Objective To compare the usefulness of contrast-enhanced T1 high resolution isotropic volume excitation (THRIVE) sequence and fat-saturated TSE sequence in detection of spinal metastases.Methods Thirty-one consecutive patients with spinal metastases were recruited.All patients received post-contrast TSE T1WI followed by a fat-suppressed THRIVE sequence.The number of lesions,SNR and CNR for both sequences,and the scoring of image quality concerning motion-artifact and tumor conspicuity were compared.Results Acquisition time of the post-contrast TSE T1W sequence and the THRIVE sequence was 2 min 55 s and 33 s,respectively.No significant difference was found in the number of lesions detected between the two sequences (Z=-0.816,P=0.414).The SNR (432.54±271.60) and CNR (233.27± 197.65) of the THRIVE sequence were significantly lower than the SNR (674.32±375.79) and CNR (312.38±207.49) of the TSE T1W sequence respectively (t=-4.366,-2.660,P＜0.001,0.012).Tumor conspicuity of the post-contrast TSE sequence was better than that of THRIVE sequence (Z=-4.082,P＜0.001),while the motion-artifact in TSE sequence was more severe (Z=2.291,P=0.022).Conclusion The post-contrast THRIVE sequence is capable of decreasing acquisition time and motion-artifact.Besides,its detected efficacy is equal to that of TSE sequence.There is practical possibility to replace the conventional post-contrast TSE T1WI sequence with the THRIVE sequence in the imaging of spinal metastases.

Background The reduced glutathione(GSH) is a water soluble antioxidant in retina and it is an important component of thiol.Diabetes induce the oxidative response of retina.It is very important to detect the content of thiol in retina for the evaluation of its antioxidant role.Objective This study was to investigate the effect of carnosine,aspirin and a combination of carnosine and aspirin eye drops on the change of the thiol contents in the retina of the diabetic rats. Methods Diabetic models were induced in 76 clean male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(65 mg/kg).The 0.02 mi sodium citrate buffer was injected in 12 control rats.1%camosine eye drops or 0.05%aspirin eye drops were topically administered respectively in carnosine group (19 rats)or aspirin group(19 rats)two times per day for a period of 8 weeks,and the combination of 1%carnosine eye drops and 0.05%aspirin eye drops was used in the combination group at the same way(19 rats).At the end of 8 weeks.The animMs were sacrificed and the eyeballs were enucleated for the detect of thiols in the retina by colorimetry.Results The body weight of SD rats was significantly reduced and the blood glucose level was evidently arose in model group,camosine group and aspirin group in comparison with control group(P＜0.05),but those of combination group compared with control group was insignificantly changed(P＞0.05).The level of thiol in retina was(1 90.35+46.62)ms/gprot in model group,showing a considerable decrease in comparison with control (202.77+53.49 ms/gprot)(P＜0.05).However,the thiol level rose to(378.40±165.06)mg/gprot in camosine group and(351.88±211.62)mg/gprot in aspirin group,showing a statistically significant difference in comparison with control group(P＜0.05).The content of thiol in combination group compared with control group Was insignificant changed(166.972±50.287 mg/gprot us 202.77±53.49 mg/gprot).Curiously the levels in the combination group were not different from the normal control group. Conclusion The carnosine and aspirin eye drops may protect the retina against the oxidative damage caused by diabetes.

Objective To investigate the peripheral blood Th17 and CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cell levels and their correlations in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC).Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 30 PHC patients and 25 healthy controls in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University from June 2008 to May 2009.Mononuclear cells were isolated and the Th17 and CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells were detected by flow cytometry and compared between patients and controls by t test.Spearman test was performed to analyze the correlation of Th17 with CD4 + CD25 +regulatory T cell concentrations.Results The levels of Th17 and CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in peripheral blood in healthy controls were (2.10 ± 0.87) ％ and (7.10 ± 2.32) ％ ; while those in PHC patients were (3.38±1.68)％ and (11.78±5.62)％ (t=3.640 and 4.162,P＜0.01).The level of Th17 cells was positively associated with that of CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in PHC patients (r =0.821,P ＜0.01).Conclusion The levels of Th17 and CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in peripheral blood are high in PHC patients and positively correlated with each other,which indicates that CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells may contribute to the disease progression and pathogenesis of carcinoma through inducing Th17 cells differentiation.

Objective To evaluate the value of plastic-embedded bone marrow (BM ) biopsy sections in diagnosing myelodysplas-tic syndrome(MDS) .Methods HGF and Gomori stained .Glycol methacrylate(GMA) embedded BM biopsy specimens were detec-ted from 125 MDS patients with 25 cases in good health as control .Dyshematopoiesis and abnormal stroma cell responses were se-lected as main observed projects .Results Bone marrow biopsy sections gave an exact assessment of cellularity ,19 cases (15 .2% ) showed a decrease of cellularity as hypocellular MDS .66 cases(52 .8% ) of these cases did show abnormal localization of erythro-blastic clusters ,biopsy of 64(62% ) of low risk group 103 cases did show abnormal localization of immature precursors such as blasts and promyelocytes(ALIP positive) .Numeration of megakaryocytes and mast cells within 1mm2 acre of BM tissue were all much in MDS group than in control group .Gomori′s stain revealed moderate increase in reticulin fibres in 65 cases ,10 cases(8 .0% ) showed degree of myelofibrosis were + + + as hyperfibrotic MDS .Among 125 cases ,33 cases(26 .4% ) of bone marrow biopsies showed different types of erythrocytic and granulocytic immature cells with unusual intrasinusoidal bone marrow infiltration .Con-clusion It is clear that GMA embedded BM biopsy section is helpful in making diagnosis of MDS ,and has important clinical appli-cation value .

Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Neoplasms ; complications ; Palliative Care ; methods ; Quality of Life

Objective To analyze the clinical and pathologic features in patients with ldiopathic cytopenia of undetermined signif-icance (ICUS) ,and provide the diagnostic basis .Methods 10 ICUS patients who did not fulfil minimal diagnostic criteria for MDS but suffered from constant (>6 months) progressive cytopenia ,with no marked dysplasia (<10% in three-major cell lineages) and abnormal karyotype were reported .Results 2 of 10 patients transited to MDS ,bone marrow review showed that ≥2 cells appeared diagnostic pathology development .Karyotype analysis showed that 1 case was still normal ,1 case lost a normal chromosome 20 (20q-) ,the rest 8 cases had been efollowed up for 6 to 25 months and still maintain ICUS .Conclusion Patients with MDS who fail to meet the diagnostic criteria of ICUS ,must carry out regular follow-up .There are some patients can transition to public MDS after a certain incubation period ,in fact it is Pre-MDS or MDS-early before ,which shows that ICUS should cause clinical attention ,so that avoid missed diagnosis .

Objective To investigate the value of ultrasound examination in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Methods Emergency abdominal ultrasound examination was performed on 152 children who had clinically suspected acute appendicitis. Results Sixty-three children were diagnosed as acute appendicitis by ultrasound . Among them, fifty-nine children had emergency appendectomy; the other 4 had delayed appendectomy six months after conservative therapy for appendiceal mass. All of the diagnoses were confirmed to be correct by pathologis examination . Among the other 89 children, the diagnosis was luteinic rupture in 4, choledochal cyst in 2, omental cyst in 1, hydronephrosis in 1, and nephrolithiasis in 1. Eighty of them were diagnosed as mesenteric lymphadenitis and treated conservatively. Seventy-six of these eighty children recovered , and appendectomy was performed on four patients. In two of them the diagnosis was suppurative appendicitis, and in two, the diagnosis was simple appendicitis. Conclusions Combined with consideration of the symptoms and signs, ultrasound is valuable in the diagnosis of appendicitis.

Adult ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; CD3 Complex ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; immunology ; pathology ; Ki-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymphoma ; immunology ; pathology ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; immunology ; pathology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the protection of high intensity microwave radiation on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) activity and hippocampal CA1 structure in rats and the protectiveeffect of Qindan Granule (QG) on radiation injured rats.

METHODSTotally 48 Wistar rats were randomlydivided into 8 groups, i.e., the normal control group, post-radiation day 1, 7, and 10 groups, 7 and 10days prevention groups, day 7 and 10 treatment groups, 6 in each group. Rats in prevention groups wererespectively administered with QG liquid (1 mL/100 g, 4. 75 g crude drugs) for 7 days and 10 days bygastrogavage and then microwave radiation. Then preventive effect for radiation injury was statisticallycalculated with the normal control group and the post-radiation day 1 group. Rats in treatment groupswere firstly irradiated, and then administered with QG liquid (1 mL/100 g, 4.75 g crude drugs). Finally preventive effect for radiation injury was statistically calculated with the normal control group, post-radiation day 7 and 10 groups. Contents of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), beta endorphin (beta-EP), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were detected. Morphological changes and structure of hippocampal CA1 region were observed under light microscope.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, contents of CRH and beta-EP significantly decreased in each radiation group. Serum contents of ACTH and beta-EP significantly increased in post-radiation day 1 and 7 groups (P < 0.05). Compared with radiation groups, beta-EP content in serum and pituitary significantly increased, and serum ACTH content significantly decreased in prevention groups (P < 0.05). Pituitary contents of CRH and beta-EP significantly increased in prevention groups. Serum contents of ACTH, beta-EP, and HSP70 were significantly lower in day 7 treatment group than post-radiation day 7 group (P < 0.05). Morphological results showed that pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region arranged in disorder, with swollen cells, shrunken and condensed nucleus, dark dyeing cytoplasm, unclear structure. Vessels in partial regions were dilated with static blood; tissues were swollen and sparse. In prevention and treatment groups pathological damage of hippocampal CA1 region was obviously attenuated; neurons were arranged more regularly; swollen, pycnotic, or deleted neuron number were decreased; vascular dilatation and congestion was lessened.

CONCLUSIONQG could affect HPAA function and activity of high intensity microwave radiated rats, showing certain preventive and therapeutic effects of microwave radiated rats by adjusting synthesis and release of partial bioactive peptides and hormones in HPAA, improving pathological injury in hippocampal CA1 region.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; blood ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; beta-Endorphin ; blood ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ursolic acid (UA) on the alloxan-induced myocardial fibrosis in mice and discuss the possible mechanism.

METHODSDiabetes was produced by a single injection of alloxan (70 mg/kg, i.v.) in mice. The mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model group, ursolic acid group (UA, 35 mg/kg, p.o.) and benazepril group (5 mg/kg, p. o.), and continuous administrated for 8 weeks. The blood glucose was measured 24 hours after the last administration. Detected the specific biochemical of myocardial tissue: superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyproline(HYP). Using masson staining to observe the morphology of the myocardial tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the protein levels of TGF-beta1.

RESULTSCompared to normal group, the blood glucose, heart index, myocardial tissue MDA, HYP level were increased, and SOD activities were decreased in the diabetic mice, Masson stain showed that myocardial cells disarranged, myocardial collagen fibrosis hyperplasia. Meanwhile, the protein expression of TGF-beta1 was increased in model group. The UA group improved all the above significantly.

CONCLUSIONUA improves the myocardial collagen fibrosis in diabetic mice induced by alloxan, its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the expression of TGF-beta1 and antioxidation.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibrosis ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology