Uracil (I) (2,4-Diketo-pyrimidine) was isolated from the radix aconiti collected from Jiangyou region of Sichuan Province.The chemical structure of this principle was determined by elemental analysis,IR,UV,MS,'H and 13C-NMR spectral data. The experiments were made to study the effect of uracil (I) on the cardiac contractile force and beating rate of the isolated toad hearts in comparison with uracil (II) (artificial synthesis). The results indicated that the 5?mol/L of uracil (I) and uracil (II) both had the effect of increasing the amplitude of myocardial contraction (P0.05) at 3 and 5 min. When the concentration was increased to 10 and 20?mol/L, the amplitudes of myocardial contraction were more incremental and 3 min later,the estimated value of uracil (I) and uracil (II) to increase the amplitude of myocardial contraction by 50% approached to 4.17 and 4.68, respectively. As described above, uracil (I) is a new cardiotonic in Jiangyou Fuzi.

A new aporphine alkaloid, named fuzitine, was isolated from the tuber of Aconitum carmichaeli Debx. Its chemical structure was identified by the chemical, UV, IR, MS and NMR spectra analysis.

This study examined the value of volume rendering (VR) interpretation in assessing the growth of pulmonary nodular ground-glass opacity (nGGO). A total of 47 nGGOs (average size, 9.5 mm; range, 5.7-20.6 mm) were observed by CT scanning at different time under identical parameter settings. The growth of nGGO was analyzed by three radiologists by comparing the thin slice (TS) CT images of initial and repeat scans with side-by-side cine mode. One week later synchronized VR images of the two scans were compared by side-by-side cine mode to evaluate the nGGO growth. The nodule growth was rated on a 5-degree scale: notable growth, slight growth, dubious growth, stagnant growth, shrinkage. Growth standard was defined as: Density increase ≥ 30 HU and (or) diameter increase (by 20% in nodules ≥10 mm, 30% in nodules of 5-9 mm). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was performed. The results showed that 32 nGGOs met the growth criteria (29 nGGOs showed an increase in density; 1 nGGO showed an increase in diameter; 2 nGGOs showed an increase in both diameter and density). Area under ROC curve revealed that the performance with VR interpretation was better than that with TS interpretation (P<0.01, P<0.05 and P<0.05 for observers A, B and C respectively). Consistency between different observers was excellent with both VR interpretation (κ=0.89 for observers A&C, A&B, B&C) and TS interpretation (κ=0.71 for A&B, κ=0.68 for A&C, κ= 0.74 for B&C), but time spending was less with VR interpretation than with TS interpretation (P<0.0001, P<0.0001 and P<0.05 for observers A, B and C, respectively). It was concluded that VR is a useful technique for evaluating the growth of nGGO.

Objective To evaluate the effect of computer-aided design of composite materials with epoxide acrylate maleic (E) and hydroxyapatite (H) in cranioplasty. Methods A total of 45 patients with cranium defects were treated with cranioplasty by using skull bone flaps made of composite materials including epoxide acrylate maleic (E) and hydroxyapatite (H) ,which was designed with computer aid according to individual requirements. The patients were followed up for 6-36 months. Results After cranioplasty with composite EH, there occurred subcutaneous fluid in one patient and mild bone collapse in one. The composite EH showed good histocompatibility, with no infection or rejection. Conclusion During cranioplasty, use of computer-aided design of composite EH takes advantages of good accuracy, short operation time, good biocompatibility and good clinical efficiency.

Background/Aims: Disrupted bile acid regulation and accumulation in the liver can contribute to progressive liver damage and fibrosis. However, the effects of bile acids on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of bile acids on HSC activation during liver fibrosis, and examined the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The immortalized HSCs, LX-2 and JS-1cells were used for the in vitro study. in vitro, the adeno-associated viruses adeno-associated virus-sh-S1PR2 and JTE-013 were used to pharmacologically inhibit the activity of S1PR2 in a murine model of fibrosis induced by a 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) diet. Histological and biochemical analyses were performed to study the involvement of S1PR2 in the regulation of fibrogenic factors as well as the activation properties of HSCs. Results: S1PR2 was the predominant S1PR expressed in HSCs and was upregulated during taurocholic acid (TCA) stimulation and in cholestatic liver fibrosis mice. TCA-induced HSC proliferation, migration and contraction and extracellular matrix protein secretion were inhibited by JTE-013 and a specific shRNA targeting S1PR2 in LX-2 and JS-1 cells. Meanwhile, treatment with JTE-013 or S1PR2 deficiency significantly attenuated liver histopathological injury, collagen accumulation, and the expression of fibrogenesis-associated genes in mice fed a DDC diet. Furthermore, TCAmediated activation of HSCs through S1PR2 was closely related to the yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathway via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). Conclusions TCA-induced activation of the S1PR2/p38 MAPK/YAP signaling pathways plays a vital role in regulating HSC activation, which might be therapeutically relevant for targeting cholestatic liver fibrosis.

0bjective To investigate the relationships between the peripheral lung cancer and pulmonary vessels or bronchi by 16-row muhislice computed tomography(MSCT)and analyze the related factors.Methods Fifty-four patients with peripheral lung cancer confirmed pathologically underwent contrast-erdaanced MSC TI Multiplanar reformation(MPR)and maximum intensity projection(MIP)in all patients were used to demonstrate the relationships between the peripheral lung cancer and pulmonary vessels,bronchi.The relationships were categorized five types:Type 1,erupted at the edge of nodule. Type 2,erupted at the center of nodule.Type 3,penetrated through the nodule.Type 4,contacting the nodule but stretched or encased.Type 5,contacting the nodule but smoothly compressed.The pathology type,stage,size,density and location of the peripheral lung cancer were recorded and the relationships with five types were evaluated by using Chi-square test and correlation analysis.Results (1)Tumor-bronchi relationship:type 1(33,61.1%)was more often seen in≥2.0 cm and solid lesions with stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ.while Type 2(14,25.9%)was often seen in<2.0 am and part-solid or non-solid lesions with stage Ⅰ.(2)Tumor-PA relationship:Type 1 was more often seen in≥2.0 am and solid lesions with stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ.while Type 2 was often seen in part-solid or non-solid lesions with stage Ⅰ.(3)Tumor-PV relationship:type 4 was the most common type(29,53.7%).Type 2(13,24.1%)was more often seen in part-solid or non-solid lesions.(4)Tumor-bronchi relationship and tumor-PA relationship had a positive correlation(r=0.5265,P<0.01).Conclusions MSCT can demonstrate the relations between the peripheral lung cancer and bronchi.PA and PV.It is useful for the differential diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of the lung csncer.

This study examined the value of volume rendering (VR) interpretation in assessing the growth of pulmonary nodular ground-glass opacity (nGGO).A total of 47 nGGOs (average size,9.5mm; range,5.7-20.6 mm) were observed by CT scanning at different time under identical parameter settings.The growth of nGGO was analyzed by three radiologists by comparing the thin slice (TS) CT images of initial and repeat scans with side-by-side cine mode.One week later synchronized VR images of the two scans were compared by side-by-side cine mode to evaluate the nGGO growth.The nodule growth was rated on a 5-degree scale:notable growth,slight growth,dubious growth,stagnant growth,shrinkage.Growth standard was defined as:Density increase ≥ 30 HU and (or) diameter increase (by 20％ in nodules ≥10 mm,30％ in nodules of 5-9 mm).Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was performed.The results showed that 32 nGGOs met the growth criteria (29 nGGOs showed an increase in density; 1 nGGO showed an increase in diameter; 2 nGGOs showed an increase in both diameter and density).Area under ROC curve revealed that the performance with VR interpretation was better than that with TS interpretation (P＜0.01,P＜0.05 and P＜0.05 for observers A,B and C respectively).Consistency between different observers was excellent with both VR interpretation (κ=0.89 for observers A&C,A&B,B&C) and TS interpretation (κ=0.71 for A&B,κ=0.68 for A&C,κ=0.74 for B&C),but time spending was less with VR interpretation than with TS interpretation (P＜0.0001,P＜0.0001 and P＜0.05for observers A,B and C,respectively).It was concluded that VR is a useful technique for evaluating the growth of nGGO.

ObjectiveTo analyze the value of grey-scale reversed T₁-weighted （rT₁） MRI in the detection of structural lesions of the sacroiliac joint （SIJ） in patients with axial spondyloarthritis （ax-SpA）. MethodsFifty-two ax-SpA patients who underwent both MRI and CT in our hospital within a week from February 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively included. Both sacral and iliac side of each SIJ on oblique coronal images were divided into anterior， middle and posterior portion. Two radiologists reviewed independently three groups of MRI including T1-weighted imaging （T₁WI）， rT₁ and T₁WI + rT₁ images to evaluate the structural lesions like erosions， sclerosis and joint space changes in each of the 6 regions of the SIJ. One of the radiologist did the evaluation again one month later. CT images were scored for lesions by a third radiologist and served as the reference standard. Intra-class correlation coefficients （ICC） were calculated to test the inter- and intra-reader agreement for the assessment of SIJ lesions. A Friedman test was performed to compare the lesion results of MRI and CT image findings. We examined the diagnostic performance ［accuracy， sensitivity （SE） and specificity］ of different groups of MRI in the detection of lesions by using diagnostic test. A McNemar test was used to compare the differences of three groups of MRI findings. ResultsCT showed erosions in 71 joints， sclerosis in 65 and joint space changes in 53. Good inter-and intra-reader agreements were found in three groups of MRI images for the assessment of lesions， with the best agreement in T₁WI + rT₁. There were no difference between T₁WI + rT₁ and CT for the assessment of all lesions， nor between rT₁ and CT for the assessment of erosions and joint space changes （P>0.05）. T₁WI + rT₁ yielded better accuracy and SE than T₁WI in detection of all lesions （Accuracy _erosions： 90.3% vs 76. 9%； SE _erosions： 91.6% vs 76.1%； Accuracy _sclerosis： 89.4% vs 80.8%； SE _sclerosis： 84.6% vs 73.9%； Accuracy _{joint space changes}： 86.5% vs 73.1%； SE _{joint space changes}： 84.9% vs 60.4%； P<0.05）. rT₁ yielded better accuracy and SE than T₁WI in detection of erosions and joint space changes （Accuracy _erosions： 87.5% vs 76.9%； SE _erosions： 88.7% vs 76.1%； Accuracy _{joint space changes}： 85.6% vs 73.1%； SE _{joint space changes}： 83.0% vs 60.4%； P<0.05）. ConclusionsIn the detection of SIJ structural lesions in ax-SpA， rT₁ improves the diagnostic performance and T₁WI + rT₁ is more superior to others.