Pancreatic sarcomatoid carcinoma is an extremely rare malignant tumor.The clinical data and computed tomography images of 8 patients with pancreatic sarcomatoid carcinoma who were admitted to the Subei People's Hospital from March 2001 to January 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.The results of computed tomography showed that 8 tumors were cystic and solid,showing exophytic growth.Two tumors were located in the pancreatic head,1 in the pancratic neck,3 in the body of pancreas,and 2 in the tail of the pancreas.The shape of the tumors were round or ellipse,and the mean tumor diameter was (7.2 ± 1.8)cm (range,6.3-9.6 cm).The plain scan of computed tomography showed that the attenuation of the tumors was mild hyperdense (7 cases) or equal to pancreatic tissue (1 case).Tumors were solid with cystic components,and no hemorrhage within the tumor was detected.Small calcification nodule wasdetected in 1 case.The enhanced scan of computed tomography showed that the enhancement of the tumor was moderate; the enhancement of the tumor was higher than that of normal pancreatic parenchyma during venous phase and delayed phase,while lower than that of normal pancreatic parenchyma on arterial phase; the enhancement of tumors was significantly lower than that of aorta during all the enhanced phases.All the tumors had complete capsule,and abnormal enhancement of the capsule was not detected.Three tumors had peripancreatic lymphadenectasis,2 had infiltration of splenic artery,2 had infiltration of splenic flexure of colon and 1 had infiltration of duodenal serosa or muscle.Familiarity with the imaging features of the pancreatic sarcomatoid carcinoma can help surgeons to make a suggestive diagnosis.

Objective To compare the efficacy of spectral CT imaging and 64 slice CT in assessment of carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque.Methods Thirty-eight patients with carotid plaque were detected retrospectively in this study (plaque,n=46) by using spectral CT.The composition of atherosclerotic plaque was measured by iodine-based images,lipid-based images with spectral CT imaging.Intraplaque hemorrhae,lipid components were also evaluated on spectral CT imaging and compared with pathology and specimen.Statistical comparison was performed with the Kappa value,independent-sample t test and exact test.Results The degree of carotid artery stenosis was (63.3 ±3.1)％ on spectral CT imaging whereas (61.6 ± 3.8) ％ on 64 slice CT.Two imaging modalities were in good consistency in evaluation of the degree of stenosis (Kappa=0.993,P＜0.01).There was no statistical difference in detecting fibrous cap rupture on spectral CT imaging and 64 slice CT (12 plaques vs 11 plaques,respectively,P＞0.05).Furthermore,spectral CT imaging showed 11 plaques within intraplaque hemorrhage,however,no case was found on 64 slice CT (P＜0.05).The plaque iodine concentration were (6.365 ± 1.937) and (1.573 ±0.776) mg/cm3 with or without internal hemorrhage(t=16.39,P＜0.05).Spectral CT imaging showed 9 plaques within intraplaque liquid whereas only 2 plaques showed intraplaque liquid on 64 slice CT (P＜0.05).Twenty-eight plaques within calcification in the plaque were found on spectrl CT imaging and 27 on 64 slice CT(P＞0.05).Conclusion Spectral CT imaging is a reliable tool in detecting intraplaque hemor-rhage and liquid component.

Objective To further define the molecular mechanism involved in the metastasis process in lung cancer and screen out the genes expressed differentially in the lung cancer.Methods mRNA differential display (DD-PCR) was employed to search the specific genes related to metastasis.The highly expressed fragments were cloned and sequenced.Compared with the data in GenBank,the homologous genes were found.The anchor primers were designed to validate the candidates from DD-PCR by real-time PCR.The structure of the gene was prognosticated by software.Results Nine differentially expressed genes were found.One of the nine genes,which named C3orf1,showed high different expression within the six tested cancer cells.The gene was 858bp long and encoded 285 amino acids.The molecular weight was about 32.2 kD.Analyzed by the bio-software,it was found that the gene was consisted with seven EGF-like domains (EGF_1),three 2Fe-2S ferredoxin/iron-sulfur binding regions (2FE2S_FER_1),two VWFC domains (VWFC_1),two thiolase active sites (thiolase_3),and so on.Conclusions The gene C3orf1 is over-expressed in the lung cancer 95D cells.It may encode a familiar secretary growth factor protein and play important role in stimulating growth of the cells.

