OBJECTIVETo study the correlation of multislice spiral CT features and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions and microvessel density (MVD) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODSFourth-seven patients with pathologically confirmed RCC were examined by multislice spiral CT, and VEGF expressions and MVD of the RCC and the adjacent normal tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry with specific monoclonal antibodies.

RESULTSVEGF expression and MVD in the RCC and adjacent normal tissues increased with the pathological grades of RCC (P<0.05), VEGF expression was found to significantly correlate with MVD (r=0.67, P<0.01). The positive expression of VEGF and MVD were associated with the findings by multislice spiral CT scan of tumor size, intratumor necrosis, cystic degeneration, intensity signal, lymph node metastases, invasion of the renal vein or inferior vena cava, and invasion of the adjacent organs or distant metastases (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONMultislice spiral CT findings can be indicative of the histopathology of RCC, and some CT findings are closely correlated with MVD and VEGF expressions in RCC, which may help evaluate the biological behavior and malignancy of the tumor and predict tumor invasion and metastasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis

Objective:To construct HIV-1 pseudovirus containing enhanced green fluorescent protein ( EGFP ) gene. To understand the interaction between the virus and the cells. Methods: HIV-1 pseudovirus containing EGFP gene was constructed by lentiviral packaging systems, and its EGFP gene was amplified using RT-PCR. The level of genomic integration and transcription of HIV-1 pseudovirus containing EGFP gene were detected on iDCs infected with HIV-1 pseudovirus. At the same time, research on expression of the EGFP gene in iDCs infected with HIV-1 pseudovirus was performed. Results:The EGFP gene of HIV-1 pseudovirus was detected through RT-PCR. The EGFP gene was identified in iDCs infected with HIV-1 pseudovirus through PCR and RT-PCR. The EGFP was observed in iDCs infected with HIV-1 pseudovirus under fluorescence microscopy. Conclusion: HIV-1 pseudovirus containing EGFP gene has been successfully produced. The HIV-1 pseudovirus that we constructed can infect iDCs,then its RNA can integrate into the genome of iDCs in the way of reverse transcription,and the EGFP gene could express in the iDCs after infected with HIV-1 pseudovirus.

Objective: The scientific community knows little about the long-term influence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on olfactory dysfunction (OD). With the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing worldwide, the risk of imported cases remains high. In China, it is necessary to understand OD in imported cases. Methods: A prospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 11 self-reported patients with COVID-19 and OD from Xi'an No. 8 Hospital were followed between August 19, 2021, and December 12, 2021. Demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory and radiological findings, and treatment outcomes were analyzed at admission. We surveyed the patients via telephone for recurrence and sequelae at the 1-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Results: Eleven patients with OD were enrolled; of these, 54.5% (6/11) had hyposmia and 45.5% (5/11) had anosmia. 63.6% (7/11) reported OD before or on the day of admission as their initial symptom; of these, 42.9% (3/7) described OD as the only symptom. All patients in the study received combined treatment with traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, and 72.7% (8/11) had partially or fully recovered at discharge. In terms of OD recovery at the 12-month follow-up, 45.5% (5/11) reported at least one sequela, 81.8% (9/11) had recovered completely, 18.2% (2/11) had recovered partially, and there were no recurrent cases. Conclusions Our data revealed that OD frequently presented as the initial or even the only symptom among imported cases. Most OD improvements occurred in the first 2 weeks after onset, and patients with COVID-19 and OD had favorable treatment outcomes during long-term follow-up. A better understanding of the pathogenesis and appropriate treatment of OD is needed to guide clinicians in the care of these patients.
COVID-19/complications* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Pandemics ; Prospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2