Objective To explore the clinical value of 256-slice CT whole hepatic perfusion imaging in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Twenty-three patients with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent whole hepatic perfusion with the JOG technique one week before TACE.The scanning data of cancer and liver tissues were analyzed using the perfusion software.The cancer tissue perfusion was repeated 4 to 6 weeks after treatment and was compared with that before treatment.Results (1) Before TACE,the HCC lesions were shown on the hepatic arterial perfusion (HAP) map as homogeneous hyper-perfusion lesions in 8 patients and as inhomogeneous hyper-perfusion lesions in 15 patients.The HAP and hepatic arterial perfusion index (HAPI) values of the tumor were higher than those of the liver tissues,while the hepatic portal perfusion (HPP) values of the tumor was lower than that of the liver tissues.The differences were all significant (P ＜ 0.05).(2) Mter TACE,the tumors were totally filled with lipiodol in 3 patients,partially filled with lipiodol in 13 patients,and sparsely filled with lipiodol in the remaining 3 patients.There was no blood perfusion in the lipiodol-filled areas and in the cancer necrotic tissues,but in the sparsely or partially lipiodol-filled areas blood perfusion could still be seen.21 patients received another session of TACE 6 to 8 weeks later.The results between the hepatic arterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and the CT perfusion were 100％ matching.The HAP and HAPI values of the tumor decreased when compared with before treatment,and the difference was significant (both P ＜0.05).The HPP values decreased slightly with no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05),while higher HAP and HPI and lower HPP were observed in the active cancer tissues when compared with the liver tissues after treatment (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion 256-slice MSCT whole liver perfusion imaging can quantitatively reflect abnormal perfusion of hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and postoperative active tissues,and has important guiding significance in the preoperative evaluation,and the postoperative follow up of patients treated with TACE.

Objective To analyze the clinical features of 35 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) associated with other autoimmune diseases (ADMG). Methods One hundred seventy MG patients were divided into 2 groups. One group included MG patients with autoimmune diseases ( n=35), and the other included MG patients without auto?immune diseases (NADMG, n=135). Clinical features such as gender, age of onset, types of MG, myasthenic crisis, thy?mus abnormalities, different therapies, ocular MG progressing to general MG, and relapse of MG within one year were compared between ADMG and NADMG. Results 85.7%ADMG patients were female which was higher compared with NADMG (P< 0.001); median age of onset was 40 years old (23~45 years old) in ADMG group which was younger than NADMG group. Ocular MG and thymic hyperplasia were more frequent in ADMG group than in NADMG group (45.7%vs. 24.4%, P=0.013;14.3%vs. 1.5%,P=0.001,respectively). Other clinical features such as myasthenic crisis, thymoma, different therapies, ocular MG progressing to general MG, and relapse of MG within one year were not signifi?cantly different between the two groups. In multivariate analysis, female (OR=4.76, 95% CI:1.64-13.77; P= 0.004), age of onset (OR=0.96, 95%CI:0.92-0.99;P=0.019), ocular MG (OR=3.10, 95%CI:1.30-7.41;P=0.011) and thy? mic hyperplasia(OR=16.26, 95%CI:2.22-119.11;P=0.006) were significantly different between the two groups. Con?clusions ADMG is more common in female patients with ocular MG and thymic hyperplasia.

Objective:To prove hemocyanin is an important high-molecular-weight allergen from Eriocheir sinensis.Methods:The proteins were extracted from Eriocheir sinensis tissue with lysate extraction method .The protein components were analyzed by SDS-PAGE,two-dimensional electrophoresis and Western blot.Serum IgE from allergic donors identified a candidate protein,which was char-acterized by MALDI-TOF/TOF.The immune property of the candidate protein was tested using Dot-blot.Results: By SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis,we prove that the native protein components were completely.According to the Western blot result,at least 18 components could react with the positive serum.Among them, two 70-80 kD proteins had the same isoelectric point.So,may be they were the same protein.MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis results showed that the suspected proteins were hemocyanin.A sensitization frequency of 61%was observed in Eriocheir sinensis patients by Dot-blot.Conclusion:Hemocyanin was identified as an important high-molecular-weight allergen from Eriocheir sinensis.

BACKGROUND:As propofol has a neuroprotective effect, and umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cel s have a high differentiation potential, their combination wil have a better therapeutic effect on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of propofol pretreatment combined with umbilical blood mesenchymal stem cel transplantation on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. METHODS:Sixty-three Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into model, propofol, and combined group (n=21 per group). Rat models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury were made using ligation of the middle cerebral artery occlusion in the three groups. Rats in the combined group were given 100 mg/kg propofol injection at 1 day before injury and injection of umbilical blood mesenchymal stem cel s via the tail vein (0.5 mL, 2×109/L). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model group, the neurological function was improved significantly in the propofol and combined group, especial y in the latter one, presenting with a remarkable mitigation in brain injury and an increased level of survivn mRNA in the rat hippocampus. The content of serum malondialdehyde was lower but the activity of superoxide dismutase was higher in the combined group compared with the propofol group. These findings indicate that propofol pretreatment combined with umbilical blood mesenchymal stem cel transplantation has better therapeutic effects than propofol pretreamtnet alone for improving cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Objective To study the correlation between structure of b D -glucan derivatives from Poria cocos sclerotiuma and anti gastric cancer activities of elderly rats.Methods A water insoluble (1→3)-β-D-glucan (PCS3-Ⅱ ) isolated from fresh sclerotium of Poria cocos was sulfated,carboxymethylated,methylated,hydroxyethylated and hydroxypropylated,respectively,to prepare five water-soluble derivatives.Their activities of the native β-glucan and five derivatives against gastric cancer cell strains of MKN-45,SGC 7901and MKN-28 were tested in vitro and in vivo.Results The native β-glucan did not show any anti-gastric cancer activity,while the sulfated and carboxymethylated derivatives significantly exhibited the anti gastric cancer activity against MKN-45,SGC-7901 and MKN-28 cells in vitro,and elderly rats with MKN-45 transplanted tumor,especially.The gastric cancer inhibition rates of elderly rats were 32.7％ and 36.4％ for the 100 mg/kg sulfated and carboxymethylated derivatives,respectively.Conclusions The fresh sclerotium of Poria cocos polysaccharides can not show any anti gastric cancer activity in vitro,but the sulfated and carboxymethylated derivatives may increase the inhibition effect.Water-solubility,higher chain stiffness and relatively molecular weight would be benefit to increase anti-elderly gastric cancer activity of polysaccharides from Poria cocos sclerotiuma.

Objective To study activation effect of a natural compound baicalein on cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator(CFTR) chloride channel.Methods A cell-based fluorescence assay was used to determine CFTR-mediate iodide influx rate/dt(mmol?L-1?s-1)] activated by baicalein(the concentrations were 0.18,0.55,1.65,5,15,44,133 and 400 ?mol?L-1).Results The Ka of flavonoid baicalein stimulating CFTR was about 16 ?mol?L-1.The half of maximal activity was reached in ten minutes and the activation disappeared in 20 min after baicalein was washed out.The activation of baicalein was not affected obviously under different concentrations of Forsklin(0,20,50 and 100 nmol?L-1)and the activation could be totally inhibited by CFTRinh-172.Conclusion Baicalein can stimulate CFTR-mediated iodide influx in a dose-dependent way and its activity manifests a rapid and reversible characteristic.It might work in both elevating CFTR protein phosphorylation and direct binding way.

BACKGROUND:Electroacupuncture has promoting effects on the functional recovery of the injured spinal cord, can decrease pain, and elevate postoperative effect after acute spinal cord contusion.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on apoptosis in the injured site after spinal cord contusion, and analyze its neuroprotective effects on neurological function in rats with spinal cord contusion. METHODS:A total of 66 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into: sham surgery group (n=20), spinal cord contusion group (n=20), electroacupuncture stimulation group (n=20) because six rats were excluded due to modeling failure and death. Before model establishment, at 1, 3 days, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after model establishment, motor functions were evaluated by BBB score and the inclined plate test. At 3 days after model establishment, apoptosis of nerve cels could be detected in the site of injury in each experimental group using TUNEL assay. mRNA and protein expression of bax, bcl-2 and caspase-3 was detected surrounding the injury site using RT-PCR and western blot assay. Morphological changes in the site of injury could be observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The regeneration of nerve fibers was observed using HRP tracing. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Motor function score was significantly increased at various time points in the 2nd week of treatment in the electroacupuncture stimulation group than in the spinal cord contusion group (P< 0.05). (2) Apoptotic index was significantly lower in the electroacupuncture stimulation group than in the spinal cord contusion group at 3 days after model establishment (P < 0.05). (3) mRNA and protein expression of bax and caspase-3 was significantly lower in the electroacupuncture stimulation group than in the spinal cord contusion group at 72 hours (P < 0.05); bcl-2 gene and protein expression was significantly higher (P < 0.05). (4) The number of HRP-positive nerve fibers was highest in the sham surgery group, folowed by electroacupuncture stimulation group, and lowest in the spinal cord contusion group at 4 weeks (P < 0.05). Results indicated that electroacupuncture plays a protective role on the spinal cord contusion by reducing apoptosis of nerve cels at the site of injury.

Objective To evaluate the susceptibility of Chlamydia trachomatis clinical isolates to rifampin, and assess the relationship between rpoB mutations and antibiotic resistance in them.Methods A microculture method was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of rifampin in 52 Chlamydia trachomatis clinical isolates.The rpoB gene was amplified from all the clinical isolates and a standard strain of Chlamydia trachomatis followed by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP)analysis.Sequencing of PCR products was carried out for two clinical isolates.Results No rifampin-resistant strain was found among these clinical isolates.The MIC of rifampin varied from 0.004 to 0.030 mg/L Neither SSCP analysis nor sequencing showed rpoB mutations.Conclusions No rpoB mutations were found in Chlamydia trachomatis isolates from patients unresponsive to rifampin.The unresponsiveness to rifampin may be attributed to multiple factors.

Objective To examine the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with arterial stiffness and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in elderly hypertension patients.Methods We recruited 166 elderly patients [mean age,(80.8 ± 6.2) years] with primary hypertension.Arterial stiffness was assessed by carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV).Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was determined according to the Devereux formula.Based on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels,the patients were divided into two groups,the low 25-hydroxyvitamin D group (＜20 μg/L)and the high 25-hydroxyvitamin D group (≥20 μg/L).Results Faster cfPWV and larger LVMI values were observed in the low 25-hydroxyvitamin D group as compared with the high 25-hydroxyvitamin Dgroup [(15.00±3.04) m/s vs.(11.26±3.09) m/s;(120.14±25.82) g/m2 vs.(96.74±23.10) g/m2 ; t=-6.79,-5.16,respectively; both P=0.000].Multiple liner regression analysis showed that the 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was independently associated with LVMI (β=0.215,P=0.001) and cfPWV (β=-0.469,P＜0.001).Conclusions Serum 25-hyroxyvitamin D is independently associated with arterial stiffness,LVH Vitamin D may play an important role in the pathogenesis of arterial stiffness and LVH in elderly hypertension patients.

Objective To establish homogeneous immunoassay for detecting serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) by using light induced chemiluminescent immunoassay (LiCA). Methods Polyclonal antibodies of cTnI were coated on the receptor particles, monoclonal antibodies of cTnI were biotinylated, and the donor particles were coated with streptavidin, all of which were composed of LiCA reagents. The optimal test conditions and analytical performance of the detection method were studied. Results The method was rapid, sensitive, and detection time was 17.5 min.The analytical sensitivity was 0.045 ng/mL and the functional sensitivity was 0.053 ng/mL.The recovery rate was 104.96%-108.21%;The within-run and the between-run coefficients of variation were 3.88%-5.53%and 7.60%-8.75%, respectively. The interference rates for the endogenous substances were less than 10%. The reference value of cTnI was less than 1.05 ng/mL;Results of cTnI LiCA correlated well with direct chemiluminescence detection (r2 =0.979). Conclusions This approach can be used for the quantitative detection of serum cTnI, and it is homogeneous and is free of clean separation. It provides a convenient, highly sensitive detection platform for clinical practice.