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.

Maize seedlings were cultured in nickel or cadmium contaminated sand treated with α-naphthylacetic acid (NAA). The effects of NAA on nickel and cadmium uptake in roots, shoots, and subcellular fractions (cell wall, nuclei and remained parts of seedling cells) were determined. The data showed growth promotion when NAA was applied at low concentrations and inhibition at high concentrations. Uptake of nickel and cadmium content increased concurrently in roots and shoots. In the subcellular fraction, nickel and cadmium was greatest in the cell wall. The changes in growth had greatest correlation with nickel and cadmium content in the subcellular fraction.

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

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

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.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of chemokine receptors and interleukin (IL) receptors on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and their correlations with clinical features as well as SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI).

METHODSThe mRNA expressions of chemokine receptors and IL receptors on PBMCs of 93 SLE patients and 30 healthy controls were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, including CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR6, CCR8, CXCR3, CXCRS, CX3CR1, XCR1, IL-4R, and IL-10R. The clinical features of SLE patients were recorded. The correlations of chemokine receptors and IL receptors mRNA expressions with clinical features as well as SLEDAI were assayed using linear regression analysis.

RESULTSThe level of CCR5 mRNA in SLE patients (including active and inactive SLE) was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between active and inactive patients in this respect (P > 0.05). CX3CR1 mRNA expression significantly increased from healthy control to inactive SLE to active SLE in sequence. The others (except for CCR8, CXCR3, and IL-10R) in active SLE patients were significantly higher than those in both inactive SLE patients and healthy controls (all P < 0.05). There were positive correlations between SLEDAI and CCR2 (r = 0.424, t = 4.313, P < 0.001), CCR3 (r = 0.518, t = 5.410, P < 0.001), CCR4 (r = 0.376, t = 3.851, P < 0.001), CCR6 (r = 0.457, t = 4.513, P < 0.001), CXCR5 (r = 0.455, t = 4.629, P < 0.001), CX3CR1 (r = 0.445, t = 4.523, P < 0.001), as well as XCR1 (r = 0.540, t = 5.445, P < 0.001). And CCR5 mRNA expression level was positively correlated with IL-4R mRNA (r = 0.313, t = 2.353, P < 0.05). The patients with myositis and cutaneous vasculitis simultaneously showed lower levels of CCR5 and CX3CR1, and CCR5 expression was negatively correlated with the scores of SLEDAI in SLE cases accompanied by photosensitivity (r = 0.426, t = -2.155, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIncreased expressions of CCR5 and CX3CR1 on PBMCs may be indicators in clinical survey for SLE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1 ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; immunology ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; etiology ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; Receptors, CCR5 ; genetics ; Receptors, Chemokine ; genetics ; Receptors, Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; Receptors, Interleukin-4 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular biological mechanism of chronoexercise regulating circadian.

METHODSExpressions of mPer1 and mPer2 in the diencephalon of golden hamster were determined 2 hours after acute exhaustive exercise (circadian time 6) by quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSChronoexercise at CT6 significantly decreased expressions of mPer1 and mPer2 in the diencephalon of golden hamster.

CONCLUSIONInhibitory effect of chronoexercise on Per1 and Per2 mRNA levels in the diencephalon of golden hamster at CT6 may be achieved transcription-translation-based autoregulatory negative feedback loop.

Animals ; Circadian Rhythm ; physiology ; Cricetinae ; Gene Expression ; Period Circadian Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction