Objective To assess the value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in clinical classification,monitoring of chemotherapeutic response and surveillance of histopathological transformation of Castleman's disease (CD).Methods Fourteen pathologically diagnosed CD patients (7 males,7 females; mean age:(45.64±14.30) years) were retrospectively reviewed.18F-FDG PET/CT was performed before chemotherapy in all patients and 4 of 14 patients were reexamined after the treatment.The study parameters included histopathological results,sites,number and highest SUVmax of the lesions.Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for data analysis.Results Of all the 12 patients without histopathological transformation,one or more enlarged and metabolically active lymph nodes were found in each patient (SUVmax =3.94± 1.44,range:1.9-6.8),including 2 unicentric CD (UCD) and 10 multicentric CD (MCD).There was no statistically significant difference of SUVmam between UCD and MCD (4.55±3.18 vs 3.82±1.14; Z=0.22,P＞0.05).There was also no significant difference of SUVmax among different pathological types (hyaline-vascular CD (4/12):3.56±0.96,plasma cell CD (6/12):4.73±1.41,mixed CD (2/12):2.30±0.57; x2 =4.74,P＞0.05).For the 4 patients with follow-up PET/CT after chemotherapy,the lesion activity was normalized in 3 patients and clearly reduced in 1 patient.The SUVmax of 2 patients with histopathological transformation (10.85±2.05) was significantly higher than that without transformation (3.94± 1.44; Z=-2.19,P＜0.05).Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT may play an important role in clinical classification,monitoring of chemotherapeutic response and surveillance of histopathological transformation of CD.

Pulsed field gel electrophoresis(PFGE)is a new type technique of gel electrophoresis which can be used to separate large DNA molecules.It has been widely applied to the karyotype analysis,identification of species groups,genetic orientation and genetic analysis for fungi.This article describes the principle,development and general manipulative procedure of PFGE,and elaborates the application in the molecular research of fungi.

Objective: To determine the rate of lymph node metastases in women with endometrial carci-noma and to compare the pattern of lymphatic spread of endometrial carcinoma with that of cervical carcino-ma. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the lymphatic spread in 104 patients with endometrial carcinoma and 253 patients with cervical carcinoma. All of the patients underwent a complete pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy from caudal to the median circumflex to the level of renal vessels. Results: The incidence of lymphatic metastases in the endometrial carcinoma group was higher than that in the cervical carcinoma group (22.1% vs 16.2 %). The pathologic grade (G_1: 12.1%; G_2: 21.4%; G_3: 34.5%) and depth of myometrial in-vasion (≤1/2: 11.9%; >1/2: 29%) were correlated with lymph node metastasis. The rates of para-aortic node involvement, pelvic lymph node involvement and involvement of both were 4.3%, 34.8% and 60.9% in the en-dometrial carcinoma group and 0%, 68.3% and 31.7% in the cervical carcinoma group. The rates of obturator node involvement were 73.9% and 70.7%, respectively; the rates of suprainguinal node involvement were 8.7% and 7.3%, respectively. Compared with cervical carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma showed higher rate of para-aortic and sacral node involvement (65.2% vs 31.7%, and 21.7% vs 17.1%) and lower rate of extamal iliac node involvement (17.4% vs 41.5%). Conclusion: Compared with cervical carcinoma, endometrial carcino-ma has a distinct lymphatic spread pattern and can directly metastasize to both pelvic lymph nodes and pa-ra-aortic lymph nodes with pelvic lymph node metastases being dominant. Positive lymph nodes are common-ly seen in cases of all pathological grades.

Puff-balls is a very distinctive macro-fungi in biodiversity.It is used to be a styptic,repellent and alexipharmic in China.This paper simply summarizes the puffball′s taxonomy in the fungi and its distribution in the world; and emphasizes on its composition,food uses,medical uses,herbalism studies and progress of researches on clinical applications.And it points out the patent prospect and current problems of the puff-balls.

Objective To investigate the usefulness of 99Tcm-MDP whole body bone scintigraphy (WBBS) in patients with synovitis,acne,pustulosis,hyperostosis,osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome.Methods 99Tcm- MDP WBBS was performed in 25 patients (6 males,19 females,mean age =(55.1 ±9.8) years)with SAPHO syndrome.Bone lesions were classified into five categories:anterior chest wall,spine,mandible,sacroiliac joint,and limbs.The typical scintigraphic manifestations of SAPHO syndrome were summarized and compared to other radiological imaging data.Results Among 25 patients,32％ of cases (8/25)were associated with skin lesion; 48％ ( 12/25 ) were pathologically diagnosed with chronic nonspecific bone inflammation by bone biopsy.On 99Tcm-MDP WBBS,abnormal metabolic foci at anterior chest wall were found in all cases,most of which located in the sternocostoclavicular region (96％,24/25 ),including sternoclavicular joints (60％,15/25),first costosternal junctions (48％,12/25),and manubriosternal junctions (44％,11/25 ).Only 20％ of the patients (5/25) demonstrated the typical scintigraphic characteristic:“bull's head” sign.The second most frequent part was spine (44％,11/25).Appendicular skeleton was affected in 16％ (4/25) patients.WBBS also demonstrated additional skeletal lesions in 68％ (17/25 ) of the patients,mainly in first costosternal junctions (7 patients),sternoclavicular joints (6 patients),manubriosternal junctions (5 patients) and spine (4 patients).Conclusions Abnormal metabolic foci in sternocostoclavicular region and other imaging manifestations on 99Tcm- MDP WBBS can be used to diagnose,differentiate,and localize the insidious lesion and evaluate the lesion activity in patients with SAPHO syndrome.

Objective To investigate the children's body environmental Se and T-2 toxin level in their staple food in Kaschin-Beck disease(KBD)relative active regions in Aba state of Sichuan province in 2008.Methods We took X-ray photograph of the right hand on children aged 7-13 years in 48 villages from 11 counties in Aba state.The relative active regions of KBD were chosen according to the X-ray result and historical status of KBD.The children's urine and hair,drinking water and their staple food werr sampled.Selenium contents in urine,hair,water and food samples were determined by naphthalene fluorescence,and T-2 toxin in staple food samples were detected by ELISA kits.Results In 2145 X-ray films,66 films were positive,and the children's KBD positive rate was 3.08%(66/2145).The KBD positive rate was respectively 10.98%(29/264)and 8.52%(19/223)in Maerkang county,Jinchuan county and it was 0.75%(3/400)in Rangtang county,historically serious endemic area.The selenium content in urine of children aged 7-13 years in Maerkang county,Jinchuan county and Rangtang county was (10.41±4.67), (10.11±3.65), (8.42±2.68)μg/g Cr, respectively, there was no statistical difference among three counties(F=0.901, P>0.05). The selenium content in hair of children aged 7-13 years in Maerkang county[(0.18±0.04)mg/kg] was lower than that in Jinchuan county[(0.21±0.04)mg/kg, P<0.05].The selenium content in water in Jinchuan county [(0.225±0.124 )μg/L ] was lower than that in Maerkang county and Rangtang county[(0.320±0.092), (0.339±0.105)μg/L, all P<0.05]. The selenium content in staple food in Jinchuan county(0.0033 mg/kg) was lower than that in Maerkang county and Rangtang county(0.0258,0.0137mg/kg, Z=-6.146,-3.042, all P<0.017). The T-2 toxin level in flour in three counties was 19.60,17.95,26.25 ng/g,respectively,there was no statistical difference among three counties(X2=5.623, P>0.05).The T-2 toxin level in grain Maerkang county (10.72 ng/g) was higher than that in Jinchuan county and Rangtang county (3.74,3.30 ng/g, Z=-6.315,-4.407,all P<0.017). T-2 toxin contamination in flour was more severe than that in grain (Z=-6.690,-5.493,-3.676, all P<0.05). Conclusions In 3 relative active KBD regions of Aba state,the children's selenium nutritional status and the T-2 toxin contamination level in their staple food is consistent with the distribution of KBD.

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of delayed parenchymal transit time (PTT) on 99TcmDTPA diuretic renography as a predictor for functional improvement after Anderson-Hynes dismembered pyeloplasty in patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO).Methods Forty-seven patients (37males,10 females,age (29.7± 10.8) years) with unilateral U PJO were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent 99Tcm-DTPA diuretic renography before and after the surgery.Patient age,sex,UPJO location,surgical methods,relative renal function (RRF) of the diseased kidney (uptake ratio of UPJO kidney to both kidneys),and PTT were recorded.Delayed PTT was defined as having one of the following criteria: (1) photopenic pelvis between the second and seventh frame; (2) relatively stable tracer distribution within the kidney between the second to ninth frame with nearly unchanged kidney shape and size; (3) ever increasing activity in the parenchyma; (4) slower clearance from the parenchyma into the pelvis since the second frame compared with the contralateral healthy kidney.The relationship between the above-mentioned factors and RRF improvement (RRFpvst-surgery,-RRFpre-sugery) was analyzed.Paired t test,Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney rank sum tests and Pearson correlation analysis were used.Results The average RRF of pre-and post-surgery was (40.70± 13.30) ％ and (44.96 ± 12.60) ％,respectively (t =4.19,P ＜ 0.01).RRF improvement between the delayed group (n=16) and normal timely PTT group (n=27) was significantly different: ((11.69±6.52) ％ vs (0.48±2.98) ％,Z=-5.13,P＜0.01).The assessment of delayed or normal PTT could not be determined in 4 patients.No statistically significant differences of RRF improvement were found between pre-surgery RRF ＜ 40％ and RRF ≥ 40％ groups,between left and right UPJO groups,between open surgery and laparoscope groups,between male and female patients (Z =-1.93 to 1.25,all P＞0.05).There was no significant correlation between RRF improvement and patient age (r =0.01,P＞0.05).Conclusion Delayed PTT on 99Tcm-DTPA diuretic renography might be the predictor for functional improvement post surgery in UPJO patients.

Objective To explore the application value of pulmonary artery monitoring program for intracranial and cervical artery angiography with dual-energy CT.Methods Sixty patients performed intracranial and cervical artery angiography with dual-energy CT were divided into two groups according to the random number table.Group A (optimization group,30 patients):the monitoring points were located in the main pulmonary artery,with threshold 150 HU,trigger delay time 8-9 s,pitch 0.9,and the iohexol (350 mg I/ml) 60-65 ml.Group B (conventional group,30 patients):the monitoring points were located in aortic arch,with threshold 100 HU,trigger delay time 5 s,and the iohexol (350 mg I/ml)60-70 ml.Patients with the body weight less than 75 kg were injected with the flow rate of 4.0 ml/s,and those weight greater than 75 kg or with body mass index (BMI) greater than 27 kg/m2 were 4.5 ml/s,following 40 ml saline solution with the same flow rate respectively.All images were transferred to Siemens Syngo workstation for further processing and analysis.The attenuation values were measured on axial images in the common carotid artery,internal and external carotid artery,vertebral and basilar artery,the horizontal segment of the middle cerebral artery,the subclavian vein of injection side,the proximal,middle and distal segment of jugular vein,the straight sinus and the superior sagittal sinus.Two experienced observers blinded independently evaluated the image quality of CTA,the impact of contrast material residues artifacts of subclavian vein of injected side and the affect of venous return factors on arterial image display.Images of volume rendering technique(VR),the maximum intensity projection (MIP),and curved planar reformation (CPR) were reconstructed using dual energy bone removal and Inspace and 3D software.The mean intraluminal attenuation of contrast material (HU),the volume of contrast material and the mean image quality scores were compared with t test between the two groups.Chi-square test was used to compare of image contrast agents residual artifacts,the absence segments of the root of the neck artery,and the degree of the jugular vein return in two groups.Results The mean CT values were 372-414 HU for each segment of artery showing no significant differences between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).In group A,the CT values of the jugular vein in proximal,middle,distal segment of the two sides were (95 ± 36),(95 ± 36),(131 ±58),(133 ± 57),(174 ± 68),and (180 ± 66) HU respectively.In group B,CT values were (135 ± 58),(137 ±59),(170 ±58),(181 ±58),(218 ±62),and (224 ±68) HU.The CT value of jugular venous in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (t =-3.30--2.54,P ＜ 0.05).Case numbers of contrast agent residual artifacts of injection side subclavian vein and the absence segments of root of the neck artery at the beginning in group A (5,11) were less than that in group B (12,24) (x2 =4.02,5.65,P ＜0.05).The degree of the jugular vein return in group A were lesser severely than that in group B (x2 =6.79,6.37,P ＜0.05).Below the level of carotid artery bifurcation:slight 5 patients,severe 1 patient in group A vs.slight 15 patients,severe 9 patients in group B.Above the level of carotid artery bifurcation:slight 9 patients,severe 6 patients in group A vs.slight 12 patients,severe 17 patients in group B.Image quality scores of group A (3.84 ± 0.40) was higher than that of group B (3.64 ± 0.63) (t =4.26,P ＜0.05).Conclusions Pulmonary Artery Monitoring combines with 60-65 ml contrast material optimization scheme for intracranial and cervical artery angiography with dual energy CT can significantly reduce the degree of jugular venous return and contrast material residues artifacts of subclavian vein of injected side.This technique is helpful to improve the work efficiency and image quality.

A total of 72 patients with first-episode mild-and-moderate depression took Qishen Fukang Capsules.The change of event-related potential P3 was determined before and after treatment for 6,12 and 24 weeks.And another 70 healthy controls received the same tests simultaneously.Compared with before treatment,HAMD scores after treatment were lower in the patient group [(29.1 ± 5.1) score vs.(10.4 ±4.1) score].P3 latencies were shorter and amplitudes became higher after treatment (P ＜0.01).And the difference of before and after treatment for 6 weeks was larger than the difference of 12 weeks and after treatment for 6 weeks (P ＜ 0.01).The curative effect is definite.And the clinical symptoms and brain evoked potential index have improved in patients with first-episode mild-and-moderate depression after medication.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( PET/CT) in fever of unknown origin ( FUO) in a Chinese hospital .Methods:The records of 51 patients with FUO (32 men and 19 women;mean age 54 years with a range between 3 and 81 years) were analyzed retrospectively .All the patients were examined by 18 F-FDG PET/CT scan and the results were compared with the final diagnosis which was established by additional procedures including pathology , laboratory examination , and clinical follow-up for more than 3 months.The t test was used for statistical analysis .Results: A final diagnosis was established for 48 patients , including 32 patients with infectious diseases , 9 with malignancies , and 7 with non-infectious inflammatory diseases .By FDG PET scan alone , the rates of true positive , false positive , false negative, and true negative were 52.9%, 27.5%, 17.6%, and 2.0%, respectively.By FDG PET/CT scan, the rates of true positive, false positive, false negative, and true negative were 70.6%, 27.5%, 2.0%, and 0, respectively.18F-PET/CT had a sensitivity of 97.3%(36/37), specificity of 0 (0/14), and accuracy of 70.6%(36/51) in FUO, especially a high sensitivity and accuracy of 100%(9/9) in the diagnosis of malignant tumor .Moreover , the maximum standardized uptake value ( SUVmax ) in tumor was significant higher than that in infection (3.7 ±2.7 vs.7.7 ±3.5, P=0.001, t=3.6), which implied that SUVmax might be useful in differential diagnosis in FUO .Conclusion:FDG PET/CT is a valuable imaging tool for the identification and location of the potential lesion in FUO and is helpful for the etiological diagnosis , especially in the diagnosis of malignant lesions .