The medical diagnostic photographic X-ray machine is a kind of widely used image examination equipment in hospital,and the images produced is of great significance to patients and doctors as an important clinical diagnostic warranty.This paper introduces a quality inspection technology aiming at medical diagnostic X-ray machine in large-scale hospitals.This technology is based on a multipurpose X-ray survey-meter and several performance phantoms.It can survey important parameters and evaluate image quality of X-ray equipments,and is especially fit to clinical engineers to carry out daily quality control.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. PURPOSE: This study primarily aimed to evaluate the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-4 in patients with lumbar radiculopathy 1 and 12 months after microdiscectomy. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Lumbar radiculopathy is possibly caused by inflammatory changes in the nerve root. The intraneural application of pro-inflammatory cytokines induces behavioral signs associated with pain. Anti-inflammatory cytokine treatment effectively reduces hyperalgesia. METHODS: The role of TNF-α and IL-4 in long-lasting lumbar radiculopathy was addressed. A total of 262 patients were recruited from Anqing Hospital, Anhui Medical University. During inclusion at 1 and 12 months, serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-4 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and pain intensity was reported on a 0–10 cm visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: Sixty six patients had VAS <3 and 196 patients had VAS ≥3. Serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory TNF-α and anti-inflammatory IL-4 in patients with lumbar radiculopathy related to disc herniation were measured at 1- and 12-month follow-up. TNF-α decreased in both VAS groups with time. In contrast, IL-4 increased in both groups at 1 month and then decreased gradually until month 12. The changes in serum levels of TNF-α and IL-4 over time between the VAS ≥3 and VAS <3 groups were significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic lumbar radiculopathy may be associated with high level of pro-inflammatory substances, such as TNF-α, in serum after disc herniation, and elevated anti-inflammatory cytokine in patients with lumbar radiculopathy may indicate a favorable outcome.
Cohort Studies ; Cytokines* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukins ; Radiculopathy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effects of Shexiang Xingnaonin (SXN) on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and its mechanism.

METHODMiddle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was used to make focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model by in travascular nylon filament occlusion. The protective effects of SXN at different doses were evaluated by investigating neurological function score, pathomorphology of brain, the ultrastructure of neuron, expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, thrombogenesis in vitro, platelet aggregation and lysing effect of blood clot in vitro.

RESULTCompared with model group, SXN (0.08, 0.16 g x kg(-1)) could decrease the neurological score, improve pathomorphology and neuron ultrastructure of brain, inhibit the expression of TNF-alpha, decrease the length, wet weight and dry weight of thromb and inhibit platelet aggregation. And SXN (0.16, 0.32 g x L(-1)) could dissolve blood clot in vitro.

CONCLUSIONSXN has protective effects on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. The role of inhibit the expression of TNF-alpha, inhibit thrombogenesis and platelet aggregation might contribute to its neuroprotective effects.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Astragaloside (AST) and Astragalus Saponin I (ASI) on metabolism of free radical and immune function in senescent rats treated by HC.

METHODHydrocorisone (HC) was used to estabilsh the aging model in rats. The content of molondialdehyde (MDA), glutathoine (GSH) and oxidized glutathoine (GSSG) in liver and brain was detected according to kit. The activity of Mn superoride dismulase (Mn-SOD) and catalase (CAT) was also surveyed by kit. Concanavalin (ConA) was used to detect the proliferation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production of splenocytes.

RESULTCompared with HC control, AST and ASI could decrease the content of MDA, GSH and GSSG in liver and brain, increase the activity of Mn-SOD and CAT, and promote the proliferation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) activity of splenocytes.

CONCLUSIONAST and ASI could delay the aging effect in rats treated by HC, and its mechanism maybe the antioxidant and regulating immunity.

Aging ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Female ; Free Radicals ; metabolism ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Glutathione Disulfide ; metabolism ; Hydrocortisone ; toxicity ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Spleen ; cytology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo prepare Sj14-3-3 DNA vaccine and observe its immunoprotection against Schistosoma japonicum in mice.

METHODSThe Sj14-3-3 gene was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and subcloned into eukaryotic expression vector pBK. The recombinant plasmid pBK-Sj14-3-3 was extracted, purified and inoculated into BALB/c mice by intramuscular injection. Mice were attacked by Schistosoma japonicum cercariae and then killed. Adult worm and egg were counted, respectively. Diameter of the egg granulomas in the liver of infected mice was measured.

RESULTSElectrophoresis on 1% agarose gel showed that the product of RT-PCR and the inserted fragment of recombinant plasmid digested with EcoR I and Xho I had the same size, about 765 bp, confirming the latter was the 14-3-3 encoding gene by nucleotide sequencing. Adult worm load declined by 27%, average egg load of per gram (EPG) of the liver tissues by 79%, average egg production per couple of adult worm (EPWP) by 51%, and mean diameter of egg granulomas by 29% in vaccinated mice.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant plasmid pBK-Sj14-3-3 was successfully constructed, which had some immunoprotection against Schistosoma japonicum in infected mice, indicating its potential to be vaccine candidate molecule of Schistosoma japonicum.

14-3-3 Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; blood ; Antigens, Helminth ; genetics ; immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Helminth ; genetics ; Female ; Helminth Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Parasite Egg Count ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Schistosoma japonicum ; genetics ; immunology ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology

OBJECTIVE:To observe clinical efficacy and safety of citalopram in the treatment of depression patients after lung cancer operation. METHODS:114 depression patients after lung cancer operation were selected and randomly divided into observa-tion group and control group (n=57). Control group was given routine treatment as nutrition support and electrolyte balance,but had no anti-depression drugs;observation group was given Citalopram tablet 20 mg orally,qd. Two groups were treated for 6 weeks. Clinical efficacy,HAMD and HAMA scores,each score and total score of SF-36 were observed before and after treatment. The occurrence of ADR was recorded. RESULTS:The total effective rate of observation group was 87.72%,which was significant-ly higher than that that of control group(71.93%),with statistical significance(P<0.05);there was no statistical significance in HAMA score,HAMD score,each score and total score of SF-36 between 2 groups before treatment(P>0.05);HAMA score and HAMD score of 2 groups decreased significantly after treatment,the observation group was lower than the control group;each score and total score of SF-36 increased significantly,the observation group was higher than the control group,with statistical sig-nificance(P<0.05). No obvious ADR was found in 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS:Citalopram is effective and safe for depression af-ter lung cancer operation,can improve mental state and quality of life.

Objective::To investigate the potential mechanism of astragaloside Ⅳ in protecting liver injury and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/forkheadbox transcription factor 1 (FoxO1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) protein expressions in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) rats. Method::After 6 weeks of high-sugar and high-fat diet, a model of type 2 diabetes was established through intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 0.035 g·kg^-1). The rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, low, medium and high-dose astragaloside Ⅳ groups and metformin group, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08 g·kg^-1·d^-1 astragaloside crude drug and 0.2 g·kg^-1·d^-1 metformin were administered in the low, middle and high-dose astragaloside Ⅳ and metformin groups. After 8 weeks of continuous administration, and 24 hours later after the last gavage, the rats were executed. Serum and liver tissues were collected to detect serum liver biochemical indexes, liver index HDL-C. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes of liver tissue. Masson staining was used to observe the degree of liver fibrosis. The changes of glycogen, glycoprotein, or mucopolysaccharide in tissue cells were observed by periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reaction staining. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were used to detect the expression levels of PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling protein and PEPCK and G6Pase in liver tissues of each group. Result::Compared with normal group, the liver index of the model group increased significantly (P<0.01), the levels of liver function indicators alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), TC and TG were significantly increased (P<0.01), while HDL-C and body weight were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The results of immunohistochemistry and Western blot showed that the signal of PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 was weakened (P<0.01), and PEPCK and G6Pase were increased (P<0.01) in model group. Compared with model group, the contents of ALT, AST, TC and TG in middle and high-dose astragaloside Ⅳ groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the body weight was significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the middle and high dose of astragaloside Ⅳ significantly inhibited the levels of FoxO1, PEPCK and G6Pase in liver tissue (P<0.05, P< 0.01), and enhanced the phosphorylation of FoxO1 (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion::Astragaloside Ⅳ may inhibit T2DM hepatic gluconeogenesis by regulating PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway, and inhibiting high-fat, high-sugar and low-dose STZ, thereby protecting liver damage in T2DM rats.