Objective To study the method and ability of multi-slice CT isotropic scan and post-processing in displaying the anatomy of cervical vertebrae.Methods The normal cervical spines in 53 cases were scanned with isotropic parameters using 16-slice-helical CT.All the images were post-processed with the methods of MPR,MIP,SSD and VRT and each other were compared between them,then the best one was selected to compare with axial CT images and plain films.The abilities in displaying inter-vertebrae disc,spinal canal longtitude,vertebrae body,vertebral arch,zygapophyseal joint and inter-vertebrae foramen were compared among the 3D reconstruction,direct CT scan and X-ray plain film including post-anterior,lateral,left-anterior oblique and right-anterior position project.Results The quality of isotropic post-processing images had no remarkable differences with that of direct CT scan in showing inter-vertebrae disc,but it was better than X-ray plain film and conventional CT scan mode in showing other structures.Conclusion The multi-slice helical isotropic CT scan and post-processing images are of great value in the study of cervical spine.

Objective To explore the value of spectral curve in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant tumor of the musculoskeletal system.Methods 100 patients with mass of the musculoskeletal system which were found by MRI underwent Dis-covery HD750 Gemstone CT scan ,and the images acquired were processed.Areas with homogenous density which did not contain necrosis,cyst,hemorrhage and calcification were chosen as region of interest(ROI).The optimal Kev on single energy images was selected,then the Kev-CT curve was automatically generated.All 100 patients proved by histological examination were divided into four groups,38 cases were as group A with benign tumor,10 cases as group B with borderline tumor,49 cases as group C with ma-lignant tumor and 3 cases of lipoma(that were analyzed separately since its curve was arc shaped).Average slope rate of every group was calculated according to the formula:K=(HU40keV-HU80keV)/40.Kruskal Wallis test was applied for statistical analysis,P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistical significant.Results The spectral curve of group C was sharply falling type with a mean slope rate of 1.64±1.00,that of group A was gradually falling type with a mean slope rate of 0.75±0.30,and that of group B was 1.34±0.45.The difference of slope rate between group A and C and between A and B were of statistical significance(P<0.05).The spectral curve of 3 lipomas showed arc shaped rising type with a mean slope rate of-2.00.Conclusion Spectral curve is useful in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant tumor of the musculoskeletal system.Arc shaped curve is a specific sign for tumors containing abundant fat.

Objective To provide the service for scientific innovation and competition in biomedical industry of Hunan Province and the reference for working out biomedical patent strategies.Methods The data of biomedical patents in Hunan Province were collected using the patentEX and processed by metrics.Results The application number of patents increased from year to year with a high expiry rate.The technology of biomedical patents has entered into its mature period and the application of patents was focused on several important IPC classifications.Conclusion Tra-ditional technologies play a main role in biomedical industry of Hunan Province, but Hunan Province is relatively backward in modern biological technologies.The application number of invented biomedical patents is rather large, but their overall academic level is rather low.The majority of biomedical industry enterprises lack of competition awareness.It is thus necessary to strengthen the development of modern biological technologies, improve the aca-demic level of biomedical patents, increase the competition awareness of biomedical industry enterprises, lay stress on cooperative development of biomedical patents and on support of biomedical industry enterprises.

Objective To investigate the effect of treatment and restoration of residual dental root and crown in the elderly. Methods A total of 68 elderly patients with 202 residual roots and 47 residual crowns was treated.Radiography was taken to find out the length of residual roots and the status of treatment. A comprehensive treatment plan was made for each case, including restoration, extraction and endodontic treatment, etc. The restoration and the periodontal health of abutment teeth were followed up for 1 5 to 3 years consecutively. Results In endodontically treated teeth, the success rates of anterior 109, bicuspid 74, molar 26, were 92 3% 94 5%. In 87 post core crowns, 1 root cracked, 7 teeth mobility was 2 0 3 0 , all of which were the abutment teeth of removable dentures and single tooth. Maybe it was the impact of load heavy and occlusal trauma. In 64 post core fixed bridges, 6 ceramic broken was the impact of occlusal trauma. The function of restorations was good, with no root caries. Periodontitis was mainly in the abutment teeth and single tooth. Failure rate of restorative was 5 5% 7 7%. Conclusions Comprehensive treatments and restorations for residual root and crowns in the elderly would improve periodontal health and chewing function.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety between Bivalirudin and Heparin during emergency percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)in elderly patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI).Methods Retrospective analysis of 80 patients diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in elderly patients was conducted.The treatment group(n=40) received a bolus intravenous injection of Bivalirudin 0.75 mg/kg before emergency percutaneous coronary intervention,then 1.75 mg · kg 1 · h-1 continuous intravenous drip till the end of the operation from March 2011 to March 2015.Activated clotting time (ACT)was detected at 10 minutes after drug application.If ACT＜225 s,0.3 mg/kg were append.The control group received a bolus intravenous injection of Heparin 100 U/kg during emergency PCI,and after 10 minutes ACT was detected.If ACT＜ 225 s,300 U was appended.When operation extended,1 000 U was appended every 1 hour.Immediate postoperative blood flow,early stent thrombosis,target vessel reconstruction at 30 days after operation,recurrent myocardial infarction,non-fatal cerebrovascular accident,all causes mortality and bleeding conditions at 7 days after operation were compared between two groups.Results The immediate postoperative thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI)blood flow was significantly improved(P＜0.05) in the treatment group as compared with control group.There was no significant difference in target vessel reconstruction at 30 days after operation,recurrent myocardial infarction,non-fatal cerebrovascular accident,and all-cause mortality between two groups (all P＞ 0.05).The bleeding conditions at 7 days after operation were significant lower in the treatment group [2.5％(1 case)]than in the control group[22.5％ (9 cases)] (x2 =7.31,P＜0.01).Conclusions Bivalirudin treatment does not reduce the major cardiovascular events,but improves the TIMI blood flow after surgery and the incidence of bleeding as compared with control group,which suggests that Bivalirudin is safer in emergency PCI therapy in elderly patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Objective To study the clin ic al application of 64-slices spiral CT in coronary artery. Methods Twenty-six patients were performed 64-slices spiral CT in coronary artery, 15 of the 26 patients underwent selective coronary artery angiography. Results The main branches and part of the sub-branches o f the coronary artery were clearly displayed. 38 coronary artery branches of 16 patients were found stenosis. In 15 cases with conventional angiography, all mai n branches and parts of sub-branches of coronary artery were displayed clearly. All patients demonstrated coronary artery stenosis. The diagnostic accuracy of 64-slices spiral CT was 94.12%. Conclusion As a minimall y invasive examination, 64-slices spiral CT is a valuable method to detect and diagnose the diseases of coronary artery.

Objective To evaluate the effect of vagus nerve stimulation on the blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in endotoxemic rats.Methods Ninety-six male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 250-280 g,were equally and randomly divided into 4 groups using a random number table:normal saline group (S group) ; lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group; vagus nerve cutting group (VNC group) and vagus nerve stimulation group (VNS group).Endotoxemia was induced by LPS 10 mg/kg injected via the left femoral vein.In group S,normal saline 5 ml/kg was injected via the left femoral vein.In S and LPS groups,the bilateral vagus nerves were only isolated.The bilateral vagus nerves were isolated,ligated and cut immediately after LPS injection in VNC group.The distal end of the vagus nerve was stimulated with direct current (5 V,2 ms,1 Hz) continuously for 20 min starting from the end of LPS injection in group VNS.Six rats were sacrificed before LPS injection (T0) and at 2,4 and 6 h after LPS injection (T1-3) and arterial blood samples were taken for determination of the levels of plasma tumor necrosis factorα (TNF-α),antithrombin (AT),tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA),plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and D-Dimer.Results Compared with group S,the plasma TNF-α,tPA,PAI-1 and D-Dimer levels were significantly increased,and AT level was decreased after LPS injection in LPS and VNC groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group LPS group,the plasma AT level was significantly decreased,and the plasma PAI-1 level was increased in group VNC,and the plasma TNFα,tPA,PAI-1 and D-Dimer levels were decreased,and the plasma AT level was increased in VNS group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve can improve the blood coagulation and fibinonlysis in endotoxemic rats,and activation of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway,inhibition of inflammatory responses and reduction of damage to vascular endothelial cells may be involved in the mechanism.

Objective To evaluate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST36) acupoint on blood coagulation during intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Forty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 6-8 months,weighing 250-300 g,were divided into 5 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),intestinal I/R group (group I/R),EA at Zusanli acupoint group (group EA),EA at non-acupoint group (group NE) and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist α-bungarotoxin (α-BGT) group (group α-BGT).Intestinal I/R was induced by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 4-5 min followed by 120 min of reperfusion.Bilateral Zusanli acupoints were stimulated with an electric stimulator (frequency 3 Hz,voltage 2-4 V,wave length 2 ms) for 30 min starting from the time point immediately after beginning of ischemia in group EA,while EA was performed at the points 5 mm lateral to the bilateral Zusanli instead in group NE.In group α-BGT,α-BGT 1 μg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 45 min before ischemia,and the other treatments were similar to those previously described in group EA.Blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta at 120 min of reperfusion for determination of the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα),tissue factor (TF),antithrombin (AT),tissue plasminogen activator (tPA),fiber plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAl-l) and D-dimer in plasma (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and platelet count (PLT).The animals were sacrificed after blood sampling,the distal ileum specimens were removed for examination of the pathological changes with a light microscope,and the damage to the intestinal mucous membrane was assessed and scored according to Chin.Results Compared with group S,the concentrations of plasma TNFα,TF,tPA,PAI-1 and D-dimer were significantly increased,and the plasma AT concentration and PLT were decreased in I/R,NE and α-BGT groups,the concentrations of plasma TNFα and TF were significantly increased,and the plasma AT concentration was decreased in group EA,and Chiu's scores were significantly increased in I/R,EA,NE and α-BGT groups (P＜ 0.05).Compared with group I/R,the concentrations of plasma TNFα,TF,tPA,PAI-1 and D-dimer were significantly decreased,the plasma AT concentration and PLT were increased,and Chiu's scores were decreased in group EA (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the variables mentioned above in NE and α-BGT groups (P＞0.05).Compared with group EA,the concentrations of plasma TNFα,TF,tPA,PAI-1 and D-dimer were significantly increased,the plasma AT concentration and PLT were decreased,and Chiu's scores were increased in group NE (P＜0.05).Conclusion EA at Zusanli acupoint can improve blood coagulation during intestinal I/R in rats,and the mechanism is related to activating the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

Objective To study the relationship between the inflammatory cytokine levels and the expression of hepatic alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) in hyperlipidemia rats and to investigate the intervention effect of Yirui Capsules ( mainly composed of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Fructus Crataegi, Rhizoma Alismatis, etc). Methods Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group ( fed with conventional diet, N=10) and high-fat diet group (fed with high-fat diet, N=40). After feeding for 14 d, the forty rats in high-fat diet group were further randomly divided into model control group, and low-, middle-, and high-dose Yirui Capsules groups (140, 280, 560 mg/kg, respectively), 10 rats in each group and the treatment lasting 30 days. And then, the serum levels of lipids were detected, C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α in the serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) , and the expression of hepatic α7 nAChR was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) . Results Yirui Capsules in different dosages could improve serum lipid levels in hyperlipidemia rats to various degrees. The contents of serum inflammatory cytokines CRP and TNF-α and the mRNA expression of hepatic α7nAChR were increased in the model control group as compared with those in the blank control group ( P<0.01). The contents of inflammatory cytokines CRP, TNF-αand the mRNA expression of hepatic α7nAChR were decreased in the three Yirui Capsules groups as compared with those in the model control group ( P<0.01). The results of immunohistochemical staining for α7nAChR expression were consistent with RT-PCR results. Conclusion The expression of hepatic α7nAChR is increased in hyperlipidemia rats. Yirui capsules are effective on decreasing inflammatory cytokine levels, improving lipid metabolism, and down-regulating α7nAChR expression.

AIM:To observe the effects of Egr-1 gene transfection on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 ( ICAM-1) , and to investigate the role of Egr-1 in the pathogenesis of dia-betic nephropathy .METHODS:The diabetic mouse model was established .Ten mice were randomly selected as the dia-betic group .The remaining 40 mice were injected with empty plasmid , Egr-1 expression plasmid or Egr-1 siRNA plasmid via the tail vein once a week.The normal control group was also set up .The animals were sacrificed at the end of the 4th week.The renal tissues were harvested .The expressions of Egr-1, TNF-αand ICAM-1 were detected by immunohisto-chemistry and Western blot .The pathological changes were observed under electron microscope .RESULTS: In diabetic mouse kidney, the expression of Egr-1, TNF-αand ICAM-1 was increased, and irregular thickening of glomerular basement membrane , mesangial expansion and fusion of foot were observed .The change trend was more significant in Egr-1 gene transfection group , and these changes in siRNA plasmid transfection group were obviously reduced compared with diabetes group.CONCLUSION:Egr-1 up-regulates the expression of TNF-αand ICAM-1, and induces mesangial cell proliferation and mesangial extracellular matrix accumulation , which is probably one of the mechanisms of accelerating glomerulosclerosis .