In order to observe the feature of age-related marrow conversion and maturation of epiphyseal cartilage and analyze the distribution of red and yellow marrow in the proximal femur at STIR MR imaging, STIR and T(1) weighted MR imaging of the proximal femur in 52 subjects, aged 4 months to 25 years old, were retrospectively analyzed for the distribution and appearance of red and yellow marrow. The subjects with no known bone marrow abnormalities were divided into 6 age groups. The signal intensity of the marrow in the proximal epiphysis, proximal metaphysis, proximal diaphysis, distal diaphysis and greater trochanter was compared with the signal intensity and homogeneity of surrounding muscle and fat and graded by two observers. The results showed that the conversion of hematopoietic marrow in the proximal femur followed a well-defined sequence, occurring first in the proximal epiphysis, followed by the distal diaphysis, and then greater trochanter and metaphysis. STIR in combination with T(1)-weighted imaging could display clearly the origin of ossification center and the course of conversion from red to yellow marrow in proximal epiphysis and greater trochanter. STIR imaging showed that the marrow conversion in proximal metaphysic began below epiphyseal plate and intertrochanter. The site of red yellow was distributed in weight-bearing axis by 20 years of age. The marrow conversion of diaphysis was from distal end to proximal end, and the consequence of conversion was that distal diaphysis contained yellow marrow but proximal diaphysis partly red marrow connected with the red marrow of metaphysic. The epiphyseal cartilage had different characters of signal-intensity with age in STIR sequence. The distribution of red marrow in STIR imaging was more close to that of anatomy than T(1)-weighted imaging. It was concluded that STIR could dynamically display the feature of marrow conversion and the development of epiphyseal cartilage and accurately reveal the age-related distribution of red and yellow marrow on STIR imaging in the proximal femur.
Age Factors ; Bone Marrow/*anatomy & histology ; Bone Marrow/physiology ; Epiphyses/anatomy & histology ; Femur/*anatomy & histology ; Image Enhancement/*methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND:The patients with porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns who do examination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can cause artifacts. In recent years, researching for MRI artifacts of different porcelain-fused-to-metal materials has been some progress, but there are less quantitatively reports on the MRI artifacts of different porcelain-fused-to-metal materials.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the artifact sizes shown on fast spin-echo T 2-weighted sequence caused by different kinds of porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
METHODS:Forty-eight lower right first molar crown patients who had MRI examination in MRI room were enrol ed. The patients were divided into nickel-chromium al oy group, cobalt-chromium al oy group and titanium crown group. Al patients were examined with fast spin-echo T 2-weighted sequences by means of 1.5 T MRI apparatus. MRI artifacts areas of same sequence on the MRI images of different porcelain-fused-to-metal materials were analyzed with variance test.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Forty-five cases appearing to have high signal samples with clearly curved boundary zone that can be measured were selected, 15 cases for each material. Different artifact sizes were produced on the same sequence of different porcelain-fused-to-metal materials, which were (321.67±33.29) mm in the nickel-chromium al oy group, (263.53±34.95) mm2 in the cobalt-chromium al oy group, and (143.67±31.13) mm2 in the titanium crown group. There were significant differences between groups (P<0.05). The artifact size is smal est for the titanium crown and largest for the nickel-chromium al oy crown.

Objective To determine the inhibitive effect of interferon-a on hepatic metastasis of colon cancer. Methods Metastatic model of human colon cancer was established by orthotopic implantation of histologically intact human tumor tissue into the colon wall of nude mice.The mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:(1)Control group(receiving saline solution only);(2)5-FU treatment group;(3) IFN-?-2b treatment group;and(4)5-FU combined with IFN-?-2b treatment group(combined group). 5-FU and IFN-?-2b were given via peritoneum injection 1 time/2 days for eight weeks.The mice were killed at nine weeks.The tumors were weighed,the microvessel density(MVD) was detected,and the liver was examined histologically in order to discover the micrometastasis. Results In control group, 5-FU group,IFN-2b group and combined group,the tumor weight was(1.53?0.78)g,(0.87?0.59)g,(0.81?0.43)g and ( 0.23?0.09)g, respectively;the tumor inhibition rate was 0,43.1%,47.1% and 84.9%, respectively;the hepatic metastasis rate was 85.7%,78.6%,21.4% and 0 respectively.MVD in IFN-? group and combined group was significant lower than that in control group and 5-FU group. Conclusions IFN-? can inhibit the growth and hepatic metastasis of orthotopic implanted human colon cancer by inhibiting the tumor angiogenesis.It may be more effective when INF-? combined with cyotoxic agents.

Objective To compare the diagnostic significance of pleural SLPI,IFN-γ and ADA for differenti-ating TPE from pleural effusions with the other etiologies. Methods Pleural effusion samples were obtained from 93 patients who were divided into the following groups: tuberculous pleural effusion,malignant pleural effusion, bacterial pleural effusion and transudative pleural effusion. The pleural effusion and/or serum levels of SLPI , IFN-γand ADA were determined. Results 1.The concentrations of SLPI, IFN-γand ADA in tuberculous pleural effusion was higher than that in malignant group, bacterial group and transudative group. 2. The diagnostic value of SLPI, IFN-γor ADA for the diagnosis of tuberculous PE is high respectively. The combinations of SLPI, IFN-γand/or ADA gained the more valuable diagnostic performance. Conclusion Pleural SLPI, IFN-γand ADA may be helpful for the differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion and the other pleural effusion. The combinations of SLPI or/and IFN-γor/and ADA further increased diagnostic value.

BACKGROUND: Growth-associated protein-43, a kind of protein relatedto axonal growth, plays a key role in promoting neural development, axonalregeneration, synaptic growth and structural and functional reconstructionand so on. In the study, we find that cyclovirobuxine D can protect braininjury in rats with experimental cerebral ischemia reperfusion.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of cyclovirobuxine D on the expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA in hypertensive rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion.DESIGN: A randomized controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangdong Province; Central Laboratory of Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.MATERIALS: Cyclovirobuxine D is alkaloid monomer extracted from Chinese herb buxine. Cyclovirobuxine D powder with national protected traditional medicine number of ZYB20796057 was provided by Nanjing Xiaoyingyao Pharmaceutical Factory. Totally 120 two-to-three-month-old healthy male SD rats, of either gender, with body mass of 90 to 120 g, were used in this experiment.METHODS: This experiment was carried out in Foshan Hospital of Tra ditional Chinese Medicine of Guangdong Province and at the Central Laboratory of Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between June 2005 and March 2006. ①Stroke-prone-renovascular-hypertensive-rats models (RHRSP)were created by bilaterally narrowing the renal artery with silk loop clips. Totally 120 rats were randomly divided into blank group (n=20,renovascular hypertensive rats were given no treatments), sham operation group (n=20, rats were given only surgical trauma), model group (n=40, rats were given treatment of cerebral ischemia reperfusion) and cyclovirobuxine D-treated group (n=40, rats were given cyclovirobuxine D).② Unilateral occlusion of the middle cerebral artery ischemia reperfusion models were made with suture-occluded method. 6.48 mg/kg cyclovirobuxine D diluted by 1.5 mL normal saline was intraperitoneally injected into the rats of cyclovirobuxine D-treated group, twice per day; Normal saline was isochronously intraperitoneally injected into the rats of each subgroup of control group, 2 mL once, the method was the same as that of the cyclovirobuxine D-treated group; interval of injection time was 7 hours in each group. Rats in each group were executed on days 1, 7, 14 and 30after ischemia reperfusion. ③ Brain slice was prepared. The expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA of rats in each group was detected with in situ hybridization.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① The expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA around ischemia are following ischemia reperfusion for 2 hours. ②The expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA in hippocampus following ischemia reperfusion for 2 hours RESULTS: All the 120 rats entered the stage of result analysis. ① Immune in situ hybridization of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA: In situhybridization showed that expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA and expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA could be detected respectively in the hippocampus and marginal area of hematoma after ischemia and reperfusion.②The expression of growth-associated protein-43RNA around haematoma following cerebral ischemia reperfusion group as not found in blank group and sham-operation group; The expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA was found in the marginal zones around haematoma of rats in the model group on the 1st day following ischemia reperfusion and it was significantly increased on the 7th day, gradually reduced on the 14th day and still expressed on the 30th day but less,with significant difference at each time point (P ＜ 0.01); Expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA around haematoma at each time point was more in the cyclovirobuxine D-treated group than in the model group ,with significant difference (P ＜ 0.05). ③There was no significant difference of the expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA in hippocampus of rats following cerebral ischemia reperfusion between blank group and sham-operation group; Expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA was found in hippocampus of rats in the model group on the 1st day after modeling, and it reached the peak on the 7th day, gradually decreased on the 14th day and significantly decreased on the 30th day, but significantly more than that of sham-operation group; The expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA in hippocampus was significantly more at each time point in cyclovirobuxine D-treated group than in model group, with significant difference (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Cyclovirobuxine D up-regulates the expression of growthassociated protein-43 mRNA after reperfusion and promotes axonal regeneration of rats with experimental cerebral ischemia.

Object Through performing the service satisfaction survey,to learn their interest claim and discover the service defects ,so as to provide advice and countermeasures.Method Using field survey methods and statistics analysis to study.Result The satisfaction of relatives of pediatric patients at the level of "relatively good" and "good" is about 60% both in medical treatment environment and equipment ,over 70% in medical treatment effect,doctor capacity,nursing capacity and overall assessment,but only 5.1% in medical expenses.Conclusion Relatives of pediatric patients have high satisfaction in treatment capability of medical staff,medical treatment effect as well as overall assessment ,normal satisfaction in medical environment and equipment,but lowest satisfaction in medical expenses,and the satisfaction in tertiary hospital is not high.Relatives in some districts demand much in some aspects,such as improving hospital environment,attaching importance to ward hygiene ,improving service attitude,and providing single ward ect.

Aim Toinvestigatewhetherexposureto Sanguinarine (SAN ) can inhibit cell proliferation in human mammary adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7 ) and thepossiblemechanism.Methods WeexposedMCF-7 to anticancer compound SAN,cell viability was as-sessed by using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT ) reduction assay. ROS was measured using confocal microscopy,expres-sion of caspase-3 ,caspase-8 and caspase-9 were calcu-latedusingchemiluminescencemethod.Results SAN remarkably inhibited growth of human mammary adeno-carcinoma MCF-7 cells by decreasing cell proliferation. ROS release and caspase-3,caspase-8,caspase-9 ex-pression were stimulated by SAN in MCF-7 ,and these changes were abolished by the antioxidant,N-acetyl-cysteine(NAC).Conclusion Regulationofcaspases expression and release from MCF-7 cells are possibly e-voked by SAN through reactive oxygen species.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of electro-acupuncture combined neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on dysphagia in patients after acute cerebral infarction (ACI).Methods180 ACI patients with dysphagia were divided into the function training group (n=45)，electro-acupuncture group (n=45), NMES group (n=45) and comprehensive rehabilitation group (electro-acupuncture combined with NMES group, n=45). They were assessed with drinking water test before and 3 weeks after treatment. ResultsThe drinking water test scores improved after treatment in all the 4 groups (P<0.05), and more in the electro-acupuncture group, NMES group and comprehensive rehabilitation group than in the function training group (P<0.05). The drinking water test scores improved the most in comprehensive rehabilitation group (P<0.05). ConclusionThe electro-acupuncture combined NMES can effectively improve the therapeutic effect on dysphagia in patients after ACI.

Objective:To explore role of miR-146a in regulating TLR4/NF-κB pathway on inflammatory injury and neuropro-tection in intracerebral hemorrhage model rats and its possible mechanism.Methods:A total of 40 rats were selected and randomly divided into sham,model,over-expressing miR-146a adenovirus and negative virus injection groups,with 10 rats in each group.Garcia score was used for neurological function;HE staining was used to observe changes of brain tissues.ELISA was used to detect inflammatory factors levels.TLR4,NF-κB protein and gene expressions in brain tissues were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR.Results:Compared with model group,neural function score of overexpressed miR-146a adenovirus injection group was increased(P<0.05).Model group had abnormal cell morphology,edema and inflammation.Cell morphology,edema and inflammation were alleviated in overexpressed miR-146a adenovirus injection group.Inflammatory factors levels in model group were higher than sham group(P<0.05).Inflammatory factors levels in overexpressed miR-146a adenovirus injection group were lower than model group(P<0.05).TLR4,NF-κB protein and mRNA expressions in model group were increased than sham group(P<0.05).TLR4,NF-κB protein and mRNA expressions in overexpressed miR-146a adenovirus injection group were decreased than model group(P<0.05).Conclusion:miR-146a can improve neural function and reduce inflammatory injury in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage,possibly by inhibiting activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and reducing inflammatory factors levels of brain tissues.