Objective To study the helical CT dual-phase feature of peripheral enhancement in small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC) and to evaluate its correlation with the histopathology. Methods The helical CT dual-phase feature of peripheral enhancement in SHCC was analyzed in 17 cases with 18 lesions, all the lesions were confirmed by operation and histopathology. Results In 17 lesions, peripheral enhancement ring of the lesions wasn′t intact, the thickness of peripheral enhancement ring wasn′t uniform, and small nodular enhancement was found inside the peripheral enhancement ring in hepatic arterial phase (HAP). In 1 lesion, the peripheral enhancement ring of the lesion was intact and the thickness of peripheral enhancement ring was uniform in HAP. The density of the peripheral enhancement ring and the small nodular enhancement decreased to hypodense or isodense than the normal liver parenchyma in portal venous phase. Pathologic pattern: 16 lesions were trabecular type and 2 lesions were scirrhous type. The differentiation of the tumor cell was grade I in 2 lesions, grade Ⅱ in 14 lesions, grade Ⅲ in 1 lesion, and grade Ⅳ in 1 lesion, respectively. In 12 lesions, the vessels were richer in the lesion border than that in the lesion center. In 6 lesions, the vessels were less rich in both center and border. In 3 lesions, the pseudo-capsule was showed in the border of the lesion. In 10 lesions, the flecks of necrosis were demonstrated in the border and/or center of the lesion. Conclusion The helical CT dual-phase feature of peripheral enhancement in SHCC is characteristic, and SHCC might be distinguished from other hepatic diseases with peripheral enhancement.

Objective To study the helical CT dual-phase enhancement manifestation of the hypodense small hepatocellular carcinoma, and to evaluate its correlation with the histopathology. Methods The CT signs and its histopathologic changes were analyzed in 25 cases with 27 hypodense lesions in helical CT dual-phase enhancement. All the lesions were confirmed as small hepatocellular carcinoma by operation and histopathology. Results (1) On unenhanced scan, 16 lesions were with obscure borders and 11 lesions were with well-delineated borders. On enhanced scan, only 7 lesions were with obscure borders and the other 20 lesions were with well-delineated borders, and their contours were slightly irregular. (2) On unenhanced scan, 18 lesions showed homogeneous hypodensity and 9 lesions showed heterogeneous hypodensity. On enhanced scan, only 6 lesions showed homogeneous hypodensity and the other 21 lesions showed heterogeneous hypodensity with multiple flecks of more hypodense areas. Conclusion The helical CT dual-phase enhancement characteristic manifestations of hypodense small hepatocellular carcinoma were as follows: the border of the lesion was obscure on unenhanced scan, however the border of the lesion became well-delineated and slightly irregular, and there were multiple flecks of more hypodense areas in the lesions after enhancement. This might be an important character in distinguishing hypodense small hepatocellular carcinoma from other hypodense diseases in the liver.

Objective To compare the effectiveness and safety of Foley catheter(FC)and vaginal prostaglandin E2 suppository(PGE2,Propess)for cervical ripening and labor induction in fullterm pregnant women with unfavorable cervix.Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted.Women with a term or post-term,live,singleton fetus in cephalic presentation,intact membranes,Bishop score＜6,not in labor,medically indicated for labor induction from June 2009 to December 2009 in Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School were randomly divided into two groups:FC group(n=64)and Propess group(n=62).In FC group,a 16-F Foley catheter was inserted into patient's cervical canal; once past the internal os,the balloon was inflated with 80 ml saline.Intravenous oxytocin was initiated after the balloon was spontaneously extruded from the cervix or after 24 hours.In Propess group,vaginal Propess was used.x2 or Fisher's exact test and t test were used to compare the outcomes,delivery mode and induction success rate between the two groups.Results There were no significant differences in gestational weeks,Bishop score,indication of induction,improvement of Bishop score,success rate of induction,rate of vaginal delivery,total duration of labor and volume of postpartum hemorrhage between the two groups(P ＞ 0.05,respectively).Propess group had a higher rate of vaginal birth within 24 hours[56.5％(35/62)vs 28.1％(18/64),t=10.37,P＜0.05],a higher risk for excessively frequent and hard uterine contraction[17.7％(11/62)vs 0.0％(0/64),P＜0.05]and lower incidence of oxytocin induction/augmentation during labor[21.0％(13/62)vs 87.5％(56/64),x2 =56.27,P＜0.05]than those of FC group.There were no differences in neonatal Apgar score,meconium staining and neonatal birth weight between the two groups.Puerperal infection occured in neither group.Conclusions Under strict control of indication and aseptic manipulation,Foley catheter was as effective and safe as Propess for cervical ripening with lower risk of excessive uterine activity.It is suggested that Foley catheter could be used for cervical ripening,especially in patients with economic difficulty.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between CD200~+CK7~+ trophoblasts and the resorption of embryos in a poly (I∶C)-induced abortion model. METHODS: The status of CD200 expression was investigated in Balb/c?C57BL/6 and Balb/c?Balb/c mice as induced model of embryo-resorption by an i.p. injection of poly (I∶C). CD200 expression on CK7~+ cells from placentas was detected with flow cytometry. CD200~+ cells in placenta were observed with immunocytochemical staining. RESULTS: Both the percentage and absolute number of CD200~+CK7~+ cells were dramatically decreased by injection of poly (I∶C) in Balb/c?C57BL/6 (6.3%?6.2% vs 36.1%?9.3%, P

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) targeted treatment has been a standard therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but it is not tolerated well by all patients. In China, some studies have reported that traditional Chinese medicinal herbs (TCMHs) may increase efficacy and reduce toxicity when combined with EGFR-TKI, but outside of China few studies of this kind have been attempted.

