Radiomics utilizes the high-throughput extraction of large amounts of quantitative features from radiographic images,giving a comprehensive quantification of tumor phenotype.Thus it can provide complementary and interchangeable information for clinical usage,such as differentiating malignant nodules from benign ones,predicting response to treatment,identifying lymph node metastasis,improving individualized treatment selection and monitoring.The advantages of radiomics give it great potential in precise treatment.But much work needs to be done before it could be used in practice.It is imperative that a standard research procedure is needed to verify its reliability and clinical value via multi-central prospective clinical trials.

Ear Diseases ; complications ; Ear, Inner ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; etiology ; Hemorrhage ; complications ; Humans ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo determine the recognition of healthy medical students on deqi after acupuncture, reveal the qualitative and quantitative rules of deqi and understand whether these rules are the factors of the clinical application of acupuncture therapy.

METHODSThe class questionnaires were used for the investigation study on the understanding of deqi after acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) or Zusanli (ST 36) in 86 healthy students in the clinical medicine class.

RESULTS(1) Deqi was a kind of complicated compound feelings, with many sensation qualities such as distending pain, distension and pain. (2) Deqi was a kind of mild and moderate sensations. In 10-score credit sys tem of Massachusetts General Hospital acupuncture sensation scale (MASS), the scores of distending pain (4.69 +/- 2.83), distension (4.39 +/- 2.91) and soreness and distension (3.93 +/- 2.93) were around 5 (moderate degree), the scores of stabbing pain (1.89 +/- 2.02) were around 2 (mild degree). (3) The differences in the quantitative scores were significant for stabbing pain, distending pain, distention, soreness and distention and the others before and after treatment (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONDeqi of acupuncture is the mild and moderate complicated sensations manifested as distension, soreness, pain and numbness. As the invasive therapy, the filiform needle puncture will bring a certain psychological impacts on the receptors. The subjective sensation is possibly the factor for the patients' selection of acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Needles ; Qi ; Schools, Medical ; Sensation ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of chronic fluorosis on the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) mRNA and protein and the differentiation and maturation process of bone cell in the osteoclast of bone tissue of rats.Methods According to body weight,thirty-six healthy SD rats(body mass 100-120 g) were divided into three groups by random number table,twelve in each group,half male and half female.The rats of control group were given tap water(NaF ＜ 1 mg/L),and rats of low-fluorine and high-fluorine groups were fed with tap water containing 5 and 50 mg/L NaF to establish chronic fluorosis model.Rats were sacrificed after eight months; the contents of urinary fluoride in 24 hours and bone fluoride were analyzed by fluoride selective electrode.Serum content of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase 5b(TRACP5b)was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The paraffin section of bone tissue was stained by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and pathological morphometry was observed under optical microscope.The protein and mRNA levels of MMP-9 in the osteoclast of bones were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH),respectively.Results The differences of fluoride contents of urine and bone in rats were statistically significant between groups(F =400.612,48.229,all P ＜ 0.05).Fluoride contents of urine and bone were increased in lowfluorine and high-fluorine groups[(6.09 + 0.56),(7.69 + 0.64)mg/L,(12.65 ± 3.07),(26.53 + 5.88)mg/kg] compared to the control groups[(1.36 ± 0.51)mg/L,(0.67 ± 0.16)mg/kg,all P ＜ 0.05],and the fluoride contents of urine and bone were gradually increased with increasing fluoride doses(all P ＜ 0.05).The difference of TRACP5b content in serum was statistically significant between groups (F =9.607,P ＜ 0.05),in low-fluorine and high-fluorine groups,the TRACP5b contents[(1.86 ± 0.13),(1.92 ± 0.22)U/L] were higher than that of control group [(1.57 + 0.20)U/L,all P ＜ 0.05].The pathological examination showed osteosclerosis in fluoride exposed groups.The differences of MMP-9 mRNA and protein expressions were statistically significant between groups (F =365.727,331.382,all P ＜ 0.05).Compared to the control groups(97.22 ± 2.24,78.51 ± 1.16),the expressions of MMP-9 protein(108.18 ± 1.97,119.28 ± 1.76) and mRNA(89.44 ± 2.86,102.14 ± 2.39) were increased(all P ＜ 0.05),and the expressions of MMP-9 mRNA and protein were gradually increased with increasing fluoride doses (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Chronic fluorosis might influence osteoclast differentiation and maturation process through regulating the expression levels of MMP-9 protein and mRNA.

Objective To investigate the effects of chrysin(ChR) on the induction of differentiation and apoptosis-promoting of HepG 2 human primary hepatocacinoma cells. Methods The HepG 2 cells were cultured in vitro, and then treated with ChR and all-trans retinotic Acid (RA), respectively, the alterations of nucleocytoplasm and tubulin arrangement after Gimsa staining and Coomassie brilliant blue staining were observed. The survival rate and the inhibitory rates of HepG 2 cells were determine by trypan blue counting method and MTT assay. The Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) secretory amounts of the cells were detected by radioimmunoassay(RIA). The activities of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) andγ-glutamyltranspeptidase(γ-GT) were assayed by enzymatic reaction kit. The synthesis of tyrosine-α-ketoglutaric acid transaminase(TAT) in cells were investigated by Diamondstone spectrophotometry. Results After treatment with ChR or RA at 1.0~100μmol/L for 48 h, the proliferation of HepG 2 cells were inhibited significantly, compared with vehicle group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), the inhibitory potency of both ChR and RA on HepG 2 cells was equivalent and indicated in dose-dependent manner. After treatment with 10μmol/L ChR or RA for 48 h, HepG 2 cells disaggregated and grew to spindle-shape, their nuclei became smaller and the number of nucleolus were fewer. Furthermore, tubulin arrangement of cells tended to be more ordered and the tubulin synthesis increased significantly. At 24~96 hours treated with 10μmol/L ChR, the activities of TAT and ALP in cells were all increased distinctly (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the secretory amounts of AFP and the specific activities ofγ-GT were decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion Chrysin can inhibit the proliferation of HepG 2 cells and induce them to differentiate to mature cells.

Objective To study the correlations between bone fracture types and healing time in patients with osteofluorosis. Methods Thirty-seven patients with osteefluorosis and long tubular bone fracture were diagnosed in accordance with radiogram retrospectively. The fractures were divided into two groups: sclerotic and osteoporotic. Twenty four fractured patients with non osteofluorosis were included in the study as controls. All of the patients had operation(open reduction and nickelclad internal fixation). Fracture healing in patients with sclerotic and osteoporotic groups was compared with the control group after operation. Results There were notable differenees(F=4.30,P< 0.05) in term of fracture healing time among the three groups [sclerotic group:(18.4±5.3)weeks; osteoporotic group: (24.5±5.1)weeks; control group: (17.6±3.8)weeks]. Notably, there were significant differences between the osteoporotic and control groups(q=2.34,P<0.05), and between sclerotic and osteoporotic gronps(q=2.51, P<0.05). The healing time of the osteoporotic group was longer than that of sclerotic group. The constituent ratios of fracture healing in sclerotic, osteoporotic and control groups were 73.1% (19/26) ,54.5% (6/11),75.0% (18/24) respectively, and the differences among the three groups were statistically significant(X2=3.67,P<0.05). The healing rate of the osteoporotic group was lower than that of sclerotic and control groups(X2=3.12, 3.36, all P< 0.05). The constituent ratios of healing in the sclerotic, osteoporotic and control groups were 26.9% (7/26),45.5% (5/11),25.0%(6/24), respectively, and there differences among the three groups were statistically significant (X2=4.07 ,P<0.05). The delayed healing rate of the osteoperotic group was higher than those of the sclerotic and control groups(X2= 3.87,3.95, all P<0.05). Conclusions Fracture healing time of osteoporotic osteofluorosis after fracture is longer than normal, and the cause might be the loss of bone mass.

Objective To explore the feasibility of using clinical whole body MR scanners to investigate the intravital visibility of central nervous system (CNS) lesions in rats of multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods Ten Lewis rats were injected with the peptide 35-55 of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein to make the model of MS. On a Siemens Sonata 1.5T MR scanner equipped with a flexible surface coil, rats brain and spinal cord were examined using T2-weighted and T1-weighted imaging with slice thickness of 1-2 mm. On a Siemens Trio Tim 3.0T MR-scanner equipped with a quadrature wrist coil, rats were examined using T2WI, T1WI and Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI 3-dimensional imaging with voxel size up to 0.06-0.08 mm~3. Rat brain and spinal cord images in multiple orientations were reconstituted with special software in workstation. Results T2WI and T1WI of the lesions in MS rat brain with high spatial and contrast resolution could be obtained with clinical 3.0T MR scanner, though the image resolution of spinal cord was relatively low. The resolution of 1.5T MR was lower than that of 3.0T. Plaques in CNS of MS rats presented as hyperintense areas on T2WI and hypointense areas on T1WI. Contrast enhancement was observed as hyperintense on T1WI. Conclusion High quality images of CNS lesions canbe obtained with clinical 3.0T MR-scanner in MS rat, which offers a noninvasive access for studying CNS diseases in the rats.

Objective To investigate the value of macrophage activity imaging (MAI) in the diagnosis of brain and spinal cord lesions in rat model of multiple sclerosis(MS). Methods Twenty LEW rats were divided into 15 model rats and 5 control rats. MS animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced by the injection of peptide 35-55 of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein ( MOG35-55 ). MRI was performed on the third day of the acute stage of disease. The brain and spinal cord of rats were scanned by 3.0 T MR scanner( Siemens Trio Tim) with quadrature wrist joint coil.The T2W and T1 W images, Gadolinium enhanced T1 W images in 3D volume were obtained respectively. The MAI were obtained at 24 hours after intravenous injection of ultra small superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) as contrast medium on T2WI. The workstation with special software was used for the reconstruction images of brain and spinal cord of rat in multiple orientations. Results Fifteen MOG35-55-EAE rats model of MS were successfully induced. The great majority lesions of central nervous system in acute stage were located in the brain( 58/63 ) and less in the spinal cord (5/63). The main manifestation of EAE lesions presented was hyperintensity on T2 WI and hypointensity on T1 WI, and some lesions had enhancement after Gd-DTPA injection. The EAE lesions presented as hypointensity on MAI images, but some of them were found to be isointensity on T2 WI. The enhancement pattern was discrepant between USPIO and Gd-DTPA.The sensitivity of depicting lesions of MOG35-55-EAE rat at acute stage were higher on T2WI ( 14/15 ) and MAI ( 13/15 ), and the detection rate was 100% ( 15/15 ) if they were combined. Gd-DTPA enhanced T1 WI had a lower sensitivity (7/15). All the MAI findings were negative in the control rats. Conclusions MAI can complement the drawback of conventional MRI techniques by continuously monitoring the inflammatory activity of EAE lesions, and it could raise the detection rate of EAE lesions by combining with T2WI. Gd-DTPA enhanced T1 WI monitors the breakdown of the blood brain barrier. MAI and Gd-DTPA enhanced MR imaging are complementary in the diagnosis and monitoring of EAE lesions.

Objective To investigate the evolution of diffusion indices in the pyramidal tract with Wallerian degeneration(WD)due to cerebral infarction using diffusion tensor imaging(DTI),and to study the relationship between early changes of diffusion indices and motor deficit.Methods Fifteen patients (13 males and 2 females)with acute cerebral infarction(within 7 days)were recruited from the Neurology Department from Mar 2006 to Jan 2007.A11 patients were assessed with DTI.National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS),Bathel Index(BI),modified Rankin Scale(mRS)and Motricity Index(MI)within 7 days from onset,and at the second week.DTI was performed with SIEMENS Trio 3.0 T MR scanner.The placement of region of interest(ROI),measurement of diffusion indices were performed by DTI Studio software.The mean diffusivity(MD),the fractional anisotropy(FA),the first eigenvalue (λ1),the second eigenvalue(λ2),and the third eigenvalue(λ3)were computed.Results At the second week.NIHSS was 6.93±3.39.BI 45.33±26.01,mRS 4.33±0.90.and MI 69.47± 60.71.At the second week from onset.MD of the pyramidal tract at the levels of the middle slice of pons and the superior slice of medulla oblongata showed no significant differences between both the two sides at second week from onset. Other ROI showed significant differences between both sides.MD.FA and λ1 of affected side were lower than the unaffected side.λ2 and λ3 of the affected side were higher than the unaffected side.Positive correlations were found between FA and BI(r=0.530,P=0.042),FA and MI(r=0.543,P=0.036)at the second week.Negative correlations were found between FA and NIHSS(r=-0.613,P=0.015)at the second week.Conclusions DTI can detect the changes in the pyramidal tract due to WD within 7-14 days after ischemic stroke.including a decrease of the fractional anisotropy.the first eigenvalue and increased the second and the third eigenvalues.The fractional anisotropy of the second week from onset is related to the outcome of the motor function.

In this study, modification technology by surface coating was used to improve the flowability of powder of Chinese herbs extracts. Seven kinds of powder of Chinese herbs extracts were coated with 1% silica nanoparticles using an under-driven Comil. The powder characteristics tester was used to evaluate the flowability of uncoated and coated powders. Surface morphology and particle size distribution of powders were compared by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscope. The powder hygroscopicity was also investigated. The results showed that, after modification, angle of repose, angle of spatula, compressibility and adhesiveness extremely decreased, and flowability index substantially increased, the powder flowability was significantly improved, especially Gegen and Dahuang extracts powders. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the distribution of silica nanoparticles on the host drug particle surfaces. There were no remarkable changes in the particle size distribution and hygroscopicity of all powders after coating. Therefore, Comilling for surface coating modification technology was an effective method to improve the flowability of Chinese herbs extracts and suggested a possible way forward to enhance the quality of Chinese drugs pharmaceutics in their study and manufacture.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Powders ; chemistry ; Surface Properties