Medical whole-body positron emission tomography (PET), one of the most successful molecular imaging technologies, has been widely used in the fields of cancer diagnosis, cardiovascular disease diagnosis and cranial nerve study. But, on the other hand, the sensitivity, spatial resolution and signal-noise-ratio of the commercial medical whole-body PET systems still have some shortcomings and a great room for improvement. The sensitivity, spatial resolution and signal-noise-ratio of PET system are largely affected by the performances of the scintillators and the photo detectors. The design of a PET system is usually a trade-off in cost and performance. A better image quality can be achieved by optimizing and balancing the key components which affect the system performance the most without dramatically increases in cost. With the development of the scintillator, photo-detector and high speed electronic system, the performance of medical whole-body PET system would be dramatically improved. In this paper, we report current progresses and discuss future directions of the developments of technologies in medical whole-body PET system.
Humans ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; trends

Objective To investigate the influence of hypothermia during reperfusion on acute pulmonary edema(APE)after liver transplantation in patients with chronic severe hepatitis. Methods Between February 2002 and December 2006,108 consecutive patients of chronic severe hepatitis underwent liver transplantation. Patients suffering from postoperative APE(APE group)were compared with those without APE(NAPE group)on hypothermia during reperfusion. We evaluated the impact of hypothermia on requirement of red blood cells and/or fresh-frozen plasma, and prothrombin time in neo-liver phase. Results Forty-one out of these 108(37.96%)cases were complicated with APE. Compared with NAPE group, patients in APE group have significant lower core hypothermia(t=2.413,P=0.018),longer hypothermia duration(＞5 min)(39.02%,x2=143.40).Longer pmthrombin time(t=2.884,P=0.005)and larger amount of blood transfnsion were observed in APE group. Patients with hypothermia were prone to accompanied with longer PT in neo-liver phase(28.03±8.45)min vs (24.12±5.89)min, t=2.553,P=0.012),larger requiting of RBC transfusion(2786.96±1266.47)ml vs(2129.41±805.90) ml, t=2.364,P=0.026)and fresh-frozen plasma(2121.74±676.19)ml vs (1768.24±685.08) ml, t=2.201,P=0.030).Conclusions Low core hypothermia during neo-liver reperfusion contributes to the development of APE in patients with chronic severe hepatitis undergoing liver transplantation. Prolonged PT and large amount of blood transfusion may be involved in this complication.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application value of postmortem multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) by observing and analyzing the injury features in the traffic accident victims. METHODS: Ten traffic accident victims were scanned with whole body MSCT. The systemic autopsy was subsequently performed to compare with the results of MSCT. The advantages and disadvantages of autopsy and MSCT for obtaining the information of traffic accident injuries were then analyzed. RESULTS: MSCT could reveal 3D shape of fractures clearly and detect air accumulation in different positions of the body, which showed the obvious advantages compared with autopsy. However, the resolution of MSCT was limited compared to the detection of organ and soft tissue injuries. CONCLUSION A combination of MSCT and autopsy is the best way for determining the manner and the cause of death in traffic fatality victims.
Accidents, Traffic ; Autopsy ; Fractures, Bone ; Humans ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

The effect of CO2 and the manner of CO2 offer on the growth rate and maximual cell density of ultro-high density culture of Chaetoceros mulleri in the photobioreactor were studied in the work. The amount of CO2 offered to the culture was controlled by the parameter of pH value in the culture. Furthermore the growth kinetics of Chaetoceros muller in the photobioreactor was studied. The results showed requirement of CO2 by the cells and the increase of pH in the culture were the key limiting factors to the growth, when a high cell concentration in the culture was reached. The offer of CO2 could improve the statute of CO2, could control the pH in the culture and increase the growth rate and maximum cell density. The results from the experiments of CO2 offer manner showed different efficiency to growth was resulted from differences of CO2 offer manner. The best way is mixing the CO2 and air before the CO2 was offered to the culture.
Bioreactors ; Carbon Dioxide ; pharmacology ; Culture Media ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Diatoms ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of small interfering RNA(siRNA) targeting JARID1B gene on the proliferation and apoptosis in HL-60 acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line, and to explore its mechanisms.

METHODSThe JARID1B siRNA was transfected into HL-60 cells using Lipofectamine(TM) 2000(Lipo) vector. The proliferation inhibition by siRNA targeting JARID1B was detected by MTT, cells apoptosis by flow cytometry, the mRNA expression of JARID1B by RT-PCR, the protein expression of JARID1B, Bcl-2, procaspase-9, procaspase-3, c-myc and P27 and histone methylated H3K4 by Western blot.

RESULTSsiRNA targeting JARID1B upregulated histone methylated H3K4 level, inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells, and induced the cells apoptosis. After transfection of siRNA targeting JARID1B at 0, 30, 60, 120 nmmol/L for 24 hours, the apoptotic rate were (11.0 ± 3.6)%, (35.2 ± 5.1)%, (52.7 ± 3.8)%, and (62.0 ± 5.7)% respectively (F = 70.27, P < 0.01). The protein expression of P27 was upregulated, and Bcl-2, procaspase-9, procaspase-3, c-myc was down regulated.

CONCLUSIONSJARID1B siRNA upregulates histone methylated H3K4. It reduces HL-60 cells proliferation and apoptosis by up regulating the p27 expression and down regulating the Bcl-2, procaspase-9, procaspase-3, c-myc expression. It might be a new therapeutic targeting for human leukemia.

Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Gene Targeting ; HL-60 Cells ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases ; genetics ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Methylation ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics

The combination use of dexamethasone and calcium gluconate can be applied to hypersensitivity. Severe hypokalemia is a usual complication of dexamethasone and calcium gluconate therapy, which occurs frequently with therapeutic use. Fatal cases, accidental and intentional, occur frequently in forensic practice. The current case report presented a 43-year-old man with diabetes mellitus with infection, to whom dexamethasone and calcium gluconate were administered in the private clinic. With the development of such clinical symptoms of severe hypokalemia as quadriplegia, he was confirmed to have severe hypokalemia through a biochemical test before dying of arrhythmia. And also it presented pathophysiologic mechanism underlying severe hypokalemia as well as suggestions for clinical practice regarding combination use of dexamethasone and calcium gluconate.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/adverse effects* ; Calcium Gluconate/adverse effects* ; Dexamethasone/adverse effects* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Hypokalemia/chemically induced* ; Male

Postmortem chemistry is becoming more and more essential in routine forensic pathology and has made considerable progress over the past years. Biochemical analyses of vitreous humor, blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid may provide important information in determining the cause of death or in elucidating forensic issues. Postmortem chemistry may be essential for the determination of cause of death when morphological methods (diabetes mellitus, alcoholic ketoacidosis and electrolytic disorders) cannot detect the pathophysiological changes involved in the death process. It can also provide many information in other forensic situations, including myocardial ischemia, sepsis, inflammation, infection, anaphylaxis and hormonal disturbances. The most recent relevant research advances on glucose metabolism, liver function, cardiac function, renal function, sepsis, inflammation, infection, anaphylaxis and hormonal aspect are hereby reviewed.
Anaphylaxis ; Autopsy/trends* ; Biomarkers/analysis* ; Body Fluids/chemistry* ; Death ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Forensic Pathology/methods* ; Humans ; Postmortem Changes ; Sepsis ; Vitreous Body

BACKGROUNDExternal stents have been used to reduce intimal hyperplasia of vein grafts. The aim of the present study was to define the size of an external stent appropriate for a particular graft by comparing vein grafts with different sizes of external stents.

METHODSA series of paired trials was performed to compare femoral vein grafts with different sizes of external stents, where 30 modeled canines were equally divided into three groups: 6-mm external stent vs non-stent control, 4-mm vs 6-mm external stent, and 4-mm vs 8-mm external stent. At day 3 after operation, color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) was done to observe blood flow in the lumen. Four weeks later, CDFI was re-checked and the veins were harvested, stained and measured.

RESULTSAll grafts were patent without formation of thrombosis. External stents significantly reduced intimal thickness of the vein grafts with a 6-mm external stent compared with the vein grafts without external stents (P < 0.05). The vein grafts with the 4-mm external stent had similar intimal, medial and adventitial thicknesses compared with those with the 6-mm external stent and the 8-mm external stent.

CONCLUSIONSExternal stents can reduce intimal hyperplasia of vein grafts. Stents of different diameters exert the similar effect on prevention of intimal hyperplasia.

Animals ; Aspirin ; therapeutic use ; Dogs ; Femoral Vein ; transplantation ; Hyperplasia ; Stents ; Tunica Intima ; pathology ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

PURPOSE: To investigate and compare the effects of propofol and midazolam on inflammation and oxidase stress in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two ASA class I-II children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery were randomly divided into two groups: propofol combined with low dose fentanyl (PF group, n = 16) and midazolam combined with low dose fentanyl (MF group, n = 16). Tracheal extubation time and length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay were recorded. Blood samples were taken before operation (T0), at 2 h after release of the aorta cross-clamp (T3) and at 24 h after operation (T4) to measure interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Myocardium samples were collected at 10-20 min after aorta cross-clamp (T1) and at 10-20 min after the release of the aorta cross-clamp (T2) to detect heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. RESULTS: Tracheal extubation time and length of ICU stay in PF group were significantly shorter than those of the MF group (p < 0.05, respectively). After cardiopulmonary bypass, IL-6, IL-8 and MDA levels were significantly increased, and the SOD level was significantly reduced in both two groups, but PF group exhibited lower IL-6, IL-8 and MDA levels and higher SOD levels than the MF group (p < 0.05, respectively). The HO-1 expression in the PF group was significantly higher than that in MF group at the corresponding time points (p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Propofol is superior to midazolam in reducing inflammation and oxidase stress and in improving post-operation recovery in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery.
Anesthesia, Intravenous/*adverse effects ; Anesthetics, Intravenous/*adverse effects ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures/*adverse effects ; Child ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital/*surgery ; Heme Oxygenase-1/blood ; Humans ; Inflammation/*chemically induced ; Interleukin-6/blood ; Interleukin-8/blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde/blood ; Midazolam/*adverse effects ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Propofol/*adverse effects ; Superoxide Dismutase/blood

OBJECTIVETo isolate and identify compounds from Picria fel-tarrae in order to utilize it better.

METHODConstituents from Picria fel-tarrae were isolated by several column chromatography and their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral analysis.

RESULTSix compounds, N-benzoylphenylalanyl-L-phenylalaninol acetate (1), 1-hydroxy-7-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone (2), 9, 16-dioxo-10,12,14-octadeca-trienoic acid (3), 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-flavone (4), beta-sitosterol (5), and daucosterol (6) were obtained from the fraction with relatively low polarity of EtOH extract of Picria fel-tarrae.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-6 were isolated from picria fel-tarrae Lour for the first time, and the 13C-NMR data of compounds 1-3 are provided firstly in the literature.

Apigenin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Dipeptides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Scrophulariaceae ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification