Objective To analyse the features of vertebral hemangioma and inaging diagnostic value of vertebral hemangioma.Methods There were 14 cases with hemangioma proved by clinic and pathology.X-ray plain was performed in all cases,of which 9 cases were performed by CT scan and,only 6 cases were taken MR,and 2 cases had both CT and MR scan.Results The tumors were located in thoracic spine in 10 cases,in lumbar spine in 3 cases and in cervical spine in 1 case.8 cases showed typically fence-like or nest-like;the verterea were irregularly destroyed in 5 cases,of which 2 cases were associated with vertebrea collapsing.According to the features in plain film and CT scan,there were 2 cases misdiagnosed,but 6 cases were all made a correct diagnosis on the base of MR before surgry.Conclusion Typical vertebral hemangima can be diagnosed correctely according to plain film or CT while MR plays an important role in atypical cases.

NAC transcription factors involved in plant growth and development, as well as responses to biotic and abiotic stress. RNAi Vectors for SmNAC transcription factors of Salvia miltiorrhiza was constructed by using Gateway cloning technology, in order to further study the function of SmNAC1 transcription factor. According to Gateway cloning technology, the specific fragments of SmNAC1 containing attB adapter was amplified by PCR using ultra-fideling phusion polymerase of NEB. By the BP recombination reaction, the PCR product containing attB was transferred to an donor vector (pENTR/SD/D-TOPO). Finally, SmNACi specific gene was cloned into pK7GWIWG2D plant expression vectors by LR recombination reaction. Experimental results showed that Gateway cloning technology provide a rapid and highly efficient way to clone the interested gene.
Cloning, Molecular ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA Interference ; Reproducibility of Results ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

This study was conducted to investigate the in vitro characteristics of cationic liposomes composed of 3beta-[N-[2-(N', N'-dimethylamino) ethyl] carbamoyl] cholesterol (DC-Chol) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine loaded with doxorubicin (DXR), and to provide useful information for the in vivo tumor vascular targeting of cationic liposomes. Cationic liposomes composed of different amounts of DC-Chol (0 mol%, 10 mol%, 25 mol%, 50 mol%) were loaded with the conventional anti-cancer drug doxorubicin. Their size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and DXR release in vitro were investigated. Moreover, their uptake by rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) was observed at 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, and 4 h of incubation. FITC-Dextran was i.v. injected to the H22 tumor-bearing KM mice to stain the neovasculature. The characteristics of resulting DXR-loaded cationic liposomes were in stable characteristics with particle sizes around 100 - 200 nm and capsulation efficiency greater than 90%. Increased cationic lipid led to enhanced zeta potential, and meanwhile it also resulted in quick release of the loaded drug, indicating increased slits or pores on the membrane upon the addition of DC-Chol. RAECs could more avidly take up DXR-loaded cationic liposomes when the content of DC-Chol increased in the liposomes, and DXR were quickly released in the cytoplasm and transported to the nuclei. The neovasculature stained by FITC-Dextran was clearly observed. DXR-cationic liposomes composed of DC-Chol could be used for tumor vascular targeting in vivo for further study.
Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cholesterol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; Particle Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To analyze the mammographic features of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)compared to those of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).Methods Twenty cases with ILC and 95 cases with IDC were retrospectively evaluated by two breast radi-ologists according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS)lexicon.The mammographic findings were com-pared between ILC and IDC with the independent samples chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test,as appropriate.Results Mass was the most common finding in both ILCs and IDCs,but less frequent in ILCs (36.4% vs 63.9%,P =0.008).Mass in ILCs was more frequently lobular or irregular shape with spiculated margin.Architectural distortion and focal asymmetry were more frequent in ILCs than in IDCs,however,the differences were no significant.The frequency of calcifications was not significantly different between the two groups.The distributions of calcifications were more regional in ILCs,and more segmental or linear in IDCs (P =0.01).Conclu-sion ILCs are more usually shown as non-mass appearances on mammography.ILCs that appeared as mass are more frequently ir-regular in shape with spiculated margins.

0.05). Conclusion Tianma Gouteng Decoction can reverse left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TGF-? 1 expression in cardiac muscle tissue.

BACKGROUND: von Willebrand factor (vWF) is only released from endothelial cells and platelets and is an in vivo and in vitro marker of endothelial injury in septic patients with acute lung injury (ALI). Interleukin-8 (IL-8), as a proinflammatory mediator causing recruitment of inflammatory cells, induces an increase in oxidant stress mediators and makes it as a key parameter for localized inflammation. However, it has not been well established whether the level of serum IL-8 is associated with the severity of lung injury and whether it is a prognosis marker for severe lung contusion. This study was to investigate the expression of plasma vWF and IL-8 and their association with the severity and outcomes of severe pulmonary contusion. METHODS: A total of 63 patients were divided into a severe pulmonary contusion with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) group and a non-ARDS group, or a survivor group and a non-survivor group, or an injury severity score (ISS) <20 group and an ISS ≥20 group. Another 20 healthy volunteers served as controls. The levels of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after injury. The expression patterns of the plasma vWF and serum IL-8 were compared between different groups. RESULTS: The concentrations of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 were significantly increased in all severe pulmonary contusion patients at all time points in comparison with the control group. The concentrations of plasma vWF in patients with ARDS increased during the whole study period, but vWF in patients with non-ARDS increased gradually until day 5 and then decreased at day 7. The concentration of serum IL-8 showed a similar expression pattern in both groups, but the expression increased more significantly in the ARDS group than in the non-ARDS group. Interestingly, both plasma vWF and serum IL-8 levels steadily increased in the non-survivor group. Furthermore, the level of plasma vWF was higher in the ISS≥20 group than in the ISS<20 group. The level of serum IL-8 in the ISS≥20 group was consistently high, while that in the ISS<20 group peaked at day 3 and decreased at day 5. In addition, the level of plasma vWF was positively correlated with platelet count, but negatively correlated with oxygen index. The level of serum IL-8 was positively correlated with white blood cell count and ISS score, and inversely correlated with oxygen index. CONCLUSION: The elevated levels of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 in severe pulmonary contusion patients reflect the severity of pulmonary injury and patients outcomes, suggesting that the plasma vWF and serum IL-8 are sensitive markers for clinical evaluation of the severity of pulmonary injury and predication of patient prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the potential effect of Guizhi plus Gegen Decoction (GGD) in improving learning and memory of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced neuroinflammatory mice and its possible mechanisms.

METHODSTotally 63 male ICR mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control (n = 13), the model group (n = 13), the low dose GGD group (n = 10), the high dose GGD group (n = 14), and the positive control group (n = 13). Mice were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (0.33 mg/kg) to induce Alzheimer's disease (AD) model. Mice in the high and the low dose GGD groups were administered with 12 g/kg or 6 g/kg by gastrogavage for 4 successive weeks. Mice in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with minocycline (50 mg/kg) for 3 days. By the end of treatment LPS were injected 4 h before behavior test each day, and then behavior test was conducted in mice of each group. Effect of GGD on learning and memory of AD mice was observed by using open field test, novel object recognition task, and Morris water maze.

RESULTSOpen field test showed there was no statistical difference in the movement time and the movement distance among all groups (P > 0.05), suggesting that LPS and GGD had no effect on locomotor activities of mice. In novel object recognition test, AD mice spent significantly shorter time to explore novel object after they were induced by LPS (P < 0.05), while for AD mice in the low and high dose GGD groups, their capacities for exploration and memory were significantly improved (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01). Results of Morris water maze showed that AD mice exhibited increased escape latency (P < 0.05) and spent much less time in swimming across the original platform (both P < 0.05). However, AD mice in the low and high dose GGD groups had obvious shortened latency and increased time percentage for swimming (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGGD possessed certain improvement in learning and memory disorder of LPS induced AD mice.

Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Male ; Memory Disorders ; prevention & control ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neuritis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene in breast cancer in contrast to that of normal breast tissues or benign breast tumors and its significance in the carcinogenesis and development of breast cancer.

METHODSWith reference to the expression of the beta-actin gene, the expression of COX-2 mRNA was examined in cancerous tissues and adjacent normal breast tissue from 30 patients and benign breast tumors from 15 patients by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Quantitation of relative band densities was performed using densitometry-scanning software. Estrogen receptors of 30 breast cancers were investigated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSEnhanced expression of COX-2 was observed in ninety percent of cancers tissue with a range of 0.05 - 0.91 (median 0.53). Rare cases showed significant COX-2 expression in normal breast tissues with a range of 0 - 0.09 (median 0). In part of benign breast tumors, COX-2 expressions were obviously elevated with a range of 0 - 0.68 (median 0.07). The difference of expression of COX-2 mRNA among breast cancers, normal breast tissues, mastopathy or fibroadenomas was significant (rank-sum test, P < 0.05) and the difference of that between estrogen receptor negative and positive was also observed (rank-sum test, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe level of expression of COX-2 mRNA is obviously higher in breast cancer tissue than in normal breast tissue, mastopathy or fibroadenomas. The expression of COX-2 in hormone-dependent breast cancer is higher than that in hormone-independent breast cancer. The overexpression of COX-2 may play a crucial role in the carcinogenesis and development of cancer in patients with breast carcinoma.

Breast ; enzymology ; Breast Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Female ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; genetics ; Membrane Proteins ; Middle Aged ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; analysis

Objective To analyze the relation between ~(99)Tc~m-DTPA renal dynamic imaging and pathological changes in patients with lupus nephritis (LN).Methods Ten normal control and 29 patients with LN underwent ~(99)Tc~m-DTPA renal dynamic imaging.The LN patients were divided into two groups:silent LN (SLN) group,18 patients;and obvious LN (OLN) group,11 patients.For each case,glomerular filtration rate (GFR),peak time (t_p),half excretion time (t_(1/2)) and the excretion rate at 20 min (R_(20)) were calculated.Assessment of renal function on the scintigraphic images was evaluated by nuclear medicine physicians.The t-test,Fisher'exact probability and R×C association were used for data analysis.Results There were significant differences between normal people and two goups of LN in tp(t=5.3,9.3,both P＜0.05),t_(1/2)(t=6.9,12.0,both P＜0.05)and R_(20)(t=10.1,12.1,both P＜0.05).As to GFR,there was significant decrease in OLN patients(t=4.1,P＜0.05),but not in SLN patients(t=1.7,P＞0.05).Diagnoses of renal function by renal dynamic imaging were compared with the renal pathological changes (r=0.2273,P＜0.05).Conclusions ~(99)Tc~m-DTPA renal dynamic imaging is useful for evaluation of the early stage renal function for LN patients and to diagnose LN patients with no symptom of renal impairment.It may help to assess the degree of renal parenchymal damage while obviating the need for renal biopsy in these patients.

Objective Using Intelligence Scale of Mini Mental State Estimated (MMSE) as the gold standard to determine the relevance of International HIV-associated Dementia Scale (IHDS)in minority ethnic areas in Guangxi populations with different cultural values.Corresponding boundary value related to the authenticity and reliability on IHDS were also evaluated.Methods 200 patients with HIV infection were randomly selected from the minority ethnic groups in Guangxi.For each infected person,MMSE and IHDS blind scale were tested at the same period.Using the results from MMSE scale test as the gold standard,ROC curve and IHDS scale in Guangxi minority populations with different education levels which related to the diagnosis of dementia-HIV values were determined.The value of a specific sector under the IHDS sensitivity,specificity,and internal consistency coefficients was also evaluated.Results When considering the infected person did not differ on their educational level,the IHDS scale diagnostic cutoff appeared as 8.25,while 1HDS sensitivity as 0.925,specificity as 0.731 and Kappa as 0.477 (P＜0.001).When considering the extent of cultural differences did influence the prevalence of infection,the different education groups showed different IHDS diagnostic cutoff values.People with high school,secondary school or higher education levels,the IHDS diagnosis appeared to be 8.25,when sensitivity was 0.917,specificity was 0.895 and Kappa was 0.722 (P＜0.001).People with only primary education level,the IHDS appeared to be 7.25.When sensitivity was 0.875,specificity was 0.661 and Kappa was 0.372 (P＜0.001).Conclusion The IHDS diagnostic sector in Guangxi minority groups was lower than the internationally recommended level of diagnostic cutoff value (IHDS≤ 10 points).When using IHDS to perform the HIV related dementia screening program,in the minority areas of Guangxi,culture context,the degree and difference of HIV infection should be considered,especially in using IHDS diagnostic cutoff values.