Objective To assess the value of CT in identification and diagnosis of benign and malignant calcified thyroid nodules.Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on the CT data of 313 surgically and pathologically confirmed cases with 378 calcified nodules.Based on the size,morphology,and number,calcification was divided into microcalcification (d≤2 mm and axis displayed in only one cross-section),coarse calcification (d＞2 mm or displayed in two or more cross-sections),annular calcification (arc or annular),and multiple microcalcifications (solitary multiple microcalcification without a soft tissue lump);a distribution of microcalcification,coarse calcification,and annular calcification as well as a clearer enhanced periphery or internal calcification than nonenhanced data in benign and malignant thyroid nodules were observed.Results The 378 nodules consisted of 259 benign nodules (68.5％) (all were nodular goiters) and 119 malignant nodules (31.5％) (including 111 papillary thyroid carcinomas,4 follicular carcinomas,3 medullary thyroid carcinomas and 1 lymphoma).Microcalcification was more common in malignant nodules (MNs) than in benign nodules (BNs),with a rate of 43.6％ vs 12.4％,respectively (P≤0.05),and its sensitivity,specificity,positive predicted value,and negative predicted value were 42.9％,87.6％,61.4％ and 76.9％,respectively.Coarse calcification,annular calcification,and clearer enhanced periphery or internal calcification than nonenhanced data were more common in BNs than in MNs,with rates of 52.9％ vs 20.2％ (P≤0.05),66.0％ vs 42.0％ (P≤0.05) and 43.2％ vs 19.3％ (P≤0.05),respectively,whose sensitivity,specificity,positive predicted value and negative predicted value were 66.0％ vs 22.4％ vs 43.2％,58.0％ vs 86.6％ vs 80.7％,77.4％ vs 78.4％ vs 83％,and 43.9％ vs 33.9％ vs 39.8％,respectively.Two multiple microcalcifications without a soft tissue lump were MNs (papillary thyroid carcinoma).Conclusions Microcalcification and multiple calcifications are conducive to the diagnosis of MNs,whereas coarse calcification,annular calcification,and clearer enhanced periphery or internal calcification than nonenhanced data benefit the diagnosis of BNs,but the low specificity and high false positive rate suggest that the judgment of BNs or MNs should not depend on coarse calcification alone.

Objective To study the temporal changes of alveolar epithelial type Ⅱ cells and surfactant pro-tein A in young rats with acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaecharide. Method Totally 110 SD young rats (male:53, female : 57) were randomly divided into ALI and normal control groups (six subgroups in each group).LPS(4 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally in ALI group. The same amount of normal saline was given in the con-trol groups. Eight rats in each subgroup were sacrificed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hours after the injection.Lung samples were taken for transmission electron microscope examination. RT-PCR was epmloyed for the mea-surement of SP-A mRNA. Western blot was used for the detection of SP-A in the lung tissue. ANOVA and homo-geneity of variance test were performed by SPSS 12.0. Results The microvilli disappeared at 24 hours after the injection of LPS. The number of lamellar body (LBs) was provisionality increased at 24 hours and 48 hours. The ring-like an'angement of LBs around nucleus and the giant LB with vacuole-like deformity were found as the main characteristics of AEC- Ⅱ in ALI at 48 hours. The number of LBs reduced and broken and residual LB remained at 72 hours. SP-A elevated greatly from 24 to 48 hours (P < 0.01), reached peak at 36 hours (6.94 ± 0.80, P <0.01),reached the lowest level(3.87 ±0.50, P <0.01)at 72 hours. Conclusions The pathological changes of AEC-Ⅱ and SP-A in lung tissue wiht ALI are time-dependent. The typical alterations of AEC- Ⅱ occurs at 48 hours accompanied by the compensatory increase of SP-A. AEC- Ⅱ is seriously injuried with the typical changes of LBs and the diminishing of SP-A in lung tissue.

Objective Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are common and life-threatening disease in children with mortality as high as 40%-70%. Alveolar type Ⅱ cells (ATII cells),characterized by the presence of lamellar bodies (LBs),synthesize and secret surfactant proteins (SPs),which contribute significantly to surfactant homeostasis and pulmonary immunity.The functions of ATⅡ cells including pulmonary surfactant production are autocratically dominated by the structural integrity of ATII cells.Our study is focused on the ultrastructural alterations of AT Ⅱ cells in rats with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced ALI.Methods Rat ALI models were established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (4 mg/kg).0.9 % NS with same amount was given in the normal control group.The rats were randomly chosen and sacrificed at 24, 48 and 72 hrs after LPS injection (8 rats at each time point).Lung samples (1 mm3 of the size) were obtained from the lower parts of left lungs and fixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde for the transmission electron microscope examination.Results The microvilli around ATII cells disappeared and the number of LBs increased at 24 hrs after LPS administration.LBs rearranged like a ring around the nuclei.It was commonly seen that two nuclei were present in one AT Ⅱ cell.Vacuole-like deformity prominently occurred in cytoplasm at 48 hrs.Giant LBs presented at the same time.The shapes of nuclei were irregular and some of the borders were unclear at 48 and 72 hrs.The remnant of ruptured LBs scattered in cytoplasm at 72 hrs.The number of LBs reduced obviously.Karyolysis occurred in some of the nuclei.Conclusions The ALI-related alterations of ATII cells characterized by the changes of LBs,nuclei,and nucleoli were time-dependent. ATII cell injury was serious at 48 and 72 hrs.This may lead to the insufficiency of pulmonary surfactant synthesis and unstability of pulmonary homeostasis,which contributed to to the pathogenesis of acute lung injury.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern between electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy and moxibustion box therapy.

METHODSForty-one cases of low back pain of cold-damp pattern were randomized into an electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy group (group A, 26 cases) and a box moxibustion therapy group (group B, 15 cases). In the group A, the electric-thermal Bian-stone was placed over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The temperature of stone was adjusted in accordance with patient's comfort. In the group B, moxibustion box was used over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The treatment was given once every day or every two days. Ten treatments made one session. The symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were observed before and after treatment in the patients.

RESULTSThe symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were all improved in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The changing rate of symptom and physical signs and syndrome were (37.04 +/- 32.68)% and (22.85 +/- 29.95)% in the group A, and were (47.29 +/- 22.08)% and (23.89 +/- 22.53)% in the group B, respectively, without significant difference in comparison between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern treated with the electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy is similar to that of moxibustion box therapy. This therapy is characterized as more convenient, safer operation and less pollution.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion

Objective To evaluate the expression and relationship of miR-100 and FZD-8, one of the major compo?nents of Wnt signaling pathway, and the correlation of their expressions with lymph node metastasis in patients with breast cancer. Methods The expression of miR-100 was determined in 50 samples of human breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues by in situ hybridization. The correlation of miR-100 expression with lymph node metastasis was analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test. The expression of FZD-8 was measured in 50 samples of human breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues by immunohistochemistry. The correlation of the miR-100 expression with the protein expression of FZD-8 was evaluated by Pearson rank analysis. Results The expression of miR-100 was significantly lower in human breast can?cer tissues than that in adjacent normal breast tissues [2.00 (1.00, 3.00) vs. 6.00 (3.50, 8.00)]. The miR-100 expression was lower in patients with lymph node metastasis than that in patients without lymph node metastasis [1.50 (1.00, 2.75) vs. 3.00 (2.00, 4.00)]. The expression of FZD-8 was significantly higher in human breast cancer tissues than that in adjacent normal breast tissues [8.00 (6.00, 9.00) vs. 6.00 (3.75, 9.00)]. The miR-100 expression was negatively correlated with the FZD-8 pro?tein expression in human breast cancer tissues (rs=-0.592, P<0.001). Conclusion The miR-100, as an anti-metastasis-miRNA, may involve in the metastasis of breast cancer, which may be related with the regulation of the expression of FZD-8.

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and outcomes of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with dilated-phase hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (DHCM). Methods: A total of 16 DHCM patients received CRT in our hospital from 2007-03 to 2016-01 were retrospectively studied to analyze their clinical features and outcomes. Results: There were 12 male and 4 female patients at the mean age of (53.3±13.5) years. Pre-operative QRS duration of ECG was (158.7±32.2) ms, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was (33.6±6.3) %, the patient with NYHA class I, II, III and IV were 1, 5, 8 and 2 respectively. 13 patients received new CRT device, 3 received upgraded device and 8 (50%) combining atrial fibrillation (AF). The patients were followed-up for (2.56±2.13) years, 5 of them died including 3 of heart failure, 1 of sudden death and 1 of stroke. At 6 months follow-up time, 7 patients had the response to CRT which was defined by the improvement of NYHA class≥1 and the absolute elevation of LVEF≥5%; NYHA class improved from (2.69±0.79) to (2.38±0.89), P=0.02; LVEF increased from (33.6±6.3) % to (40.03±9.83) %, P=0.01. Conclusion: DHCM patients with CRT indication had the higher incidence to suffer from AF, those were more in patients with traditional pacemaker or ICD upgrading. DHCM patients with CRT had the poor general prognosis, while there was still certain proportion of patients had the response to CRT.

To analyze the predictors and prognosis for super-response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with different etiology. Methods: A total of 181 patients received CRT in our hospital from 2012-01 to 2016-01 were enrolled. The patients were divided into 3 groups: Non-response group, n=63, Response group, n=62 and Super-response group, n=56. The patients were followed-up at 6 months after CRT. Results: There were 30.9% (56/181) patients having super-response. Compared with the other 2 groups, Super-response group had more patients with NYHA II-III and less NYHA IV, the patients were with the smaller LAD, LVESD, LVEDD andless patients had CRT-D implantation. The baseline cardiac function was obviously improved at 6 months after CRT in all 3 groups. The basic LVEDD, LVESD, CRT-D implantation, non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) and NYHA IV were the independent predictors for super-response occurrence. In addition, compared with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), NICM patients had the higher ratio for super-response occurrence (37.6% vs 7.5%), P<0.001. Survival analysis indicated that NICM patients had the lower risk of all cause mortality (HR=0.31, 95% CI 0.14-0.80), cardiac death (HR=0.27, 95% CI 0.09-0.48) and combined endpoints (HR=0.36, 95% CI 0.27-0.78). Conclusion: At baseline condition, the patients with less degree of left ventricular reconstruction, CRT-D implantation, NICM and NYHA IV had more chance to suffer from super-response after CRT. NICM patients had the better response and prognosis to CRT.

Objective To investigation the pathological characteristics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to provide reference criteria for delineating the target area in radiotherapy.Methods Fifty-two patients from the Fourth Hospital of HeBei Medical University underwent resection whom all had been proved to have esophageal squamous cell carcinoma before operation.Chest CT was scanned and transmitted to the 3- dimensional conformal planning system for radiotherapy by VRX-16 scanner.The lesion of esophageal carcinoma was delineated in the 3-dimensional rebuild CT image and the lesion volume was computed by digital rebuild program.Every surgically resected specimen was made into pathologic giant section.The actual size of the specimen was obtained by calculating the size under the microscope with the shrinkage ratio.Multicentric carcinomatous lesion,severe dysplasia and direct intramural infiltration were observed in the giant section with a microscope and the order of such pathological characteristics were analysed statistically.Results 1.The tumor length by different method of preparation of operated specimens differed obviously.The longest was shown by CT. 2.Multicentric carcinomatous lesion was found in 15(29%)cases out of 52 patients.Proximal to the tumor,the mean distance between the multicentric carcinomatous lesion and the main lesion plus the length of the multicentric carcinomatous lesion was 3.02?1.45cm.Distal to the tumor,it was 2.60?2.44 cm.Severe dysplasia was found in 28 patients.Proximally,the mean distance between the severe dysplasia and the main lesion plus the length of the severe dysplasia was 2.45?1.30 cm.Distal to the tumor,it was 3.24?2.19 cm.Direct intramural infiltration was found in 41 patients,of which the mean length being 2.80?1.52 cm proximally and 2.02?1.51 cm distally. 3.Tumor thrombus was found in 6 patients and lymphoduct infiltration in 36 patients.Direct intramural infiltration was found at higher incidence in specimens complicated with lymphoduct infiltration(86%)and those complicated with tumor thrombus(91%).There were no apparent factors affecting severe dysplasia.The proximal distance to direct intra- mural infiltration was much longer than distally.Conclusions Multicentric carcinomatous lesion,severe dysplasia and direct intramural infiltration may be observed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Multicentric carcinomatous lesion and direct intramural infiltration are obviously correlated with lymphoduct infiltration.To cover 95% of the microscopic extension,a margin of 5.0 cm is needed proximal to the base of gross tumor volume,and 7.5 cm distal to it.To cover 90% of the microscopic extension,a margin of 4.5 cm is needed proximally,and 5.0 cm distally.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Wenyang Decoction (WD) on the differentiation of CD34+ progenitor cells of occupational asthma (OA) model rats.

METHODSFifty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the model group, the blank control group,the WD group,the Western medicine group,the combined group, 10 in each group. Prednisone suspension (10 mg/kg) was administered to rats in the Western medicine group by gastrogavage. WD (20 g/kg) was administered to rats in the WD group by gastrogavage. Prednisone suspension plus WD was administered to rats in the combined group by gastrogavage. Normal saline was administered to rats in the model group and the blank control group by gastrogavage. The general condition of rats was observed. Expression levels of peripheral blood IL-5 and eotaxin, eosinophils (EOS), CD34+, CC chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3+) in bone marrow suspension were detected by ELISA, Wirght-Giemsa, and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group,expression levels of IL-5 and eotaxin in peripheral blood were significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the count of EOS and CD34+ cells, as well as CD34+ /CCR3+ significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group, expression levels of IL-5 and eotaxin, the count of EOS, CD34+ cells, CD34+ / CCR3+ were lowered in three treated groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the Western medicine group, the count of EOS and CD34+ / CCR3+ decreased in the combined group (P < 0.01). The count of EOS was significantly lower in the combined group than in the WD group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWD could reduce levels of in vivo inflammatory factors, and restrain the differentiation and recruitment of EOS,thereby alleviating the differentiation of CD34 progenitor cells to EOS.

Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; Asthma, Occupational ; drug therapy ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Differentiation ; Chemokine CCL11 ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Eosinophils ; Flow Cytometry ; Interleukin-5 ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, CCR3 ; Stem Cells

Objective To evaluate the effect of curcumin pretreatment on brain injury induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in mice.Methods Forty-eight male C57BL/6 mice,aged 8 weeks,weighing 20-24 g,were divided into 3 groups (n =16 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (Sham group),intestinal I/R group (I/R group) and curcumin pretreatment group (CUR group).Mice were subjected to 75 min superior mesenteric artery occlusion followed by 24 h reperfusion to establish the model of brain injury induced by intestinal I/R in mice.Curcumin 200 mg/kg (in 30 ml of 10％ dimethyl sulfoxide) was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min before ischemia in CUR group,while 10％ dinethyl sulfoxide 30 ml was given instead of curcumin in Sham group and I/R group.Two percent Evans blue (EB) in 4 ml/kg of normal saline was injected via the caudal vein at 23 h of reperfusion,1 h later mice were sacrificed,and hippocampi were removed for determination of EB content.Mice were sacrificed at 24 h of reperfusion,hippocampal tissues were isolated for determination of wet to dry weight ratio (W/D ratio) and cell apoptosis (by TUNEL) and for examination of the pathological changes (with a light microscope),and brain tissues were isolated for determination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) contents (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay),malondialdehyde (MDA) content (by thiobarbituric acid method),superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (by xanthine oxidase method) and expression of caspase-3 (by Western blot).Apoptosis rate was calculated.Results Compared with Sham group,the W/D ratio of hippocampal tissues,EB content and apoptosis rate were significant increased,the contents of MDA,TNF-α and IL-6 in brain tissues were increased,SOD activity was decreased,and the expression of caspase-3 was up-regulated in I/R and CUR groups (P＜0.05).Compared with I/R group,the W/D ratio of hippocampal tissues,EB content and apoptosis rate were significant decreased,the contents of MDA,TNF-α and IL-6 in brain tissues were decreased,SOD activity was increased,and the expression of caspase-3 was down-regulated (P＜0.05),and the pathological changes of hippocampal tissues were significantly reduced in CUR group.Conclusion Curcumin pretreatment can reduce brain injury induced by intestinal I/R in mice,and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting inflammatory responses,lipid peroxidation and cell apoptosis.