Objective To explore the value of MRI T2*quantification of visceral iron deposition in patients with β-thalassemia major. Methods A total of one hundred and two patients with β-thalassemia major were retrospectively analyzed. They underwent genetic testing and the cardiac and (or) abdominal MRI scanning. Among them, 47 patients underwent splenectomy operation, 95 patients underwent cardiac MRI scanning, 102 underwent abdominal MRI scanning for their livers, pancreases and kidneys, and 55 underwent splenic MRI scanning. The T2* values of the hearts, livers, pancreases and kidneys were measured, meanwhile the liver iron concentrations (LIC) were measured. The levels of serum ferritin (SF) patients were measured in 81 patients. The Spearman rank correlation was employed to analyze the relationship between SF, LIC, age and each organs T2* values. Independent sample t test (normal distribution) or the Mann- Whitney U test (non-normal distribution) were used to compare the hepatic, cardiac, renal and splenic T2* values differences between patients with splenectomy and those without. Results Serum ferritin were highly positively correlated with LIC, moderately correlatied with age, moderately negatively correlated with hepatic and pancreatic T2* values, with r values of 0.833, 0.537,-0.623 and -0.403, respectively (P<0.05). There was significantly negative correlation between hepatic T2*value and LIC (r=-0.925, P<0.01). There were moderately correlations between hepatic and splenic T2*values (r=0.634, P<0.01), hepatic and pancreatic T2*values (r=0.530, P<0.01). However, those T2*values of other organs had no correlation (P>0.05). The hepatic and pancreatic T2*values were reduced (P<0.05), the renal T2* value was increased (P<0.05) in the patients with splenectomy. The cardiac T2* value was not statistically different (P>0.05). Conclusions The patients with β-thalassemia major have prone to suffer from excessive iron deposition in the heart and abdominal organs. The technology of MRI quantification of T2*values could reflect the body iron overload.

Objective:To provide reference for clinical pharmacists participating in the therapy of idiopathic membranous nephrop-athy patients. Methods:The drug use in 3 cases of idiopathic membranous nephropathy participated by clinical pharmacists was ana-lyzed. Results:When idiopathic membranous nephropathy was treated with glucocorticoid combined with tacrolimus, it was necessary to master the drug selection, dose and blood concentration of the drugs, course and time of the treatment and adverse reactions etc. In addition, the effectiveness and safety should be unified. Conclusion:Clinical pharmacists should pay close attention to the rational drug use, compliance of patients and adverse reactions through participating in the therapy of idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Objective To investigate the relationships between septic shock and vascular endothelial cells (VECs)injury by measuring the plasma CEC,vWF,and NO in septic shock patients and to explore its potential clinical values. Methods 72 patients were divided into group A including 34 infection patients but without septic shock,and group B including 38 patients with septic shock. Circulating endothelial cell(CEC),von willebrand factor(vWF),and nitric oxide(NO)in plasma were measured in all patients at the time points of accessing ICU (T0)and 24 hours after staying in ICU(T1). And the blood pressures of studied patients were also recorded at the same time points. Results The levels of CEC and vWF at each observing time point were higher in group B than those in group A(P < 0.01),while the levels of NO were lower in group B than those in group A(P < 0.01). In group B,the levels of CEC and vWF at T1 were higher than those at T0(P<0.01),while the level of NO was low-er at T1 than that at T0(P<0.01). With contrary to those of group A,circulation conditions of group B were obvi-ously unstable and high doses of vasoactive agents were needed during the therapy period. MAP in group B at each time point was obviously lower than that in group A(P<0.05). There were 7 dead cases(18%)in group B but no death in group A during the whole therapy period. Conclusion Obvious injury of vascular endothelial cells exists in septic shock patients and the injury degree is related to the severity of the disease.

Objective To quantify the heart and liver iron overload in thalassemia patients and discuss the relationship of iron deposition between them,and to evaluate the accuracy of using hepatic iron concentration ＞ 15 mg/g dry tissue as an index to predict heart iron deposition as used in clinical practice.Methods One hundred and three transfusion-dependent patients with thalassemia,who were older than 5 years,underwent MRI heart and liver measurement to obtain T2 * values.The Spearman rank correlation was employed to analyze the relationship between cardiac T2 * and liver T2 * values.By using liver T2 * =0.96 ms as standard setting,patients were divided into two groups,and the differences of cardiac T2 * values between the two groups were compared by Wilcoxon rank sum test.Then by using cardiac T2 * =10,20 ms as standard setting,patients were divided into 3 groups,and the differences of liver T2 * values among the 3 groups were compared by Wilcoxon rank sum test.The ROC curves were drawn to predict the possibility of using hepatic iron concentration ＞ 15 mg/g dry tissue as an index of cardiac iron deposition.Results The cardiac and liver T2 * values of the 103 thalassemia patients showed low correlation(r =0.453,P =0.000).With the liver T2 * value reduced,the cardiac T2* value did not decline proportionally.The cardiac T2 * value range and median of 25 patients' group whose liver T2 * ＜ 0.96 ms were 4.70 to 41.70 ms and 12.10 ms,respectively.The cardiac T2 * value range and the median of 78 patients' group whose liver T2 * ＞ 0.96 ms were 4.80 to 51.10 ms and 26.10 ms,respectively.There was statistically significant difference between those of the two groups(Z =-3.566,P =0.000).The liver T2 * value range and the median of 20 patients'group whose cardiac T2 * ＜ 10 ms was 0.68 to 3.83 ms and 1.06 ms,respectively.The liver T2 * value range and the median of 58 patients' group whose cardiac T2 * ≥20 ms were 0.74 to 14.80 ms and 1.76 ms,respectively.There was statistical difference between those of the two groups(Z =-3.553,P =0.000).The liver T2 * value range and the median of 25 patients' group with cardiac 10 ms≤T2 * ＜20 ms were 0.69 to 13.59 ms and 0.99 ms,respectively.The values were significantly different from that of T2* ≥20 ms group(Z =-3.951,P =0.000).The liver T2 * values of cardiac T2* ＜ 10 ms group was not statistically different from that of 10 ms≤T2* ＜20 ms group(Z =-0.046,P =0.964).To predict cardiac iron deposition with the index of hepatic iron concentration ＞ 15 mg/g dry tissue,the area under the ROC curve was 0.771.The sensibility was 42.2％,the specificity was 89.7％.Conclusions There is low correlation between heart and liver iron level in thalassemia patients with long-term transfusions.Patients with hepatic iron concentration ＞ 15 mg/g dry tissue have a higher incidence of heart iron deposition,but the accuracy of using hepatic iron concentration as an index to predict myocardial iron deposition is low to moderate.

Objective Using MRI-T2 * method to quantify the cardiac iron overload in patients with β-thalassemia major and to evaluate the correlation between cardiac T2 * values and serum ferritin (SF),liver iron concentration(LIC).Methods Fifty-eight over 10 years old transfusion-dependent patients with β-thalassemia major were underwent MRI heart measurement to obtain T2 * values.Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the relationship between cardiac T2*,SF,and LIC.Patients were divided into two groups based on standard setting (SF ＞2500 μg/L or LIC ＞ 15 mg/g of dry tissue).Differences of cardiac T2 * values between two groups were evaluated by Wilcoxon rank sum test with cardiac T2 * ＜ 20 ms as diagnosis standard.The sensibilities and specificities of prediction for cardiac iron deposition with the index of SF ＞ 2500 μg/L or LIC ＞ 15 mg/g dry tissue were calculated,and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed.Results The range (median) of cardiac T2 * values,SF and LIC in 58 patients were 4.7-51.1 ms (14.0 ms),1345-23 640 μg/L (5741 μg/L),9.0-＞43.0 mg/g dry tissue (41.4 mg/g),respectively.There was no linear correlation between cardiac T2 * values and SF (r =-0.240,P =0.070).Cardiac T2 * values and LIC was weakly correlated (r =-0.420,P =0.002).The range (median) of cardiac T2 * values was 6.1-47.6 ms (23.7 ms) in 7 patients of SF ≤ 2500 μg/L group.The range (median) of cardiac T2 * values was 4.7-51.1 ms(13.5 ms) in 51 patients of SF ＞2500 μg/L group.There was no statistically significant difference between two groups (Z =-0.489,P =0.625).The range (median) of cardiac T2 * values was 24.4-51.1 ms (44.8 ms) in 5 patients of the LIC ≤15 mg/g dry tissue group.The range (median) of cardiac T2 * values was 4.7-45.5 ms (13.2 ms) in 53 patients of HIC ＞ 15 mg/g dry tissue group.There was significant difference between T2 * values of the two groups(Z =-2.895,P =0.004).To predict cardiac iron deposition,the sensibilities and specificities were 90.9％ (30/33) and 16.0％ (4/25) for the index of SF ＞2500 μg/L,100.0％ (33/33) and 20.0％(5/25) for LIC ＞ 15 mg/g dry tissue respectively.The areas under the ROC curve were 0.652 with the index of SF and 0.775 with the index of LIC.Conclusions MRI-T2 * method can directly quantify the cardiac iron overload in patients with β-thalassemia major.There is no linear correlation between cardiac T2 * values and SF.Cardiac T2 * values and LIC is weakly correlated.Using SF or LIC as an indirect index to predict cardiac iron deposition is not reliable in clinical.

Objective To explore the value of MRI-R2 * and to compare clinical effect of two iron chelators(deferasirox and deferoxamine) in iron-overloaded patients.Methods By completely randomized balanced design,24 iron-overloaded patients were randomly divided into 2 groups,which consisted of 12 patients treated with deferasirox and 12 patients treated with deferoxamine.The planned deferasirox dose was 40 mg· kg-1 · d-1,and the deferoxamine dose was no less than 50 mg · kg-1 · d-1 All patients underwent quantitative MRI at the time points of the primary screening,6 months and 12 months.Pair Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the differences of liver R2 * values of the 2 groups at various time points respectively.Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the differences of change rate of liver R2 * values between the two groups at the time point of 6 months,12 months,respectively.Results Deferasirox group's liver R2 * values of primary screening,6 months and 12 months were 1081,889 and 712 Hz,while deferoxamine group's liver R2 * values were 1042,838 and 488 Hz.There was no statistically significant difference between liver R2 * values of two groups at primary screening (Z =-0.029,P ＞ 0.05).The change rate of liver R2 * of deferasirox group at 12 month was-32％,while it was-58％ for the deferoxamine group,and there was statistically significant difference between the two groups (Z =-3.060,P ＜0.01).The change rate of serum ferritin of deferasirox group at 12 month was-15％,while it was -55％ for the deferoxamine group,and there was statistically significant difference between the two groups (Z =-2.945,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion By using MRI-R2*,it suggest that both deferasirox and deferoxamine can effectively remove liver iron and deferoxamine is superior to deferasirox.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignant tumor of the liver, and in the process of HCC development, early identification and timely treatment can significantly improve patient survival rate. Imaging techniques play an important role in the monitoring of chronic liver diseases, evolution of cirrhotic nodules, and early diagnosis of HCC. Multi-phase or dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflect the changes in blood supply during the evolution of liver cirrhotic nodules. Functional MRI can reflect the structure and function of living organisms at the molecular level. The application of liver-specific contrast agents can improve the detection rate and identification of early-stage HCC. With the development of MRI techniques and the accumulation of clinical experience in functional imaging will further improve the diagnostic rate of early-stage HCC.

Objective To explore the feasibility,reproducibility and reliability of the T 2* MRI technique in quantifying different concentrations of MnCl2water phantoms at 3.0T.Methods The water phantoms with different concentrations of MnCl2underwent T2* imaging at both 1.5T and 3.0T MRI,and repeated imaging at 3.0T MRI after 1 month.A Spearman correlation was used to determine the relationship of T2* values and Mn concentrations,and established the linear regression equations by using the simple linear regression.W ilcoxon signed-rank sum test and Bland-Altman method were used to evaluate the reproducibility of twice T 2* measurements at 3.0T,and the interclass correlation coefficient(ICC)was calculated.Results T2* values of the phantoms were negatively correlated to Mn concentrations(r= -1.000,P<0.001),and R2* values of the phantoms were positively correlated to Mn concentrations(r=1.000,P<0.001). T2* values of the phantoms measured at 3.0T were positively correlated to that measured at 1.5T(r=1.000,P<0.001).The linear regression equation was T2* 3.0T =0.651T2* 1.5T +0.041.There was no statistical difference of T2* values between the two measurements at 3.0T (Z= -1.732,P=0.083),and ICC was 1.000.Conclusion 3.0T MRI is feasible to quantify cardiac iron deposition.

Objective To explore the significance of ADC value combined with MRI signs on identifying benign and malignant breast lump lesions with the type of TICⅡ.Methods 187 patients with breast lump lesions of TICⅡ,which were confirmed by surgical pathology,proceeded MRI.The ADC value,early-phase enhancement rate,length of lesions,lobulated appearance and spiculation, inverted nipple,thickening of the skin and the length of ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes were analyzed and recorded.T-tests was used to analyzed the measurement data,χ2test was used to analysis the attribute data.The ROC curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of ADC value and MRI signs.Results The ADC value was (1.418±0.299)×10-3mm2/s and(0.860±0.142)× 10-3mm2/s (P<0.01)for breast benign and malignant lesions respectively,while the early-phase enhancement rate were (170.387± 74.580)% and (160.778±39.786)%(P=0.258)respectively.When ADC values were used for differential diagnosis of breast benign and malignant lesions with a threshold of 1.017×10-3mm2/s,the area under the sensitivity and specificity were 89.0% and 98.0% The sensitivity and specificity of lobulated appearance,spiculation,inverted nipple and thickening of the skin were 92.6% and 33.3%, 88.2% and 88.2%,20.5% and 94.1%,35.3% and 88.2%,respectively.When the 1.0 cm was used as the threshold of the length of ipsilateral axillary lymph,its sensitivity and specificity were 47.8% and 80.4%.The ROC curve of early-phase enhancement rate showed no diagnostic capability(P>0.05).Conclusion ADC value combined with MRI features are helpful to improve the sensitivity and specificity in breast lesions with the type of TICⅡ.

Mechano-growth factor (MGF) is one of IGF-1 isoforms. MGF is mechanosensitive and has important functions in muscle hypertrophy, regeneration and nerve injury recovery. In this study, MGF cDNA (330 bp) was cloned from stretched osteoblasts by RT-PCR. In order to avoid prolin residue inhibiting enterokinase cleavage, 9bp of MGF cDNA 5' end sequence was truncated by primer, then the obtained truncated MGF (des(1-3)MGF) cDNA (321 bp) was subcloned in pET32a(+) vector to construct a prokaryotic recombination expression plasmid. Trx/des(1-3)MGF fusion protein, existing in forms of solution, was expressed in transformed Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3) by IPTG induction at 30 degres C. The supernatant of cell lysates was subjected to ion exchange chromatography and Ni2+ metal affinity chromatography, and the fusion protein was obtained with the purity over 95%. After the fusion protein was cleaved by enterokinase, Trx and des(1-3)MGF was isolated by reverse-phase HPLC. Through these procedures, des(1-3) MGF was obtained with the purity of 98%. The protein molecular mass was conformity to the theoretical value by SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry analysis. The purified des(1-3)MGF was incubated with MC3T3-E1 for cell proliferation and migration assays. The results show that des(1-3)MGF exhibited more facilitative effects on proliferation and migration of MC3T3-E1 than that of des(1-3)IGF-1.
Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Osteoblasts ; metabolism ; Protein Isoforms ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; STAT5 Transcription Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics