Objective To explore the clinical significance of CT-angiography (CTA) in predicting hematoma enlargement in patients with acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage (HICH). Methods A prospective cohort study was performed on 50 patients with HICH. HICH and spot sign were diagnosed definitely by computerized tomography (CT) and CTA within 3 ~ 6 hours of symptom onset. Patients were dichotomized according to the presence or absence of the spot sign. CT scan was repeated immediately when patients′symptoms worsened or at 24 hours after onset of symptoms in order to find out the enlargement of hematomas. The relationship between hematoma expansion and spot sign of CTA was investigated. Results (1) Thirteen (26.0%) patients demonstrated the presence of spot sign of CTA, and 37 (74.0%) patients were without spot sign. Baseline clinical variables were similar in both groups. (2) Hematoma expansion occurred in 14 (28.0%) patients on follow-up. Eleven (84.6%) patients with and 3 (8.1%) patients without the spot sign of CTA were demonstrated hematoma expansion. The significance difference was found between the two groups (X2=24.27,P<0.05). Conclusions In acute HICH patients, CTA provided more radiological information and the CTA spot sign was associated with the presence of hematoma expansion. The spot sign will be recommended as an entry criterion for future trials of haemostatic therapy in patients with acute HICH.

Objective To evaluate the correlation between regional blood perfusion and biological features of breast cancer. Methods Spiral CT technique was applied to quantitatively detect the central and marginal blood perfusion, including blood flow ( BF ) , blood volume ( BV) and permeability of surface (PS). Results The central and marginal blood perfusion of breast cancer were significantly higher than that of normal breast tissues. The marginal blood perfusion was higher than central blood perfusion. The regional blood perfusion of breast cancer varied with tumor size, clinical stage and histological grading. Conclusion The regional blood perfusion correlates with biological markers in breast cancer and can be used to evaluate the biological characteristics as a noninvasive marker before neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the analgesic mechanism of small knife needle for treating transverse process syndrome of the third vertebra (TPSTV) by observing peripheral and central changesof β-endorphin (β-EP) and enkephalin (ENK) contents.

METHODSTotally 30 Japanese white big-ear rabbits of clean grade were divided into 5 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the small knife needle group, the electroacupunture (EA) group, and the small knife needle plus EA group, 6 in each group. The TPSTV model was established by inserting a piece of gelatin sponge into the left transverse process of 3rd lumbar vertebrae. Rabbits in the small knife needlegroup were intervened by small knife needle. Those in the EA group were intervened by EA at bilateralWeizhong (BL40). Those in the small knife needle plus EA group were intervened by small knife needleand EA at bilateral Weizhong (BL40). Contents of β-EP and ENK in plasma, muscle, spinal cord, and hypothalamus were determined after sample collection at day 28 after modeling.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, contents of β-EP and ENK in plasma and muscle increased significantly, and contents of β-EP and ENK in spinal cord and hypothalamus decreased significantly in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Contents of β-EP and ENK approximated normal levels in the three treatment groups after respective treatment. Compared with the model group, the content of β-EP in muscle decreased, and contents of β-EP and ENK in hypothalamus increased in the three treatment groups after respective treatment (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference among the three treatment groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSmall knife needle treatment and EA had benign regulation on peripheral and central β-EP and ENK in TPSTV rabbits. Small knife needle treatment showed better effect than that of EA.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Enkephalins ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Needles ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; Spinal Diseases ; therapy ; beta-Endorphin ; metabolism

AIMUsing GeneChip to analyze the changes in genes expression of brain potassium, sodium and calcium channels after chronic treatment with nicotine.

METHODSAnimals were treated with nicotine at the doses of 2.4 mg/kg sc. twice a day for 14 days. RNA was extracted from the whole brain samples and converted to double-stranded cDNA and then to biotinylated cRNA. The biotinylated cRNA was fragmented, and hybridized to GeneChip (Affymetrix Rat Neurobiology U34). The chips were scanned with a probe array scanner, and the data were analyzed with the Affymetrix Microarray Analysis Suite (MAS). The GeneChip data were confirmed u sing RT-PCR.

RESULTSAfter treatment with chronic nicotine, transcripts of potassium, sodium and calcium channels showed altered expression. K+ channel: outward rectifier K+ channel and Ca2(+)-activated K+ channel were down-regulated, other voltage-dependent K+ channel including Kv2.3r were up-regulated. Voltage-dependent Na+ channel: beta2 subunit was increased, alpha subunit and beta1 subunit were decreased. Beta3 subunit of Ca2+ channel was up-regulated.

CONCLUSIONChronic exposure to nicotine not only desensitized nicotinic receptors, but also effected genes expression, of important ion channels, such as sodium channels, potassium channels and calcium channels.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Male ; Nicotine ; pharmacology ; Potassium Channels ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Channels ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of different doses of pituitary adenylate cyclase- activating polypeptide(PACAP)on the functional and morphological outcome in a mice model of Parkinson' s disease(PD)rendered by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP).Methods Male mice were treated with PACAP 0.02, 0.20 or 2.00 ?g by iv bolus for 7 days after MPTP was administered, and were compared with the saline-treated mice.The immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the alterations of PD biomarker including tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), dopamine transporter(DAT)and vesicular monoamine transporter2(VAMT2).In addition, monoamine neurotransmitters in the striatum of mice were measured by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results TH immunohistochemistry indicated that the number of TH-positive neurons in the substantia nigra was increased in all PACAP-treated mice(PACAP(0.02 ?g/d)group was 93.33?4.87, F=85.85,P

Objective To explore the activated brain region of acute epilepsy in cat model induced by pentylenetetrazol(FFZ)with manganese enhanced-functional MR imaging(ME-fMRI),and evaluate the application of ME-fMRI on localization of the activated brain.Methods Forty cats were divided into 4 groups by random number table method as epileptic A and B groups as well as control A and B groups. Cats of epileptic groups were injected with PTZ(55 mg/kg)intramuscularly,and those of control groups were injected with the saline at same dose.The behavior change in the epileptic and control group A was observed and electroencephalogram(EEG)was also undertaken.Cats of epileptic and control group B were performed ME-fMRI,and the percentage of the enhanced signal intensity was then calculated.Results After injection with PTZ(55 mg/kg)intramuscularly,epileptic seizure was all evoked,and then EEG recording showed spike-wave and polyspike-wave complexes.The neocortex of cats of epileptic group B was diffusely phanero-enhanced on ME-fMRI.The percent enhancement of signal intensity in cortex of frontal lobe,parietal lobe and occipital lobe was(34.6?5.7)% and that in cortex of temporal lobe with(22.9? 6.5)%,whereas those of control group B with(14.9?4.5)% and(11.6?3.2)% respectively.And there was significant difference between the above different localization of the brain in the two groups (t=-10.43,-5.46 respectively,P

This study is to investigate the effect of ZL-004 on normal mouse and mice with leukopenia induced by chemotherapeutic agents. 5-Fluorouracil were administered intraperitoneally to mice to develop leucopenia, and the mice were treated with ZL-004. The number of peripheral leukocytes and the percentage of granulocyte in total WBC were examined. The results are that ZL-004 markedly raise peripheral blood leukocytes in the normal mice and the mice model of leukopenia. So, ZL-004 could protect mice against 5-fluorouracil damage and raise peripheral blood leukocyte. Features of bone marrow smears is myeloproliferative hyperactivity in the mice, particularly the matured granulocytic series were observed. The mechanism of ZL-004 is to act on the mouse bone marrow causing proliferation and differentiation.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; Granulocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Structure ; Pyrrolidinones ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo study changes in the radiographic appearance during weight-bearing and non-weigh-bearing in hallux valgus, and to analyse the correlation between the elasticity of plantar soft tissue of hallux valgus and the pain under the metatarsal head.

METHODSFrom May 2012 to October 2012, 240 feet of 120 patients with hallux valgus were enrolled in the study. The degrees of the pian under the metatarsal head of all the patients were observed. AP and lateral X-ray films of feet were taken on the condition of weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing. So the hallux valgus angle (HVA), the inter-metatarsal angle between the first and second metatarsals (IM1-2), the inter-metatarsal angle between the first and fifth metatarsals (IM1-5), top angle of the medial longitudinal arch (TAOTMLA),and anterior angle of the medial longitudinal arch (AAOTMLA) were measured on the X-ray films. The differences of HVA, IM1-2, IM1-5, TAOTMLA and AAOTMLA between two groups were compared, and the correlation between the changes of IM1-2, IM 1-5, TAOTMLA, AAOTMLA and the degree of the pain under the metatarsal head were analysed.

RESULTSOne hundred and forty-eight feet had the pain under the metatarsal head. The IM1-2, IM1-5 and TAOTMLA increased on weight-bearing position compared with those on non-weight-bearing position, but the HVA and AAOTMLA decreased on weight-bearing position compared with those on non-weight-bearing position. There was a moderate relationship between the changes of IM 1-2,IM1-5 and the degree of the hallux valgus deformity, as well as the relationship between the different of IM1-5 and the degree of the pian under the metatarsal head.

CONCLUSIONThe degree of the collapse of the arch of foot with hallux valgus becomes serious with its deformity increasing. The pain under the metatarsal head of hallux valgus increases with the increased changes of IM 1-2,IM 1-5 and TAOTMLA. Analysis of the X-ray observation indexes of hallux valgus on weight-bearing position and non-weight-bearing position has important significance in evaluating the degree of the collapse of the arch of foot with hallux valgus,preventing and curing the the pain under the metatarsal head.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hallux ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Hallux Valgus ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Metatarsalgia ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Weight-Bearing ; Young Adult

Objective： This study was designed to evaluate the clinical, endoscopic, and pathologic characteristics of primary gastric malignant lymphoma(PGML). Methods： Thirty patients with PGML were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed in the aspects of elinical, roentgenography, and endoscopic status. Results： The clinical presentations including abdominal pain, loss of weight, fever, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage were invariably found. Most lesions were in the body of stomach(73.3％ ). All patients were examined by endoscopy with protruding, infiltrative, and ulcerative lesions accounting for 46.7％ (14/30), 40.0％ (12/30), and 13.3％ (4/30) ,respectively. The pathological coincidence rate of endoscopic biopsy with resected operation was 80.0％ . The tumor might originate from the following organisms： B cell of 90.0％ (27/30)(19 of them are mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma) and T cell of 10.0％ (4/30). The operative resectability of these PGML remained higher and these PGML were sensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Conclusion： PGML is very likely to be misdiagnosed or neglected due to its rarity and specificity. Gastroscopy remains to be valuable to correct diagnosis of PGML. Better prognosis is often expected if followed by operative resection, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility of regenerating a whole menisci using poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) scaffolds loaded with meniscal cells in rabbits undergoing total meniscectomy, and to explore its protective effect on cartilage degeneration.

METHODSA solvent casting and particulate leaching technique was employed to fabricate biodegradable PHBV scaffolds into a meniscal shape. The proliferated meniscal cells were seeded onto the polymer scaffolds, transplanted into rabbit knee joints whose lateral menisci had been removed. Eight to 18 weeks after transplantation, the rege- nerated neomenisci were evaluated by gross and histological observations. Cartilage degeneration was assessed by Mankin score.

RESULTSEighteen weeks after transplantation, the implants formed neomenisci. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of the neomenisci sections revealed regeneration of fibrocartilage. Type I collagen in the neomenisci was also proved similar to normal meniscal tissue by immunohistochemical analysis and Sirius scarlet trinitrophenol staining. Articular cartilage degeneration was observed 8 weeks after implantation. It was less severe as compared with that in total meniscectomy controls and no further degeneration was observed at 18 weeks. At that time, the regenerated neomenisci strongly resembled normal meniscal fibrocartilage in gross and histological appearance, and its mechanical property was also close to that of normal meniscus.

CONCLUSIONSThe present study demonstrates the feasibility of tissue-engineering a whole meniscal structure in total meniscectomy rabbit models using biodegradable PHBV scaffolds together with cultured allogeneic meniscal cells. Cartilage degeneration is decreased. But long-term in vivo investigations on the histological structure and cartilage degeneration of the neomenisci regenerated by this method are still necessary to determine the clinical potential of this tissue engineering avenue.

Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; Cells, Cultured ; Knee Joint ; Menisci, Tibial ; Polymers ; Regeneration ; Tissue Engineering