Objective To develop a practical image acquisition strategy using intermittent breath?hold cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods A breathing phantom was used to simulate the movement of tumor near the diaphragm during free breathing and breath hold and scanned by conventional breath?hold CBCT and type Ⅰ/Ⅱ intermittent breath?hold CBCT. In the conventional breath?hold CBCT, scan paused and free breathing occurred at the break of breath hold and free breathing was not included in the scan. In the intermittent breath?hold CBCT, one scan covered several breath holds separated by free breathing in a ratio of 3 vs1. Image quality and three?dimensional registration accuracy were quantitatively compared between conventional breath?hold CBCT and type Ⅰ/Ⅱ intermittent breath?hold CBCT. Comparison of image quality parameters between conventional breath?hold CBCT and intermittent breath?hold CBCT was made by paired t test. Results Motion artifacts arose in type I and Ⅱ intermittent breath?hold CBCT scans. There were no significant differences in the reconstructed pixel value or uniformity between intermittent breath?hold CBCT and conventional breath?hold CBCT ( P>0. 05, and P= 0. 02, 0. 53 ) . Compared with conventional breath?hold CBCT images, the signal?to?noise ratios of type I andⅡintermittent breath?hold CBCT images were reduced by 30% and 60%, respectively ( P<0. 05 ) . The registration error was up to 0 . 4 cm in the anterior?posterior direction and less than 0 . 1 cm in other directions . Conclusions The phantom study shows that intermittent breath?hold CBCT does not significantly reduce image quality or registration accuracy compared with conventional breath?hold CBCT. The feasibility of intermittent breath?hold CBCT in clinical application needs to be further validated among a large number of patients.

BACKGROUND:The majority of rheumatoid arthritis treatment is chronic anti-arthritis drugs, biological agents and plant drugs. Among them, plant drugs have been widely concerned due to low cost and few adverse effects. OBJECTIVE:To observe the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in the
synovium of col agen-induced arthritis rats, and explore the effect of Aconitum leucostomum Worosch. on the expression.
METHODS:Forty-five rats were randomly divided into normal control group (8 rats) and model group (37 rats). The col agen-induced arthritis model was established with the injection of type II bovine col agen into the end of the tail and paws. After the success of modeling, the 24 successful model rats were randomly selected and divided into model group (8 rats), Tripterygium wolfprdi polyglycoside group (8 rats) and Aconitum leucostomum Worosch. group (8 rats). The arthritis index of the rats in the three intervention groups and one control group were evaluated weekly. After treated by intragastric administration for 4 weeks (Tripterygium wolfprdi polyglycoside group and Aconitum leucostomum Worosch. group were taken by the corresponding drug solution, model group and normal control group were taken by the same volume of physiological saline), the expressions of TNF-αand IL-1βin the synovium were tested by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model group, the arthritis index of mice in Tripterygium wolfprdi polyglycoside group and Aconitum leucostomum Worosch. group was decreased significantly after treatment (P<0.05). The expression levels of TNF-αand IL-1βin the synovium of model group were significantly higher than those of the normal control group (P<0.05). After treatment with Aconitum leucostomum Worosch. and Tripterygium wolfprdi polyglycoside, the expression levels of TNF-αand IL-1βin the synovium was decreased compared with the model group (P<0.05). Experimental findings indicated that, the mechanism that Aconitum leucostomum Worosch. treats rheumatoid arthritis is related to the inhibition of TNF-αand IL-1β.

ObjectiveTo investigate the immune tolerance function and significance of allogene bone marrow injection to the small intestines transplantation of rats.MethodsInbreeding line rat F344/N and Wistar/A were selected to perform heterotopic graft of the whole small intestine. 7 days before allogene transplantation, donator bone marrow cells (BMC) were injected into thymus of acceptor (the testing group). According to the isogene and allogene rat transplant model, it was comprehended whether injecting allogene donator marrow into acceptor thymus could decrease the acute rejection after transplantation.Results3, 5 or 7 days after allogeneic rat dystopia whole small intestine transplantation, typical reject reaction appeared, but there was no reject reaction in isogenome and testing group. 3 days after allotransplantation, serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) levels were significantly higher than the other groups (P<0.01). The level of serum sIL-2R and TNF-α in the allogene marrow injecting group were only slight higher on the 3rd or 5th day, and getting downtrend, and there was no significant difference compared with isogenic transplantation group.ConclusionAllogenic donator bone marrow intrathymic injecting into acceptor 7 days before small intestina transplantation, can reduce the reject reaction after the grafting. The levels of serum sIL-2R and TNF-α can be selected as a sensitive early diagnosis index of acute rejection after small intestine transplantation.

Objective:To understand the current situation of physicians′ competency in China and statistically analyze its influencing factors, hence providing referential evidences for promoting their competency.Methods:The evaluation scale for Chinese physicians′ competency was developed by referring to sophisticated overseas evaluation frameworks. Based on the electronic platform of the medical alliance, stratified sampling was conducted at 39 hospitals in 13 provinces, from which 2 156 physicians were surveyed, and statistical analysis was made on the current situation and influential factor of their competency in 6 dimensions(medical knowledge, diagnosis and treatment, scientific research and teaching, interpersonal communication, spirit of professionalism, population health)Results:The score range in multiple dimensions of physicians′ competency was between 2.85 and 3.89(5 in total), among which spirit of professionalism dimension scores the highest, and teaching and research dimension scores the lowest. Logistic regression analysis shows that their competency level in 6 dimensions is correlated to a range of factors, including gender, degree, title, supervisor qualifications, standardized training program of specialist physicians, and affiliation or not to teaching hospitals( P<0.05). Conclusions:Their overall competency is expected to be elevated. To name a few, they are lack of teaching and research abilities, and need to conduct clinical-oriented scientific research; they are expected to enrich knowledge structure, and need to embrace a wider concept of health; they need to improve their non-technical service abilities, and should further emphasize their humanistic quality; physicians′ practice competency depends upon their extent of medical education, and ensuring the quality of standardized training becomes the key measure.

AIMTo analyze sequences of the nuclear ribosomal RNA small subunit (18S rRNA) gene and the chloroplast matK gene of crude drug Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) in order to provide molecular evidence for identification of Patchouli drug.

METHODSTo sequence the entire 18S rRNA gene and partial matK gene of Patchouli from Guangzhou and its substitute Wrinkled Gianthyssop (Agastache rugosa) from Sichuan using PCR direct sequencing and to detect the homology of two gene sequences between these two crude drugs.

RESULTSThe complete 18S rRNA gene sequence is 1,805 bp in length for Patchouli from Guangzhou whereas 1,794 bp for Wrinkled Gianthyssop from Sichuan. The 3'-end sequence of matK gene is 521 bp (747-1,268 nt from upstream of matK gene) for these two crude drugs. Based on multiple sequence alignment, it is found that there are 18 variable sites and 11 aligned gap sites in 18S rRNA sequence, 49 variable sites in 3'-matK sequence between these two crude drugs. The homology is 98.4% for 18S rRNA and 90.6% for 3'-matK between two crude drugs, respectively.

CONCLUSIONDNA sequencing can provide an accurate and reliable tool in the crude drug identification of Patchouli and its substitute Wrinkled Gianthyssop.

Agastache ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Plant ; analysis ; Drug Contamination ; Lamiaceae ; classification ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Stems ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S ; analysis ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology ; Species Specificity

Objective To explore the clinical outcomes of different mild-stimulation in poor ovarian responders in vitro culture/intracytoplasmic injection (IVF/ICSI) to provide the evidence for clinical treatment,and investigate clinical parameters including pre-ovulation rate,rate of oocytes retrieved,fertilization rate,good quality embryo rate,and pregnancy rate per cycle.Methods The clinical date of a total 180 IVF cycles of infertile patients undergone from Jan 2013 to May 2016 in medical reprodution center of Xiang Tan Central Hospital.According to the different methods of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH),the cycles were divided into 3 groups:group A with 60 cycles of early five days using clomiphene,group B with 60 cycles of persistent using clomiphene,and group C with 60 cycles using artificial luteal-phase ovarian stimulation protocol.Results The basic situations in three groups were no significant difference (P ＞0.05).Compared to groups B and C,the pre-ovalution rate was more in group A (P ＜ O.05),and the rate of oocytes retrieved,fertilization rate,good quality embryo rate,and preganacy rate per cycle were higher in groups B and C (P ＜ 0.05).The rate of oocytes retrieved,fertilization rate,good quality embryo rate,and preganacy rate per cycle were no significant difference among gourps B and C.The good quality embryo rate and preganacy rate per cycle in groups B and C were higher than group A,and group B was higher than group A (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Persistent using clomiphene or persistent using clomiphene in COH could decrease the rate of pre-ovalution,and get more rate of oocytes retrieved,good quality embryo rate,and preganacy rate per cycle.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of dual energy CT myocardial iodine maps in detecting acute myocardial infarction in canine model. Methods Myocardial ischemia model was made by ligaturing left anterior descending coronary arteries (LAD) after thoracotomy in six dogs, while another 3 dogs undergoing thoracotomy not ligaturing LAD as control group. Before and three hours after operation, dual-source CT (DSCT) was performed, followed by resting 99Tcm-MIBI single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging. Then, dogs were sacrificed, and the hearts were removed, triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and conventional HE staining were performed. CT number of non-ischemic and ischemic regions were measured and analyzed. The wall of the left ventricle in the short axis was divided into 17 segments, the segments of myocardial perfusion defect in DSCT myocardial iodine maps, SPECT, and pathology were determined. Student t test was used to analyze the difference of CT number between infarcted and non-infarcted myocardium. Kappa test was used for the accuracy of DSCT myocardial iodine maps and SPECT in detecting myocardial ischemia according to the pathological results. Results No abnormal regions were detected using DSCT myocardial iodine maps in preoperative control and infarction group. After thoracotomy, partial sparse or defective perfusion was consistently noted in six dogs' apical anterior and partition wall in both DSCT myocardial iodine maps and SPECT. In the infarcted group, the attenuation of infarction region (34.75 ± 16.66) HU was significantly decreased compared with preoperative measurements ( 123. 18 ± 15.38 ) HU ( t = 10. 526, P ＜ 0. 01 ); decreased perfusion in the infarcted region was also noted in the DSCT myocardial iodine maps and SPECT. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of DSCT myocardial iodine maps and SPECT were 85.0% (34/40) , 84. 1% (95/113) ,65.4% (34/52) ,94. 0%(95/101) ,and 82. 5% (33/40), 90. 3% ( 102/113 ) ,75.0% (33/44) ,93.6% ( 102/109 ), respectively.Kappa values were 0. 63 and 0. 71 for the agreement of DSCT myocardial iodine maps and SPECT.Conclusion DSCT myocardial iodine maps is comparable diagnostic accuracy with rest SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging in detection of acute myocardial infarction in a canine model.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the serum and the vascular endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: We examined the flow-mediated arterial diastolic function (FMD), the levels of IGF-1, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), NO, and the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the serum from 25 patients with hypercholesterolemia and from healthy controls. An endothelial cell injury model was established by incubation of the human umbical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for 24 hours. Cells were treated with IGF-1 30 min before ox-LDL treatment. The levels of ADMA, NOS, and NO in the cell supernatant, the activity of dimethylarginine dimethylamine hydrolase (DDAH) in the cell lysate were measured. Beta-galactosidase staining was used to assess the degree of endothelial cell senescence by calculating the senescence rate of cells. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the FMD, the levels of IGF-1 and NO, and the activity of NOS in the serum from patients with hypercholesterolemia decreased significantly accompanied with a dramatic increase at ADMA level. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the change in IGF-1 was positively correlated with FMD while the change in ADMA was negatively correlated with FMD. Compared with the control group, ox-LDL treatments significantly decreased the activities of DDAH and NOS, and the level of NO, accompanied with an increase in ADMA. Betagalactosidase staining showed that the senescence rate of cells increased in the ox-LDL group. The effect of ox-LDL on HUVECs was significantly attenuated at the presence of IGF-1. CONCLUSION The decrease in IGF-1 in the peripheral blood may contribute to vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with hypercholesterolemia. IGF-1 can protect HUVECs against ox-LDL-induced senescence, which is likely involved in the regulation of DDAH/ADMA pathway.
Adult ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiology ; Female ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; blood ; physiopathology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; physiology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; pharmacology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Protective Agents ; metabolism ; Vasodilation ; physiology

AIMTo analyze and compare the constituents of the volatile oil of Pogostemon cablin collected from different regions of cultivation and harvesting times in order to evaluate the quality of Shipai Huoxiang and to expound the chemical intension of Pogostemon cablin.

METHODSThe combination of GC and MS.

RESULTSThe volatile oil compositions of Herba Pogostemonis collected from various of cultivation regions and harvesting times are obviously different. Based on the chemical differences of the volatile oil compositions, Pogostemon cablin is divided into two chemotypes, Pogostone-type and Patchouliol-type. The former was cultivated in Guangzhou and Gaoyao regions, locally named as "Shipai Huoxiang"; the latter was locally named as "Hainan Huoxiang", cultivated in Wuchuan, Suixi and Leizhou regions of Guangdong Province and Wanning region of Hainan Province. The Pogostone-type contains rich oxygenated components, especially pogostone in the volatile oil compositions and poor non-oxygenated composition with patchouliol. The above chemical data may be used as evaluation standard for the authentic Shipai Huoxiang. The Patchouliol-type contains similar quantities of oxygenated and non-oxygenated composition, especially rich patchouliol with poor pogostone in oxygenated compositions, rich delta-guaiene and alpha-guaiene in non-oxygenation compositions. The contents of volatile oil and their constituents were varied due to different harvesting time. The yields of pogostone and volatile oil of Shipai Huoxiang was higher in July. The quality of the samples collected in this month was better.

CONCLUSIONAccording to the volatile oil compositions, there are two chemotypes (Pogostone-type and Patchouliol-type) in Pogostemon cablin plant. These two chemotypes correspond to the genotypes of plastid matK gene and nuclear 18s rRNA gene by cluster analysis.

Ecosystem ; Environment ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; classification ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control ; Seasons

To determine the relationship between the urinary endothelin (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO) levels and the clinical, pathologic types of primary glomerulonephritis (GN) patients, urinary levels of ET-1 and NO were detected in 27 patients with biopsy-proven primary GN and 12 normal controls by radioimmunoassay and by copper-plated and cadmium column reduction assay, respectively. The results showed that urinary ET-1 levels in the patients with primary GN were significantly higher than in normal controls (p < 0.01), while the urinary ET-1 levels in patients with moderate mesangial proliferation GN were significantly higher than those in patients with mild mesangial proliferation GN (p < 0.05). Urinary ET-1 levels in patients whose clinical feature was nephrotic syndrome were found to be higher than in patients whose clinical feature was nephritic syndrome. However, urinary NO levels were to the contrary (p < 0.05). The ratio of ET-1/NO in primary GN patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls, and it positively correlated with the 24-hour urinary excretion of protein. These results suggest that urinary ET-1 levels are related to the proliferation of mesangial cells. The imbalance between ET-1 and NO may be related to the pathogenesis of primary GN and the occurrence of proteinuria.
Adolescence ; Adult ; Endothelin-1/urine* ; Endothelin-1/physiology ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis/urine* ; Glomerulonephritis/etiology ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Nitric Oxide/urine* ; Nitric Oxide/physiology ; Nitric-Oxide Synthase/metabolism