Objective To evaluate the predictability of MSCT perfusion in the restorability of renal function of hydronephrotie kidneys with unilateral partial ureteric obstructed rabbit model as to explore a method to predict the restorability of renal function of hydronephrotic kidneys and to investigate the changes of MSCT perfusion parameters during the course of the restore of renal function.Methods Establish a unilateral partial ureteric obstructed rabbits hydronephrotie model.Hydronephrotie rabbits were grouped as control,2,4 and 8 week(G_2w,G_4w and G_8w)after obstruction and the later 3 groups of rabbits were reared for further 4 weeks after the obstruction was released.MSCT perfusion scanning was performed and the specimen was made into histological slices with HE staining.Results BF and BV value of renal cortex and medulla of G_2w after obstruction [(864?32)ml?100 g~(-1)?min~(-1),(19.5?0.9)ml/100 g (cortex ); (182.1?7.5)ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1),(8.37?0.51)ml/100g(medulla)]was released restored in substance and approached that of control[(899?63)ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1),(21.6 + 1.4)ml/100 g (cortex);(193.5?16.5 )ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1),(8.50?0.54 )ml/100 g (medulla)]while there was no significant restore in that of G_4w and G_8w after obstruction[(525?15)ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1),(12.8? 0.6)ml/100g (G_4 w);(512?10)ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1),(9.4?1.0)ml/100 g (G_8w)] was released. Histologically,there was a positive correlation between the duration of obstruction and the seriousness of pathologic changes.Conclusion MSCT perfusion can provide information not only morphologically but also about renal perfusion of hydronephrotic kidneys.

Objective MR microscopy technique was used to study the visualization of senile plaque deposition in brains of the Alzheimer disease(AD)transgenic mice.Methods Two transgenic mice and 2 wild type mice at the age of 17 months were scanned in vivo using T_2 weighted image.After MR imaging,the brains were cut serially and immunostained according to the orthogonal pilot images.MR T_2 weighted images and immunohistological images of the senile plaque were observed and matched.Results The MR images showed that some black spots were visible in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of the AD transgenic mice and some spots were consistent with the senile plaques on immunohistological sections.There were no spots in the MR images and the immunohistological sections of the wild type mice.Conclusion It is possible that MR microscopy can be used to detect the deposition of the senile plaque and diagnose AD specifically.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) pretreatment could protect multiple cell types from apoptosis induced by various damages including oxidative stress. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of HGF on rat cortical neurons against apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in culture, and then to explore whether HGF could influence the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Primary rat cortical neurons were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured in serum free medium containing 2% B27 and Neurobasal-A. To mimic the oxidative stress damage, cortical neurons were exposed to 100 mumol/L H2O2 for 4 h. To explore the effects of HGF on the neurons subjected to H2O2 injury, cells were pretreated with HGF 15, 30, 60 ng/mL for 24 h, respectively, and then exposed to 100 mumol/L H2O2 for 4 h. The cell viability was measured by MTT colorimetric assay and cell injury was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage rate. Apoptotic cells were detected by Hoechst 33258 staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI double labeled flow cytometry. The caspase-3 activity was assessed by colorimetry. The alteration of transmembrane potential of mitochondria was determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The expression of cytochrome C protein was measured by Western blot analysis. The results showed that H2O2 treatment significantly decreased the cell viability, increased LDH leakage rate and the percentage of apoptotic cells. Pretreatment of HGF at different concentrations (15-60 ng/mL) could remarkably increase the cell viability of neurons. Compared with that of H2O2 group (53.4%+/-7.4%), the cell viabilities of neurons treated with 15, 30, and 60 ng/mL HGF significantly increased to (69.3+/-6.4)%, (77.5+/-6.1)% and (82.9+/-9.3)% (P<0.05), respectively. HGF preincubation also evidently decreased the LDH leakage rate in cortical neurons damaged by H2O2. The results of Hoechst staining revealed that HGF pretreatment could significantly reduce the apoptotic rate of neurons. The apoptotic rate of H2O2 group was (62.8+/-7.1)%, while that of HGF groups decreased significantly to (34.8+/-8.4)%, (23.5+/-3.2)% and (18.6+/-4.5)% (P<0.05), respectively. The data from caspase-3 activity assay indicated that HGF preconditioning could also remarkably decrease the caspase-3 activity of neurons. In addition, in the presence of various concentrations of HGF, the decrease of transmembrane potential of mitochondria in neurons caused by H2O2 injury could be reversed. Moreover, as detected by Western blot analysis, HGF downregulated the expression of cytochrome C protein in neurons. These results suggest that HGF has a protective effect on rat cortical neurons against apoptosis induced by H2O2, which might be related to the inhibition of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and the suppression of the caspase-3 activity.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain ; cytology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDWith the advanced MRI techniques, pathologic features can be detected at an early stage and quantitatively evaluated, resulting in the advantages of early diagnosis and prompt treatment. This study aimed to determine the value of diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) in detection of early ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and investigate the characteristic manifestations of AS on whole body DWI (WB-DWI).

METHODSTwenty patients with the diagnosis of early AS, twenty patients with low back pain (LBP), and twenty-five healthy volunteers were included in this study. The subchondral bone apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) among these groups in the bilateral ilia and sacrum along the sacroiliac joints were compared. An independent sample t-test was utilized to analyze ADC value differences among groups. P-values less than 0.05 denoted statistical significance. The mean ADC values of focal DWI lesions in AS patients were also measured. Whole body diffusion-weighted imaging was performed in fifteen additional AS patients, and analyzed with MIP and MPR techniques in comparison to conventional MR images in order to evaluate the ability to detect AS lesions with whole body DWI.

RESULTSMean ADC values in AS patients were (0.518 ± 0.122) × 10(-3) mm(2)/s in the ilium and (0.503 ± 0.168) × 10(-3) mm(2)/s in the sacrum. These were significantly greater than the values measured in the ilium and sacrum of LBP patients, (0.328 ± 0.053) × 10(-3) mm(2)/s in the ilium and (0.311 ± 0.081) × 10(-3) m(2)/s in the sacrum, and control group, (0.325 ± 0.015) × 10(-3) mm(2)/s in the ilium and (0.318 ± 0.011) × 10(-3) mm(2)/s in the sacrum respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between LBP group and control group. The mean ADC value of focal DWI lesions in early AS patients was (0. 899 ± 0.265) × 10(-3) mm(2)/s, which was significantly higher than that of adjacent normal-appearance areas ((0.454 ± 0.079) × 10(-3) mm(2)/s). WB-DWI detected abnormalities in the 15 additional AS patients both within the sacroiliac joints and at other sites, corresponding to the clinical symptoms of the patients. The mean ADC value of focal DWI lesions of this patient cohort was (1.286 ± 0.311) × 10(-3) mm(2)/s in the sacrum and (1.220 ± 0.299) × 10(-3) mm(2)/s in the ilium.

CONCLUSIONSSubchondral marrow ADC values of subchondral marrows near the sacroiliac joints allow for the differentiation of patients with early AS from normal volunteers and LBP patients. Combined with post-processing techniques such as MIP and MPR, WB-DWI allows for the comprehensive assessment of AS patients, an evaluation potentially helpful in determining prognosis and following the therapeutic response.

Adult ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

Objective The TLR4 signaling pathway may be involved in the development and progression of hepatocarcinoma . This study aimed to investigate the effect of inhibiting the TLR 4 signaling pathway on the orthotopic implanted liver tumor (OILT) in mice. Methods A TLR4-silencing siRNA lentiviral vector was constructed and transfected into mouse hepatoma H 22 cells.Mouse hepatoma H22 cells were divided into groups A (blank control), B (empty vector) and C (siRNA lentiviral vector), those in group A left untreated and those in groups B and C infected with an empty vector and the TLR 4-silencing siRNA lentiviral vector , respectively. The volumes of the OILTs in different groups measured and the expressions of TLR 4, MyD88, NF-κB and TRAM in the tumor cells de-termined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot . Results The OILT volume was significantly reduced in group C than in A and B ([568.3±90.3] vs [1303.0±194.1] and [1385.0±137.0] mm3 , P<0.05), and so were the expressions of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB and TRAM in the tumor cells (P<0.05). Conclusion Down-regula-ting the TLR4 signaling pathway can suppress the growth of the ortho -topic implanted liver tumor in mice, which may be associated with the activation of NF-κB by the MyD88-dependent signaling pathway and that of TRAM by the MyD88-independent signaling pathway .

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of capecitabine combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for advanced liver cancer.

METHODSForty-nine patients with liver cancer were retrospectively divided into two groups: Treatment group, on the basis of TACE, 23 patients received oral capecitabine at 2500 mg/m(2), twice-daily for 14 days followed by 7-day rest period and repeated in every three week intervals for more than two cycles. Control group, 26 patients received TACE only at 2-month intervals for at least two cycles.

RESULTSIn capecitabine and TACE group: there were 1 CR, 14 PR, 5 SD and 3 PD; the overall response rate was 65.2%; the AFP and tumor reduction rates were 68.8% and 73.9%; the median survival time was 11.9 months. In the TACE only group: there were 0 CR, 7 PR, 12 SD and 7 PD; the overall response rate was 26.9%; the AFP and tumor reduction rates were 31.6 % and 30.8%; the median survival time was 8.3 months. The most common side-effects of capecitabine were hand-foot syndrome and diarrhea.

CONCLUSIONCapecitabine combined with TACE is safe and effective for advanced liver cancer.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Aged ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; Capecitabine ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; analogs & derivatives ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitomycin ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anatomy of penis and its adjacent organ for phalloplasty.

METHODSAnatomic dissection of penis and perineum was performed on 30 adult male cadavers (60 sides). Observation and measurement were focused on the penile length of different parts, the morphological relationship of infundibular ligament and suspensory ligament with penile radix, and the feature of crus penis with relation to the deep penile artery.

RESULTSThe average length of the penile shaft was 8.13 cm, the penile radix was 7.67 cm and the crus penis was 5.96 - 5.98 cm. The deep penile artery penetrated into the crus penis at its middle 1/3. The infundibular ligament attached to superficial fascia of the penis and extended downward to the scrotal septum to constitute the suspensory structure for both of them. The suspensory ligament attached to the dorsal deep fascia of the penis. Becoming thicker, the rear part of the suspensory ligament connected firmly to the pubic arcuate ligament to constitute a part of suspensory mechanism for the urethra. There was a part of cavernous body, which was free from either ligament or bony attachment, between the penile radix and the crus penis, where the dorsal artery and nerve of penis turned around from the ventral to the dorsal aspect of the penis and the penile dorsal vain penetrated the urogenital septum, draining into intrapelvic venous plexus.

CONCLUSIONSThe divisional measurement of the penis length, the recognition of the suspensory ligaments and the anatomic feature of the crus penis with relation to the deep penile artery are all of significant importance to improve the operation of phalloplasty.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penis ; anatomy & histology ; Perineum ; anatomy & histology ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the whole body MRI and diffusion-weighted MRI in detecting intranodal lesions in patients with lymphoma.

METHODSWhole body MRI and diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) were performed in 23 patients with histologically proven lymphoma. A conventional coronal MRI scan from head to inguinal groove was done for whole body scanning. In the DWI, axial MRI scans were performed after segmentation based on SENSE technique, and all images were merged into whole body image reconstruction by software.

RESULTS417 lymph nodes were detected by MRI in the 23 patients. The overall positive rate of whole body MRI and DWI was 79.1% and 89.7%, respectively. It was 70.9% versus 85.2% and 79.4% versus 90.1% for the lymph nodes of < 2 cm and 2-3 cm in diameter, with a significant difference between the two methods (P < 0.01). However, it was 94.7% versus 97.9% for the lymph nodes of > 3 cm in diameter, not significantly different between the two methods (P > 0.05). Both methods had similar sensitivity in detecting the lymph nodes in the neck, supraclavicular and infraclavicular fossae, mediastinum and axillary fossa. However, the positive rate of whole body MRI was 51.2%, 43.8% and 52.2%, significantly less sensitive than 83.7%, 71.9% and 87.0%, respectively, by DWI in detecting the lymph nodes in the retroperitoneal space, pelvic cavity and inguinal groove (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth whole body MRI and diffusion-weighted MRI have a relative high sensitivity in detecting intranodal lesions for patients with lymphoma, showing a certain value in clinical application.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Whole Body Imaging ; methods ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the role of C6 glioma cells mediated by rapid freezing and thawing ofAr-He cryoablation in the maturation of marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs) in Wistar rats,and the anti-tumor effect of these DCs on rat models of intracranial gliomas. Methods C6 glioma cells were routinely cultured in vitro; rapid freezing and thawing of Ar-He cryoablation was employed in C6 glioma cells of the experimental group, and C6 glioma cells of the negative control group were only performed insertion of the probe; blank control group (using rapid freezing and thawing of Ar-He cryoablation on the same amount of PBS) was also employed.Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (MNCs) were first prepared from tibia and femur bones of Wistar rats. These cells were cultured with such cytokines as recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rmGM-CSF),recombinant interleukin-4 (rmIL-4) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) to induce their maturation; BM-DCs were pulsed with or without tumor cell lysate obtained by rapid freezing and thawing of Ar-Hecryoablation at a ratio of (DC:tumor cells =1:3) 7 d after that.Morphological observation of BM-DCs was performed by light microscopy and the expression of DCs costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 were measured by flow cytometry 48 h after the addiction; the IL-12 level in the supematant of DCs was detected by ELISA. In order to determine whether or not vaccination with C6 TP DCs can induce the therapeutic potential in the established glioma-bearing models, the C6 cells cultured in vitro were stereotaxically implanted into the left caudate nucleus of Wistar rat brain; glioma-bearing rats were injected with vaccination with DCs,cells from the blank control group and negative control group on the 3rd and 10th d. Survival time was observed and determined using the method of Kaplan-Meier and Log-Rank analysis. Results DCs from rats' bone marrow cells cultured with cytokines and pulsed with tumor lysates showed the characters of typical mature DCs.Morphologically,these cells were large with oval or irregularly shaped nuclei and with many small dendrites. Phenotypically, they expressed high levels of CD80 and CD86 antigens (71.8 1％± 1.10％ and 74.66％± 1.48％ in experimental group,49.49％±1.08％ and 51.20％±2.06％ in negative control group, and 48.47％±1.09％ and 49.53％±1.89％ in blank control group); significant difference was noted between each 2 groups (P＜0.05).Functionally,the IL-12level in the supernatant of DCs showed obvious increment in the experimental group (245.99 ±3.20pg/mL) as compared with that in the negative control group (138.68±3.20 pg/mL) and blank control group (135.16±2.88 pg/mL,P＜0.05).These cells gained the capacity of mediating immunotherapy against intracranial gliomas in rats:the median survival in the experimental group (33 d) was significantly higher than that in the negative control and blank control groups (22 and 24 d, respectively, P＜0.05).Conclusion C6 glioma cells mediated by rapid freezing and thawing of Ar-He cryoablation can induce maturation of BM-DCs in Wistar rats; these BM-DCs pulsed with tumor lysates, as new therapeutic vaccines,can mediate immunotherapy against intracranial gliomas in rats.

BACKGROUNDIt is of value to identify the non-invasive means that can accurately reflect the blood supply of epiphysis and is more sensitive in detection of early ischemia of epiphysis than the conventional gadoteridol (Gd)-enhanced SE T1WI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood supply of various anatomic regions at the end of normal growing long bone using dynamic Gd-enhanced MR imaging and compare the sensitivities between dynamic Gd-enhanced MR imaging and conventional Gd-enhanced SE T1WI in the detection of decreased blood perfusion of early epiphyseal ischemia.

METHODSTwenty-seven two-week-old piglets were used in this study. For the study of the end of normal growing long bone, unilateral MR imaging of the distal femur and proximal tibia was performed on eleven piglets. The comparison was made among various anatomic regions (physeal and epiphyseal cartilage, metaphyseal spongiosa, the secondary ossification center and metaphysis) using MRI in terms of the enhancement ratio and speed. Their relationships with the histological findings, including RBC/mm(2) and vessel distribution, were evaluated. To examine ischemic femoral head, 16 piglets were divided into two groups, with the control group having 8 piglets (involving 16 normal hips) and an ischemic group having 8 piglets (involving 16 hips with hyperabduction). In the ischemic group, MR imaging was performed on the hips in the hyperabduction immobilized persistently for 30 minutes. After MRI, the piglets were allowed to ambulate freely for 1 day and the same MR scanning was then repeated in a neutral position. The difference in enhancement ratio and speed of the femoral head between the control and ischemic group were evaluated.

RESULTSWith regard to the end of normal growing long bone, the enhancement ratio of the metaphyseal spongiosa was greatest among all the anatomic regions (P < 0.001). The enhancement ratio of physeal cartilage was greater than that of epiphyseal cartilage (P < 0. 001), which was the lowest in all tissues (P < 0.001). The enhancement speed of the spongiosa was greater than that of physis but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). The enhancement speed of physis was greater than that of epiphyseal cartilage (P < 0.05), which was the lowest among all the tissues (P < 0.05). The enhancement ratio and speed were found to be related to the histological findings, including RBC/mm(2) (R > 0.75) and distribution of vessels in the tissues. With ischemic femoral head, the enhancement ratios of physis, anterior part and posterior part of capital femoral epiphysis were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and enhanced more slowly (P < 0.05) than those of normal femoral head on dynamic Gd-enhanced MR imaging. On conventional Gd-enhanced SE T1WI, however, no apparent decrease in enhancement ratio and speed in ischemic hips was found (P < 0.05), when they were compared with those in the normal hips.

CONCLUSIONSDynamic gadoteridol-enhanced MR imaging can reveal the blood supply in various anatomic regions of the end of normal growing long bone. It is more sensitive than conventional Gd-enhanced SE T1WI in the detection of early epiphyseal ischemia.

Animals ; Contrast Media ; pharmacology ; Epiphyses ; blood supply ; Femur ; blood supply ; Gadolinium ; Heterocyclic Compounds ; pharmacology ; Image Enhancement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Organometallic Compounds ; pharmacology ; Swine