Objective To assess response of rectal carcinoma to preoperative chemoradiation therapy(CRT)using DWI and tumor ADC values,and to investigate the value of ADC in predicting and monitoring therapeutic effect of CRT.Methods Twenty-six patients with primary rectal carcinoma undergoing preoperative CRT were recruited to the study.DWI was performed on a 1.5 T MR scanner in all patients at the time point of pre-therapy,the end of the 1st,2nd week of therapy and pre-operation,respectively.ADC values of the tumors were calculated on the workstation.Randomized block design was applied to analyze change in ADCs following treatment Results All patients were divided into T-downstaging group(n=12)and T-non-downstaging group(n=14).In T-downstaging group,the mean tumor ADC values were(1.10±0.13)×10~(-3),(1.32±0.19)×10~(-3),(1.35±0.13)×10~(-3),(1.32±1.00)×10~(-3) mm~2/s at the time point of pretreatment,week 1,week 2,pre-operation,respectively(F=16.420,P＜0.01).The mean tumor ADC value in T-non-downstaging had a slight increase from(1.16±0.16)×10~(-3) mm~2/s to(1.23±0.13)×10~(-3) mm~2/s at the time of week 1(P＞0.05).The ADC value in T-non-downstaging group continuously increased to(1.30±0.16)×10~(-3) mm~2/s at the end of the 2nd week of CRT(F=5.023,P＜0.01)and appeared statistical difference.The evolution of tumor ADC values in the two groups was significantly different.Early increases in tumor ADC were observed in T-downstaging group.Regarding the increase percentage of ADC value at 1st week as a diagnostic marker of tumor downstaging,when it was set as 11.6%,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value is 75.0%,78.6%,75.0% and 78.6% respectively,the area under curve(Az)was 0.774(95% confidence interval:0.583 to 0.964).Conclusions An early significant increase of mean tumor ADC value in rectal carcinoma has a potential to predict therapeutic effect of CRT.One week after beginning CRT is an early time point to monitor therapy efficacy.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of different three-dimensional CTA methods on 64-slice sprial CT in the preoperative assessment of gastric arteries and their variations.Methods Sixty-six consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent 64-slice spiral CT examinations preoperatively were retrospectively studied.To get the STS-MIP images, the thickness of slab was adjusted according to the inner diameter of targeted blood vessels and their cross-layer distribution.After four weeks, the AVVR images of all cases was got by the auto-vessel technique.The demonstration rates and origins of the direct and indirect feeding arteries were analyzed on AVVR and STS-MIP.McNemar tests were used to compare the detection rates of gastric feeding arteries by STS-MIP and AVVR.The relationship between CT value and display rate of vessels was analyzed using independent-samples t test The variations of blood vessels were analyzed.Results The display rate of indirect feeding arteries were all 100% (66/66) by STS-MIP and AVVR.The display rates of left gastric artery (LGA) and right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) were 98.5% (65/66), 100.0% (66/66) and 97.0% (64/66), 100.0% (66/66) by STS-MIP and AVVR respectively.The display rates of right gastric artery (RGA), left gastroepiploic artery (LGEA), short gastric artery (SGA) and posterior gastric artery (PGA) by AVVR were lower than those of STS-MIP with statistical significances [RGA:68.2%(45/66) vs.98.5% (65/66), P<0.01; LGEA: 53.0% (35/66) vs.97.0% (64/66), P<0.01; SGA: 7.6% (5/66) vs.59.1 %(39/66), P<0.01; PGA: 18.2% (12/66) vs.63.6% (42/66), P<0.01 ].The demonstration rates of LGEA, RGEA and SGA increased accompanied with the increasing of CT value in celiac axis (LGEA: 35 cases displayed with mean CT value of (272±44) HU, 31 cases did not display with mean CT value of (229±42) HU, t=4.043, P<0.01; RGEA: 64 cases displayed with mean CT value of (256±44) HU, 2 cases did not display with mean CT value of (141 ±26)HU, (=3.641, P<0.01; SGA:5 cases displayed with mean CT value of (298 ±39),61 cases did not display with mean CT value of (249±47)HU, t=2.278,P<0.01). Thirteen cases (19.7%) with accessory left hepatic artery were identified, and seven cases (10.6%) with celiac axis variances were depicted.Conclusion 64-slice spiral CT can clearly demonstrate gastric feeding arteries and related variations, which may provide useful information for the operation of gastric cancer.Stomach neoplasm; Tomography, X-ray computedAVVR.The display rates of left gastric artery(I,GA) and fight gastroepiploic artery(RGEA)were 98.5%(65/66),100.0%(66/66)and 97.0%(64/66),100.0%(66/66)by STS-MIP and AVVR respectively.The display rates of right gastric artery(RGA),left gastroepiploic artery(LCEA),short gastric arterysignificances [RGA:68.2%(45/66)VS.98.5%(65/66), P<0.01;ICEA:53.0%(35/66)VS.97.0%(64/66),P<0.01;SGA:7.6%(5/66)VS.59.1%(39/66),P<0.01;PGA:18.2%(12/66)VS.63.6%(42/66).P<0.01 1.The demonstration rates of I.GEA,RGEA and SGA increased accompaniedwith the increasing of CT value in celiac axis(LGEA:35 cases displayed with mean CT value of(272±44)HU,31 cases did not display with mean CT value of(229±42)HU,t=4.043,P<0.01;RGEA:64 cases displayed with mean CT value of(256±44)HU,2 cases did not display with mean CT value of(141±26)HU,t=3.641, P<0.01;SGA:5 cases displayed with mean CT value of(298±39),61 casesaccessory left hepatic artery were identified.and seven cases(10.6%) with celiac axis variances werevariations.which may provide useful information for the operation of gastric cancer.

Objective To investigate and evaluate the correlation between brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and gestational hypertension and preeclampsia of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP).Methods Fifty cases with HDCP and 46 cases with mild and 83 cases with sever stage preeclampsia were selected as our subjects.And 33 cases with regular pregnancy and 31 with irregular pregnancy were served as control group.Plasma brain natriuretic peptide,urinary protein quantity(UBQ),24-hour urinary protein assay (UPA) were measured.The correlations of brain natriuretic peptide and UBQ,UPA,systolic pressure (SP),diastolic pressure (DP) were analyzed.Results The levels of brain natriuretic peptide in the group with gestational hypertension and mild,severe preeclampsia groups were (48.54± 18.27),(79.46± 32.18) and (292.24±213.08) ng/L,higher than that in normal pregnancy and non pregnant group ((27.84± 14.58) and (20.63± 8.28) n/L;F =49.583,P＜0.05).While no significant difference exists between normal pregnancy group and non pregnant group.Grouped on the median values (199) of brain natriuretic peptide of the severe preeclampsia group,the levels of 24-hour UPA,systolic pressure and diastolic pressure were (5.46±2.68) g,(174.55± 13.58) mmHg,(113.74±9.91) mmHg in patients with brain natriuretic peptide ≥ 199 ng/L(n=42),significant higher than those in patients with brain natriuretic peptide ＜ 199 ng/L(n =41;(4.34± 1.95)g,(165.31±11.12) mmHg,(106.05±8.02) mmHg;t=2.603,3.396,2.308;P=＞0.010,0.001,0.024).The levels of 24-hour UPA,systolic pressure and diastolic pressure of patients with brain natriuretic peptide ≥ 86ng/L(n=20) in mild preeclampsia were (1.68±0.27) g,(163.69±8.29) mmHg,(105.45±6.71) mmHg,significant higher than those in patients with brain natriuretic peptide ＜ 86 ng/L (n =26;(1.16 ± 0.31) g,(152.90±7.32) mmHg,(99.19 ± 5.25) mmHg;t =3.180,2.508,2.32;P =0.010,0.016,0.025).Brain natriuretic peptide was closely correlated with UPA,systolic pressure and diastolic pressure in hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP) (r =0.29,0.30;P ＜ 0.01).Brain natriuretic peptide was closely correlated with UPA systolic pressure and diastolic pressure in mild preeclampsia (r =0.39,0.37,0.40;P ＜0.01).And correlation efficacy of brain natriuretic peptide with UPA,systolic pressure and diastolic pressure were 0.44,0.42 and 0.53 (P＜0.01).Conclusion The level of brain natriuretic peptide is closely associated with the severity of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy.Correlation of brain natriuretic peptide to the severity of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia is independent of urinary protein and hypertension.Brain natriuretic peptide is an important indicator for the severity of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy.

Implant-related infection is a commonly occurred complication in orthopaedics. The surface modification methods frequently used for anti-infection of implant surface were minimizing bacteria adhesion,grafting antibacterial agents and improving osteointegration. The pathogenesis and characteristics of orthopaedic implant-related infection and the research advances in the surface modification of orthopaedic implants for anti-infection are described in this paper,providing a reference for the research of novel implants with anti-infection characteristics.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Vaginal Neoplasms ; secondary

Objective To evaluate the effect of iodine supplementation on improvement of developmental quotient (DQ) at the critical period of infant brain development.Methods Pregnant,lactating women and infants less than 3 years old were supplemented with iodized oil in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture(Linxia Prefecture) Gansu Province in 2006-2010.Before and after the intervention(2006,2007-2010),five townships were randomly selected in the north,the south,the east,the west and the center of eight counties(cities) of Linxia.One village was chosen from each of those townships and 20 infants,20 pregnant women and 20 lactating women were randomly selected in each village(insufficient was made up from the neighboring villages).Urinary iodine(UI) level of the infants,pregnant and lactating women were determined by arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry.DQ value of infants was measured before and after supplementation of iodized oil in 2006 and 2010.UI value of pregnant,lactating women and infants was monitored every year after iodine supplementation.Results Before iodine supplementation(2006),the median UI level of pregnant,lactating women and infants was 89.28,84.85,107.3 μg/L,respectively.After iodine supplementation,the medians UI level in 2007,2008,2009 and 2010 were,respectively,pregnant women:136.0,187.8,118.2,175.8 μg/L; lactating women:135.2,159.8,187.5,163.5 μ g/L; infants:139.6,174.7,190.7,168.4 μg/L.Before iodine supplementation,the DQ value of infants was 92.8 ± 16.3,and the average score of gross motor,fine motor,adaptive capacity,language and social behavior was 93.7 ± 20.0,91.4 ± 20.0,92.4 ± 19.0,90.3 ± 20.0,96.4 ± 22.1,respectively.After iodine supplementation,the DQ value of infants was 104.3 ± 13.8,and the average score of gross motor,fine motor,adaptive capacity,language and social behavior was 104.8 ± 21.5,104.1 ± 17.2,104.8 ± 16.1,99.9 ± 19.1,108.0 ± 22.7,respectively,which were higher than that before iodine supplementation (t =-10.43,-10.77,-13.78,-14.28,-9.96,-15.33,all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Iodine deficiency at the critical period of brain development can affect the intellectual development of infants and young children at all functional areas of intelligence.Iodine supplementation at the critical period of brain development can prevent mental retardation caused by iodine deficiency disorders.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of exteral use of papaverine cream on enhancement of skin graft.

METHODSFive mini-pigs were used for the study. 20 full-thickness wounds were created on the back of each animal. Along the midline of the abdomen, a 40 cm x 2 cm full-thickness skin graft was harvested and the wound sutured.The full-thickness graft was prepared and trimmed to 2 cm x 2 cm of 0.6 mm thickness split-skin grafts, which were transplanted to each wound with tie-over bolsters. The sutures were removed 2 weeks after the operation. Twelve pairs of 100%-survived skin grafts were selected and divided into group A (the left side) and group B (the right side), with each pair locating on the same and opposite position. From the day of suture removal, 2% papaverine cream was used to group A while plain cream was used to group B. The grafts were measured and observed for healing condition at the time of suture removal and the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth month. The surface area of the graft was measured and the shrinking ratio was calculated. After the animals were killed at the sixth month, samples of the skin grafts were taken and processed with 10% formalin, routine paraffin wax and Hematoxylin-eosin staining. The tissue structure was observed and the results were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe grafts in two groups did not have significant differences at the time of suture removal. Observations from the first to the sixth month showed that the two groups had significant differences in skin graft contracture and histological changes. HE stains demonstrated that the skin grafts in group A had less fibroblasts, more microvessels and orderly-arranged collagenous fibers.

CONCLUSIONSExternal use of papaverine cream can inhabit the contraction of skin grafts. It is a safe, effective, simple, and reliable method,which has the advantages of easy delivery,cheapness, less injury and infection,and no side effects.

Animals ; Contracture ; prevention & control ; Male ; Papaverine ; pharmacology ; Skin Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are characterized by their potent immuno-regulatory activity, however our previous data have shown that MSC have no therapeutic effects on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). To further clarify the complexity, the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on the in vitro and in vivo immunoregulatory activity of MSC were investigated in this study, as TNF-α is recognized as the key factor in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. The nuclear translocation of the inflammation-associated factor NF-κB was observed after human umbilical cord MSC were treated with TNF-α and the cell proliferation status was assessed by MTT test. The inhibitory effects of MSC or TNF-α-treated MSC on the mixed lymphocyte reaction, in which Wistar rat spleen mononuclear cells were served as the responders and the splenocytes from SD rat spleens as the stimulators, were also determined by the MTT test. Further, the therapeutic potentials of MSC or TNF-α-treated MSC were observed in a Wistar rat CIA model. The results showed that NF-κB translocated into the nuclei promptly after TNF-α treatment, though TNF-α had little effect on the MSC proliferation. MSC, whether pre-stimulated by TNF-α or not and when different doses were tested, exhibited obviously inhibitory effects on the proliferation of the lymphocytes (P < 0.001 for all groups tested), while MSC-treated by TNF-α displayed more potent suppression especially when low-density were used. Unexpectedly, the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the involved knees was aggravated by cell treatment and the pathological scores were significantly higher than those of controls (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the TNF-α exhibits different effects on immune regulation activity of MSC, and its underlying mechanism needs to further investigate.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

AIM AND METHODSTo observe the effect of myocardial mitochondrial L-arginine (L-Arg)/nitric oxide (NO) system on mitochondrial Ca2+ transport by using purified rat mitochondria and incubation of them in vitro.

RESULTSCompared with control group, incubation of mitochondria with L-Arg (10(-4) mol/L, NO substrate) or sodium nitroprusside (5 x 10(-7) mol/L, the donor of exogenous NO, SNP) increased significantly mitochondrial NO2- (66% and 89%, P < 0.01), respectively, and decreased the Ca2+ content (40% and 54%, P < 0.01). After L-Arg or SNP treatment, mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake were decreased by 67% and 85%, respectively (P < 0.01), vs control. The rate of mitochondrial Ca2+ release decreased by 11% and 8%, respectively (P < 0.01). When L-NAME (NO synthase inhibitor) was incubated with mitochondria and the L-Arg together, it inhibited the effects of L-Arg, NO2 on the mitochondrial NO2 formation, Ca2+ content descending, and decrease of Ca2+ uptake and release.

CONCLUSIONThe data suggest that myocardial mitochondrial L-Arg /NO systems take part in the regulation of cardiomyocytes Ca2+ transportation.

Animals ; Arginine ; metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Mitochondria, Heart ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Our previous work has shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have little therapeutic effect on rat arthritis induced by collagen. This study was aimed to further investigate whether the MSC lysates exhibit beneficial effects on rheumatoid arthritis. Aliquots of cell lysates from 1×10(7) human bone marrow MSC were intraperitoneally injected into collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) Wistar rats weekly for 4 consecutive weeks. Methotrexate at a dose of 1 mg/kg or normal saline was served as positive and negative controls respectively. On week 4 the symptom scores were recorded and the hind joints of the rats were pathologically examined and X-ray examination was performed. The results showed that on week 4, the symptom scores of the rats that received MSC lysates (6.87 ± 0.83) and MTX (6.44 ± 1.13) were significantly lower than that of control rats (7.33 ± 0.77, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, pathological examination on the involved ankle showed that the synovitis and arthritis scores of MSC lysates and control groups were 2.28 ± 0.48 and 2.28 ± 0.55 respectively, significantly higher than that of MTX treatment rats (0.71 ± 0.48, P < 0.05). However, X-ray examination on the ankle joints showed that the injury score of control rats was 4 ± 0.57, greatly higher than those from MSC lysates (2.71 ± 0.75) and MTX treatment groups (2.57 ± 0.78, P < 0.05 for both groups). It is concluded that MSC lysate infusion has beneficial effects on CIA rat, but the effectiveness seems inferior to MTX.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Methotrexate ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar