Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Young Adult

Objective:Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) is increasingly being introduced in the clinic,both for diagnostics and image guidance.Although dedicated 3D US probes exist,because of its expensive cost,3D US can also be acquired with the still frequently used two-dimensional (2D) US probes.Methods:Obtaining 3D volumes with 2D US probes is a two-step process.First,a positioning sensor must be attached to the probe for 2D image matching;second,a reconstruction of a 3D volume can be performed into a regular voxel grid.Results:This paper presents a way to realize the 3D US in irled-based Image Guided Radiotherapy using a homemade 2D US.Conclusions:The experiments demonstrate a method of saving costs and having advantages in clinic application.

AIM: To investigate the effects of exogenous L-carnitine on lipid metabolism in semi-starved rats fed on high fat diet. METHODS: The semi-starved rats were restricted half in calorie intake on high fat diet for 2 week. L-carnitine was supplied at dose of 250 mg/kg?bw. The changes of plasma carnitine concentration, urinary excretion of ketone body, serum lipase activity, muscle carnitine palmitoyl transferase activity, triglyceride secretion and clearance rate were measured. RESULTS: The results showed that the concentration of plasma free carnitine increased significantly in carnitine supplemented rats compared to normal and semi-starved rats.The activities of muscle carnitine palmitoyltransferase and serum lipase were significantly enhanced in carnitine supplemented rats. The triglyceride secretion rate(TGSR) was also improved remarkably by carnitine supplementation. Meanwhile, the urinary excretion of ketone body was reduced significantly in carnitine supplemented rats compared to semi-starved rats. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that carnitine supplementation can significantly increase the plasma concentration of free carnitine and accelerate the lipid metabolism in semi-starved rats fed on high fat diet.

OBJECTIVETo explore the imaging characteristics and operation outcomes of intramedullary schwannoma in thoracolumbar spine.

METHODSFrom June 2005 to December 2012,17 patients with intramedullary schwannoma in thoracolumbar spine were operated through posterior approach, including 11 males and 6 females with an average age of 53 years old ranging from 46 to 67 years old. The courses of disease ranged from 3 to 5 years (averaged 3.3 years). Thoracic patients manifested chest and back pain,numbness and inability on lower limb gradually, unsteady gait. Lumbar patients manifested low back pain,radiating pain and numbness on lower limb, intermittent claudication. Preoperative VAS score was 5 to 8 with an average of 6.12. Eleven patients suffered from never injury, 4 cases were grade C, 5 cases were grade D and 2 cases were grade E according to Frankel classification. Three patients were injured on thoracic segments, 5 patients were on thoracolumbar segments, 3 patients on lumbar segments and 6 patients on lumbosacral segment confirmed by CT and MRI. Five patients were epidural, 12 were intradural extramedullary. Six patients underwent spinal decompression and tumor resection simply, eleven patients underwent spinal decompression, tumor resection, internal fixation and bone graft fusion.

RESULTSNo injury of blood vessel or spinal cord occurred during operation, cutting healed well. All patients were followed up from 12 to 60 months with an average of 32 months. Chest and back pain, low back pain, radiating pain and numbness on lower limb were improved significantly. VAS score at final follow-up was 0 to 3 (averaged 1.5). According to Frankel classification, 5 cases were grade D, and 6 cases were grade E at final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONMRI is an effective method in diagnosis of intramedullary schwannoma in thoracolumbar spine. Operative method is choosed by imaging expression, and the aim is effectively decompression of spine, reconstruction of stability of spine.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Spinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the applicability of immune-related response criteria (irRC) in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSTotally 97 stage III a-IV NSCLC patients were predominantly treated with comprehensive CM. Curative effects were evaluated by three methods such as Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), Oncologic Curative Effect Evaluation Criteria of Chinese Medicine in Solid Tumor (draft, abbreviated as CM criteria), and irRC. The correspondency and consistency between irRC, RECIST and CM criteria were analyzed and compared. The objectivity of irRC in evaluating curative effect of Chinese medical treatment for NSCLC was assessed.

RESULTSThe correspondency rate of irRC to RECIST was 59. 79% with Kappa value of 0. 379 (U test, P <0. 01). The two criteria had certain correspondence, but with an unsatisfactory consistency. The correspondency rate of irRC to CM criteria rate was 83. 51% with Kappa value of 0.751 (U test, P <0. 01). The two criteria had good correspondence and consistency.

CONCLUSIONSCM criteria had good consistency with CM criteria in evaluating curative effect for Chinese medical treatment of advanced NSCLC. Its results could objectively reflect features and advantages of CM for treating advanced NSCLC.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To analyze the correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR) in peripheral blood and the therapeutic effect and prognosis of patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma treated with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors.Methods Retrospective analysis was utilized to measure the clinical pathological characteristics and follow-up data of 40 cases with advanced lung adenocarcinoma definitely diagnosed by pathology.Correlation analysis was performed by Spearman test,and comparison of the sample rate was measured by the chi square test.Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method,Log-rank test was used to compare patients survival difference among different groups.COX regression model was utilized to analyze the prognostic factors of patients with lung cancer.Results Through the ROC curve,the optimal cut-off points of NLR and PLR were calculated to be 3.74 and 205.1 respectively.In NLR<3.74 group,objective response rate(ORR),the median progression-free survival(PFS) and the median overall survival(OS) were 86.9%(20/23),9.02 months and 12.37 months respectively.In NLR ≥3.74 group,ORR,the median PFS and the median OS was ORR were 35.2%(6/17),3.15 months and 5.12 months respectively.Compared with NLR ≥ 3.74 group,NLR<3.74 group had a higher ORR(P=0.036),PFS(P=0.011) and OS(P=0.021),the difference was statistically significant.In PLR<205.1 group,ORR,the median PFS and the median OS was ORR were 85.7%(18/21),9.67 months and 14.35 months respectively.In PLR ≥ 205.1 group,ORR,the median PFS and the median OS was ORR were 42.1%(8/19),3.21 months and 9.25 months respectively.Compared with group PLR ≥ 205.1,PLR<205.1 group had a higher ORR(P=0.045) and PFS(P=0.018),the difference was statistically significant.COX multivariate analysis showed that NLR was an independent prognostic factor for PFS(RR=1.091,95%CI:1.004-1.185,P=0.039) and OS(RR=0.986,95%CI:0.932-1.148,P=0.021).PLR was an independent prognostic indicator of PFS(RR=1.100,95%CI:0.996-1.005,P=0.024).Conclusion NLR and PLR may be independent prognostic factors in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

AIM: To investigate the effects of exogenous L - carnitine on lipid metabolism in semi - starved rats fed on high fat diet. METHODS: The semi - starved rats were restricted half in calorie intake on high fat diet for 2 week. L - carnitine was supplied at dose of 250 mg/kg· bw. The changes of plasma carnitine concentration, urinary excretion of ketone body, serum lipase activity, muscle carnitine palmitoyl transferase activity, triglyceride secretion and clearance rate were measured. RESULTS: The results showed that the concentration of plasma free camitine increased significantly in carnitine supplemented rats compared to normal and semi - starved rats. The activities of muscle carnitine palmitoyhransferase and serum lipase were significantly enhanced in carnitine supplemented rats. The triglyceride secretion rate (TGSR) was also improved remarkably by carnitine supplementation. Meanwhile, the urinary excretion of ketone body was reduced significantly in carnitine supplemented rats compared to semi - starved rats. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that carnitine supplementation can significantly increase the plasma concentration of free carnitine and accelerate the lipid metabolism in semi - starved rats fed on high fat diet.

ObjectiveTo study the pathogcncsis of gastrointestinal vascular malformation (GIVM) and the potential mechanism of thalidomide in the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding due to GIVM.Methods We collected the surgical intestinal specimens from 10 patients who suffered from massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract owning to GIVM and the normal intestinal mucosa around the lesions,as well as normal intestinal mucosa from healthy subjects.Immunohistochemical(IHC) staining was carried out to investigate the differences of angiopoietin 2 ( Ang2 ),Notch1 and delta like ligand 4 (Dll4) in the above three intestinal mucosa to find the relationship with the pathogenesis of GIVM. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) were cultured with 0,25,50,100 and 200 mg/L thalidomide for 24 or 48 hours to observe their mRNA and protein expressions of Ang2,Notch1,Dll4 by real-time PCR and Western blot.ResultsBy IHC staining,more expressions of Ang2,Notch1 and Dll4 in the lesions were detected than those in the normal intestinal mucosa around the lesions and the normal intestinal mucosa in healthy people.The expressions of Ang2,Notch1 and Dll4 were significantly correlated (P =0.016,r =0.732),and the expressions of Notch1 and Dll4 were absolutely correlated ( P =0.000,r =1.000).Real-time PCR and Western blot showed that thalidomide could down-regulate the expressions of them,which were in a concentration-dependent manner.ConclusionAng2,Notch1 and Dll4 may correlate with the pathogenesis of GIVM,while thalidomide can concentration-dependently down-regulate the expression of Ang2,Notch1 and Dll4,which may be one of the mechanism that thalidomide play a therapeutic role in GIVM.

Objective To figure out and verify infiltration related miRNAs in bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC). Methods Fresh tissues (20 samples,12 were infiltrative BUC samples,8 were non-infiltrative BUC samples) were collected in liquid nitrogen.The total RNA was extracted by using Trizol reagents.RNA quality control; miRNA microarray hybridization; data analysis.Another 22 samples were collected in fresh (15 were infiltrative BUC samples,7 were non-infiltrative BUC samples) for verifying purpose.4 types of bladder cancer cell lines were used for the study.BUC cell strain; total RNA was extracted by Trizol reagents; RNA quality control; RT-PCR and analysis of the data. Results ①In infiltrative BUC group,compared with non-infiltrative BUC group,there were 7 differentially expressed miRNAs:hsa-miR29c,hsa-miR-200a,hsa-miR-378,hsa-miR-429,hsa-miR-200c and hsa-miR-141 were up-regulated; hsamiR-451 was down-regulated.②In collected samples,the result of RT-PCR was consistent with miRNA array.③In bladder cancer cell lines,only the results of T24 were consistent with miRNA array. Conclusion Infiltration of BUC might relate with different expression of miRNAs.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of fludarabine cytarabine and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (FLAG) chemotherapy on adult relapsed or refractory adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients.Methods Twenty adult patients with relapsed or refractory ALL were treated with salvage therapy which was combined of fludarabine,cytarabine and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (FLAG).Another 20 cases in control group were treated with primal induction regimen and idamycin combined with etoposide and high-dose methylprednisolone.Sides effects of 2 groups were compared and FCM was used to investigate the cells with leukemia associated with immunophenotype,final comparing with bone marrow morphology.Results Hematologic toxicity was similar both in the treatment group and control group.Nonhematology complications consisted of heart and liver toxicity (1/20 and 9/20) were weaker than those in control group (4/20 and 1/20),which were mild to moderate and could be alleviated with supportive therapy.The median overall survival was no significant difference between both sides,eights patients (40.0 ％) who achieved complete remission received salvage therapy,the disease-free survival and the median overall survival were 6 months (range 4-30 months) and 11 months (range 9-30 months),respectively.Seven patients (35.0 ％) achieved complete remission in the treatment group,the disease-free survival and the median overall survival were 4 months (range 3-30 months) and 9 months (range 9-30 months) for 7 patients,respectively.In the treatment group early recurrence [5.0 ％ (1/20)] and outside marrow of recurrence rate (0)were lower than in control group [20.0 ％ (4/20) and 10.0 ％ (2/20)].Conclusion FLAG is a well-tolerated regimen for adult relapsed or refractory ALL patients which enables patients to receive allogeneic stem cell transplantation.