Objective To observe the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in acute lung injury caused by paraquat(PQ)in rats,and investigate the mechanism of the rhubarb in respect of pmteetive effects.Method PQ intragastrically poisoning at the dose of 50 mg/kg made a model of the acute lung injury in Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats.Totally 144 adult healthy SD rats(72 female,72male)were randomly divided into control group (group A,n=24),poisoned group(group B,n=48),rhubarb treated group(group C,n=48)and the shaln poisoning group(group D,n=24).Rats of group B and group C were poisoned intmgastrically with PQ(50 mg/kg).and rats of group C and group D were intervened intragastrieally with 300 mg/(kg·d)of rhubarb in 15 min-utes.The white blood cells and total cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were counted by using a blood cell counting plate and the protein content of BALF was measured by using the way of Lowry in order to calculate the neutmphiks pereentage and lung permeability index.A small portion of left lung was stained with HE to observe the pathological changes and the expression oftumor necrosis factor-α in the rest of the left lung was observed with immunohistochemistry.The data were handled by the analysis of variance and NK method using SPSS 14.0.Re-suits Compared with group A,the lungs of rats mainly showed congestion,edema and leukocytes infiltration in group B,and fibrosis was found onlyt in a few rats.And the rate neutrophils percentage,protein content and lung permeability index in BALF increased(P＜0.01).The expression of TNF-α were obviously inereased at 12 hours after PQ poisoning,and immtmohistochemistry score (IHS)was higher,and peaked at 24 hours later(P＜0.05),then remained on a high level for a while and sluggishly declined.Compared with group B,the changes of above mentioned were alleviated obviously,and the expression of TNF-α delayed with the less magnitude of increasing an an obvious tendency of less expression.Compared with group B,delayed,lower increasing extent,obviously re-ducing tendency in group C with statistical difference in IHS(P＜0.05).Conclusions Rhubarb ameliorates a-cute lung injury caused by PQ poisoning in rats by means of inhibiting the expression of TNF-α in turn to alleviate inflammatory reaction.

Objective To explore the anatomical characteristic of the third palmar interosseous mus- cle as well its dominate nerve,and to investigate the anatomical basis of difficult recovery of digitus minimus adduction.Methods Twenty aduh fresh hands without deformity and trauma were obtained.Dissect and observe the third palmar interosseous muscle and its dominate nerve and adjacent structure under surgical mi- croseope,measure the size of the third pahnar interosseous muscle and its dominate nerve,the data were pro- cessed by stastistics method.Results Among palmar interosseous muscles and its dominate nerves,the third palmar interosseous muscle and its dominate nerve is the smallest.There are conspicuous tendon bundle on the surface of the third palmar interosseous muscle partly,which have a potential compression on the third palmar interosseous muscle dominting nerve.Conclusion The third palmar interosseous muscle is the smal- lest among palmar interusseous muscles and it is the only digitus minimus adduction muscle.The sominating nerve of the third palmar interosseous muscle is small anti the tendon bundle of the third palmar interosseous muscle have a potential compression.All these can cast light on diffcult recovery of digitus minimus adduction.

Diagnostic ultrasound is a useful and noninvasive method in clinical medicine. Although due to its qualitative, subjective and experience-based nature, ultrasound image interpretation can be influenced by image conditions such as scanning frequency and machine settings. In this paper, a novel method is proposed to extract the liver features using the joint features of fractal dimension and the entropies of texture edge co-occurrence matrix based on ultrasound images, which is not sensitive to changes in emission frequency and gain. Then, Fisher linear classifier and support vector machine are employed to test a group of 99 in-vivo liver fibrosis images from 18 patients, as well as other 273 liver images from 18 normal human volunteers.
Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Fractals ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; methods ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

Objective To investigate the effects of melatonin (MT) on rats with acute paraquat (PQ) poisoning. Method Fifty-four Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups (each group 18 rats) and given the following treatment: intragastric injection of PQ at 50 mg/kg (PQ); intragastric injection of paraquat followed by intraperitoneal injection of MT at 10mg/kg once a day (MT); intragastric injection of normal saline (Control). Serum assays for malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glu tathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were determined on the 1st, 3rd and 7th day post treatment. Clinical manifestations of poisoning and pathological changes in the lungs were also observed. Results Serum MDA levels were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01), and SOD and GSH-Px activities significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05) in the PQ group compared to the control group. Serum MDA levels were significantly decreased, and serum SOD and GSH-Px activities increased in MT group compared to the PQ group (P ＜ 0.05). Clinical manifestations of intoxication and pathological lung changes were also ameliorated in poisoned rats treated with MT. Condutions Administration of MT alleviates clinical manifestations of acute paraquat poisoning in rats by Limiting the damage from lipid peroxidation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kgr;B) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in lung tissue of acute paraquat poisoned rats.

METHODS68 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: the control group (n = 8), the intoxication group (n = 60). On the 1st, the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th and the 28th day after intoxication, the expression of NF-κB p65 and TNF-α in lung tissue were detected by LSAB immunohistochemistry (IH) staining. Meanwhile, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma, and lung homogenate, the content of malondialdehyde (HPY) in lung homogenate were detected.

RESULTSThe levels of MDA in plasma on the 1st, the 3rd, the 7th day and in lung homogenate on the 1st, the 3rd day of the intoxication group [in plasma: (10.15 ± 3.15), (6.97 ± 1.65) and (5.44 ± 0.66) nmol/ml; in lung homogenate: (10.20 ± 2.43), (10.71 ± 171) nmol/ml] were significantly higher than that of the control group [in plasma: (3.84 ± 1.04) nmol/ml, in lung homogenate: (7.66 ± 0.66) nmol/ml]. The content of HPY in lung homogenate on the 14th and the 28th day after intoxication [(19.98 ± 2.86), (26.06 ± 4.06) µg/0.1 g lung homogenate] were higher than that of the control group [(8.80 ± 1.26) µg/0.1 g lung homogenate] significantly. The expression of NF-κB p65 and TNF-α in lung tissue were both significantly increased on the first day and the 3rd day of the intoxication group compared with the control group and weakened obviously after the 7th day.

CONCLUSIONAcute paraquat poisoning can induce increased expression of both NF-κB p65 and TNF-α in lung tissue; the enhanced activity of NF-κB may take part in the process of pulmonary injury in PQ poisoning.

Animals ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Cardiac Catheterization ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; therapy ; Humans ; Prosthesis Implantation ; instrumentation ; Septal Occluder Device

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of the matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and membrane-type 1 metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) in lung of rats exposed to paraquat (PQ) and the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza monomer IH764-3 on above expression.

METHODSNinety adult healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the control group (group A, 6 rats), the exposure group (group B, 42 rats) and the group treated by Salvia miltiorrhiza monomer IH764-3 (group C, 42 rats). The group B and C were treated intragastrically with 1ml of PQ (50 mg/kg), and the group A was treated intragastrically with normal saline. The group C was treated intraperitoneally with 1 ml Salvia miltiorrhiza monomer IH764-3 at the dose of 40 mg/kg a day. The group A and B were treated intraperitoneally with 1 ml normal saline day. The expression of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP was detected on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 35th days after exposure for all groups.

RESULTSAs compared with the expression level (0.305 ± 0.045) of MMP-2 mRNA in group A, the expression levels of MMP-2 mRNA in Group B significantly increased, which were 0.654 ± 0.077, 0.623 ± 0.051, 0.637 ± 0.024, 0.533 ± 0.043 and 0.552 ± 0.050 on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st days after exposure, respectively (P < 0.01). As compared with group A, the the expression levels of MMP-2 mRNA on the 1st, 3rd, 7th days in Group C slightly increased, but the expression levels of MMP-2 mRNA on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st days in Group C were 0.523 ± 0.074, 0.567 ± 0.097, 0.514 ± 0.058, 0.359 ± 0.018 and 0.374 ± 0.020, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in group B (P < 0.01). As compared with the expression level (0.391 ± 0.058) of MT1-MMP mRNA in group A, the expression levels of MT1-MMP mRNA in Group B significantly increased, which were 0.796 ± 0.021, 0.762 ± 0.043, 0.590 ± 0.010, 0.803 ± 0.076 and 0.680 ± 0.034 on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st days after exposure, respectively (P < 0.01). As compared with group A, the expression levels of MT1-MMP mRNA in Group C significantly increased, which were 0.594 ± 0.010, 0.653 ± 0.044 and 0.564 ± 0.009 on the 1st, 3rd and 21st days after exposure, respectively (P < 0.01). The expression levels of MT1-MMP mRNA in Group C were significantly lower than those in group B (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression changes of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP genes of lungs in rats intragastrically exposed to PQ could result in the unbalance the synthesis and degradation of ECM, which may be a cause of lung fibrosis. The Salvia miltiorrhiza monomer IH764-3 could affect the expression of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP genes to a certain extent, resulting in the reduction of lung fibrosis.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Paraquat ; toxicity ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

Objective Radiological findings of very rare hemangioendotheliomas in the orbit have not been reported.Radiological findings on different imaging studies of four cases with hemangioendotheliomas in the orbit were described and the literature was reviewed so as to understand features of hemangioendotheliomas in the orbit.Methods CT and MR imaging findings of four cases with hemangioendotheliomas in the orbit confirmed by histopathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results A mass was found in the superotemporal quadrant in the anterior extraconal space of the orbit in three cases and in the inferonasal quadrant in one case. CT studies revealed a homogeneously ovoid tumor with benign remodeling of the adjacent bone in three cases and a homogeneously irregular mass without any bony change in one case.MR imaging showed a mass in the orbit that was mildly hypointense on T_1-weighted sequences and hyperintense on T_2-weighted images with areas of flow voids representing vessels within the peripheral portion of the tumor in four cases.All four patients demonstrated significant enhancement immediately after intravenous administration of contrast material and a type D time-signal intensity curve (TIC)pattern on MR dynamic contrast enhancement scanning.Conclusions Hemangioendotheliomas in the orbit appeared as a hypervascular tumor predominantly in the extraconal space with areas of flow voids within the tumor and early significant enhancement of the tumor after intravenous administration of contrast material.MR imaging is the best method in demonstration of features of hemangioendotheliomas in the orbit and in diagnosis of these tumors.

Objective To investigate the AIDS-related high risk behaviors of men who havesex with men (MSM) who ever exchanged money for the same sex. Methods Target sampling forcross-sectional study and valid anonymous questionnaires were adopted to compare the differences ofAIDS-related high risk behaviors between MSM with the experience of exchanging money for thesame sex and those without that experience. 1959 rstadied samples were recruited in nine cities. SPSS13.0 was used and t, x 2 and Mann-Whitney tests were taken for statistical analysis. ResultsCompared to corresponding ones without "buying" the same sex experience, MSM who ever engagedin "buying" sex had the characteristics of being prone to in marriage and living in larger cities witholder age and higher income (P＜0.01). They also had a significant larger number in the followingevents: total sexual panners, anal sex and oral sex episodes with same sex, number of sexualpartners, anal sex and oral sex in the previous six months, with the figure of median 50.0, 20.0,20.0, 5.0,4.0,5.0 respectively. 31.5% had ever participated in 'group sex', 48.0% had sex with malepartners away from his own region in the previous year, 70.5% had sexual intercourse withstrangers at MSM avenues in the last six months. The OR (95% CI) values were 2.288( 1.702-3.077), 3.231 (2.462-4.241 ), 2.840 (2.140-3.770). All the above mentioned figures werehigher than those without the experience, with significant differences. They had a significant lower rate of 45.7% of condom use while having sex with female partners (P＜0.05). Conclusion MSM with the experience of exchanging money for the same sex would have more AIDS-related high risk behaviors, AIDS preventative measures should be taken to target different subgroups.

This paper presents a new deformable model using both population-based and patient-specific shape statistics to segment lung fields from serial chest radiographs. First, a modified scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) local descriptor is used to characterize the image features in the vicinity of each pixel, so that the deformable model deforms in a way that seeks for the region with similar SIFT local descriptors; second, the deformable model is constrained by both population-based and patient-specific shape statistics. At first, population-based shape statistics plays an leading role when the number of serial images is small, and gradually, patient-specific shape statistics plays a more and more important role after a sufficient number of segmentation results on the same patient have been obtained. The proposed deformable model can adapt to the shape variability of different patients, and obtain more robust and accurate segmentation results.
Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Computer Simulation ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; Lung Diseases ; diagnosis ; Models, Statistical ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; methods ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Radiography, Thoracic ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity