Objective To investigate the application significance of 3.0T MR three dimensional double-echo steady state(3D-DESS) and three dimensional-true fast imaging with steady-state procession(3D-True FISP) sequences in diagnosis of wrist cartilage of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods 26 patients who were clinically diagnosed with RA underwent wrist MR scans with 3D-DESS and 3D-True FISP sequences, while both sequences' scanning were achieved on 20 of them.340 articular-surface morphological conditions' were observed,which were divided into level 0, level 1 and level 2 damages according to morphological performance,and recorded on 3D-DESS and 3D-True FISP sequence respectively.The diagnostic differences in the number of lesions were compared for two sequences.Results The numbers were 79 and 50 for level 1 damage and 23 and 33 for level 2 damage on 3D-DESS and 3D-True FISP sequence respectively (P<0.05).The artifacts were showed in 14 patients on 3D-True FISP,and only two patients on 3D-DESS.Conclusion 3D-DESS sequence does better than 3D-True FISP in displaying RA wrist cartilage,which is able to provide certain help for treatment and prognosis evaluation of RA.

Objective To study the asymmetric dimethylarginine(ADMA) concentrations in plasma of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and its various subgroups ,and analyze the relationship between ADMA and traditional risk factors of ACS .Methods 101 ACS patients were enrolled in the study ,which were divided into several subgroups according to clinical diagnosis ,ECG and coro‐nary angiography .ACS group were divided into unstable angina(UA) group(n=70) and acute myocardial infarction(AMI) group (n=31) ,then AMI group was divided into non‐ST segment elevation myocardial infarction(NSTEMI) group(n=19) and ST seg‐ment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) group(n=12) .The control group(n= 40) were recruited in the study during the same period ,who showed normal coronary arteries in coronary angiography .All the patients received coronary attery angiography . The plasma ADMA concentration was measured by using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ,and serum contents of lip‐id(TC ,TG ,HDL‐C ,LDL‐C) ,C‐reactive protein(CRP) ,troponin were detected by automatic biochemic analysis apparatus .Results Compared with the control group ,plasma ADMA concentration of ACS group increased ,the difference was statistically significant (P<0 .05) .The concentrations of ADMA in AMI group and UA group were higher than those in control group ,and the difference was statistically significant(P< 0 .05) .The concentrations of ADMA in AMI group were significantly higher than those in UA group(P<0 .05) .Plasma ADMA negatively correlated with HDL‐C concentrations(r= -0 .222 ,P<0 .05) ,positively correlated with LDL‐C concentration(r=0 .357 ,P<0 .05) ,and positively correlated with CRP(r=0 .619 ,P<0 .05) .Conclusion The occur‐rence of ACS and some of its related risk factors are correlated with plasma ADMA concentration .

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of monitoring serum human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit (beta-HCG) level changes in early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.

METHODSTotalling 106 cases of ectopic pregnancy and 69 cases of threatened abortion were included in the study. Blood samples were collected to examine beta-HCG levels, which was repeated 2-3 days later.

RESULTSInitial serum beta-HCG levels of the women with ectopic pregnancy and different were significantly lower than those in women with threatened abortion (P<0.05), and the increment rate of serum beta-HCG in the former was also significantly lower (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with single-time serum beta-HCG detection, dynamic monitoring of serum beta-HCG provides more important and reliable evidence for early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Transvaginal ultrasonography and in should also be considered in the clinical analysis.

Adult ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; blood ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo understand whether endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is able to induce the expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) mRNA and protein in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

METHODSThe expression of MIP-1alpha mRNA was determined by dot blotting analysis and by in situ hybridization using a digoxigenin-labeled MIP-1alpha cDNA probe after exposure of the cultured HUVECs to LPS at different concentrations. The expression of MIP-1alpha mRNA was determined by RT-PCR as well. In addition, the expression of MIP-1alpha protein was tested by cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a goat anti-human monoclonal MIP-1alpha antibody.

RESULTSDot blotting showed that the absorbance values of the dots on the nitrocellulose membrane were 1.490 and 3.310 when exposed to LPS at the concentrations of 1 micro g/ml and 10 micro g/ml which were 1.97- and 4.38-fold over that of the control group (0.775), respectively. In situ hybridization revealed that exposure to LPS at a concentration of 1 micro g/ml led to a significant increase in the MIP-1alpha mRNA expression in HUVECs as compared to the control group (F = 142.83, P < 0.01), whereas the MIP-1alpha mRNA in HUVECs was somewhat decreased when exposed to LPS at a concentration of 10 micro g/ml. RT-PCR revealed that the expression of MIP-1alpha mRNA in HUVECs were 1.65-, 2.86- and 1.26-fold over that of the control group when exposed to LPS at the concentrations of 1 micro g/ml, 5 micro g/ml and 10 micro g/ml respectively. Cell ELISA showed that after exposure of the HUVECs to LPS at the concentrations mentioned above, the expression of MIP-1alpha protein was strongly increased, especially in the 5 micro g/ml LPS group. Analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference between groups (F = 15.36, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLPS may induce a high level of MIP-1alpha mRNA and protein expression in HUVECs, and it might, hereby, play an important role in the recruitment of the monocytes/macrophages into the arterial intima.

Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL3 ; Chemokine CCL4 ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Umbilical Veins ; drug effects

Objective To evaluate the value of DTI in mild articular cartilage injury in patellofemoral joint.Methods The DTI and arthroscopy data of 82 patients wih routine MRI diagnosed as mild articular cartilage injury were analyzed retrospectively.According to the results of arthroscopy,40 cases of mild articular cartilage injury with Outerbridge classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ were divided into experimental group,and 33 cases with normal patellofemoral articular cartilage were divided into control group.There were 8 articular cartilage injury patients with Outerbridge classification Ⅲ or Ⅳ in patello-femoral join were excluded.The DTI data were analyzed compared with arthroscopy.Results Arthroscopy detected 62 lesions of cartilage injury in experimental group.Totally 49 lesions (49/62,79.03 ％) were detected by ADC pseudocolor image and 51 lesions (51/62,82.25 ％) were detected by FA pseudocolor image.The DTI pseudocolor images of articular cartilage injury showed uneven levels.The red or pink levels can been observed.Compared with the control group,ADC value increased and FA value decreased significantly in experimental group (both P＜0.05).Conclusion DTI can clearly display and detect mild articular cartilage injury in patellofemoral joint,which provide valuable information for early cartilaginous injury.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the screening methods for identifying the populations susceptible and resistant to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and to provide a reference for future research.

METHODSWorkers who were exposed to 75 ∼ 120 dB noise in enterprises were included in the study. Field investigation of occupational health was conducted; workers' basic information and data on hearing threshold levels were collected. Paired chi-square test was used to compare each two of three screening methods, which were used at home and abroad to identify noise-susceptible and noise-sensitive populations, in terms of noise exposure level, general information, and noise-induced hearing threshold shift.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the noise exposure level, basic information, and left and right ears' hearing threshold levels of noise-susceptible and noise-sensitive populations between each two of the three screening methods (P > 0.05), according to the paired chi-square test. However, high-frequency hearing threshold had statistically significant difference among the three methods. As a whole, methods B and C were superior to method A.

CONCLUSIONThe workers in China are younger than before, with more awareness of self-protection, and individual protection is enhanced in them. Currently, method B is more suitable for screening out the population susceptible to NIHL in China.

Adult ; China ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Noise, Occupational ; adverse effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous radiofrequency perforation and valvuloplasty in infants with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS).

METHODSFour infants (body weight 4 - 10 kg) aged 11 months, 9 months, 12 days and 9 months old, respectively, were hospitalized for dyspnea and cyanosis. All patients had a continuous murmur in the left second intercostal space. Doppler echocardiogram showed membranous pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. Right ventriculogram showed a tripartite right ventricle, vasiform infundibulum, and membranous pulmonary valve atresia without ventriculocoronary connections. Descending thoracic aortogram showed good-sized confluent pulmonary arteries being filled from a ductus arteriosus. All the patients were taken up for radiofrequency perforation followed by a balloon dilatation. A 6F Judkins right coronary guiding catheter was positioned in the right ventricular outflow tract and under the atretic pulmonary valve membrane. The radiofrequency perforation catheter along with coaxial injectable catheter was then passed through the right coronary guiding catheter, using it as the guide to the imperforate membrane. The proximal end of the radiofrequency perforation catheter was then connected to radiofrequency generator. After the cusps of pulmonary valve were perforated, the coaxial injectable catheter was moved into the main pulmonary artery. A tiny floppy-tipped coronary guidewire was then passed through the coaxial injectable catheter into the main pulmonary artery and directed through the patent ductus arteriosus into the descending thoracic aorta or directed into pulmonary arteriola. Thereafter, serial balloon dilation catheters were introduced across the pulmonary valve, and dilations were sequentially performed with increasing balloon diameters. The balloon was dilated until the concave of the balloons disappeared. The radiofrequency energy (5 to 8 W) was delivered for 2 to 5 seconds once, but commonly twice, to perforate the valves. After a predilation with a 3 mm x 20 mm to 5 mm x 20 mm balloon at 6 - 14 atm pressure, the valve was subsequently dilated with 10 mm x 30 mm to 14 mm x 30 mm balloon once or twice. The duration of procedures was 120 to 150 min and exposure time was 25.4 to 43.9 min.

RESULTSThe primary procedure was successful in all the infants except one who died early of cardiac perforation with tamponade. After a follow-up period ranging from 2 to 8 months (mean 4.3 m), the remaining 3 survivors achieved complete biventricular circulation. Two of them were awaiting occlusion of the patent ductus arteriosus and 1 needed right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction because of infundibular obstruction.

CONCLUSIONPA/IVS consists of 0.7% to 3.1% of congenital heart defects. 85% of the untreated patients die within half a year. Surgical repair for the infants with PA/IVS is associated with a high mortality. In carefully selected patients with PA/IVS, radiofrequency perforation and balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valve is feasible and may represent a new alternative to surgery due to its low mortality and avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Balloon Occlusion ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Catheterization ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pulmonary Atresia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Pulmonary Valve ; surgery ; Ventricular Septum

Objeetive To compare the clinical value of early enteral nutrition (EEN) and combined enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after precise hepatectomy.Methods The prospective study was conducted.The clinical data of 60 HCC patients who underwent precise hepatectomy in the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School between January 2013 and December 2014 were collected.All patients were allocated into the EN group and combined EN+PN group by random number table method.Patients in the EN group and combined EN+PN group respectively received EEN and early combined EN+PN at 24 hours postoperatively for 7 days,total nutrient intakes between groups were consistent,with an average daily intake of nitrogen-feeding of 0.2 g/(kg · d) and an average daily intake of nonprotein calories of 25 kcal/(kg · d).Observation indicators:(1) comparison of nutritional indexes between groups;(2) comparison of liver function between groups;(3) comparison of postoperative conditions between groups.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as-x±s.Comparisons at the same time between groups were respectively analyzed using the group-design t test.Comparisons of count data were analyzed using the chi-square test.Ordinal data were analyzed by the nonparametric test.Comparison of repeated measurement data were done using the repeated measures ANOVA.Results Sixty patients were screened for eligibility,and 30 in each group.(1) Comparison of nutritional indexes between groups:levels of albumin (Alb),globulin,prealbumin and hemoglobin (Hb) and lymph nodes count in the EN group were respectively (41±4)g/L,(28±4) g/L,(188±37) mg/L,(139± 17) g/L,(1.6±0.6) × 109/L before operation and (32±4) g/L,(23±5)g/L,(114±41)mg/L,(121±19)g/L,(1.1±0.7) ×109/L at 1 day postoperative1y and (34±5)g/L,(26±4) g/L,(169± 41) mg/L,(113 ± 16) g/L,(1.9 ± 1.1) × 109/L at 8 days postoperatively,with statistically significant differences in above indexes (F=2.23,4.45,8.96,5.21,2.18,P＜0.05).There were statistically significant differences in above indexes between pre-operation and 1 day postoperatively (t =9.79,8.53,9.81,4.56,5.77,P＜0.05) and between 1 and 8 days postoperatively (t =5.55,6.31,4.69,3.99,8.26,P＜0.05).There were statistically significant differences in levels of Alb,globulin,prealbumin and Hb between pre-operation and 8 days postoperatively (t=3.48,5.12,6.37,8.20,P＜0.05) and no statistically significant difference in lymph nodes count (t =2.48,P＞0.05).Levels of Alb,globulin,prealbumin and Hb and lymph nodes count in the combined EN+PN group were respectively (42±4)g/L,(28±6)g/L,(188±29)g/L,(142±16)g/L,(1.6±0.6)×109/L before operation and (31±5)g/L,(20±5) g/L,(96±31) g/L,(124± 16) g/L,(0.9±0.4) × 109/L at 1 day postoperatively and (34±4)g/L,(24±4)g/L,(143±18)g/L,(115±18)g/L,(1.4±0.7)×109/L at 8 days postoperatively,with statistically significant differences in above indexes (F=3.21,7.35,4.36,7.78,3.19,P＜0.05).There were statistically significant differences in above indexes between pre-operation and 1 day postoperatively (t =11.95,5.38,9.91,4.84,6.22,P＜0.05) and between 1 and 8 days postoperatively (t =9.45,7.66,4.98,3.15,4.79,P＜ 0.05).There were statistically significant differences in levels of Alb,globulin,prealbumin and Hb between pre-operation and 8 days postoperatively (t=9.31,8.44,6.57,5.25,P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant difference in lymph nodes count (t =3.11,P＞ 0.05) and in changing trends of Alb,globulin,prealbumin,Hb and lymph nodes count (F=8.54,3.83,7.21,6.33,3.91,P＞0.05).Levels of prealbumin at 8 days postoperatively were statistically different between groups (t =3.00,P＜0.05).(2) Comparison of liver function between groups:levels of alanine transaminase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST),alkaline phosphatase (ALP),glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT),total bilirubin (TBil),direct bilirubin (DBil) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the EN group were respectively (44±37)U/L,(44±30) U/L,(90± 29) U/L,(85 ± 49) U/L,(15.7± 5.4) μmol/L,(4.6± 2.3) μmol/L,(4.5 ± 3.2) mg/L before operation and (411±375)U/L,(379±323)U/L,(68±26)U/L,(55±49)U/L,(20.3±10.7)μmol/L,(7.8±5.5) μmol/L,(47.9± 30.6) mg/L at 1 day postoperatively and (107± 58) U/L,(43± 21) U/L,(100± 42) U/L,(111±71)U/L,(19.7±10.6) μmol/L,(8.8±5.9) μmol/L,(28.3±23.0) mg/L at 8 days postoperatively,with statistically significant differences in above indexes among pre-operation,1 and 8 days postoperatively (F=5.48,9.44,1.73,5.03,8.42,6.09,6.69,P＜0.05) and between pre-operation and 1 day postoperatively (t=5.12,5.36,5.35,0.45,2.88,3.82,6.95,P＜ 0.05).There were statistically significant differences in levels of ALT,TBil,DBil and CRP between pre-operation and 8 days postoperatively (t =6.71,4.14,5.96,6.33,P＜0.05) and in levels of ALT,AST,ALP,GGT and CRP between 1 and 8 days postoperatively (t =6.23,5.55,3.14,3.56,4.99,P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant difference in levels of AST,ALP and GGT (t =0.13,0.98,1.11,P＞0.05) and in levels of TBil and DBil (t =0.08,0.23,P＞0.05).Levels of ALT,AST,ALP,GGT,TBil,DBil and CRP in the combined EN+PN group were respectively (41±38) U/L,(43±25) U/L,(100±89) U/L,(106±46) U/L,(17.9±9.8) μmol/L,(6.2±3.6) μmol/L,(3.7±2.3)mg/L before operation and (462±409)U/L,(494±162)U/L,(73±53)U/L,(75±57)U/L,(28.1±18.8)μmol/L,(9.1±6.1) μmol/L,(40.7±26.2) mg/L at 1 day postoperatively and (90±47) U/L,(42± 16) U/L,(95±40) U/L,(110±66) U/L,(22.5± 14.5) μmol/L,(8.2±8.1) μmol/L,(26.9±24.6) mg/L at 8 days postoperatively,with statistically significant differences in above indexes among pre-operation,1 and 8 days postoperatively (F=5.96,3.73,6.94,3.88,7.97,4.14,5.25,P＜0.05) and between before operation and 1 day postoperatively (t=5.72,4.96,3.95,0.88,2.83,4.13,6.11,P＜0.05).There were statistically significant differences in levels of ALT and CRP between pre-operation and 8 days postoperatively (t =4.22,6.77,P＜0.05) and in levels of ALT,AST,ALP and GGT between 1 and 8 days postoperatively (t=7.01,5.21,4.38,6.15,P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant difference in levels of AST,ALP,GGT,TBil and DBil (t =0.29,1.65,1.92,0.33,P＞0.05) and in levels of TBil,DBil and CRP (t =0.09,0.37,0.58,P＞0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in changing trends of ALT,AST,ALP,GGT,TBil,DBil and CRP of 2 groups (F=7.18,2.23,3.94,5.88,4.72,2.17,6.53,P＞0.05) and in above indexes among pre-operation,1 and at 8 days postoperatively (t=0.27,0.42,0.91,0.12,0.96,0.24,0.59,0.32,0.49,1.27,0.88,0.07,1.07,1.45,0.23,1.11,0.88,0.32,0.35,0.93,0.21,P＞0.05).(3) Comparison of postoperative conditions between groups:times of initial defecation were respectively (3.2± 1.0) days and (4.2± 1.2) days in the EN group and combined EN +PN group,showing a statistically significant difference (t =3.21,P＜ 0.05).Conclusion EEN and combined EN+PN are safe and feasible in HCC patients after precise hepatectomy,and also can improve liver function recovery,but EEN has advantages of promoting protein synthesis and gastrointestinal function recovery.

OBJECTIVETo construct a breast cancer gene-drug network model for extracting and predicting the correlations between breast cancer-related genes and drugs.

METHODSWe developed an algorithm based on the ABC principle and the association rules to obtain the correlations between the biological entities. For breast cancer, we constructed 3 different correlations (gene-gene, drug-drug and gene-drug) and used the R language to implement the associated network model. The reliability of the algorithm was verified by ROC curve.

RESULTSWe identified 185 breast cancer-associated genes and 98 associations between them, 97 drugs and 170 associations between them. The breast cancer genes-drugs network contained 127 genes and 77 drugs with 384 associations between them.

CONCLUSIONSWe identified a large number of different correlations between the breast cancer-related genes and drugs and close correlations between some biological entity pairs that have not yet been reported, which may provide a new strategy for experimental design for testing personalized breast cancer treatment.

Algorithms ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genes, Neoplasm ; Humans ; ROC Curve ; Reproducibility of Results

PURPOSE: The universal organic solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) can be used as a differentiation inducer of many cancer cells and has been widely used as a solvent in laboratories. However, its effects on breast cancer cells are not well understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect and associated mechanisms of DMSO on mouse breast cancer. METHODS: We applied DMSO to observe the effect on tumors in a mouse breast cancer model. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) were tested by flow cytometry. Ex vivo tumor microenvironment was imitated by 4T1 cultured cell conditioned medium. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to detect interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-12 expression in medium. To investigate the cytotoxicity of DMSO on TAMs, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were performed. RESULTS: We found that DMSO produced tumor retardation when injected into mouse peritoneal cavities in a certain concentration range (0.5-1.0 mg/g). Furthermore, as detected by flow cytometry, TAM subtypes were found to be transformed. We further imitated a tumor microenvironment in vitro by using 4T1 cultured cell conditioned medium. Similarly, by using low concentration DMSO (1.0%-2.0% v/v), TAMs were induced to polarize to the classically activated macrophage (M1-type) and inhibited from polarizing into the alternatively activated macrophage (M2-type) in the conditioned medium. IL-10 expression in tumors was reduced, while IL-12 was increased compared with the control. Furthermore, we reported that 2.0% (v/v) DMSO could lead to cytotoxicity in peritoneal macrophages after 48 hours in MTT assays. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that DMSO could exert antitumor effects in 4T1 cancer-bearing mice by reversing TAM orientation and polarization from M2- to M1-type TAMs. These data may provide novel insight into studying breast cancer immunotherapy.
Animals ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunotherapy ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukins ; Macrophages* ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; Mice* ; Tumor Microenvironment