Objective: The imaging diagnosis of early liver abscess is difficult. This study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of DWI, T2WI and dynamic enhanced MR imaging for early liver abscess. Methods: DWI, T2WI and dynamic enhanced imaging scans were performed in 17 patients with 17 early liver abscesses. The signal intensities and ADC values of necrotic area, non-necrotic area and normal liver were measured and compared. Results: The ADC value of the necrotic areas of liver abscesses ([0.88±0.09] mm2/s) was significantly lower than those of normal liver ([1.31±0.12] mm2/s,P<0.05) and non-necrotic area of liver abscesses ([1.43±0.18] mm2/ s,P<0.05); there was also significant difference between the ADC values of the normal liver and non-neocrotic area (P<0.05). The necrotic areas had a hyperintensity characteristic on DWI, T2WI and a hypointensity characteristic on T1 WI; no enhancement was found on dynamic enhanced imaging. The non-necrotic areas had moderate hyperintensity on DWI, T2 WI and hypointensity on T1 WI; there was obvious enhancement on dynamic enhanced imaging. Conclusion: The early liver abscess is characterized on magnetic resonance imaging. The DWI scan is helpful for diagnosis of early liver abscess.

Objective: To investigate the value of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP) in the diagnosis of pancreas divisum by comparing with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Methods: The MRCP and ERCP images of 8 patients with pancreas divisum were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnostic accuracy and findings by MRCP were compared with those by ERCP. Results: MRCP had a diagnostic accuracy of 87.5%(7/8) based on the result of ERCP. ERCP displayed the dominant dorsal pancreatic ducts in all 8 cases and ventral pancreatic ducts in 6 cases; MRCP also displayed the dominant dorsal pancreatic ducts in all 8 cases, but the ventral pancreatic ducts only in 3 cases. Conclusion: As a non-invasive technique, MRCP has important clinical value in the diagnosis of pancreas divisum.

Objective:To investigate the value of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP)in the diagnosis of pancreas divisum by comparing with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP).Methods:The MRCP and ERCP images of 8 patients with pancreas divisum were retrospectively analyzed.The diagnostic accuracy and findings by MRCP were compared with those by ERCP.Results:MRCP had a diagnostic accuracy of 87.5%(7/8)based on the result of ERCP.ERCP displayed the dominant dorsal pancreatic ducts in all 8 cases and ventral pancreatic ducts in 6 cases;MRCP also displayed the dominant dorsal pancreatic ducts in all 8 cases,but the ventral pancreatic ducts only in 3 cases.Conclusion:As a non-invasive technique,MRCP has important clinical value in the diagnosis of pancreas divisum.

Prostate cancer is one of the mostly-seen malignant tumors in men worldwide. Imaging technique has recently become increasing important in the diagnosis, staging, and post-treatment follow-up of prostate cancer. In this article, we review the values of conventional and functional imaging methods and molecular imaging approach in the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVETo study the pathological features of uveal melanoma and to evaluate their influence on patients' prognosis.

METHODSParaffin embedded uveal melanoma tissues of 115 cases were examined using routine pathologic methods. Three histological types were classified according to the modified Callender system and patients were followed clinically. The data were done regression and survival analysis by SPSS statistic soft.

RESULTSThe patient with epithelial cell type, mixed type, and spindle cell type uveal melanoma have different life times, the average life time is 35.6 +/- 21.5 months, 63.7 +/- 37.0 months, 69.5 +/- 36.5 months in turn, patients with epithelial uveal melanoma had shorter survival time than other two types. The survival time was negatively related to the largest diameter of contact area with the sclera, the largest height and the depth of tumor invasion to the sclera.

CONCLUSIONSEpithelial uveal melanoma is more malignant than the other two types. Histological classification of this tumor combined with other pathologic features can indicate the patient's prognosis.

Eye Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; Humans ; Melanoma ; mortality ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Uveal Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of lyophilized Salvia salt of lithospermic acid powder for injection (SSLA) in treating coronary heart diseases angina pectoris (CHD-AP) of Xin-blood stasis syndrome type, and to conduct the non-inferiority trial with Danshen injection (DSI) as positive control.

METHODSAn non-inferiority clinical layered, segmented, randomized, and blinded trial on three parallel and multiple centered groups was conducted in 480 patients with stable effort angina grade I, II and III, who had two or more times of attack every week. The 240 patients in test group A were treated with SSLA 200 mg added in 250 ml of 5% glucose solution for intravenous dripping every day; the 120 patients in test group B were treated with SSLA but the dosage doubled; and the 120 patients in the control group were treated with DSI 20 ml daily in the same method as SSLA was given. The clinical effectiveness and safety were evaluated after the patients were treated for 14 days.

RESULTSThe results showed that the markedly effective rate in test groups A, B and control group was 37.45%, 36.75% and 30.09% respectively, while the total effective rate in them was 88.09%, 89.74% and 67.26% respectively. Statistical significance was shown in comparisons of the therapeutic effect between control group with test group A and test group B, with that in the two test groups superior to that in the control group, and non-inferiority trial showed eligibility (P < 0.01). Adverse reaction appeared in 8 patients in the test groups and 2 in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSSLA has definite therapeutic effect in treating patients with CHD-AP, with its effect not inferior to that of DSI, and no evident toxic-adverse reaction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; drug therapy ; Benzofurans ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Depsides ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Freeze Drying ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Lithospermum ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Salvia ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; adverse effects

This study was aimed to establish a stable animal model of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) to provide theoretical and experimental basis for understanding the development of LVH. The abdominal aorta of male Wistar rats (80-100 g) was constricted to a diameter of 0.55 mm between the branches of the celiac and anterior mesenteric arteries. Echocardiography using a linear phased array probe was performed as well as pathological examination and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement at 3, 4 and 6 weeks after abdominal aortic constriction (AAC). The results showed that the acute mortality rate (within 24 h) of this modified rat model was 8%. Animals who underwent AAC demonstrated significantly increased interventricular septal (IVS), LV posterior wall (LVPWd), LV mass index (LVMI), cross-sectional area (CSA) of myocytes, and perivascular fibrosis; the ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), and cardiac output (CO) were consistently lower at each time point after AAC. Notably, differences in these parameters between AAC group and sham group were significant by 3 weeks and reached peaks at 4th week. Following AAC, the plasma BNP was gradually elevated compared with the sham group at 3rd and 6th week. It was concluded that this modified AAC model can develop LVH, both stably and safely, by week four post-surgery; echocardiography is able to assess changes in chamber dimensions and systolic properties accurately in rats with LVH.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF) on murine thymocyte emigration and cell cycle alteration after a sublethal dose of gamma-irradiation. Female BALB/c mice were given 6.0 Gy γ-ray total body irradiation and then randomly divided into G-CSF and control groups. Mice in the G-CSF group were injected recombinant human G-CSF 100 µg/(kg·d) subcutaneously once daily for 14 consecutive days and mice in the control group were given the same volume of phosphate buffered solution. Thymocyte cycle alteration and the proportion of apoptosis cells were detected by flow cytometry within 72 hours after irradiation. Real-time PCR was used for detection and quantitation of murine T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (sjTREC) of the thymic cells at 30 and 60 day after the irradiation. The results showed that at 6 hour after irradiation G-CSF could significantly increase the thymic cells in G(0)/G(1) phase, G-CSF vs control: (82.0 ± 5.0)% vs (75.9 ± 2.8)% (p < 0.05), and decrease the thymic cells in S phase, G-CSF vs control: (10.2 ± 4.8)% vs (15.7 ± 2.3)% (p < 0.05), but G-CSF seemed have no evident effects on the percentage of thymic cells in G(2)/M phase. G-CSF could also protect thymocytes from apoptosis at 6 hour and 12 hour after irradiation the percentages of apoptosis cells in G-CSF group were (11.5 ± 2.4)% and (15.5 ± 3.3)%, respectively, which were significantly lower than that of the control group (16.5 ± 2.2)% and (22.6 ± 0.7)%, respectively (p < 0.05). The sjTREC copy amount was conspicuously higher in G-CSF group than that in the control at 30 day after irradiation (p < 0.01), but the preponderance disappeared 60 days later. It is concluded that G-CSF has a positive effect on the thymic cell cycle alteration to protect thymocytes from apoptosis and enhance the recent thymocyte emigration, which may contribute to the central immune reconstitution after irradiation.
Animals ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Female ; Gamma Rays ; adverse effects ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Thymocytes ; drug effects ; radiation effects

BACKGROUNDThe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most commonly injured knee ligaments. Even following ACL reconstruction, significant articular cartilage degeneration can be observed and most patients suffer from premature osteoarthritis. Articular cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis development after ACL injury are regarded as progressive process that are affected by cyclic loading during frequently performed low-intensity daily activities. The purpose of this study was to perform a meta analysis on studies assessing the effects of ACL reconstruction on kinematics, kinetics and proprioception of knee during level walking.

METHODSThis meta analysis was conducted according to the methodological guidelines outlined by the Cochrane Collaboration. An electronic search of the literature was performed and all trials published between January 1966 and July 2010 comparing gait and proprioception of a reconstructed-ACL group with an intact-ACL group were pooled for this review. Thirteen studies were included in the final meta analysis.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in step length, walking speed, maximum knee flexion angle during loading response, joint position sense and threshold to detect passive motion between the reconstructed-ACL group and the intact-ACL group (P > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in peak knee flexion angle, maximum angular knee flexion excursion during stance, peak knee flexion moment during walking and maximum external tibial rotation angle throughout the gait cycle between the reconstructed-ACL group and the intact-ACL group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSStep length, walking speed, maximum knee flexion angle during loading response, joint position sense and threshold to detect passive motion usually observed with ACL deficiency were restored after the ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation, but no significant improvements were observed for peak knee flexion angle, maximum angular knee flexion excursion during stance, peak knee flexion moment during walking and maximum external tibial rotation angle throughout the gait cycle.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; surgery ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Walking ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) in the assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS1H MRS was performed in normal volunteers and in patients with pathologically confirmed HCC and cholangiocarcinomas using a whole-body 1.5-T scanner. The choline-to-lipid ratios were measured by dividing the peak area of choline at 3.2 ppm and lipid at 1.3 ppm.

RESULTSThe ratio of choline-to-lipid for normal liver, cholangiocarcinomas, and HCC were 0.07 +/- 0.04, 0.11 +/- 0.06, and 0.52 +/- 0.15, respectively. The ratio of choline-to-lipid was significantly higher in HCC compared than those in cholangiocarcinomas or normal livers (P < 0.05). However, it was not significantly different between cholangiocarcinomas and normal livers (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn vivo 1H MRS can reflect the pathological changes of HCC and cholangiocarcinomas at metabolic level and thus is useful in the diagnosis of these two cancers.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies