Objective To assess the value of combination of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI)and dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced (DSC) perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in astrocytoma grading.Methods SWI and DSC scans were performed in 82 patients with pathologically confirmed astrocytoma.The patient group consisted of grade Ⅱ (15),grade Ⅲ (10),and grade Ⅳ (57).The intratumoral susceptibility signal intensity (ITSS) and relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) max were used to determine the grade of astrocytomas by Kruskal Wallis test,Welch test,Spearman correlation coefficients,Pearson correlation coefficients,and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC)statistic methods.Results There were no ITSS in 14 cases of low-grade astrocytomas,the degree of ITSS were grade 1 to 3 in anaplastic astrocytomas,the degree of ITSS were grade 3 in all of the glioblastomas,the degree of ITSS were significant difference in all grades (H =71.96,P ＜ 0.01).rCBV max in grade Ⅱ,grade Ⅲ and grade Ⅳ astrocytomas were 1.26 ± 0.42,3.59 ± 2.09 and 8.34 ± 1.16 respectively,rCBV max were significant difference in all grades (F' =681.72,P ＜ 0.01).ITSS showed significant correlation with rCBV max (r =0.72,P ＜0.01) and tumor grades (r =0.89,P ＜0.01),and rCBV and tumor grades showed significant correlation (r =0.78,P ＜ 0.01).Area under the ROC curve application SWI,DSC,SWI and DSC in differentiation of the grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅲ astrocytomas were 0.99,0.93,1.00,differentiate grade Ⅲ from grade Ⅳ were 0.70,0.94,0.94,and differentiate high-grade from low-grade astrocytomas were 1.00,0.99,1.00.Conclusions ITSS is helpful to determine the grade of astrocytomas.The use of SWI in combination with DSC may improve the diagnostic accuracy of astrocytoma grading.

OBJECTIVETo search for the best method for treatment of fasciitis of back muscles.

METHODSOne hundred cases of fasciitis of back muscles were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group of 50 cases were treated with scraping and warming acupuncture and moxibustion at Fengmen (BL 12), Feishu (BL 13), Quyuan (SI 13), Bingfeng (SI 12), Jiafeng, local pressure pain points, and cord-like node; and the control group of 50 cases with simple acupuncture.

RESULTSIn the treatment group, 40 cases were cured and 10 cases improved with a total effective rate of 100.0%; in the control group, 26 cases were cured and 16 cases improved, 8 cases were ineffective with a total effective rate of 84.0%. The treatment group in improvement of pressure pain and pain was better than the control group, with scores significantly decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONScraping therapy and warming acup-moxibustion have obvious effect on fasciitis of back muscles, and it is a better therapy for this disease.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Back Pain ; therapy ; Fasciitis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion

Adolescent ; Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy

Objective To study the role of CT in the evaluation after patellar dislocation triple surgeries.Methods Retrospectively analysed the CT measurements of 60 recurrent patellar dislocation patients (61 knees),who had undergone patellar dislocation triple surgeries,within one month before and after procedures.The measurements included patellar tilt angle,lateral patellar displacement,trochlear con-gruence angle,Tibial Tuberosity-Trochlear Groove distance,Insall-Salvati Ratio and Caton-Deschamps Index.Moreover,the troch-lear dysplasia classifications of all patients were evaluated.In addtion,an analysis has also been completed for 40 (41 knees)of 60 patients who had second postoperative CT examinations as follow-up assessment 3 to 6 months after surgeries.Results All one-month postoperative measurements decreased obviously with statistical significance(P <0.05 ).Furthermore,one case of subluxa-tion,1 1 cases of abnormal Tibial Tuberosity-Trochlear Groove distance,13 cases of abnormal Insall-Salvati Ratio and 14 cases of Ca-ton-Deschamps Index abnormities were also observed.Besides that,it was also found that all patients had trochlear dysplasia and 5 cases were diagnosed with patellar subluxation or dislocation at the second postoperative follow-up assessment.Conclusion The patients with redislocation or risks for patellar instability can be detectecd by CT which provides objective evidence for postoperative evaluation and further treatments.

The purpose of the study is to construct R8 peptide (RRRRRRRR) and pH sensitive polyethylene glycols (PEG) co-modified liposomes (Cl-Lip) and utilize them in breast cancer treatment. The co-modified liposomes were prepared with soybean phospholipid, cholesterol, DSPE-PEG2K-R8 and PEG5K-Hz-PE (pH sensitive PEG). The size and zeta potential of Cl-Lip were also characterized. The in vitro experiment demonstrated that the Cl-Lip had high serum stability in 50% fetal bovine serum. The cellular uptake of Cl-Lip under different pre-incubated conditions was evaluated on 4T1 cells. And the endocytosis pathway, lysosome escape ability and tumor spheroid penetration ability were also evaluated. The results showed the particle size of the Cl-Lip was (110.4 ± 5.2) nm, PDI of the Cl-Lip was 0.207 ± 0.039 and zeta potential of the Cl-Lip was (-3.46 ± 0.05) mV. The cellular uptake of Cl-Lip on 4T1 cells was pH sensitive, as the cellular uptake of Cl-Lip pre-incubated in pH 6.0 was higher than that of pH 7.4 under each time point. The main endocytosis pathways of Cl-Lip under pH 6.0 were micropinocytosis and energy-dependent pathway. At the same time, the Cl-Lip with pre-incubation in pH 6.0 had high lysosome escape ability and high tumor spheroid penetration ability. All the above results demonstrated that the Cl-Lip we constructed had high pH sensitivity and is a promising drug delivery system.
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell-Penetrating Peptides ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Cholesterol ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Liposomes ; Mice ; Oligopeptides ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Phospholipids ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols

Objective To investigate whether tissue engineered bone with implanted vascular bun-dles can up-regulate release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in models of femoral defect in rabbits.Methods Thirty-two rabbits were randomized into 2 even groups.In both groups, a segmental bone defect of 15 mm in length was made at the left femur before a tissue engineered bone was inserted into the defect.In the experimental group, a femoral vascular bundle was implanted into the tissue engineered bone.In the control group, there was no vascular implantation.At 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after implantation, samples were taken to determine new bone formation by histology and expression level of VEGF by immuno-histochemistry.Results The new bone formation was significantly higher in the experimental group at the end of 4, 8, and 12 weeks(P < 0.05) .The expression level of VEGF in the experimental group was also significantly higher than in the control group at all time points after operation, and the expression of VEGF peaked at 4 weeks.Conclusion Tissue engineered bone with vascular bundle implanted can up-regulate VEGF release in models of femoral defect in rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Neuropeptides, a kind of endogenous active substance in nerve tissues, can modulate physiological functions of multiple body systems.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of vascular bundles or sensory nerve tracts implanted into tissue-engineered bone for rabbit large bone defects on the expression levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and neuropeptide-Y.METHODS: Fifty-four New Zealand rabbits were enrolled to make model of large bone defects, and then, the animal models were randomly divided into three groups, including sensory nerve tract, vascular bundle, and control groups (n=18 per group), followed by implanted with sensory nerve tracts, vascular bundle, and tissue-engineered bone without sensory tracts or vascular bundle, respectively. The defected bone received gross and Masson staining at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after modeling, to compare the expression levels of CGRP and neuropeptide-Y in each group.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: mRNA expression levels of CGRP and neuropeptide-Y in the sensory nerve tract and vascular bundle groups were significantly higher than those in the control group at different time points after modeling (P < 0.05). mRNA expression levels of CGRP and neuropeptide-Y in the tissue-engineered bone began to be increased and peaked at the 8th week, and then decreased (P < 0.05), which were the lowest at the 4th week (P < 0.05).Immunohistochemical staining results showed that CGRP was mainly found in the bridge, periosteum of newly born bones and around blood vessels; while neuropeptide-Y mainly localized in the medullary cavity and around blood vessels. These results indicate that the implantation of vascular bundle and sensory nerve tracts for bone defects can upregulate the expression levels of CGRP and neuropeptide-Y, and promote bone repair. However, sensory tract implantation may cause sensory impairment; thereafter, vascular bundle implantation is more suitable for ideal tissue-engineered construction to meet physical requirements.

Background The aspheric intraocular lenses(IOLs)can reduce ocular spherical aberration to some degree.However,the clinical effect depends more on the IOL proper alignment.It becomes more important to study the IOL position in eye,Objective This study was to analyze the position alteration of IOL after phacoemulsification combined with implantation of one-piece soft IOLs.Methods In this prospective control study,80 eyes of 40 patients with age-related cataract were enrolled.The phacoemulsification with IOL implantation was performed in all the eyes.Decentration and tilt of IOL in the nasal superior,superior temporal,inferior temporal and nasal inferior quadrants(the intersection point of the system optical axis and the IOL maximum cross plane were regarded as the ordinate origin)were measured by rotating Scheimpflug camera(Pentacam Oculus)in 3 months postoperatively under the mydriasis condition.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to this trial.Results In the right eye group,the IOL decentered toward temporal in 26 eyes(65％)and infratemporal in 16 eyes(40％).IOLs tilted temporally in the horizontal plane in 37 eyes(92.5％)and tilted inferiorly in the vertical plane in 34 eyes(85.0％).In the left eye group,IOLs decentered temporally 33 eyes(82.5％)and 20 IOLs (50％)infratemporally,IOLs tilted temporally in the horizontal plane in 37 eye(92.5％)and 36 IOLs(90％)tilted inferiorly in the vertical plane.There was no statistical difference for the intercomparsion of horizontal/vertical decentration in various quadrant in the right eye(F =0.221,0.792,P＞0.05).The obvious elevated horizontal decentration was found in the supertemporal and infratemporal quadrants compared with supernasal quadrant in the left eyes but there was no significant difference in the vertical decentration among 3 quadrants(F=0.576,P＞0.05).Decentrations were positively correlated with the tilt in both horizontal and vertical plane(right eye horizontal plane:r=0.374,P=0.002;right eye vertical plane:r=0.402,P=0.001 ;left eye horizontal plane:r=0.377,P=0.002；left eye vertical plane:r=0.347,P=0.002).Conclusions The one-piece soft IOLs(Adapt AO)decenter toward temporal mostly in 3 months after surgery,especially infratemporally in the eye.And the optical axis of the IOL tilt toward infratemperol mostly in both right and left eyes.The decentration and tilt are consisted in the corresponding direction between the right and left eyes.The position of the IOLs showed mirror symmetry between right and left eyes.The IOLs decentration show the positively correlation to tilt whatever in horizontal and vertical plane.

Objective To investigate the expression and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2), its upstream molecule, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and downstream transcription factor, Ets-like protein 1 (ELK-1), in lesions of psoriasis vulgaris, and to evaluate the relationship between ERK pathway and psoriasis vulgaris. Methods Tissue samples were obtained from the lesions of 40 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and normal skin of 20 normal human controls. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were performed to detect the expressions of phosphorylated ERK1/2, EGFR and ELK-1 in the tissue samples.Results As immunohistochemistry showed, the integrated optical density (IOD) of p-ERK1/2, p-EGFR and p-ELK-1 was 269.85 ± 57.96, 136.88 ± 30.33 and 237.61 ± 56.29 respectively in the psoriatic lesions, significantly higher than that in the normal controls ( 140.24 ± 24.42, 110.66 ± 28.99 and 119.04 ± 21.99, respectively, all P ＜ 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between the expression of p-EGFR and p-ERK1/2(r = 0.57, P ＜ 0.05) and between that of p-ERK1/2 and p-ELK-1 (r=0.72,P＜0.05) in psoriatic lesions.Conclusion The enhanced signal transduction through phosphorylated EGFR→ERK1/2→ELK-1 pathway may play a certain role in the pathophysiological process of psoriasis vulgaris.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of dihydroartemisinin on the apoptosis of and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in prostate cancer cell line PC-3M in androgen-independent prostate cancer.

METHODSPC-3M cells were treated with different doses (0, 25, 50 and 100 micromol/L) of dihydroartemisinin for 48 hours, their growth activity analyzed by MTT colorimetric assay and flow cytometry, and changes in the activities of caspase-3 and -8 detected by colorimetric assay. The expression of VEGF mRNA was determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and that of the VEGF protein by Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with the 0 micromol/L control group, the 25, 50 and 100 micromol/L dihydroartemisinin groups showed significantly increased apoptosis of PC-3M cells ([2.92 +/- 0.45]% vs [8.85 +/- 0.74]%, [12.83 +/- 0.84]% and [18.65 +/- 1.24]%, P < 0.01), and dose-dependent increase in the activities of caspase-8 ([0.47 +/- 0.05 ] U/microg vs [1.22 +/- 0.15], [1.76 +/- 0.07] and [2.91 +/- 0.24] U/microg, P < 0.01) and caspase-3 ([0.44 +/- 0.07] U/microg vs [0.95 +/- 0.08], [1.48 +/- 0.14] and [2.92 +/- 0.45] U/microg, P < 0.01). The expressions of VEGF mRNA and protein were decreased in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONDihydroartemisinin can significantly suppress the growth of PC-3M cells, promote their apoptosis and reduce the expressions of VEGF mRNA and protein, which may serve to explain its inhibitory effect on tumor and angiogenesis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism