Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of ~(99)Tc~m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) SPECT scintigraphy combined Iocalizable CT in the localization of ectopic parathyroid glands in hyperparathyroidism.Methods Retrospective data of surgery,pathology and imaging were collected from 28 patients with hyperfunctioning ectopic parathyroid glands.All cases underwent CT studies.Twenty-five patients had ~(99)Tc~m-MIBI planar imaging first:SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT was performed for the patients with abnormal radionuclide foci immediately.The fusion images obtained after reconstruction showed the exact location of the ectopic foci.Operative histopathologic results were regarded as "gold standards".Presuming 4 parathyroid glands as normal findings,findings confirmed by operation and pathology were regarded as positive,otherwise negative.The results of CT and radionuclide imaging were compared by X~2-test of four-foId table.Results Twenty-eight ectopic parathyroid glands were found in 28 patients,all pathologically confirmed as adenomss.CT found 22 foci,of which 17 were true positive,5 false positive,11 false negative,and 79 true negative.~(99)Tc~m-MIBI SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT found 23 foci,no false positive,2 false negative,and 75 true negative.The results showed that the sensitivities were 61% (17/28),92%(23/25),specificities 94%(79/84),100%(75/75),accuracies 86%(96/112),98% (98/100),positive predictive values 77%(17/22),100%(23/23),and negative predictive values 88% (79190),97%(75/77),respectively,for CT and radionuclide imaging.~(99)Tc~m-MIBI SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT was therefore significantly higher than CT in sensitivity(X~2=6.98,P＜0.01),specificity (X~2=4.61,P＜0.05),accuracy (X~2=10.30,P＜0.01),positive predictive value(X~2=5.88,P＜0.05) and negative predictive value (X~2=5.36,P＜0.05).Conclusion ~(99)Tc~m-MIBI SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT is superior to CT alone in the localization of ectopic parathyroid glands in hyperparathyroidism,but false negative can be found in some patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between Akt and second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (Smac) in cisplatin (CDDP)-induced apoptosis in human ovarian cancer cells and the role of Akt in the molecular mechanism of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer.

METHODSChemosensitive (OV2008 and A2780s) and chemoresistant (C13* and A2780cp) ovarian cancer cell lines were treated with CDDP and subcellular Smac contents were determined by Western blot. Smac siRNA and Smac N7 peptide were transfected into OV2008 and C13* cells, respectively. CDDP-induced apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. A2780s cells stably transfected with Akt2 (A2780s-AAkt2) and C13* cells transfected with Aktl/2 siRNA were treated with CDDP, and Smac content and apoptosis in the cells were determined to detect the changes of their chemoresistance to CDDP.

RESULTSCDDP induced mitochondrial Smac release and apoptosis in chemosensitive cells (P < 0.05), but not resistant cells (P > 0.05). Downregulation of Smac by Smac siRNA confer resistance in OV2008 cells and Smac N7 peptide sensitized C13* cells to CDDP treatment. Overexpression of Akt2 inhibited mitochondrial Smac release and downregulation of Akt by siRNA sensitized C13* cells to CDDP treatment.

CONCLUSIONSmac is required in CDDP-induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells and overexpression of Akt inhibits mitochondrial Smac release. Akt is closely related to the chemoresistance of ovarian cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering

BACKGROUNDGastroesophageal reflux disease with extra-esophageal symptoms, especially those with respiratory distress was attracting more and more attention. The related mechanisms were still in controversy. The purpose of the work was to explore airway inflammation triggered by gastroesophageal reflux.

METHODSSixteen Sprague-Dawley rats were used as study group and 9 as control. In the study group, a plastic extender with a trumpet-shaped distal end was inserted into the lower esophagus to dilate the cardia, the pylorus was ligated. One ml of 0.1 mol/L hydrochloric acid was injected into the stomach. While a simple laparotomy was performed for control animals. All animals from two groups were sacrificed 24 hours after operation. Then tracheotomy was carried and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected in all animals. Cells in the fluid were counted and levels of interleukin (IL)-5, -6, -8 in it were measured.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the study group presented a neutrophil pattern of airway inflammation and an elevated concentration of IL-5, -6, -8 with no significant difference regarding eosinophil count.

CONCLUSIONThe gastroesophageal reflux-triggered airway inflammation is characterized by a neutrophilic airway inflammation which differed from that caused by asthma, and enhanced levels of IL-5, -6 and -8, which are similar to that caused by asthma.

Animals ; Asthma ; etiology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; complications ; Inflammation ; etiology ; Interleukin-5 ; analysis ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Interleukin-8 ; analysis ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo identify the clinical and pathological features of natural killer-like T-cell lymphoma/leukemia.

METHODSThe characteristics of natural killer-like T-cell lymphoma/leukemia was discussed with report a new case and review of literatures.

RESULTSA 16-year-old girl was referred to our hospital because of fever and disseminated cutaneous herpes and ulcer. Atypical lymphoid cells surrounded the dermal vessels with a CD3(+), CD8(+), CD4(-), CD5(-), CD10(-), CD19(-), CD57(-), CD56(+), perforin(+), granzyme B(+) immunophenotype and rearranged T-cell receptor-gamma gene implicated natural killer-like T cell origin. She was treated with prednisone and for several months. Then the patient developed progressive spleen enlargement with overt leukemia, which led to her eventual death.

CONCLUSIONSNatural killer-like T-cell lymphoma/leukemia is a rare disease with distinctive clinical, histopathologic, and immuno phenotypic characteristics. Current treatment modalities are ineffective for most of the patients.

Adolescent ; CD56 Antigen ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; pathology ; Leukemia, T-Cell ; immunology ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; immunology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo probe into the clinical effect of needle-pricking therapy for treatment of polycystic ovarial syndrome.

METHODSOne hondred and twenty-one cases of polycystic ovarial syndrome were divided into a needle-pricking therapy group of 61 cases and a medication group of 60 cases with randomized and controlled method. The needle-pricking therapy group were treated by needle-pricking therapy at sacral plexus stimulating points on both sides of the spine and lateral points of Dazhui (CV 14), and the medication group by oral administration of domiphen and intramuscular injection of chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Levels of hormones and symptoms in the patients before treatment, after treatment of 3 cycles and at the sixth cycle after treatment were investigated.

RESULTSAfter treatment of 3 cycles, the level of hormone and B type ultrasound examination were significantly improved in the two groups (P < 0.01). At the sixth cycle after treatment, the conditions of the patients in the medication group were returned to the original levels before treatment, while the conditions in the needle-pricking therapy group still kept at the post-therapeutic level, and their menstruation and ovulation restored to normal state, and the ovulation mucosa and the pregnancy rate were significantly higher than those in the medication group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNeedle-pricking therapy has obvious effect on polycystic ovarial syndrome, and has a good long-term therapeutic effect.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Ovulation ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the rule and possible mechanism of epidermal proliferation in wound edge of deep partial thickness scald injury in rat.

METHODSTwenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats inflicted with deep partial thickness scald were randomized into pre-scalding, 3 post-scalding day (PSD), 7PSD and 14PSD groups, with 6 rats in each group. Skin specimens from the wound edge were harvested for the observation of the histological characteristics of the epidermis. Cell cycles of epidermal cells were analyzed with flow cytometry. The expressions of cyclin D1, cyclin B1, cdk4 and the histone H1 kinase activity of MPF in epidermal cells were determined by Western blotting.

RESULTSAugmentation of nuclei and nucleoli was found in the epidermal cells from the wound edge in 3PSD group, while increased number of epidermal cells with obviously augmented nuclei and nucleoli were found in 14PSD group. The percentage of the cells in S phase increased in 14 PSD group. The percentage of epidermal cells in G2/M phase began to increase in 3PSD group, and that in 7PSD (4.5 +/- 0.6) and 14PSD (5.4 +/- 1.0) groups were obviously higher than that in pre-scalding group (2.9 +/- 1.1, P < 0.05). The expression of cyclin D1 increased significantly in 3PSD group. The expression of cdk4 decreased in 3PSD group, but began to increase in 14PSD group. There was no difference in the expression of cyclin B1 among groups. The MPF activity was significantly increased in 14PSD group.

CONCLUSIONThere was enhanced DNA synthesis and mitosis in epidermal cells of rats with deep partial scald during early post-scald stage, and active proliferation of epidermal cells was observed on 14PSD. The expression of cyclinD1/cdk4 complex and the activity of MPF increased since 14PSD, indicating that there was a special regulative pattern during wound healing.

Animals ; Burns ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; pathology ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis of classic fever of unknown origin.

METHODSA total of 27 consecutive patients with classic fever of unknown origin (FUO) (19 men, 8 women; aged 24-82 y) underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans. The images were interpreted by visual inspection and semiquantitative analysis(standardized uptake value, SUV). Final diagnosis was based on histopathology or clinical follow-up.

RESULTSThe cause of FUO was confirmed by followed investigations in 21 of 27 cases after PET/CT scan, including 10 cases of infection, 4 of noninfectious inflammation, 4 of malignancies and 3 of miscellaneous disorders; and remaining 6 cases were still confirmed FUO. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 100.0 %, 83.3%, 83.3%, 100.0% and 96.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONFor patients with fever of unknown origin, (18)F-FDG-PET/CT can be a sensitive, reliable imaging modality. It is suggested that (18)F-FDG-PET/CT should be considered earlier in detecting the causes of FUO, which is difficultly diagnosed by conventional modalities.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fever of Unknown Origin ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of avian influenza virus (AIV) NS1 protein on the expression of interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10).

METHODSNSI gene from virus A/Anhui/1/2005 (H5N1), NS1 gene inserted with 80-84 amino acids from virus A/Anhui/1/2005 (H5N1) and NS1 gene from virus A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (H1N1) were cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1, and transfected into BEAS-2B cells, IP-10 expression level in transfected cells was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared with the control group pEGFP-N1, expression of these three different NS1 genes can down-regulate the expression of IP-10 in BEAS-2B cells, but there is no significant difference as to the lower level among them.

CONCLUSIONNS1 protein of A/Anhui/1/2005 (H5N1) can down-regulate the expression level of IP-10, but this may not clarify its relationship with the virulence of AIV.

Cell Line ; Chemokine CXCL10 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; genetics ; metabolism ; Influenza, Human ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the bone marrow microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and their clinical significance in patients with aplastic anemia (AA).

METHODSBone marrow biopsies in 51 newly diagnosed patients with AA were evaluated the MVD and VEGF expression by immunostaining with anti-factor VIII related antigen and VEGF monoclonal antibodies at regular time points after immunosuppressive therapy (IT).

RESULTSThe mean bone marrow MVD in AA group was 5.5 +/- 3.5, being significantly lower than that in normal control group (8.7 +/- 3.4, P < 0.05). MVDs of SAA and NSAA patients were 7.4 +/- 2.9 and 4.3 +/- 3.4, respectively, being significantly different (P < 0.01). The VEGF expression in AA group was significantly lower than that in control group [(6.7 +/- 8.4)% vs (14.7 +/- 6.1)%, P < 0.01], but there was no difference between SAA and NSAA. Bone marrow MVD and VEGF were significantly increased after IT in 22 responded AA patients.

CONCLUSIONBone marrow MVD and VEGF expression are low in AA patients which may be one of pathophysiologic mechanisms of bone marrow failure in AA. Proangiogenic and ameliorating microcirculation agents together with IT might accelerate the recovery of hematopoiesis in AA patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Bone Marrow ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo understand the influence of accumulation of advanced glycosylation end products (AGE) on wound healing of burn rats complicated with diabetes.

METHODSSeventy-five SD rats were divided into control, diabetes, and aminoguanidine-interfered groups in completely randomized method, with 25 rats in each group. All rats were subjected to deep partial-thickness scald. Diabetes was reproduced in rats of diabetes and aminoguanidine-interfered groups. Rats in aminoguanidine-interfered group were fed with 100 mg x kg(-1) xd (-1) aminoguanidine. Rats were sacrificed on post-scald day (PSD) 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21, and portrait of the wounds were taken. Full-thickness skin tissue specimens were obtained for determination. Specimens of epidermis from back of SD rats were obtained for KC cultivation and verification. Wound healing rate, glucose content in skin tissue, morphologic change in wound tissue, AGE distribution in skin tissue, influence of AGE on proliferation and apoptosis of KC were observed.

RESULTSWound healing rate of rats was respectively lower in diabetes group than that in control group on PSD 7, 14, and 21 (P < 0.01), but it was obviously higher in aminoguanidine-interfered group than that in the former 2 groups (P < 0.01). Glucose content of rat skin in diabetes group was (2.62 +/- 0.19) mmol/g, and it was (2.58 +/- 0.07) mmol/g in aminoguanidine-interfered group, both higher than that in control group [(1.04 +/- 0.09) mmol/g, P < 0.01]. In control group, limited intensive infiltration of inflammatory cells was found in the wound with necrotic tissue formation which fell off in time, and with no obvious delay of wound healing. In diabetes group, infiltration of inflammatory cells in wounds of rats appeared slowly, but diffusely and persistently; necrotic tissue formed and fell off late in time, with obvious delay of wound healing. In aminoguanidine-interfered group, intensive infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed in time, and the time of necrotic tissue formation and sloughing, and wound healing were respectively earlier than that in diabetes group. Sporadic disposition of small amount of AGE was found in rats in control group. AGE accumulation increased significantly in rats in diabetes group. AGE content decreased significantly in rats in aminoguanidine-interfered group after administration of aminoguanidine. KC proliferation decreased significantly in concentration dependent manner 48 hours after AGE stimulation. Absorbance value of AGE decreased in each AGE-interfered group (P < 0.01). Early Annexin-V positive apoptotic KC rate was obviously higher in 100 ug/mL AGE-interfered group (15.1 +/- 2.3)% than that in control group [(11.2 +/- 1.2)%, P < 0.05]. There was no statistical significance between 100 ug/mL AGE-interfered group (14.3 +/- 3.5)% and control group (15.2 +/- 2.4)% in respect of the rate of double-positive cells apoptosis at final stage (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHyperglycemia may inhibit proliferation of repairing cells such as KC through AGE accumulation, thus impedes wound healing. Reduction of AGE accumulation could ameliorate wound healing delay due to diabetes.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Burns ; complications ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; metabolism ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Wound Healing