Objective To compare the cardiac function parameters in gated SPECT determined by filtered back projection (FBP) and OSEM reconstruction methods. Methods One hundred and forty-four patients underwent 99Tcm-MIBI gated-SPECT imaging studies. The parameters LVEF, EDV and ESV, were derived using quantitative gated SPECT (QGS), four-dimensional model SPECT (4D-MSPECT) and emory cardiac toolbox (ECToolbox) softwares. Each image was reconstructed by FBP or OSEM. Bland-Altman analysis and paired t-test were applied to evaluate those parameters. Results Correlation coefficients for LVEF, EDV and ESV between FBP and OSEM methods were all more than 0.93 (all P<0.001). EDV calculated by FBP was lower than that by OSEM using QGS software, but became the opposite when using 4D-MSPECT and ECToolbox softwares. (QGS: (82.2±39.1) ml vs (83.5±40.8) ml, t=-2.53, P<0.05; 4D-MSPECT: (93.5±46.9) ml vs (88.8±45.2) ml, t=5.95, P<0.01; ECToolbox: (106.4±51.1) ml vs (100.8±49.0) ml, t=3.99, P<0.01). ESV calculated by FBP was higher than that by OSEM using 4D-MSPECT software (4D-MSPECT:(37.5±41.4) ml vs (34.8±37.6) ml, t=3.92, P<0.01). LVEF calculated by FBP was lower than that by OSEM using QGS software ((62.1±16.9)% vs (63.1±16.1)%, t=-3.14, P<0.05), but higher than that by OSEM using ECToolbox software ((74.1±18.8)% vs (71.3±17.1)%, t=5.28, P<0.01). Conclusion Generally, cardiac functional parameters based on FBP and OSEM construction methods correlated well, although they might have singnificantly different results.

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamic changes in the protein marker expression in the spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) of mice at different ages by iTRAQ protein mass spectrometry and to screen new markers using the bioinformatic proteome database.

METHODSBased on the postnatal weeks, we divided 80 healthy male C57BL/6 mice into eight age groups of equal number, harvested their testicular tissues, extracted proteins following purification of the SSCs by compound enzyme digestion and magnetic-activated cell sorting. Then we analyzed and identified proteins using two-dimensional electrophoresis, protein mass spectrometry, and protein database information.

RESULTSTotally, 248,510 mass spectra were obtained from the MS experiment and 1132 proteins were identified. By the criteria of >1.2-fold for protein abundance difference and P value <0.05, we identified 298 differentially expressed proteins and 9 currently known makers of SSCs (PCNA, GFRalpha1, CDH1, Annexin A7, UCHL1, VASA, CD49f, CD29, and PLZf). Compara- tive analysis showed different expressions of the proteins in the SSCs of the mice of different ages, and the differences in the expressions of GFRalpha1, CD49f, and CD29 were consistent with the findings in other published literature. Ten proteins (P63, CD71, CD98, K19, ACE, K18, K15, K17, SH2, and SH3) were selected as SSC markers to be further studied.

CONCLUSIONThe proteins in SSCs are differentially expressed in mice of different ages. The technology of iTRAQ protein mass spectrometry can be used to analyze and compare the proteome information of mouse SSCs, obtain differentially expressed proteins in mice of different ages, and thus offers a new ap- proach to further analysis and study of the function and roles of these differential proteins.

Adult Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Age Factors ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; metabolism ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Proteins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Spermatogonia ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern between electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy and moxibustion box therapy.

METHODSForty-one cases of low back pain of cold-damp pattern were randomized into an electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy group (group A, 26 cases) and a box moxibustion therapy group (group B, 15 cases). In the group A, the electric-thermal Bian-stone was placed over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The temperature of stone was adjusted in accordance with patient's comfort. In the group B, moxibustion box was used over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The treatment was given once every day or every two days. Ten treatments made one session. The symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were observed before and after treatment in the patients.

RESULTSThe symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were all improved in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The changing rate of symptom and physical signs and syndrome were (37.04 +/- 32.68)% and (22.85 +/- 29.95)% in the group A, and were (47.29 +/- 22.08)% and (23.89 +/- 22.53)% in the group B, respectively, without significant difference in comparison between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern treated with the electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy is similar to that of moxibustion box therapy. This therapy is characterized as more convenient, safer operation and less pollution.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion

Objective To investigate the effect of gender differences in distal femoral geometry on the clinical outcomes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods From March 2003 to October 2006, 213 cases with 294 osteoarthritic knees who had underwent primary TKA were involved in the study. The study included 87 men (118 knees) and 126 women (176 knees) who had a mean age of 64.4 years. All the cases were assessed with the knee-rating system of Knee Society, the knee range of flexion (ROF), corrected posterior offset (PCO) and anterior condylar offset (ACO) based on sex. Results Each patient had a Minimum of 2 years follow-up. The preoperative Knee Society scores and ROF, the two-year postoperative changes of stability scores and walking ability had no differences between the two groups. While greater improvements of postoperative pain scores and stair-climbing ability were seen in male. Men had better intraoperative ROF than women had ones, but there were no gender differences with regard to the two-year postoperative improvement of ROF. Corrected PCO decreased more markedly in female than in male. Corrected ACO decreased equally in female and male. The difference in the posterior condylar offset after TKA was statistically correlated with the change in pain scores, stair climbing ability and intraoperative ROF, respectively. Conclusion Male had a better outcome than female did after TKA. Femoral components which designed in the light of Caucasian anatomic characteristics couldn't match the native anatomy of distal femurs of Chinese female. Sexual dimorphism in humans and anatomic variations in various ethnic groups should be seriously considered in total knee prosthesis design.

Chemical constituents of ethyl acetate extract of Sapium sebiferum leaves were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods, including column chromatographies over silica gel, macroporous adsorption resin, and Sephadex LH-20, as well as preparative TLC and semi preparative HPLC. As a results, 15 compounds were separated from Sapium sebiferum leaves and their structures were examined by spectral analysis including NMR and MS data and identified as( + )-(7R,7'R,7"S,7'"S,8S,8'S,8"S,8'"S)-4", 4"'-dihydroxy-3,3',3",3',5,5'-hexamethoxy-7,9';7',9-diepoxy-4,8";4',8'"-bisoxy-8,8'-dineo-lignan-7",7"',9",9"'-tetraol(1) ,1-(4'- hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-2-[4"-(3-hydroxypropyl) -2", 6"-dimethoxyphenoxy] propane-1, 3-diol (2), Thero-2, 3-bis-(4-hydroxy-3- methoxypheyl)-3-methoxy-propanol(3) , threo-5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyphenyl propane-8,9-diol (4), boropinol B (5), threo-8S-7-methoxysyringylglycerol(6), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural(7), 5-( methoxy-methyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde (8), quercetin (9) , kaempferol (10), ethyl gallate(11), coniferaldehyde(12), vanillin(13), 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2H-1-henzopyran-2-one(14),and 1-heptacosanol (15). All compounds except for compounds 9-11,14 were separated from this plant for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Sapium ; chemistry

Breviscapine, a flavone glucuronide, is a cardiovascular medicine extracted from a Chinese herb Erigeron breviscapinus. Modern pharmacological research shows breviscapine has a therapeutic effect on cardiovascular diseases such as cerebral thrombus,cerebral ischemia hemiparesis and platelet aggregation et al. However, its poor water solubility and low bioavailability in vivo severely restrict the clinical application. In this article, we reviewed the marketing preparations of breviscapine and its research progress on the new dosage forms.
Biomedical Research ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; economics ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; economics ; Humans

The strains Dz01 and Ma4 were isolated from cadavers of Brontispa longissima(Gestro),and were confirmed to be pathogenicity to Brontispa longissima(Gestro).After microscopical observation of the morphological characters of mycelium,phialide and conidia from two isolates,they were found to be identical to Metarhizium anisopliae var anisopliae,so they were identificated as M.anisopliae var anisopliae.The Maximum Parsimony tree constructed based on the sequences of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 regions in ribosomal DNA from two isolates and 31 other isolates which represent different species or varity species of genus Metarhizium obtained from GenBank database showed that two isolates clustered together in the clade which was composed of the isolates classified as Metarhizium anisopliae var anisopliae.This provided the molecular data for the result of morphological identification of Dz01 and Ma4 isolates.

Objective To identify histopathologic correlates for the various MRI appearances of breast fibroadenomas.Methods Thirty-eight fibroadenomas in 33 patients(aged 24—57 years)examined with gadolonium-enhanced MR imaging were observed for signal intensity on T_2-weighted images,contrast enhancement,shape,and internal septation,and these findings were correlated with histopathologic findings.All cases underwent surgery and were proved by pathology.Results(1)The lesion shape was lobular,or round in 34 of 38 fibroadenomas(89.5%).(2)The signal intensity on T_1-weighted images was less than or equal to that of fibroglandular tissue in all cases.The signal intensity on T_2-weighted images was highly varible:high T_2 signal intensity was associated with more myxomatous stromal(mean myxoid-sclerotic index value of 1.9),higher stromal cellularity(mean stromal cellularity index value of 2.2); Fibroadenomas with low T_2 signal intensity had stromal that was nearly uniformly sclerotic(mean myxoid- sclerotic index values of 2.8)and low stromal cellularity(mean stromal-cellularity index value of 1.2). Significant differences were found between these two groups,x~2=11.267 and x~2=10.415(P0.05).The degree of contrast enhancement was proved to be related to ages of patients.The enhancement was more intensely in younger patients.(5)Internal septations were identified within nine of 33 enhancing fibroadenomas (27.3%)and appeared to correlated with collagenous bands at histopatholigic analysis.Conclusions Fibroadenomas demonstrate marked histopathologic variability.The resultant variability in the MR appearance correlated with the degree of myxomatous or sclerotic and stromal cellularity.Lobulation and internal septation,which appear to reflect intrinsic growth patterns of fibroadenomas,may provide more reliable information for distinction.Familiarity with the diagnostic features would facilitate to make the differential diagnosis correctly.

BACKGROUND: With the extensive application of small animal imaging and imaging studies, it requires the investigators to master the cross-sectional anatomy of mice, but the anatomy of mouse nasal cavity and sinuses cannot be obtained through vivisection.OBJECTIVE: To establish a highly precise serial colorful sectional image data set of mice using digital virtual human technology.METHODS: An adult male Balb/c mouse was killed for freezing embedded using modified Kawamoto's method and was then serially scanned at 5 μm of thickness by Leica CM3600XP cryostat microtome. The sectional images were photographed with a 24 million pixels Nikon D750 camera and stored as JPG files. All images were preliminarily registered by manually cropping the images based on the edge of block surface using software photoshop 7.0. Then, the image size, brightness and registration were corrected and adjusted, and the format of the images was unified as TIFF. The data set was imported to Amira 6.0 and was registered again with least square method. The quality of the data set was evaluated by three-dimensional reconstruction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 6034 original images with a size of 87 GB were captured. After cropping, adjusting and registration, the final size was 184 G. The mouse three-dimensional reconstruction model was satisfactory. To conclude, the data set established using the method and system mentioned above is characterized by high resolution and high-fidelity, which might facilitate the further study of the precise anatomy of mice and other fundamental experiments.

Objective To observe the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the expressions of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1), fibronectin(FN),and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in rats with diabetic nephropathy(DN), and to elucidate the protective mechanism played by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Methods DN models were estabolished by injecting streptozotoein ( STZ ) into male SD rats, which were divided into TGF-β1 overexpression group, TGF-β1 overexpression plus vitamin D3 group, TGF-β1 low-expression group, TGF-β1 low-expression plus vitamin D3 group, TGF-β1 normal-expression group, and TGF-β1 normal-expression plus vitamin D3 group. After 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 treatment for 37 days, renal function and blood biochemical parameters were evaluated. The morphology and fibrosis of kidney tissues were observed. The expressions of TGF-β1, FN, and VEGF in kidney cortex were measured by immunohistochemistry, realtime PCR, and Western blotting. Results The levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine,plasma glucose, HbA1C , and 24 h urinary protein were lower in vitamin D3treated groups than those in corresponding control groups(P<0. 05). The degree of renal fibrosis was raised with the increased level of TGF-β1. Vitamin D3 treatment decreased the fibrosis in diabetic kidney. There were significant differences in the mRNA and protein expressions of TGF-β1 in three control groups(P<0. 05). With the increased levels of TGF-β1, the expressions of FN and VEGF were increased. The expressions of TGF-β1, FN, and VEGF were lowered by vitamin D3compared with the corresponding control groups(P<0. 05). Conclusion 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 may protect the renal tissure in diabetic rats via inhibiting the expressions of TGF-β1, FN, and VEGF in the kidney.