Objective To evaluate efficacy in detecting lung nodules at low-dose CT(LDCT) by nodule enhanced viewing(NEV).Methods One hundred and twenty seven patients who were referred to undergo low-dose CT (LDCT) for the evaluation of pulmonary metastasis or screening lung cancer were selected randomly.Two radiologists with at least 10 years experience read the images with normal clinical reading speed to find actionable nodules ≤ 2.0 cm in maximum diameter,and their consensus result was referred as Standard.NEV was adopted to detect the pulmonary nodules.Two residents with experience of less than three years read first detected suspicious nodules and recorded reading time,first consensus and mean time were recorded.Then,they made second decisions on the images with the help of NEV and the results and the reading time were recorded and analyzed by using wilcoxon test.The sensitivity and accuracy of NEV,residents and residents with NEV were analyzed.Results Standard,resident,NEV and resident with NEV detected 570,404,768 and 593 lung nodules ≤2.0 cm in maximum diameter,respectively.More than 60％ nodules were less than 0.5 cm in maximum diameter.The performance of NEV in detecting nodules ≤2.0 cm as well as nodules ＜ 0.5 cm in maximum diameter was significantly higher than that of the resident(Z =-6.887,P ＜0.01 and Z =-7.235,P ＜0.01),and the performance of resident with NEV indetecting nodules ≤2.0 cm as well as nodules ＜ 0.5 cm in maximum diameter was significantly higher than that of resident without NEV (Z =-6.606,P ＜ 0.01 and Z =-6.657,P ＜ 0.01).The resident,NEV and the resident with NEV detected nodules ＜ 20 mm in maximum diameter with sensitivities of 61.4％,86.3％ and 95.3％,and with accuracy of 56.1％,58.1％ and 87.6％,respectively.The resident achieved sensitivities of 51.4％,88.1％ and 94.8％,and accuracy of 47.0％,56.9％ and 87.5％ for nodules ＜5 mm in maximum diameter,respectively.The resident,NEV and resident with NEV spent 120-444 s,85-262 s and 131-1512 s per case to read the CT scans,respectively.The reading time of resident with NEV in was significantly higher than that of resident without NEV(Z =-9.781,P ＜ 0.01).The resident spent 23 s per NEV mark.Conclusion NEV considerable improves the resident's performance in lung nodule detection,especially in maximum diameter ＜ 0.5 cm nodule detection.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the paired inspiratory and expiratory quantitative CT and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods A total of 84 patients with COPD were enrolled.For each patient,CT scan was performed in deep inspiration and expiration.Using automatic post-processing software,a three-dimension quantitative measurement was employed to assess the CT parameters of emphysema and air trapping.The correlation between CT and PFT was evaluated by the Spearman rank correlation test and multivariate linear regression analysis.Results The percent 1 [Perc1,(-984.28 ± 17.93) HU] and percent 15 [Perc15,(-948.35 ± 22.26) HU] from the CT parameters of emphysema were positively correlated with the forced expiratory volume in 1 second predicted (FEV1％,48.69 ± 23,47),the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second over forced vital capacity [FEV1/FVC,(45.89 ± 15.36)％,r =0.454.-0.67,P ＜0.01],was negatively correlated with the ratio of residual volume to total]ung capacity [RV/TLC,(61.32 ±14.48)％].The other CT parameters of emphysema index (EI) and the parameters of air trapping,the change in relative lung volume with attenuation values from-860 to-950 HU [RVC-860--950,(17.66 ±22.36)％],the expiration to inspiration ratio of mean lung density (MLDex/in,0.93 ± 0.06),the expiration to inspiration ratio of lung volume(LVex/in,0.71 ± 0.14) had negative correlations with logFEV1 ％,FEV1/FVC (r=-0.48--0.69,P＜0.01) and positive correlations with RV/TLC (r =0.41-0.66,P ＜0.01).The further univariate linear regressions showed that EI,Perc1,Pere15,RVC-860--950,MLDex/in,LVex/in were correlated with the parameters of PFTs (R square values of the regression equation,ranged from 0.27 to 0.66,P ＜ 0.01).After the pairwise combinations of the parameters of emphysema and air trapping,multivariate stepwise regressions showed better R square values from 0.66 to 0.85.Conclusions CT parameters of emphysema and air trapping can reflect pulmonary function in COPD patients.The combinations of the two types of CT parameters are more correlated with the PFTs parameters.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between the lung volume (LV) in inspiration and expiration,pulmonary function tests(PFT),and other CT measurements of emphysema index (EI) and mean lung density (MLD) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods Seventy-six patients with COPD were included.Three-dimension analysis was performed to obtain the following CT parameters on the inspiratory and expiratory phases:EI,MLD,LV.The ratios and differencesof MLD and LV between the two phases were calculated(ΔMLD,ΔLV,MLDex/in,LVexin).Not only the linear correlations between the lung volume parameters and PFT but also the correlations of lung volume parameters with the other CT parameters were tested by the Spearman rank correlation test and multivariant step wise regression.Results LVex/in had negative correlations with forced expiratory volume in 1 second ％ predicted [FEV1 ％,(54.32 ± 7.11)] and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity [FEV1/FVC,(49.12 ±8.01)％] (r =-0.69,-0.56,P ＜0.01),but it had the positive correlation with the ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity [RV/TLC,(58.03 ± 8.55) ％,Spearman coefficients 0.66,P ＜ 0.01].LV/exin (0.67 ± 0.12) was positively correlated with MLDex/in (0.89 ± 0.04,r =0.88,P ＜0.01).The further multivariate step wise regression denonstrated that EI,LV and MLD could introduce a regression equation with R2 =0.77 and 0.73,respectively (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions There is an association between LVex/in and the parameters of routine PFT,which can reflect the collapsibility of lung.Moreover,LVex/in can be considered to be equivalent to MLDex/in.Taking into account the impact of scanning parameters on MLDex/in,LVex/in may play a complementary role in the assessment of pulmonary function.

