OBJECTIVETo investigate the advantages and disadvantages of dual energy with dual-source computed tomography (CT) in cerebral angiography by comparing those of neuro-digital subtraction angiography (Neuro-DSA) .

METHODSTotally 300 patients with normal CT angiography (CTA) images underwent dual energy CT angiography (DE-CTA groups, n=200) and Neuro-DSA scan (Neuro-DSA groups, n=100) using dual source CT. The comparison of two scan approaches was based on image quality, radiation does, post-processing methods, and duration of scanning and subtraction.

RESULTSThe image quality of intracranial blood vessels in DE-CTA group showed no significant difference with that in Neuro-DSA group (P>0.05) , while the number of Grade I images was significantly higher than those of other three grades (P<0.01) . However, the effect of the skull base bone removal with Neuro-DSA is superior to DE-CTA (P<0.01) . The duration of scanning was significantly longer in DE-CTA group than in Neuro-DSA group (P<0.01) . However, the radiation dose, time of entire examination, and time of subtraction were significantly lower/shorter in DE-CTA group than in Neuro-DSA group (P<0.01) . The radiation dose of DE-CTA group is 26.3% lower than Neuro-DSA group.

CONCLUSIONSThe image quality of intracranial blood vessels with head DE-CTA is same as Neuro-DSA, while head DE-CTA has lower radiation doses and higher inspection efficiency than Neuro-DSA. However, the effect of the skull base bone removal needs to be improved.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; methods ; Cerebral Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiation Dosage ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

Objective To study the influence of noise under normal and high pressure environment on the cochlea,so as to make up for the defect caused by the lack of testing means to study the noise effect on behavioral characteristics of cochlear hearing by using numerical simulation method.Methods Based on CT scan images of healthy cochlea,and combined with self-programming,the three-dimensional finite element model of the cochlear spiral was established by using PATRAN software.Analysis on flow solid coupling frequency response and transient response was conducted by using NASTRAN software,and the impact of noise under normal and high pressure environment on the cochlea was numerically simulated.Results The calculated results were in agreement with the experimental results reported in the literature,which verified the correctness of the model.When the frequency was lower than 5 kHz,the basement membrane displacement by noise excitation under normal and high pressure environment was basically the same;when the frequency was higher than 5 kHz,the basement displacement by noise excitation under normal environment decreased gradually.Conclusions Under high pressure environment,the high-frequency noise shows a more obvious effect on the basilar membrane.The numerical simulation results can make up for the deficiency in studies about noise effect on characteristics of human cochlear hearing due to the lack of experimental methods,and provide new ideas and theoretical support for targeted experimental study of the cochlea in the future.

Objective To evaluate the effects of small interfering RNA(siRNA)against Ki67 gene on the proliferation and apoptosis of human renal carcinoma cell line 786-0 cells.Methods The human renal carcinoma 786-0 cells were treated with Ki67-siRNA(100 nmol/L).The mRNA expression of Ki67 was detected by RT-PCR.The protein expression of Ki67 was detected by Western blot and immunohisto- chemical technique,respectively.The proliferation of 786-0 cells was detected by MTT assay.The apoptosis of 786-0 cells was detected by TUNEL assay.Results RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that the Ki67 mRNA and Ki67 protein expression levels of the 786-0 cells treated with Ki67-siRNA were(37.6?1.9)% and(46.4?0.9)% ,respectively,which were significantly lower than those of controls [(97.3?0.9)% and(95.3?0.9)%,P＜0.01],The Ki67 positive expression rate of 786-0 cells treated with Ki67-siRNA by immunohistochemical technique was 52.5?2.3,which was significantly lower than that of controls(114.5?4.9 ,P＜0.01).The proliferation-inhibiting rate and apoptosis rate of the 786-0 cells trea- ted with Ki67-siRNA were( 63.6?1.6)% and(41.7?0.6)% ,respectively,which were significantly higher than those of controls [(2.8?0.2)% and(10.3?1.4)%,P＜0.01].Conclusions siRNA against Ki67 gene can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis by blocking Ki67 expression of hu- man renal carcinoma 786-0 cells.The inhibition of Ki67 expression by siRNA may be a promising approach in gene therapy for renal cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effects of antisense TGF beta1 on proliferation of human bladder transitional cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSHuman bladder carcinoma cell line EJ was transfected with pRevT beta-AS, a replication defective retroviral vector carried antisense TGF beta1 fragment. The growth of the transfected cells was observed in vitro and in vivo. TGF beta1 mRNA expression and protein expression were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA. The proliferative activity was evaluated by immunohistochemistry method. The ultrastructure of cells was observed by image analysis system and electron microscopy. Cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe expression of TGF beta1 mRNA and protein in EJ cells was inhibited by pRevT beta-AS, G(1) to S transition was restrained in cell cycle and cell proliferation decreased in vitro. The tumorigenesis and growth of EJ cells and DNA heteroploidy were reduced by antisense TGF beta1 in vivo.

CONCLUSIONTGF beta1 plays a role in vitro proliferation and in vivo growth of bladder transitional cell carcinoma.

Animals ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, SCID ; RNA, Antisense ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo predict the target genes of rno-microRNA-296-5p (miR-296) using bioinformatics software and databases, and to provide a theoretical basis for further studies of biological effects of miR-296 in fetal lung development.

METHODSPubMed and Google were used to search for all reported literature on miR-296. The miRBase database was used to determine the sequence and evolutionary conservatism of miR-296. The TargetScans database was used to predict the target genes of miR-296. The DAVID Bioinformatics Resources 6.8 database was used for the functional enrichment analysis of the target genes. The KEGG database was used to analyze the signaling pathways of target genes.

RESULTSmiR-296 was reported to play important roles in many biological processes and have a high degree of sequence conservation among species. The target genes of miR-296 were involved in biological processes, cell components, and molecular function. Those target genes were significantly enriched in the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, and transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe bioinformatics analysis of the target genes of miR-296 provides a basis for studying biological effects and mechanism of action of miR-296 in lung development.

Animals ; Computational Biology ; Humans ; Lung ; embryology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology ; MicroRNAs ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; physiology ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; physiology

Objective To establish of a close loop blood information system forreal time monitoring in the entire process of clinical blood transfusion.Methods In accordance with files and laws in clinical blood transfusion and combining the work in blood transfusion department with the actual needs of clinical blood transfusion,the blood transfusion department in Shaanxi Provinical People's Hospital developed the close-loop blood information system with Skynet Software Co.Ltd.Results The close-loop blood information system was achieved informational management patternthat was detailed information from blood products arrival to departure and whole process of evaluation transfusion effect.The link of Hospital Information Manage System (HIS),Laboratory Information System (LIS) and blood information system was completed with the system.The system realized real-time and accurate data collection and monitoring.The system achieved a closed-loop management of the entire process of clinical blood transfusion.Conclusion By using theclose loop blood information system,the quality of medical services can be improved,the work productivity can be increased,and the clinical blood transfusion can be rationalized.

Objective To study the influence of noise under normal and high pressure environment on the cochlea, so as to make up for the defect caused by the lack of testing means to study the noise effect on behavioral characteristics of cochlear hearing by using numerical simulation method. Methods Based on CT scan images of healthy cochlea, and combined with self-programming, the three-dimensional finite element model of the cochlear spiral was established by using PATRAN software. Analysis on flow solid coupling frequency response and transient response was conducted by using NASTRAN software, and the impact of noise under normal and high pressure environment on the cochlea was numerically simulated. Results The calculated results were in agreement with the experimental results reported in the literature, which verified the correctness of the model. When the frequency was lower than 5 kHz, the basement membrane displacement by noise excitation under normal and high pressure environment was basically the same; when the frequency was higher than 5 kHz, the basement displacement by noise excitation under normal environment decreased gradually. Conclusions Under high pressure environment, the high-frequency noise shows a more obvious effect on the basilar membrane. The numerical simulation results can make up for the deficiency in studies about noise effect on characteristics of human cochlear hearing due to the lack of experimental methods, and provide new ideas and theoretical support for targeted experimental study of the cochlea in the future.

In order to learn about the genetic characteristic of human enterovirus type71 (HEV71) isolated from cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in Yunnan Province from 2009 to 2010. 50 isolates form HFMD cases were performed entire VP1 coding region amplification by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and sequencing the nucleotide sequences; then the phylogenetic tree was constructed. The complete nucleotide sequences of region VP1 of the 50 strains were all 891nt length coding 297 amino acids. The result of molecular identification of the 50 strains is HEV71. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that 48 EV71 isolates belonged to subgenotype C4a and 2 EV71 isolates belonged to genotype A. From 2009 to 2010, the pathogen of HFMD cases were EV71 strains in Yunnan province, which were co-evolved with isolates from other provinces in mainland of China. There was no significant difference found in the whole sequence of VP1 gene of the strains isolated from different regions or under different diseases occurred, but the spread of genetype A appared in Yunnan Province in 2009.
Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Enterovirus A, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; Female ; Genotyping Techniques ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

PURPOSE: We previously found that the histone methyltransferase suppressor of variegation, enhancer of zeste, trithorax and myeloid-nervy-deformed epidermal autoregulatory factor-1 domain-containing protein 3 (SMYD3) is a potential independent predictive factor or prognostic factor for overall survival in gastric cancer patients, but its roles seem to differ from those in other cancers. Therefore, in this study, the detailed functions of SMYD3 in cell proliferation and migration in gastric cancer were examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SMYD3 was overexpressed or suppressed by transfection with an expression plasmid or siRNA, and a wound healing migration assay and Transwell assay were performed to detect the migration and invasion ability of gastric cancer cells. Additionally, an MTT assay and clonogenic assay were performed to evaluate cell proliferation, and a cell cycle analysis was performed by propidium iodide staining. Furthermore, the expression of genes implicated in the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) pathway and proteins involved in cell cycle regulation were detected by polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses. RESULTS: Compared with control cells, gastric cancer cells transfected with si-SMYD3 showed lower migration and invasion abilities (P<0.05), and the absence of SMYD3 halted cells in G2/M phase and activated the ATM pathway. Furthermore, the opposite patterns were observed when SMYD3 was elevated in normal gastric cells. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence that the absence of SMYD3 could inhibit the migration, invasion, and proliferation of gastric cancer cells and halt cells in G2/M phase via the ATM-CHK2/p53-Cdc25C pathway. These findings indicated that SMYD3 plays crucial roles in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells and may be a useful therapeutic target in human gastric carcinomas.
Ataxia Telangiectasia ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Histones ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Propidium ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Transfection ; Wound Healing

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture on the level of inflammatory cytokines and toll-like receptor 4 in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of SHR; To investigate the mechanisms of acupuncture in reduction of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in SHR. Methods Thirty 10-week old SHR were randomly divided into SHR group, acupuncture group and non-acupoint group, with 10 rats in each group. 10 WKY rats were set as control group. Acupuncture group received bilateral acupuncture in "Taichong" acupoint, and twisting and diarrhea method was used to stimulate; non-acupoint group received acupuncture at the back of feet, and soothing and diarrhea with twisting method was used to stimulate. Materials were taken two weeks later. The mean arterial pressure of rats was detected every day; the expression of TLR4 mRNA in PVN was detected by RT-PCR; The expression of TLR4 protein in PVN was detected by Western blot; The levels of TNF-αa nd IL-6 were detected. Results Compared with control group, the mean arterial pressure of SHR group increased; TLR4 mRNA and protein expression in PVN increased significantly; the level of TNF-α and IL-6 increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with SHR group, the mean arterial pressure of acupuncture group decreased significantly;TLR4 mRNA and protein expression in PVN decreased significantly; the level of TNF-α and IL-6 decreased significantly (P<0.05). There was no significant change in non-acupoint group. Conclusion Acupuncture in"Taichong" acupoint can attenuate blood pressure of SHR by inhibiting expression of TLR4 in PVN and reducing the levels of TNF-α and IL-6.