Objective To investigate the clinical utility of dual-energy virtual non-contrast CT(VNCT)of dual source CT in the di-agnosis and differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule(SPN).Methods Thirty-six patients with suspected SPN underwent chest plain single energy CT and dual-phase contrast enhanced CT (DECT)(25 and 90 s).The images of dual energy were sent to a commercial workstation for VNC image generation.CT values of SPN on VNC and true non-contrast(TNC),as well as signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)were compared.The accuracy of calcification detection was compared according to the diameter and density of the calcification.The TNC images were used as the reference.Results CT values,SNR and CNR of VNC had no statistical difference among TNC and VNC at 25 s and 90 s(P >0.05).DECT VNC(5mm slice)could accurate detected calci-fication(diameter>2 mm,CT value>1 50 HU)in SPN.The 2 mm slice performed significantly better than 5 mm slice VNC images. Conclusion The VNC could provide consistent diagnostic information with TNC.The thin slice DECT VNC images can be used in clinical practice to replace TNC without losing small calcification in SPN,which has potential to reduce the patient radiation dose.

Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; pathology ; Atherosclerosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cholesterol, Dietary ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Bushen Tiaojing Recipe (BTR) on the quality of oocytes, reproductive hormones, and the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP15) of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) patients.

METHODSSixty infertility patients who prepared for IVF-ET were assigned to two groups according to the treatment order, the treatment group [20 cases, treated with BTR + controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)] and the control group (treated with COH alone, 40 cases). Age, the time limit for infertility, basal follicle-stimulating hormone (bFSH) concentration, usage days and the dosage of gonadotropins (Gn), serum levels of estradiol (E2), luteotropic hormone (LH), and progesterone (P) on the HCG injection day, the number of retrieved occytes, the fertilization rate, the number of embryos, the high quality embryo rate, and the clinical pregnancy rate were compared. Concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LH, E2, testosterone (T), and P in the follicular fluid were detected via chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. The mRNA and protein expression of BMP-15 in mature granulosa cells was detected by real-time fluorescent PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSThirty-two patients were pregnant and the total pregnancy rate was 53.3%. Of them, 19 were pregnant and the total pregnancy rate was 47.5% in the control group, while 20 were pregnant and the total pregnancy rate was 65.0% in the treatment group. But there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the Gn dosage was lower and the high quality embryo rate was higher in the treatment group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in serum concentrations of E2, LH, or P on the HCG injection day, the number of retrieved oocytes, or the fertilization rate (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, FSH concentrations in the follicular fluid were significantly lower and LH concentrations were significantly higher in the treatment group (P < 0.05). The LH concentrations in the follicular fluid were significantly higher in pregnant patients than non-pregnant patients, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05).There was no statistical difference in E2, T, or P concentrations (P > 0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of BMP-15 in granulosa cells was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). It was also higher in pregnant patients than non-pregnant patients, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDuring the IVF-ET process, BTR could elevate the quality of oocytes, and increase the sensitivity of ovarian follicles to exogenous Gn, which was correlated with the mRNA and protein expression of BMP-15 in granulosa cells, and changing concentrations of FSH and LH.

Adult ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Embryo Transfer ; Estradiol ; blood ; metabolism ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; metabolism ; Follicular Fluid ; metabolism ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; metabolism ; Oocytes ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; blood ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Integrative Medicine ; education

Objectives To investigate the effects of lipoxin receptor agonist BML-111 on IFN-βand IE86 mRNA expression of macrophages infected by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Methods Macrophages were infected with HCMV (MOI=0.5), and the cultured cells were randomly divided into control group, HCMV group, HCMV+BML-111 group, and HCMV+MP group. The cells were collected at 0,1,2,4,8 and 12 h after infection, and the levels of IFN-βand IE86 mRNA were tested by real-time PCR. Results Compared with HCMV group, the levels of IFN-βmRNA in HCMV+BML-111 group increased significantly (P < 0.05), while the levels of IFN-βmRNA in HCMV+MP group decreased significantly (P < 0.05); Compared with HCMV group, there were no significant differences of the levels of IE86 mRNA in HCMV+BML-111 group (P>0.05), while the levels of IE86 mRNA in HCMV+MP group increased significantly (P < 0.05). Conclusion BML-111 exerts antiviral activity by promoting the expression of IFN-βmRNA at the early stage of HCMV infection.

BACKGROUND:The anti-inflammation and protective effects of lipoxin have been verified in several immunity-related disease models. Preliminary studies of our research group have shown that, lipoxin receptor agonist BML-111 has negative regulation effects on the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-induced immunological injury. However, the effect of BML-111 on the HCMV replication remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the influence of lipoxin receptor agonist BML-111 on HCMV replication and proliferation in THP-1 macrophages and human embryonic lung fibroblasts.
METHODS:THP-1 macrophages were infected by HCMV AD169 strain, and were divided into three groups:mock infection, HCMV infection, HCMV+BML-111. The final concentration of BML-111 was 100 nmol/L. cells in each group were col ected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 12, 36, 48 hours, the mRNA levels of IE86 and pp65 in the THP-1 macrophages were tested by RT-PCR method. Human embryonic lung fibroblasts were infected with HCMV (MOI=0.1), and were divided into two groups:HCMV infection and HCMV+BML-111. The patho-morphous changes of human embryonic lung fibroblasts were observed under light microscope, and the cellnumber was measured. The infective virus titer changes in human embryonic lung fibroblasts were examined by plaque assay.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After the macrophages were infected by HCMV, compared with the mock infection group, the mRNA levels of IE86 and pp65 in the HCMV group and HCMV+BML-111 group were increased significantly;compared with the HCMV infection group, the mRNA levels of IE86 and pp65 in the HCMV+BML-111 group were increased significantly in the early stage (within 4 hours) after infection, but the pp65 mRNA levels were decreased significantly in the medium and late stages (24-72 hours) after infection. After human embryonic lung fibroblasts were infected by HCMV, the degree of the patho-morphous in the HCMV+BML-111 group reached 100%2 days earlier than the of HCMV infection group. The infective virus titer reached the peak 2 days earlier than the HCMV infection group, but no significant difference was found between the two groups. BML-111 accelerates the replication of HCMV in the early stage of infection, but inhibits the expression of pp65 gene in the late stage. BML-111 has no impact on the proliferation of the infective HCMV titer in vitro.

Suitable pretreatment of biological samples can truly reflect the role of law of the measured components played in the body and will provide experimental evidence for the studies on metabolic process, material basis of efficacy, mechanism of action, pharmacology, toxicology and the others. Biological samples include blood, urine, hair, tears, etc. There are also many samples processing methods, such as the direct protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction and solid phase extraction and so on. These methods could be used alone or combined.
Animals ; Body Fluids ; chemistry ; Chemical Precipitation ; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical ; methods ; Humans ; Liquid-Liquid Extraction ; Proteins ; isolation & purification ; Solid Phase Extraction

Objective To analyze the adult hemophagocytic syndrome' s pathogeny,clinical features,prognostic factors and therapeutic options.Methods 18 cases of adult hemophagocytic syndrome were analyzed,the Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to investigate the total survival rate,and 17 clinical pathological factors and clinical treatment methods which may influence survival were analyzed by Log-rank test in the univariate analysis.Results In this group of patients,EBV infection and malignant lymphoma were the most common initiating diseases.The most common clinical features were peripheral cytopenia in two or three lineages (100 ％),fever (83 ％),splenomegaly (78 ％),swollen lymph nodes (56 ％).The mortality rates as high as 66.7 ％.The median survival time was 7.4 weeks.One-way ANOVA results showed that the initial symptoms as fever (P =0.039),age ＞ 30 years old (P =0.031),enlargement of the liver (P =0.041),Hb ＜ 100 g/L and Ph ＜ 50 g/L (P =0.039) were relevant prognostic factors.Conclusion Adult hemophagocytic syndrome patients with fever as the initial symptoms,age ＞ 30 years old,liver enlargement,Hb ＜ 100 g/L,Plt ＜ 50 g/L indicates poor prognosis,thus these patients having HPS risk factors should be given active chemotherapy and supportive therapy.

Objective To explore the effects of low-sodium salt on blood pressure and to find out an economical,effective and easy-to-implement method to reduce the blood pressure.Methods This study was a randomized controlled study based on family unit.The participation families were recommended by local newspaper reporters and each family included at least 2 family members over 50 years old,who composed the objects of the study.The intervention group received two-month salt substitution intervention (with low sodium and high potassium) for free,while the control group received no intervention.Results The decrement of systolic blood pressure in intervention group was (4.7±10.9)mmHg,while the systolic blood pressure in control group was decreased by (2.6± 10.3)mmHg.The decline range of blood pressure was higher in the intervention group than in the control group,and there was a statistical significance in the difference (t=2.19,P＜0.05).Conclusions Salt substitution (with low sodium and high potassium) is an economical,effective and easy-to-implement method to reduce the blood pressure.Therefore,it is recommended to promote salt substitution (with low sodium and high potassium) in the crowd.

Objective To detect the expression of stem cell marker Sox2 in gastric cancer (GC). Methods The mRNA and protein expressions of Sox2 in paired primary tumor tissues and their matching, adjacent non-cancerous tissues in a series of 60 cases of human GC were examined by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). χ2 test was used to analyze the correlation of Sox2 expression with clinicopathological parameters of GC tissues including age, gender, tumor size, histological type, TNM stage, differentiation degree, depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis. Results RT-PCR results showed that the positive rate of Sox2 expression was significantly increased in gastric tumor tissues (53.3%, 32/60) compared with that of matching, adjacent non-cancerous tissues (20.0%, 12/60, P<0.01). Semi-quantitative analysis showed that the relative intensity of Sox2 mRNA expression was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues (0.724±0.209) than that in tissues adjacent to carcinoma (0.256±0.065,P<0.01). The positive expression of Sox2 was significantly higher in gastric tumor tissues (50.0%, 30/60) than that of matching, adjacent non-cancerous tissues (16.7%, 10/60,P<0.01). The positive expression of Sox2 was significantly higher in gastric tumor patients with TNM stage (Ⅲ+Ⅳ) than that of TNM stage (Ⅰ+Ⅱ). The positive expression of Sox2 was significantly higher in gastric tumor patients with low differentiation and undifferentiated tumor cells than that of patients with middle and high differented cells. The positive expression of Sox2 was also significantly higher in gastric tumor patients with the depth of invasion T3-T4 than that of patients with T1-T2. The positive expression of Sox2 was significantly higher in gastric tumor patients with lymph node metastasis than that of patients without lymph node metastasis (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion The elevated expression of Sox2 is associated with the initiation, invasion, progression, and metastasis of GC. Sox2 may serve as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic marker for human GC.