Objective To explore the reproducibility of normal hepatic MRS at 3.0T. Methods The hepatic proton MRS was performed with GE Signa Excite HD 3.0T system and eight-channel torso phased-array coils using PRESS sequence. Thirty-one healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Liver spectra were collected with TR of 1500 ms, TE of 30 ms, ROI of 2 cm×2 cm×2 cm, NSA of 64 times. The outcomes were statistically analyzed with Wilcoxon signed ranks test and Spearman correlation test.Results There was no significant difference of signal to noise ratio (Z=-0.535,P=0.593), baseline stability (Z=-0.333, P=0.739), linewidth of automatic shimming (Z=-0.305, P=0.761), water suppression (Z=-1.232, P=0.218), height of lipid peak (Z=-0.558,P=0.557), area under the lipid peak (Z=-1.195,P=0.232), height of water peak (Z=-0.647,P=0.518) and area under the warter peak (Z=-0.118, P=0.906) between first examination and second examination. Correlation coefficient of the former and the later measurements of lipid area and water area were 0.784 (P<0.001) and 0.799 (P<0.001), respectively.Conclusion The reproducibility is good for in vivo liver proton MRS at 3.0T.

ranches of portal vein were found in 3 cases. Conclusion The multi-slice spiral CT findings of eosinophilie hepatic infiltration are relatively specific, and three-phase dynamic CT studies can be a valuable tool for the diagnosis of this disease.

Objective To evaluate 3.0 T MR DWI techniques in detecting the lesions of pre and post-radiofrequency ablation of the rabbit liver VX2 tumors. Methods Twenty two New Zealand white rabbits were used in this experiment. Twenty tumor fragments were implanted into the livers of 20 rabbits respectively. Two normal rabbits were used as controls for radiofrequency ablation of the normal liver. 3.0 T MR DWI was performed 14 to 21 days after tumor implantation (mean, 17 days) in the tumor-bearing animals. Radiofrequency ablation was performed in the 18 tumor-bearing animals and in the two healthy animals. 3.0 T MRI and DWI were performed 7 to 10 days after radiofrequency ablation (mean, 8 days).Pathology was obtained immediately after the completion of post-radiofrequency ablation MR imaging. The MRI features and ADC values of pre- and post -radiofrequency ablation lesions in the liyers with VX2 tumors and normal rabbits were analyzed and correlation was made with histopathologic findings. Analysis of variance repeated measures were performed in analyzing the differences among the ADC values of different tissues with the same b value. Results All 20 rabbit liver models of VX2 tumors were constructed successfully. One rabbit died of anesthetic overdose, another one showed necrosis within the implanted tumor. All 18 untreated VX2 tumors had predominantly low or iso-signal intensity on T1 WI and high signal intensity on T2WI. All 18 VX2 tumors and 2 normal rabbits were treated by radiofrequency ablation successfully. Lesions treated by Radiofrequency ablation displayed low signal intensity on T1 WI, and high signal intensity on T2WI. Seven to 10 days after radiofrequency ablation, lesions varied from having low signal intensity to slightly increased signal intensity on T1 WI, with areas of mixed ( high, intermediate, and low) signal intensity. A peripheral rim of high signal intensity with varying thickness on T2WI correlated with granulation tissue, which exhibited intense enhancement on contrast-enhanced images. Areas of low to intermediate signal intensity within the lesion on T2WI corresponded to coagulation necrosis. The tumor tissue appeared as areas of peripheral nedularity, with intermediate to high signal intensity on T2-weighted images and DWI. The tumor specimen was gray, among the tumor tissue, there were hyperplastic vessels,and granulation tissue. When b value was 600 s/mm2 , the ADC value of viable tumor (9 cases), necrosis (18 cases), granulation tissue ( 18 cases), normal liver tissue ( 18 cases) were ( 1. 227 ±0. 140) × 10-3,(0. 702 ± 0. 050)×10-3, ( 1.918 ± 0.124) × 10-3, ( 1. 739 ± 0. 044 ) × 10-3 mm2/s, respectively, which were statistically significant (P ＜0. 01 ). When b =200,400,600,800,1000 s/mm2, the differences of ADC values among viable tumor, granulation tissue, necrosis,normal liver tissue were also statistically significant ( P ＜0. 01 ). Conclusion The rabbit liver VX2 tumor models and 3.0 T MR DWI are important tools in the basic and clinical researches of radiofrequency ablation.

AIM:To investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on acute lung injury induced by H9N2 swine influenza virus ( SIV) in mice.METHODS: BALB/c mice were used to establish the animal model of acute lung injury by nasal inoculation of H9N2 SIV.The mice were divided into control group (without SIV infection), H9N2 SIV group (inoculation of H9N2 SIV) and NAC group (inoculation of H9N2 SIV plus pretreatment with NAC).The pulmonary edema was evaluated by determining the lung wet weight /dry weight ( W/D) ratio.The pathological changes of the lung tis-sues were observed .The concontrations of TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) were meas-ured.The virus titer, T-SOD activity, MPO activity and MDA content in the homogenate of the lung tissues were detected . RESULTS:Treatment with NAC decreased the morality of infected mice , and significantly prolonged the survival time of infected mice .The pathological changes of the lung tissues , the lung W/D ratio and the lung index were relieved when SIV infected the mice treated with NAC .Treatment with NAC significantly decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells inclu-ding macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils in the BALF .The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1βand MDA and the activity of MPO were also decreased.Treatment with NAC also significantly increased the T-SOD activity.CONCLUSION: The protective effect of NAC on the acute lung injury mouse model is related to suppression of the oxidative stress and inflamma -tory responses .

Objective: To investigate the effects of hinokitiol on the proliferative inhibition and apoptosis induction in human clear cell renal cancer 786-O cells. Methods:CCK-8 assays were performed to analyze the effects of hinokitiol on the proliferation of 786-O cells. The apoptosis rate was determined by flow cytometry. EGFP-LC3 microscopy assays were performed to assess the autoph-agy flux. Cleaved Caspase-3, LC3, and P62 were detected by Western blot. Results: Hinokitiol could inhibit the proliferation of the 786-O cells and could induce cell apoptosis via Caspase pathway. Hinokitiol induced the autophagy of 786-O cells, increased LC3 ex-pression, and downregulated P62 expression. Conclusion: Hinokitiol can inhibit the proliferation of 786-O cells and can induce cell apoptosis via autophagy induction.

Objective To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in the diagnosis of congenital anorectal malformation.Methods Fourteen patients with congenital anorectal malformation received pelvic and sacrococcygeal MRI scan with 5 normal controls.The morphological changes of puborectalis and anal sphincter,and the abnormalities of anus,rectum,sacral vertebra and genitourinary system were observed.Results The best developed puborectalis and anal sphincter were showed in 13 cases,the better developed in 3 cases,the least developed in 3 cases,respectively.There were 7 cases with abnormalities of sacral vertebra and 5 cases with abnormalities of genitourinary system.Conclusion MRI examination plays an important role in the diagnosis of congenital anorectal malformation.The morphological changes of puborectalis and anal sphincter,and the abnormalities of sacral vertebra and genitourinary system can be determined by the MRI examination, which is important in clinical therapy planning and accessing the curative effect.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate whether kaempferol protects against acute lung injury induced by swine -origin influenza A H9N2 virus via down-regulation of NF-κB signaling pathway .METHODS:BALB/c mice were used to estab-lish the animal model of acute lung injury by nasal inoculation of swine-origin influenza A H9N2 virus.After the interven-tion with kaempferol , the pulmonary edema was evaluated by determining the lung wet weight /dry weight ( W/D) ratio, the pathological changes of the lung tissues were observed , the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and MDA content in the homogenate of the lung tissues were detected .NF-κB P65 levels were determined by Western blot , and the NF-κB P65 and NF-κB P50 nuclear translocation in the nuclear extracts from mouse lung tissue homogenate was detec-ted by ELISA .RESULTS:Treatment with kaempferol decreased the morality of infected mice , and significantly prolonged the survival time of the infected mice .Kaempferol also relieved the pathological changes of the lung tissues , the lung W/D ratio and the lung index in swine-origin influenza A H9N2 virus-infected mice.Treatment with kaempferol significantly de-creased the infiltration of inflammatory cells including macrophages , lymphocytes and neutrophils in the BALF .The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1βand MDA and the activity of MPO were also decreased .Treatment with kaempferol also significantly increased the SOD activity .NF-κB P65 levels were decreased , and the NF-κB P65 and NF-κB P50 nuclear translocation in the nuclear extracts from the mouse lung tissue homogenate were also decreased by treatment with kaempferol .CONCLU-SION:The protective effect of kaempferol on the mice with acute lung injury induced by swine -origin influenza A H9N2 vi-rus is related to suppression of the oxidative stress and inflammatory responses by down-regulation of NF-κB signaling path-way.

