Objective To characterize the ocular findings on MRI in patients with Vagt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (VKHS)and its value for diagnosis. Methods The MRI findings of eyes in 14 patients (7 males, 7 females, age ranged 10-62 years) with VKHS were retrospectively analyzed. Results Choriodai thickening was found bilaterally in all 14 patients with isointense signal on T2 and T1 weighted images. Exudative retinal detachment was found in 6 patients (12 eyes) and 5 cases (10 eyes) showed abnormal thickening and enhancement of iris. Two cases were accompanied with optic neuritis. Homogeneous enhancement of lesions after administration of gadopentetate was observed in 11 patients. Conclusion M RI can characterize the ocular lesions and their extent in patients with VKHS, which makes MRI as a useful method to diagnosis and the follow-up of these patients.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical outcomes rating scale for heart failure (HF) based on patients' report.

METHODSTCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF (TCM-HF-PRO) were evaluated based on 340 HF patients' report from multiple centers. The completion of the investigation was recorded. Cronbach's α coefficient and split-half reliability were used for reliability analysis, and factor analysis was used to assess the construct validity of the rating scale. Pearson correlation analysis was then used for criterion validity analysis. Discriminant analysis was used to assess the responsiveness of the scale. All 340 HF patients having complete TCM-HF-PRO data were assigned to the treatment group and the control group by central randomization. The total TCM-HF-PRO scores of the two groups were compared using paired t-test to reflect the longitude responsiveness of the scale before treatment and at week 2 after treatment.

RESULTS(1) The recycling rate of the scale was 100.0%. One of them was not filled completely, which was rejected thereby. So the completion rate was 99.7%. The completion time for TCM-HF-PRO scale ranged 15 to 25 min. (2) The Cronbach's α coefficient of rating scale was 0.903, split-half reliability was 0.844 and 0.849. (3) Confirmatory factor analysis showed that 7 factors and items formed according to maximum load factor basically coincided with the construct of the rating scale, 7 factors accumulated contribution rate was 43.8%. TCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF based on patients' report was relatively better correlated with the Minnesota living with HF questionnaire (r = 0.726, P < 0.01). (4) Discriminant analysis showed that the rating scale correctly classified more than 78.8% of case studies having confirmed initial differential diagnosis by experts. The total scale of the rating scale decreased more in the two group after treatment, with significant difference as compared with before treatment (P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONTCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF based on patients' report had good reliability, validity and responsiveness, hence it could be used to assess clinical efficacy for HF patients.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Discriminant Analysis ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To study the CT and MR characteristic features of the respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma of olfactory clefts. Methods (1)The CT and MRI findings of 29 patients with histologically proved respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma in the olfactory clefts were retrospectively reviewed.All patients underwent CT and 8 of them underwent MRI. Location, CT and MRI features, and associated findings of the disease were reviewed;(2)The CT findings, olfactory clefts width, total nasal distance, and the ratio of OC to the total nasal distance of the case patients (29 cases) and the control patients (33 patients with sinusitis) were compared to investigate the correlation of the olfactory clefts distance and the incidence of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma in olfactory clefts. Results All patients were associated with sinusitis, and 23 had sinonasal polyps, 1 had papilloma. On nonenhanced CT, the OC lesions with the OC widening were isodense to gray matter in all cases, and the lesions caused the adjacent bony expansion and absorption rather than erosion; 15 cases were bilateral diseases and 14 were unilateral;The olfactory clefts width of the case patients and the control patients were (1.03±0.24) cm, (0.71± 0.17) cm, respectively. There was statistically significant difference (t=4.963, P<0.01) for the olfactory clefts width between the case patients and the control patients, and there was no significant difference (t=1.640, P>0.05) for the total nasal distance, and was significant difference(t=6.029,P<0.01)in the ratio of OC to the total nasal distance between the two groups. On T1WI, the disease appeared isointense in 6 patients and slightly hypointense in 2 patients compared with gray matter. On T2WI, the lesions revealed heterogeneous isointense in all patients. Regular cribriform pattern was found on MR T2WI and enhanced TlWI. Conclusions The unilateral or bilateral olfactory cleft opacification in chronic sinusitis patients with or without sinonasal polyposis, with involved OC widening and the adjacent bony walls compressed and remodeled may highly suggests the presence of REAH in the OC. The lesions showed inhomogeneous isointense signal on T2WI images, regular cribriform pattern enhancement are typical imaging feature of this entity.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Vulvar Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

The changes of kernel nutritive components and seed vigor in F1 seeds of sh2 sweet corn during seed development stage were investigated and the relationships between them were analyzed by time series regression (TSR) analysis. The results show that total soluble sugar and reducing sugar contents gradually declined, while starch and soluble protein contents increased throughout the seed development stages. Germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index gradually increased along with seed development and reached the highest levels at 38 d after pollination (DAP). The TSR showed that, during 14 to 42 DAP, total soluble sugar content was independent of the vigor parameters determined in present experiment, while the reducing sugar content had a significant effect on seed vigor. TSR equations between seed reducing sugar and seed vigor were also developed. There were negative correlations between the seed reducing sugar content and the germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index, respectively. It is suggested that the seed germination, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index could be predicted by the content of reducing sugar in sweet corn seeds during seed development stages.
Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Germination ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Zea mays ; chemistry ; growth & development

AIM AND METHODSThe effect of intrahippocampal microinjection of noradrenaline (NA) and its receptors antagonists and agonists on cellular immune functions were investigated in normal and adrenalectomy rat by determine the proliferative activity of Con A-stimulated splenic lymphocytes in MTT method and natural killer (NK) cell activity.

RESULTS(1) In normal group, the proliferative activity of Con A-Stimulated splenic lymphocytes were inhibited and the activity of NK cell were reduced with microinjection NA and beta1-, beta2-adrenergic receptor agonists Dobutamine (Dob, 4 microl, 6.0 x 10(-3) moL/L), Metaproterenol (Met, 4 microl, 8.0 x 10(-3) mol/L), compared with their intensity of effect, NA > Met > Dob; the immunosuppression effect induced by NA was partly hindered by alpha- and beta-receptor antagonists, phentolamine (Phen, 2 microl, 1.6 x 10(-2) mol/L) and propranolol (Prop, 2 microl, 1.6 x 10(-3) mol/L), and the action of Prop was more evident. (2) In adrenalectomy group, immunosuppression effect induced by NA was unconspicuous.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that NA in hippocampus could inhibit distinctly cellular immune functions, which was predominantly mediated by beta2- adrenergic receptor with a minor contribution of beta1- and alpha- adrenergic receptors. Moreover, keeping intact construction and function of adrenal gland have an important role in the effect of NA on cellular immune function.

Adrenergic Agonists ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; Immunity, Cellular ; drug effects ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Microinjections ; Norepinephrine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology

Objective To study a rare CT finding of pulsatile tinnitus(FT)caused by sigmoid sinus abnormalities.Methods The imaging data of PT caused by sigmoid sinus abnormalities were analyzed retrospectively in 15 patients(15 female).The median age was 45 years(24 to 63 years).The duration of persistence pulsatile tinnitus was from 0.5 year to 36.0 years(median time,2.0 years).The tinnitus was at left side in 5 patients and right side in 10 patients.Fifteen patients underwent HRCT of the temporal bone.Of them,12 patients underwent cerebral CT angiography and CT venogram(CTA/CTV),and 9 patients underwent cerebral digital subtraction angiography(DSA).Nine patients underwent transmastoid reconstruction surgery of the sigmoid sinus.Of them,the tinnitus was at left side in 2 patients and right side in 7 patients.Paired rank sum test was used to compare the cross-sectional area of the sigmoid sinus of the tinnitus side and normal side.Results On HRCT,focal bony coarse defect is shown in the anterior sigmoid wall in 11 patients and anterolateral sigmoid wall in 4 patients.On CTA/CTV,the sigmoid sinus focally protruded into the adjacent mastoid air cells and formed diverticulum in 10 patients.The pulsatile tinnitus disappeared immediately after transmastoid reconstruction surgery of the sigmoid sinus in all 9 patients.The cross-sectional area of the sigmoid sinus of the tinnitus side was 100.6(41.5-96.2)mm~2,it was 77.0(92.1-122.4)mm~2 in the nonmal side(Z=2.158,P=0.031).Conclusion Focal bony defect of the sigmoid wall with sigmoid sinus diverticula is one of the causes which lead to pulsatile tinnitus,which can be easily identified by imaging examination.

Objective To analyze the diseases responsible for ophthalmoplegia and determine the optimal technique identifying the lesions. Methods CT and MR imaging findings of 1376 patients with ophthalmoplegia were analyzed. The total positive rate and ratio of the diseases causing ophthalmoplegia were calculated. The efficiency of various methods and sequences was compared in the evaluation of cavernous sinus inflammation and other lesions. Multi-paired samples Friedman test was used to compare five kinds of images from different methods and sequences, and Wilcoxon test was used to compare between every two kinds of images. Results The total positive rate was 91.9% (1264/1376). In 50 patients who underwent both CT and MRI, the positive rate of MRI (92. 0% ,46/50) was higher than that of CT (48.0% ,24/50)(Z = -4. 8, P ＜ 0. 01). There were 552 cases (43.7%) of cavernous sinus lesions, 518 cases (41.0%)of extraocular muscle diseases, 108 cases (8. 5%) of cranio-orbital communicating lesions and 86 patients (6. 8%) of other lesions. The five kinds of images from various methods and sequences had significant difference in the detection of 283 cavernous sinus inflammation (χ2 = 1047. 1, P ＜ 0. 01) cases. Transverse T1WI with thin slice thickness[(2. 71 ± 0. 69)scores]was better than that with thick slice thickness [(1.67 ± 0. 64) scores], contrast transverse T1 WI with thin slice thickness[(3.92 ± 0. 27) scores]was better than transverse T2WI with thick slice thickness, transverse T1WI and coronal T1 WI with thin slice thickness[(3. 10 ± 0. 39) scores]. Coronal T1 WI with thin slice thickness was better than transverse T1 WI with thin slice thickness and transverse T2WI, and the contrast coronal T1WI with thin slice thickness [(3.95 ± 0. 22) scores]was better than transverse T, WI with thin slice thickness, transverse T2 WI and coronal T1WI (P ＜0. 01 separately). The positive rate of enhanced MRI (100% ,39/39) was higher than that of nonenhanced MRI (82. 1% ,32/39) (Z = - 2. 1, P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusion CT and MRI can show the lesions responsible for ophthalmoplegia. MRI is the best examination method in displaying these lesions.

Objective To evaluate the application of western blot in treponema pallidum antibody screening among blood donors.Methods Through standard blood liquidation of syphilis,the sensitivity and specificity of two kinds of TP -ELISA regents and one TPPA regent were evaluated.TP -WB was used to test 279 positive specimens with TP -ELISA,and the correlation between test results of the two methods and the distribution characteristics of WB bands were analyzed. Results The sensitivity of the two kinds of TP -ELISA reagent was 1 00.00%,while the specificity were 92.86% and 85.71 % respectively.At the same,the sensitivity of TPPA reagent was 88.46%,while the specificity was 1 00.00%.In 279 positive specimens with TP -ELISA method,WB confirmed positive was 21 6,positive rate was 77.42%;Including S /Co value >5 and two kinds of ELISA reagent testing both positive specimens were 205,the WB confirmation test positive rate was 1 00.00%,accounted for 99.91 % in 21 6 WB positive samples.Orderly Logistic regression analysis,the method of ELISA S /Co value >5 and double reagent is positive,had statistical correlation with test positive for WB,respectively(P <0.01 );21 6 TP -WB positive specimens WB banding distribution analysis,TP1 7 belt with syphilis antibody IgM,TP1 5 belts and IgG +IgMand IgG exist statistical correlation respectively(P <0.01 ).Conclusion ELISA method of double reagent positive and S /Co value >5 specimens of the basic can be diagnosed with syphilis,WB test with positive results for blood donation member state judgment has guiding significance.

OBJECTIVETo establish the method for cotransferring human A20 gene and human heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene into the isolated rat islets using lentiviral transfection system, and to study the protective effect of A20 and HO-1 protein against the apoptosis induced by cycloheximide (CHX) and TNF-α, and finally to explore the underlying mechanism.

METHODThe A20 gene and HO-1 gene were cloned and inserted into the lentiviral transfection system. The efficacy of gene transfer was measured by the intensity of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fluorescence-positive islets. Western blot was applied to verify the expression of the A20 and HO-1 genes. To induce apoptosis in vitro, the isolated islets were treated with CHX+TNF-α, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and the fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) methods were used to evaluate the apoptosis of the islet cells and Western blot was used to detect caspase-3 activation.

RESULT(1) A20 and HO-1 genes were introduced into the isolated islets by lentiviral transfection, both of the genes were highly expressed in the islets after 96 hours culture detected by Western blot method. (2) The insulin levels in the cell culture medium from A20 and/or HO-1 transgenic islets were significantly higher than that in non-transgenic controls (P < 0.01). (3)After CHX + TNF-alpha treatment, the cell culture medium insulin concentration in the A20 gene transfected group [(93.58 ± 4.12)µg/ml], HO-1 gene transfected group [(88.98 ± 4.77) µg/ml ] and A20/HO-1 co-transfected group [(103.33 ± 3.16) µg/ml] were significantly higher than that in the EGFP group [(9.03 ± 0.65) µg/ml ] and the control group [(8.86 ± 0.38) µg/ml] (P < 0.001). Minimum expression level of the activated caspase-3 was found in the A20/HO-1 co-transfected group.

CONCLUSIONThe lentiviral gene transfer system was an efficient and stable gene transfer vector, the over-expressed A20 and HO-1 protein delivered via lentivirus could preserve rats' islets function and act against the apoptosis induced by CHX and TNF-α.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Genetic Vectors ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Islets of Langerhans ; drug effects ; enzymology ; physiology ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Male ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transfection ; methods ; Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-Induced Protein 3 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology