With the development of magnetic resonance (MR) technology, the concern is focused on molecular and physiological imaging besides structural information. Ultra high field MR scanner shows great superiority. 3. 0-T MR scanners provide almost two-fold signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared with a standard 1. 5-T MR scanner. The higher baseline SNR can be converted into a variety of alternative benefits. There are still some other changes brought about by 3. 0-T, such as higher sensitivity to motion, susceptibility effect, more difference in resonant frequency among different metabolites, and so on. These features may be a double-edged sword in structural and functional imaging. But with the ceaseless progress of the technology and gains in experience, 3. 0-T systems will provide more information and show more advantages.
Animals ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; instrumentation ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; instrumentation ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Adolescent ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; abnormalities ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; etiology ; Humans ; Male

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome of external bracket fixation in the treat- ment of complex tibia diaphysis fracture involving intra-articular fractures.Methods Forty-two cases of complex tibia diaphysis fracture with proximal and distal intra-articular fractures treated surgically in our hospital from January 1999 to January 2004 were analyzed.The complex tibia diaphysis fractures were categorized according to the AO classification as type C2 (multiple segments fracture) and type C3 (ir- regular fracture),proximal and distal intra-articular fractures in 23 and 19 cases,respectively.Definite operation was done within one week.Twenty-two cases were treated with simple external fixator,and 20 cases treated with screws and external fixator.Results All the 42 cases were followed-up regularly. According to AO evaluation of the knee and ankle joint movement,83% (35/42 cases) of the cases gained satisfactory functional outcome,14% (6/42 cases) had quite satisfactory results and 2% (1/42 case) had unsatisfactory functional outcome.Conclusion External bracket fixation can obtain outcome of relative length of the tibia and fibula,tube structure reconstruction,smoothness of the articular surface and the parallel and symmetric relation of knees and ankles for complex tibia diaphysis fracture with proxi- mal and distal intra-articular fracture.The arthritis resulting in pain in movement and restriction of func- tion is considered to be the most important factor affecting the joint function.Early functional exercise is important for best recovery of knee and ankle function.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Prunella vulgaris.

METHODTo separate the constituents of P. vulgaris by using various kinds of chromatography and identify their structures on the basis of spectral analysis.

RESULTSeven compounds were isolated from the spikes of P. vulgaris. Their structures were established as autantiamide acetate (1), rhein (2), tanshinone I (3), danshensu (4), stigmast-7, 22-dien-3-one (5), 3, 4, alpha-trihydroxy-methyl phenylpropionate (6), butyl rosmarinate (7).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-4 were isolated from this genus for the first time.

Amides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Lactates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Phenanthrenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prunella ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Feiji Recipe (FR) intervening indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) induced immune escape on the murine model of Lewis lung carcinoma. Methods Totally 48 C57BL/6 mice inoculated with Lewis lung cancer cells transfected with human (enhanced green fluorescent protein,EGFP)-IDO gene were divided into four groups according to radom digit table, i.e., the model group (administered with normal saline by gastrogavage) , the Chinese medicine group (treated with FR Decoction at the daily dose of 100 mg/g by gastrogavage), the 1-methyl-D-trytaphan (1-MT) group (administered with 1-MT mixed liquor at the daily dose of 100 mg/kg by gastrogavage), and the Paclitaxel group (treated with Paclitaxel at the daily dose of 15 mg/kg by peritoneal injection), 12 in each group. The intervention was started from the 2nd day of modeling. The survival time was observed in 24 of them. Ratios of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in the spleen were detected in the rest 24 mice by flow cytometry respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the survival time was significantly prolonged in the Chinese medicine group and the 1-MT group (P < 0.01); ratios of Treg cells remarkably decreased in the Chinese medicine group, the 1-MT group, and the Paclitaxel group (P < 0. 01). Compared with the Paclitaxel group, the survival time was significantly prolonged in the Chinese medicine group and the 1-MT group (P < 0.01); ratios of Treg cells decreased significantly in the 1-MT group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFR could inhibit the proliferation of lung cancer cells and immune eseape, improve the immune function, and prolong the survival of tumor-bearing mice.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Lewis Lung ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Paclitaxel ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Objective To study the MRI findings of congenital dysosmia. Methods Forty-seven patients with congenital dysosmia (39 with Kallmann syndrome and 8 with isolated dysosmia) and 21 normal volunteers underwent MRI examination. The features of congenital malformation were recorded. The volume of olfactory bulbs, depth of olfactory sulei as well as diameters of pituitary glands and stalks were measured. The rate of dysplasia of olfactory bulbs and tracts in the two patients groups was compared with χ2 test. The difference of volume of olfactory bulbs between the two groups was evaluated with nonparametrie test. And the difference of diameters of pituitary glands and stalks was analyzed with analysis of variance. Results All the patients had abnormal findings in olfactory bulbs, tracts and/or olfactory sulci on MR images. The patterns of congenital malformation may be dysplastic or hypoplastic, symmetric or asymmetric. The proportion of patients with dysplasia of olfactory bulbs and tracts in Kallmann syndrome patients ( 31/39 ) was higher than that in isolated dysosmia ones ( 2/8 ) ( χ2= 6. 998, P = 0. 008 ), and the olfactory bulbs' volume of patients with Kallmann syndrome ( median 8 mm3 ) was smaller than that of patients with isolated dysosmia ( median 22 mm3 ) ( Z = - 2. 902, P = 0. 004 ). The pituitary glands were smaller and the stalks were thinner in patients with Kallmann syndrome than those in volunteers [ the anteroposterior diameter of pituitary glands in Kallmann syndrome (7. 22±1.93) mm, that in normal volunteers (9. 94±1.59) ram, F=16.835, P=0. 000; height of pituitary glands in Kallmann syndrome (3.71±1.74) mm, that in normal volunteers (6. 00±1.24) ram, F = 16. 092, P = 0. 000; the anteroposterior diameter of pituitary stalks in Kallmann syndrome ( 1.19±0. 55 ) mm, that in normal volunteers ( 1.88±0. 49 ) mm, F = 13.060, P =0. 000]. Conclusions In congenital dysosmic patients, dysplasia or hypoplasia of olfactory bulbs, tracts and sulei can be clearly depicted on MR images. MR imaging is valuable for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and clinical application value of selecting viable spermatozoa by noncontact diode laser.

METHODSWe obtained immotile spermatozoa from 2 infertile men with obstructive azoospermia or severe asthenospermia and selected viable spermatozoa using a single laser shot at the sperm tail. Those that responded to the laser shot by a curling reaction of the tail were regarded as presumably viable and used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

RESULTSThe mean fertilization rate was 88.89% after ICSI with the laser-selected viable spermatozoa. Both of the embryo transfers resulted in a single pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONNoncontact diode laser is a useful alternative for the assessment of sperm viability, which may help to achieve successful pregnancy.

Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Sperm Motility ; Sperm Tail ; physiology

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Gastritis ; etiology ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Olea ; chemistry ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Protective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To explore the nutritional status and determinants among rural stranded children under 7 years of age. Methods The group of stranded children (n=7585) and the children for control (n=7557) were identified by multi-stage stratified cluster sampling. The ascertainment methods mainly included questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and laboratory examination. Results In this study, there were three groups, including the group of stranded children whose single parent left home to look for better job somewhere, the group of stranded children whose parent both left home and the third group serving as control. Prevalent rates on the following items were: stunting -- 14.9%, 17.9% and 16.3%, underweight -- 7.2%, 8.3% and 7.6%, wasting -- 3.1%, 3.4% and 3.3% and anemia -- 18.9%, 20.6%, 18.7% respectively. The prevalent rate of stunting in the group of children with both parents away from home was significantly higher than that those with only one parent did. The prevalence rate of anemia in the group with both parents away from home was significantly higher than that in the control group. Based on multivariate non-conditional logistic regression analysis, the determinants of stunting among the stranded children were: age, with low birth weight, living alone, being the only child in the family, mother's education level, frequency of eating breakfast and snacks every week, motives of caretakers and the relationship between children and the caretakers. The determinants of underweight among those stranded children were: age of child, with low birth weight, the frequency of eating snacks every week, motives of the caretakers and having rickets. Conclusion The nutritional status among rural stranded children was relatively poor, especially in those whose parents were both away from home, which calls for urgent improvement.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wenyang Yiqi Huoxue Recipe (WYHR) on the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in retinal degeneration slow (RDS) mice, and to investigate its molecular mechanisms.

METHODSRDS mice were randomly divided into the model group and the Chinese medicine group,and C57BL/6J mice were selected as the normal control group. Each group consisted of 4 female mice and 2 male mice. Mice in the Chinese medicine group were administered with WYHR (10 mg/g) by gastrogavage since mating. Baby mice drunk WYHR decoction instead of drinking water once they were born. The offspring were administrated with low dose WYHR decoction by gastrogavage from the 7th postnatal day, and the dose was increased to that for adult mice from the 21st postnatal day. Physiological saline was administrated to mice in the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. At 18, 28 and 48 postnatal days, electroretinogram (ERG) was used to evaluate the retina functional variation, and the apoptotic rate of photoreceptor cells was determined by TUNEL staining. HE staining was performed. The number of photoreceptor cells of the outer nuclear layer was calculated. Furthermore, effect of WYHR on Rhodopsin and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression was examined using immunochemical assay.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, a- and b-wave latency and amplitude, as well as the bFGF expression sharply increased in the Max-ERG of the Chinese medicine group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) at 18 postnatal days. At 28 and 48 postnatal days, a- and b-wave latency and amplitude sharply increased, photoreceptor cell layer numbers of the outer nuclear layer obviously increased, the apoptosis rate of retinal photoreceptor cells obviously decreased, expressions of Rhodopsin and bFGF in the Chinese medicine group significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWYHR could effectively inhibit the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in RDS mice, which might be attributed to up-regulating bFGF expression.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate ; cytology ; drug effects ; Retinal Degeneration ; metabolism ; pathology