Objective To evaluate the CT features and its diagnostic value in tuberculous meningitis(TBM).Methods Forty patients who had clinically proved TBM and each was performed with CT scans and enhanced CT were retrospective studied.Results CT scans showed abnormalities consistent with TBM in 36 cases(90%) whereas others(4 cases)were normal.Abnormalities were visualized on CT scans included basal exudate in 22 cases,hydrocephalus 36 cases,infarcts 11 cases and tuberculomas 9 cases.Conclusion The most characteristic findings with TBM are exudates in the basal cisterns and Sylvian fissures.It is essential in studying CT scans of TBM to make a note of the associated changes such as hydrocephalus,infarction and tuberculomas.These factors have a bearing on the plan of treatment.Surgical intervention should be considered after a conservative treatment if the tuberculoma consistent exists,or progressive ventricular enlargement are identified on CT.

Objective To determine safe zones at the medial and lateral calcaneus for percutaneous pin placement in Chinese patients.Methods Fourteen cadaveric specimens of normal Chinese adult foot and ankle joints were dissected in this study.At the medial calcaneus of each foot, the most medial and posteroinferior point, the most inferior medial malleolus and the navicular tuberosity were identified and labeled as points A, B and C respectively.The medial calcaneal nerve, the most posterior branch of the lateral plantar nerve, the lateral plantar nerve, the medial plantar nerve, the posterior tibial artery, the lateral plantar artery and the medial plantar artery were carefully dissected and identified.A relative safe zone at the medial calcaneus was marked off according to where the neurovascular structures crossed lines AB and AC.At the lateral calcaneus, the most lateral and posteroinferior point and the inferior lateral malleolus were identified and labeled as points D and E respectively.The lateral calcaneal nerve, the sural nerve and the trunk of the small saphenous vein were carefully dissected and identified.A relative safe zone at the lateral calcaneus was marked off in the same way as that at the medial calcaneus.Results At the medial calcaneus, the medial calcaneal nerve, the most posterior branch of the lateral plantar nerve, the lateral plantar nerve, the medial plantar nerve and the posterior tibial artery crossed line AB respectively at posteroinferiorly 22%, 50%,56%, 64% and 58% of the line.The medial calcaneal nerve, the most posterior branch of the lateral plantar nerve, the lateral plantar nerve, the medial plantar nerve, the lateral plantar artery and the medial plantar artery crossed line AC respectively at posteroinferiorly 14%, 39%, 49%, 63%, 41% and 57% of the line.At the lateral calcaneus, the lateral calcaneal nerve, the sural nerve and the trunk of the small saphenous vein crossed line DE respectively at posteroinferiorly 19%, 65% and 61% of the line.Conclusions At the medial calcaneus, the circular region posterior to the 1/2 of line AB and to the 1/3 of line AC may be considered as a relative safe zone for percutaneous pin placement; at the lateral calcaneus, the region posterior to the perpendicular at the midpoint of line DE may be considered as a relative safe zone for percutaneous pin placement.

To meet the need of accurate positioning for biopsy gun in the breast biopsy operation, a new stereotactic biopsy guide device have been developed to adapt to the domestic mammary machine, which can help physician to carry out biopsy operation more accurately and effectively. The guide device has the motion model, measurement model and display model and can realize linear motion and display real-time displacement values in X, Y and Z direction. The experimental results showed that the guide device could be well fixed in the domestic mammary machine, and achieved good accuracy and repeatability in each direction. Depending on the displacement values, physician can change the space of biopsy gun accurately.
Biopsy, Needle ; instrumentation ; methods ; Breast ; pathology ; Equipment Design ; Female ; Humans ; Stereotaxic Techniques ; instrumentation

Objective To assess the virtual non-contrast liver CT from dual-energy CT for the clinical application. Methods In total, 51 patients were included in the study, and all patients underwent multi-phase liver CT on a dual-source CT. The True non-contrast liver CT (TNCT) was performed in a single-energy acquisition mode, but the arterial and portovenous liver CT (VNCT) were performed in a dual-energy mode of 110 kV and 140 kV respectively. The virtual non-contrast CT images were derived from the arterial data using liver virtual non-contrast software. Between the true non-contrast CT and the virtual non-contrast CT, the image quality, mean CT HU values in the liver and muscle, signal to noise (SNR), the radiation dose of volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) in a single phase and total examination were compared with t test. Results There was no significant difference in the detection of liver lesions between TNCT and VNCT. The CT Hu values of muscle on both TNCT and VNCT images were almost equal. The CT HU values of liver on VNCT images were higher than that on TNCT images and the difference was significant [61.32 ±6. 04 vs. (56. 85 ±4. 80) HU, t = -3. 927,P＜0.01]. There was also significant differenc of SNR between TNCT (11.28±2. 78) and VNCT (8.65 ± 1.56) images( t =-5.590,P＜0.01). The CTDIvol and DLP of single phase were (7.07 ±0.85) mGy and (155.11 ±respectively, but in TNCT the total CTDIvol and DLP reached (21.43 ± 2. 46 ) mGy and (469. 02 ±significance, but the total CTDIvol and DLP were significantly different (t = 16. 168 and 13. 132, P ＜0. 01). Conclusion With the consequent reduction in radiation dose, the VNCT can replace TNCT as an imaging protocol in multi-phase abdominal CT examination in clinic.

In order to investigate the features of multidetector CT (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as the corresponding pathogic basis of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) in the pelvis, we collected the clinical data of 13 patients with pathologically confirmed SFT in pelvis, and retrospectively reviewed the MDCT and MRI appearances. Of these enrolled patients, 6 received MDCT scans, 5 underwent MRI scans, and 2 underwent both MDCT and MRI examinations. Shown on the MDCT and MRI, the maximum diameters of the masses ranged from 4.0 to 25.2 cm (averaged 11.8 cm). Six masses were lobulated, and seven were round or oval. In addition, all masses were well-defined and displaced the adjacent structures to some degrees. On the computed tomography, all masses were of isodensity on unenhanced scans in general, among which five masses were demonstrated with hypodense areas. On the MRI T1-weighted image, all lesions were isointense, of which patchy hypointense areas were detected in 3 cases and radial hypointense areas were in 3 cases, and the other one was presented with homogenous intensity. On T2-weighted images, most of the lesions were mixed hyperintense, of which 3 cases were of heterogenous hyperintesity, radial hypointense areas were detected in 3 patients, and the other one was homogenously intense. On enhanced computed tomography and MRI, large supplying vessels were found in 4 cases; 12 cases showed moderate to conspicuous enhancement, and the other one was presented with mild homogenous enhancement. Of the patients with moderate to conspicuous enhancement, patchy areas of non-enhancement were detected in 7 cases, radial areas of progressive enhancement were detected in 3 cases, and the remained 2 cases showed homogenous enhancement. On pathology, the radial area presented as progressive enhancement was fibrosis. During the follow-ups after surgery, 2 patients had local recurrence and 1 had metastasis to liver. In conclusion, the SFT in the pelvis are commonly presented as a large solid, well-defined and hypervascular mass with necrosis or cystic changes at some extents together with the displacement of adjacent structures. The radial area with hypointensity on T2-weighted image and with progressive enhancement on enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is an important feature of SFT, which can be helpful for the diagnosis of this mass.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pelvis ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Baculovirus gene expression is the most popular method to make target protein in cultured insect cells. To fast determine the generation of recombinant virus in cultured cells, donor plasmid of pFastBacI was modified by introducing egfp cassette. In the modified vector, egfp cassette was under the control of ie1 promoter, and target gene cassette was under the control of polyhedron promoter. To evaluate the convenience of the genetically modified donor plasmid used in eukaryotic expression, ns1 gene from Bombyx mori bidensovirus was ligated into the donor plasmid to generate recombinant plasmid pFastBacI-[P(ie1)-egfp-sv40]-[P(polh)-ns1-sv40]. Then the plasmid was transformed into DH10B competent cells containing Bm-Bacmid vector to produce the final recombinant Bm-Bacmid with the help of transposase. The resulting recombinant Bm-Bacmid was transfected into BmN cells to generate recombinant virus, which was easily and rapidly judged by green fluorescent signal observed in BmN cells. After infection for 96 h, the BmN cells were harvested and the total protein extracted from the infected BmN cells was subjected to Western blotting analysis. The result showed that a specific protein band about 36 kDa was detected, indicating that NS1 protein was successfully expressed in the BmN cells. In conclusion, the expression of NS1 protein with the modified expression system is useful for further research on the function of NS1 protein.
Animals ; Baculoviridae ; genetics ; Bombyx ; virology ; Cell Line ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Plasmids ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Transfection ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To study the effect of hypothemah on the early inflammatory reaction in acute lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia-repeffusion(IlR)in rabbits.Method Seventy-two healthy rabbits provided by Peking Union Medical Colege Hospital Anhnal center were randomly divided into four groups(n=18 pergroup):(1)normothermia control group (rectal temperature 37-38 C;sham group);(2)normothermia IlR group(rectal temperature 37-38 C);(3)mild hypothermia HR group(rectal temperature 32-35℃);and (4)moderate hypothermia IIR group(rectal temperature 28-31.9C).Acute lung injury was induced by claIllp.ithe superiornteric artery(SMA)for 1 hour and declamping the SMA for 6 hours.Hypothermia WaS induced by surface cooling.Before and 2.4 and 6 hours after IIR,the Olasmlevels o,IL-,IL-6 and IL10 were measured.All rabbits were killed 6 hours after IIR and water content in lung tissue Wttk'assessed.Iaght mieropic examination was performed tbr morphological assessment of the hmg.The data were analyzed by AN()VA.Statistical significance wag dned as a P of<0.05.Results In the IIR groups,the plasma levels ofTHE-a.IL-l,IL-6 and IL-10 and lung water were increased.There Was evidence of acute lung injury from morphologi-cal assessment of the lung.The acute lung injury induced by IIR was improved by hypethennia.Mild hypothermia Was similar to moderate hypothermia for the treatment of acute lung injury induced by IIR.ConclusiotMild hy-pothermia and moderate hypothermia Can significantly improve acute lung injury induced by IIR in rabbits.Mild hypothea had similar efficacy to moderate hypothermia for the treatment of acute lung injury induced by IIR.

Objective To probe into the variation of CT values of surface enhanced layers of nasopharynx wall,intensified regularity and choosing the best scanning time.Methods 138 patients received conventional plus enhanced CT scan and 58 cases of them received delayed and repeated scans.Results 83% of the cases were correspondent to the surface of nasopharynx and had manifest linear enhancement.After giving contrast injection,it reached 97% at the 74 second.All CT values of the cases were enhanced in the phase of 92～344 second.Conclusion The ratio of linear enhancement is manifestly high,which is very helpful to the CT diangosis of NPC restricted to or under the mucosa.The best acquisition time should be just before or after the 74 second,correspondent to the surface of nasopharynx.The enhancement lasted long.

Objective To discuss the presentations, pathologic features, diagnosis and treatment of primary synovial sarcoma of the kidney. Methods One case of primary synovial sarcoma of the kidney was reported and the relevant literature was reviewed. A 55-year-old man was admitted with complaint of right abdomen and flank pain for 5 h. Computerized tomography revealed a 12.5 cm × 11.0 cm × 9. 0 cm mass located at the middle and lower pole of the right kidney. The patient was taken radical nephrectomy. Results The diagnosis of primary synovial sarcoma of the kidney in the patient was confirmed by postoperative pathology. Under microscope, tumor was typically mitotically active, monomorphic spindle cells growing in intersecting fascicles or in solid sheets with epithelial differentiation. In some areas a haemangiopericytoma-like pattern was found. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the tumor cells were positive for the markers Vimentin, CD99 and Bcl-2, but CK was negative. The patient died of local recurrence and multi-metastasis at 8 months after surgery. Conclusions Primary synovial sarcoma of the kidney is extremely rare with a high grade of malignancy,and its prognosis is poor. The diagnosis depends on pathological features, Immunohistochemical studies and RT-PCR detection. Radical resection combined with chemicaltherapy is considered to be the most reliable treatment so far.

Objective To propose SHA.LIN nephrolithometry scoring system for assessing and predicting the stone-free rate of percutaneous nephrolithotomy ( PCNL) and to investigate the clinical value of SHA.LIN scoring system for nephrolithiasis in patients undergoing PCNL .Methods A literature review from 1976 to 2014 was performed to identify clinically relevant and reproducible variables that could affect the outcomes of PCNL. Six reproducible variables available from preoperative noncontrast-enhanced computed tomography were measured , including stone size ( S) , hydronephrosis ( H) , anatomic distribution (A), length of tract(L), indicator of CT(I), number of involved calices(N) and was named as SHA.LIN nephrolithometry scoring system .A retrospective analysis was conducted of clinical data of 116 patients with nephrolithiasis undergoing PCNL from June 2011 to March 2015. The general conditions , preoperative information , stone characteristics and perioperative variables were collected . The correlation of nephrolithometry scores based on SHA.LIN scoring system with stone-free status, operation time, blood loss, length of hospital stay and postoperative complications were analyzed . Receiver operating characteristic ( ROC) curves was drawn to detect sensitivity and specificity of SHA .LIN score in predicting the stone-free rates of PCNL.Results The SHA.LIN score was 9.13 ±2.24 in this cohort.The stone free rate was 75.9%(88/116).Postoperative complications occurred in 32 (27.6%) cases.In those patients with stone
free, the SHA.LIN score was 8.27 ±1.62, significantly lower than that in those patients with residual stones 11.86 ±1.72 ( t =-10.069, P=0.000) .The SHA.LIN score showed significant correlation with the postoperative stone free status, operation time, estimated blood loss (P<0.01).But, it did not correlate with postoperative complications and length of hospital stay (P>0.05).The area under curve of ROC curves for the SHA.LIN scoring system was 0.923 ( 95%CI 0.870 -0.975 ) . Conclusions The SHA.LIN nephrolithometry scoring system can predict postoperative stone-free status of PCNL and can be used for disease related assessment.Further research is required to evaluate its performance in predicting peri-operative variables and postoperative complications .