Objective To estimate reliability of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in measuring liver stiffness of volunteers and patients with chronic liver disease and to assess inter-rater consistency.Methods MRE was performed on a 3.0 T scanner in all subjects,including 24 volunteers (control group) and 64 patients with liver disease (chronic liver disease group).Liver stiffness was measured blindly by two raters.The pathological fibrosis score was applied as a standard reference for liver fibrosis in 22 patients.The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate inter-rater reliability.The differences of liver stiffness between two groups were evaluated using non-parametric MannWhitney U test.Spearman analysis was used to analyze the correlation between fibrosis stages and liver stiffness.Results The intraclass correlation coefficient of liver stiffness was perfect (ICC =0.99,P ＜ 0.01)between two raters.There was significant difference of mean stiffness between control group and patient group (U =90.5,P ＜0.01) with(2.35 ±0.34) kPa and(4.17 ± 0.47) kPa,respectively.The correlation between fibrosis stage (3,3,5,5 and 6 patients in fibrosis stage S0,S1,S2,S3 and S4) and stiffness (2.13,3.25,3.82,5.45 and 7.35 kPa) was very strong (r =0.96,P ＜0.01).Conclusion MRE is a reliable and promising tool to measure liver stiffness and to assess liver fibrosis.

Objective To study the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its relation with expression of receptor (urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor uPAR) in epithelial ovari- an cancer (OEC) and with the clinic prognosis.Methods Expression of uPA and uPAR protein was detected by Streptavidin-biotin-HRP in 68 cases of epithelial ovarian cancer and compared with that in 10 cases of borderline tumor,10 cases of benign tumor and 10 cases of normal tissue,and correlation between them was analyzed.The different expression groups of uPA was correlated with the prognosis of ovarian epithelial can- cer.The expression of uPA showed a correlation with short survival time (P

Qualitative research methods are becoming more and more important in medical research area. Some qualitative researches played important roles in the exploration and the spread of core ideas of Chinese medicine. The report of qualitative research should be transparent and credible according to the standardized report criterion. On the basis of 22 criteria, the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) was developed and published in September 2007. This introduction to COREQ will be helpful to Chinese qualitative researchers and readers in the implementation of high quality of medical qualitative research in China.

Objective To study the clinical values of polyvinyl alcohol chemoembolization and bronchial arterial infusion(BAI) in interventional therapy of central bronchogenic carcinoma.Methods 45 pathologically proved cases of central bronchogenic carcinoma in mid or late period were randomly divided into two groups(control group in 24 cases and experimental group in 21 cases).After detecting the nourishing arteries of bronchogenic carcinoma with angiography,the treating processes were performed.Control group : anticancer drugs were poured into bronchial artery.Experimental group : the feeding arteries of tumors were co-axially superselective catheterized with microcatheters,the anti-neoplasm agents were poured into everyone of feeding arteries according to the blood supply,then the feeding arteries were embolized by polyvinyl alcohol.Results Control group : the obvious effective rate(CR+PR) was 50%.Experimental group:the obvious effective rate was 90.4%.Two cases in control group obtained the chances of radical operation and chemotherapy were performed after operation,the other 22 cases were undergone synthetic treatment.Seven cases in experimental group obtained the chances of radical operation and chemotherapy were performed after operation,14 cases were undergone synthetic treatment.Three cases in control group died and none of in experimental group died in the follow-up of 2~24 months.Conclusion The short-term effect of polyvinyl alcohol embolization is better than those of BAI for interventional therapy of central bronchogenic cancer,but the long-term effect needs a large number of cases to access the real clinical value.

Objective To observe the effects of soybean,selenium and spirulina on hemoglobin(Hb)of rats intoxicated with fluorine and aluminiums.Methods According to body weight,84 SD rats were randomly divided into control group,high aluminum group,high fluorine group,high fluorine-aluminum group,high fluorine-aluminium intoxicated rats strengthened with soybean group,high fluorine-aluminium intoxicated rats strengthened with selenium group and high fluorine-aluminium intoxicated rats strengthened with spirulina group,12 in each group.Rats in the control group and the high aluminum group were fed with feed containing 5.2 mg/kg of fluorine and 6.8 mg/kg of aluminum.In other groups,fluorine wag 106 mg/Kg and aluminum 19.7 mg/kg.Fluorine and aluminum concentration in the drinking water of the control group and the high fluorine group were 0.69 mg/L and 0.20 mg/L,respectively.In other groups' drinking water,these values were 0.69 mg/L and 90.2 mg/L,respectively.Ninety days later,Hb concentration of the whole blood was tested.Results Hb concentration of the control group,the high aluminum group,the high fluorine group,and the high fluorine-aluminum group were (160.8±6.3),(142.2±15.9),(156.1±4.9)and(145.2±6.2)g/L,respectively.Fluorine had an effect on the concentration of Hb(F=29.56,P<0.05).The Hb concentration of the high fluorine-aluminum group,the strengthened with soybean group,the strengthened with selenium group and the strengthened with Spirulina group were(145.2±6.2),(150.7±17.7),(156.8±14.5),(154.5±17.8)g/L,respectively.Though the concentration of Hb had increased,there was no significant difference between the four groups(χ2=3.304,P>0.05).Conclusions High-dose fluorine could cause varied decrease in the concentration of Hb.However,aluminum has neitherantagonistic effect nor synergistic effect on the Hb of fluorotic Rat.Soybean,selenium and Spirulina show a trend to increase fluorotic rat's Hb,but they has no evident antagonistic effect.

Objective: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on cognitive function in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging rats, and the correlation between the effect and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)-ASC-Caspase-1 signaling pathway. Methods: Forty-six male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=10), a model group (n=12), an EA-7 d group (n=12) and an EA-21 d group (n=12). Except the control group, the other three groups received 42 consecutive days of intraperitoneal injection of D-gal to establish aging rat models with cognitive dysfunction. The control group received the same amount of normal saline via intraperitoneal injection. Two EA groups were given EA therapy for 21 consecutive days (began from the 22nd day of modeling) or 7 consecutive days (began from the 36th day of modeling) accordingly at Dazhui (GV 14), Baihui (GV 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36). After modeling/ intervention, all four groups received behavioral evaluations by Morris water maze (MWM) test, novel object recognition (NOR) test and step-down passive avoidance (SDPA) test followed by the Western blot (WB) detection of the expression levels of hippocampal NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1. Results: MWM (place navigation test, PNT) results showed that the escape latency in the model group was significantly longer than that in the other three groups (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference among the other three groups on the 1st day of the test (P>0.05). From the 2nd day to the 4th day of the test, there was no significant difference between the EA-21 d group and the control group (P>0.05) in the escape latency; the escape latency was significantly shorter in the EA-21 d group than in the model group and the EA-7 d group (P<0.05). MWM (spatial probe test, SPT) results showed that the time spent in the target quadrant was significantly shorter and platform crossover number was significantly lower in the model group than in the other three groups (P<0.05). The time spent in the target quadrant was longer in the EA-7 d group than in the model group (P<0.05), but was shorter than that in the control group and the EA-21 d group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the swimming speed among the four groups (P>0.05). NOR results showed that there was no significant difference in the recognition ratio between the EA-7 d group and the EA-21 d group (P>0.05), and the recognition ratio was significantly higher in the two EA groups than in the model group (P<0.05), but was lower than in the control group (P<0.05). SDPA results showed that the electric shock number was higher in the model group than in the other three groups (P<0.05), and the differences among the other three groups were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The model group had the shortest step-down latency, followed by the EA-7 d group, the EA-21 d group and the control group in order (P<0.05). The WB results indicated that the expression level of NLRP3 was significantly lower in the control group and the EA-21 d group than in the model group and the EA-7 d group (P<0.05). The expression levels of ASC and Caspase-1 were significantly higher in the model group than in the other three groups (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference among these three groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: NLRP3 inflammasome may be involved in the development of cognitive decline in aging rats; 7 consecutive days of EA intervention can partially improve the cognitive impairment in aging rats though the effect is rather limited; 21 consecutive days of EA intervention may improve the learning and memory abilities in aging rats via downregulating the expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins in hippocampus.

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness and safety of manual acupuncture for memory loss and sleep quality in chronic insomniacs.Methods:A total of 60 eligible participants were enrolled and randomized into either a treatment group or a control group,with 30 cases in each group.The treatment group was intervened by manual acupuncture whereas the control group was given sham acupuncture.In the two groups,the interventions were offered once every other day and three times a week,for 8 weeks in total.Before and after the treatment,Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and eventrelated potentials (ERPs) were used to assess the patients' sleep quality and memory,respectively.Meanwhile,adverse events were monitored and recorded.Results:After 8-week treatment,both the treatment group and the control group showed a significant decrease in the PSQI global score (P＜0.001,P＜0.01),and the decrease in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P＜0.001).The intra-group comparisons of ERPs indicated that,the latencies of N1 and P3 were shortened and the amplitudes of N1 and P3 were increased in the treatment group after the intervention,and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05,P＜0.001);in the control group,there were no significant changes in the latency and amplitude after the treatment (P＞0.05).The between-group comparisons of ERPs showed that the treatment group was more effective than the control group in shortening the latency of P3 (P＜0.01).Conclusion:Acupuncture can be a safe and effective treatment option for chronic insomnia coupled with memory impairment.

Objective:To observe the efficacy and safety of dexzopiclone plus auricular acupressure in intervening primary insomnia.Methods:A total of 72 participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial,with 36 cases allocated to a treatment group and 36 cases allocated to a control group.Both groups were given dexzopiclone as the routine treatment.Patients in the treatment group were given auricular acupressure with Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae) seeds at the auricular acupoints related to sleep and emotion based on meridian theory,whereas for patients in the control group,the medical plasters with Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae) seeds were only gently stuck to acupoints unrelated to sleep without stimulation.Patients in both groups were required to visit the hospital once a week for replacing the seeds and plasters.The course of intervention lasted for 8 weeks and the patients were followed up for another 4 weeks.Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Karolinska sleep diary (KSD) were used to evaluate the outcomes.Meanwhile,adverse effects were monitored and recorded.Results:In the enrolled 72 cases,4 patients (one in the treatment group and three in the control group) reported thirst and a bitter taste,and one case in the control group reported nausea and vomiting.At last,3 cases in the control group dropped out for adverse reactions,and 69 cases completed the clinical trial.After 8 weeks of treatment,the global scores of PSQI in both treatment and control groups decreased significantly compared with the baseline (both P＜0.001).Furthermore,the global score of PSQI in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.01).The global scores of PSQI in both groups at the follow-up were significantly different from the baseline (both P＜0.001),but insignificantly different compared with the post-treatment results (both P＞0.05).According to KSD,both treatment protocols could prolong the total sleep time,shorten sleep-onset latency,improve sleep efficacy and sleep quality significantly,and the changes in the treatment group were more significant.The total effective rate was 88.9％ in the treatment group,higher than 81.8％ in the control group,though the difference was statistically insignificant (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Dexzopiclone plus auricular acupressure is effective and safe for patients with primary insomnia both in short and long terms,and it is more effective than monotherapy of dexzopiclone.

OBJECTIVETo search for an optimum method for testicular prothesis implantation in the treatment of testis loss.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the surgical methods and outcomes of 53 cases of terminal prostate cancer and 4 cases of unilateral testicular torsion treated by implantation of testicular prothesis with the polypropylene mesh.

RESULTSThe 57 male patients all received testicular prothesis with the polypropylene mesh. All the patients were satisfied with the appearance and size of the scrotum after surgery. No scrotal hematoma, prosthesis infection, or autoimmune disease occurred postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONTestis loss is not a rare condition clinically, for the treatment of which surgical implantation of testicular prothesis with the polypropylene mesh can achieve both a fine tissue compatibility and a desirable scrotal appearance.

Humans ; Male ; Polypropylenes ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; surgery ; Surgical Mesh ; Testis

The strain Acidiphilium cryptum DX1-1 producing PHB was irradiated respectively by UV and Co60 to raise PHB production. The results indicated that the effect of UV better than using Co60. One strain of the UV mutagenized called UV60-3 has the highest PHB production yield, showing final PHB concentra- tion of 28.56 g/L, 1.45 times higher than that of original strain. FT-IR spectroscopy analysis shows that the polymers obtained from the strain DX1-1 have the same IR spectra of standard PHB. Further research about the best appropriate C/N ratio of the mutant was done. The optimum ratio of C/N was about 3.76, the final PHB concentration reaches to 30.57 g/L.