Objective To investigate the value of whole-liver MR perfusion imaging(MRPI)for early detection of coagulative necrosis after percutaneous ethanol injection(PEI)in rabbit liver VX_2 tumors. Methods VX_2 tumor cell suspension was inoculated into rabbit liver and liver VX_2 tumors[diameter of (2.6?0.6)cm]were induced in 10 male rabbits.MR T_1 WI and T_2 WI were performed to monitor the development of the liver tumor on the 2~(nd)and 3~(rd)week after inoculation.Whole-liver MRPI was performed in the 10 rabbits with liver VX_2 tumors before and 6 days after PEI therapy(1.0 ml ethanol was injected into the most enhanced tumor region under CT guiding).Signal intensity(SI)values of untreated tumor parts and treated areas 6 days after PEI were recorded respectively.The steepest slope(SS)and bolus arrival time (TO)of SI-time curves were measured.The t-Student test was used in statistical analysis of the data.Results There was significant difference in MRPI data between untreated tumor parts[TO:(16.0?1.2)s and SS: 38.9?2.2]and treated areas[TO:(50.8?5.9)s and SS:6.0?1.2]6 days after PEI(t was 15.8 and -39.6 respectively,P

This experiment aimed to explore and research the process of preparing baicalein and wogonin through liquid fermentation with Bacillus natto. Active enzymes of produced by B. natto was used for the biological transformation of baclin and wogonoside, in order to increase the content of the haicalein and wogonin in the scutellaria. With the content of the baicalein and wogonin as evaluating indexes, the effects of carbon source, nitrogen source, the types and suitable concentration of inorganic salt, medium pH, granularities of medical materials, liquid volume in flask, shaking speed, liquid-to-solid ratio, fermentation time on the fermentation process were studied. The optimal process conditions for liquid fermentation of scutellaria were 1.0% of peptone, 0.05% of NaCl, pH at 6, the granularities of medical materials of the scutellaria screened through 40-mesh sifter, 33% of liquid, shaker incubator speed at 200 r x min(-1), liquid-to-solid ratio of 5:1, temperature at 37 degrees C, fermentation for 6 days, baclin's conversion rate at 97.6% and wogonoside's conversion rate at 97% in the scutellaria. According to the verification test, the process was stable and feasible, and could provide data reference for the industrial production.
Bacillus subtilis ; metabolism ; Biotransformation ; Fermentation ; Flavanones ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; metabolism ; Soy Foods ; microbiology

OBJECTIVESTo study the correlation and effect of smoking on the semen quality of men.

METHODS61 men, non-smoker, who had one or more children as normal fertility control group and adult males attending the infertility clinic, including 110 non-smokers and 191 smokers, were recruited for the study. The smokers were divided into subgroups according to the amount and duration of smoking. Semen parameters(volume, sperm density, viability, motility and morphology) were examined and seminal plasma contents of Zn, Cu and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined.

RESULTSThe semen volume, pH, sperm density, viability and forward progression, as well as the seminal plasma contents of Zn, Cu and SOD were much lower in the medium, heavy and long-term smokers than in the non-smokers(P < 0.01). The sperm density, viability and forward progression, and the seminal plasma Zn, Cu and SOD levels were negatively correlation with the amount and duration of cigarette smoking(P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe effect of smoking on semen parameters of infertile men were dose-effect and time-effect relationship. Medium, heavy and long-term smoking adversely affected the semen quality in a population of men visiting the infertility clinic.

Humans ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Semen ; physiology ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Statistics as Topic

OBJECTIVETo probe into clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on diabetic nephropathies and the mechanism.

METHODSUsing multi-central, randomized and blind methods, 130 cases of diabetic nephropathy were divided into an observation group and a control group, 65 cases in each group. They were treated by routine diabetic therapy, and in the observation group, acupuncture at Quchi (LI 11), Zhigou (TE 6), Hegu (LI 4), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Fenglong (ST 40), Diji (SP 8), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taichong (LR 3), Tianshu (ST 25), Gaohuang (BL 43), Shenshu (BL 23), Zhongwan (CV 12), Zhongji (CV 3) were added with needling method of harmonizing spleen-stomach. While in the control group, acupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23), Taixi (KI 3), Sanyingjiao (SP 6), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Guanyuan (CV 4), Shousanli (LI 10), Waiguan (TE 5), Yangxi (LI 5), Liangqiu (ST 34), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Neiting (ST 44), Huaroumen (ST 24), Dachangshu (BL 25). The treatment was given twice a day in the two groups. Clinical therapeutic effects were assessed according to clinical symptoms and signs, blood sugar, blood lipids, urinary albumin excretion rate, urinary monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal blood flow, etc..

RESULTSThe needling method of harmonizing spleen-stomach not only could improve symptoms and signs of the patients, and also had benign regulative action on metabolism of blood sugar and lipids, and GFR, renal blood flow and urinary albumin level, with significant or very significant differences as compared with the control group ( P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe needling method of harmonizing spleen-stomach is an effective method for diabetic nephropathies, which can improve progressive renal lesion induced by abnormal metabolism of blood sugar and lipids, improve renal blood flow and GFR, decrease urinary albumin secretion, inhibit over expression of MCP-1, protect glomerulus and renal tubules, so as to improve renal function and delay renal lesion.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; therapy ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Stomach ; physiopathology

Coronary artery disease (CAD)is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, and consumes a considerable amount of medical resources every year.Clopidogrel is a first-line antiplate-let therapy for CHD, butit is associated with substantial variability in PK and pharmacodynamics re-sponse. To date, gene variants explain only a smallproportion of the variability.The study aimed to identify new genetic loci-modifying antiplatelet response to clopidogrel in Chinese patients with CAD by a systematic analysis combining antiplatelet effects and PK, and further to investigate the PON1 gene promoter DNA methylation and genetic variations possibly influencing clinical outcomes in pa-tients undergoing PCI. We identified novel variants in two transporter genes (SLC14A2rs12456693, ATP-binding cassette [ABC]A1 rs2487032) and in N6AMT1 (rs2254638) associated with P2Y12 reac-tion unit (PRU) and plasma active metabolite (H4) concentration. These new variants dramatically im-proved the predictability of PRU variability to 37.7％. The associations between these loci and PK pa-rameters of clopidogrel and H4 were observed in additional patients, and its function on the activation of clopidogrel was validated in liver S9 fractions (P<0.05). Rs2254638 was further identified to exert a marginal risk effect formajor adverse cardiac events in an independent cohort.Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that PON1methylation level at CpG site-161 (OR=0.95; 95％ CI=0.92–0.98;P<0.01)and the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors(OR=0.48;95％ CI=0.26–0.89;P<0.01) were associated with decreased risk of bleeding events. In conclusion, new genetic variants were systematically identified as risk factors for the reduced efficacy of clopidogrel treatment.The ab-normal expression of DNA methylation-regulating key genes in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacody-namics pathways of clopidogrel and aspirin may modify clinical outcomes in dual antiplatelet-treated pa-tients undergoing PCI.

Adult ; Humans ; Indium ; adverse effects ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of total number of removed regional lymph nodes (LN) during esophagectomy on TNM staging and long-term survival.

METHODSBetween 1984 and 1989, a total of 1098 patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus were surgically treated, and the data were retrospectively analyzed. The survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate and univariate analysis were performed using Cox proportional hazard model and Log-rank test respectively in order to compare the survival difference and the impact of <6 or > or =6 removed LN on TNM staging and survival.

RESULTSThe shortest follow-up time was 10 years with a follow-up rate of 91.4%. Of these 1098 patients, 378 patients were found to have regional LN metastases with a LN metastasis rate of 34.4%. Totally, 4157 LN were removed and tumor spreading into the lymph node was documented in 800 with a lymph node metastasis degree of 19.2%. The mean number of removed LN in each esophgectomy was 3.8. According to the number of total removed LN, patients were divided into group A (removed LN <6, N=825) and group B (removed LN > or =6, N=273). The survival of group A was worse than that of group B. The depth of tumor invasion, degree of lymph node metastasis, tumor location, and tumor residual status were the most important prognostic factors. Even though the lymphatic metastasis rate in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (30.3% vs. 46.9% P < 0.001), the LN metastasis degree was higher in group A than that in group B (21.2% vs. 17.5% P = 0.002) due to less number of removed LN in group A than in group B. With the stratification analysis according to the number of involved lymph nodes, for patients without LN spreading, the survival in group A was significantly worse than that in group B (P = 0.003), but in the patients with only one or > or =2 positive nodes, the survival was similar (P = 0.919 and 0.182, respectively). When stratified patients according to TNM stage, for stage IIa patients (T2N0M0, T3N0M0), the survival in group A was significantly worse than that in group B (P = 0.006), while such difference did not exist in patients with stage IIb or stage lIII(P = 0.302 and 0.108, respectively).

CONCLUSIONA large series of retrospective study on advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus demonstrates that the number of metastatic LN is an important prognostic factor, therefore, it should be considered when refining UICC-TNM classification for esophageal cancer. If the total number of LN removed during each esophagectomy is less than 6, the occult positive regional LN might be missed, resulting in an inaccurate N classification and incorrect staging. Removal of > or = LN for each esophageal cancer patient during esophagectomy recommended by UICC is rational and should be complied with.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and clinical significance of 64-multislice spiral computed tomography angiography(MSCTA) with image fusion for the anatomy of perigastric arteries.

METHODSA total of 53 patients underwent abdominal 64-MSCTA, among whom 26 patients with gastric cancer underwent gastrectomy. Using volume rendering techniques, computed tomography angiography(CTA) of perigastric arteries and the stomach were reconstructed respectively, and then the images were fused together. The branching pattern of the celiac trunk and the origins and courses along the stomach of the 10 perigastric arteries were assessed. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 64-MSCTA were determined based on intraoperative findings.

RESULTSCTA clearly showed the celiac trunk. The most common branching pattern of the celiac trunk was Michels type I( in 46 patients(86.8%). The anatomy of perigastric arteries and stomach could be clearly demonstrated from any angle according to image fusion. The left gastric artery and the right gastroepiploic artery were shown in 100%, the left gastroepiploic artery 94.3%(50/53), the right gastric artery 83.0%(44/53), short gastric artery 58.5%(31/53), posterior gastric artery 49.1%(26/53), the replaced left hepatic artery 15.1%(8/53). The accessory left hepatic artery, accessory left gastric artery and replaced right hepatic artery were all identified in 7.5%(4/53) patients. The accuracy of preoperative CTA in term of correctly identifying perigastric arteries ranged from 84.6% to 100%, the sensitivity 82.6% to 100%, and the specificity was 100% for all the perigastric arteries.

CONCLUSIONS64-MSCTA can clearly reveal individual perigastric arteries. The anatomy of the stomach and perigastric arteries can be shown in vivo by fused image, and can provide guidance for gastrectomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; methods ; Arteries ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Preoperative Care ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach ; blood supply ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDBoth ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and limb remote ischemic postconditioning (LRIPOC) have been shown to possess significantly different cardioprotective effects against the myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI), but no study has compared the anti-inflammatory effects of IPC and LRIPOC during myocardial IRI process. We hypothesized that IPC and LRIPOC would produce different anti-inflammatory effects in an in vivo rat model with myocardial IRI.

METHODSEighty rats were randomly allocated into four equal groups: sham group, IRI group, IPC group and LRIPOC group. In 10 rats randomly selected from each group, serum levels of TNF-α, HMGB1, ICAM1, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-10 were assessed, and infarct size was determined. In another 10 rats of each group, myocardial levels of TNF-α, HMGB1, ICAM1, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-10 in both ischemic and non-ischemic regions were measured.

RESULTSThe infarct size was significantly lower in IPC and LRIPOC groups than in IRI group. The serum and myocardial levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, HMGB1, ICAM1, IL-1 and IL-6 during reperfusion were significantly reduced in IPC and LRIPOC groups compared to IRI group. As compared to the IPC group, infarct size, serum level of TNF-α at 60 minutes of reperfusion, serum levels of HMGB1 and ICAM1 at 120 minutes of reperfusion, myocardial levels of TNF-α, ICAM1, IL-1 and IL-6 in the ischemic region, myocardial levels of ICAM1, IL-1 and IL-6 in the non-ischemic region were significantly increased in the LRIPOC group.

CONCLUSIONSIn the rats with myocardial IRI, IPC produces more powerful inhibitory effects on local myocardial and systemic inflammatory responses than LRIPOC. This may be partly attributed to more potent cardioprotection produced by IPC.

Animals ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; methods ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; immunology ; metabolism ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Abdominal Wall ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Mesentery ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; etiology ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed