Objective To investigate the CT and MRI findings of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinomas.Methods Imaging findings of 6 patients with pathologically confirmed hepatic neuroendocrine carcinomas were retrospectively analyzed.Four patients underwent plain CT and contrast enhanced CT examinations.The other 2 patients underwent plain MRI and contrast enhanced MRI.Results One out of the 6 cases manifested multicentric tumor which appeared as one large tumor surrounded with multiple small nodules peripherally,and the tumors of the other 5 cases were solitary.On plain CT images,all lesions were well-defined and hypoattenuating with central areas of even lower density except punctuate calcifications at tumor periphery in 1 case.On pre-contrast MRI,the cases manifested heterogeneous low signal intensity on T1 wI and slightly high intensity on T2 WI.On dynamic contrast enhanced CT and MRI,Tumors manifested slight to mild enhancement in arterial phase,slight enhancement in portal venous phase or delayed phase with no enhancement in the center,accompanied by dislocation of surrounding vessels.There Was no lymphadenopathy in peritoneal cavity and retroperitoniurm. Conclusion CT and MRI scanning can demonstrate specific features of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma,which may help the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the tumor.

Adult ; Angiomatosis ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hemangioma ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Spleen ; immunology ; pathology ; Splenectomy ; Splenic Diseases ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Splenic Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology

Objective To study the efficacy of low-dose daytime ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (DAPD) and low-dose CAPD in diabetic end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with better residual renal function (RRF). Methods Forty stable diabetic ESRD patients with better RRF (rGFR ≥ 5 ml/min and urine volume ≥ 750 ml/d) were enrolled. They were randomly divided into two groups: low-dose DAPD group (n=20) and low-dose CAPD group (n=20). DAPD group received three 1.5 L to 2 L daily exchanges with a nocturnal empty belly, dwelling for 3 to 4 hours. CAPD group received three 1.5 L to 2 L daily exchange or four 1.5 L daily exchange regimens and dwelled during the night. At the beginning of the study and 6 months later, total weekly Kt/V and Ccr (peritoneal+renal), rGFR were calculated. Meanwhile 24-hour urinary protein,serum albumin (Alb), hemoglobin (Hb), fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and insulin dosage were measured. Nutritional status was assessed by SGA. Results Thirty-five patients fulfilled the study. There were no significant differences between two groups in age, gender, BMI,PD time, D/Pcr, etc. At the end of the 6th month, the insulin dose[(33.6±10.9) U/d] and 24-hour dialysate protein [(11.13t4.95) g] in CAPD group were significantly higher as compared to DAPD group [(20.6±6.2) U/d, P＜0.05 and (5.66±2.88) g, P＜0.01 respectively]. Alb in CAPD group [(29.7±4.2) g/L] was significantly lower than that in DAPD group [(36.5 ±3.9) g/L, P＜0.05].While the net ultrafiltration [(554±187) ml vs (309±177) ml], 24-hour urine volume [(1090±361)ml vs (750±258) ml] and rGFR [(8.21±2.40) ml/min vs (4.88±2.11) ml/min] in DAPD group were all significantly higher than those in CAPD group (all P＜0.05). Conclusion For the diabetic ESRD patients with better RRF, the low-dose DAPD regimen is more effective to control plasma glucose, improve nutritional status and protect RRF than the low-dose CAPD.

Objective To investigate appropriate diagnosis and treatment of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP).Methods Clinical and pathological data of ten patients treated in our hospital from 2002 to 2007 were reviewed. Results Our series consisted of three men and seven women. In two patients correct diagnosis was made before operation through ultrasonography-gnided core needle biopsy. All the patients were treated surgically including three resected by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Histopathologically, five tumors were malignant and the other five were benign. Immunohistochemical staining showed malignant SFTP (3/5) were less frequently positive for CD34 than benign group (5/5). Nestin was only detected in malignancies (2/5), which were negative for CD34. Except for one, all patients were followed-up for 6 to 35 months (mean 17.3 months). One patient experienced a recurrence and one died of brain metastasis. Conclusion Ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy combined with immunohistochemical analysis is a safe and rapid method to provide a confirmatory diagnosis before surgery. For smaller, pedunculated tumors, VATS may be a bettor approach. Besides, we speculated CD34-negative and nestin-posifive might be a malignant marker for SFTP.

Candida shehatae xyl1 gene and Pichia stipitis xyl2 gene were amplified by PCR and the xyl1 and xyl2 were both placed under the promoter GAL of vector pYES2 to produce the recombinant expression vector pYES2-P12. Subsequently the pYES2-P12 vector was transformed into S. cerevisiae YS58 by LiAc to produce the recombinant yeast YSS8-12. It was indicate that the recombinant yeast YSS8-12 could converse xylose to ethanol with the xylose consumption rate of 81. 3%.

Glucose was transported by the large number of hexose transporters in yeast cells. There were 18 hexose transporter genes had been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However,as an excellent expression system,there was no information of these genes had been reported in Pichia pastoris. Based on high homologous recombination efficiency in yeast,we chose G418 resistance for screening,200 bp were cloned from the up and down sequences of HXT1 ORF respectively,then ligated to the 5′ and 3′ end of G418 resis-tance gene for recombination. After electroporation of GS115 spheroplast and screened through different G418 concentration plates,finally we obtained one HXT1 gene deletion mutant named GS115?HXT1. The growth rate and glucose consumption of this mutant were both lower than the wide type.

Objective To study the expression of inflammatory factors in the saliva and the stability of implants after implant denture repair in pa-tients with dysplasia of the dentition defect ,and to analyze the prognosis of patients with lipid metabolic disorder. Methods The dentition defect patients with lipid metabolism disorder were selected as the experimental group. Patients with lipid defect were selected as the control group. Saliva was collected before implantation,1 month and 3 months after implantation. ELISA method was used to detect IL-6,IL-1βand TNF-α. Osstell ISQTM radio frequency analyzer was used to detect the stability of the implants and the periodontal status was detected by Florida probe. Re-sults There were no significant differences in the depth of implant probing(PD),bleeding index(BI)and ISQ between the two groups by radio frequency analyzer(all P>0.05). The levels of IL-6,IL-1βand TNF-αin the pre-implantation,1 month and 3 months after implantation were sig-nificantly higher than those in the control group(all P<0.05). The levels of IL-6,IL-1βand TNF-αin the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group before planting(all P<0.05) 3 months after planting,there were no significant differences of IL-6,IL-1β, and TNF-αbetween the experimental group and control group(all P>0.05). Conclusion The patients with dyslipidemia after implantation have good implant stability as those with normal blood lipid ,and the patients with dyslipidemia can also obtain good prognosis.

BACKGROUNDCellular cardiomyoplasty by transplantation of various cell types has been investigated as potential treatments for the improvement of cardiac function after myocardial injury. A major barrier for the clinical application of cell transplantation is obtaining sufficiently large quantities of suitable cells. Allogeneic cellular cardiomyoplasty may provide an alternative source of abundant, transplantable, myogenic cells by in vitro manipulation of cardiac fibroblasts using chemicals including 5-azacytidine. This study evaluated cardiomyogenic differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts, their survival in myocardial scar tissue, and the effect of the implanted cells on heart function.

METHODSPrimary cardiac fibroblasts from neonatal rats were treated with 5-azacytidine (10 µmol/L) or control. Treatment of 5-azacytidine caused myogenic differentiation of cultured cardiac fibroblasts, as defined by elongation and fusion into multinucleated myotubes with sarcomeric structures as identified by electron microscopy, and positive immunostaining for cardiac specific proteins, troponin I and β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) and the gap junction protein connexin 43. The myogenic cells (1.0 × 10⁶) were transplanted into the infarcted myocardium 2 weeks after coronary artery occlusion.

RESULTSBy 1 month after transplantation, the converted fibroblasts gave rise to a cluster of cardiac-like muscle cells that in the hearts occupied a large part of the scar with positive immunostaining for the myogenic proteins troponin I and β-MHC. Engrafted cells also expressed the gap junction protein connexin 43 in a disorganized manner. There was no positive staining in the control hearts treated with injections of culture medium. Heart function was evaluated at 6 weeks after myocardial injury with echocardiographic and hemodynamic measurements. Improvement in cardiac function was seen in the hearts transplanted with the 5-azacytidine-treated cardiac fibroblasts which was absent in the hearts treated with control.

CONCLUSIONThe 5-azacytidine has a unique capacity to induce myogenesis in cardiac fibroblasts in vitro and transplantation of cardiac-like muscle cells into ventricular scar tissue improves myocardial function.

Animals ; Azacitidine ; therapeutic use ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; transplantation ; ultrastructure ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Rats

AlM: To observe the effect of anterior chamber depth and angle change after pterygium excision.METHODS:Thirty cases (30 eyes) of primary pterygium were underwent pterygium excision. Central anterior chamber depth, four direction angle open distance ( AOD ) and open angle ( AA ) were measured preoperatively and postoperatively by ultrasound biomicroscopy ( UBM ) and the intraocular pressure was observed.RESULTS:Preoperative and Postoperative intraocular pressure were 15. 17±10. 6 and 16. 23±2. 61mmHg, and the central anterior chamber depth were 2. 28±0. 39 and 2. 33± 0. 24mm. The four directions of AOD and AA were no statistical difference.CONCLUSlON:The anterior chamber depth and the angle change is not obvious after pterygium excision.

Objective To explore the effect of action verb processing on the excitability of the motor cortex and any effect on the upper limb motor function of stroke survivors.Methods Experiment 1:The motor evoked potential by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS-MEP) was measured while 18 healthy subjects were processing concrete action verbs or abstract verbs.Experiment 2:Eight hemiplegic stroke survivors were asked to read silently text describing concrete hand actions,and then repeat and explain the meaning of the action verbs used in the text.This was repeated for 30 minutes per day,5 days per week for 3 weeks.In the 2nd week the same training was conducted except that the text was about abstract verbs.The modified Ashworth scale (MAS),Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA),the Hong Kong version of the functional test for a hemiplegic upper extremity (FTHUE-HK) and a simple test for evaluating hand function (STEF) were used to assess upper limb motor function before and after the training each week.Results Experiment 1:Processing the concrete action verbs induced significantly greater MEP than processing the abstract verbs.Experiment 2:The average FMA and STEF ratings improved significantly after the training each week.Training with the concrete action verbs resulted in significantly better FMA and STEF scores than with the abstract verbs.The average MAS score increased significantly week by week.There was significantly more improvement in the average FTHUE-HK rating after the 1st and 3rd week of training than after the 2nd week.Conclusion Action verb processing induces greater motor cortex excitation than abstract verb processing among healthy subjects and better improves the upper limb motor function of stroke survivors.