Objective To study clinical features of liver damage in primary Sj(o)gren syndrome (pSS) and its related factors.Methods One hundred and forty-nine patients of confirmed pSS hospitalized at Peking University People's Hospital were analyzed retrospectively.Results Seventeen of 149 patients of pSS (11.4%) showed liver damage,10 diagnosed as autoimmune hepatitis and seven as primary biliary liver cirrhosis.Increased serum levels of IgG,IgM and γ-globulin accounted for 88.2% and 50.8%,35.3% and 5.3%,and 94.1% and 47.7% of those complicated with and without liver damage,respectively,with statistically significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).Positive serum anti-mitochondria antibody subtype M2 (AMA-M2) was 35.3% in pSS patients with liver damage,significantly higher than that in those without liver damage (1.5%) (P ＜ 0.05).Independent risk factors significantly associated with liver damage included age (OR = 1.013,95% CI 0.971-1.058),course of illness (OR = 1.089,95% CI 1.032-1.150),serum level of γ-globulin (OR = 4.021,95% CI 1.246-12.982),positive AMA-M2 (OR = 11.82,95% CI 0.005-0.157),and positive anti-SSA (OR = 101.333,95% CI 12.653-811.560).Conclusions Liver damage occurred rather high in pSS patients and increased serum levels of IgG,IgM,γ-globulin and anti-SSA can be used to predict their complication with liver damage.Age,course of illness,serum level of γ-globulin,positive AMA-M2 and positive anti-SSA are all significantly associated with liver damage in pSS patients.

Objective To explore the clinical values of applying contact-mode argon plasma coagulation (APC) for retroflex colonoscopic treatment of ultra-lower rectal polyps. Methods 46 wide outsole and applanate polyps smaller than 1.0 cm located at ultra-lower rectum in 17 cases of patients were treated by contact-mode APC under U-type retroflex colonoscopy after failure in regular colonoscopic treatment. Then observe the contacting rate of APC probe with polyps, success rate of curing polyps, rate of probe being adhered and blocked by the solidification structures, incidence of submucosal emphysemas, and incidence of colonoscope ambustion. Results Under U-type retroflex colonoscopy, the probe could contact with polyps in 17 patients. The polyps in every patient were cured by APC in the first time of colonoscopic treatment, whereas all 46 polyps were cured by 97 times of APC spurt. Mild adhesions occurred between the probe and solidification structures at 5 times (5.15 %) among 97 times of APC spurt, without injuries to the coagulation surface from which when the probe separated. The solidification structures blocked the probe only twice (2.06 %). When the solidification structures were cleared, efficiency of the probe restored. No sub-mucosal emphysemas and colonoscope ambustion happened. Conclusion Applying contact-mode APC for retroflex colonoscopic treatment of ultra-lower rectal polyps is safe and effective, it can prevent the damage of colonoscope from the argon knife.

A bacterium that contains a chitin deacetylase has been isolated from ocean soil. It has been identified Baciluus .The best suitable condition of producing this enzyme is that pH is 4.0,35℃,and the incubate time is 80 hours in the present of Ca 2+ as well as having no chitosan. The best temperature of this enzyme when it acts is 40℃～50℃ and the best pH range is 4.5～5.0.

Objective To explore an algorithm to define the threshold value for tumor contouring on 18F-fluorodexyglucose (FDG) PET imaging. Methods A National Electrical Manufacturing Association (NEMA)NU 2 1994 PET phantom with 5 spheres of different diameters were filled with 18F-FDG. Seven different sphere-to-background ratios were obtained and the phantom was scanned by Discovery LS 4. For each sphere-to-background ratio, the maximum standardized uptake value ( SUVmax ) of each sphere, the SUV of the border of each sphere ( SUVborder ), the mean SUV of a 1 cm region of background (SUVbg) and the diameter (D) of each sphere were measured. SPSS 13.0 software was used for curve fitting and regression analysis to obtain the threshold algorithm. The calculated thresholds were applied to delineate 29 pathologically confirmed lung cancer lesions on PET images and the obtained volumes were compared with the volumes contoured on CT images in lung window. Results The algorithm for defining contour threshold is TH% = 33.1% + 46.8% SUVbg/SUVmax + 13.9%/D ( r = 0.994) by phantom studies. For 29 lung cancer lesions, the average gross tumor volumes ( GTV ) delineated on PET and CT are ( 7.36 ± 1.62 ) ml and (8.31 ±2.05) ml, respectively (t = -1.26, P＞0.05). Conclusion The proposed threshold algorithm for tumor contouring on PET image could provide comparable GTV with CT.

Purpose Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MR is a method developed in recent years which can quantitatively evaluate the diffusion and perfusion characteristics of microenvironment.The aim of this study was to investigate the application value of IVIM in assessing relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 27 patients with RRMS confirmed clinically at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from Jun.2015 to Jan.2016 was carried out in the study.All the patients underwent the conventional MRI and IVIM MRI based on multi-b-factor (b values of 10,20,30,40,50,100,150,200,350,500,650,800,1000 s/mm2) with 3.0T MR scanner.The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC),ADCslow,ADCfast and f values were evaluated since they could reflect the diffusion and perfusion status of RRMS lesions and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) regions.Results The ADC,ADCslow,ADCfast and f values of the non-enhancing (NE) lesions were significantly higher than those in the NAWM regions both near and far from NE lesions (P＜0.05).However,the ADC,ADCslow,ADCfast and f values in the NAWM regions close to the NE lesions had no significant differences with those in the NAWM regions far from the lesions (P＞0.05).Conclusion The IVIM MRI can measure the diffusion and perfusion status of the lesions and NAWM in RRMS patients,which,therefore,is helpful in speculation of the pathological changes of RRMS lesions and in its injury classification and identification.

PurposeMultiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by time and spatial multiple, and it is the main reason for disabled young people. This paper aims to investigate the application of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) with dual-compartment Tofts model in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and its correlation with clinical scoring.Materials and MethodsThe clinical data of 25 patients with RRMS were retrospectively studied. The patients underwent the conventional MRI and the DCE-MRI examination. The result was processed by dual-compartment Tofts model and quantitative measurement was carried out in terms of volume transfer constant (Ktrans), rate constant between EES and blood plasma (Kep) and the volume of EES per unit volume of tissue (Ve), cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) of the lesions and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) regions. The correlation between imaging biomarkers, expanded disability states scale (EDSS) and disease duration were also analyzed.Results ① The differences of MR imaging biomarkers Ktrans and Kep were significant between the regions of nonenhancing (NE) lesions, the NAWM regions near NE lesions and the NAWM regions far from NE lesions (χ2=6.777 and 22.343,P<0.05); however, Ve in the NE lesions had no significant differences compared with that in the NAWM regions near and far from NE lesions (P>0.05).②The CBF and CBV among these three groups had no signiifcant differences (P>0.05).③The CBF of NE lesions was signiifcantly correlated with disease duration (r=0.518,P<0.05);however, the other markers like Ktrans, Kep, Ve, CBF and CBV were neither signiifcantly correlated with EDSS nor with disease duration (r=-0.371-0.052,P>0.05).Conclusion DCE-MRI with Tofts model can quantitatively measure microvascular permeability and perfusion characteristics of lesions and NAWM regions, which thus reflects hemodynamic changes in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objective To evaluate dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) with Patlak model for depicting the perfusion and permeability characteristics of lesions and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) regions in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods Twenty-three patients with clinical confirmed RRMS were retrospectively analyzed, who had underwent conventional MRI and DCE-MRI using a 3.0 T MR scanner . The clinical characteristics and imaging data were collected. Post-processing was performed using the Patlak model. Volume transfer constant (Ktrans), fractional plasma volume (Vp) and perfusion parameters including cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) were represented as median and interquartile range(IQR). The four parameters of non-enhanced(NE) lesions, NAWM regions located close to NE lesions(NAWM close) and NAWM regions located far from NE lesions (NAWM far) were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis H rank sum test. Artificial color mappings were also proceeded. Results MR imaging biomarkers Ktrans was 0.132(0.064, 0.233) min-1 for NE lesions, 0.111 (0.060, 0.233) min-1 for NAWM close and 0.077(0.044, 0.185) min-1 for NAWM far, respectively. CBV was 10.660(5.555, 22.193) ml · 100 g-1 for NE lesions, 9.359(4.883, 16.290) ml · 100 g-1 for NAWM close, 6.814 (4.699, 13.623) ml·100 g-1 for NAWM far, respectively. Ktrans and CBV of NE lesions was significantly higher than that of NAWM far(χ2=7.582,P<0.05;χ2=6.394,P<0.05, respectively). Ktrans and CBV of NAWM close showed no significant differences compared with NE lesions and NAWM far. Vp and CBF had no significant differences between NE lesions, NAWM close and NAWM far regions(P>0.05). Conclusion DCE-MRI with Patlak model can measure perfusion and permeability characteristics and hemodynamic abnormalities of NE lesions and NAWM regions in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (P. ginseng) has been used as traditional medicine in Asian countries for more than 2,000 years. P. ginseng contains many active components such as ginsenosides, peptides, essential oil and polysaccharides, among which, P. ginseng polysaccharides were reported to have immunomodulating, anti-cancer, anti-adhesive and antioxidant activities. For better understanding of the structures and biological activities of all the ginseng polysaccharides, here the recent research achievements were reviewed. This review would be helpful for the relevant researchers to get useful information.
Antineoplastic Agents ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Traditional ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

In order to clarify material basis of effective parts of liangxue tongyu prescription, blood-heat and blood-stasis rat model induced by dry yeast was established. The changes of rectal temperature, blood viscosity and plasma viscosity were used to evaluate the cooling-blood and activating-blood effects of liangxue tongyu prescription and its parts. Compared with the model group, the extract from liangxue tongyu prescription, its volatile oil and n-butanol part could significantly reduce rectal temperature (P<0.01), and also reduce blood viscosity and plasma viscosity to various degrees (P<0.01 or P<0.05). So volatile oil and n-butanol part were primarily identified as effective parts of liangxue tongyu prescription. By using GC-MS with normalization method of area to analyze volatile oil of liangxue tongyu prescription, 70 compounds were identified, accounting for about 92.54%, mainly as β-asarone, paeonol, α-asarone and shyobunone. 42 compounds such as peony glycosides, tannins, and iridoid glycosides were identified by HPLC-MS techniques and standard comparison. The study determined the effective parts of liangxue tongyu prescription and clarified the chemical composition providing the foundation for further studies on material basis of liangxue tongyu prescription.
Acetophenones ; chemistry ; Animals ; Anisoles ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Rats ; Tannins ; chemistry

AIM: To identify the non-steroid transcription factors upregulating the expression of L-plastin in hormone-independent prostate cancer, and partly elucidate the mechanism of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. METHODS: TF SEARCH software was used to analysis the possible binding sites of transcription factors in the 3’ end of L-plastin promoter that had been identified as important part of regulation response elements. Gel shift assay and supershift assay were used to confirm the transcription factors binding the speculated response elements. PCR site-mutagenesis technique was performed to delete the binding site of transcription factor and luciferase activity assay was carried out after deletion of the binding site. RESULTS: SP-1 respond element GGTGGGGCGGGGA located at -54- -41 of L-plastin promoter was identified with the TF SEARCH software. Gel shift assay and supershift assay confirmed that SP-1 was the transcription factor binding to GGTGGGGCGGGGA. Mutant deleted the SP-1 binding-site had low-luciferase activity than that of the naive. CONCLUSION: SP-1 plays an important role in the up-regulation of L-plastin expression in hormone-independent prostate cancer.