Objective To investigate the application value of CT/MR image fusing in gross tumor volume (GTV) delineation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods Twenty-nine patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to be treated with radical surgery underwent routine CT scanning,MR T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) before surgery.Diffusion-sensitive gradient b values were taken at 400,600,and 800 s/mm2.GTVs were delineated on the CT image,CT/ MR T2WI,and CT/MR DWI respectively.The MR T2W1 image was used as the intermediary for the fusion of the CT image and MR DWI image.The length of GTVs measured under different imaging conditions were compared with the length of the resected specimen of esophagus.Results The GTV length was (44.94 ± 18.46) and (45.05 ±21.47) mm on the CT images and CT/MR T2WI images respectively.When the b values were 400,600,and 800 s/mm2,the esophageal carcinoma GTV length on CT/MR DWI images was (42.12 ± 17.79),(41.18 ± 17.17) and (39.77 ± 17.66) mm,respectively.The coefficient between the esophageal carcinoma GTV lengths on CT/MR DWI images and the pathological lesion lengths was 0.928,0.926 and 0.927 respectively.Conclusions CT/MR DWI images displays esophageal carcinoma GTV length more accurately,thus guiding the delineation of GTV effectively.

RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) is a newly developed method to analyze gene function and interaction at the omics level, which is widely used in frontier field in molecular biology and other fields. In recent years, this technology has been intensively used in the research of medicinal plants, and growing number of reports are published. This paper systematically sorted out relevant literatures and summarized applications of RNA-Seq technology in functional gene discovery, gene network analysis, genetic mechanism revelation and development of molecular marker of medicinal plants. Meanwhile, according to the technical characteristics of RNA-Seq and the development needs of medicinal plant research, this article brings the future prospects regarding RNA-seq technology in Chinese medicinal materials, and intending to provide inspirations for researches on Chinese materia medica based on RNA-Seq.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) can induce endogenous protection mechanism, which effectively prevent ischemia/reperfusion injury following organ transplantation. Cold and warm ischemia may induce ischemia/reperfusion injury of pancreas transplantation, and apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells is one of the important reasons of pancreas graft functional defect after transplantation. Mitochondrial DNA has repair system, and its balance with mitochondrial DNA injury influences disease occurrence and outcome.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of IPC on apoptosis of transplanted pancreatic acinar cells, and the possible role of reactive oxygen (ROS) and mitochondrial DNA repair enzyme.METHODS: A total of 50 health, male, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham operated (n = 10), donors (n = 20) and recipients (n = 20). The recipients were randomly divided into ischemia/reperfusion group (IR, n = 10) and IPC group (n = 10). The sham operated group was subjected to abdominal open and close operation. IR group and IPC group received establishment of diabetic model by streptozotocin injection. IR rats received whole pancreatic-duodenal transplantation alone. IPC rats received whole pancreatic-duodenal transplantation exposed ischemic preconditioning with 5 minutes ischemia and 5 minutes reperfusion twice. All grafts were keep with warm ischemia time 15 minutes and cold ischemia (in 4 ℃ UW preservation solution) time 180 minutes. Twelve hours after reperfusion, serum amylase, blood glucose, Caspase-3, -9 activity were detected. Pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. Mitochondrial cross-membrane potential (Δψ) was measured by monitoring the fluorescence spectrum of rhodamine 123. Mitochondrial H2O2 generation was determined using dichlorofluorescein as a probe. 8-oxodG in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was measured with HPLC system. Release of cytochrome C, phosphorylation of Akt and mitochondrial OGG1 protein expression were determined by Western-blotting. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The ischemia preconditioning can relieve the pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis in pancreas graft and relieve IR injury by decreasing mitochondrial oxidative stress, mtDNA injury, and increasing phosphorylation of Akt and mitochondrial OGG1 expression.

Objective To evaluate the function of afferent neuronal pathways (ANP) from the lower urinary tract (LUT) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) by use of sympathetic skin response (SSR). Methods Twenty-one patients with SCI (13 cases of incomplete injury, and 8 cases of complete injury) were recruited as a SIC group and 8 healthy volunteers as a control group. SSRs of all subjects were evoked by means of electrical stimulation (ES) of the median nerve and perineal region,as well as bladder filling (BF), while SSRs of the right palm and sole were recorded using surface electrodes. Results SSRs induced by ES of the median nerve and perineal region, and also by BF in the control group were recorded. SSRs of palms and soles could be recorded by using ES of the median nerve in patients with incomplete SCI, who had desire to void. However, SSRs could not be evoked in 3 of 13 patients with incomplete SCI but without sensation of perineal skin. In 8 patients with complete SCI but without sensation of trunk skin and bladder, SSRs of palms and soles could not be induced during ES of the median nerve if injuries were located over T_3, and SSRs of palms were recorded when the injuries were located between T_(4~9), while SSRs of palms and soles were evoked if injuries were located under T_(10). However, SSRs of palms and soles could not be evoked by ES of perineal region and BF in all patients. Conclusion SSRs, evoked by BF, could concord with the subjective sensation of the subjects from the LUT, and reflect the integrity of ANP from LUT. There is difference between somatosensory and viscerosensory ANP.

Animals ; Glutathione ; therapeutic use ; Guanidines ; therapeutic use ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Sulfones ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship of telomerase and canceration of sinonasal inverted papilloma(IP). METHODS Telomerase activity was measured by hybridization in situ in sinonasal mucosa of 10 cases of chronic in?ammation, 45 cases of sinonasal IP with dysplasia(45 cases were divided into three groups: IP with mild dysplasia, IP with moderate dysplasia and IP with severe dysplasia, 15 cases in each group), and 21 cases of cancerated sinonasal IP. RESULTSThe positive expression rates of telomerase was 0% in sinonasal mucosa with chronic inflammation, 0% in sinonasal IP with mild dysplasia, 13.3% in sinonasal IP with moderate dysplasia, 73.3% in sinonasal IP with severe dysplasia and 80.9% in cancerated sinonasal IP. CONCLUSION Telomeras plays a critical role in malignant transformation of sinonasal IP, and it is a marker of malignant transformation tendency of sinonasal IP.

Objective:To understand the status of drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis in Henan Province, so as to provide scientific basis for improving prevention and control strategies.Methods:Ten counties (districts, referred to as counties) were selected from drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas of Henan Province in 2018. Three villages in each project county were selected according to the disease status of mild, moderate and severe conditions, and the operation status of water improvement projects, water fluoride content and dental fluorosis among children aged 8 to 12 years in each diseased village were monitored.Results:Totally 30 villages were surveyed, all of which were in the water improvement projects; a total of 25 water improvement projects were monitored, all of them were in normal operation, and the water fluoride exceeding standard rate was 28.00% (7/25), the qualified rate of water fluoride in the water improvement projects was 72.00% (18/25). Among them, 21 villages were in normal operation and the water fluoride in the water improvement projects met national standard. In which the detection rate of dental fluorosis among children aged 8 to 12 years was 36.71% (606/1 651), the index of dental fluorosis was 0.74, and the epidemic intensity was extremely mild. Water fluoride of water improvement projects in 9 villages exceeded the national standard, where the detection rate of dental fluorosis among children aged 8 to 12 years was 43.57% (261/599), the index of dental fluorosis was 0.78, and the epidemic intensity was extremely mild. The detection rate of dental fluorosis among children in the villages where the water fluoride of water improvement projects exceeded the national standard was higher than that in the villages where the water fluoride of water improvement projects met the national standard (χ 2=8.752, P < 0.01). Conclusions:The excessive fluorine content in the water of water improvement projects is still serious, and the epidemic is still severe. It is necessary to strengthen the scientific demonstration of the water improvement project construction and the project acceptance upon completion, so as to prevent unqualified projects from being put into use. We will carry out regular water quality monitoring and promptly rectify projects with water quality exceeding the standards.

Objective To understand the status of drinking-water supply and the progress of waterimproving projects in drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Henan,and to provide scientific data for related government departments to carry out prevention and surveillance plan for those areas.Methods Questionnaire survey was carried out in all the villages in drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Henan in 2010.Each village was given one set of questionnaire.Results By the end of 2010,the total number of fluorosis villages in Henan was 25 434,among them 11 484 villages had been conducted water-improving projects,accounting for 45.15％.Currently,9267 water-improving projects worked properly,accounting for 36.4％(9267/25 434)of all villages surveyed,and 80.7％ (9267/11 484)villages had water-improving projects.The projects in 2217 villages do not work properly,accounting for 19.3％(2217/11 484) of all projects.There were 5832 water-imp.roving projects conducted amnog 2005-2010,accounting for 50.8％ (5832/11 484) of all water-improving projects.Among villages with no such projects,97.5％(15 769/16 167) of them used shallow groundwater,and in villages with water-improving projects,89.6％ (8303/9267) of them used deep groundwater as drinking-water supply.Conclusions After 2005,the water improving progress was significantly speed up in drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Henan,but progress of the water improving projects is relatively slow due to changing and expanding of fluorosis areas.The government should increase investment and improve the proportion of waterimproving defluoridation.

Objective:To investigate the effects of oxymatrine(OM)on the apoptosis of human hepatoma HepG2 cells and its possible mechanisms.Methods:HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of OM.The proliferation inhibition was measured by MTT assay and the apoptosis of HepG2 cells were examined by Hochest staining method.Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rate.The expression of caspase-3,Bcl-2,Bcl-x_L and Bax proteins was assayed by Western blotting assay.Results:OM inhibited HepG2 cells growth in a time-and dose-dependent manner.After treatment with OM for 24 hours,some cells appeared typical apoptotic characteristics and the apoptosis rate was increased. Treatment with OM also increased caspase-3 activity and Bax expression in HepG2 cells,and decreased the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x_L.Conclusion:OM can induce HepG2 cell apoptosis,which may be related to the down-regulation of PI3K/Akt signal pathway,suppression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x_L activity,and activation of caspase-3.

Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on spinal purinergic receptor 2X-4 (P2X4)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) pathway in a rat model of diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP).Methods Twenty-four pathogenfree adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-220 g,aged 8 weeks,were allocated into 3 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:control group (C group),DNP group and DNP plus dexmedetomidine group (DNP+D group).Diabetes mellitus was induced by intraperitoneal 1％ streptozotocin 60 mg/kg and confirmed by blood glucose ≥ 16.7 mmol/L 3 days later.In group DNP+D,dexmedetomidine 50 μg/kg was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 6 consecutive weeks starting from 3 days after the model was successfully established.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and sciatic nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) were measured at 2,4 and 6 weeks after injection of dexmedetomidine.The rats were sacrificed at 6 weeks after injection of dexmedetomidine,and the L4-6 segments of the spinal cord were removed for examination of the pathological changes (with a light microscope) and for determination of P2X4,NLRP3 and interleukin-lbeta (IL-1β3) expression (by Western blot).The sural nerve was obtained for examination of the ultrastructure by electron microscopy.Results Compared with group C,the MWT was significantly decreased at 2,4 and 6 weeks after injection of dexmedetomidine,the SNCV was decreased at 6 weeks after injection of dexmedetomidine,the expression of P2X4,NLRP3 and IL-1β in the spinal cord was up-regulated (P＜0.05),and the pathological changes of the spinal cord and sural nerve were marked in DNP and DNP+D groups.Compared with group DNP,the MWT was significantly increased at 2,4 and 6 weeks after injection of dexmedetomidine,the SNCV was increased at 6 weeks after injection of dexmedetomidine,the expression of P2X4,NLRP3 and IL-1β in the spinal cord was down-regulated (P＜0.05),and the pathological changes of the spinal cord and sural nerve were significantly attenuated in group DNP+D.Conclusion The mechanism by which dexmedetomidine mitigates DNP is probably related to inhibition of P2X4/NLRP3 pathway in rats.