Objective To detect the methylation of Wif-1 gene promoter and its mRNA expression level in renal cell carcinoma, and to explore its possible mechanisms in the development of renal cell carcinoma.Methods The methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were applied to investigate the methylation status of Wif-1 gene promoter and its mRNA expression levels in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and normal kidney tissue.Results The percentage of methylation of Wif-1 gene in RCC tissue was significantly higher than that in the corresponding normal kidney tissue (P<0.05).The relative expression quantity of Wif-1 mRNA in RCC tissue was significantly lower than that in corresponding normal kidney tissue (P<0.05).In the RCC tissue, the relative expression of mRNA in the Wif-1 methylation positive group showed no significant difference with that in the methylation negative group.Conclusion Hypermethylation of the Wif-1 promtor in RCC is a frequent phenomenon.

Objective To detect the methylation of Wif-1 gene promoter and its mRNA expression level in renal cell carcinoma, and to explore its possible mechanisms in the development of renal cell carcinoma.Methods The methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were applied to investigate the methylation status of Wif-1 gene promoter and its mRNA expression levels in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and normal kidney tissue.Results The percentage of methylation of Wif-1 gene in RCC tissue was significantly higher than that in the corresponding normal kidney tissue (P<0.05).The relative expression quantity of Wif-1 mRNA in RCC tissue was significantly lower than that in corresponding normal kidney tissue (P<0.05).In the RCC tissue, the relative expression of mRNA in the Wif-1 methylation positive group showed no significant difference with that in the methylation negative group.Conclusion Hypermethylation of the Wif-1 promtor in RCC is a frequent phenomenon.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of rescue treatment for recurrent esophageal cancer after radical esophagectomy, and to provide insights into the development of comprehensive treatment for esophageal cancer.Methods The clinical data of 218 patients who were confirmed with recurrent metastatic esophageal cancer after R0 resection and received rescue treatment in our hospital from 2004 to 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.The survival rate was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method.Univariate and multivariate prognostic analyses were performed using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model, respectively.Results The median post-recurrence follow-up time was 53 months.The 1-and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates after recurrence were 57.2% and 24.4%, respectively.Among the 163 patients with local recurrence, the 1-and 3-year OS rates were 70% and 42% for patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (n=40), 55% and 24% for those with radiotherapy alone (n=106), and 23% and 8% for those with supportive therapy (n=13)(chemoradiotherapy vs.radiotherapy alone P=0.045, radiotherapy alone vs.supportive therapy P=0.004;none of the patients who were treated with chemotherapy alone survived for one year or more).Univariate analysis showed that N staging, TNM staging, and post-recurrence rescue treatment regimen were independent prognostic factors for esophageal cancer (all P=0.001).On the other hand, multivariate analysis indicated that only rescue treatment regimen was the independent prognostic factor for esophageal cancer (P=0.013).Conclusions Rescue chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone can bring significant survival benefits for patients with recurrent and metastatic, especially locally recurrent, esophageal cancer following radical esophagectomy.