Objective To investigate the role of TGF-? 1 and -? 2 in the pathogenesis of scleroderma(SD) and the relationship between this kind of cytokines and the clinical types of SD. Methods The TGF-? 1 and -? 2 mRNA and protein expressions in lesions of 17 patients with SD and 10 normal controls were detected using in situ RT-PCR technique and immunohistochemistry SP assay respectively. Results ①The positive rate and the expression strength of TGF-? 1 mRNA expression in the SD group were much higher than those in control group. There was no difference in TGF-? 1 mRNA expression between the localized SD and SSc patients. ②The positive rate and expression strength of TGF-? 1 and -? 2 proteins in SD group were much higher than those in control group. There was no difference in TGF-? 1 and -? 2 protein expressions between localized SD and SSc cases. Conclusion ①The positive rate and expression strength of TGF-? 1 mRNA in SD patients increased, which implied that TGF-? 1 mRNA may play an important role in fibrosis of SD. ②The positive rate and expression strength of TGF-? 1 and -? 2 proteins were more elevated in SD,which suggested that TGF-? 1 and -? 2 proteins were associated with skin fibrosis of SD. ③There was no relationship between the expression of TGF-? 1 and TGF-? 2 mRNA or proteins and the clinical types of SD, which indicated that there may be a similar pathogenesis for localized SD and SSc.

Objective To evaluate CT scanning in diagnosing pancreatic lymphoma.Methods CT findings in 6 patients with pathologically-proved pancreatic lymphoma were retrospectively analyzed.Results There was no characteristic in findings of pancreatic lymphoma. The main findings were diffusely enlarged masses in the head and body of pancreatic. The masses were composed of irregular lesions in pancreatic, porta hepatis and retroperitoneal space.Conclusion CT can show pancreatic lymphoma lesions and enlarged lymph nodes in abdominal cavity or retroperitoneum are accompanied as well as, and can find the in jury of other object.

Objective To investigate the role of transforming growth factors(TGF-?1 and ?2) in the pathogenesis of scleroderma(SD). Methods The mRNA expression of TGF-?1 and ?2 in the skin lesions from 17 patients with SD and skin from 10 normal controls were detected with in situ RT-PCR technique. Results A higher positive rate and stronger expression of TGF-?1 mRNA in SD skin lesions were seen, compared with those in controls(P0.05).The higher positive rate and stronger expression of TGF-?1 mRNA than TGF-?2 mRNA in SD were seen(P

Objective To summarize the imaging features of intra-pancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS)with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and improve the awareness and correct diagnosis of IPAS.Methods MDCT images of seven consecutive patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed IPAS were reviewed retrospectively.The investigated features included the location,size,shape,margin,density,and enhancement of the lesions.Results Four patients were male and three were female with a mean age of 49 years old.All the lesions were located at the dorsal side of parenchyma under the capsule of pancreatic tail.Three lesions were in round-like shape,and 4 in oval shape and all were well-defined.All the lesions were mass-like without necrosis and calcification.The maximum diameter of lesion ranged from 0.9 ～ 1.8 cm with a mean value of 1.4 cm.Compared with pancreatic parenchyma,the density of lesions were homogeneous on unenhanced CT,in arterial phase,slightly increased heterogeneous density was observed in 3 patients,slightly increased homogeneous density was observed in 4 patients.All the lesions appeared as slightly increased homogeneous density in portal phase.The CT value in unenhanced phase ranged from 50 ～ 61 Hu with a mean number of 55 Hu; and it ranged from 80 ～ 110 Hu with a mean number of 97 Hu in arterial phase; and the corresponding value was from 99 ～ 120 Hu with a mean number of 102 Hu in portal phase.Among the three patients underwent MDCT angiography,neither artery nor vein was compressed or invaded,and there was no vessel connected with lesions.Conclusions IPAS has some MDCT characteristics.For small solid mass in pancreatic tail,if the density and enhancement pattern is similar to that of spleen,the diagnosis of IPAS should be considered.

Objective To retrospectively analyze imaging features of multi-slica computed tomography (MSCT) and clinical characteristics of male patients with pancreas solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) and compare with that of female patients.Methods From November 2000 to October 2012,clinical data of 18 male patients and 94 female patients underwent MSCT examination and pathological diagnosed as SPT were retrospectively analyzed.Clinical characteristics and imaging features of MSCT of male and female patients with SPT were analyzed,which included lesion location,size,shape,encapsulation,calcification,internal composition,density and enhancement pattern of tumors.Rank sum test or x2 test was performed for statistical analysis.Results The median age of male patients with SPT was significantly older than that of female patients (39.0 (15.0,67.0) years vs 27.5 (11.0,63.0) years; U=2.865,P =0.005).There were no significant differences in clinical manifestation,lesion location and composition ratio of benign and malignant tumors between male and female patients with SPT (all P＞0.05).Imaging of MSCT indicated that the median maximum tumor diameter of male patients with SPT was significantly shorter than that of female patients (5.1 (1.0,11.6) cm vs 7.9 (2.5,18.7) cm; U=3.161,P=0.002).Solid tumors were more common in male patients compared with female patients (9/18 vs 5.3％ (5/94) ; x2 =30.606,P＜0.01).Conclusions The imaging features of male patients with SPT are different with those of females.For pancreas lesion in males,if imaging of MSCT shows more solid composition,small lesion and with typical enhancement patterns of SPT,the possibility of SPT should be considered.

Objective The study the multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) characteristics of gastric glomus tumor. Methods The clinical data of 8 patients with gastric glomus tumor were retrospectively analyzed, and the MSCT characteristics were observed. Results Among 8 patients, 3 cases were male and 5 cases were female, and the age was 25-67 years. The diameter of lesions were 1.3-3.5 cm, and lesions situated in the antrum of the stomach. Gastric glomus tumor showed strong enhancement in the arterial phase, and prolonged enhancement during multiphasic scans. Conclusions Gastric glomus tumor has some characteristics in MSCT. The prolonged enhancement during multiphasic scans of the subepithelial lesion should be suspected of the gastric glomus tumor.

Objective To discuss the application of spectral CT imaging in evaluating the early therapeutic response of 125I seed interstitial brachytherapy for pancreatic carcinoma in experimental nude mice.Methods BxPC-3 human pancreatic cancer cell xenografts were subcutaneously inoculated at the dorsal part of the limbs in 16 BABL/c nude mice. When the tumor developed to the size of 1-1.5 cm, the tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into the study group (n=8,receiving implantation of 125I seeds of 1.0 mCi) and the control group (n=8,receiving implantation of ghost shell particles of 0 mCi). Two weeks after the procedure, plain spectral CT scan as well as enhanced multiphase (10 s, 25 s and 60 s) spectral CT scan were performed to obtain multi-phasic image series. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and iodine concentration (IC) inside the lesions were determined, and the normalized iodine concentrations (nIC) of tumor were thus obtained. Immunohistochemical staining of tumor was used to measure microvessel density (MVD) within the tumor;the correlation between nIC and MVD was analyzed. Results The lesion's nICs measured on each of three phases (10 s,25 s and 60 s) in the study group were lower than those in the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). MVD count in the study group was lower than that in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (t=5.957,P<0.01). A parallel linear correlation existed between nIC obtained from each phase of three phases and MVD count (r=0.63,P<0.000 1;r=0.51,P=0.002;and r=0.48,P=0.001 7 for 10 s, 25 s and 60 s phases respectively). Conclusion Spectral CT imaging is an effective method for evaluating the therapeutic effect of 125I seed interstitial brachytherapy for pancreatic carcinoma of experimental mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the perfusion CT features and the clinicopathologically determined prognostic factors in advanced gastric cancer cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A perfusion CT was performed on 31 patients with gastric cancer one week before surgery using a 16-channel multi-detector CT (MDCT) instrument. The data were analyzed with commercially available software to calculate tumor blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), and permeability surface (PS). The microvessel density (MVD), was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of the surgical specimens with anti-CD34. All of the findings were analyzed prospectively and correlated with the clinicopathological findings, which included histological grading, presence of lymph node metastasis, serosal involvement, distant metastasis, tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging, and MVD. The statistical analyses used included the Student's t-test and the Spearman rank correlation were performed in SPSS 11.5. RESULTS: The mean perfusion values and MVD for tumors were as follows: BF (48.14+/-16.46 ml/100 g/min), BV (6.70+/-2.95 ml/100 g), MTT (11.75+/-4.02 s), PS (14.17+/-5.23 ml/100 g/min) and MVD (41.7+/-11.53). Moreover, a significant difference in the PS values was found between patients with or without lymphatic involvement (p = 0.038), as well as with different histological grades (p = 0.04) and TNM stagings (p = 0.026). However, BF, BV, MTT, and MVD of gastric cancer revealed no significant relationship with the clinicopathological findings described above (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The perfusion CT values of the permeable surface could serve as a useful prognostic indicator in patients with advanced gastric cancer.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Regional Blood Flow ; Stomach Neoplasms/*blood supply/pathology/*radiography ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics multi-detector-row computed tomography (MDCT)findings of ACTH-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia ( AIMAH ).Methods The un-enhanced and contrast-enhanced MDCT features in 24 patients ( 14 males and 10 females) with clinically confirmed AIMAH were retrospectively assessed for the morphology and enhancement patterns.ResultsThe adrenal glands were involved bilaterally in all of the 24 cases( 100％ ).24 patients had massively enlarged multinodular adrenal glands.Nodules were( 1.79 ± 1.02) cm (0.50 ～ 3.85 cm),which usually distorted and completely obscured the normal adrenal glands.The enlarged adrenal glands were still retained the adreniform contour,showed characteristic ginger-like.22 of the 24 ( 91.7 ％ ) hyperplastic nodular glands demonstrated mild homogeneous enhancement.Calcification was revealed in 1 adrenals ( 1/24,4.2％ ).Conclusion MDCT reveals the characteristic morphology and CT attenuation in AIMAH.Combined with its clinical presentation and biochemical findings,AIMAH is able to be diagnosed with high specificity and accuracy on MDCT.

ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and safety of using a tourniquet in amputation for lower limb gangrene. MethodsAll patients underwent amputation for lower limb gangrene from January, 2009 to June, 2023 in Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were reviewed, involving 41 patients with a total of 44 limbs, and they were divided into non-tourniquet group (n = 28) and tourniquet group (n = 16) according to whether a tourniquet was used during surgery. The amputation field clearness, surgical bleeding, incision healing, reoperation rate within 30 days post-operation, intraoperative blood pressure and heart rate, and operation time were compared. ResultsThe amputation field was clearer in the tourniquet group (χ² = 42.385, P < 0.001), with less bleeding (Z = -2.082, P < 0.05). No tourniquet-related local damages, such as nerve damage and skin injuries, was observed in the limbs using tourniquets. The incidence of grade A of incision healing was not significantly different (χ² = 0.028, P = 0.624). ConclusionApplication of tourniquet can improve the amputation field clearness and reduce bleeding during amputation for lower limb gangrene, without affecting incision healing.