OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical application of susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (SWAN) in lacunar cerebral infarction imaging.

METHODSForty-two cases of lacunar cerebral infarction, including 18 complicated by high blood pressure, 4 by type 2 diabetes and 12 by both high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, underwent examinations with SWAN and conventional MRI sequences (including GRE sequence T(1) and T(2), T(2) gradient echo, T(2) FLAIR, DWI). The imaging data were analyzed in comparison with the clinical data of the patients.

RESULTSIn 23 patients with lacunar cerebral infarction, intracerebral micro-hemorrhage displayed point-like, round and oval low signal on SWAN. A total of 123 lesions were identified, distributing from the cortical, subcortical, basal ganglia, thalamus, brain stem to the cerebellum. The conventional sequences were more sensitive in detecting the majority of lacunar cerebral infarction than SWAN, while the latter showed better performance in displaying cerebral micro-hemorrhage, tiny blood vessels and small vascular malformations as well as other small vascular diseases. SWAN was superior to other sequences in showing lacunar cerebral infarction complicated by cerebral micro-hemorrhages.

CONCLUSIONMRI SWAN can better display lacunar cerebral infarction associated with cerebral micro-hemorrhages and small veins in the infract region. Identification of the micro-hemorrhages in lacunar cerebral infarction can be critical in determining the proper treatments. Patients with lacunar cerebral infarction are likely to have cerebral micro-hemorrhages in close relation to the number of lacunar infarction sites. The cerebral micro-hemorrhages and lacunar cerebral infraction are both signs of micro-vessel damage of the brain.

Aged ; Cerebral Infarction ; classification ; complications ; diagnosis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of extracted liquid from Qianlietongyu on the proliferation or apoptosis on prostatic smooth muscle cells in vitro.

METHODSAfter extracted liquid from Qianlietongyu treated the cultured prostatic smooth muscle cells, the anti proliferative and apoptotic indices were assessed by MTT assy and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) respectively.

RESULTSThere was a significant dose-effect relationship between the concentration of extracted liquid from Qianlietongyu and the antiproliferative index on prostatic smooth muscle cells in vitro (P < 0.01), but there was no markedly difference in the apoptosis index between the group of extracted liquid from Qianlietongyu and control group ( P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONExtracted liquid from Qianlietongyu may show significant antiproliferative effect on prostatic smooth muscle cells in vitro, without inducing apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Prostate ; cytology ; drug effects