ObjectiveTo evaluate characteristic imaging findings of tumor attenuation in 4-phase CT between renal oncocytoma ( RO ) and clear-cell renal ceil carcinoma ( ccRCC ) of small tumor size (≤Scm).Methods Fifty-six patients with histologically confirmed renal masses (11ROs and 45 ccRCCs) were included in this study.Heterogeneous enhancement was found all tumors during the corticomedullary phase (CMP).The CT values of the normal renal cortex,the relatively high enhanced region and the relatively less-enhanced region of the tumor were measured in each phase.Statistical comparison was carried out by Chi-square test or Mann-Whitney test.ResultsIn CMP,the CT value of the relatively high enhanced region in RO [ 163.0 HU ( 141.0—178.0 HU) ] was significantly lower than that in ccRCC [ 194.0 HU ( 166.5—235.0 HU) ; Z = -2.847,P =0.004].Compared CMP with the excretory phase,the attenuation of the relatively highly enhanced region in RO [70.0 HU (41.0—86.0 HU)] were significantly lower than that in ccRCC [87.0 HU (65.0—126.5 HU) ] (Z= -2.032,P =0.042).In the excretory phase,9 of 11 ROs had a further enhancement with its relatively less-enhanced region which was significantly higher than that in ccRCC (21/45 ; x2 = 4.391,P = 0.036).ConclusionsIn CMP,the CT value of the relatively high enhanced region in RO was significantly lower than that in ccRCC.Compared with ccRCC,in the excretory phase,the RO had less attenuation of the relatively highly enhanced region with homogeneous density.

OBJECTIVE：To study the enhancement effect of dipentene in the transdermal absorption of tinidazole.METHODS:In vitro,by means of traditional method to compare the enhancement effect of dipentene with azone at difference concentrations in the transdermal absorption of tinidazole.RESULTS:andCONCLUSION:It was showed that various concentrations of transdermal enhancers could promote absorption of tinidazole in different degrees and 4% Azone and 3%dipentene were the most effective.

BACKGROUND: Identifying the donor and isolation-related factors during the islet isolation would be greatly helpful to improve the result of human islet isolation for successful clinical islet transplantation. METHODS: Sixty-nine pancreata from cadaveric donors were isolated with standard protocol and analyzed to identify the donor factors and isolation variables for successful isolation. Islet isolations recovered > or = 100,000 Islet Equivalent (IEQ, n=53) were compared to islet mass less than 100,000 IEQ (n=16). RESULTS: The mean islet recovery was 216.0 x 10(3) +/- 173.7 x 10(3) (IEQ) before purification and 130.6 x 10(3) +/- 140.2 x 10(3) (IEQ) after purification. Mean purity was 54 +/- 31%. Mean age of donor was 31.2 +/- 13.2 year and mean cold ischemic time was 6.9 +/- 6.2 hour. Quality of isolated islets was acceptable in terms of bacterial culture, viability and secretory function in vitro and in vivo. In univariate analysis on successful isolation, status of pancreas was the only significant factor and sex, duration of collagenase expansion and digestion time were marginal factors. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis showed donor sex, status of pancreas and digestion time were significant factors for the successful islet isolation. CONCLUSION: This study confirms some donor factors and variables in isolation process can influence the ability to obtain the successful isolation of human islet. Enough experiences and pertinent review of donor and isolation factors can make islet isolation successful, supporting the clinical islet transplantation without spending of cost.
Cadaver ; Cold Ischemia ; Collagenases ; Digestion ; Humans* ; Islets of Langerhans Transplantation ; Logistic Models ; Pancreas* ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is defined as lymphoma limited to the cranial-spinal axis without evidence of systemic disease and its incidence has risen threefold during the last fifteen years among apparantly healthy population. This study was intended to analyze the clinicopathologic features and treatment outcome of the patient with PCNSL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty one patients were diagnosed and treated for the PCNSL limited to brain parenchyme at Asan Medical Center between March 1989 and December 1996. We reviewed clinical records of these patients and analyzed clinicopathologic features, treatment response, survival time and prognostic factors. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female was 1.3: 1 and the most prevalent age group was the 4th decade. Most patients had diffuse large cell (19/21) and B-cell type (8/8). Seventeen (94.4%) among 18 evaluable patients achieved complete remission (CR) as initial response, but 53% of patients showed recurence of the disease. Median times of disease-free and overall survival were 40 and 50 months, respectively and 5 year overall survival rate was 35.3 %. Prognostic factors such as age and performance status, had a statistically significant influence on the overall survival but not on disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: CR rate of the patients with PCNSL was high, but relapses were frequent. There fore further studies are needed to define the pmgnostic factors and to decrease relapse rate.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; B-Lymphocytes ; Brain ; Central Nervous System* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymphoma* ; Male ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To numerically simulate the propagation of pulse wave in human arterial tree by proposing a novel calculation method which combines a transmission line model and a recursive algorithm of input impedance, and to study the effects of individual differences and arterial tree parameters on pulse wave so as to provide references for the analysis on physiologic and pathologic characteristics of human arterial tree. MethodsThe transmission line model of human arterial tree was constructed, which consisted of 55-segment large and medium sized arteries. The recursive algorithm was applied to compute the input impedance of arterial tree at each point. The blood pressures and flows of 55 arteries were calculated and showed in the distribution graphs. Based on this method, the effects of height, heart rate, stroke volume, internal radius and wall thickness on pulse wave propagation and blood pressure distribution were compared. Results The simulation results were in good agreement with the general rules of pulse wave propagation. The propagation of pulse wave in arterial tree showed significantly different characteristics for different parameters. Conclusions The proposed method can effectively simulate the propagation of pulse wave in arterial tree and accurately reflect the effects of individual differences and hemodynamics parameters on pulse wave propagation, and it is an important assistant means for the pathophysiologic analysis and diagnosis of human arterial tree.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on proliferation and cell cycle of acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cell line and to clarify the molecular mechanism.

METHODSNB4 cells were treated with 0,50,75,100 and 125µmol/L of EGCG for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively. The proliferation level of NB4 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay. The cell cycle progression of NB4 cells was assayed by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression levels of DNMT1, DNMT3a and DAPK1 were detected by RT-PCR. The methylation status of gene was tested by methylation specific PCR, and the expression level of DAPK1 protein was detected by Western blot.

RESULTSThe proliferation and cell cycle progression of NB4 cells treated with EGCG were inhibited and showed the characteristic of time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. The expression level of DAPK1 and DNMT3a decreased in NB4 cells treated with EGCG. The expression level of DAPK increased in NB4 cells treated with EGCG, while the methylation of DAPK1 gene decreased.

CONCLUSIONEGCG inhibits the proliferation and cell cycle progression of NB4 cells by inhibiting the expression of DNMT1 and DNMT3a and down-regulating the methylation status of DAPK1 gene.

Aim To observe the therapeutie effeet of (AA) rats and its effect on the aetivity of tryptophan allopurinol ( ALLO) on adjuvant induced arthritis 2,3 dioxygenase (TDO).Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, AA model group, ALLO group (10,20 , 40 mg • kg 1 ) and methotrexate group (0.5 mg • kg 1 ).The AA rats were established by intracutaneous injection of complete Freund's adju¬vant into the right toes of rats.The body weight,joint swelling number, joint pathology, spleen index and fi¬broblast like synoviocytes ( FLS) proliferation of the rats were observed to explore the therapeutic effect of ALLO.Flow cytometry detected the number of CD68 ∗ macrophages and the ratio of Thl7/Treg of spleen.The concentration of tryptophan ( Trp) and kvnurenine ( Kyn) in the liver and the supernatant of FLS were de¬termined by high performance liquid chromatography.Results Compared with model group, ALLO adminis¬ tration significantly increased the body weight of AA rats, reduced the number of joint swelling, improved joint pathological injury,decreased spleen index,inhib¬ited the proliferation of FLS, reduced the number of macrophages in the spleen,decreased Thl7/Treg ratio, inhibited the metabolism of Tip and the production of Kyn in liver and FLS culture supernatant, and de¬creased the liver Kyn/Trp ratio (TOO activity).Con¬clusion ALLO has therapeutic effect on AA rats, which may be related to its regulation of TDO-mediated kyn metabolism pathway.