Objective To evaluate the effect of magnetic resonance thoracic ductography (MRTD)in the diagnosis of right thoracic duct.Methods MRTD data were analyzed retrospective,and the detection rate of right thoracic duct was summarized and compared with that of lymphoscintigraphy,direct lymphangiography and operation.Results 12 cases of right thoracic duct were detected in 1547 cases of MRTD.The detection rate was 0.78%,in which 1 case was complied with total internal organs inversion,and 1 case with right aortic arch.Lymphoscintigraphy were performed in all 12 cases and right thoracic duct were detected in 4 cases.Direct lymphangiography were performed in 4 cases and right thoracic duct were observed in all of them.7 cases of them received right lum-bar duct adhesiolysis.Conclusion MRTD is a noninvasive method for diagnosis of right thoracic duct,which providing useful guid-ance for surgical operation.Its detection rate and diagnostic accuracy are higher than those of lymphoscintigraphy.

BACKGROUNDMany studies suggest that the gamma irradiation decreases allograft strength in a dose-dependent manner. However, no study has demonstrated that this decrease in strength translates into higher failure rate in meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gamma irradiation on macroscopic and histological alterations of transplanted meniscal tissue and joint cartilage after MAT.

METHODSMedial total meniscectomies were performed on the right knees of 60 New Zealand white rabbits. All meniscal allografts were divided into three groups (20 in each group) and then sterilized with 0 Mrad, 1.5 Mrad, or 2.5 Mrad of gamma irradiation. For each group, 5 menisci were randomly chosen for scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis and the remaining 15 were prepared for MAT surgeries. Forty-five right knees received MAT surgeries (0 Mrad group, 1.5 Mrad group, 2.5 Mrad group, 15 in each group), whereas the remaining 15 only received medial meniscectomy (Meni group). The left knees of the Meni group were chosen as the Sham group (n = 15). All the rabbits were sacrificed at week 24 postoperatively. Cartilage of the medial compartment of each group was evaluated macroscopically using the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) score and then histologically using the Mankin score based on the Masson Trichrome staining.

RESULTSThe SEM analysis confirmed that the meniscal collagen fibers would be significantly damaged as the dose of gamma irradiation increased. At week 24, the overall scores of macroscopic evaluations of the transplanted meniscal tissue showed no significant differences among the three groups receiving MAT surgeries, except for 2 in the 2.5 Mrad group presented partial radial tears at midbody. The ICRS scores and the Mankin scores showed the lowest in the Sham group and the highest in the Meni group (P < 0.05). For the three groups receiving MAT surgeries, the 2.5 Mrad group showed significant higher ICRS scores and Mankin scores than both the 0 Mrad group and the 1.5 Mrad group (P < 0.05). Whereas the 1.5 Mrad group presented similar results to the 0 Mrad group concerning both the ICRS scores and the Mankin scores.

CONCLUSIONSThe current in vivo animal study proved that although the meniscal collagen fibers were damaged after gamma irradiation, the failure rate of MAT surgeries might not significantly increase if the irradiation dose was <1.5 Mrad for New Zealand white rabbits.

Animals ; Female ; Gamma Rays ; Knee Joint ; surgery ; Menisci, Tibial ; surgery ; Rabbits ; Transplantation, Homologous ; methods

Objective To evaluate the safety,effectiveness and clinical factors of re-intervention of transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS).Methods A retrospective study of safety and longterm outcomes of TIPS was made in 771 patients from August 1994 to August 2010.The 625 patients had follow-up data.The patients who received TIPS once,twice,and more than twice were divided into group 1,group 2 and group 3,respectively.Clinical symptoms,survival rate and restenosis rate of each group were analyzed.Clinical influencing factors of re-intervention effect were discussed.Results The success rate of first intervention was 98.2％ (757/771),the death rate was 0.7％ (5/757) and severe complication rate was 2.5％ (19/757).The success rate of re-intervention was 98.7％ (457/463),no death and severe complications occurred.The restenosis rate in group 3 decreased significantly than group 1 ( x2 =7.908,P ＜0.05 ) in the first year of TIPS.The restenosis rates in group 2 and group 3 were lower than group 1 from 2 to 5 years of TIPS ( x2 values were 27.046,25.724,37.002 and 19.046,respectively,P ＜ 0.05 ). The survival rate in group 3 was higher than group 1 (x2 =9.114,P＜0.05)and group 2 was higher than group 1 ( x2 =4.929,P ＜ 0.05 ) in the first year of TIPS,while there was no statistical difference between group 2 and group 3 ( x2 =2.678,P ＞ 0.05).The patients in group 2 and group 3 also had higher survival rates than group 1 from 2 to 5 years of TIPS (x2 value were 41.314,26.920,13.692 and 6.713,respectively,P ＜ 0.05 ).19.4％ (79/406)of patients who received re-intervention had symptom recurrence and shunt stenosis or occlusion. 11.6％ (47/406) of patients had symptom recurrence with portal hypertension signs,62.8％ (255/406) had shunt stenosis or occlusion with portal hypertension signs.Conclusions Restenosis or occlusion of TIPS,symptom recurrence and portal hypertension signs were important factors for re-intervention.Re-intervention of TIPS was safe and effective,and could improve the survival rate of patients with TIPS.

OBJECTIVETo study the absorption, translocation and accumulation of N, P and K on Achyranthes bidentata.

METHODThe contents of N, P and K were determined by mean of sulfuric acid-hydrogen peroxide assimilating method, vanadium-ammonium molybdate colorimetric method and flame photometric method, respectively.

RESULTThe contents of N, P and K in the plant were decreasing during the growth period. The absorption rates of the three nutrients by A. Bidentata showed double-peak curves in the whole growth period, maximum absorption rate appeared in the middle ten days of October. About 8.59 kg of N, 1.36 kg of P and 7.40 kg of K were needed to produce each 100 kg root.

CONCLUSIONThe key nutrients absorption period is in the first ten days of September and in the middle ten days of October.

Achyranthes ; metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; Phosphorus ; metabolism ; Potassium ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of HBsAg pulsed dendritic vaccination on anti-HBs production in immunosuppressed rats after liver transplantation (LT).

METHODSBrown-Norway liver allografts were transplanted into Lewis recipients. The transplanted Lewis rats were injected with EK506 (2 mg/kg) and randomly divided into two groups: rats in HBsAg-DCs group (n = 15) were intraperitoneally injected with HBsAg pulsed DCs at 14 d and 28 d after LT, and rats in the HBsAg group (n = 15) were injected with HBsAg (200 mul) once a week for 12 weeks. Rats without any immunosuppressive treatment after LT served as controls (n = 5). IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression in spleen were analyzed by RT-PCR, serum IL-2, IFN-gamma and anti-HBs were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSHigh dose of FK506 resulted in the immunosuppressed in LT rats, as evident by low production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, and without liver rejection compared to rats in the control group. HBsAg-DCs induced high titer of anti-HBs antibody, however, titer of anti-HBs were seldom detectable in the HBsAg group at 1, 2 and 3 mouth after vaccination.

CONCLUSIONThe capacity of HBsAg-DCs to induce anti-HBs in immunosuppressed rats suggested that DC vaccine may prevent HBV recurrence in liver transplanted patients.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cytokines ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Immunosuppression ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Liver Transplantation ; immunology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Secondary Prevention ; Spleen ; immunology ; metabolism

China ; ethnology ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of mutation of human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E7 in two zinc-binding motifs on HPV16 E7 C terminus on antigen-specific immunity.

METHODSpcDNA3.1/16E7 and pcDNA3.1/ME7 were successfully constructed by inserting the E7 (ME7) into pcDNA3.1 BamH I, EcoR I cut sites. After intramuscular injection with pcDNA3.1, pcDNA3.1/16E7, and pcDNA3.1/16ME7 on C57BL/6 mice, splenocytes from vaccinated mice was isolated. After have been stimulated with E7-specific peptide, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin 2 (IL-2), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) were detected by ELISA, Eli-spot, and LDH assay respectively; splenocytes without E7 peptide stimulation were used as control group.

RESULTSSplenocytes from mice vaccinated with pcDNA/ME7, stimulated with E7 peptide, generated significantly larger number of E7-specific IL-2 compared with pcDNA3.1/16E7, pcDNA3.1, and control group. The E7-specific IL-2 generated in pcDNA-ME7 group was 5-fold of that of pcDNA3.1/16E7, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Splenocytes from mice vaccinated with pcDNA/ME7 and stimulated with E7 peptide, generated significantly larger number of E7-specific IFN-gamma compared with other vaccines. pcDNA-ME7 generated a 2-fold increase in the number of E7-specific IFN-gamma compared with wild-type E7 and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The highest CTL activity in mice vaccinated with pcDNA/ME7 at an E:T ratio of 45:1 was achieved compared with mice vaccinated with other vaccines. The percents of specific lysis generated by pcDNA3.1/ME7, pcDNA3.1/E7, pcDNA3.1, and without vaccination were of (28.7+/-1.2) %, (55+/-2.2) %, (12.5+/-2.0) %, and (11.5+/-1.2) % respectively, and significant difference existed between the former and the latter two groups (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found among all the groups without specific E7 peptide stimulation (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe mutation of zinc-binding motifs on HPV16 E7 C terminus may greatly enhance the immunogenicity.

Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mutation ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; immunology ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; immunology ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology ; Viral Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology

Objective To compare the prognostic role of MRI scan,CT scan and physical check-up in the brainstem injury.Methods Twenty-one patients with craniocerebral injury,appearing disturbance of consciousness,were performed MRI scan,CT scan and physical check-up to exclude brainstern injury under airway unobstructed condition;their results were compared and analyzed.Results In all of these patients,17 showed brainstern injury symptoms.Tracheotomy was performed in 14 and decompression of cerebral contusion and removal of intracranial hematoma was performed in 7.CT examination was adopted in all the patients:low-density shadow in hrainstem region and catholicity subarachnoid hemorrhage was found in 9 and 7,respectively;gently subarachnoid hemorrhage or no obvious brainstem change was noted in 5.MRI scan showed that 15 patients were diagnosed as having brainstem injury and 6 were base of skull or hemisphere region injuries.Conclusion MRI scan,which is better than CT scan and physical check-up,can help to make a definite diagnosis in brainstem injury.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of EphA2 and EphrinA1 and its relationship with angiogenesis in renal cell carcinoma and its relevance to clinicopathologic features.

METHODSThe expression of the EphA2 and EphrinA1 was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the tissues samples from 68 renal cell carcinomas and 24 normal kidneys, and quantitatively analyzed. The microvessel density (MVD) was determined by CD34 immunostaining of microvascular endothelial cells. Statistical analysis was performed using the software SPSS (version 13.0).

RESULTSThe expression of EphA2, EphrinA1 and MND in the cancerous tissues were significantly higher (P<0.01) than that in the normal ones. Significantly increased expression of EphA2, EphrinA1 and MVD (P<0.01) was detected in cancer tissues with higher grade differentiation, more advanced stage and more lymph node metastasis, respectively (P<0.05 for each group). Expression of the EphA2 and EphrinA1 protein was shown to be positively associated with the MVD assessed by Spearman's correlation and factor analysis (r=0.555, r=0.485, P<0.01). The MVD was also significantly correlated with the diameter of the tumor (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONEphA2 and EphrinA1 are highly expressed in renal cell carcinoma, and positively correlated with histological differentiation, clinical stage and angiogenesis in the cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ephrin-A1 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptor, EphA2 ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of free graft transplantation two-stage urethroplasty for hypospadias repair.

METHODSFifty-eight cases with different types of hypospadias including 10 subcoronal, 36 penile shaft, 9 scrotal, and 3 perineal were treated with free full-thickness skin graft or (and) buccal mucosal graft transplantation two-stage urethroplasty. Of 58 cases, 45 were new cases, 13 had history of previous failed surgeries. Operative procedure included two stages: the first stage is to correct penile curvature (chordee), prepare transplanting bed, harvest and prepare full-thickness skin graft, buccal mucosal graft, and perform graft transplantation. The second stage is to complete urethroplasty and glanuloplasty.

RESULTSAfter the first stage operation, 56 of 58 cases (96.6%) were successful with grafts healing well, another 2 foreskin grafts got gangrened. After the second stage operation on 56 cases, 5 cases failed with newly formed urethras opened due to infection, 8 cases had fistulas, 43 (76.8%) cases healed well.

CONCLUSIONSFree graft transplantation two-stage urethroplasty for hypospadias repair is a kind of effective treatment with broad indication, comparatively high success rate, less complications and good cosmatic results, indicative of various types of hypospadias repair.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Male ; Mouth Mucosa ; transplantation ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Skin Transplantation ; Treatment Outcome ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male ; methods