Objective To assess the value and safety of SonoVue in ultrasonic diagnosis of abdominal diseases. Methods A total of 204 patients (149 male, 55 female) with abdominal examination of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with SonoVue from August 2007 to February 2009 were reviewed. Results Definitive diagnosis were obtained 215 times in 204 patients (233 times) with abdominal CEUS. The diagnostic accuracy of CEUS was 92.27%, significant higher than that of conventional ultrasonography (62.23%). Anaphylactic shock happened 1 time (0.43%) in 1 patient. Conclusion CEUS with SonoVue can provide a high diagnostic accuracy with relatively safety of the possibility of serious adverse event.

Background and purpose:The BRAF V600E mutation is a highly attractive drug target. Therefore, determining the BRAF gene mutation status of patients is essential in order to assess patients' eligibility for targeted BRAF geneinhibitor therapy. The aim of this study was to validate the utility of immunohistochemistry to rapidly obtain the BRAF gene mutation status. This study aimed to analyze the correlation of the BRAF V600E gene mutation and VE1 protein ex-pression with the clinical pathological characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).Methods:The mutation status of BRAF V600E was detected by DNA sequencing. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of BRAF V600E protein in 108 cases of PTC, 54 cases of thyroid adenoma and 54 cases of normal thyroid tissue.Results:The gene mutation rate of BRAF V600E is 67.6%, and VE1 protein expression rate is 64.8% in 108 cases of PTC. The differences were statistically significant compared with thyroid adenoma and goiter (P<0.05), but have no correlation with the clinical pathological characteristics.Conclusion:BRAF V600E gene mutation and VE1 protein expression are useful biomarkers for the pathological diagnosis of PTC. High consistency was observed between the immunohistochemical staining results and the DNA sequencingresults of BRAF V600E gene mutations. Immunohistochemical technique detecting the BRAF V600E protein expression can effectively reflect indirectly BRAF V600E gene mutation status in PTC.BRAF V600E gene mutation has no contribution to the development of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of sequential treatment for subjective and objective benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(BPPV). METHOD: The efficacy of sequential treatment for nineteen vertical semicircular canal S-BPPV patients(Group A) and forty-five vertical semicircular canal O-BPPV patients(Group B) who were admitted to our hospital between January 2014 and July 2015 was retrospectively analyzed and compared, treatment of five cases with horizontal semicircular canal S-BPPV was reported here as well. RESULT: The number of repositioning maneuver for Group A was 2 - 6 times (average: 4. 21±1. 18) while 2 - 3 times (average: 2. 29 ± 0. 46) for Group B. There was significant difference between the two groups(P<0. 01). The effective rate of initial treatment for Group A was 78. 9%(15/19) while 82. 2%(37/45)for Group B. After one weeks treatment, the effective rate for Group A changed to be 89. 5% (17/19)while 88. 9% (40/45) for Group B. Non-significant difference was found in the two groups neither in the initial nor one weeks treatment. On three months' follow-up, one in Group A and two in Group B relapsed, and they were cured after treated in the initial treatment. The recurrence for Group A was 5. 3%(1/19) while 4. 4%(2/45) for Group B and there was non-significant difference. The five cases with horizontal semicircular canal S-BPPV were completely free of disease after undergoing treatment. CONCLUSION The sequential treatment is effective for both vertical semicircular canal S-BPPV and vertical semicircular canal O-BPPV, but the former needs more repositioning maneuver times. The repositioning maneuver, combined with drug therapy and head-shake-in-supine-position method is recommended for horizontal semicircular canal S-BPPV.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; therapy ; Humans ; Patient Positioning ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Semicircular Canals ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To establish an HPLC method for the determination of gabapentin and the related substances in gabapentin capsules. Methods:A Kromasil C8 column (250 mm × 4. 6 mm,5μm)was used. The mobile phase was methanol-0. 01 mol·L-1 po-tassium dihydrogen phosphate solution (adjusting pH to 6. 9 with 2 mol·L-1 potassium hydroxide) (40∶60). The detection wave-length was 210 nm. The column temperature was 40℃ and the injection volume was 20μl. The main component and the known impuri-ty were determined by an external standard method. The unknown impurities were determined by a self-control method. Results: The calibration curve of gabapentin was linear within the range of 2.5-20.0 mg·ml-1(r=0.999 9). The average sample recovery was 100. 74% with RSD of 0. 24%(n=5). Conclusion:The method is simple, accurate,specific and applicable in the determination of gabapentin and the related substances in gabapentin capsules.

BACKGROUND:We have designed and manufactured a novel artificial cervical vertebra and intervertebral complex (ACVC) which combines the cervical titanium cage with the artificial cervical disc, and also developed the ACVC with a hydroxyapatite biocoating (ACVC-HA). OBJECTIVE:To evaluate biomechanical properties of the joint system, and the role of HA coating in promoting osseointegration and long-term stability. METHODS:Twenty-four goats were randomly divided into three groups and underwent the anterior C2/3 and C3/4 discectomy, and C3 subtotal corpectomy, fol owed by ACVC implantation (group 1) and ACVC-HA implantation (group 2), and given no intervention (black control group), respectively. group. At 12 weeks after surgery, C1-5 samples were col ected to undergo biomechanical tests and histological staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Prior to the fatigue test, compared with the blank control group, the range of motion and neural zone of groups 1 and 2 in the directions of flexion-extension and lateral bending showed no significant differences, but the above indicators were significantly increased in the direction of rotation (P<0.05). Additional y, the stiffness in al three directions was significantly lower than that in the blank control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the range of motion and neural zone in al directions between groups 1 and 2. Similar results were found after the fatigue test. The histological staining showed that both two implants had good biocompatibility and abradability, but more new bone formed on the ACVC-HA. These results suggest that ACVC can effectively reconstruct the motor function of the cervical spine after decompression. Furthermore, HA coating can markedly improve bone-implant interface to promote osseointegration.

Objective To explore the expressions of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3) in the brain tissues of newborn rat after hypoxic-ischemic(HI) and the effects of progesterone(PROG) on SOD and MMP-3 expression.Methods Seventy-two neonatal SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal control group(normal group),sham-operated group,HI group and PROG group.The model of neonatal rat with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD) was made.The permeability of the blood-brain barrier was observed by using transmission electron microscopy,the level of SOD in the brain was assessed by hydroxylammoniumchloride autoxidation,MMP-3 protein expression in cerebral cortex part of the brain was detected by immunohistochemical.SPSS 12.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results In normal group and sham-operated group,capillary vessel′s morphology of blood brain barrier of neonatal rats were integrity and smooth,and structure were clarity.The permeability of blood-brain barrier in HI group was obviously enhanced and had slight changes in PROG group.Compared with the sham-operated group,the level of SOD in HI group significantly decreased(P

Objective To understand the heterochro-Matin-associated protein 1(HP1-γ) expression during the carcinogenesis and progresston of esophageal carcmoma,and preliminarily investigate the supertortty of using laser scanning cytometer to analyze immunohistochemistry results compared to traditional scoring methods.Methods A tissue microarray containing different grades of esophageal carcinoma was selected and the HP1-γ expression was detected by immunohistochemistry.The results of immunohistochemistry were analyzed quantitatively by using laser scanning cytometer.The correlation of results analyzed by using laser scanning cytometer and traditional scoring methods was analyzed by chi square test.Results The HP1-γ was primarily expressed in the nucleus.The positive rate of HP1-γ in normal esophagus,moderate-severe atypical hyperplasia，in situ carcinoma and squamous cancer was 37.5% (3/8),100%(21/21),100%(7/7) and 23.7% (9/38),respectively,with the difference being statistically significant among normal esophagus，oderate-severe atypical hyperplasia plus in situ carcinoma and squamous cancer(P<0.01).There was a high correlation between the results analyzed by laser scanning cytometer and those by traditional scoring methods under a light microscope(P<0.01).Conclusion HP1-γ may play a resistant role in the transformation from normal esophageal cells to malignant cells.Compared to the traditionally artificial scoring methods,there are many advantages such as high resolution,high objectivity and accuracy when using laser scanning cytometer to analyze the immunohisto chemistry results.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the apoptosis of testicular germ cells in hyperlipidemic rats.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 42 four-week-old male Wistar rats into a normal control group (n = 12) and a high-fat group (n = 30) to be fed on a normal diet and a high-fat diet, respectively, for 10 weeks. Then we measured the concentrations of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in the serum using an automatic biochemistry analyzer, detected the apoptosis of testicular germ cells by TUNEL staining, and determined the protein and mRNA expressions of GRP78 and. caspase-12 in the testis tissue by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively.

RESULTSThe concentrations of TG and TC were significantly increased in the animals of the high-fat group ([3.00 ± 0.92] and [3.04 ± 0.39] mmol/L) as compared with the control rats ([1.43 ± 0.41] and [1.55 ± 0.23] mmol/L) (P < 0.01), and so was the apoptosis index of the testicular germ cells ([37.17 ± 2.74]% vs [5.16 ± 0.81]%, P < 0.01). The high-fat group, in comparison with the control, also showed remarkably upregulated protein and mRNA expressions of GRP78 (0.32 ± 0.03 and 0.86 ± 0.05 vs 0.19 ± 0.01 and 0.37 ± 0.03, P < 0.01) and caspase-12 (0.34 ± 0.02 and 0.87 ± 0.01 vs 0.12 ± 0.01 and 0.34 ± 0.03, P < 0.01) in the testis tissue.

CONCLUSIONThe apoptosis of testicular germ cells is increased in hyperlipidemic rats, which may be attributed to endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; physiology ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spermatozoa ; pathology ; Staining and Labeling ; Testis ; metabolism ; Transcriptional Activation ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Up-Regulation

A glucose biosensor was fabricated from a glucose oxidasE-immobilized by chitosan and oxygen electrode. The effects of concentration of chitosan(0.3%), enzyme loading(0.8 mg), pH 7.0, phosphate buffer concentration(300 mmol/L), and temperature 25 ℃ for the response of the biosensor were investigated. The glucose biosensor has a linear response range of 0.016-1.10 mmol/L with a detection limit of 8.0 μmol/L(S/N=3). The response time was less than 60 s. The biosensor showed extremely good stability with a shelf-life of at least 3 months. The biosensor exhibited good repeatable response to a 0.25 mmol/L glucose olution with a relative standard deviation of 2.5%(n=10). The precision of fabrication of the biosensors using four different membranes was good with a RSD of 4.7%. Some common potential components in sample such as niacinamide, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin E, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Zn2+ showed no interferences on the response of the glucose biosensor. The biosensor was successfully applied to determine the glucose in commercial beverage samples.

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp)and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in the cerebral cortex of rat with chronic fluorosis,and to reveal the mechanisms of damaged nervous system resulted from the toxicity of fluoride.Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into three groups.The rats in each group were given drinking water containing different levels of fluoride:control group less than 0.5 mg/L,small amount of fluoride exposure group 10.0 mg/L and large amount of fluoride exposure group 50.0 mg/L.The animals were examined at the sixth month after initiating the experiment.Protein levels of P-gp and NF-κB in brain tissues were detected by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting,and the P-gp protein and mRNA level by quantitative real time PCR method.Results As compared to the control group(28.21 ±6.13),the numbers of positive staining cells by P-gp antibody in the cortex of rat brains were significantly increased in both the small and the large amount of fluoride exposure groups[(48.46 ± 8.00),(53.72 ± 9.15),respectively,all P ＜ 0.05] ; the protein levels in the control group(100.00 ± 3.86)％ detected by Western blotting were significantly increased in the cortex of rat brains treated with fluoride in both the small and the large amount of fluoride exposure groups[(189.47 ± 3.14)％,(191.36 ± 11.09)％,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05].The significantly increased expression of NF-κB at the protein level was observed in the cortex of rat brains of the small and the large amount of fluoride exposure groups[(365.97 ± 6.04)％ and (417.15 ± 10.89)％,respectively] as compared with the control group[(100.00 ± 10.07)％,all P ＜ 0.05].The mRMA level of P-gp in the cortex of rat brains of the small and the large amount of fluoride exposure groups(2396 ± 427,3479 ± 371,respectively) were higher than that of the control group(260 ± 106,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The increased expressions of P-gp and NF-κB in the cortex of rat brains are induced by chronic fluorosis,which might be connected with the mechanism of brain damages.