BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering provides a new way for the repair of urinary tissue and organ defects.Urinary tissue engineering has shown a bright prospect.OBJECTIVE: To review the latest research on urinary tissue engineering at national and international level.METHODS: With the keywords of tissue engineering, urology, scaffold, vascularization in Chinese and in English,respectively, a computer-based search for articles published from January 2000 to January 2016 was performed in CNKI and PubMed databases. The articles addressing urology tissue engineering, scaffolds and vascularization were collected,summarized and analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The selection and cultivation of seed cells, scaffold material performance, tissue construction in vitro, and degree of vascularization all make an important influence on the repair of urinary injuries. As different seed cells hold different biological characteristics, we should make full consideration prior to choosing an appropriate seed cell, so as to pave a good foundation for urinary tissue engineering. Scaffolds with good three-dimensional structure can promote the cell growth and proliferation, tissue in-growth and vascularization.Tissue-engineered materials are superior to traditional repair materials, but still on initial stage, and further large scale trials will be necessary. Moreover, some problems needed to be solved, such as the regenerated tissue with incomplete function different from natural tissues, and regeneration failure caused by biological stent rejection.

Cestode Infections ; parasitology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

Objectives To evaluate the value of computed tomography (CT) features of non-thyroidal masses of the neck (NTMN).MethodsThe clinical data of 264 patients with NTMN proved by histology from 2005 to 2010 in our hospital were collected retrospectively.Among them,benign lesions were found in 159 patients (60.2％ ),malignant ones in 105 patients (39.8％ ),and in lymphadenopathy in 111 patients (42.0％ ),non-lymphadenopathy in 153 patients (58.0％).The CT features including lowdensity areas,low-density areas of enhancement ratio,the edge of lesion,lesion morphology and the clinical baselines including the sex,single or multiple lesions,lymphadenopathy or non lymphadenopathy were compared for appreciating the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis.Categorical variables were tested with the x2 or Fisher exact tests.Results Independently using each of those four radiological signs ( CT value of low density area,the enhancement ratio of low density area,border and morphology of lesion)and three clinical indexes (sex,single or multiple,lymphadenopathy or non lymphadenopathy) to diagnose the malignant tumors,the sensitivity and specificity were 77.1％ ( 81/105 ),81.9％ ( 86/105 ),71.4％(75/105),56.2％ ( 59/105 ),64.8％ ( 68/105 ),75.2％ ( 79/105 ),82.9％ ( 87/105 ) and 50.9％(81/159),44.7％ ( 71/159 ),73.0％ ( 116/159 ),67.3％ ( 107/159 ),51.6％ ( 82/159 ),73.0％(116/159),84.9％ (135/159) respectively.When four or more signs were showed,the sensitivity and specificity were 86.7％ (91/105) and 74.8％ (119/159) respectively.The special CT features were included mottled high density sign in schwannoma ( P =0.000,25/41 )and regular calcification in hemangioma(P =0.000,7/18 ).Carotid body tumor was often occurred at carotid artery (P =0.000,23/24),and the most of mass of paravertebral was neurogenic tumor(P =0.001,9/50).ConclusionsThe diagnosis of NTMN can be improved by combining CT features and clinical baseline.

Objective To study the DCE-MRI findings of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods 26 new patients di-agnosed laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer by pathology were collected and took DCE-MRI before therapy.The TIC type,ADC value,peak time (Tpeak),peak signal enhancement percentage (SERmax),positive enhancement integral(PEI),maximum slope of increase(MSI)and maximum slope of decrease(MSD)were obtained respectively.These semi-quantitative parameters of primary cancer,normal pharyngeal tissue and the same layer neck muscles were compared and P <0.05 was considered statistical signifi-cance.Results The TIC types for primary tumor including type Ⅰ(5),type Ⅱ(6),type Ⅲ(1 5),a significant difference of Tpeak、MSI、MSD were observed(P < 0.05 )no difference in ADC values (P > 0.05 )was found.Different b values (b = 300 s/mm2 , 500 s/mm2 )for ADC values were significantly different.There was statistical significance in semi-parameters among the primary cancer,normal pharyngeal wall tissue and the same layer neck muscles.Setting MSI value 58.32 threshold to distinguish abnormal and normal tissues,sensitivity and specificity both were 84.6%.Conclusion DCE-MRI can reflect morphology and signal differences among neck muscles,normal and abnormal laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tissues,providing help for diagnosis of primary carcino-ma.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of applying spectral CT material suppressed iodine (MSI) imaging as virtual plain CT scan to replace traditional non-contrast (TNC) CT in head and neck neoplasms. Methods A total of 52 patients with initial diagnosis of head and neck neoplasms underwent TNC CT scanning and spectrum mode enhanced scanning in the head and neck with spectral CT. With GSI Volume Viewer software from GE AW4.6 workstation, the enhanced scanning data were processed and MSI images were acquired. The CT values of different tissues (fat, erector spinae, cervical vertebrae, thyroid, and brain parenchyma) and the enhancement rate in erector spinae, carotid sinus were compared between MSI and TNC images. Image quality was objectively evaluated in noise and SNR for MSI and TNC images, while the subjective evaluation included the visibility of lesions, subjective acceptance rate, diagnostic efficacy (with/without lesions or lesion calcification, necrosis). Radiation dose including volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and effective dose (ED) was compared between MSI and TNC. Results (1) CT values of erector spinae on MSI and TNC imaging were(52 ± 6)and(52 ± 7)HU respectively, and the difference between the two image modes was not significant(t=0.39,P>0.05). CT values on MSI and TNC Imaging were[-74 (-86,-59)HU]and[-79(-73,-61)HU]for fat (Z=-2.71, P<0.05),[139(121,196)HU]and[282 (237,336) HU,Z=-5.46]for vertebrae (Z=-5.46, P<0.05),[57(48,61)HU]and[96(74,110) HU]for thyroid (Z=-4.85, P<0.05),[35(32,39)HU]and[35(32,39)HU]for brain parenchyma (Z=-4.74, P<0.05) respectively. (2) There was no significant difference in enhancement rate of erector spinae between MSI and TNC imaging 1.15(1.07,1.20) and 1.14(1.03,1.26) respectively, Z=-5.50, P>0.05). The difference of carotid sinus enhancement rate was significant 5.75(4.70,6.73) and 4.37(3.91,5.61) respectively, Z=-5.50, P<0.05). (3) The noise of MSI[10.61(8.34,13.57) HU)]was higher than that of TNC [9.32(7.40,11.42) HU](Z=-2.52,P<0.05), and the SNR of MSI [-6.59(-8.59—-4.25)] was lower than that of TNC[-7.94(-10.25,-5.51)] (Z=-2.73,P<0.05). (4) Median scores of subjective imaging quality evaluation were 4(3.00,4.75) and 4(3.00,4.00) in MSI and TNC images respectively, and the difference was not significant(Z=-0.45,P>0.05).Unacceptable and acceptable cases in imaging quality of MSI were 3 and 49 respectively, while those were 2 and 50 in TNC group. Subjective acceptance rate between MST and TNC images was not significantly different(?2=0.01,P>0.05). (5) Diagnostic performance evaluation showed that the consistency of two observers was good in detecting lesions, necrosis and calcification between MSI and TNC image, with K value 0.93, 0.83 and 0.90 respectively (P<0.05). (6) Radiation doses between pure energy spectrum enhanced mode and conventional pre plus post contrast enhanced mode were compared. And differences of CTDIvol[11.78(10.98,17.30) mGy]and[23.89 (22.42, 29.98) mGy] respectively],ED [1.89(1.63,2.29) mSv]and[3.77(3.21,4.16 ) mSv] respectively] were significant(Z=-6.28, P<0.05). Pure energy spectrum enhanced mode reduced 39.07% of CTDIvol and 45.75%of ED respectively. Conclusions MSI imaging can be a potential substitute for TNC imaging. And it has clinical values in the diagnosis of head and neck neoplasms.

Objective To predict the response of induction chemotherapy in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)by using pretreat-ment apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)values.Methods 35 patients with advanced NPC underwent DWI examination prior to 2-week in-duction chemotherapy.The patients were divided into CR (complete response)group,PR (partial response)one and SD (stable disease)one according to the tumor response of treatment.The effective responders included CR and PR groups.The patients were divided into children-adolescents(below 20 years)group and adults one according to the age,into non-keratinizing undifferentiated carcinoma group and non-kera-tinizing differentiated carcinoma one according to the pathological type,and also into T2,T3 and T4 groups according to the T-staging (UICC2010).Statistical analysis was used to compare the pretreatment ADC values between different groups.Results The average pre-treatment ADC values of CR,PR,responders and SD groups were (0.70±0.06)×10 -3 mm2/s,(0.72±0.04)×10 -3 mm2/s,(0.71± 0.04)×10 -3 mm2/s and (0.85±0.02)×10 -3 mm2/s respectively.The average pretreatment ADC value of the SD group was signif-icantly higher than that of PR group and responders,and the differences were significant (P <0.05).The average pretreatment ADC value of children-adolescents and adults groups were (0.73±0.07)×10 -3 mm2/s and (0.75 ±0.07)× 10 -3 mm2/s,which showed no significant differences.The average pretreatment ADC value of non-keratinizing undifferentiated carcinoma and non-keratinizing dif-ferentiated carcinoma groups were (0.76 ±0.08)×10 -3 mm2/s and (0.74±0.06)×10 -3 mm2/s,which showed no significant differ-ences.The average pretreatment ADC values of T2,T3 and T4 groups were (0.78±0.05)×10 -3 mm2/s,(0.77 ±0.07)×10 -3 mm2/s and (0.75±0.08)×10 -3 mm2/s.Although there were no significant differences between T2,T3 and T4 groups,a trend towards lower ADC was observed with increasing tumor T-staging.Conclusion Pretreatment ADC value is a valuable quantitative parameter,and it can be used for predicting induction chemotherapy response in advanced naso-pharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND:Stem cel therapy has been used for prevention and treatment of degenerative disc disease. Considering the special microenvironment in the intervertebral disc, the survival rate and differentiation ability of transplanted cels are decreased, which may lead to the poor efficacy of stem cel therapy. How to improve the survival ability and therapeutic effect of the transplanted cels is the focus of stem cel therapy for degenerative disc disease.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of cobalt chloride combined with hypertonic solution pretreatment on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels that wil be transplanted for treatment of degenerative disc disease.
METHODS:(1)In vitro cel experiment: bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels were divided into three groups and subjected to normal culture medium (normal control group), 1% hypertonic mother solution (hypertonic group), 100 μmol/L cobalt chloride (hypoxia group), or 1% hypertonic mother solution plus 100 μmol/L cobalt chloride (combined group) for 1 week. Then, 2% hypertonic solution and 200 μmol/L cobalt chloride cobalt chloride were used to simulate the anaerobic and hypertonic environment intervenes in pretreated and untreated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels for 24 hours. After that, RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of caspase-3 for apoptosis evaluation. (2)In vivo animal experiment: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into model, cel transplantation and hypertonic plus hypoxic groups. Rat models of intervertebral disc degeneration were made in these three groups. After modeling, rats in these three groups were given no treatment, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation or transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels which were subjected to hypertonic and hypoxia pretreatments into the intervertebral disc. Two weeks later, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR methods were used to detect cel distribution and related gene expression, respectively, thereby to evaluate the therapeutic effect of stem cels.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1)In vitro cel experiment: caspase-3 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in pretreated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels compared with the untreated cels (P < 0.05). (2)In vivo animal experiment: compared with the control group, the caspase-3 and interleukin-1β in the intervertebral disc and a number of degenerative indexes were decreased in the cel transplantation. Compared with the cel transplantation group, these indicators had better outcomes in the hypertonic plus hypoxic group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels have therapeutic potential for degenerative disc disease, and have better adaptability and transplantation effects by hypertonic and hypoxia pretreatments.

Objective To evaluate the discrepancy of parameters generated on dual-energy spectral CT (DECT)imaging in the different pathological grade of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LHSCC),and to provide helpful information of the prognosis and the guide of clinical treatment.Methods 61 patients with pathologically confirmed LHSCC who underwent contrastenhanced DECT before therapy were retrospectively analyzed.The enhanced monochromatic data were analyzed with workstation.Iodine concentration of lesion (IC),water concentration of lesion (WC)and slope of spectral HU curve (s-SHC)were acquired.According to cell differentiation,all patients were divided into well,moderately and poorly differentiated groups.The difference of IC,WC,s-SHC,constituent ratio of T stage were compared among different groups.Results The IC and s-SHC had significant difference among well,moderately and poorly differentiated groups(F =3.56,3.96 respectively,P <0.05).The two-two paired comparisons demonstrated that there were significant difference of IC between poorly and well differentiated group(P <0.05).The others two-two paired comparisons demonstrated no significant difference (P>0.05).There were no significant difference of WC among three groups respectively (H =0.84,P >0.05).χ2 test showed that there was no significant difference for the constituent ratio of T stage among three groups (P >0.05).Conclusion IC and s-SHC can help to judge the pathological grade of LHSCC,and they may be useful to evaluate the prognosis of LHSCC.

Objective To summarize the CT features of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC).Methods CT manifestations of 12 patients with ATC confirmed by surgery or biopsy were analyzed retrospectively.Results 1 1 (91.7%)patients had single lesion. The lesions appeared as low attenuation mass with cord-like,flocculent or patchy high attenuation areas.The lesions had mild to moderate enhancement in 1 1 cases (91.7%).Coarse calcifications were detected in 8 cases (66.7%),4 of them were incomplete rim or eggshell.11 cases (91.7%)showed invasion into adjacent structures,including trachea (6 cases,50%),esophagus (4 cases,33.3%),strap muscles (7 cases,58.3%),larynx (2 cases,1 6.7%),blood vessels (6 cases,50%).5 cases (41.7%)had tumor thrombus in the internal jugular vein.10 cases (83.3%)had lymph nodes metastasis.The enhancements of lymph nodes were divided into 3 types:mild homogeneous enhancement (4 cases,40%),mild enhancement with internal low-attenuation areas (7 cases,70%)and ring-like enhancement without internal enhancement (7 cases,70%).Conclusion CT features of ATC include low-density mass with cords,flocculent and patchy high-density areas,coarse calcification and mild to moderate enhancement,invasion to adjacent structure and lymph node metastasis with necrosis are common.

Objective To analyze and summarize the CT features of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).Methods 30 patients with MTC proved by surgery and pathology were scanned by CT.And the CT manifestations were analyzed retrospectively.Results In a total of 30 patients,a single lesion in 25 (83.3%)patients and multiple ones in 5 (16.7%)were found with irregular shape in 27 (90.0%),unclear border in 26 (86.7%),heterogenous enhancement with irregular internal hypodensity in 27 (90.0%),cal-cifications in 4 (13.3%)and invasion of trachea in 4 (13.3%).As for the 29 patients underwent the neck surgery ,26 (89.7%) were pathologically confirmed with lymph nodes metastasis.CT showed the metastatic lymph nodes with well-defined border in 1 2 (46.2%)and ill-defined one in 14 (53.8%),calcifications in 5 (19.2%)and heterogenous enhancement with irregular internal hy-podensity in all (100.0%).Conclusion CT features of MTC and metastatic lymph nodes appeared as heterogenous enhancement with irregular internal low attenuation area,which can improve the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis.