Objective To analyze the mammographic features of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)compared to those of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).Methods Twenty cases with ILC and 95 cases with IDC were retrospectively evaluated by two breast radi-ologists according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS)lexicon.The mammographic findings were com-pared between ILC and IDC with the independent samples chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test,as appropriate.Results Mass was the most common finding in both ILCs and IDCs,but less frequent in ILCs (36.4% vs 63.9%,P =0.008).Mass in ILCs was more frequently lobular or irregular shape with spiculated margin.Architectural distortion and focal asymmetry were more frequent in ILCs than in IDCs,however,the differences were no significant.The frequency of calcifications was not significantly different between the two groups.The distributions of calcifications were more regional in ILCs,and more segmental or linear in IDCs (P =0.01).Conclu-sion ILCs are more usually shown as non-mass appearances on mammography.ILCs that appeared as mass are more frequently ir-regular in shape with spiculated margins.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and clinical application value of selecting viable spermatozoa by noncontact diode laser.

METHODSWe obtained immotile spermatozoa from 2 infertile men with obstructive azoospermia or severe asthenospermia and selected viable spermatozoa using a single laser shot at the sperm tail. Those that responded to the laser shot by a curling reaction of the tail were regarded as presumably viable and used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

RESULTSThe mean fertilization rate was 88.89% after ICSI with the laser-selected viable spermatozoa. Both of the embryo transfers resulted in a single pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONNoncontact diode laser is a useful alternative for the assessment of sperm viability, which may help to achieve successful pregnancy.

Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Sperm Motility ; Sperm Tail ; physiology

Objective To study the CT and MRI findings of ectopic pituitary adenoma in the sphenoid sinus and evaluate their clinical significance. Methods All 8 cases of ectopic pituitary adenoma occurring in the sphenoid sinus were verified by pathology. CT and MRI findings were analyzed retrospectively. Results The lesions occurring in the sphenoid sinus showed no continuity to the intrasellar pituitary gland. The lesions with a well-defined margin showed an oval shape in 3 cases, and an irregular shape in 5 cases. The maximum diameter of the lesions ranged from 20 to 46 mm. On non-enhanced CT, lesion appeared as an isointense mass in 7 cases and a slight hypointense mass in one case. Two cases showed relatively homogeneous moderate enhancement on enhanced CT. The lesions resulted in adjacent bony displacement, remodeling and sclerosis of varying degree. In addition, 5 cases displayed local bony invasion. The bony sellar floor was observed to be intact in 3 cases while bony destruction was displayed in 5 cases. On MR T1WI, ectopic pituitary adenoma revealed isointense signal compared to gray matter in 6 cases and slight hypointense signal in 2 cases. On T2 WI, the lesions showed slight hyperintense singal in 2 cases and isointense signal in 6 cases. The signal of these lesions was inhomogeneous. The stippled and thinly stripped hypointense signal on T1WI and hyperintense signal on T2WI corresponded to the enlarged gland lumen of ectopic pituitary adenoma histopathologically. MR imaging demonstrated mild to moderate inhomogeneous enhancement. A cribriform-like pattern was found on enhanced T1 WI in all of these cases. The time-intensity curve (TIC) of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MR imaging showed rapidly enhancing and slow washout pattern in 2 cases. The Lesions were found to associate with empty sella in 5 cases, encase adjacent cavernous sinus in 5 cases, and invade the clivus in 4 cases. Conclusions Scattered hyperintense bubbles and strips on MR T2WI and cribriform-like appearance on enhanced T1WI were typical manifestations of ectopic pituitary adenoma in the sphenoid sinus. Combined findings of CT and MRI can provide us with more comprehensive information in both diagnosis and therapy.

tumors.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the long-term effects of non-surgical treatment on clinical and hematologic states of patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP).

METHODSPatients with GAgP (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 28) were recruited. The clinical parameters, including probing depth (PD), bleeding index (BI), attachment loss (AL) were examined and recorded. Blood cell variables, including white blood cells (WBC), leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, as well as serum triglycerides, fasting glucose and protein parameters, including total protein, albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin ratio (A/G), were analyzed. Twenty-five GAgP patients received non-surgical treatment and the clinical and blood parameters 3 to 7 years after treatment were re-evaluated. Clinical and hematological parameters of the two groups were compared. Comparisons of clinical and hematologic parameters pre- and post-treatment in GAgP group were performed through one-way ANOVA and paired-t test.

RESULTSElevated white blood cells, neutrophil numbers and serum total protein, globulin levels were observed in patients with GAgP compared to controls[(6.3 ± 2.0)×10(9)cell/L vs.(5.4 ± 1.0)×10(9)cell/L, (4.1 ± 1.8)×10(9) cell/L vs.(3.0 ± 0.9)×10(9) cell/L, (78.2 ± 4.4) g/L vs. (75.6 ± 4.6) g/L and (29.3 ± 3.8) g/L vs.(26.5 ± 3.9) g/L respectively, P < 0.05]. A/G ratio was lower in the GAgP group than in the control group (1.7 ± 0.2 vs.1.9 ± 0.3, P < 0.01). Three to seven years after periodontal treatment, the reduction of PD and BI was observed in GAgP group(P < 0.05). There were significant decreases of WBC count, neutrophil count, serum total protein and globulin level, and significant increases of albumin level and A/G at 3 to 7 years after treatment(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNon-surgical treatment may have long-term beneficial effect on the periodontal clinical status and hematologic parameters of generalized aggressive periodontitis.

Adult ; Aggressive Periodontitis ; blood ; therapy ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Dental Scaling ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Neutrophils ; pathology ; Periodontal Attachment Loss ; blood ; Periodontal Index ; Root Planing ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism ; Serum Globulins ; metabolism ; Tooth Extraction ; Treatment Outcome ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of different fertilization methods on the outcomes of elective blastocyst culture.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of elective blastocyst culture for 1 153 cycles of IVF and 205 cycles of ICSI performed between january 2009 and December 2012.

RESULTSA total number of 14 748 embryos in the IVF group and 2 655 embryos in the ICSI group underwent sequential blastocyst culture, with 7 871 blastocysts formed in the former and 1 210 in the latter. No cycles were canceled for no blastocyst formation in either of the two groups. The rates of quality embryos, blastocyst formation and embryo utilization were significantly higher in the IVF than in the ICSI group (64.77 vs 58.72%, 53.37 vs 45.57%, and 60.06 vs 52.17%, all P < 0.05), but the rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy and abortion showed no significant differences between the two groups (48.94 vs 51.43%, 49.03 vs 52.02%, and 11.69% vs 15.56, all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWith the same inclusion criteria of selective blastocyst culture, IVF has a lower risk of cycle cancellation due to no blastocyst formation and therefore may effect higher rates of blastocyst formation and embryo utilization than ICSI. Our study suggested that appropriate inclusion criteria of selective blastocyst culture should be laid down according to different fertilization methods.

Adult ; Blastocyst ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of bushen tiaogan qingxin recipe (BTQR) on Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD), monoamine meurotransmitter and endocrinal function in patients with climacteric depression, and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSPatients were randomly divided into two groups, the 25 patients in the treated group treated with BTQR and 15 patients in the control group treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The HAMD scoring, levels of 5-HT, NE in plasma, serum estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined before and after treatment, and the thickness of endometrium was measured by B-Doppler ultrasonographic technique.

RESULTSThe total effective rate, evaluated by the HAMD score reducing rate, in the treated group was 87.2%, and in the control group was 67.3%, showing significant difference (P<0.05). After treatment, 5-HT decreased (P<0.01), NE increased (P<0.05) and 5-HT/NE ratio lowered (P<0.01) in the treated group; E2 increased in both groups; FSH, LH and FSH/LH ratio decreased in the treated group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), FSH/LH ratio decreased in the control group (P<0.05). The thickness of endometrium increased in the control group after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe mechanism of BTQR in treating climacteric depression might be related with its actions in: (1) To regulate the synthesis and release of monoamine neurotransmitter; (2) To adjust reproductive endocrine function; (3) To coordinate the neuroendocrinal function.

Climacteric ; Depression ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Postmenopause

AIMTo study the effect of chronic hypoxic hypercapnia on expression of COX-2 mRNA in pulmonary arterioles.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group and hypoxic hypercapnic group. COX-2 mRNA was observed in pulmonary arterioles by the technique of in situ hybridization.

RESULTSmPAP, weight ratio of right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle plus septum (LV + S) and COX-2 mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were much higher in rats of hypoxic hypercapnic group than those of control group. Light microscopy showed that vessel smooth muscle cell hypertrophy and vessel cavity straightness were found in hypoxic hypercapnic group.

CONCLUSIONChanges of expressions of COX-2 mRNA may regulate hypoxic hypercapnic pulmonary hypertension.

Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hypercapnia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of serial slices microscopic histological investigation for the elaborate evaluation of reproductive system malformations.

METHODSNewborn male mice prenatally exposed to different doses of subcutaneously given diethylstilbestrol (DES) from gestational day 9 to 17 were treated by fixing parts of the abdomen in situ and setting them to transected serial slices. All the slices were stained, studied under the microscope and serially recorded by software. The gubernaculum was morphologically analyzed and its location and size were measured.

RESULTSMorphologically, the gubernaculum could be identified clearly, its structure inhomogeneous from proximal to distal and dissymmetric from right to left. The environmental estrogen produced different effects on the morphology of the gubernaculum in different parts and most obviously affected its length.

CONCLUSIONPrenatal exposure to environmental estrogen has evident and general effects on the gubernacular development of newborn male mice. The morphological study with serial histological slices gives a precise and systematic evaluation of genital malformations.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Carcinogens ; toxicity ; Diethylstilbestrol ; toxicity ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Testis ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; Urogenital Abnormalities ; chemically induced ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Naoxintong Capsule (NC) on the vascular endothelial function and the infarct size of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSOne hundred and four patients with AMI were randomly assigned to the NC group (Group A, 36 cases), the Tongguan Capsule group (Group B, 32 cases), and the conventional Western medicine group (Group C, 36 cases). The conventional Western medicine was given to the three groups. NC was additionally given to Group A, and Tongguan Capsule was additionally given to Group B. The therapeutic course for all was 4 weeks. The plasma nitric oxide (NO), endothelin (ET), von Willebrand factor (vWF) were detected in the 3 groups before and after treatment. The inner diameter of brachial artery was examined by ultrasonograph. The flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and the nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD) were calculated. The ECG QRS integral and the infarct size were assessed.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the vascular endothelial function, ECG QRS integral, or the infarct size among the three groups before treatment (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment, NO and NMD obviously increased after treatment in Group A and Group B, while the vWF and the infarct size obviously decreased in Group A, all showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with those in Group C, the NO, FMD, NMD significantly increased and ET obviously decreased in Group A and B after treatment (P < 0.05). The ECG QRS integral and the infarct size also decreased, with statistically significant differences in Group A (P < 0.05). Better effects on improving NO, NMD, and vWF were obtained in Group A than in Group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNC could reduce the infarct size of AMI patients possibly through improving the vascular endothelial function.

Adult ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelins ; blood ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Young Adult ; von Willebrand Factor ; analysis