Objective To investigate the effects of cognitive therapy combined with picture recognition training on depression after stroke (PSD).Methods Sixty patients with PSD after cerebral infarction were randomized into study and control groups.All accepted routine rehabilitation therapy.In addition,the study group accepted cognitive therapy combined with picture recognition training.The effects were assessed in terms of average reaction time and accuracy in picture recognition,and using the Hamilton depression rating scales (HAMDs) and the Barthel index (BI) before and after 4 weeks of treatment.Results The average reaction time and accuracy in picture recognition and the HAMD and BI scores improved significantly in both groups.The effects in the study group were significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusion Cognitive therapy combined with picture recognition training can alleviate depression symptoms and improve ability in the activities of daily living after stroke.

Objective To study the surgical treatment of major blood vessels invaded by tumors in order to raise the resection rate and postoperative survival rate. Methods Clinical data were analyzed on 26 patients undergoing (resection) of tumors along with reconstruction of major blood vessels from October 1998 to February 2004. Results Tweety-three cases were followed up for 2～65 months with median 42.8 months. Doppler ultrosonography and CTA examination were performed respectively during the follow-up process.In 5 patients with carcinoma of the head of pancreas who had inferior vein cava replaced and in 1 patient with cholangiocarcinoma who had portal vein replaced,3 were complicated with carcinoma embolism formation at 3,12 and 15 months respectively after surgery,(postoperative) graft patency was 50%;all of the 6 patients had recurrence of the tumor at 3,6,8,12,24 and 31 months respectively after surgery.Seven patients with tumor in pelvic cavity or in posterior space of peritoneum were followed up for about 2 years,1 of them had tumor recurrence ,but the graft kept patent,2 patients with sarcoma in the limbs were followed up for 1 year without tumor recurrence or vessel obstruction.Eleven patients with tumors in the neck were followed up for 3 months to 5 years without tumor recurrence or vessel obstruction. Conclusions (Combination) of resection of neoplasm and reconstruction of major blood vessels is safe,effective and practical method for patients with major wessels invaded by tumor.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of total saponins from Rhizoma Dioscoreae nipponicae (RDN) on the expression of stroma cell derived factor 1 (SDF1) and IKB kinase (IKK) in rIL-1beta induced fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS).

METHODSFLS were primarily cultured and the 3rd generation log phase growth FLS were divided into the normal control group, the model group, and the medication group. 10 microg/L rIL-1beta was used to induce the proliferation of FLS in the model group.10 microg/L rIL-1beta and 100 microg/L RDN were administered to co-incubate FLS in the medication group. No treatment was given to FLS in the normal control group. Expression levels of SDF1 and IkapaB kinase proteins (p-IKK) were detected using Western blot.

RESULTSExpression levels of SDF1 and p-IKK increased significantly higher in the model group than in the normal control group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, expression levels of SDF-1 and p-IKK significantly decreased in the medication group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTotal saponins from RDN could inhibit the activation of both SDF1 and p-IKK. It might further regulate the expression of IKB kinase by regulating the expression of SDF1.

Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; Dioscorea ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Epithelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Saponins ; metabolism ; Synovial Membrane ; metabolism

Objective: To explore the application of18F-lfuorodeoxyglucose (FDG) micro- positron emission tomography (PET) myocardial metabolism imaging for evaluating dilated cardiomyopathy model (DCM) in experimental rats. Methods: A total of 12 male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: DCM group, the rats received intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin at 1.0 mg/kg twice per week and Control group, the rats received intraperitoneal injection of normal saline, all animals were treated for 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks observation.n=6 in each group. Echocardiography was performed at pre- and post-modeling,18F-FDG micro-PET myocardial metabolism imaging was conducted after modeling and plasma level of BNP was examined as well. Finally, the rats were scariifed to observe the pathological changes of myocardial tissue. Results: 1 rat died in DCM group and the rest were with successful modeling conifrmed by echocardiography and pathology. Compared with Control group, DCM group showed decreased standard uptake value of18F-FDG (1.23 ± 0.55) vs (6.65 ± 0.41),P<0.01; the standard uptake value of18F-FDG was negatively related to left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) (R=-0.709,P=0.015), LVESD (R=-0.924, P=0.000) and plasma level of BNP (R=-0.948,P=0.000), while positively related to LVEF (R=0.968,P=0.000) and fractional shortening (R=0.863,P=0.001). Conclusion:18F-FDG micro-PET myocardial metabolism imaging combining echocardiography, biochemical and pathological examinations may evaluate DCM modeling in rats, which provide a non-invasive and intravital tool for small animal experiment.

Objective To investigate the expression and effect of high mobility group box 1(HMGB1) and its signaling pathway(HMGB1 RAGE/TLR4-NF-κB-cytokines)in rats with dilatd cardiomyopathy(DCM).Methods The rats were divided into two groups:normal control group (control,n=20) which treated with physiological saline,and DCM group(n=22) which treated with adriamycin(1 mg/kg twice a week)for 6 weeks,and then observed for 2 weeks.Echocardiography was performed at the end of the study.Plasma IL-1,IL-6,TNF-α level were measured by the flow cytometry.The CRP,BNP concentrations were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The expression of HMGB1 mRNA,TLR4 mRNA,RAGE mRNA,NF κB mRNA were measured by real time PCR.Results There were four rats dead in the DCM group;two rats were randomly selected from the DCM group to certified modeled successfully by echocardiography and pathological examination.Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD) in DCM group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group(P＜0.05);left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricular short axis contractility(FS) in DCM group was significantly lower than that in normal control group(P＜0.05).The expression of H MGB1 mRNA,TLR4 mRNA,RAGE mRNA and NF-κB mRNA in myocardial tissue were significantly increased in DCM group than in the normal control saline group (P＜ 0.05),The expression of HMGB1 mRNA were positively correlated with TLR4 mRNA,RAGE mRNA and NF κB mRNA(r=0.873,P=0.005;r=0.949;P=0.000;r=0.898,P=0.002).The serum levels of IL-1,IL 6,TNF α and CRP were significantly higher in DCM group.The expression of HMGB1 mRNA in myocardial tissue was positively correlated with IL 1,IL-6,TNF-α and CRP(r=0.944,P=0.002;r=0.988,P=0.000;r=0.968,P=0.000;r=0.961,P=0.000).Conclusion HMGB1 and it's inflammation signaling pathway (HMGB1-TLR4/RAGE-NF-κB-cytokines) were highly expressed in dilated cardiomyopathy,and have relationship with left ventricular diameter and cardiac function,they may be involved in the development of DCM.

OBJECTIVETo validate the efficiency and accuracy of an improved Demons deformable registration algorithm and evaluate its application in contour recontouring in 4D-CT.

METHODSTo increase the additional Demons force and reallocate the bilateral forces to accelerate convergent speed, we propose a novel energy function as the similarity measure, and utilize a BFGS method for optimization to avoid specifying the numbers of iteration. Mathematical transformed deformable CT images and home-made deformable phantom were used to validate the accuracy of the improved algorithm, and its effectiveness for contour recontouring was tested.

RESULTSThe improved algorithm showed a relatively high registration accuracy and speed when compared with the classic Demons algorithm and optical flow based method. Visual inspection of the positions and shapes of the deformed contours agreed well with the physician-drawn contours.

CONCLUSIONDeformable registration is a key technique in 4D-CT, and this improved Demons algorithm for contour recontouring can significantly reduce the workload of the physicians. The registration accuracy of this method proves to be sufficient for clinical needs.

Algorithms ; Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography

Objective:The study aimed to validate the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram and Stan-ford Online Calculator (SOC) prediction of non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis in Chinese patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive breast cancers. Methods:The MSKCC nomogram and SOC were used to calculate the probability of NSLN metastasis in 120 breast cancer patients who were positive for SLNs. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) for each model was evaluated. Patients with 10%and 90%probabilities of NSLN metastasis were separately examined. Results:The MSKCC and SOC predicted the likelihood of NSLN metastasis in a consecutive group of 120 patients with AUCs of 0.688 and 0.734, respective-ly. At the lowest probability cutoff value of 10%, the false-negative rates of MSKCC and SOC were both 4.4%, and the negative predic-tive values were 75.0%and 90.0%, respectively. When the highest probability cutoff value of 90%was used, the false-positive rates were 0.0%and 6.7%, and the positive predictive values were 100.0%and 68.8%, respectively. Conclusion:Results of the MSKCC no-mogram and SOC were inferior to those of previous studies on predicting NSLN metastasis in Chinese patients with breast cancers. The prediction ability of SOC was slightly superior to that of the MSKCC nomogram.

Objective To explore the surgical management for arterial diseases. Methods The clinical data of 86 cases of arterial diseases were analysed retrospectively. These cases included:3 cases of thoracic aortic aneurysm,2 cases of descending aortic dissection with rupture and aneurysm formation,2 cases of abdominal aortic dissection with false aneurysm,1 case of abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA)with duodenojejunal fistula and GI bleeding,5 cases of ruptured AAA with shock, 3 cases of traumatic rupture of abdominal aorta,21 cases of AAA combined with unilateral or bilateral iliac aneurysms,6 cases of iliac aneurysms,9 cases of popliteal aneurysms,21 cases of false aneurysm of iliac or popliteal artery,1 case of rupture of junction of subclavian and vertebral artery with false aneurysm,3 cases of rupture of subclavian artery with false aneurysm,2 cases of aneurysm of carotid artery and 7 cases of false aneurysm of carotid artery. Prosthetic vascular graft was performed in 71(cases),autologous vein graft in 3 cases and suture(repair) of arterial rupture in 12 cases.Results Operative (mortalty) was 3.5%(3/86)in this series.Seventy-one cases were followed-up for 1 month to 5 years, the results showed that all the patients were alive and well.Conclusions In the(management) of(appropriate) aortic diseases, the use of endoluminal technique is simple, microtraumtic, safe and has few complications. It also can shorten the hospital stay of the patient. Endovascular technique should be the first choice for patients with aortic diseases.

Hemagglutinin (HA) contains a head domain with a high degree of variability and a relatively conserved stem region. HA is the major viral antigen on the surface of the influenza virus. To define the biologic activities of chimeric HA bearing different head domains and stem regions or their potential use, a HA chimeric gene containing the head domain of the H7 subtype virus and stem region of the H3 subtype virus was modified and expressed using a baculovirus expression vector. Then, the secreted protein was purified and its biologic activities characterized. Approximately 1.4 mg/mL cH7/3 HA could be obtained, and its molecular weight was ≈ 70 kD. The trimer form of cH7/3 protein had hemagglutination activity and could be recognized by specific antibodies. The method described here can be used for further studies on the screening of HA stem-reactive antibodies or the development of vaccines with conserved epitopes.
Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Baculoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hemagglutination ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; prevention & control ; virology

Objective To explore the effects of vinblastine on abcb4 tumor resistance gene expression in early development zebrafish and lay an important foundation for multi-drug resistant antineoplastic screening in zebrafish model.Methods Zebrafish embryos of 0.5~1.5 hours post-fertilization were exposured to different concentrations of vinblastine, and then calculated the IC50 of vinblastine.Zebrafish embryos of 0.5~1.5 hours post-fertilization were treated with different concentrations of vinblastine and embryo culture medium respectively, and then observed zebrafish embryo development in 24~120 hours post-fertilization and recorded the number of death, hatch and malformation.Evaluating the impact of vinblastine on abcb4 gene expression in zebrafish with quantitative real-time PCR and whole-mount in situ hybridization by collecting zebrafish embryos exposed to different concentrationsof vinblastine.Results Vinblastine IC50 in zebrafish embryos was 3.08 μmol/L.The mRNA level of abcb4 gene in vinblastine treated embryos was significantly increased compared to blank control group.Moreover, abcb4 gene positive hybridization signals were found in the small intestine of zebrafish embryos after 120 hours post-fertilization and also found in the brain and heart of zebrafish embryos by the method of whole-mount in situ hybridization.Conclusions Vinblastine can significantly increase the expression level of abcb4 tumor resistancegene in early development zebrafish embryos, which indicates that zebrafish can be used as a tumor resistant drug screening model.