Objective To investigate the value in the diagnosis of tumor of the stomach by hypotonic water filling method com-bined with CT multi planar reconstruction (MPR).Methods CT image data of 21 5 cases with gastric tumor confirmed by operation and pathology in our hospital were analysed retrospectively.Conventional CT enhanced scan was obtained in patients with the stom-ach hypotonic water filling condition,and MPR CT characteristics of lesions were observed.Results In the 21 5 cases of gastric be-nign or malignant lesions,MPR showed 5 pathological types in 210 cases.In the conventional CT examination,the tumor diagnosis rate had obvious improvement in different gastric parts and types of the stomach tumors through CT MPR.Conclusion There is high detection rate in the diagnosis of gastric tumors using hypotonic water filling method with MPR,which can accurately display invasion and metastasis,and reduce the misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis in gastric tumor.

AIMTo study the feasibility of long-term potentiation(LTP) recording in the CA1 area of the rat in vivo with electrodes-binding technique.

METHODSAnesthetizing Wistar rats with urethane and fixing the animal on the stereotaxic device for acute surgery; implanting cannula into lateral cerebral ventricle; inserting self-made bound stimulating/recording electrodes into hippocampal CA1 area; recording basal field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) and tetanus-induced long term potentiation (LTP).

RESULTSfEPSPs were reliably induced by using the stimulating/recording electrodes-binding technique, and the appearance rate of fEPSP was nearly 100%; basal fEPSP recording was very stable, lasting for long time enough to finish all experiment; high frequency stimulation (HFS) successfully induced LTP, which maintained more than three hours, the inductivity is about 67%; paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) recording was also stable; intracerebroventricular (i c v) injection of amyloid beta suppressed HFSinduced LTP evidently.

CONCLUSIONThe electrodes-binding technique for recording hippocampal LTP in vivo is quite simple and convenient. The experimental resource can be saved, and the rates of fEPSP appearance and LTP induction are kept high. Therefore, it is promising for this technique to be one electrophysiological auxiliary method in the research of learning and memory.

Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; methods ; Electrodes ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; physiology ; Feasibility Studies ; Hippocampus ; physiology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; physiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Although the impairing effects of beta-amyloid (Aβ) protein on synaptic plasticity and cognitive function have been widely reported, the mechanisms underlying the neurotoxicity of Aβ are still not well known. The present study observed the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of both Aβ(23-35) and genistein (a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor at high concentration) on the hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region, and investigated its possible protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) mechanism. Male Wistar rats were surgically prepared for acute LTP recordings in vivo. Two parallel bond electrodes for stimulating and recording were simultaneously inserted into the right hippocampus of rats. The field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs), paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) and high-frequency stimuli (HFS)-induced LTP were recorded by delivering test stimuli, paired pulses and HFS to the Schaffer-collateral/commissural pathway. The results showed that: (1) i.c.v. injection of Aβ(23-35) did not affect the baseline synaptic transmission, but significantly suppressed the HFS-induced LTP, with a decreased average amplitude of fEPSPs [(129.2+/-6.7)% in 10 nmol Aβ(23-35) group; (110.6+/-8.6)% in 20 nmol Aβ(23-35) group; P<0.01] at 1 h post-HFS when compared to that in the control group [(163.1+/-8.1)%]; (2) Similarly, i.c.v. injection of genistein (200 nmol) did not change the basic synaptic transmission, but significantly suppressed HFS-induced LTP, with the similar average amplitude of fEPSPs [(114.0+/-7.2)%] at 1 h post-HFS to that in 20 nmol Aβ(23-35) group; (3) Co-application of Aβ(23-35) (20 nmol) and genistein (200 nmol) caused no additive suppression of LTP, and the average amplitude of fEPSPs was (113.0+/-8.8)% at 1 h post-HFS, showing no significant difference when compared with that in Aβ(23-35) or genistein alone groups (P>0.05); (4) There was no significant change in the PPF following genistein and Aβ(23-35) alone or co-injection (P>0.05). These experimental results indicate that i.c.v. injection of Aβ(23-35) can significantly suppress the HFS-induced LTP in the CA1 area of rat hippocampus in vivo, implying that the Aβ deposited in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease may impair the function of learning and memory by suppressing the hippocampal LTP. The facts that the extent of inhibition of Aβ(23-35) and genistein on LTP was similar and no further potentiation of the suppression was observed when Aβ(23-35) and genistein were co-applied suggest that PTK is probably involved in the Aβ-induced suppression of hippocampal LTP.
Amyloid beta-Peptides ; pharmacology ; Animals ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; Male ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synaptic Transmission

OBJECTIVETo study the risk factors related to the survival rate, recurrence and metastasis of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone.

METHODSFrom July 1997 and July 2010, 56 patients with malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone were treated. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to determine the probable risk factors including gender, age, tumor location, tumor size and so on.

RESULTSForty-four cases were followed up ranged from 2 weeks to 78 months (medium 33.3). The 5-year overall survival rate was 50.1%, local recurrence rate 40.9% with a median time of 12 months (3 to 60 months) and metastatic rate 27.5% (11/40) with a median time of 6.5 months (2 to 23 months). Univariate analysis indicated that gender, condition of presentation (primary case or recurrence case), tumor location, surgical margin and surgical stage were significantly related to survival rate (P < 0.05), and tumor location and surgical margin were related to local recurrence rate (P < 0.05), and important vessel or nerve invasion was related to metastatic rate (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that surgical margin and surgical stage were independent risk factors for survival rate, of which surgical margin was the independent risk factor for recurrence rate.

CONCLUSIONSSurgical margin and surgical stage are independent risk factors for survival rate, of which surgical margin is the independent risk factor for recurrence rate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

The present work was to investigate the effects of vasonatrin peptide (VNP) on cardiomyocyte protein synthesis induced by moderate hypoxia. In cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, MTT methods, total protein measurement and (3)H-leucine incorporation were used to calculate the cell number and measure the protein synthesis of cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, radioimmunoassay was undertaken to observe the effects of VNP on the intracellular levels of cAMP, cGMP and the concentration of endothelin (ET) in the culture medium. The results showed that both the cell number and protein synthesis decreased with severe hypoxia for 24 h. In contrast, under moderate hypoxia, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy developed; the protein synthesis as evidenced by total protein content and 3H-eucine incorporation increased significantly. VNP reduced cardiomyocyte protein synthesis induced by moderate hypoxia in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, VNP increased the intracellular level of cGMP and decreased the concentration of ET in the culture medium under moderate hypoxia, but had no effect on the level of cAMP. These results suggest that VNP inhibits moderate hypoxia-induced protein synthesis in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. This effect is mediated, at least in part, by an increase in intracellular cGMP, a reduction in synthesis, and/or a release in ET of cardiomyocytes.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; pharmacology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endothelins ; biosynthesis ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The amyloid β-protein (Aβ)-induced disturbance of intracellular calcium homeostasis has been regarded as the final route whereby Aβ insults neurons. However, the mechanism of Aβ-induced Ca(2+) overloading is still unclear so far. Especially, it remains to be clarified whether nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are involved in the Aβ-induced elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)). In the present study, we observed the effects of Aβ fragments 25-35 (Aβ(25-35)) and 31-35 (Aβ(31-35)) on [Ca(2+)](i) in primary cultured rat cortical neurons using laser-scanning confocal calcium imaging technique, and investigated its probable cholinergic mechanism. The results showed that: (1) Both Aβ(25-35) and Aβ(31-35) induced similar and significant [Ca(2+)](i) elevation in a concentration-dependent manner, and no statistical difference was found between the effects of both peptides; (2) The reverse peptide of Aβ(31-35), i.e. Aβ(35-31), had no effect on [Ca(2+)](i) elevation; (3) Mecamylamine (MCA), a non-specific nAChRs antagonist, significantly and dose-dependently blocked the [Ca(2+)](i) elevation induced by Aβ(25-35) or Aβ(31-35) (4) Dihydro-β-erythroidine (D-β-E), a specific α4β2 subtype nAChRs antagonist, also significantly inhibited the [Ca(2+)](i) elevation induced by Aβ(25-35) and Aβ(31-35), but the effect was weaker than the effect of MCA at the same concentration. These results indicate that Aβ(31-35) may be a shorter active sequence in full length of Aβ molecule, and the overactivation of nAChRs, including α4β2 subtype, may be, at least partly, responsible for the Aβ-induced elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) in cultured rat cortical neurons. Thus, the present study suggests a new potential target of Aβ in the brain, and provides a new insight into the mechanisms by which Aβ impairs the cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease.
Amyloid beta-Peptides ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; chemistry ; Rats ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the role of endothelin-1 in the pathogenesis of neurogenetic pulmonary edema.

METHODSThe levels of endothelin-1 in plasma and lung were measured in rats which suffered from diffuse brain injury on Marmarous' model. The changes of endothelin-1 in the lungs were also detected using an immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSAfter heavy diffuse brain injury in rats, the levels of endothelin-1 in plasma and lung began increasing at 1 hour, and peaked at 6 hour. Though a little declining at 24 hour, it maintained a higher level within 48 hours (P < 0.05). Pulmonary pathology showed that after brain injury there were congestion, swelling in pulmonary microvessels with broadened pulmonary interstitial tissue, and leucocyte infiltration was dominated by neutrophils and monocytes from 1 hour on, which peaked at 6 hour. More serious congestion, swelling and protein effusion in pulmonary alveoli were observed at both 24 h and 48 h. Immunohistochemically, endothelin-1 had more significant expression and higher levels of OD in the experimental groups than that in the control's, the most significance of which was at 6 hour.

CONCLUSIONThe inflammatory injury mechanism caused by endothelin-1 may play an important role in neurogenic pulmonary edema.

Animals ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Edema ; etiology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical features and surgical treatment of osteoid osteoma and improve the diagnostic therapeutic level.

METHODSClinical data of 35 patients (25 males and 10 females) with osteoid osteoma diagnosed and treated between January 1997 to October 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. The average age was 21 years (ranged, 6 to 49 years). The average interval time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 12 months (ranged, 1 to 24 months). The most common sites were the tibia (13 patients) and the femurs (7 patients). The most common presenting complaints for patients with osteoid osteoma was pain which usually responded to NSAIDs and was generally more severe at night. The imaging manifestations revealed a circular or oval nidus. All the patients underwent surgical treatment. The tumors were treated with curettage or excision with autograft or allograft in 19 patients, simple surgical resection in 9 patients, curettage or excision with autograft or allograft and fixation in 7 patients.

RESULTThe mean follow-up period was 49 months (ranged,2 months to 12 years). The symptom of pain disappeared after operation. There were no evidence of recurrence. Tibial pathological fracture happened in one patient 4 months postoperatively, and the patient got healing after plate-screw internal fixation. One patient with sinus formation 5 years postoperatively got wound healing after sinus resection, intramedullary nail removal and debridement.

CONCLUSIONAccording to the typical clinical presentation, radiographic findings, the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma is not difficult. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the operation should be carried out as early as possible to relieve the symptoms, improve the quality of life and prevent long-term complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoma, Osteoid ; diagnosis ; surgery

The combination use of dexamethasone and calcium gluconate can be applied to hypersensitivity. Severe hypokalemia is a usual complication of dexamethasone and calcium gluconate therapy, which occurs frequently with therapeutic use. Fatal cases, accidental and intentional, occur frequently in forensic practice. The current case report presented a 43-year-old man with diabetes mellitus with infection, to whom dexamethasone and calcium gluconate were administered in the private clinic. With the development of such clinical symptoms of severe hypokalemia as quadriplegia, he was confirmed to have severe hypokalemia through a biochemical test before dying of arrhythmia. And also it presented pathophysiologic mechanism underlying severe hypokalemia as well as suggestions for clinical practice regarding combination use of dexamethasone and calcium gluconate.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/adverse effects* ; Calcium Gluconate/adverse effects* ; Dexamethasone/adverse effects* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Hypokalemia/chemically induced* ; Male

Postmortem chemistry is becoming more and more essential in routine forensic pathology and has made considerable progress over the past years. Biochemical analyses of vitreous humor, blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid may provide important information in determining the cause of death or in elucidating forensic issues. Postmortem chemistry may be essential for the determination of cause of death when morphological methods (diabetes mellitus, alcoholic ketoacidosis and electrolytic disorders) cannot detect the pathophysiological changes involved in the death process. It can also provide many information in other forensic situations, including myocardial ischemia, sepsis, inflammation, infection, anaphylaxis and hormonal disturbances. The most recent relevant research advances on glucose metabolism, liver function, cardiac function, renal function, sepsis, inflammation, infection, anaphylaxis and hormonal aspect are hereby reviewed.
Anaphylaxis ; Autopsy/trends* ; Biomarkers/analysis* ; Body Fluids/chemistry* ; Death ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Forensic Pathology/methods* ; Humans ; Postmortem Changes ; Sepsis ; Vitreous Body