Objective To compare the spiral CT and pathological findings of sub-centimetre pulmonary ground glass nodules(GGNs), and to improve the aaccuracy in early diagnosis.Methods The CT findings and pathologic features of 30 patients with sub-centimetre pulmo-nary GGNs in our hospital from May 2013 to June 2016 were reviewed retrospectively.The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their pathological classification,namely the benign group,the preinvasive group and the invasive group.The shape,size,margin,vacuole sign, pleural indentation,the relations with bronchi and blood vessels of the pulmonary GGNs were analyzed.Results There was no significant difference in shape,maximum diameter and margin between the benign group and the other two groups(P>0.05).Adjacent vessels changes of the lesion showed significant differences between benign group and preinvasive or invasive groups(P<0.05).And there were significant differences in size,pleural indentation,vacuole sign and adjacent vessels changes between the preinvasive group and the invasive group(P<0.05).Conclusion The comprehensive analysis of lesions size,vacuole sign,pleural indentation and adjacent vessels changes can be helpful to improve the aaccuracy of differential diagnosis on sub-centimetre pulmonary ground glass nodules.

BACKGROUNDObstructive sleep apnea is strongly associated with obesity, particularly abdominal obesity common in centrally obese males. Previous studies have demonstrated that intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is increased in morbid obesity, and tracheal traction forces may influence pharyngeal airway collapsibility. This study aimed to investigate that whether IAP plays a role in the mechanism of upper airway (UA) collapsibility via IAP-related caudal tracheal traction.

METHODSAn abdominal wall lifting (AWL) system and graded CO2pneumoperitoneum pressure was applied to four supine, anesthetized Guizhou miniature pigs and its effects on tracheal displacement (TD) and airflow dynamics of UA were studied. Individual run data in 3 min obtained before and after AWL and obtained before and after graded pneumoperitoneum pressure were analyzed. Differences between baseline and AWL/graded pneumoperitoneum pressure data of each pig were examined using a Student's t-test or analysis of variance.

RESULTSApplication of AWL resulted in decreased IAP and significant caudal TD. The average displacement amplitude was 0.44 mm (P < 0.001). There were three subjects showed increased tidal volume (TV) (P < 0.01) and peak inspiratory airflow (P < 0.01); however, the change of flow limitation inspiratory UA resistance (Rua) was not significant. Experimental increased IAP by pneumoperitoneum resulted in significant cranial TD. The average displacement amplitude was 1.07 mm (P < 0.001) when IAP was 25 cmH2O compared to baseline. There were three subjects showed reduced Rua while the TV increased (P < 0.01). There was one subject had decreased TV and elevated Rua (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSDecreased IAP significantly increased caudal TD, and elevated IAP significantly increased cranial TD. However, the mechanism of UA collapsibility appears primarily mediated by changes in lung volume rather than tracheal traction effect. TV plays an independent role in the mechanism of UA collapsibility.

Airway Resistance ; physiology ; Animals ; Female ; Lung Volume Measurements ; Obesity, Morbid ; physiopathology ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; physiopathology ; Swine ; Tidal Volume ; physiology ; Trachea ; physiology

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Insulinoma ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; surgery

The natural isoflavones biosynthetic pathway is only limited in legumes plant. To study the isoflavone in bacteria by metabolic engineering requires transformation of multi-gene of the whole pathway into the host strain to resembling the expression and metabolism of the genes. The multi-gene transformation and expression strategy become necessary because of this. This article talks about the multi-gene transformation strategy using one or many vectors, taking the five genes of isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathway to E. coli. The recombinant bacteria carry five genes with two vectors, the whole Isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathway was constructed into E. coli. Fermented with L-tyrosine as substrate and IPTG as an inducer, the recombinant bacteria can produce a new isoflavone related metabolite showed on HPLC analysis profile.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; genetics ; Enzymes ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Isoflavones ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxygenases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Transformation, Bacterial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results between auditory steady-state response (ASSR) and 40 Hz auditory event related potential (AERP), and explore the accuracy of hearing thresholds by using ASSR and AERP and the clinic forensic value. METHODS: Thirty seven ears were tested with pure-tone audiometer, 40Hz AERP and ASSR, respectively. All the volunteers in our study were awake during 40 Hz AERP test and ASSR test. RESULTS: Thresholds acquired with ASSR and 40Hz AERP test had a close correlativity and showed higher than those acquired with PTA test. There was no significant difference between the accuracy of ASSR and 40Hz AERP in estimating pure-tone thresholds. CONCLUSION After determining the correct value, ASSR can be used directly to evaluate hearing loss objectively.
Acoustic Stimulation ; Adult ; Audiometry, Evoked Response ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone/methods* ; Auditory Threshold ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem/physiology* ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sleep/physiology* ; Wakefulness ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of a 10-day course of triptolide (TP) on rat cytochrome (CY) P3A4 activity, and on the pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide (CPA).

METHODSIn the pharmacokinetics experiment, rats were orally given 0.9% NaCl solution (n=5) and TP [1.2 (mg/kg·d)] for 10 days and a single dose of CPA was administered intravenously (100 mg/kg) to rats on day 11. Blood samples were collected up to 4 h at predetermined time intervals, the plasma concentration of CPA was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. In the in vitro CYP3A4 activity inhibition research, rat blank liver microsomes were divided into 3 groups: a control group, a TS (5 μL, 200 μmol/L) with TP (5 μL, 12.5 μmol/L) group, a TS with ketoconazole (5 μL, 1 μmol/L) group. Concentration of 6β-hydroxylated testosterone (6β-OHT) in liver microsomes was measured by HPLC and the activity of CYP 3A4 was calculated through the following formula: Einhibitor/Econtrol × 100%=Cinhibitor/Ccontrol × 100%.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-∞) of CPA was significantly increased by 229.05% pretreated with TP (P<0.01). Peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) of CPA was significantly increased and plasma half-life was correspondingly extended. The CYP3A4 activity was significantly inhibited by ketoconazole 93.5%±0.2% and TP 84.6%±0.3% compared with the control group (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONOur results strongly suggested that long-term oral intake of TP can distinctly inhibit the CYP3A4 activity and this inhibition evidently decrease the formation of toxic metabolites of CPA.

Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; pharmacokinetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Hydroxytestosterones ; metabolism ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; Injections, Intravenous ; Ketoconazole ; pharmacology ; Male ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of combined detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) VCA/IgA, EA/IgA, Rta/IgG and EBNA1/IgA in serodiagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSSerum samples obtained from 211 untreated patients with NPC and 203 non-NPC ENT patients were examined for the presence of VCA/IgA and EA/IgA by immunoenzymatic assay and for Rta/IgG and EBNA1/IgA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to confirm the cutoff values of different antibodies. The evaluation indexes of combined detection of multiple antibodies used for serodiagnosis of NPC were calculated with compounded positive judgment method.

RESULTSCompared to a single antibody, combined detection achieved a higher sensitivity and specificity. The sensitivity of VCA/IgA + Rta/IgG + EBNA1/IgA (98.1%) was higher than the other 3 combinations with a specificity, accuracy, Youden index and positive predictive value (PPV) of 88.7%, 93.5%, 0.868 and 90.0%, respectively. The combination of EA/IgA+Rta/IgG+EBNA1/IgA had the highest specificity (95.1%), accuracy (94.9%), Youden index (0.899) and PPV (95.2%), with a sensitivity of 94.8%, suggesting its higher accuracy in the serodiagnosis of NPC. Combined detection of the 4 antibodies had the highest sensitivity (98.6%) with a specificity, accuracy, Youden index and PPV of 88.2%, 93.5%, 0.868 and 89.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSCombined detection of Rta/IgG against immediate early antigens, EA/IgA against early antigens, VCA/IgA against late antigens, and EBNA1/IgA against latent antigens provides better understanding of the expression profiles of EBV lytic and latent antigens with excellent complementarity, and may serve as an optimal combination for NPC serodiagnosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Antigens, Viral ; immunology ; Capsid Proteins ; immunology ; Carcinoma ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serologic Tests ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDSevere bilateral carotid stenosis caused by atherosclerosis has not been unusual in the elderly. Such patients have high stroke risk. Many studies show that carotid artery stenting (CAS) is an alternative to treat unilateral carotid stenosis. However, the optimal procedural strategy of bilateral carotid stenosis remains unclear. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the safety of simultaneous bilateral carotid artery stenting (SBCAS) compared with unilateral carotid artery stenting (UCAS).

METHODSIn this single-center retrospective study, we analyzed 234 consecutive patients who underwent carotid stenting from January 2005 to December 2009. Thirty-nine patients (16.7%) of them underwent SBCAS, and the others (n = 195) underwent UCAS. Indication for CAS was defined as carotid artery diameter reduction > 60% (symptomatic) or > 80% (asymptomatic). Six-month and 30-day hemodynamic depression (HD), hyperperfusion syndrome (HPS), stroke, death and myocardial infarction (MI) after carotid stenting were assessed.

RESULTSSBCAS group had no more HD and HPS compared with UCAS group at 30 days (HD: 28.2% vs. 20.0%, P = 0.396; HPS: 2.6% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.262). Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference between SBCAS group and UCAS group in major stroke, death, MI and their combinations within 30 days (major stroke: 0 vs. 3.6%, P = 0.604; death: 2.6% vs. 1.5%, P = 0.520; MI: 2.6% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.306; and their combinations: 5.1% vs. 4.6%, P = 1.000) and 6 months (major stroke: 0 vs. 3.6%, P = 0.604; death: 5.1% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.262; MI: 5.1% vs.1.0%, P = 0.130 and their combinations: 7.7% vs. 5.1%, P = 0.459).

CONCLUSIONSThe patients undergoing SBCAS had no more events than those undergoing UCAS in 30-day and 6-month follow-up. Our finding suggests that SBCAS appears to be as safe as UCAS.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; adverse effects ; Carotid Stenosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the brain oxidative stress injury induced by nano-alumina particles in ICR mice.

METHODSSixty male ICR mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, solvent control group, 100 mg/kg micro-alumina particles group, 3 groups exposed to nano-alumina particles at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. The mice were exposed by nasal drip for 30 days. Then levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in brain tissues of mice were detected.

RESULTSThere was no difference of SOD activity in mouse brain between control group [(17.32 +/- 6.23)U/gHb] and 50 mg/kg nano-alumina particles group [(17.89 +/- 1.82) U/gHb]. The SOD activity [(4.93 +/- 2.30)U/gHb] in 200 mg/kg nano-alumina particles group was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). The MDA levels in 3 nano-alumina particles groups were (0.76 +/- 0.13), (1.00 +/- 0.30) and (1.16 +/- 0.39)nmol/ml, respectively, which were significantly higher than that [( 0.24 +/- 0.09)nmol/ml] in control group (P < 0.05). The GSH levels in 3 nano-alumina particles groups were (0.72 +/- 0.08), (0.55 +/- 0.19) and (0.61 +/- 0.20)mg/gpro, respectively, which were significantly lower than that [(1.55 +/- 0.34)mg/gpro]] in control group (P < 0.05). The CAT activity in 50 and 100 mg/kg nano-alumina particles groups were (10.40 +/- 3.84) and (10.40 +/- 2.00)U/mgpro, respectively, which were significantly higher than that [(5.79 +/- 0.96) U/mgpro] in control group (P < 0.05). The CAT activity [(3.25 +/- 1.04)U/mgpro] in 200 mg/kg nano-alumina particles group was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05 ).

CONCLUSIONNano-alumina particles can induce the oxidative stress damage in brain tissues of mice.

Aluminum Oxide ; toxicity ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nanoparticles ; toxicity ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism