Objective To investigate the MRI features of progressiv e mu scular dystrophy (PMD), and evaluate the diagnostic value of MRI for PMD. Methods Thirty-three biopsy-proved PMD patients underwent MRI of face, scapular, thigh, and leg, including 16 cases of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), 2 cases of Beck er′s muscular dystrophy, 5 cases of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and 10 c ases o f facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Spin echo sequence, fast spin echo seq uence, and STIR sequence were utilized. Results The signal inte nsity of disease d muscle with DMD, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and Becker′s muscular dystr op hy was hyperintense on both T_1-weighted images(T_1WI) and T_2-weighted ima ges (T_2WI). Gracilis muscle of 21 cases, sartorius muscle of 19 cases, semiten dinosus mus cle of 19 cases, and tibialis posterior muscle of 20 cases were relatively spare d. Ten cases with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy displayed two kinds of a bnormal signals: hyperintense on T_2WI and hypointense on T_1WI in all 10 ca ses;hyperintense on both T_2WI and T_1WI in 7 cases. Conclusion The MRI findings in PMD show certain characteri stics: (1)the involved muscles are mainly replaced by fat. (2)On the lower extre mi ty, Gracilis muscle, sartorius muscle, semitendinosus muscle, and tibialis poste rior muscle were relatively spared in DMD, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and B ecker′ muscular dystrophy.(3) Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy displays t wo kinds of abnormal signals which represent fat replacement and inflammatory edem a lesion. MRI can provide objective data for clinical diagnosis, therapeutic eva luation, and follow-up. It can also help to decide the accurate localizations f or biopsies.

Objective To observe the level of autophagy induced by TRAIL in TT cell line and identify the role of autophagy in TRAIL-inducing apoptosis of TT cell line.Methods The growth inhibition of TT cells was measured by MTT assay.MDC staining was used to identify the happening of autophagy.Annexin V/PI double staining was used to analyze the apoptosis rate of TT cells by flowcytometry.The protein expression of caspase-8 and Beclin1 was detected by Western blot.Results ① The growth inhibition ratio of TT cells induced by TRAIL at the concentration of 250,500,1000 and 2000 ng/ml was (3.02 ± 1.82)％,(4.87 ± 1.45)％,(7.51 ± 1.57) ％,(12.76 ± 3.23) ％ respectively,which suggested significant resistance of TT cells to TRAIL.② MDC-labeled green light vesicles was significantly increased after the treatment of TRAIL for 48 h.③ The apoptosis rate of TT cells induced by TRAIL at the concentration of 500 ng/ml and 1000 ng/ml after the pretreat ment of 3-MA for 4 h was(17.83 ± 1.54) ％ and(27.81 ± 1.79) ％ respectively,which was significantly higher than the apoptosis rate induced by TRAIL(3.70 ± 0.34) ％,(6.55 ± 0.59) ％ alone and that induced by 3-MA(7.71 ± 0.64) ％ (t =3.282,P ＜ 0.05 ; t =7.830,P ＜ 0.01).④ The combination treatment of TRAIL and 3-MA increased the cleavage of caspase-8 and down-regulated the expression of Beclin 1.Conclusion Autophagy induced by TRAIL may contributes to the resistance of TT cells to TRAIL,which can be reversed by the inhibition of autophagy.

