Chronic Disease ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective To explore the significance and practical value of videomorphometric analysis in differential diagnosis of the thyroid gland in benign and malignant follicular lesions. Methods A videomorphometric analysis of surgically resected thyroid follicular tumors and normal thyroid gland was respectively performed with CMM-3 image analysis system. 50-100 tumor cell nuclei each case were studied at random for their area, perimeter, average diameter, shape factor and atypical index.Results Hightly significant statistical difference was observed in every parameter between normal and malignant, benign and malignant cases.Conclusion It is suggested that videomorphometry is an useful tool for the differential diagnosis of benign from malignant tumors of thyroid gland.

Aortic Valve Stenosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Child ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; blood ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Triglycerides ; blood

Participating in the international conferences helps to get the latest progress in cer-tain areas. It provides important channels of communication and platform for cooperation. The article summarized the categories of international conferences, access to it, way to apply for it, how to apply for financial support, visa and passport, as wellas preparations before. The author's experience attend-ing the seventh Asia-Pacific conference neurochemistry(APSN) held in Singapore, may offer some help for reference.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and therapy of levofloxacin-induced prolonged Q-T interval in patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis ( MDR-TB) . Methods Clinical materials of 6 patients with MDR-TB who developed prolonged Q-T/QTc interval caused by levofloxacin therapy were analyzed. Those cases were collected from the Tuberculosis Prevention and Control of Wuhan City form April 2010 to August 2014. Results The proportion of patients with levofloxacin-induced prolonged Q-T interval was approximately 3.0%.The condition occurred 2-8 months after the administration. The initial value of QTc interval ranged from 397 ms to 439 ms, while the average was (410.17±14.62) ms.The value of QTc interval was extended to 470-486 ms after treatment of levofloxacin, while the average was (476.33±6.16) ms.The increase of QTc interval was 47-85 ms, while the average was ( 66 ± 11. 48 ) ms. None of them developed Tdp. Conclusion The application of high dosage and long treatment course of levofloxacin in patients with MDR-TB could result in the extension of the Q-T/QTc interval, which should arouse our serious attention. In order to detect the abnormal Q-T/QTc interval in early stage, electrolyte level examination as well as ECG examination should be considered as routine tests before initiation of treatment and during the follow-up treatment.

BACKGROUND: Neural stem cells are always derived from fetal rats and adult rats, and it is complex to isolate the cells by cell culture.OBJECTIVE: To study a convenient and effective method for the isolation and the culture of neural stem cells in neonatal rats.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An observation study based on cells was carried out in the Chongqing Medical University (Chongqing, China) from October 2006 to March 2007.MATERIALS: Wistar neonatal rats of 1-3 days old.METHODS: Subsequent to trypsin digestion, primary culture of the cells was performed in serum-free suspension culture medium. Then the cells were induced to incubate in DMEM/F12 containing 0.10 volume fraction of fetal bovine serum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Phase contrast microscopy was employed to observe the growth of neural stem cells and the morphology of the differentiated cells. Neural stem cells and the differentiated neurons were identified using indirect immunofluorescence cytochemistry, as well as expression of gilal fibrillary acidic protein. Moreover, the proliferation of the BrdU-labeled neural stem cells was also investigated.RESULTS: The neural stem cells isolated from neonatal rat brains had the potential of serial passage and proliferation, besides, they express neuroepithelial stem cell protein (nestin) and differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.CONCLUSION: Neural stem cells can be harvested from neonatal rat brains at a large scale, and they maintain their undifferentiated features and have the capacity of self-renewal and pluripotentiality.

Objective To investigate the shape and F-actin of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts(HPDLF) under different tension stress in vitro so as to learn the stress-biological effects of HPDLF. Methods HPDLF were cultivated for 6 passages and observed morphologically and identified by immunocytochemistry to be positive anti-vimentin and negative anti-keratin. HPDLF were divided into four groups: control (without tension stress), static tension stress (5 kPa), dynamic tension stress group 1 (5 to 0 to 5 kPa at the frequency of 3/min) and dynamic tension stress group 2 (5 to 2.5 to 5 kPa at the frequency of 3/min). The cells of each group were observed at the different time points of 16, 24, 32 h. The projection areas and shapes of cells as well as the structure of F-actin were examined by laser scanning confocal microscope and immunity fluorescence technique. The relationship among tension stress, time, shape and the structure of F-actin of HPDLF was analysed. Results In the dynamic tension stress group 1 and 2, the shape and the arrangement of F-actin of some HPDLF underwent regular changes at 16, 24 h, but the changes appeared to be obvious at 32 h. In the static tension stress group, it was found the increase of interspace of HPDLF, but no obvious changes in the structure of F-actin. Conclusion Different tension stress patterns had different effects on the shape and F-actin of HPDLF. Especially in the dynamic tension stress group 2, it showed direct ratio between the cell projection areas, the average fluorescence density and different loading time.

Objective:To study the diagnostic value of MR diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and CT and MR perfusion imaging in patients with different degrees of liver cirrhosis.Methods:A total of 60 patients with liver cirrhosis,who were treated in Ziyang Hospital of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from August 2015 to February 2017 were selected.According to the Child-Pugh classification,32 cases of grade A were mild cirrhosis (denoted as group A),16 cases of grade B and 12 cases of grade C were moderate to severe cirrhosis (denoted as group B),30 healthy volunteers were selected as group C in the same period.All the subjects in the three groups were examined by DWI,CT and MR perfusion imaging.The ADC value,hepatic portal perfusion ratio [SSr (CT) and SSr (MR)] were compared among the three groups,and Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the indexes.Results:There was no significant difference in ADC values among the three groups (P＞0.05),and the ADC values of group A and B were lower than those of group C,but the difference was not statistically significant (P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in ADC values between group A and B (P＞0.05).The levels of SSr (CT) and SSr (MR) in the three groups were compared,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05);the levels of SSr (CT) and SSr (MR) in group B were significantly higher than those in group A and C,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the levels of SSr (CT) and SSr (MR) in group A and C (P＞0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that SSr (CT) was positively correlated with SSr (MR) in the patients with liver cirrhosis (r=0.687,P=0.000).Conclusion:CT and MR perfusion imaging can reflect the lesion degree of liver cirrhosis,and diagnostic effects of the two are better than DWI imaging,which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective To study the relationship between extracellular signal-regulated kinases（ERK）phosphorylation and indirect activa-tion of the epidermal growth factor receptor（EGFR）in cultured cerebellar granule neurons induced by homocysteine.Methods We pri-marily cultured 7-day-old CD-1 mouse cerebellar granule neurons for 7 days and treated with different agents（saline,AG1478,Hcy and AG1478＋Hcy）.The phosphorylation of ERK was analyzed by Western blot,and apoptotic rate by flow cytometry.Results Compared with saline and AG1478 groups,the phosphorylation of ERK was increased in Hcy group（P 〈 0.05）.When we pretreated the cells with tyr-phostin AG1478,an inhibitor of EGFR,there was no difference in the activation of ERK compared with the control group.We found obvious neuronal apoptosis when 7-day-old CD-1 mouse cerebellar granule neurons were cultured for 7 days and treated with Hcy for 6 hours,and the apoptosis induced by Hcy was aggravated when the neurons were pretreated with AG1478（P 〈 0.05）.No apoptosis was found in the saline and AG1478 groups.Conclusion The role of Hcy on ERK activation suggests the involvement of an indirect activation process of EGFR,which has neural potentially protective effect.

Objective To investigate the expression of interleukin-6(IL-6),high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1)and Survivin in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)and the relationship between them.Methods 43 patients with GISTs and 30 healthy controls from Jan.2009 to Dec.2012 in Nanchong Central Hospital was enrolled.Expressions of IL-6,HMGB1 and Survivin in serum were assessed with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and the correlation among IL-6,HMGB1 and Survivin was analyzed.Results The serum levels of IL-6,HMGB1 and Survivin in patients with GISTs((0.61 ±0.05)ng/ml,(3.54 ±0.74) ng/ml,(0.15 ± 0.04)ng/ml,respectively)were higher those that in the healthy controls((0.32 ± 0.03)ng/ml,(1.81 ± 0.06)ng/ml,(0.07 ±0.02)ng/ml,respectively).Among the 43 GISTs,the expressions of IL-6,HMGB1 and Survivin in benign,potentially malignant and malignant group increased gradually.The expressions of IL-6 in each group were (0.55 ± 0.02) ng/ml,(0.59 ± 0.02) ng/ml,(0.64 ± 0.03) ng/ml,respectively,The expressions of HMGB1 in each group were (2.82 ± 0.55) ng/ml,(3.46 ± 0.16) ng/ml,(4.00 ± 0.61) ng/ml,respectively.The expressions of Survivin in each group were (0.10 ± 0.01) ng/ml,(0.15 ± 0.02) ng/ml,(0.18 ± 0.03) ng/ml,respectively.Expressions of IL-6 and HMGB1,IL-6 and Survivin,and HMGB1 and Survivin were positively correlated(r =0.699,P ＜0.05;r =0.774,P ＜0.05;r =0.595,P ＜0.05,respectively).Conclusion The high expression of IL-6,HMGB1 and Survivin may together contribute to the malignancy,invasion and metastasis of GIST.Detection of these three markers may be useful in judging the malignancy degree and predicting the prognosis of GIST.