Objective:To construct recombinant lentiviral vectors harboring interference RNA ( RNAi ) targetting murine TNF-αgene,so as to lay the foundation on the RNAi gene therapy.Methods: Three small interfering RNA ( siRNA) sequences targeting murine TNF-αgene ( siRNA1,siRNA2,siRNA3) and negative-control siRNA were designed and synthesized.The inhibition effects of siRNAs on TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6 secretion of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were observed using real-time PCR and ELISA methods.DNA oligo was designed and synthesized according to the most effective siRNA 2 sequence.The recombinant lentiviral shuttle plasmid expressing short hairpin RNA ( shRNA) was constructed and sequenced.The lentiviral shuttle plasmids with packaging plasmids were transfected into 293T cells to produce lentiviral particles.Results: ①The TNF-αmRNA relative expression levels of siRNA1, siRNA2 and siRNA3 were 0.24±0.01,0.16±0.02,0.19±0.01 respectively,significantly lower than that of negative control (0.95± 0.02) (F=531.3,P<0.001).The inhibition rates at mRNA level were 74.26%,83.09%,79.93%,respectively comparing with negative control.No significance was observed in IL-1βor IL-6 mRNA relative expression change after TNF-αsiRNA transfection ( P>0.05).②The TNF-αprotein expression levels of siRNA1,siRNA2 and siRNA3 were (23.95±1.21),(17.27±1.46),(19.07± 1.57)ng/ml respectively,significantly lower than that of negative control (35.37±2.93)ng/ml (F=18.1,P=0.000 6<0.001).The inhibition rates of protein expression were 32.29%, 51.16%, 46.08%, respectively comparing with negative control.③The PCR product electrophoresis showed that recombinant vectors yielded 343 bp fragments,non-constructed vectors yielded 306 bp fragments.DNA sequencing partially showed insertion sequence.④Lentiviral particles were obtained by transfecting 293T cells with recombinant lentiviral shuttle plasmids and lentiviral packaging plasmids.Cells grew well during virus production with strong fluorescence expression.The titer of concentrated virus was 2×106 TU/μl.Conclusion:The lentiviral vector harboring RNAi targeting murine TNF-αgene has been successfully constructed.

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathological mechanisms of Guizhi Decoction () syndrome and the therapeutic molecular mechanisms of the Guizhi Decoction, Mahuang Decoction (), Sangju Decoction ( ) and Yinqiao Powder (), as well as the potentially biological basis that Guizhi Decoction is most effective only for the patients with Guizhi Decoction syndrome in clinical practice.

METHODSWe first got serum samples from the patients suffering from both upper respiratory tract infection and Guizhi Decoction syndrome identified by the doctors of Chinese medicine (CM) in the clinic. Four formulas with therapeutic actions of pungent warmth or pungent coolness for superficial syndromes were chosen and four kinds of rat serum samples each containing one of the above-mentioned herbal formulas were collected, then the effects of Guizhi Decoction syndromes' patient serum as well as the effects of sera containing the formulas after being stimulated by the patient serum samples on both the mRNA expression of certain toll-like receptor (TLR) subtypes and the release of some inflammatory cytokines in RAW264.7 cells were tested and analyzed in vitro.

RESULTSThe expression of TLR-3, TLR-4 and TLR-9 mRNA among the 9 tested TLR subforms were up-regulated in the macrophages stimulated by the sera from untreated upper respiratory infection patients with the Guizhi Decoction syndrome (symptomcomplex). The products such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-β from stimulated macrophages through TLR signaling pathways were also increased correspondingly. Interestingly, the changes induced by the Guizhi Decoction syndrome patients' sera were masked significantly after the macrophages were incubated with the sera from donors treated with Guizhi Decoction. Similarly, the three other exterior-releasing formulas were all effective in reversing the up-regulated changes of certain TLR subforms to different degrees, but both the number of targeted TLRs and efficacy of them seemed to be inferior to that of Guizhi Decoction.

CONCLUSIONEvidence from these experiments might contribute to the scientific explanation of both the pharmacological mechanisms of Guizhi Decoction and also the CM theory that Guizhi Decoction is specifically prescribed for the treatment of Guizhi Decoction syndrome (The gearing formula to the symptom-complex).

Animals ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; genetics ; Cytokines ; secretion ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; metabolism ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Syndrome ; Toll-Like Receptors ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value and safety of flexible bronchoscopy in congenital great vessel diseases complicated with airway compression.

METHODThe medical records of patients with great vessels abnormalities who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from October 2005 to June 2009 were retrospectively reviewed; 34 cases were diagnosed as airway compression by flexible bronchoscopy, 10 cases as vascular ring, 24 cases as aortal arch obstruction. The age of the patients was 6 d - 11 m, body weight 2.2 - 8.7 kg [(4.6 +/- 1.4) kg]. Recorded airway abnormalities detected by bronchoscopy and CT, cardiac vascular defects and airway compression were consistent with the findings on operation. The relation between the airway compression and cardiac vascular abnormalities, treatment of the airway compression and outcome were analysed.

RESULTBronchoscopic assessment was successfully performed in NICU or operating room for all the patients. (1) Initial presentation of the 34 cases were tachypnea, stridor, refractory lung infection and prolonged mechanical ventilation. (2) Extrinsic compression was found in all the 10 cases with vascular ring by bronchoscopy initially which indicated vascular ring, airway compression was mainly of lower part of trachea. Diagnosis of 9 cases was consistent with CT diagnosis and in 1 case the diagnosis was confirmed by surgery; among these cases, 7 had congenital tracheal stenosis. (3) In the 24 cases with aortic obstructive lesion, 5 were detected to have tracheal stenosis by CT before correction of vascular abnormality, among whom one case was indicated to have tracheal stenosis by bronchoscopy, the other 19 cases were found with airway compression by bronchoscopy during or after vascular correction. Among the 24 cases, 21 had left main bronchial stenosis, 2 had congenital tracheal stenosis. Airway compression diagnosed by bronchoscopy agreed with the findings of CT. Two cases developed transient decrease of oxygen saturation, 5 cases developed transient tachycardia.

CONCLUSIONFlexible bronchoscopy plays an important role in assessment of the airway compression complicated with great vessel abnormalities. Bronchoscopy is an accurate, convenient, safe and rapid way for airway assessment, but further examination of the peripheral structure and vascular malformation need combined examination with CT.

Airway Obstruction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Bronchoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Malformations ; complications ; diagnosis

Objective To evaluate diagnosis and preoperative management of cases with interrupted aortic arch(IAA)in infancy.Methods Fifty-three infants who were admitted to our hospital from Jan.2001 to Nov.2007 were involved.Clinical data,findings of echocardiogram(Echo),spiral CT,MRI,angiocardiography,preoperative management,surgical repair and postoperative outcome were analyzed retrospectively.Results There were 38 boys and 15 girls,weighted 2.18-10.0(4.32?1.60)kg,aged 1 day to 12(3.05?3.53)months,of which 50.94% were neonates.Symptoms at presentation were 90.57% with tachypnea and 83.02% with difficulty in feeding.Eighty three point zero two percentage cases had different degree of congestive heart failure,37.74% of which were in grade Ⅲ heart function.All cases had weakened femoral pulse.All cases were performed Echo,38 cases of them diagnosed as IAA,6 cases as IAA or severe coarctation of aorta(CoA);they were diagnosed as IAA by CT,and 9 as severe CoA who were diagnosed as IAA via CT or operation.Thirty-three cases were performed CT,of which 15 underwent surgical repair,cardiovascular abnormalities revealed by CT were the same as those in surgical findings.Three cases were taken MRI,and 7 cases were performed angiocardiography.According to the results of Echo,CT,MRI,angiocardiography and surgical findings,35 cases were type A,15 cases were type B and 3 cases were type C.Preoperative treatment included maintaining patent ductus areriosis,management of heart failure and supportive treatment.After proper preoperative management of medication,most cases with congestive heart failure were improved.Twenty-six cases underwent surgical repair,16 survived,10 died du-ring perioperative stage.Main cause of death was severe low cardiac output.Conclusions Value of Echo in diagnosis of IAA is limi-ted.Combination of Echo with CT or MRI is a convenient and safe way to diagnose IAA,it can replace the traditional method of Echo combined with angiocardiography.Proper preoperative management is helpful to patients with IAA to pass to surgical repair,and makes for successful operation.

Objective To investigate the incidence and short-term outcome of very preterm infants with physiologic bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).Methods Data of very preterm infants with gestational age of no more than 32 weeks admitted into Guangdong General Hospital between Mar.2011 and Feb.2012 were prospectively collected.Oxygen withdrawing test was performed in these infants at postmenstrual age of 36 weeks.Infants who failed to pass the test or who were ventilated were diagnosed as physiologic BPD.Results Sixty-six infants were admitted,of whom 6 were excluded for more than 36 weeks of postmenstrual age at admission.Eighteen infants(30.0％) were diagnosed as classic BPD.Among them,at testing time point,4 cases did not need supplemental oxygen,13 cases needed oxygen sup-plementation and 1 case needed mechanical ventilation.Thirteen infants underwent oxygen withdrawing test and 6 cases passed.Eight cases (13.3％) were diagnosed as physiologic BPD.The incidences of apnea or bradycardia were of no differences between infants passing or failing to pass oxygen withdrawing test.All infants survived to discharge without supplemental oxygen.Conclusions The incidence of infants with physiologic BPD is significantly lower than that with classic BPD.Restrictive saturation of percutaneous oxygen can decrease the incidence of infants with supplemental oxygen,with no more adverse events.More research are needed on physiologic BPD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of direct moxibustion at Ganshu (BL18) on the serum concentrations of tumor specific growth factor (TSGF) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in a rat model with precancerous lesion of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), so as to explore the mechanism of moxibustion underlying improvement of HCC.

METHODSSixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n=10), model group (n=20), prevention group 1 (n=15) and prevention group 2 (n=15). The normal rats were injected with physiological saline as blank control. At the same time, the rats of other three groups were injected with diethylnitrosamine to establish the HCC model. Direct moxibustion with grain-sized moxa was applied to bilateral Ganshu acupoint of the rats in the prevention group 1 (1 treatment course, 20 days) and prevention group 2 (2 treatment courses, 40 days), 5 doses for each acupoint, 0.5 mg/dose, once every other day. At each time point (before model establishment, the end of 1st course prevention, the end of 2nd course prevention and the end of model establishment), serum levels of TSGF and TNF-α were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, there was a remarkably increase of serum TSGF and TNF-α contents in the model group at the end of the experiment (P<0.05). At the end of the 1st course of direct moxibustion, the contents of serum TSGF and TNF-α of rats in the prevention group 1 were significantly increased compared with that of the model group (P<0.05). At the end of the 2nd course of direct moxibustion, serum TSGF and TNF-α levels of rats in the model group were higher than the normal group with significantly difference (P<0.05), and the levels of TSGF and TNF-α in the prevention group 2 were significantly reduced in comparison with the model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt was possible that direct moxibustion could inhibit precancerous lesion and postpone hepatocarcinogenesis, and the therapeutic effect of two courses were better than one course.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; Precancerous Conditions ; blood ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Cardiac Rehabilitation ; Exercise Therapy ; Heart Failure/surgery* ; Heart Transplantation ; Humans