Objective To explore the application value of lung volumes from 64 multi-slice CT (MSCT) images in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and study the correlation between lung volumes measured by MSCT and pulmonary function test (PFT) results. Methods 24 patients clinically diagnosed with COPD (COPD group) and 22 healthy people (control group) were selected and underwent both chest MSCT scans and PFT within one week. The total lung was scanned at full inspiration and full expiration with MSCT,respectively. The total lung volumes were measured by CT Pulmo software (Siemens,Forchheim,Germany). The quantitative total lung volumes from MSCT images were compared with PFT and SPSS13.0 was applied to assess the correlation. Results Compared with control group,the full inspiration volume (Vin) (P

Objective To compare T2* value in healthy and diseased achilles tendons (AT) using 3D-ultra-short echo time (UTE),and to analyze the correlation between T2* value and clinical scores.Methods Fifteen patients (patients group) and ten volunteers (control group) were included and underwent an MR scan with UTE sequence.The T2* value of four ROI in AT were calculated.Independent sample t-test was used to compare the differences of T2* value between two groups.The correlation of T2* values with the American Orthopaedic Foot and ankle society ankle hindfoot scale (AOFAS) and achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS) were analyzed.Results The T2* value of four ROI were statistically significantly higher in patients group than those of control group.There were negative correlation between T2* and AOFAS or ATRS scores (r=-0.92,-0.90,both P＜0.01).Conclusion The T2* value of pathologic AT increases.The quantitative MRI UTE-T2* can evaluate AT from the biochemical structure and correlates with clinical outcomes,which is helpful to diagnose AT in the early stage.

Objective: To study the effect of GuiFu capsule on sexual hormone and other relative factors in rats with endometriosis.Methods: Endometriosis was induced in rats by surgery of self-endometrium transplant.Rats with successful models were randomized into GuiFu capsule group and Danazol group.Expressions of ER,PR,VEGF and NK cells were examined by immunohistochemical stainin;the level of E2 and P was detected by radioimmunoassay.Results: GuiFu capsule can reduce the level of E2 and P in the blood of rats(P

Objective To quantitatively analyze the histological and MR images of repaired tissue (RT) following microfracture for knee joint osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in rabbit models at different time points,make comparisons with the RT performances of joint debribement,explore the efficiency of the microfracture treatment for OCD.Methods Twenty-seven New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned into 3 groups (sacrificed at the end of 3,5 and 7 weeks post-operation respectively),with 9 in each group.For each rabbit,one knee joint was made into an OCD model.In each group,6 were for microfracture treatment,and the other 3 were for joint debridement as control.MR scan,which mainly included sequences of 3D double echo steady state sequence (3D-DESS) and T2-mapping,was taken at 3,5 and 7 weeks postoperation.The thickness index and T2 value index of RT were calculated and T2-mapping of repaired region was drafted.Then the operation sites were removed to make histological sections of HE and Masson staining.The modified O' Driscoll score system was employed to make semi-quantitative evaluation for the histological performance of RT.Comparisons were made with respect to MR and histological findings between two treatments at each time point using unpaired Student t test.Effects of two treatments were evaluated longitudinally by comparing the results of three time points using one-way ANOVA.Results The post-operation thickness indexes of two groups increased gradually (F =33.940,28.841,P ＜ 0.05),T2 value indexes decreased (F =80.183,206.206,P ＜ 0.05),and O'driscoll scores increased gradually (F =29.867,17.167,P ＜ 0.05).At each time point,the thickness index of microfracture was higher than that of debridement group(3-week:0.743 ±0.048 vs 0.624 ±0.013,t =4.077 ;5-week:0.813 ±0.031 vs 0.734 ±0.015,t =4.107 ; 7-week: 0.972 ± 0.064 vs 0.777 ± 0.039,t =4.782 ; P ＜ 0.05),and the defects of microfracture in 7-week group were almost fully recovered while the defects of the debridement in 7-week group were not.The T2 value index of microfracture group was lower than that of debridement group at 3-week point(1.338 ±0.043 vs 1.510 ± 0.009,t =6.583,P ＜ 0.05),but it was higher than that of debridement group at 5-week and 7-week points (5-week: 1.284 ± 0.097 vs 1.116 ± 0.068,t =2.663 ; 7-week: 0.916 ± 0.036 vs 0.843 ± 0.016,t =3.283 ; P ＜ 0.05).The O'Driscoll score of microfracture group was higher than that of joint debridement at every time point(3-week:7.167 ±0.753 vs 4.667 ±0.577,t =5.000;5-week: 9.833 ± 1.169 vs 7.667 ± 0.577,t =2.960 ; 7-week: 11.167 ± 0.753 vs 8.333 ± 1.155,t =4.520 ; P ＜ 0.05).For microfracture group,the RT was mainly repaired by fibrocartilage and got matured gradually with more production of well-distributed collagen fibrils ; while for joint debridement group,the RT was mainly repaired by fibrous and scar tissue.Conclusions The post-operation repairing thickness and tissue composition of microfracture for OCD are superior to that of joint debridement.MR 3D-DESS and T2-mapping can show the thickness and tissue composition of the RT after OCD treatments,provide effective evaluation of repairing conditions,and they are of great importance on the OCD post-op follow-up.

Focused Ultrasound Surgery (FUS) is a promising minimally invasive technique in tissue ablation. Because of the high intensity at the ultrasound focus, a precise 3D-localization system is required to determine the site of the treating target in order to increase the efficiency and security of FUS. This paper represents a three dimensional ultrasound (3D US) localization system developed and its workflow. The system is mainly composed of imaging and image processing system, movement device and its controlling circuits, and position feedback device. The system has a maximum scan range of +/- 30 degrees with a resolution of 8 levels from 0.54' to 0.36 degrees. For a spherical shape like target, in theory, the maximum diameter is 160 mm the system can treat. The system can be used to localize precisely the treatment targets with general sizes in the suitable parts of the body in FUS.
Algorithms ; Automatic Data Processing ; Computer Simulation ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; methods ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; instrumentation ; Microcomputers ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; methods ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods

To investigate the metabolic rate and metabolites of 9-dehydro-17-dehydro-andrographolide, which is the main active ingredient in Xiyanping injection, by using the in vitro rat liver microsome incubation system. 9-dehydro-17-dehydro-andrographolide was incubated together with liver microsome mixed with NADPH. Its metabolic rate was studied by determining its residual concentrations with the UHPLC-MS/MS method; Its metabolites were identified by the UPLC-TOF-MS(E) method. The results showed that 9-dehydro-17-dehydro-andrographolide was metabolized faster than rat liver microsomes mixed with coenzymes, with t½ and CL of (19.7 ± 0.5) min and (35.1 ± 0.8) mL x min(-1) x g(-1) (protein), respectively. Based on the high resolution mass spectrum data and information from literatures, altogether nine metabolites of 9-dehydro-17-dehydro-andrographolide were identified in the incubation system, particularly hydroxylated and dehydrogenized products. The results of identification would provide a basis for screening out more active andrographolide derivatives.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Microsomes, Liver ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yishen Jiedu Recipe (YSJDR) in retarding the course of chronic renal failure (CRF).

METHODSForty-five patients were divided into two groups, the 22 patients in Group A were treated with low-protein diet and blood pressure controlling therapy only, while the 23 patients in Group B were treated with additional YSJDR. The time (month) for doubling serum creatinine (SCr) level was taken to evaluate the speed of CRF progression.

RESULTSIn Group A, the time for SCr increased from 288.4 +/- 96.7 mumol/L to 586.3 +/- 251.3 mumol/L was 16.7 +/- 5.1 months, while in Group B the time for SCr increased from 291.2 +/- 101.2 mumol/L to 589.6 +/- 257.5 mumol/L was 28.2 +/- 8.7 months. Comparison between the two groups showed significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOn the basis of low-protein diet and blood pressure controlling therapy, the additional treatment of YSJDR could markedly retard the progression speed of CRF.

Adult ; Creatinine ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Treatment based on syndrome differentiation is an essential feature of traditional Chinese medical diagnosis. The interventions based on changes of syndrome types in randomized controlled trials are complicated, leading to the difficulty of blind method enforcement. This article described a double-blind method. It could be used in randomized controlled trials under the condition of different syndrome types and different medications. It numbered drugs in two stages, and in two phases to achieve double-blind. This method not only guaranteed investigators and subjects to be in blinded conditions, but also achieved using different medications for patients of different syndromes. It also caused no drug waste. It was scientific and feasible.
Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Single-Blind Method

A novel rapid method for detection of the illicit beta2-agonist additives in health foods and traditional Chinese patent medicines was developed with the desorption corona beam ionization mass spectrometry (DCBI-MS) technique. The DCBI conditions including temperature and sample volume were optimized according to the resulting mass spectra intensity. Matrix effect on 9 beta2-agonists additives was not significant in the proposed rapid determination procedure. All of the 9 target molecules were detected within 1 min. Quantification was achieved based on the typical fragment ion in MS2 spectra of each analyte. The method showed good linear coefficients in the range of 1-100 mg x L(-1) for all analytes. The relative deviation values were between 14.29% and 25.13%. Ten claimed antitussive and antiasthmatic health foods and traditional Chinese patent medicines from local pharmacies were analyzed. All of them were negative with the proposed DCBI-MS method. Without tedious sample pretreatments, the developed DCBI-MS is simple, rapid and sensitive for rapid qualification and semi-quantification of the illicit beta2-agonist additives in health foods and traditional Chinese patent medicines.

Objective To explore the influences of the final concentration and adding time of Cytochalasin-B (Cyt-B) on radiation-induced nucleoplasmic bridges (NPB) in cytokinesis-block assay.Methods Hunan peripheral blood samples were divided into 5 final concentration groups (group 2,4,6,8,10 μg/ml) according to different final concentrations of Cyt-B.Moreover,blood samples were divided into 4 adding time groups (group 0,28,40,44 h) according to different adding times of Cyt-B.Blood samples were irradiated with 0 (sham irradiation) and 2 Gy 60Co-rays in vitro,at a dose rate of 1 Gy/min.A cytokinesis-block assay was carried out to prepare NPB samples.The percentages of mononucleated,binucleated and multinucleated cells,as well as the frequencies of NPB and micronucleus (MN) in binucleated cells were analyzed using an optical microscope.Results Nuclear division index (NDI) and the percentages of binucleated cells increased with increased concentration of Cyt-B,and decreased with delayed adding time of Cyt-B (except group 0 h) in both final concentration groups and adding time groups.After exposed to 2 Gy,NPB frequencies were no significant difference (except group 0 h).MN frequencies had the trend of decreased with the increased concentration of Cyt-B,but no significant difference with adding time of Cyt-B.Conclusions In cytokinesis-block assay,different final concentration and adding time of Cyt-B may induce to the variation of NPB frequencies,but there was no significant difference.Appropriate increased final concentration or ahead adding time of Cyt-B can increase the percentage of binucleated cells that help to improve the efficiency of analysis.