Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and compare it with contrast-enhanced CT(CECT). Methods Eighty-one focal liver lesions were evaluated with CEUS and CECT, diagnostic value of two modalities were calculated, vaseularity manifestations of two modalities in arterial phase were compared. Results The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of CEUS were 96.6 %, 86.9 %, 94.9 %, 90.9 %, 93. 80%, respectively, and the diagnostic value of CECT were 98.3%, 82. 6%, 93.4%, 95.0%, 93.8%, respectively. Among all the metastasis, hypervascular manifestation lesions in arterial phase of CEUS and CECT were 72% (18/25) and 32% (8/25)( P <0.05). Conclusions The diagnostic value of CEUS and CECT in focal liver lesions are comparably satisfying,and there is no significant difference between them, the combination use of two modalities would improve the diagnosis performance. CEUS can show more hypervaseular metastasis than CECT in arterial phase.

Objective To detect the change and clinical significance of homocysteine (Hcy),hypersensitivity C response protein (hs-CRP) and hypersensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods Ninety-six cases of AMI were selected as the research group and 60 cases of coronary heart disease without AMI were enrolled in the control group.Blood samples were collected to measure the contents of serum Hcy,hs-CRP and hs-TnI.ROC curve was drawn and Logistic regression model was established to analyze the role of each index alone and combined detection in the diagnosis of AMI.Results The levels of Hcy,hs-CRP and hs-TnI in the research group were significantly higher than those in the control group (Hcy: (29.29±7.65) mol/L vs.(17.23±4.68) mol/L;hs-CRP: (15.47±5.01) mg/L vs.(9.21±3.15) mg/L;hs-TnI: (40.88±9.18) ng/mL vs.(7.34±2.12) ng/mL,t=2.78,8.66,34.36,P<0.05).The area under the ROC curve of Hcy,hs-CRP,hs-TnI were 0.802 (95%CI(0.729~0.874)),0.71(95%CI(0.62~0.792)),0.929 (95%CI(0.891~0.967)),respectively.The area under the combine detection curve was 0.971 (95%CI,0.950~0.992).The sensitivity of Hcy,hs-CRP and hs-TnI in the diagnosis of AMI were 79%,57%,87%,respectively,the specificity of the three groups were 72%,70%,90%,the sensitivity and specificity of combined detection were 96% and 88%.Conclusion Combined detection of Hcy,hs-CRP and hs-TnI plays a better role in the diagnosis of AMI than that of Hcy,hs-CRP,hs-TnI alone and has a high specificity and sensitivity in the diagnosis of AMI.

Objective To investigate the effect of cimetidine on the clonal expansion of TCR V? subfamily of T cells in cord blood after the stimulation by K562 cells in vitro.Methods Cimetidine(1?10-5 mol/L) or K562 cells(1?106/ml) or both of them were respectively cultured with mononuclear cells(MNC) isolated from normal human cord blood for 2 weeks.After the induction,specific cytotoxicity of the proliferated T cells were detected with K562 cells as the target cells.The selective usages and clonal expansion of TCR V? subfa-mily of T cells were analyzed by RT-PCR and genescan technique.Results After induction for 2 weeks,the 3 groups showed the increased cell proliferation,in which specific cytotoxicity of T cells induced by both cimetidine and K562 cells against K562 cells was enhanced significantly compared with the other 2 groups(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the different expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) in lung cancer specimens of Gejiu miners, and non-miners in other regions.

METHODSThirty specimens of Gejiu miners' lung cancer and 30 specimens of non-miners' were observed in this experiment. The expression of TGF-beta(1) protein and TGF-beta(1) mRNA were detected by the methods of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. The results were quantitatively analyzed using image analysis system.

RESULTSThe positive rate of TGF-beta(1) protein expression in Gejiu miners and non-miners was 75.39%and 44.78% respectively, and the positive rate of TGF-beta(1) mRNA was 63.96% and 34.07% respectively. There were significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of TGF-beta(1) in lung cancer of Gejiu miners was significantly higher than that of non-miners. The pathogenesis of lung cancer may be different between Gejiu miner and non-miners. High expression of TGF-beta(1) may be one of the reasons of high incidence of lung cancer in Gejiu miners.

Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Objective To evaluate the effect of hyperlipidemia on pulmonary uptake in the patients inhaling sevoflurane for anesthesia.Methods A total of 103 patients of both sexes,aged 20-50 yr,with body mass index of 18-25 kg/m2,of American.Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,undergoing elective operation under general anesthesia,were enrolled in the study.Anesthesia was induced with iv midazolam 0.1 mg/kg,vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg,fentanyl 0.l mg/kg and etomidate 0.3 mg/kg.Patients were mechanically ventilated after endotracheal intubation.Patients inhaled 2％ sevoflurane for 30 min at an oxygen flow rate of 2 L/min.The inspired concentrations (Fi) and expired concentrations (Fe,Fe≈alveolar concentration [Fa]) of sevoflurane were recorded at 1,3,5,7,10,15,20 and 30 min of inhalation (T0-7).Patients were divided into either control group group C) or hyperlipidemia group (group H) according to the results of blood lipid levels after the end of observation.The ratio of Fa/Fi and time spent in reaching the titration value (Fa/Fi =0.8) were calculated in each group.Results There were 67 cases in group C and 36 cases in group H.Compared with group C,the Fa/Fi ratio was significantly decreased at 5,7 and 10 min of inhalation,and the time spent in reaching the titration value was prolonged in group H (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The pulmonary uptake of sevoflurane is increased,which may be associated with increased blood/gas partition coefficient.

Background and purpose:Carcinoma of the kidney is the most common malignant renal parenchymal carcinoma;its biological behavior is extremely complicated and is not sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Studies have shown that the hypoxia-inducible factor HIF1-? and HIF2-? are related to the occurrence and development process of the clear-cell carcinoma of kidney.So,we intend to construct psilencer3.0-HIF-? siRNA recombinant plasmid in this study through RNA interference method,thereby providing an effective tool for further exploration of the role of HIF in the occurrence and development of clear-cell carcinoma of kidney.Methods:Design and chemically synthesize the DNA fragments of coding HIF-1? and HIF-2? siRNA and make them up into siRNA expression vector through gene recombination.Adopting the real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot tested the inhibitive effect of the constructed siRNA expression vector on mRNA and protein levels on the target gene expression.Results:After 786-0 cells transfecting with psilencer3.0-HIF-1?siRNA and psilencer3.0-HIF-2?,the inhibitory rate of mRNA expression of HIF-1? and HIF-2? reached 82.1% and 87.4% respectively,and OS-RC-2 cells transfecting psilencer3.0-HIF-1? siRNA and psilencer3.0-HIF-2?,the inhibition rate reached 91.2% and 81.2% respectively.The protein expression of the experimental group with 786-0 cells and OS-RC-2 cells transfecting HIF-1? interference plasmid and HIF-2? interference plasmid were lower at different levels than that from the blank control group.Conclusions:The constructed siRNA expression vector can effectively inhibit the expression of target gene HIF-1 and HIF-2 at mRNA and protein levels.

Objective To evaluate the correlation between diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)measurements,fiber tracking(FT)and the clinical symptoms in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.Methods According to the Japanese orthopaedics association score(JOA),104 patients with cervical spondylopathy were divided into 4 groups:mild in 31 patients with 13-16 scores,moderate in 27 with 9-12 scores,severe in 25 with 5-8 scores,and serious in 21 with 0-4 scores.According to the lesion signal characters,all patients were divided into 3 groups:Group A with normal signal in both T1 WI and T2WI in 33 patients,Group B with normal signal in T1WI but high signal in T2WI in 30 patients,and Group C with low signal in T1 WI and high signal in T2WI in 41 patients.Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC),fractional anisotropy(FA),λ1,λ2,λ3 were measured in the spinal cord at the serious pressed section,and fiber tractography was performed.The Spearman correlation analyses was used to correlate each of the DTI measurement with JOA score.Group difference was tested with one-way ANOVA method.Results High quality of DTI was acquired in all patients.The FA values in the mild,moderate,severe,and serious groups were respectively 0.69 ±0.13,0.58 ±0.03,0.46 ±0.08,and 0.37 ±0.11 and significant difference was found in different groups(F =100.59,P ＜ 0.05)and positively correlated with JOA scores (r =0.883,P ＜ 0.05).There was no statistical significance between JOA scores and ADC,λ1,λ2,λ3(r=0.232,0.217,0.113,0.127,P ＞0.05).The FA values in group A,B,and C were respectively 0.67 ±0.33,0.51 ±0.21,0.38 ±0.03,and significant difference was found among different groups(F =50.05,P ＜ 0.05).Decrease of JOA score and high signal in T2 companied with decrease of FA value.Decrease of FA values was found associated with increase of fiber bundle damage.The ADC,λ2,λ3 but not λ1 were significantly different among the JOA groups and the group A,B,and C.Conclusions The FA values are positively correlated with clinical symptoms.Decrease of FA values is found associated with increase of fiber bundle damage.DTI can show the severity and extent of damage of spinal cord in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) under ultrasonic guidance for the treatment of upper urinary calculus. Methods From June 2004 to July 2009, 1289 patients with upper urinary tract calculi were treated with PCNL under ultrasonic guidance, 386 cases of them were upper ureteral calculi, 463 cases were single renal calculi,355 cases were multiple renal caculi, 85 cases were staghorn calculi. Calculus size was 0.8 cm× 1.2cm-9.0 cm× 5.3 cm,mean 2. 1 cm× 3.1 cm. Nine hunderd and thirty-five cases were with hydronephrosis. Results All patients were performed PCNL successfully, without conversion to open surgery or death. Mean operation time was 90(55-220)min, mean operative blood loss was 175(60-800)ml. Thirty-one cases were given blood transfusion during operation or post operation, 14 cases were given super-selective renal artery embolism for bleeding control. 1105 cases were treated with single tract, 108 cases with double tracts, 76 cases with three tracts. Calculus clearance rate of onestage PCNL was 85.03%(1096/1289);193 cases were found with residual calculi, 67 of them were given extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy, 126 of them were given two-stage PCNL, calculi were removed complelety in 85 cases. Total calculus clearance rate was 91.62%(1181/1289). Conclusions PCNL under ultrasonic guidance is an effective and safe method for the treatment of upper urinary calculus with advantages of accurate positioning, high calculus clearance rate, minimal trauma, and fewer complications. The key of successful PCNL is selection of patients, grasp of operation technique, and availability of other equipements.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the marginal microleakage of porcelain-fused-to-metal crown using four different cements.

METHODSSixteen porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns were built and randomly divided into 4 group, luted onto standard prepared human forward molars using four different cements (glass ionomer cement, resin-modified glass ionomer cement, PanaviaF, Super-Bond C&B adhesive luting system). After temperature cycling test, all the crowns were then submerged in 2% fuchsin for 24 h. The marginal microleakage at tooth cement interfaces was observed using light stereomicroscopy and evaluated in classification index. The marginal microleakage grade of 4 groups were analyzed by SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSThe PanaviaF demonstrated the least marginal microleakage, Super-Bond C&B adhesive luting system, resin-modified glass ionomer cement showed an intermediate level of marginal microleakage, glass ionomer cement was associated with severe marginal microleakage (total, Chi2 = 157.60, P < 0.01; among the different groups, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdhesive resin luting system which is the first selection in clinical is better than glass ionomer cement and is good at porcelain-fused-to-metal crown.

Boron Compounds ; Cementation ; Crowns ; Dental Cements ; Dental Leakage ; Dental Marginal Adaptation ; Dental Porcelain ; Glass Ionomer Cements ; Humans ; Metals ; Methacrylates ; Methylmethacrylates ; Resin Cements

PURPOSE: The present study was designed to determine whether rapamycin could inhibit transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1)-induced fibrogenesis in primary lung fibroblasts, and whether the effect of inhibition would occur through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its downstream p70S6K pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary normal human lung fibroblasts were obtained from histological normal lung tissue of 3 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Growth arrested, synchronized fibroblasts were treated with TGF-beta1 (10 ng/mL) and different concentrations of rapamycin (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 ng/mL) for 24 h. We assessed m-TOR, p-mTOR, S6K1, p-S6K1 by Western blot analysis, detected type III collagen and fibronectin secreting by ELISA assay, and determined type III collagen and fibronectin mRNA levels by real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: Rapamycin significantly reduced TGF-beta1-induced type III collagen and fibronectin levels, as well as type III collagen and fibronectin mRNA levels. Furthermore, we also found that TGF-beta1-induced mTOR and p70S6K phosphorylation were significantly down-regulated by rapamycin. The mTOR/p70S6K pathway was activated through the TGF-beta1-mediated fibrogenic response in primary human lung fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that rapamycin effectively suppresses TGF-beta1-induced type III collagen and fibronectin levels in primary human lung fibroblasts partly through the mTOR/p70S6K pathway. Rapamycin has a potential value in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.
Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type III/metabolism ; Fibroblasts/*drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; Fibronectins/metabolism ; Humans ; Lung/cytology/drug effects ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/drug therapy ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Sirolimus/*pharmacology ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism/physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/*antagonists & inhibitors/physiology