Objective To evaluate different measurement methods in histogram for the diffusion and perfusion parameters from intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MR imaging of different types of uterine fibroids.Methods 63 patients with confirmed uterine fibroids (80 in total) were examined with MR imaging.3D T2WI and IVIM imaging were performed for those patients.The fibroids were classified into three types (type 1, 2, 3) on the basis of different signal intensities on T2WI according to Funaki's theory.Real diffusion coefficient (D), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*) and perfusion fraction (f) were calculated using IVIM analysis.25%,50% and 75% of those parameters (D25,D50,D75,D*25,D*50,D*75,f25,f50 and f75) as well as mean values (Dmean,D*mean and fmean) were calculated using histogram method.ANOVA was used to compare the IVIM parameters among the three types of fibroids.Results There were 44 type 1,24 type 2 and 12 type 3 fibroids in the total of 80 fibroids.There was significant difference among all the diffusion parameters from histogram and mean values of different types of fibroids, and only one perfusion parameter D*75 value showed significant difference (P<0.05).There was no significant difference among all the f values from histogram and mean values.Conclusion Different measurements of parameters from IVIM histogram showed no added value for diffusion features in different types of fibroids compared to mean value.While the perfusion parameter D*75 value from histogram can distinguish the features of perfusion within different types of fibroids compared to mean value.

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference in treatment of myofasical pain syndrome between sparrow-pecking moxibustion and acupuncture at trigger points so as to provide the reference of the effective therapeutic method for myofascial pain syndrome.

METHODSNinety patients were randomized into a sparrow-pecking moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 45 cases in each one. The trigger points were selected in pain areas in the two groups. In the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group, the sparrow-pecking moxibustion was applied, 30 min in each time. In the acupuncture group, the filiform needles were inserted obliquely at 45 degrees and retained for 40 min in each treatment. The treatment was given once a day and 10 treatments made one session in the two groups. The short-form McGill pain questionnaire was used as the observation index, and the changes in pain rating index (PRI), present pain intensity (PPI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after treatment were used for efficacy assessment.

RESULTSThe results of PRI, PPI and VAS after treatment were reduced apparently as compared with those before treatment in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group and the acupuncture group (all P<0.001). The differences in PRI, PPI and VAS after treatment were not significant in comparison of the two groups (both P>0.05). The curative and remarkably effective rate was 80.0% (36/45) in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group, which was better than 40.0% (18/45, P<0.001) in the acupuncture group.

CONCLUSIONSparrow-pecking moxibustion at trigger points achieves the superior efficacy on myofascial pain syndrome as compared with acupuncture at trigger points. This therapy is simpler in operation additionally.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Trigger Points ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

To study the cost-effectiveness of temozolomide combined with radiotherapy in the treatment of glioblasto-ma. Methods:According to the clinical trial data, cost-effectiveness and sensitivity of the results was analyzed based on the domestic cost and consumption level. Results:Temozolomide combined with radiotherapy could prolong one month of overall survival with the additional cost of RMB 58 959. 7 yuan in each case when compared with radiotherapy alone. Conclusion:Temozolomide combined with radiotherapy has no advantage on cost-effectiveness when compared with radiotherapy alone.

Objective To investigate the effect of PTEN gene in the mouse uterus during embryo implantation.Methods Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(FQ-PCR) was used to detect PTEN mRNA expressed in the endometria of the nonpregnant mice and the late pregnant mice(day 1,day 3,day 4,day 5 and day 7),with 20 mice sacrificed at each fixed day.Out of another 20 3-day pregnant mice,ten received PTEN antisense oligonucleotide at the horn of uterus and ten received normal saline to count the blastocysts at pregnant day 8.Results The PTEN mRNA/?-actin mRNA in pregnant mice was higher than that of nonpregnant mice,gradually hoisted as days passed by,and reached the highest at pregnant day 5.The number of blastocysts in the mice that received PTEN antisense oligonucleotide was fewer than that received normal saline.Conclusion PTEN persistently expresses in mouse endometria during the early pregnancy and maybe participate in the regulation process of mouse blastodyst implantation.

Objective To investigate the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in elderly men in Beijing.Methods Totally 370 elderly men with an average age of (76.6±9.3) years from the departments of gerontology were included.BMD,echocardiography measurements as well as blood chemistry were analyzed.LVMI was obtained by echocardiography.All the subjects were divided into two groups:non-LVH group (n=231) and LVH group (n =139).Differences in quantitative variables were tested by independent-sample t test.Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis were performed to identify determinants of LVMI.Results The serum creatinine concentration was significantly higher in LVH group than in non-LVH group [(97.1±43.0) μmol/L,(88.2±21.1) μmol/L (P＜0.05)].Compared with non-LVH group,LVH group showed that the lumbar spine BMD (L1-L4) were significantly lower[L1:(0.90±0.16) g/cm2 vs.(0.95±0.21) g/cm2,P=0.05; L2:(0.95±0.17) g/cm2 vs.(1.01±0.20) g/cm2,P＜0.01 ; L3:(0.99±0.19) g/cm2 vs.(1.06±0.28) g/cm2,P＜0.01] as well as the lumbar spine totalBMD [(0.97±0.18) g/cm2 vs.(1.03-1-0.26) g/cm2,P＜0.05].The femur BMD was lower in theLVH group than in non-LVH group [trochiter:(0.64±0.11) g/cm2 vs.(0.67±0.17) g/cm2,P＜0.05; inter area:(1.00±0.17) g/cm2 vs.(1.05±0.22) g/cm2,P＜0.05].Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis demonstrated that BMI (r=0.27,P＜0.01),the lumbar spine BMD (r=-0.20,P＜0.01),age (r=0.16,P＜0.05),serum creatinine (r=0.15,P＜0.05) were independently correlated with LVMI.Conclusions In elderly men in Beijing,the lumbar spine BMD is an independent correlative factor for LVMI.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Hypoxia, Brain ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; RNA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcription Factors

Objective To explore the changes in inflammatory reactions in tail-suspension mice infected by Klebsiella pneumoniae from spaceflight.Methods Tail suspension was used to simulate the physiological effects of microgravity.C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control (Con),control+K.pneumoniae T16-169 (Con+T16-169),tail suspension (TS) and tail suspension+K.pneumoniae T16-169 (TS+T16-169) groups.The level of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA in lung tissue and the plasma cytokine concentration were detected by RT-qPCR and xMAP technology,and HE staining was used to represent the morphological changes in lung tissue.Results Compared with the control group,the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissue and plasma concentrations of all experimental groups were increased,and the difference in TS+T16-169 group was the most significant (P<0.01 or P<0.001).HE staining showed that the lung tissues in Con+T16-169 and TS+T16-169 groups were damaged in different degrees,and the damage of TS+T16-169 group was the most serious.Conclusion The K.pneumoniae from spaceflight significantly increases the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissue and plasma concentrations after infecting tail-suspension mice,and induces more serious damages to the lung tissue,which suggests that inflammatory reactions can be increased in tail suspension mice infected by K.pneumoniae from spaceflight.

Background Retinal development continues during the early postnatal period in mammals.Correct arrangement of layers and precise location of various cells in the retina are vital for forming normal visual function during critical period plasticity.Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)provides highquality in vivo retinal imaging and the possibility to measure retinal thickness longitudinally. Objective The present study was to investigate the changes of retinal thickness during critical period plasticity in rats. Methods In vivo consecutive scanning of retinal image was performed in 10 SPF Sprague-Dawley rats at postnatal day 14(P14),P18,P21,P24 and P42 with SD-OCT,and retinal histopathological examination was used to detect retinal morphologic changes at the same postnatal ages in 20 matched rats.The whole retinal thickness,the thickness from inner limiting membrane(ILM)to inner plexiform layer(IPL),the thickness of inner nuclear layer(INL)and the thickness from outer nuclear layer(ONL)to retinal pigment epithelium(RPE)were measured using Cirrus HD-OCT system and HMIAS-2000 Imaging System in retinal sections.The measurement parameters by Cirrus HD-OCT and those by hematoxylin-eosin staining were compared.The use of animals followed the Statement of National Institute of Health (USA). Results In vivo high-resolution images of rat retinas with SD-OCT compared well with histology,which enabled quantitative comparison of the SD-OCT and histological data during critical period plasticity in rats.From P14 to P42,the retinal thickness gradually decreased with the increase of rat ages(F=15.425,P=0.000),and so were the thickness from ILM to IPL,the thickness of INL and the thickness from ONL to RPE(F=3.973,P=0.007;F=17.529,P=0.000;F=7.038,P=0.000).The retinal thickness,thickness of INL.thickness from ONL to RPE measured by Cirrus HD-OCT were significantly correlated with those measured by retinal sections among P14,P18,P21,P24 and P42 rats(r=0.794,P=0.000;r=0.784,P=0.000;r=0.681,P=0.000). Conclusion SD-OCT is a demonstratably valuable technology to study the structure of retinas in rats.The retinal thickness is shown to reduce in thickness throughout the development of the retina during critical period plasticity due to the decrease in thickness of INL and the distance from the ONL to RPE,as illustrated by OCT scanning.

Objective To explore the effects of Kangshuaiyizhi capsule on ChAT/AchE and NE, DA and 5-HT levels in the brain tissue of aging model rats, and explore its effect of protecting cerebral function. Methods Totally 72 rats were randomly divided into normal group and model group. The subacutely aging model rats were made by injecting D-gal (0.125 g/kg) into abdominal cavity continually, then aging rats were divided by random number table into model group, Naofukang group and Kangshuaiyizhi high-, low-dose group. After intervented with correspongding drugs for 60 days, activity of ChAT and AchE, cerebral cortex NE, DA, and 5-HT levels were detected. Results Activity of AchE was much higher (P<0.05), but level of ChAT, NE, DA and 5-HT in model group were significantly downregulated compared with normal group (P<0.05). After treated with Kangshuaiyizhi capsule, activity of AchE was downregulated, ChAT, NE, DA and 5-HT levels were significantly upregulated (P <0.01, P <0.05). Conclusion Kangshuaiyizhi capsule can regulate cholinergic and monoamine neurotransmitter levels in the brain tissue of aging model rats, and play a very important role in protecting cerebral function.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between insulin resistance and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods Totally 150 male patient from the Department of Geriatrics in Peking University Hospital were included in this study.Blood pressure,body weight,body height,body mass index (BMI) were measured and calculated.Biochemical analyses including serum fasting levels of insulin(FINS),glucose,total cholesterol,triglycerides,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,high density lipoprotein cholesterol,and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were performed.Total prostate volume (PV) were measured by ultrasound.Results PV and annual prostate growth rate were more increased in insulin resistance group(40 cases) compared with insulin sensitivity group(110 cases) (t=2.91,3.71 respectively,both P＜0.01).Along with the levels of FINS,HOMA-IR and PSA were increased,the prostate volume was enhanced (t=-3.02,-2.88,-2.84 respectively;all P ＜0.05).PV was positively correlated with insulin resistance,serum fasting insulin and PSA (r=0.16,0.16,0.35;all P＜0.05),while annual prostate growth rate was positively related with insulin resistance,serum fasting insulin,PSA and BMI (r =0.22,0.21,0.24,0.19 ; all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Insulin resistance and fasting insulin plays roles in the pathogenesis of prostatic hyperplasia.