Objective To analyze the distribution of tophus in ankle and tarsal joints by multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT)and to explore the pathogenesis of gout.Methods 34 patients with a documented diagnosis of gout underwent CT examina-tion of bilateral ankle and tarsal joints,and 55 ankle and tarsal joints were observed tophus.The sites of tophus deposition were cate-gorized into groups of ligament,tendon and joint in order to record and analyze.Results The tophus were showed at the anterior talofibular ligament (n=38),the medial ligament (the site of talus and calcaneus)(n=30)and the interosseous talocalcaneal liga-ment (n=29)(P <0.05)in the group of ligament;at achilles tendon (n= 18),followed by tibialis posterior tendon (n= 7)(P <0.05)in the group of tendon;at articulations intercuneiformes (n=1 5)and inferior tibiofibular articulation (n= 10)(P <0.05 )in the group of joint.Conclusion In ankle and tarsal joints,tophus is commonly deposited at the anterior talofibular ligament,at the achilles tendon and the articulationes intercuneiformes.

AIM To explore the role of nitric oxide (NO) mediators in seizure behavior and the related expression of interlukin 6(IL 6). METHODS The IL 6 immunoreactivity (IL 6 ir) and behaviour were observed in kainic acid (KA) induced seizure following pretreatment with L nitroarginine( L NNA), a inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase(NOS), or the same number of moles of L arginine( L Arg). RESULTS The results showed that time dependent seizures were induced on animals after administration of KA (10 mg?kg -1 ), accompanied by the immediate enhancement of IL 6 ir in hippocampal structure, piriform area and cortex. The behaviors of rats were not markedly altered by chronic pretreatment with L NNA (50 mg?kg -1 ) or L Arg (40 mg?kg -1 ). However, after the administration of KA, the seizure behaviors were obviously different in the group of L NNA and L Arg respectively. Seizure was agrevated in the animals with L NNA pretreatment and many rats died at KA 3 hours, whereas seizure was alleviated after KA in the group of L Arg. IL 6 expression was apparently up regulated in some brain areas such as hippocampus in the group of KA pretreated with L NNA, but opposite effects appeared in the group pretreated with L Arg before KA injection. CONCLUSION These results indicate that endogenous NO mediators may alleviate the seizure behaviors and may down regulated the early expression of IL 6 in KA challenged seizure, but it the mechanism of the early expression of IL 6 with the homeostasis of endogenous NO mediator merits further study.nismoftheearlyexpressionofIL 6withthehome

AIM To observe the expression of inducible nitric ox ide synthase (iNOS) in the rats' hippocampus of kainic acid (KA) induced-seizur es and the effect of L-arginine(L-Arg) or L-nitroarginine(L- NNA) chronic intervention before KA. METHODS The expression of iN OS mRNA by RT-PCR and behaviour were observed after administration of convulsan t dose of KA (10 mg?kg -1 ) and pretreatment with NO predecessor (L-Ar g, 40 mg?kg -1 ) or a inhibitor of NOS(L-NNA, 50 mg?kg -1 ) befo re KA. RESULTS The time-dependent seizures were induced on rats after giving KA, and were improved and serious in the animals with L-NNA pr etreatment, but they were alleviated by L-Arg pretreatment before KA. Compa red with control, iNOS mRNA expression was feebly at KA 3 h, continuative improv ement accompanying KA time prolonged, and it was markedly enhanced at KA 24 h. I t couldn't be examined at KA 2 d or 3 d, and was obviously improved at KA 7 d a gain. iNOS mRNA appeared weak in the rats hippocampus with L-Arg pretreatme nt after KA 1 h, whereas it wasn't found in L-NNA pretreatment animals. CONCLUSION iNOS mRNA expression appeared in the hippocampus of seizu re rats at a few time after KA, and L-Arg chronic intervention before KA ha s a little effect on it.

OBJECTIVETo investigate endostatin gene therapy of rat corneal neovascularization induced by acid cauterization.

METHODSpBlast-hEndostatin and pBlast-Mcs were identified by digestion with Nhe Iand Sal I, by PCR reaction, by sequence, and then by alignment of PCR products with the gene Bank using NCBIBLAST software. They were then purified with QIAGEN Endofree plasmid maxi kit. Rat corneal neovascularization models were made with 75% AgNO(3) and 25% KNO(3) cauterization. The treatment method was subconjunctive injection of the pBlast-hEndostatin with the control of pBlast-Mcs.

