OBJECTIVEThe objective of this paper was to study the expression of related protein and Twist transcription factor of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissue and the correlations of OSCC and oral squamous cell carcino-metastasis. The paper also investigated the clinical significance of expression on OSCC.

METHODSThe labels of epithelium materialization (E-cadherin and cytokeratin), stromal labels (N-cadherin), transcription factor Twist protein, and mRNA expression in 30 OSCC tissues were investigated via immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. The paper also conducted contrast analysis with clinicopathology.

RESULTSImmunization result showed that the expressions of Twist and N-cadherin in the OSCC group were more significant than those of the normal group (P<0.05). The expressions of E-cadherin and keratin in OSCC were significantly lower than those of the normal group (P<0.05). In the moderate- and low-differentiated group of OSCC, the expressions of Twist and N-cadherin were higher than those of the high-differentiated group (P<0.05). The expressions of E-cadherin and keratin were lower than those in the high-differentiated group (P<0.05). In the lymphatic metastasis group, the expressions of Twist and N-cadherin were higher than those of no-lymphatic metastasis group (P<0.05). The expressions of E-cadherin and keratin were lower than those of the no-lymphatic metastasis group (P< 0.05). Results of in situ hybridization showed that the expression of Twist mRNA in the moderate- and low-differentiated groups of OSCC, T3, and T4 groups as well as that of the lymphatic metastasis group were higher than those of the high-differentiated, T1 and T2 groups, and no-separate lymphatic metastasis group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEpithelium materialization exists in OSCC tissue. Twist can enhance the invasiveness of tumor cell and promote the infiltration and metastasis of OSCC. The combined detection of Twist, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin expressions can effectively predict and estimate OSCC metastasis.

Cadherins ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; physiology ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mouth Neoplasms ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Twist-Related Protein 1 ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the value of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in differentiatied diagnosis for stromal tumour and lipoma in duodenal tract.MethodsThe EUS images of 44 cases of stromal tumour(30 cases) and lipoma( 14 cases) which were confirmed by pathological results were analyzed retrospectively.The location,size,layer of origin,margin,internal echo pattern and homogeniety of the lesion were recorded and compared.Results Compared with lipoma,stromal tumour showed a significant difference in the layer of origin,margin,internal echo and homogeniety ( P ＜ 0.05 ),but there was no statistical difference in the lesion location and size( P ＞0.05).ConclusionsEUS is greatly helpful to the differential diagnosis of stromal tumour and lipoma in duodenal tract.

Objective To explore the value of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in differential diagnosis of ectopic pancreas and stromal tumor in stomach.Methods The clinical data and endoscopic ultrasound findings of 40 patients with ectopic pancrea and 141 patients with stromal tumor were retrospectively analyzed,including the location,size,growth pattern,layer of origin,internal echo pattern and so on.All patients were diagnosed pathologically.Results Ectopic pancreas were predominantly located in the antrum (92.5％) and stromal tumor were mainly located in the gastric body (45.4％),the antrum (23.4％) and the fundus (22.0％),there was a significant difference in lesion' s location between two diseases (P ＜0.001).There was no statistical difference in the ratio of longest/shortest diameter of the lesion size(P =0.057).But there was statistical difference in lesion size between ectopic pancrease and stromal tumor [(19.98 ± 12.80)mm vs (11.25 ± 3.61)mm].Mural growth pattern was most common in ectopic pancrease (82.5％) and mural growth pattern (37.6％),extraluminal growth pattern (24.8％) and intraluminal growth pattern (22.7％) in stromal tumor (P ＜0.001).The third layer (75.0％) was predominant in ectopic pancrease while the fourth (54.6％) and the second layers (34.0％) in stromal tumor (P ＜0.001).With regard to internal echo pattern,hypoechoic (32.5％),intermediate (27.5％) and heterogeneous (27.5％) was predominant in ectopic pancrease and homogeneous hypoechoic lesion (72.3％) in the stromal tumor (P ＜ 0.001).Conclusions There were statistical differences between ectopic pancrease and stromal tumor in the location,size,layer of origin,growth pattern and internal echo pattern under EUS.EUS plays an important role in identification of ectopic pancrease and stromal tumor.

A method was proposed for the separation and determination of paraffin waxes in food by HPLC-evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). A normal-phase column was used to separate nonparaffinic and paraffinic materials without resolving the latter into individual components. The t-test method was adopted for the evaluation of mean difference between response factors of n-alkanes in paraffin waxes on ELSD detector. No mean difference was obtained between response factors, which can be used for quantitative determination of paraffin waxes in food. The determination results obtained by HPLC-ELSD were compared with those by GC-MS. The linear range for the determination of paraffin waxes was in the range from 10 to 500 mg/L with a correlation coefficient of 0.9988, and the limit of detection was 1.0 mg/L. With the spiking level of 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg, the recovery ranged from 84.6% to 105.4% and the relative standard deviation ranging from 5.4% to 7.2%. The proposed method is simple, fast and sensitive.

A strain Actinobacillus succinogenes CGMCC 1593 was selected as the parent strain.After UV-EMS and UV-DES treatments respectively,seven mutated strains with subtle improvements in acid tol-erance were obtained,and were subjected for recursive protoplast fusion.Through three rounds of genome shuffling,four shuffled strains with both higher yield and acid tolerance were obtained.The shuffled strain namely F3-21 could even survive at pH 5.2.The comparison of the shuffled strains and the parent strain for succinic acid production was also studied here.After 48 h of shake-flask fermentation,the succinic acid concentration of F3-21 was 48% higher than that of the parent strain.When F3-21 was carried out in a 5 liter stirred bioreactor with pH controlled 5.6~6.0,the accumulation of succinic acid in 48 h fermentation attained 38.1 g/L,which was increased by 45% compared with that of the parent strain(26.2 g/L).While pH was controlled at 6.5~7.0,the production of succinic acid in 32 h fermentation attained 40.7 g/L.When F3-21 was carried out in fed-batch fermentation,succinic acid concentration of 67.4 g/L was reached in 72 h fer-mentation.These results indicated that the genome shuffling could improve the acid tolerance and the suc-cinic acid production of A.succinogenes CGMCC 1593.

Objective To retrospectively determine the features of stones and calcifications in hepatobiliary system on virtual nonenhanced (VNE) dual-energy computed tomography (CT), and to evaluate the possibility of VNE images in diagnosis for those lesions.Methods A total of 128 gall stones and calcifications of the liver found in 110 patients were examined with triple phase abdominal CT scan from July 2007 to December 2011, in which true nonenhanced (TNE) phase and arterial phase were performed with single-energy CT (120 kVp) and portal venous phase was performed with dual-energy CT (100 kVp and 140 kVp). VNE images were generated from the portal venous phase dual-energy CT data sets by using commercially VNC software. The mean CT values for the stone, liver, bile and paraspinal muscle, mean lesion density and size in area dimension, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of lesion to the liver or bile, and image noise were assessed and compared between VNE and TNE images. The effective dose and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) were also calculated.Results The mean CT values of the lesions measured on VNE images declined significantly compared with those measured on TNE images (164.51±102.13 vs. 290.72±197.80 HU, P<0.001), so did the lesion-to-liver CNR (10.80±11.82 vs.18.81±17.06, P<0.001) and the lesion-to-bile CNR (17.24±14.41 vs. 21.32±17.31, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in size of lesions area between VNE and TNE images (0.69±0.88 vs. 0.72±0.85 cm, P=0.062). Compared to the 128 lesions found in TNE images, VNE images showed the same density in 30 (23.4%) lesions, lighter density in 88 (68.8%) lesions, while failed to show 10 (7.8%) lesions, and showed the same size in 61 (47.7%) lesions and smaller size in 57 (44.5%) lesions. The CT cutoff values of lesion and size were 229.21 HU and 0.15 cm, respectively. The total effective dose for triple phase scan protocol with TNE images was 19.51±7.03 mSv, and the SSDE was 39.84±11.10 mGy. The effective dose for dual phase scan protocol with VNE images instead of TNE images was 13.29±4.89 mSv, and the SSDE was 27.83±9.99 mGy. Compared with TNE images, the effective dose and SSDE of VNE images were down by 32.05%±3.69 % and 30.63%±2.34 %, respectively.Conclusions Although the CT values and CNR of the lesions decreased in VNE images, the lesions of which attenuation greater than 229.21 HU and size larger than 0.15 cmcould be detected with good reliability and obvious dose reduction. There was good consistency in the size of stones and calcifications in hepatobiliary system between VNE images and TNE images, which ensured the possibility of the clinical application of VNE images.

OBJECTIVETo establish a highly efficient culture method for detecting Yersinia enterocolitica in stool samples from diarrheic patients.

METHODSStool samples collected from 200 diarrheic patients were detected with a modified and 3 conventional methods, and the positivity rates of the bacterium were compared statistically.

RESULTSWith the modified method, 18 positive samples for Yersinia enterocolitica were detected from 200 stool samples, while with the 3 conventional methods, only 3, 5, and 8 positive samples were identified, respectively. Statistical analysis with McNemer test suggested significant difference in the positive detection rate between the modified and the 3 conventional methods.

CONCLUSIONThe modified method for Yersinia enterocolitica detection has much higher sensitivity than the 3 conventional methods, and can be applied in clinical detection.

Bacteriological Techniques ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Diarrhea ; microbiology ; Feces ; microbiology ; Humans ; Temperature ; Yersinia enterocolitica ; growth & development ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo explore the impacts of physiological factors on liver volume in patients with or without cirrhosis and to investigate its correlation with two different hepatic function scoring systems.

METHODSTotally 44 consecutive patients without any suspicious hepatic disease and 17 contemporaneous patients who had been diagnosed as cirrhosis by natural history, clinical performance, past-imaging examination (ultrasound or CT), and serum tests were enrolled. Contrast enhanced abdomen CT scan was performed with 64-slice CT (target study phase: portal phase; reconstruction slice thickness: 2mm; slice interval: 2mm; Kernel value: B30s Smooth). We defined the concept of liver body index (LBI) = total liver volume (TLV) (cm3)/[1000 x body surface areal (BSA) (m2)]. The correlations between liver volume and individual physiological factors were analyzed, and the relationships between volume parameters and two hepatic scoring systems of cirrhosis group were explored.

RESULTSThe average TLV was (1249 +/- 248) cm3 in control group. TLV correlated well with patient's height, weight, and BSA (r = 0.5285, r = 0.5754, r = 0.6210 ; P < 0.01), and weakly correlated with body mass index (r = 0.3074, P < 0.05). TLV weakly negatively correlated with age (rs = -0.3342, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of TLV grouping by sex when setting weight as covariant factor. In cirrhosis group the liver volume was not correlated with the patients' weight or BSA. The average liver volume was decreased to (1044 +/- 300) cm3, which was significantly different from that in control group (P < 0.01). While Child-Pugh was not correlated with volume parameters in cirrhosis group, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was significantly correlated with LBI (r = -0.6937, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTLV relates to several physiological factors in general population. MELD score, rather than Child-Pugh score, correlates with TLV and LBI in patients with cirrhosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; methods ; standards ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organ Size ; Radiography ; Severity of Illness Index ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the image quality and radiation dose of dual-energy (DE) computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of head and neck.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed two groups of patients (both n=30) undergoing 64-slice spiral CTA of cervical and cranial regions with different scan protocols. The DE group was obtained with 140/80 kVp, 64/272 mAs, 0.6 pitch, 80 ml of contrast medium, and caudal-cranial scan orientation. The single-energy (SE) group was obtained with 120 kVp, 220 mAs, 1.2 pitch, 60 ml of contrast medium and cranial-caudal scan orientation. The image quality and radiation dose were compared. The attenuation values and noises were measured on transverse images at 4 different vessels (the distal part of common carotid artery and adjacent vein in same axial image; the M1 segment of middle cerebral artery and sigmoid sinus or confluence of sinus in same image) and two muscles: erector spinae presenting average soft tissue enhancement and supraspinatus muscle presenting regions of great artifact.

RESULTSIn cranial region the arterial enhancement and venous contamination were similar (P=0.1427,P=0.1116) . In cervical region the arterial enhancement was similar (P=0.9414) . DE group had significantly greater venous contamination (P<0.0001) , while the mean attenuation value of common carotid artery was still 127 Hu higher than that of jugular vein. No matter artifact of soft tissue was obvious or not, the noise of DE group was significantly less than that of SE group (both P<0.0001) , and the soft tissue enhancement was similar (P=0.0760,P=0.0793) . The radiation dose required for bone-subtraction angiography was significantly less in DE group than in SE group (P<0.0001) .

CONCLUSIONSDE group has comparable image quality to SE group and less scan dose for bone-subtraction. DE-CTA has great potential in clinical application. "

Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Head ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiation Dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVEThis pictorial review aimed to summarize the most possible differential diagnosis of pancreatic islet cell tumor (PICT).

DATA SOURCESData used in this review were mainly from Medline and Pubmed in English. And all clinical images in this review were from Department of Radiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.

STUDY SELECTIONCases of pancreatic cystadenoma, solid pseudo-papillary tumor of the pancreas, pancreatic metastasis, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, para-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, Castleman disease, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, splenic artery aneurysm and accessory spleen were selected in this pictorial review for differential diagnosis of PICT.

RESULTSCareful analysis of imaging features and correlation with the clinical manifestations may allow a more specific diagnosis. It is also important that the radiologist is familiar with the anatomic variants and disease entities which mimic pancreatic islet cell tumor in order to avoid an improper treatment protocol.

CONCLUSIONSMany congenital anatomic variants or other pancreatic and peri-pancreatic diseases may mimic MDCT appearance of pancreatic islet cell tumor. Radiological, clinical and pathological characteristics should be considered for the final diagnosis.

Humans ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography