This article elucidates the relationship between the human susceptibility to obesity and gene polymorphisms such as peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors(PPARs)and PPAR?coactivator-1,along with milestones in the formation and development of capacity for fat deposition during evolutionary history of human.An biological evolutionary analysis,identifying factors favoring the energy stores,may be helpful to the development of preventive public health strategies.

Child ; Choristoma ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; pathology ; Thymus Gland ; pathology ; Thymus Neoplasms ; pathology ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of mild moxibustion and lovastatin on immunologic function in rabbits with chronic hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis (AS) to initially explain regulating rules of mild moxibustion on immunologic function.

METHODSAmong thirty-two Japanese male big-ear rabbits, 8 rabbits were randomly selec ted as a blank group, the rest 24 rabbits were fed with method of endothelial injury and high-fat diet to establish AS model. The blank group was raised with normal diet and free water. After ten weeks of model establishment, the rest 24 rabbits were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a medicine group, eight rabbits in each one. Moxibustion was applied at "Shenque" (CV 8) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 10 min per acupoint per day in the moxibustion group, while intragastric administration of 3.6 mg/kg lovastatin capsule was applied in the medicine group. After treatment, serum was acquired. Spectrophotometry method was adapted to measure cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and evaluated atherosclerosis index (AI), while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to measure interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4).

RESULTS(1) The serum TC and HDL-C in the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank group, moxibustion group and medicine group (all P < 0.01). The mean value of AI was 1.683 +/- 0.486 in the moxibustion group, which was obviously lower than 20.301 +/- 4.022 in the model group (P < 0.01). (2) The ratio of Th1/Th2 was 0.569 +/- 0.143 in the moxibustion group and 0.445 +/- 0.079 in the medicine group, which were significantly lower than 0.917 +/- 0.255 in the model group (both P < 0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference between the moxibustion group and the medicine group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe moxibustion for AS could reduce atherosclerosis index, influence drift and bias of helper T cell and regulate balance between humoral immunity and cellular immunity. As a result, status of relative balance of immunity is acquired, which could slow down the development of atherosclerosis and process of thrombus burst.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; immunology ; therapy ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; immunology ; therapy ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Interleukin-4 ; immunology ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rabbits ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

Diving ; Humans ; Otitis Externa ; prevention & control

Background and purpose:Cancer microenvironment has become a hot topic of cancer research. It is important in the initiation of colorectal cancer. This study aimed to discuss the correlation between the characteristics of tissue culturein vitro and different cell types in cancer microenvironment.Methods:Samples were collected at different distances from the colorectal cancer lesions, which were named as positions 1, 2 and 3 from distal to proximal. Tissues were cut into 1-2 mm3 forin vitro culturing. HE staining was used to observe the structure of crypts. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of Cyclin D1 (CD1), CD133, cytokeratin18 (CK18), vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA).Results:Position 3 grew faster than position 2 and position 1. As getting closer to the colorectal cancer lesions, expressions of CD1, CD133, vimentin and α-SMA were increased while expression of CK18 was decreased.Conclusion:The tissue structure and the expression of different cell types in cancer microenvironment changed more seriously as get-ting closer to the colorectal cancer lesions. This indicated that the change of cancer microenvironment may contribute to the initiation of colorectal cancer.

Objective To investigate nontraumatic avascular necrotic of the femoral head with different etiology whether or not having similar MRI and pathologic findings.Methods MRI features of nontraumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head caused by differant etiology in 98 patients(152 hips) were retrospectively analysed.The causes of osteonecrosis of the femoral head included steroid-induced in 49 patients(86 hips),alcoholic in 18 patients(25 hips) and idiopathic cause in 31 patients(41hips).Gross section and pathologic examinations were performed on 34 femoral heads obtained after total hip replacement from 25 patients.Results Osteonecrosis of the femoral head with different etiology occurred at the anterior superior part of femoral head.The necrotic zones both on pathological gross section and MRI were consisted of cartilage,necrotic focus,proliferative zone and normal bony zones along the lesions.The proliferative zone surrounded necrotic area was low signal intensity on both T1WI and T2WI.There was correlations between localized MRI signal behavior and specific histopathologic features of femoral head osteonecrosis.Conclusion Nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral heads associated with different etiology have similar characteristics on both MRI and pathology

Objective To evaluate MR imaging of transient osteoporosis.Methods MR imaging of transient osteoporosis in eight patients was retrospectively reviewed.In all eight patients,routine scanning was performed in axial and coronal planes,including T_1-weighted and T_2-wighted images.Of the eight patients,five were male and three were female,with the age ranging from 12 to 70 years.Neither of the women was pregnant when they visited our hospital.Results The bilateral hips were affected in seven patients,the left shoulder in one.The MR images demonstrated low signal intensity in all eight patients on T_1WI,and normal signal intensity (2 cases),medium-high signal intensity (3 cases),or high signal intensity (3 cases) on T_2WI.The bone marrow edema (BME) pattern involved the acetabulum (one hip),both the femoral head in 5 hips,the femoral neck and the intertrochanteric region through the upper femur in 7 hips,and the upper humerus in one.A small joint effusion was observed in six hips on T_2WI.Conclusion MRI is useful in defining the location and extent of transient osteoporosis.

Adult ; Ammonia ; poisoning ; Female ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; Poisoning ; complications ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory System ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Time Factors

Objective To prospectively assess the therapeutic procedure and outcome of MR-guided percutaneous sclerotherapy in patients with venous vascular malformations of the extremities. Methods Fifty-seven percutaneous sclerotherapy treatments were performed under MR guidance in 28 patients with venous vascular malformation. Assessment was conducted to analyze (1) individual success of therapy, (2) improvement of clinical symptoms, ( 3 ) occurrence of complications, (4) volume changes at follow-up examinations, (5) contrast-to -noise ration (CNR) changes. Paired-t test was used to compare the volume and CNR of pre- and postintervention. Results All MR-guided percutaneous sclerotherapy were performed successfully and without serious complications. Individual predominant symptoms were improved, especially about the pain and functional impairment. The mean lesion volumes of pre- and post-intervention were (56. 8 ± 11.7 ) cm3 and ( 27.0 ± 7.2 ) cm3 respectively, which showed significant difference ( t = 8. 90, P < 0. 01 ). The percentage of volume shrinkage ranged from 28. 5% to 74. 4% [ mean ( 54. 4 ± 5. 3 ) % ]. The CNR of the pre and post-interventional images were 21.9 ± 2. 0 and 8.4 ± 0. 9 respectively. There was significant difference(t = 21.76, P < 0.01 ) between them, and the percentages of CNR decrease were 40.0% to 78. 0% [ the mean(61.0 ± 3.6)%]. Conclusion MR-guided sclerotherapy of venous vascular malformations of the extremities is a safe and efficient technique.

Objective To investigate the application value of MR rthrography (MRA) in the diagnosis of acetabular labral tears. Methods Fifteen patients with a high degree of suspected acetabular labral tears received fluoroscope-guided injection of the contrast media into the hip joint ( hip arthrography) and fat-saturated spin-echo T1-weighted images were obtained in the coronal, sagittal, oblique-axial and radial planes. Hip arthroscopy was performed on 12 of them. Results Labral tears which were diagnosed in 11 patients by hip MRA were confirmed at hip arthroscopy. One patient showed no MRA indication of labral tear, also showed normal on arthroscopy. Tear in the anterior-superior quadrant 10 cases of 12 joints ( 12/13), posterior-superior quadrant 1 case of a joint (1/13). In 11 patients who underwent arthroscopy, hip MRA diagnosed 3 (3/13) joints labral tears in coronal planes, 10 (10/13) joints in sagittal planes and 13 (13/13) labral tears in axial-oblique and radial planes. In 15 patients with 20 hip joints, 5 cases 6 joints (6/20) with normal acetabular sublabral sulcus were performed. Conclusions MR arthrography of hip is a reliable method in the diagnosis of acetabular labral tears. Scanning method should be included fat-saturated spin-echo T1-weighted images in sagittal and oblique-axial planes or sagittal plus radial planes. The diagnosis of tor posterior-inferior quadrant should pay attention to the existence of a normal variation.