Objective To assess the value of integrated 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in differentiation of malignant and benign pericardial effusion. Methods 18F-FDG PET/CT were performed in 23 patients with pericardial effusion. The detected soft tissue tumor or nodulous lession in pericardium or the thickened pericardium, with the maximum standardized uptake value( SUVmax ) ≥2.5, was defined as PET/CT-positive. The invaded lession in pericardium with SUVmax ≥2.5 was also as the positive. The difference of SUVmax of benign and malignant lesions was analyzed with two-independent-sample test of nonparametric tests. The final diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy or post-operative pathology. Results The diagnosis were confirmed with 14 malignant and 9 benign lesions. The median of SUVmax was 6.0 in malignancy group and 2.2 in benign group (z= -3. 279, P =0.001 ). According to the pathology results, there were one false negative case and two false positive cases with PET/CT imaging interpretation. The sensitivity, specificity,accuracy, positive predictive value ( PPV ) and negative predictive value ( NPV ) of 18 F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis of benignity or malignance of pericardium effusion were 92.9% ( 13/14), 7/9, 87.0% (20/23),86.7% (13/15) and 7/8, respectively. Conclusion For the patients with pericardium effusion 18F-FDG PET/CT may be a helpful modality for malignancy differentiation

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of the drug-resistant attenuated Bacillus proteus on the protein expression of CD80 and CD86 in peripheral blood dendritic cells (DCs) of hepatitis B patients.

METHODPeripheral blood monocytes were isolated from HBV-infected patients and the DCs were separated and induced to differentiate in vitro. The expression of CD80 and CD86 proteins on cultured DCs were examined using flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe expression rate of CD80 and CD86 of chronic hepatitis B patients increased significantly (P=0.000), while the positive expression rate of CD80 and CD86 showed no obvious variation in healthy individuals (P=0.185 and P=0.118, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSBacillus proteus can significantly increase CD80- and CD86-positive cell percentage in peripheral blood DCs of HBV-infected patients, but has no such an effect in healthy individuals.

Adolescent ; Adult ; B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; Bacillus ; drug effects ; immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; immunology ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; immunology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDA new brain region, the marginal division (MrD), was discovered at the caudal margin of the neostriatum. The MrD was shown to be involved in learning and memory in the rat. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun in the MrD of the striatum during learning and memory processes in the rat, immunocytochemical and Western blot methods were used to examine Y-maze trained rats.

METHODSThe rats were divided into three groups, namely the training, pseudotraining, and control groups. After Y-maze training, the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun in the MrD of the rats was investigated using immunocytochemical and Western blot methods.

RESULTSAfter one hour of Y-maze training, the expression of c-jun and c-fos proteins was significantly enhanced in the MrD; the c-jun protein, in particular, was more intensely expressed in this region than in other parts of the striatum. The expression of these two proteins in the training group was significantly higher than in the pseudotraining and control groups. In addition, positive expression was also found in the hippocampus, cingulum cortex, thalamus, and in other areas. Western blot disclosed two immunoreactive bands for the anti-c-fos antibody (47 kD and 54 kD) and two immunoreactive bands for the anti-c-jun antibody (39 kD and 54 kD).

CONCLUSIONSThese results indicate that the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun participate in signal transduction during the learning and memory processes associated with Y-maze training in rats.

Animals ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Memory ; Neostriatum ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms of muscovite gastric mucosal protective effect.

METHODRat model of chronic gastritis were used. After gastric mucosal injury was induced, the rats were divided into 6 groups and were treated with different drugs. 2 weeks later, the tissue and blood samples were obtained and measured.

RESULTThe general conditions, the observations under macroscopy, microscope and electron microscope of the middle and high dose of muscovite groups resembled those of the normal group. Their PH levels were higher than those of the model group, and the rates of intestinal metaplasia were lower, but the PGE2 level of the middle dose of muscovite group was the highest.

CONCLUSIONMuscovite can be adsorbed on the surface of the gastric mucosa. It has gastric mucosal protective effect by improving excretion of mucus and synthesis of PGE2 in gastric mucosa, restraining gastric acid, reversing of intestinal metaplasia and decreasing inflammation cells.

Aluminum Compounds ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Dinoprostone ; blood ; Gastric Juice ; chemistry ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Gastritis ; blood ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Potassium Compounds ; pharmacology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Silicates ; pharmacology ; Sodium Salicylate

Memory encoding and memory retrieval are two important processes of the memory. The main results of studies on the neural basis of the memory encoding and memory retrieval by functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI) technique were summarized in this review. The neural basis of memory encoding and retrieval phases varies with different materials, memory types, and age stages. It means that the neural networks of these memory activities are separate. The functional locations of the activated brain areas during memory encoding and during memory retrieval phases are overlapped with distinction. The activated brain areas of memory encoding mainly locate in the prefrontal lobe, the temporal lobe, the parietal lobe, the anterior hippocampus, the thalamus, and the basal ganglia (including the striatum and the marginal division of the striatum). The activated brain areas of memory retrieval mainly locate in the prefrontal lobe, the temporal lobe, the entorhinal cortex, the perirhinal cortex, the posterior hippocampus, the thalamus, and the basal ganglia. The anterior hippocampus is mainly activated during the encoding phase, whereas posterior hippocampus is mainly activated during the retrieval phase. The intensity of the activated cerebral cortex regions during the encoding phase is stronger than that during the retrieval phase, whereas the opposite activated pattern is found in the subcortical structures, mainly the basal ganglia and thalamus, during the two phases. It seems that the stimulation might activate certain cerebral cortex areas during the memory encoding phase, then the information is transported to the subcortical structures and comes back to the cerebral cortex to complete the memory retrieval phase. The encoding and retrieval phases of the memory are supposed to be accomplished by a neural circuit among the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus and cerebral cortex, rather than the cerebral cortex only.
Brain ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Cerebral Cortex ; physiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes of auditory steady-state response (ASSR) threshold in guinea pigs with posterior semicircular canal fistula.

METHODSIn 10 guinea pigs, a window was opened in the posterior semicircular canal of the left ear with the right ear serving as the control for testing the ASSR under anesthesia with pentobarbital sodium.

RESULTSThe mean and standard deviation of ASSR threshold (dB SPL) at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz in the left ear was 35.00+/-14.33, 25.50+/-12.37, 20.00+/-9.37 and 20.00+/-9.18, respectively, and was 31.00+/-16.19, 25.50+/-12.34, 18.00+/-6.96 and 18.50+/-6.71 in the right ear, respectively. Paired-sample t test showed no significant difference in the ASSR at the same frequency between the two ears.

CONCLUSIONSmall fistula by surgery causes no significant hearing loss in guinea pigs.

Animals ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; methods ; Auditory Threshold ; physiology ; Cochlea ; pathology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Fistula ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Guinea Pigs ; Labyrinth Diseases ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Semicircular Canals

AIMTo investigate whether NR2B-pERK1/2-pElk-1 signaling contributes to the Y-maze learning and memory of rat brain.

METHODS45 adult male SD rats were divided into 4 groups: (1) Ifenprodil peritoneal injection group (Ifenprodil ip, n = 14); (2) DMSO peritoneal injection group(DMSO ip, n = 15); (3) Ifenprodil cerebral ventricle injection group (Ifenprodil ic, n = 8); (4) DMSO cerebral ventricle injection group(DMSO ic, n = 8). Y-maze training and test were used as an learning and memory enhancing stimulus. Immunohistochemical and Western blotting methods were used for detecting pERK1/2 and pElk-1 expression intensity of different brain regions.

RESULTSCompared with the DMSO ip group, the ifenprodil ip group showed no change on the Y-maze learning score (P > 0.05), but its Y-maze memory score tested 24 after learning decreased (P < 0.05). Ifenprodil peritoneal injection made brain pERK1/2 and pElk-1 expression decreased generally. In hippocampus, marginal division of striatum(MrD), amygdala,these changes were more significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the DMSO ic group, the reconsolidation of Y-maze memory tested 6 hours after ifenprodil injection was impaired in ifenprodil ic group (P < 0.05). The OD value of pERK1/2 and pElk-1 positive bands in ifenprodil ic group attenuated generally. The pElk-1 positive bands of caudate putamen and MrD almost disappeared in ifenprodil ic group.

CONCLUSIONNR2B is essential for the formation of long-term memory, reconsolidation of Y-maze memory. The deactivation of NR2B by ifenprodil will impair these courses. Meanwhile, the deactivation of NR2B attenuates pERK1/2 and pElk-1 expression of learning and memory related regions after Y-maze learning and memory reconsolidation test. In MrD and caudate putamen, the pElk-1 expression are completely blocked by ifenprodil after memory reconsolidation test.

Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; physiology ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Male ; Maze Learning ; physiology ; Memory ; physiology ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; ets-Domain Protein Elk-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the influences of stapedectomy and small fenestra stapedotomy on the hearing of guinea pigs.

METHODSTwenty-four (48 ears) guinea pigs were randomized equally into two groups, and the left ears were subjected to stapedectomy and total stapes replacement with a prosthesis, or sham operation (12 ears) to expose the footplate of the stapes and the round window. Each guinea pig was tested by ABR perioperatively. Four guinea pigs were chosen randomly from each group and decapitated for morphological examination by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy after ABR test.

RESULTSIn the sham operation group, the post-operative latencies of each wave, the intervals and the hearing threshold exhibited no significant changes other than prolonged latency of wave I. In stapedectomy group, the hearing threshold increased to 23.75-/+3.77 dBSPL 1 h after operation with significantly prolonged post-operative latencies of all the waves and intervals but for III-IV interval, which was shortened. The latencies of each wave (especially waves I and III) in the stapedectomy group were increased by a greater magnitude than those in the sham operation group, but the intervals were comparable between the two groups. No significant difference was noted in the parameters of ABR either 1 h or 1 day after the operation between the two groups, in which the architecture of cochleas remained intact with similar number of spiral ganglion cells. The stereocilia of the outer hearing cells (OHC) were normal in the sham operation group while in stapedectomy group, slight stereocilia disorder occurred but became normal 1 day after operation. No obvious changes were found in the stereocilia of the inner hearing cell (IHC) in either groups.

CONCLUSIONStapedectomy can induce mild hearing loss without seriously damaging the function of the cochlea in guinea pigs.

Animals ; Auditory Threshold ; physiology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; physiology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; cytology ; Hearing ; physiology ; Male ; Round Window, Ear ; cytology ; physiology ; surgery ; Stapes Surgery ; adverse effects ; Time Factors

To investigate the neuronal mechanism of retrieval of long-term digital memory in healthy volunteers, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique was used in the study. Twenty-two right-handed volunteers were subjected to a long-term digital memory test with block-design. The memory task and control task were adopted in the experiment alternatively. The fMRI data were recorded by a Siemens 1.5T MR machine and analyzed by SPM99. The activated brain regions were shown in the Talairach coordinate. The results showed that the Brodmann's area (BA) 9 region in left middle frontal gyrus was the most activated cortex during the long-term digital memory task. The left medial frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule, left superior parietal lobule, right superior parietal lobule, right middle temporal gyrus, left lingual gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, right middle brain, cerebellum and right caudate nucleus tail were also involved. The activation in cortices showed obvious left predominance. It is suggested that a series of brain regions with left predominance are involved in long-term digital memory. Left lateral frontal cortex would be the most important structure for information extraction, while the other cortices and their connections may be important for processing and long-term storage of digital information.
Adolescent ; Brain ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Memory, Long-Term ; physiology ; Parietal Lobe ; physiology ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the potential value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in predicting the survival of patients with primary tracheal malignant tumors. Materials and Methods: An analysis of FDG PET/CT findings in 37 primary tracheal malignant tumor patients with a median follow-up period of 43.2 months (range, 10.8–143.2 months) was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to assess the associations between quantitative 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters, other clinic-pathological factors, and overall survival (OS). A risk prognosis model was established according to the independent prognostic factors identified on multivariate analysis. A survival curve determined by the Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess whether the prognosis prediction model could effectively stratify patients with different risks factors. Results: The median survival time of the 37 patients with tracheal tumors was 38.0 months, with a 95% confidence interval of 10.8 to 65.2 months. The 3-year, 5-year and 10-year survival rate were 54.1%, 43.2%, and 16.2%, respectively. The metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), maximum standardized uptake value, age, pathological type, extension categories, and lymph node stage were included in multivariate analyses. Multivariate analysis showed MTV (p = 0.011), TLG (p = 0.020), pathological type (p = 0.037), and extension categories (p = 0.038) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Additionally, assessment of the survival curve using the Kaplan-Meier method showed that our prognosis prediction model can effectively stratify patients with different risks factors (p < 0.001). Conclusion This study shows that 18F-FDG PET/CT can predict the survival of patients with primary tracheal malignant tumors. Patients with an MTV > 5.19, a TLG > 16.94 on PET/CT scans, squamous cell carcinoma, and non-E1 were more likely to have a reduced OS.