RESULTSpBlast-hEndostatin was found to contain the human endostatin gene. The rat corneal neovascularization induced by acid cauterization was significantly suppressed after subconjunctive injection of the pBlast-hEndostatin with inhibition rates of 37%, 40.2%, and 42.8% respectively on the sixth, tenth, and fifteenth day. The inhibition rate for the density of corneal neovascularization was 40%. However, no inhibition effect on the length of the neovascularization and corneal inflammatory cells was observed. Corneal neovascularization areas were positively correlated with edema and corneal opacity.

CONCLUSIONSThe plasmid of pBlast-hEndostatin contained the human endostatin gene. The rat corneal neovascularization induced by acid cauterization can be partially inhibited by subconjunctive injection of the pBlast-hEndostatin mediated by liposomes. Endostatin produced by transfected fibroblast cells directly inhibits corneal neovascularization. This is not caused by inflammatory reaction inhibition.

Animals ; Corneal Neovascularization ; pathology ; therapy ; Endostatins ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma on visual evoked potential (VEP).

METHODSVEP of 63 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were tested before, at the end of, half a year, one year, 2 years and 3 years after their radiotherapy.

RESULTSWithin the male group, one year after radiotherapy, the latency of VEP was significantly delayed than that before and at the end of radiotherapy, while the amplitude was decreased significantly. Two years after radiotherapy, the latency of VEP was significantly delayed more than that before radiotherapy. However there was no significant difference among VEP at the end of, half a year and 3 years after radiotherapy. Within the female group, 2 years after radiotherapy, the latency of VEP was significantly delayed than that before radiotherapy. Three years after radiotherapy, the latency of VEP was significantly delayed than that before, at the end of, half a year and one year after radiotherapy. There was no significant difference in VEP amplitudes before and after radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONWithin the male group, the abnormal delay of VEP latency mostly happens one or two years after radiotherapy. Within the female group, the significant delay of VEP latency happens at the end of radiotherapy and lasts for 3 years, while the VEP amplitude does not change significantly during the 3 years after radiotherapy. The result indicates that the sustained radiation damage within the female visual nerve system starts at the end of radiotherapy, but to a lesser degree. It was shown that radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma certainly damages the visual nerve system, though there is sex difference in the impairment.

Adult ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; radiation effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Sex Factors ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of multifocal electroretinograms (mf-ERG) of different phases in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its clinical significance.

METHODSMultifocal electroretinograms in patients with DR (I - II stage) were tested with VERIS IV system.

RESULTSIn I - II stage, the absolute values of N1, P1 and N2 response densities, and the N1-P1 and P1-N2 response densities were attenuated is a field of about 45 degrees in diameter.

CONCLUSIONAs a new objective and quantitative examination for spatial visual function, multifocal electroretinograms may be valuable in the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.

Aged ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Electroretinography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retina ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Time Factors

Objective To evaluate the imaging findings of thoracic Castleman's disease (CD)to improve the diagnostic accuracy. Methods The imaging findings of 14 cases of thoracic CD confirmed by pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Plain and dynamic contrast-enhanced CT scans were performed in all patients before surgery.Results Among the 14 cases,10 cases were hyaline vascular type (HVT)and other 4 cases were plasma cell type (PCT).HVT-CD showed well-define,homogeneous soft-tissue lesion with different sizes of lymph nodes around the lesions in 2 cases,mottled calcification in 2 cases and coarse calcification in 1 case.Dynamic enhanced CT showed HVT-CD had obvious enhancement in arterial phase,and sustained enhancement in venous phase and delayed phase.PCT-CD all showed enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum and bilateral axillary,associated with interstitial pneumonia,pulmonary nodules,ground glass opacity and pleural effusion,with marked and sustained enhancement 1 case.Conclusion Thoracic HVT-CD presents equal density on CT plain scan,and obvious and durative enhanement on multiphase contrast-enhanced CT,which can be accompanied by lymphnodes around the lesions and intratumoral calcification.With the above imaging findings,we should consider the possibility of HVT-CD.CT features of PCT-CD are non-specific,a comprehensive evaluation of the clinical data should be combined,but the obviously enhanced PCT-CD can be diagnosed.