OBJECTIVETo assess the value of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) in carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.

METHODSFrom December 1998 to April 2002, 27 patients were imaged with FDG-PET and FDG avid masses in the esophagogastric junction were found in every patient. FDG-PET data was analyzed by visual method and standardized uptake value (SUV). FDG-PET results were compared with pathological results and follow-up survey.

RESULTS16 carcinomas of the esophagogastric junction and 11 non-specific FDG-avid masses of normal stomach were all considered malignant by visual method. Maximum and mean Standard uptake value (SUV) of cancer were 6.71 +/- 2.75 and 5.46 +/- 2.31, respectively; SUVmax and SUVmean of non-specific FDG avid mass were 2.99 +/- 0.67 and 2.38 +/- 0.51 respectively; SUV of cancer was higher than that of non-specific FDG avid mass (Z = -4.171, Z = -4.195, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSFDG-PET has limited value in differentiating carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction from non-specific FDG avid mass of normal stomach.

Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Esophagogastric Junction ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pneumomediastinum or pneumothorax during the removal of bronchial foreign bodies in children. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical data of 10 cases of pneumomediastinum or pneumothorax during the removal of bronchial foreign bodies in children. RESULTS: Two patients died and the other 8 were cured. CONCLUSION Pneumomediastinum or pneumothorax is mainly caused by the intrapulmonary hyper-pressure and fracture of pulmonary bubbles. The prognosis of pneumomediastinum or pneumothorax is closely related to such factors as correct and punctual diagnosis and quick removal of the airway obstruction.
Bronchi ; Bronchoscopy ; adverse effects ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; etiology ; Pneumothorax ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether heart tissue-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) promotes the differentiation of cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) implanted in rat infracted myocardium to improve the cardiac structure and function.

METHODSRat CDCs were cultured by cardiac explant methods, and ECM was prepared by decelluariztion method. In a Wistar rat model of acute myocardial infarction established by ligating the left anterior descending branch, IMDM solution, ECM suspension, 10CDCs in IMDM solution, or 10CDCs in ECM suspension were injected into the infracted rat myocardium (6 rats in each group). The cardiac function of the rats was evaluated by cardiac ultrasonography, and the percentage of positive heart fibrosis area after infarction was determined with Masson staining. The differentiation of implanted CDCs in the infarcted myocardium was detected using immunofluorescence assay for the markers of cardiac muscle cells (α-SA), vascular endothelial cells (vWF) and smooth muscle cells (α-SMA).

RESULTSThree weeks after acute myocardial infarction, the rats with injection of CDCs in ECM showed the highest left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and percentage of fraction shortening with the lowest percentage of positive heart fibrosis area; implantation of CDCs with ECM resulted in significantly higher rates of CDC differentiation into cardiac muscle cells, vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cell (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeart-tissue derived ECM significantly promotes the differentiation of CDCs implanted in the infracted myocardium into cardiac muscle cells, vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells to improve the cardiac structure and cardiac functions in rats.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Extracellular Matrix ; transplantation ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; transplantation ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo explore the implication of the dynamic changes of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level and Tei index of left ventricle (LV) in children with ventricular septal defect (VSD) treated by transcatheter closure.

METHODSSixty children with VSD treated by transcatheter closure with VSD occluder (Group VSD) and 30 healthy children (Group C) were included in this study. The plasma concentration of NT-proBNP, Tei index of LV and left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured in Group C and at before, 5th minute, 4th hour, 1st month, 3rd month and 6th month after VSD closure in Group VSD.

RESULTS(1) The concentration of plasma NT-proBNP was significantly increased in children with VSD before transcatheter closure compared with Group C [(229.45 ± 57.75) ng/L vs. (99.21 ± 46.86) ng/L, P < 0.01], significantly increased at 5th minute and 24th hour after transcatheter closure [(356.27 ± 96.78) ng/L and (356.38 ± 91.95) ng/L vs. (229.45 ± 57.75) ng/L, all P < 0.01], and significantly decreased at 1st month, 3rd months and 6th months after transcatheter closure [(131.33 ± 34.79) ng/L, (96.56 ± 31.55) ng/L and (93.39 ± 29.46) ng/L vs. (229.45 ± 57.75) ng/L, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. (2) The Tei indexes of LV in Group VSD before transcatheter closure were significantly higher than in Group C (0.45 ± 0.05 vs. 0.33 ± 0.08, P < 0.01) and Tei index was significantly increased at 24th hour, 1st month after transcatheter closure (P < 0.01) while significantly decreased at 3rd and 6th month compared with those before transcatheter closure (0.34 ± 0.07 and 0.34 ± 0.06 vs. 0.45 ± 0.05, all P < 0.01). (3) There is a positive correlation between the changes of the plasma concentration of NT-proBNP and the change of Tei index of LV before and after transcatheter closure (r = 0.653, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTei index of LV and NT-proBNP can monitor cardiac function changes in children with VSD before and after transcatheter closure.

Adolescent ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Heart Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of donations after cardiac death (DCD) kidney transplant performed in northwest China and the measures for management of delayed graft function (DGF).

METHODSIn the period of 2011-2013, a total of 51 families of DCD donor gave their consent to organ donation by signing the informed consent with the help by a Red Cross Organization (ROC) coordinator, and 102 kidneys were retrieved by organ procurement organization (OPO) teams. Ninety-four operations of renal transplantation were carried out in our hospital. All the patients were followed-up and based on the occurrence of DGF after transplantation, they were divided into DGF group and non-DGF group for comparative studies.

RESULTSThe success rate of donation after cardiac death was 29.3%, and the incidence of post-transplantation DGF was 27.7%. The 1-year human/kidney survival rate was 98.9%/95.7%. Within six months after the transplant, the values of eGFR in DGF group were significantly lower and serum creatinine significantly higher than those in non-DGF group (P<0.05), but no significant differences were found between the two groups thereafter (P>0.05). The occurrence of DGF in LifePort mechanical perfusion cohorts was significantly lower than that in the simple cold preservation group (21.5% vs. 41.4%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe overall effect of DCD kidney transplant is good despite a high incidence of early DGF, and we recommend the use of low-temperature mechanical perfusion for storage and transportation of DCD donor kidney.

Adult ; China ; Death ; Delayed Graft Function ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Tissue and Organ Procurement ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of positron emission tomography (PET) with (11)C-choline (CH), (11)C-methionine (MET), (18)F-fluorothymidine (FLT), and (11)C-acetate (AC) in diagnosis of pulmonary abnormalities and the features of pulmonary abnormalities in PET.

METHODSFrom June 2002 to June 2007, 100 patients with pulmonary nodules or masses confirmed by CT scans received PET with special tracers. Fifty-eight patients received CH-PET, 16 patients received MET-PET, 22 patients received FLT-PET, 4 patients received AC-PET. PET data was analyzed by visual method and semiquantitative method with standard uptake value (SUV). Diagnoses were compared with pathology and follow-up survey.

RESULTSFor identification of pulmonary neoplasms with CH-PET, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 84.2% (32/38), 57.9% (11/19) and 75.4% (43/57). In cancer cases, SUV had no correlation with tumor size or age. For identification of pulmonary neoplasms with MET-PET, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 6/7, 6/9 and 75.0% (12/16). In cancer cases, SUV had not correlation with tumor size or age. For identification of pulmonary neoplasms with FLT-PET, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 85.7% (12/14), 2/8 and 63.6% (14/22). In cancer cases, SUV had not correlation with tumor size or age. In AC-PET, only 1 case of pulmonary metastasis of kidney clear cell carcinoma showed acetate avid. Two squamous cell carcinoma and 1 adenocarcinoma didn't appear abnormal in AC-PET.

CONCLUSIONCH, MET, FLT, AC are valuable in diagnosing but also lead to false positive and false negative.

Choline ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dideoxynucleosides ; Female ; Humans ; Iodoacetates ; Lung Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Methionine ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the occurrence of sub-health and health promotion lifestyle in Guangdong province to provide epidemiological evidences for prevention of sub-health.

METHODSA 1:1 nested case-control study was carried out involving 133 cases from the cohort study paired with 133 control case matched for gender and age.

RESULTSThe univariate conditional logistic regression model showed no significant association of marital status, education level, or body mass index with the occurrence of sub-health, but a significant correlation was found between lifestyle and sub-health with an odd ratio of 5.90 (95% CI: 3.12-11.16, P=0.000). Analysis of the multivariate conditional logistic regression model on the 6 subscales of health promotion lifestyle showed that stress management was significantly correlated with the occurrence of sub-health with an odd ratio of 4.00 (95% CI: 1.54-10.40, P=0.004).

CONCLUSIONA unhealthy lifestyle, especially in terms of stress management, is the major risk factor contributing to the occurrence of sub-health.

Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors

The study was aimed to investigate the effect of CIAPIN1 gene on the proliferation of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell line K562. The shRNA eukaryotic expression vector targeting CIAPIN1 gene was constructed and transfected into K562 cells. The inhibitory efficiency on K562 cells was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot; the proliferative activity of K562 cells was detected by MTT assay; the number and size of colonies were assessed by using colony-forming test; the tumorigenic potential was tested in vivo by using nude mice. The results indicated that as compared with control group, the CIAPIN1 gene expression statistically decreased; the proliferative activity of K562 cells in interference group was distinctly weakened; the number and size of colonies were significantly reduced; the tumorigenic potential was also lowered in vivo. It is concluded that inhibition of CIAPIN1 expression can inhibit K562 cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo.
Cell Proliferation ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether Artesunate(ART) can inhibit the proliferation of THP-1 cells and to explore the potential mechanism of its anti-leukemia effect.

METHODSTHP-1 cells were treated with 5 concentrations of Artesunate for 24 h, 48 h or 72 h. The viability of cells was detected with CCK-8 assay, apoptosis was assessed by using flow cytometry, and the STAT3, Caspase3 and Caspase8 protein levels were measured with Western blot .

RESULTSCompared with the control group, ART significantly inhibited the proliferation of THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner (r=0.9829, P<0.05). ART also increased the apoptosis of THP-1 cells. The results of Western blot showed that after treated with ART, the STAT3 protein expression in THP-1 cells was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01), and the expressions of Caspase3, cleaved Caspase3 and Caspase8 proteins were up-regulated(P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONArtesunate can inhibit the proliferation of THP-1 cells, which may relate with the down-regulation of STAT3 expression and the activation of Capase3 and Caspase8.

Apoptosis ; Artemisinins ; Artesunate ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; THP-1 Cells