech frequency.

CONCLUSIONBoth of the two auricular cartilage-perichondrium complexes produced good effects for repair large tympanic membrane perforation, but cartilage-perichondrium horseshoe complex can achieve better results in speech frequency.

Adult ; Ear Cartilage ; transplantation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation ; surgery ; Tympanoplasty ; methods ; Young Adult