Three kinds of fortified biscuits and bread were given as breakfast for 5 months to 106 preschool children 4-6 years old lodged in a kindergarten, with a control group taking common biscuits and bread without fortification. 6 g protein and 160 kcal were supplied by 50 g of fortifed foods in which 0.25 g lysine, 0.25 g lysine and 0.8 mg riboflavin, and cod liver oil and calcium in addition to lysine and riboflavin were fortified respectively. The results showed that a diet with intake of 2.1 g protein and 71 kcal/kg body weight fortified on the average by 228 mg lysine or 228 mg lysine and 1.1 mg riboflavin increased the monthly increment of body weights, heights, and urinary excretions of creatinine per day. There was also a tendency of improvement, in nitrogen retention. The urinary excretion of riboflavin in load test was increased in the group taking the second kind of fortified foods.

AIM: To address whether the analysis of CD45~+CD86~+ cells isolated from para-aortic lymph nodes (PLNs) is valuable in assessment of the status of local immunity at the feto-maternal interface. METHODS: CBA/J?DBA/2, virgin CBA/J, and CBA/J?BALB/c mice were used as an abortion-prone model (group A), non-pregnant controls (group N), and fertile controls (group F), respectively. The percentage of CD45~+CD86~+ cell in the CD45~+ cell group (CD45~+CD86~+ percentage for short) and the absolute number of these cells were determined with flow cytometry (FCM), using mononuclear cells isolated from PLNs collected on day 5.5, 9.5, and 13.5 of gestation, respectively, and mononuclear cells from placentas on day 13.5 of gestation. To clarify the identity of these CD86~+ cells, FCM was also performed with CD3, CD19 and DX5 as markers for T cells, B cells, and NK cells, respectively. RESULTS: Both resorption rate and absolute number of resorption were significantly higher in group A (29.3%, 1.8?1.0) than those in group F (4.8%, 0.3?0.5, P

AIM: To investigate the effect of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) gene transfection on the cell cycle distribution of primary cultured human chondrocytes in order to establish a tracking method of cultured human nasoseptal chondrocytes. METHODS: pEGFP-N1 plasmid was amplified in E.coli, and purified by high purity kit. Primary cultured human chondrocytes,which were initially obtained from the nasoseptal cartilage, were cultured in vitro and transferred with pEGFP-N1 by means of electroporation with Amaxa nucleofector device. Transfering process and transient expression were evaluated by laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM), the transfer efficiency and the cell cycle distribution were evaluated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: There was significant expression of EGFP at 24 h after transferring. The transfection efficiency of pEGFP-N1 into primary cultured human chondrocytes reached 35 37% at 48 h. It didn't affect the process of cell adherance and had no effect on the cell cycle distribution. CONCLUSION: Primary cultured human chondrocytes, which were transfected with pEGFP, are alive in vitro, and the transferring process doesn't affect the cell cycle distribution. These results suggest that pEGFP-N1 is an ideal transient expression vector for primary cultured human chondrocytes and it might be a well tracer in construction tissue engineered cartilage.

Objective To search for the neutralizing epitopos on hepatitis E virus (HEV) capsid besides the known neutralizing epitope (aa459-606). Methods By analysis of several strains of monoclonal antibodies against HEV capsid and their recognized epitopes, the neutralizing activity of epitope (aa394-458) at N-terminus was compared with that of an immunodominant neutralizing epitope (an459-606). Re-suits The research showed a novel potential neutralizing epitope in aa423-437 of HEV ORF2 though detec-ting and comparing the characteristics of several antibodies and corresponding determinations. The epitope is a linear non-immunodominant epitope which is different from the other neutralizing epitope in aa459-606.And the amino acids sequence of this novel epitope is conservative. Conclusion ORF2 aa423-437 is a no-vel potential neutralizing leaner epitope of HEV. It is believed that the present work adds fundamental knowl-edge to our understanding of HEV capsid domain and contributes to the prevention and control of this dis-ease.

Objective To express the recombinant caspid of genotype 4 hepatitis E virus(HEV) ORF2. Methods HEV recombinant capsid protein D66 was expressed in E. coli, using the ORF2 fragment (aa368-606, obtained from swine bile) of genotype 4 HEV. Results The recombinant capsid proteins D66 self-assemble to be particle with a radius of 13 nm through dimeric form in neutral solution. Coated particles reacted well with sera obtained from patients during acute or recovered phase of HEV infection. Immunofluorescence and immnoblot assay suggested that D66 bound and penetrated HepG2 cell lines, and the process of attachment was blocked by sera collected from patients during acute or recovered phase of HEV infection.Conclusion Recombinant D66 particles simulate the structure at the surface of genotype 4 HEV well and specifically adhere and penetrate the host cells, which lays the foundation for the investigation of the molecular mechanism of genotype 4 HEV infection.