Objective To analyze X-ray findings of diaphragm and other related features in the diagnosis of hyperthyroid cardiopathy.Methods Forty cases without any other disease were taken chest plain film before therapy.The X-ray findings were analyzed.Results In all of X-ray features,low and flat diaphragm;barrel chest;increased and wide lung marking,which presented as network-like structure with mottling in bilateral inferior lung were closelv related to pathologic changes.Pneumonemia;pulmonary stasis;prominence of pulmonary artery segment;dilatation of right inferior pulmonary artery were related to othe change of heart and pulmonary circulation.Conclusion X-ray findings are closely related to the severe degree of pathologic changes in hyperthyroid cardiopathy.It is valuable for clinical diagnosis and treatment to recongnize these X-ray findings accurately.

Objective To explore further the abilities of cerebellar lesions in skills of time estimation, and to test the hypothesis that cerebellum is involved in the special network of time perception. Methods Time reproduction was required for 3 time intervals of 600-milliseconds, 3 and 5 seconds with visual discrimination for control. Participants reproduce those time intervals after 1-second or 5-seconds of delay. Twenty-six patients with cerebellar lesions were compared to 26 healthy controls, matched for age, handedness, education. Results 600-milliseconds was overestimated by both cerebellar lesions and healthy controls, however, both 3-seconds and 5-seconds were underestimated. Patients with cerebellar lesions were significantly impaired on 600-milliseconds reproduction task ( delaying 1 s or 5 s, 1.37 ± 0.24, 1.26 ± 0.29 respectively, Z=-5.347, -4.230, both P<0.01). No group differences were found for the 3-seconds and 5-seconds time reproduction (delaying 1 s or 5 s, Z=-1.200,-0.092,-1.519, -0.723, all P>0.05). Conclusion The findings suggest that patients with cerebellar lesions perform poorly during measurement of the shorter interval, but show no impairment of longer intervals perception, supporting the hypotheses that cerebellum is specifically involved in the perception of sub-second intervals.

Objective To observe the effect of pioglitazone on peroxisome proliferators activated receptors (PPARγ) mRNA expression in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). Methods 54 rats were randomly divided into sham group, ANP group, and pioglitazone group. ANP was induced by the retrograde injection of sodium taurocholate into pancreatic duct. The levels of serum amylase at 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h after ANP induction were determined and pancreatic pathological scores were measured, and the expression of pancreatic PPARγ mRNA was determined by RT-PCR. Results The levels of serum amylase and pancreatic pathological scores at 6 h in ANP group were (7171 ± 1636) U/L and 13.00 ±2.36; which were significantly higher than those in sham group [ (523 ± 166)U/L and 1.67 ± 234, P < 0. 01 ]. While the expressions of PPARγ mRNA were weakly expressed in ANP gyoup and sharm group(0. 18 ± 0.05 vs 0. 22 ±0. 03, P > 0. 05). The levels of serum amylase and pancreatic pathological scores at 6 h in pioglitazone group were (4504 ± 1901 )U/L and 9.00 ±0.89, which were significantly lower than those in ANP group (P <0. 05).While the expressions of PPARγ mRNA was higher than that in ANP group (0.56 ±0.05 vs 0. 18 ±0.05, P <0.05). Conclusions The protective role of pioglitazone on ANP rats was closely correlated with up-regulation of PPARγgene expression.

Objective To study the changes of serum level of high mobility group box-1(HMGB- 1)in patients with multiple trauma in order to forecast organ dysfunction(OD)and deaths.Methods The optical densities of HMGB-1 in serum of 35 patients with multiple trauma were determined on 1st,3rd, and 7th days after trauma,and the incidence of organ dysfunction and deaths were evaluated,then analyzed statistically to learn the relation between the serum levels of HMGB-1 and deaths with an attempt of predic- ting the incident of organ dysfunction and deaths.Results (1)As OD was concerned,there was a statis- tically significant difference in optical density of HMGB-1 on 1st and 3rd days between the two groups of multiple injury patients(t=4.411,P

20(Z= -2.117, P=0.034), and between the patients with OD and without OD (Z=-3.089, P=0.002), but PCT was not so between the non-surviror and survivor (Z=-1.307, P=0.191). The serum PCT level correlated with the incidence of organ dysfunction (x~2=14.82, P=0.033) and APACHEII (x~2=12.83, P

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of detecting of Y-STR of fetal DNA in maternal plasma using Ion Torrent PGM™ System. METHODS: A total of 16 fetal DNA samples from maternal plasmas (8 cases from 38 weeks gestational age and 8 ones from 12 weeks) were prepared and a multiplex assay with 7 STR loci (DYS390, DYS391, DYS393, DYS438, DYS437, DYS456, DYS635) was designed for multiplex-PCR amplification. Using Ion Torrent PGM™ System, the results of Y-STR sequences and capillary electrophoresis were obtained and compared. RESULTS: Y-STR specific alleles were detected in the maternal plasma of all the pregnant women having male babies of second and third trimester, which were higher than that detected by capillary electrophoresis. Consistent Y-STR genotypes were observed between fetal DNA from maternal plasma and genomic DNA from the newborn babies. CONCLUSION Based on Ion Torrent PGM™ System, the prenatal Y-STR detection method may provide a high-sensitive and high-throughput choice for prenatal STR detection in forensic testing.
Alleles ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics* ; DNA/blood* ; Family ; Female ; Fetal Blood/chemistry* ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sex Determination Analysis ; Tandem Repeat Sequences/genetics*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEDetection of label retaining cells (LRCs) has been a method to confirm existence of stem cells, and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) has commonly been used for labeling. In this study, to verify stem cells in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), LRCs were established and detected in NPC cell line 5-8F.

METHODSThe 5-8F cells were cultured with BrdU and inoculated subcutaneously into nude mice. By immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and immunofluorescence, BrdU was detected in 5-8F cells and xenograft tumors.

RESULTSBrdU was strongly positive in cells on the 2nd and the 7th day after being added BrdU, while negative when cells were cultured without BrdU. However, only sporadic cells were positive on the 14th day after BrdU being washed out, and these cells were thought to be LRCs. The average percentage of LRCs was (0.67 +/- 0.32)%. After being cultivated with BrdU for 48 h, 5-8F cells were inoculated into nude mice subcutaneously. After chasing 8 weeks, only sporadic LRCs were detected in xenograft tumors, with a proportion of (0.55 +/- 0.36)%, and these LRCs were located at cancer margin.

CONCLUSIONThe existence of LRCs in 5-8F cells indicates the existence of cancer stem cells in NPC.

Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate CT and MRI characteristics of primary spinal large B cell lymphoma.

METHODSCT and MRI data of 23 patients with primary spinal large B cell lymphoma confirmed by histopathology were retrospectively analyzed from March 2011 to August 2015. Among them, including 14 males and 9 females aged from 28 to 70 years old with an average of 53.4 years old. The clinical manifestation mainly focus on pain around spinal and minority peripheral nerve symptom. The courses of disease ranged from 2 weeks to 3 months with an average of 9 weeks. Nine patients underwent CT plain scan, 8 patients underwent plain and enhanced CT; 21 patients underwent MRI plain scan and enhanced; 15 patients underwent CT and MRI examination. The location, bone changes, shape, density, signal intensity and enhancement characteristics of lesions were observed and compared with pathology.

RESULTSLocation and size of lesion showed cervical vertebrae in 1 case, thoracic vertebrae in 16 cases, lumbar vertebrae in 2 cases, and sacral vertebrae in 4 cases. Mass was larger, the largest cross-sectional size of group was up to 73 mm× 125 mm. CT examination showed that 11 cases with "cloud and mist" shape change, 6 cases with compression fractures, and with "floating ice" shape change, 9 cases with "oversleeve" shape change, 11 cases with spinal stenosis; enhancement scan showed obvious reinforcement. MRI showed slightly low signal on T1WI and T2WI were slightly high signal, and signal was uneven, and enhancement scan showed obvious reinforcement, 13 of 16 cases with spinal canal stenosis changed like "oversleeve", intervertebral space showed no significant stenosis. Comparison of CT and MRI showed the manifestation of bone destruction by CT was superior than that of MRI, but the range of lesion, and related surrounding structures were not better than MRI. MRI displayed the range of lesion usually bigger than CT. Pathology results showed that 23 patients were all primary spinal large B cell lymphoma.

CONCLUSIONSPrimary spinal large B cell lymphoma has certain features in age, location and imaging findings. The "cloud and mist", "floating ice" and "oversleeve" shape bony destruction by CT and MRI has certain significance to diagnosis of primary spinal large B cell lymphoma.

The medium for isoflavone production in Maackia amurensis suspension cells has been optiwised through the artificial neural networks (ANNs) and the real coding based accelerating genetic algorithm (RAGA). Among the ingredients of the medium, nitrogen sources and plant growth regulators were found to be the main factors affecting the production of isoflavone genistein. (NH4)2SO4, KNO3, 2,4-D and 6-BA, 100 approximately 800 mg/L, 1500 approximately 3000 mg/L, 0 approximately 3 mg/L and 0 approximately 1 mg/L respectively, significantly increased genistein yield, in the ranges of effective concentrations. The random ten combinations of these four components generated by RAGA as input data and the genistein yields of ten combinations as output data were used for ANNs-RAGA (the artificial neural networks associated with the accelerating genetic algorithm) modeling. The resultant model showed a high fit between the experimental data and calculating values by ANNs-RAGA. Based on the prediction of the model, the optimum combination of four factors for genistein production was determined on 149.68 mg/L for (NH4)2SO4, 2936.10 mg/L KNO3, 0.01 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.19 mg/L 6-BA. When cells were cultured in the optimized medium, their capability of genistein production was remarkably enhanced to 14.13 mg/L, which was about 19 times higher than that in the original medium. The relative discrepancy between the experimental value and the predictive value of genistein yield from the optimized medium was 7.38%.
Algorithms ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Genistein ; metabolism ; Maackia ; metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Suspensions

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of atorfastatin on the cognitive function of patients with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and different apolipoprotein E genotypes.

METHODSThe ApoE polymorphism was genotyped by PCR sequencing and the patients were divided into Eepsilon4 carrier (epsilon4+) group (n=24) and epsilon4- group (n=51). All the patients were given 20 mg oral atorfastatin every evening. The indices of TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, as well as the scores of MMSE and clock-drawing test were compared between the two groups before and 24 weeks after the treatment.

RESULTSCompared with those without epsilon4 allele, epsilon4+ patients had obviously increased plasma LDL level and lowered scores of MMSE. Plasma TC, TG and LDL-C were decreased significantly in the two groups after the treatment, and the improvement of TC was greater in patients without epsilon4 allele. The scores of MMSE increased significantly in patients with epsilon4 allele. The improvement in the scores of MMSE and clock-drawing test was greater in epsilon4+ group than in epsilon4- group.

CONCLUSIONAtorfastatin may improve the cognitive function in patients with VCI carrying epsilon4 allele, the effect of which may not be related to lowed blood lipids.

Aged ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Cognition Disorders ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Dementia, Vascular ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Heptanoic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Pyrroles ; therapeutic use