Objective To investigate the MSCT features of the renal cell carcinoma associated with XP11.2 translocation-TFE gene fusion ( XP11.2-TFE Ca).Methods The MSCT features of XP11.2-TFE Ca in six patients were retrospectively analyzed,which were confirmed by postoperative histopathology.All the tumor features were recorded and compared to the histopathological findings.Variance test analysis was performed to compare the CT values among tumor,normal renal cortex and normal renal medulla.Results XP11.2-TFE Ca appeared as a solitary lesion in all the 6 patients,which limited in the medulla in 3 patients and infiltrated both medulla and renal pelvis in other 3 patients.The tumor diameter ranged from 3.8 to 5.2 cm [mean diameter,(4.2 ± 1.3) cm],And the adjacent renal cortex was compressed or involved.Four lesions were oval,2 lesions were irregular shape.Tumor capsule showed in all lesions in the six patients.Cystic component and retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis respectively occurred in one patient.In all lesions,calcification was not detected.On unenhanced CT scan phase,the CT values of the normal cortex,normal medulla and XP11.2-TFE Ca were (42 ±5),(38 ±4) and (48 ±4) HU respectively,with no significant statistical difference ( F =1.267,P ＞ 0.05 ) ; on cortical nephrographic phase after contrast injection,they were ( 174 ± 10 ),( 72 ± 8 ) and ( 100 ± 9) HU respectively,with significant statistical difference among the three groups (F =6.588,P ＜ 0.01) ; on parenchymal nephrographic phase,they were (207 + 12),(109 +8) and ( 121± 11) HU respectively,with significant statistical difference (F =7.172,P＜0.01) ; and on the excretory phase,they were (148 ± 12),(67 ±8) and (83 ±7) HU respectively,with significant statistical difference ( F =2.678,P ＜ 0.05 ).On each phase of contrast-enhanced MSCT scan,the enhancement of XP11.2-TFE Ca was higher than that of the medulla and lower than that of the cortex.Conclusions XP11.2-TFE Ca had some characteristic MSCT features.Comprehensive analysis of its MSCT features may help for improving the diagnosis.

Objective: To identify the Chinese medicinal granule (CMG) by measuring IR fingerprints. Methods : 12 species drugs were extracted with butanone respectively and then the obtained extracts were measured by the FT-IR spectrometer. Results : By IR fingerprint of 12 kinds of CMG, we found that different batches of the same CMG had a stable and repeatable fingerprint. Conclusion : By using IR fingerprint, CMG can be identified. It provides a rapid monitoring for drug identification and quality control.

Objective To investigate the effect of ambient temperature on body mass, thermogenic activity and un-coupling protein-1 ( UCP1) content of brown adipose tissue ( BAT) in tree shrews ( Tupaia belangeri) , and to provide the-oretical basis for establishing tree shrews model of obesity.Methods Forty healthy adult tree shrews with similar body mass were uesd in our experiment.The tree shrews were divided into five groups (n=8):control group (0 d), the ani-mals were maintained under 25 ±1℃ and 12L:12D ( light : dark, lights on 08:00) photoperiod; and the animals were maintained under 5 ±1℃and 12L:12D photoperiod for 7 d, 14 d, 21 d and 28 d groups, respectively.At the end of ex-periment, the changes of body mass, nonshivering thermogenesis (NST), BAT mass and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) con-tent were determined.Results Compared with the control group (0 d), the body mass, NST, BAT mass and UCP1 con-tent of the cold acclimation groups were improved significantly, the BAT color also obviously deepened, and after cold accli-mation for 28 d, the body mass, NST, BAT mass and UCP1 content were increased by 26.32%, 20.65, 53.85%and 43%, respectively.Apparently, the UCP1 content was significantly positively correlated with BAT mass and NST.Conclusions BAT proliferation may be induced and UCP1 expression upregulated by cold acclimation in Tupaia belangeri, therefore, en-hancing the thermogenic activity of brown adipose tissue to increase energy expenditure.We would speculate that BAT might be used as a target organ for treatment of obesity by energetic approach in the future.

AIM: To identify the Chinese medicinal granule by measuring IR fingerprints. METHODS: 13 kinds of granules were extracted with butanone respectively and then the obtained extracts were measured with the FT IR spectrometer. RESULTS: By IR fingerprint of 13 kinds of granules drugs, different batches of the same crude drug had a stable and repeatable fingerprint. CONCLUSION: By using IR fingerprint, Chinese medicinal granule can be identified and provides a rapid method for drug identification and quality control.

Objective To investigate the effects of morroniside on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fi-broblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in rat cortex after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Methods 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were ran-domly divided into sham group, model group, morroniside-low group (30 mg/kg), morroniside-middle group (90 mg/kg) and morroni-side-high group (270 mg/kg). Middle cerebral arteries of rats were occluded for 30 minutes with Longa's method and re-perfused. The ex-pression of VEGF and FGF-2 in the ischemic ipsilateral cortex was detected with Western blotting 7 days after reperfusion. Results The ex-pression of both VEGF and FGF-2 increased in the ischemic ipsilateral cortexin in all the ischemic groups compared with the sham group (P<0.05). The expression of VEGF further increased in a dose-dependent manner in all the morroniside groups compared with that of model group (P<0.05), and the expression of FGF-2 increased in the morroniside-high group (P<0.001). Conclusion Morroniside could increase the expression of VEGF and FGF-2 after ischemia-reperfusion, which might promote angiogenesis.

Objective To compare the efficacy and adverse effects of bortezomib+adriamycin+dexamethasone (PAD) and vincristine + adriamycin + dexamethasone (VAD) regimens in untreated multiple myeloma (MM). Methods There were 26 and 28 new diagnosed MM patients in PAD and VAD groups. Both clinical effects and adverse effects were observed. Patients accepted VAD or PAD regimens for 2-4 cycles and followed up for 7-27 months. Results There were 10, 5 and 11 patients accepted 2, 3 and 4 cycles in PAD group, and 6, 11 and 11 in VAD group. In PAD group, there were 2, 14, 9, 1 and 0patients achieved complete remission (CR), very good partial remission (VGPR), partial remission (PR),stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD); in VAD group, the number were 0, 4, 12, 10 and 2.The rate of patients who achieved good efficacy (CR+VGPR) in PAD group was 61.5%, which was higher than that in VAD group (14.3%).The incidences of infection and gastrointestinal symptoms were similar in the two groups, while the incidences of peripheral neuropathy, thrombosis and Herpes Zoster infection in PAD group were higher than those in VAD group. Conclusions Compared with the conventional VAD chemotherapy, PAD may improve CR and VGPR rates in new diagnosed MM, while it may bring more and severer toxicities in peripheral neuropathy, thrombosis and Herpes Zoster infection. Preventive medical care is necessary in PAD protocol.

Objective To explore the effects of morroniside on the expression of CD34 in ipsilateral cortex of rats after focal cerebral isch-emia-reperfusion. Methods 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham group (n=9), ischemia group (n=9), and morroniside groups (low, medium and high dosage groups, n=9). The middle cerebral artery were occluded for 30 minutes, and reperfused. Morroniside was administered intragastrically once a day at dose of 30 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 270 mg/kg after operation. The expression of CD34 in the isch-emic ipsilateral cortex were detected with immunohistochemistry (n=6) and Western blotting (n=3) 7 days after operation. Results The ex-pression of CD34 increased in the ischemia group compared with the sham group, and further increased in the morroniside groups of high dos-age compared with the ischemia group (F>14.865, P<0.001). Conclusion Morroniside could increase the expression of CD34 in the ischemic ipsilateral cortex after ischemia-reperfusion in rats, which may promote the angiogenesis and neurogenesis after ischemia.