Objective To assess the diagnostic value of CT spectral imaging using quantitative iodine-based material decomposition images in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism. Methods Fifty-three patients underwent CT angiography with spectral imaging mode on a GE Discovery CT750HD scanner. Iodine distribution in the lung parenchyma using the iodine-based material decomposition images was quantitatively measured by post-processing. Monochromatic CT angiographic images were reconstructed from the same data sets and thee images were reviewed for the identification and localization of pulmonary embolism as well as the degree ( partial or complete) of the embolic occlusion. The number and location of perfusion defects were recorded. The iodine content of perfusion defects and normal lung parenchyma on the iodine maps were measured by one reader using an ROI analysis. Comparative analyses were obtained using the Chi-square test for categorical data. Two independent samples rank test and 2 related samples signed-rank test were used to compare iodine densities between different groups. Results CT angiography showed no pulmonary embolism in 33 patients, and iodine distribution was homogeneous. A total of 93 clots with lobar ( n = 26), segmental (n = 54) and sub-segmental (n=13) distribution were detected in 19 patients; Fifty-one clots were occlusive and 42 clots were non-occlusive. The iodine-based material decomposition images of all occlusive clots showed lobar, segmental or sub-segmental iodine distribution defects; whereas eleven of 42 non-occlusive clots had evidence of iodine distribution defects. There was significant difference ( x2 = 39. 94,P＜0. 01 ) in the perfusion defects between occlusive and non-occlusive clots. There was a significant difference in iodine content between normal lung parenchyma [ (1.92 ±0. 54) g/L] and perfusion defects [ (0. 30 ± 0. 20)g/L] (Z= -5.63, P ＜ 0. 01 ). There was a significant difference in the iodine content of peffusion defects before [ (0. 26 ± 0. 23 )g/L] and after anticoagulation [ (0. 94 ± 0. 50 )g/L ] ( Z = -3.93,P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusion With the ability of iodine mapping, CT spectral imaging is areliable method in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism both qualitatively and quantitatively, and may be a useful tool in providing information regarding the severity of PE and monitoring therapeutic efficacy.

Objective: To observe the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) plus Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: A total of 60 patients with KOA were divided into an observation group and a control group according to the random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. Patients in the observation group received the treatment of EA plus Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises), while patients in the control group only received EA treatment. Both groups were treated for 5 weeks. The changes of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores in the two groups were observed after treatment. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group (92.3％) was significantly higher than that in the control group (70.0％), (P<0.05); the WOMAC and VAS scores in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment, showing statistical significance (all P<0.01); there were significant differences in the post-treatment changes in the WOMAC and VAS scores between the two groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion: EA plus Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) is clinically effective for KOA. This combined treatment can alleviate clinical symptoms.

Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Cytochromes ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; enzymology ; Rats

Objective To study antimicrobial resistance and genotyping of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus au-reus(MRSA). Methods A total of 967 no-repetitive strains of Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)isolated from a hospital between January 2014 and November 2015 were collected,antimicrobial susceptibility testing,mecA gene,and Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene(PVL gene)were detected;staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec(SCCmec)typing,multilocus sequence typing(MLST),S.aureus protein A(spa)gene typing,and S.aureus ac-cessory gene regulator(agr)typing were performed with multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Results Of 967 strains of S.aureus,210(21.72%)were MRSA;detection rate of MRSA from sputum specimen was higher than that of skin and soft tissue specimen(68.09% vs 1 1.83% ,P<0.05);vancomycin- and linezolid-resistant S.aureus strains were not found,susceptibility rates of MRSA to gentamicin,tetracycline,erythromycin,clindamycin,levo-floxacin,ciprofloxacin,moxifloxacin,nitrofurantoin,and rifampicin were all lower than those of methicillin-sensi-tive Staphylococcus aureus(MSSA),differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05);antimicrobial sus-ceptibility rate of MRSA to compound sulfamethoxazole was higher than MSSA,difference was significant(P<0.05). Susceptibility rates of MRSA isolated from skin and soft tissue to gentamicin,levofloxacin,ciprofloxacin,moxifloxacin,and rifampicin were 86.90% -95.24%,while MRSA isolated from sputum were only 1.56% -15.63%.Of 967 strains of S.aureus,210 harbored mecA gene,10 harbored PVL gene,8(3.81%)of 210 MRSA strains weren't typed. The main types of MLST,SCCmec,spa,and agr were ST 239(n= 177 strains),type Ⅲ(n= 177 strains),t 030(n= 177 strains),and typeⅠ(n= 196 strains)respectively.Conclusion The main epidemic clone of MRSA strain in this hospital is ST239-MRSA-SCCmec III-t030,antimicrobial resistance is serious,monitoring on drug-resistant strains in hospital should be strengthened.

OBJECTIVETo optimize the herb processing process for the total contains of psoralen and isopsoralen and the rate of extract in Psoralea corylifolia by micro-wave herb processing.

METHODThe contains of psoralen and isopsoralen was obtained by HPLC. The micro-wave herb processing process was optimized by the way of uniform design and contour map.

RESULTThe optimum process was:20% as salt concentration, 4h as immerse time, micro-wave strength as strong, 270 seconds as micro-wave time. The absolute error of the predicted value from the models were smaller than 6% and 0. 3% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe regression models are notable and reasonable, which can forecast results precisely.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Furocoumarins ; analysis ; Microwaves ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Psoralea ; chemistry ; Regression Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) on ACAT-1 expression and cholesterol content in THP-1-derived macrophages and foam cells.

METHODSTHP-1 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages and further into foam cells. The macrophages and foam cells were exposed to different concentrations (0, 3.75, 7.5, 15, and 30 µmol/L) of ADMA for varying time lengths (6, 12, and 24 h), and the changes in ACAT-1 mRNA and protein levels in the cells were measured with RT-PCR and Western blotting. The cellular cholesterol content was measured with enzyme-linked colorimetry assay.

RESULTSIn THP-1-derived macrophages and foam cells, the expression levels of ACAT-1 mRNA and protein and cellular cholesterol content increased significantly in response to ADMA treatment in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONADMA may play an important role in inducing foam cell formation from macrophages. ACAT-1 inhibition targeting the macrophages and foam cells may serve as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase ; metabolism ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Cholesterol ; analysis ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of different methods of semen preservation and processing on sperm DNA integrity.

METHODSWe collected semen samples from 100 normozoospermic male volunteers and, following homogeneous mixing, preserved them by means of snap freezing, slow freezing, or at the room temperature for 4 and 24 hours. Meanwhile we processed the semen by washing, swim-up, and density gradient centrifugation (DGC). Then we obtained the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) by sperm chromatin dispersion test and measured total sperm motility and DFI after cultured for 24 hours following processing.

RESULTSThe sperm DFIs after 4 hours of preservation by snap freezing, slow freezing, and at the room temperature were (27.3 ± 6.4)%, (26.9 ± 6.1)%, and (24.7 ± 6.8)%, respectively, and that after preserved at the room temperature for 24 hours was (35.6 ± 9.0)%, with statistically significant differences between the first three and the 24-hour room temperature preservation groups (P < 0.05) but not among the former three groups (P > 0.05). The sperm DFI was significantly higher in the samples processed by washing ([13.7 ± 2.0]%) than in those processed by swim-up ([9.1 ± 1.3]%) and DGC ([8.0 ± 2.5]%) (P < 0.05), and it was the lowest in the DGC group after 24-hour culture ([11.5 ± 4.2]%) as compared with the other groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSperm DNA integrity is influenced by different semen preservation conditions and processing methods.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; methods ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

In-vitro assay methods were established to evaluate transactivation and binding activity of compounds on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor y (PPARγ). Firstly, plasmids were constructed for transactivation assay of PPARγ response element (PPRE) triggered reporter gene expression, and for cell-based binding activity assay of the chimeric receptor, which was fused with PPARγ ligand binding domain (LBD) and yeast transcriptional activator Gal4. Secondly, by using PPARy competitive binding assay based on time resolved-fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET), affinities of compounds and drugs to PPARγ were evaluated. In application of these above methods, the PPARγ activating potency and characteristics of different compounds were evaluated, and a novel benzeneselfonamide derivative, ZLJ01, was found to have comparable binding activity and affinity with the well-known PPARy agonist, but lack of PPRE mediated transactivation activity. In preliminary study on in-vitro hypoglycemic activity, ZLJ1 was found to promote insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by liver cells. Therefore, we believe that combining transactivation and binding activity as well as affinity evaluation, the system could be used to screen non-agonist PPARγ ligand as anovel PPARγ modulator
Genes, Reporter ; Hepatocytes ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemistry ; Ligands ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; chemistry ; Plasmids ; Response Elements ; Sulfonamides ; chemistry ; Transcriptional Activation

Objective To investigate the neuroimaging features in mitochondrial encephalomyopatbies with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes(MELAS).Methods Twenty-two clinically diagnosed patients who came from department of neurology,Huashan hospital in October 2003 to July 2006 were analyzed for CT,MRI,MRI contrast,MRA and MRS.Results In all 22 patients,the neuroimaging results of 21 were positive.There were 9 patients lying in hemisphere,12 in both cerebral hemispheres,including occipital,parietal,temporal and frontal lobe.The abnormal areas showed low signal intensity on T_1-weighted MRI,high signal intensity on T_2-weighted MRI and fluid attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR)images.The lesions of 12/16 patients on MR contrasted images were enhanced.The lesions of one patient showed malacoma-like changes,one showed Fahr syndrome' s change and another showed high signal intensity on MR contrasted images.Conclusion Although the neuroimaging features of MELAS are complicated,the specific ones could help to make the diagnosis.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the role of the Notch pathway in Toll-like receptor 4 ( TLR4 )-mediated in-flammatory response in renal ischemia reperfusion injury ( IRI) in rats.METHODS: A total of 75 male sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group , IRI group and DAPT treatment group .Blood samples and the kid-neys were obtained at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after reperfusion .The concentrations of blood urea nitrogen ( BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) were measured.The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by ELISA, and the expression of Notch1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the renal tissues was assessed by im-munohistochemistry and Western blot .RESULTS: The serum levels of BUN, Scr, TNF-αand IL-6 in IRI group were markedly increased as compared with sham group (P<0.05).The protein levels of Notch1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in re-nal tubular epithelial cells in IRI group was significantly enhanced as compared with sham group ( P<0.05 ) .In DAPT group, the serum levels of BUN, Scr, TNF-αand IL-6 were significantly reduced compared with IRI group (P<0.05), and the protein levels of Notch1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 were apparently less than those in IRI group (P<0.05).CON-CLUSION:Significant changes of renal function , a rise of serum inflammatory factor including TNF-αand IL-6 and en-hanced expression of Notch 1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the renal tissue occurred in the rats with IRI .γ-Secretase inhibitor DAPT attenuates TLR4-mediated inflammatory response in the renal IRI through the inhibition of Notch 1 and down-regula-tion of NF-κB.