Objective To evaluate the value of CT perfusion imaging (CTPI) in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Method CTPI was carried out on 21 patients with 26 lesions to obtain the following perfusion parameters: hepatic blood flow (HBF), hepatic blood volume (HBV),mean transit time (MTT), permeability surface area product (PS), and hepatic arterial fraction (HAF). The parameters from the lesion and non-lesion areas were compared. In addition, serum AFP was measured in the HCC patients and a linear correlation analysis between the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level and the CTPI parameters was performed. Result CTPI failed in 3 patients with 3 lesions and was successful in 18 patients with 23 lesions which included 18 HCC, 4 hemangioma of the liver,and 1 hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). On comparison of the HCC parameters in the lesion and non-lesion areas, significant differences were found in the HAF which was 4.11 times higher in the lesion than the non-lesion areas, while the MTT and PS were significantly lower. There was no significant difference in the HBF and HBV. Correlation between the serum AFP level and the CTPI parameters of the HCC lesion was insignificant. The differences of all the parameters between the lesion and the non-lesion in hemangioma were similar to those in HCC, except for a higher HBF in the lesion than in HCC. There was no significant difference between the parameters of FNH and the non-nodular part of the liver. Conclusion CTPI played an important role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of HCC, especially when the AFP was negative and/or the imaging manifestation was atypical on contrast CT.

Adult ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; etiology ; therapy ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; surgery ; Rituximab

Objective To investigate the prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis or bone loss in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients by Bugu capsules.Methods Sixty-six patients with SLE were randomly divided into A and B groups:34 patients in Group A were treated by glucocorticoid and Bugu capsules,and 32 patients in Group B by glucocorticoid alone.All patients were measured for bone mineral density (BMD) in Wards triangle,and for related biochemical parameters such as serum calcium, phosphonium,alkaline phosphatase,parathyroid hormone (PTH) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) before and after the treatment.As the control group,thirty healthy subjects were measured for the above parameters.Results There was significant difference in the serum level of IL-6,calcium and PTH between the Group B and con- trol group (P＜0.01).The occurrence rate of osteoporosis or bone loss in group A was significant lower than that in group B [2/34 (5.88%) vs 9/32 (28.13%),P=0.0364].Conclusion Bugu capsules can prevent glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis or bone loss in SLE patients,possibly by restoring the balance among serum IL-6,calcium and PTH.

Objective：To investigate the mechanism of increased glucose uptake, the expression of myoc ardial glucose transporter1 (GLUT1) was determined after low-flow myocardial is chemia. Methods： An in vivo open-chest canine model of low -flow myocardial ischemia was used to correlate myocardial glucose uptake with the number of GLUT1. The expression of myocardial GLUT1 glucose transporter was determined by semiquantitative Northern blotting and immunoblotting. Res ults： GLUT1 mRNA and GLUT1 polypeptide expression was substantially inc reased in ischemic region from the experimental hearts when compared to normal h earts. There was no significant regional difference in GLUT1 expression in eith er normal or ischemic hearts.Conclusion：Myocardial ischemia ind uces a factor or factors which stimulate GLUT1 expression in ischemic myocardial regions. Enhanced GLUT1 expression may be an important protective mechanism by which myocardial cells enhance glucose uptake and metabolism during low-flow my ocardial ischemia.

Objective: To investigate whether there is additi ve effects of hyperinsulinemia and ischemia on expression of canine myocardial G LUT4 gene in vivo. Methods: The expression of myocardial GLU T4 was determined by semiquantitative immunoblotting.The expression of GLUT4 mRN A was determined by semiquantitative Northern blotting. Results: Dramatic changes were seen in GLUT4 mRNA and GLUT4 expression in the ischemic hearts.After infusing insulin for 8 h,regional GLUT4 mRNA and GLUT4 levels in is chemic hearts were 2.5, 2.3-fold that of expression in normal hearts(P<0.01 ). Myocardial glucose uptake in ischemic hearts was increased by 4-fold when co mpared with normal hearts(P<0.01). Conclusion: There are not only additive effects of hyperinsulinemia and low-flow ischemia on canine myoc ardial GLUT4 mRNA and GLUT4 expression in vivo, but also increase of myocar dial glucose uptake. Enhanced GLUT4 expression may be an important protective m echanism by which myocardial cells enhance glucose uptake and metabolism during low-flow ischemia.

Objective To explore the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and deceleration capacity (DC) in children with idiopathic ventricular premature contraction of different origins. Methods The clinical data from 155 children with idiopathic ventricular premature contraction were retrospectively analyzed. According to the age, the children were divided into young children group (

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether insulin resistance exists in patients with colorectal cancer and its clinical significance.

METHODSA total of 135 patients with colorectal cancer were included as the study group, and 120 healthy subjects were included as the control group. Height, weight, and blood pressure were recorded. Fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and insulin were measured. Insulin resistance index(lnHOMA-IR) was calculated.

RESULTSThe lnHOMA-IR was 0.84±0.38 in the study group and 0.42±0.08 in the control group(P<0.05). The incidence of metabolic syndrome was 34.1%(46/135) in the study group and 22.5%(27/120) in the control group(P<0.05). Insulin resistance index did not differ between the groups according to metabolic syndrome(0.98±0.41 vs. 0.74±0.22, P>0.05). There were no significant associations between insulin resistance index and tumor differentiation, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and TNM staging(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONInsulin resistance exists in colorectal cancer patients, and it is possibly associated with metabolic syndrome and the tumor.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVELeft ventricular diastolic dysfunction is common in cardiovascular diseases. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) is a typical disease with diastolic dysfunction. We analyzed the association between the left ventricular flow propagation velocity (FPV), quantified by color M-mode Doppler and as an indicator for diastolic dysfunction, and clinical outcome in patients with HCM.

METHODSStandard echocardiography including FPV was performed in 43 cases with HCM and 22 control cases without a clear history of heart disease. All eligible cases were followed up to more than 1 year.

RESULTSHospitalization rate due to emerging atrial fibrillation/flutter was 21%, due to emerging ventricular tachycardia was 16%, due to heart failure was 26%, and due to other events was 14% in HCM patients. FPV [(31.6 ± 11.5) cm/s vs. (68.3 ± 18.3) cm/s, P < 0.01] and FPV/E (0.49 ± 0.20 vs. 1.18 ± 0.41, P < 0.01) were significantly lower in HCM group than in control group. PV/E was an independent predictor for atrial fibrillation/flutter and heart failure, IVST was independent predictor for VT (χ(2) = 5.181, P = 0.0228), LAD (χ(2) = 6.172, P = 0.0130) and FPV/E (χ(2) = 3.932, P = 0.0474) were independent risk factors for total cardiac events.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of atrial fibrillation and heart failure were closely related with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in HCM patients and FPV/E was independent predictor for clinical cardiovascular events.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atrial Fibrillation ; physiopathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color ; Female ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; Heart Ventricles ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEPrader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex, multisystem disorder, which is difficult to be diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and the purpose of this study is to establish methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR) assay for the diagnosis of PWS, and evaluate its use in clinical cases. MS-PCR assay has been developed abroad for 10 years, and it is efficient, fast, specific and sensitive but it has not yet been used in clinical diagnosis in our country.

METHODSForty-four subjects were assigned to 3 groups: normal controls (n=16), typical PWS patients (n=7) and suspected PWS patients (n=21). Genome DNA was extracted by salt fractionation method and treated with CpGemone Fast Modification Kit. Using unmodified genome DNA as system control, the modified DNA was amplified by PCR with two primer pairs (M and P), and separated by agarose gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSAll normal controls showed both 174 bp (M) and 100 bp (P) products, while all of the seven typical PWS patients demonstrated only 174 bp (M) product. In the 21 suspected patients, two cases were confirmed with PWS by MS-PCR, while others were excluded from PWS.

CONCLUSIONSMS-PCR appears to be a specific, efficient and convenient assay for the diagnosis of PWS.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Prader-Willi Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics

AIMTo study the effects of ginkgolides (Gin) on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (H1F-1alpha) in primary cultured cortical neurons treated with CoCl2 and the relationship with ERK signal pathway.

METHODSWe observed the effects of Gin (37.5 mg/L) on morphology and viability on primary cultured cortical neurons with treatment of CoCl2 (125 micromol/L). The expression of HIF-1alpha and p-ERK of neurons induced by CoCl2 pretreated with Gin were assessed by Western-blot. We analyzed the relationship between HIF-1alpha expression activated by Gin and ERK signal pathway with treatment of PD98059 (100 micromol/L), a selective inhibitor of ERK.

RESULTSIt was shown that Gin had protective effects on CoCl2 damaged neurons by raising the neuronal viability. Some basic expression of HIF-1alpha and p-ERK were observed in normal cultured cortical neurons. The expression of HIF-1alpha and p-ERK increased strikingly when treated with CoCl2 for 4 h. The levels of HIF-1alpha and p-ERK increased even more in the neurons pretreated with Gin for 24 h before CoCl2. The levels of HIF-1alpha and p-ERK were notably inhibited with pretreatment of PD98059, while Gin could prevent this inhibition.

CONCLUSIONGin has protective effects on neurons damaged by CoCl2 which might be related to the increase of the level of HIF-1alpha and the activation of ERK signal pathway.

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Ginkgolides ; pharmacology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism