Objective:To compare transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy in diagnosis of intrauterine adhesions.Methods: One hundred and one cases of infertile women were treated by transvaginal ultrasound and hysteroscopy.Results: One hundred and one cases of infertility by hysteroscopy diagnosis of 87 cases of intrauterine adhesions, transvaginal ultrasound 68 cases of intrauterine adhesions, 78.16% sensitivity, sensitivity and different degree of intrauterine adhesions without significant difference. The diagnosis coincidence rate of intrauterine adhesions was consistent with transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy.Conclusion: In the clinical diagnosis and treatment of intrauterine adhesions, transvaginal sonography has the value of irreplaceable hysteroscopy. Vaginal ultrasonography can be used as the first choice for intrauterine adhesions.

Background and purpose:Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was one of the best combined treatments for hepatocarcinoma. CT was commonly used to evaluate treatment response and recurrent disease. However it was diffi cult to evaluate treatment effectiveness of RFA and to detect recurrent nodule especially the size below 1cm. Digital subtraction arteriography(DSA) may provide fi nal diagnosis of recurrent nodule after RFA for hepatocarcinoma. Our purpose was to analyze the signs of DSA after RFA for hepatocarcinoma in order to provide possible reference for treatment effectiveness and the imaging follow-up methods. Methods:17 patients with primary liver cancer (n=15) or hepatic metastasis(n=2) were enrolled in this study. Common hepatic arteriography or super-selective angiography of suspicious tumor area were performed on all patients. Results:On DSA, most ablated regions presented as round or ovoid low density areas with no stain. At the peripheral zone of the lesion, fi ve signs after RFA could be found: Stain of localized granulation tissue, arterio-portal fi stula, hemorrhage, recurrence and no abnormal fi ndings. Local or intrahepatic recurrence occurred in 9 cases. Conclusion:Hepatic DSA has great value in detecting local recurrence of hepatic tumor after RFA treatment. DSA is superior to CT in detecting marginal or intrahepatic recurrent nodule below 1 cm.

【Objective】 To assess the effects of traditional Chine se medicine composited Xinmaitong (XMT) capsule on treating ischemia cardiac dis ease. 【Methods】 Sixty coronary heart disease patients with myocardial ischemia were divided randomly into two groups. XMT group (30 cases) was treated with XM T and western medicine, and control group (30 cases) with western medicine. The changes of the scores of clinical symptoms, the total ischemia burden (TIB), the plasma endothelin (ET), the nitric oxide (NO), the super oxide dismutase (SOD), and the malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels were observed before and after treatment . 【Results】 After treatment with XMT, the scores of clinical symptoms, TIB, ET and MDA levels were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the levels of NO and SOD were significantly increased (P<0.01) in XMT group. Comparing with contr ol group, these changes were statistically different (P<0.01). 【Conclusions 】 XMT capsule can act against myocardial ischemia effectively, one of the mecha nisms of which is protecting the function of vascular endothelium and resisting lipid peroxidation injury. The effect of adding XMT capsule on conventional trea tment with western medicine was better than that with western medicine only.

Objective: To evaluate the treatment efficacy of reverse flaring technique applied by two rotary instruments, Hero 642 and ProTaper, on complicated molar root canal preparation. Methods: 100 molars with curved root canals (maximum curved angle ≥25 degrees) suffered from pulpitis or periapicities were randomly divided into two groups. In experimental group reverse flaring technique was applied by rotary instruments while in control group reverse flaring technique was not adopted. 50 experimental teeth with curved canals were operated with K files, Hero 642 and ProTaper in sequence. Lateral condensation obturation method was utilized in both groups. Root canal preparation and obturation efficiency were evaluated by X-ray, root canal preparation time and complication incidence (1 year follow-up rate was 95%). Results: Reverse flaring technique applied by Hero 642 and ProTaper Ni-Ti rotary instruments on complicated (curved) root canal preparation in group A demonstrated better root canal coning and smoothness, without instrument fractures, while instrument fractures occurred in control group. Significant difference was found in exact root canal obturation rate and not enough full rate, root canal smoothness and postoperative pain between two groups(P<0.05). Conclusion: Reverse flaring technique applied by Hero 642 and ProTaper NI-Ti rotary instruments indicates complementary potencies, demonstrating satisfactory root canal shape and obturation effectiveness, and lower complication incidence. Reverse flaring technique applied by Ni-Ti rotary instruments is apt for medium/severe curved root canal preparation and worthy of clinical application.

Objective To determine the feasibility and safety of transprostatic utricle seminal vesiculoscopy in the treatment of hemospermia. Methods Totally 11 patients with hemospermia, mean age of (46.6 ± 3.5) years, ranging from 38 to 68 years, for 3 months admitted from September 2012 to August 2015 were enrolled, Their main manifestations were hemospermia. Painful ejaculation was observed in 7 patients, and perineal and testicular pain occured in 4 patients. They all underwent transprostatic utricle seminal vesiculoscopy, and then were followed up for 3 to 6 months. Results Ten patients were operated successfully, but 1 patient failed. The operation revealed that the causes of hemospermia were seminal vesiculitis in 8 cases, seminal vesiculitis accompanied with seminal calculi in 2 cases, and ejaculatory duct cyst in 1 case. Operation time was (29.2 ± 3.2) min ( ranging from 25 to 37 min) , and hospital stay was 2 d ( from 2 to 4 d). Hemospermia disappeared in 10 patients within 1 month of surgery, and hemospermia recurrence was observed in 1 patient within 6 months. The patient was treated with transprostatic utricle Holmium laser incision, then hemospermia was dispeared,Two cases of postoperative epididymitis were cured after one week of antibiotic treatment. Conclusions Seminal vesiculoscopy is a safe and effective to treat hemaospermia.

Objective:To study the biological behavior of nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells and to explore the activation of Ras signaling pathway regulated by CD44.Methods:CNE2-SC and 5-8F-SC were nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells and obtained by serum-free suspension culture. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, Transwell migration assay, cell adhesion array were used to investigate the growth, proliferation, migration and adhesion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells. Western blot test was used to detect the expressions of Ras signaling pathway related proteins and siRNA-mediated interference was used to determine the activation of Ras signaling pathway regulated by CD44.Results:The growth rates of CNE2-SC and 5-8F-SC cells were significantly lower than those of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells at 24, 48 and 72 hours after inoculation ( P<0.05). After 14 days of implantation, the colony formation rates of CNE2-SC (44.5±1.9)% and 5-8F-SC (47.4±1.8)% were higher than those of CNE2 (34.9±1.5)% and 5-8F (37.2±1.7)%, respectively( P<0.01). The migration cell number of CNE2-SC was (87.6±7.8), 3.97 times higher than that of CNE2 ( P<0.01). The migration cell number of 5-8F-SC was (67.2±5.7), 3.07 times higher than 5-8F ( P<0.01). The adhesion rates of CNE2-SC and CNE2 cells were (42.1±7.6)% and (8.9±2.0)%, respectively at 3 hours after inoculation and were (82.4±5.0)% and (12.1±2.2)% at 6 hours after inoculation, respectively. The adhesion rate of CNE2-SC cells was higher than that of CNE2 cells (all P<0.01). The adhesion rates of 5-8F-SC and 5-8F cells were (53.6±6.1)% and (7.3±1.5)% at 3 hours after inoculation, and (90.7±3.6)% and (11.0±1.2)% at 6 hours after inoculation, respectively. The adhesion rate of 5-8F-SC cells was higher than that of 5-8F cells ( P<0.01). The expression levels of CD44, Ras and N-cadherin were significantly higher, while phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), E-cadherin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells were lower than those of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Furthermore, the levels of phosphorylated mitogen extracellular kinase1/2 (p-MEK1/2) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase1/2 (p-ERK1/2)were significantly increased in nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells ( P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that the protein expression levels of CD44 was highly positively correlated with RAS in nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells( r=0.985, P=0.002; r=0.962, P=0.038). Deletion of CD44 in CNE2-SC decreased the expression levels of HER-2, Ras and p-ERK1/2, p-Akt and phosphorylated protein kinase C-δ(p-PKCδ) ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Despite compare to the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell, nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells grows at a relatively slow rate, the capacities of clone formation, migration, adhesion are promoted. This may be related to the CD44-regulated abnormal activation of Ras signaling pathway.

Objective:To study the biological behavior of nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells and to explore the activation of Ras signaling pathway regulated by CD44.Methods:CNE2-SC and 5-8F-SC were nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells and obtained by serum-free suspension culture. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, Transwell migration assay, cell adhesion array were used to investigate the growth, proliferation, migration and adhesion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells. Western blot test was used to detect the expressions of Ras signaling pathway related proteins and siRNA-mediated interference was used to determine the activation of Ras signaling pathway regulated by CD44.Results:The growth rates of CNE2-SC and 5-8F-SC cells were significantly lower than those of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells at 24, 48 and 72 hours after inoculation ( P<0.05). After 14 days of implantation, the colony formation rates of CNE2-SC (44.5±1.9)% and 5-8F-SC (47.4±1.8)% were higher than those of CNE2 (34.9±1.5)% and 5-8F (37.2±1.7)%, respectively( P<0.01). The migration cell number of CNE2-SC was (87.6±7.8), 3.97 times higher than that of CNE2 ( P<0.01). The migration cell number of 5-8F-SC was (67.2±5.7), 3.07 times higher than 5-8F ( P<0.01). The adhesion rates of CNE2-SC and CNE2 cells were (42.1±7.6)% and (8.9±2.0)%, respectively at 3 hours after inoculation and were (82.4±5.0)% and (12.1±2.2)% at 6 hours after inoculation, respectively. The adhesion rate of CNE2-SC cells was higher than that of CNE2 cells (all P<0.01). The adhesion rates of 5-8F-SC and 5-8F cells were (53.6±6.1)% and (7.3±1.5)% at 3 hours after inoculation, and (90.7±3.6)% and (11.0±1.2)% at 6 hours after inoculation, respectively. The adhesion rate of 5-8F-SC cells was higher than that of 5-8F cells ( P<0.01). The expression levels of CD44, Ras and N-cadherin were significantly higher, while phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), E-cadherin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells were lower than those of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Furthermore, the levels of phosphorylated mitogen extracellular kinase1/2 (p-MEK1/2) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase1/2 (p-ERK1/2)were significantly increased in nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells ( P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that the protein expression levels of CD44 was highly positively correlated with RAS in nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells( r=0.985, P=0.002; r=0.962, P=0.038). Deletion of CD44 in CNE2-SC decreased the expression levels of HER-2, Ras and p-ERK1/2, p-Akt and phosphorylated protein kinase C-δ(p-PKCδ) ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Despite compare to the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell, nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells grows at a relatively slow rate, the capacities of clone formation, migration, adhesion are promoted. This may be related to the CD44-regulated abnormal activation of Ras signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The prior functional MRI studies have demonstrated significantly abnormal activity in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus (STG) of anxiety patients. The purpose of the current investigation was to determine whether the abnormal activity in these regions was related to a loss of functional connectivity between these regions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten healthy controls and 10 anxiety patients underwent noninvasive fMRI while actively listening to emotionally neutral words alternated by silence (Task 1) or threat-related words (Task 2). The participants were instructed to silently make a judgment of each word's valence (i.e., unpleasant, pleasant, or neutral). A coherence analysis was applied to the functional MRI data to examine the functional connectivity between the left and the right STG, which was selected as the primary region of interest on the basis of our prior results. RESULTS: The data demonstrated that the anxiety patients exhibited significantly increased activation in the bilateral STG than the normal controls. The functional connectivity analysis indicated that the patient group showed significantly decreased degree of connectivity between the bilateral STG during processing Task 2 compared to Task 1 (t = 2.588, p = 0.029). In addition, a significantly decreased connectivity was also observed in the patient group compared to the control group during processing Task 2 (t = 2.810, p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Anxiety patients may exhibit increased activity of the STG but decreased functional connectivity between the left and right STG, which may reflect the underlying neural abnormality of anxiety disorder, and this will provide new insights into this disease.
Adult ; Anxiety Disorders/pathology/*physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Emotions/physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Temporal Lobe/pathology/*physiopathology

Diffusion MRI (dMRI) has been widely utilized to probe the random motion of water molecules in tissues. In a dMRI acquisition protocol, diffusion weighting or b-value is one of the most important parameters to consider. In recent years, high and ultrahigh b-values have become popular partly due to advances in hardware. In this mini-review, we will discuss impacts of high/ultrahigh b-values in three different areas: brain microstructure, tractography, and clinical applications. We will emphasize advantages of high b-value in probing diffusion within highly restricted regions or fine structures with enhanced diffusion contrast. A short summary is included at the end of each section to illustrate both advantages and disadvantages of using a high/ultrahigh b-value for each purpose.

Objective To investigate the effect of Yiqi Jiedu Recipe(YQ)on the proliferation,migration,and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells,and to explore its mechanisms of action on proliferation,migration,and invasion through the TGF-β1/SMAD3 signaling pathway.Methods(1)The 5-8F cells were divided into four groups:solvent control group,YQ 0.5 mg·mL-1 group,YQ 1.0 mg·mL-1 group,and 5-fluorouracil 2 μg·mL-1 group.Cell proliferation was monitored using real-time cell analysis(RTCA).Wound healing experiment was conducted to assess cell migration.After 24 hours of drug intervention,transwell assay was employed to measure cell invasion.The protein expression levels of β-catenin,E-cadherin,N-cadherin,TGF-β1,and SMAD3 in the cells were evaluated using the Western Blot method.(2)The 5-8F cells were divided into five groups:solvent control group,TGF-β1 10 ng·mL-1 group,TGF-β1 10 ng·mL-1+YQ 1.0 mg·mL-1 group,YQ 1.0 mg·mL-1 group,and LY3200882 10 μmol·L-1 group.Cell proliferation was monitored using RTCA.Wound healing experiment was conducted to assess cell migration.After 24 hours of drug intervention,transwell assay was employed to measure cell invasion.The protein expression levels of β-catenin,E-cadherin,N-cadherin,TGF-β1,and SMAD3 in the cells were evaluated using Western Blot.(3)The nude mice were randomly assigned into the model group,YQ group,and 5-fluorouracil group.Subcutaneous injection of 5-8F cell suspension was performed to establish the xenograft nude mouse model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.After the tumors reached a certain size,the 5-fluorouracil group received intraperitoneal injection of 5-Fu once every 2 days,while the other groups were orally administered corresponding drugs once a day for three consecutive weeks.Tumor volume was measured every 3 days.Western Blot was conducted to assess the protein expression levels of β-catenin,E-cadherin,and N-cadherin in the tissues of each group.Results Compared with the solvent control group,the proliferation curves of 5-8F cells in the YQ(0.5 mg·mL-1,1.0 mg·mL-1)groups showed a decrease.The migration and invasion abilities of the cells were both reduced(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Additionally,the expression of E-cadherin protein significantly increased(P＜0.01),while the protein expression of β-catenin,N-cadherin,TGF-β1,and SMAD3 all decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the transplanted tumor volume of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the YQ group significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Furthermore,the protein expression of β-catenin and N-cadherin in the transplanted tissues of the YQ group was significantly downregulated(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),while the expression of E-cadherin protein was significantly upregulated(P＜0.01).After the addition of the activator and inhibitor of TGF-β1 signaling pathway,compared with the YQ 1.0 mg·mL-1 group,the TGF-β1 10 ng·mL-1+YQ 1.0 mg·mL-1 group showed a significant increase in the expression of TGF-β1,SMAD3,β-catenin,and N-cadherin proteins(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)and obvious enhancement of the abilities of cell proliferation,migration,and invasion(P＜0.01).Conclusion Yiqi Jiedu Recipe can inhibit the proliferation,migration,and invasion by regulating the TGF-β1/SMAD3 signaling pathway.