Objective To study the effect and related mechanism of celecoxib on tumor necrosis factorrelated apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL) induced apoptosis of medullary thyroid cancer TT cell line.Methods MTT assay was used to measure the growth inhibition induced by TRAIL and celecoxib alone and their combination.TT cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flowcytometry.Hochest33258 staining and DNA ladder was used to detect the apoptosis of drug combination on TT cells.Western blot was used detect the protein change of cyclin A,Cdk2,caspase-8,c-FLIP,and RIP.Results ①MTT showed the growth inhibition ratio of TT cell intervened by the combination of TRAIL and celecoxib was 47.53％ ± 1.34％,which was much higher than that intervened by TRAIL(7.75 ％ ± 3.84％)and celecoxib alone.The differences had statistical significance (t test,F =5.234,P ＜0.01);②PI detection found the cells' number in G0/G1 phase in celecoxib group and combination group were increased compared to that in control group and TRAIL group(F =242.694,P ＜ 0.01);③Western blot indicated the expression of Cyclin A and Cdk2 were down regulated,there was no statistic significance;④ The apoptosis morph in nuclus was detected by Hochest33258 staining and showed the karyopycnosis and muclear fragmentation were increased in combination group with the apoptosis rate 24.23％ ± 2.91％,which was much higher than that in TRAIL(5.86％ ± 1.41％) and celecoxib(20％ ± 1.24％) (t test,F =1.824,P ＜0.01),the difference has statistic significance;⑤Western blot illustrated the active schizolysis of casplase-8 was higher and the expression of c-FLIP and RIP was down regulated in combination group.Conclusion celecoxib plays a positive effect on TRAIL-reduced apoptosis of medullary thyroid cancer TT cell line,which may due to the cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase,down-regulation of c-FLIP and RIP and subsequent activation of caspase-8.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and the clinical value of MRI in the diagnosis of small-bowel disease. Methods Sixty-three patients with suspected small-bowel diseases and 3 volunteers without signs of small bowel disease underwent MRI examination. Thirty-one patients whose diagnoses were confirmed by pathology or clinical results were categorized into two groups (neoplastic and normeoplastic). The conspicuity of bowel wall, the sensitivity of MRI in detecting small-bowel lesions, and the accuracy rate of diagnosis were calculated. The average bowel wall thickness between the two groups was assessed by using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, mesenteric infiltration, and small-bowel stenosis were analyzed by using Fisher's exact test in each group respectively. Results MRI examinations of all 66 subjects were successfully performed. Images were rated on a continuous 4-peint scale. Sixty-two cases (93.9%) were scored as 2 or 3. The diagnoses of 31 patients (neoplastic group (n = 10) and nonneoplastic group (n = 21) were confirmed by pathology or clinical results. The sensitivity, accuracy of MRI in identifying small bowel diseases were 100% (31/31) and 77.4% (24/31) respectively. The average bowel wall thickness of the two groups was 23 mm(7.0-65.0 mm) and 5 mm(2.0-35.0 mm) respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (Z = - 2.949, P < 0.01). Enlarged lymph nodes in mesentery were found in 7 cases in neoplastic group and 4 cases in nonneoplastic group, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two group (P < 0.05). Small-bowel stenosis was depicted in 10 cases in both groups and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P <0.01). The mesenteric infiltration sign was seen in 5 cases and 17 cases respectively, and showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion MRI can depict the location and extension of the small-bowel disease accurately and it is an effective method in the diagnosis of small-bowel disease.

OBJECTIVETo develop and evaluate the application of the facial minimally invasive fat granules injection device with controlled pressure and quantity.

METHODSDue to the requirement of facial fat grafting (small volume, precision, high pressure), we developed the integrated device with handheld controller and motor. From Nov. 2013 to Mar. 2015, 50 cases who underwent facial fat transplantation were selected to receive facial fat grafting with the device on the right side and with conventional syringe on the left side as control. The clinical effect was assessed by patients, surgeon and one from the third party. The intraoperative pain, injection difficulty, postoperative swelling and hruising, complications and overall satisfactory were recorded. Pain intensity was assessed using digital classification method ( NRS). Therapeutic effect was evaluated using Likert 5 points scoring method. Chi-square test, Wilcoxon test and one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe device has the advantages of minimal designed and easily handling. The injection speed is 7.2 mm/s with the fat injection volume as precise as 0.04 ml/s (0.0056 m/mm). Among the 50 cases, the excellent and good effect were achieved in 90% (45/50) on the right face, and 78% (39/50) on the left face (Z = -4.285, P < 0.01). Local nodes happened in 7 cases on left face, while none on the right face (χ² = 6.57, P < 0.05). Petechiae occurred in 21 cases on right face and 45 cases on left face (χ² = 5.37, P < 0.05). Pain was assessed as 3.7 ± 1.1 points on the right sides, and 5.2 ± 0.7 points on the left sides (F = 17.405, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe facial minimally invasive fat granules injection device with controlled pressure and quantity has the advantages of easily handling, precisely controlled quantity with hotter effect, less pain and complication.

Adipose Tissue ; transplantation ; Analysis of Variance ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Face ; surgery ; Humans ; Injections ; instrumentation ; Pain Measurement ; Statistics, Nonparametric

OBJECTIVETo study the variation in plasma concentration after oral administration of Danshen multi-component osmotic pump tablets in Beagle dogs with conventional Danshen tablets as the control preparation, in order to assess the sustained release of Danshen multi-component osmotic pump tablets.

METHODHPLC was adopted for determination, with Shimadzu's ODS-SP column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm), flow rate of 1 mL x min(-1), and column temperature of 30 degrees C. Protein in plasma samples of tanshinone II(A) and salvianolic acid B was removed by ethyl acetate extract and acetone precipitation method respectively. Their pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated based on determination results.

RESULTThe methodology study on the two constituents with different polarity showed conformity to the requirements. Compared with conventional Danshen tablets, Danshen multi-component osmotic pump tablets showed decrease in Cmax and extension in Tmax after oral administration in Beagle dogs.

CONCLUSIONDanshen multi-component osmotic pump tablet has a good sustained-release effect compared with conventional Danshen tablets.

Animals ; Dogs ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Osmosis ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Tablets ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of selenium (Se) and iodine (I) and the compound of both on the proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun mRNA and their protein expression in the cultured rat hippocampus neurons.

METHODSUsing the technique of serum free hippocampus neuron culture, different doses of Se and I and Se + I compound were added into the medium. The expression of the mRNA of c-fos, c-jun in hippocampus neurons cultured for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 d were studied using both in situ hybridization and SABC immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTSBoth Se and I could enhance the expression of c-fos, c-jun mRNA and their proteins, especially the combination of I and Se able to give a remarkable effect on c-jun mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONSSe and I may effect the expression of both c-fos and c-jun mRNA, especially the c-jun mRNA and its protein of hippocampus neurons, and thus may effect the differentiation and development of neurons.

Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Iodine ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Selenium

OBJECTIVEStudy on the promoter effects of sodium butyrate in high or low dosages on carcinogenesis process, based on the immortalization of human fetal esophageal epithelium induced by human papillomavirus (HPV) 18E(6)E(7) genes.

METHODSThe immortalized esophageal epithelium SHEE was treated with high concentration of the sodium butyrate (80 mmol/L) and then with low concentration (5 mmol/L) for 8 weeks respectively. The cells were cultured continuously without sodium butyrate for 14 weeks. The morphology, proliferation and apoptosis of the cells were studied by phase contrast microscopy, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The dead and the viable cells were assayed by fluorescent microscopy with Hoechst 33342 and Propidium iodide staining. Tumorigenesis of the cells was assessed by soft agar colony formation and by transplantation of cells into nude mice and SCID mice.

RESULTSWhen cells were exposed to high concentration of sodium butyrate, cell death was increased leaving few live cells. When cells were cultured in the medium with low concentration of sodium butyrate, the first proliferative stage appeared. Removal of the butyrate caused the cell to enter a crisis stage with a long doubling time resembling senescent cells. After the crisis stage, the cells progressed to the second proliferation stage with continuous replication and atypical hyperplasia. At the end of the second proliferative stage, carcinogenesis of the cells appeared with large colonies in soft-agar and tumor formation in transplanted SCID mice and nude mice.

CONCLUSIONSThe malignant change of the immortalized epithelium by the effects of sodium butyrate is the consequence of a two-stage mortality mechanism: cells death by butyrate cytotoxicity and cell crisis by abrogation of sodium butyrate. These data reveal that in high dosage, sodium butyrate induces cell death and in low dosage, it induces cell proliferation, which emphasizes the importance of butyrate as a promotor of carcinogenesis.

Animals ; Butyrates ; toxicity ; Carcinogens ; toxicity ; Cell Death ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Transformed ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; chemically induced ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; etiology ; Esophagus ; pathology ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Papillomaviridae ; pathogenicity

Objective:To investigate the application value of third-generation dual-source CT(3-G DSCT) low-dose scan mode combined with iterative reconstruction technology in the screening of COVID-19 and to evaluate the radiation dose.Methods:One hundred and twenty patients suspected of COVID-19 from December 2019 to February 2020 were retrospectively analysed and randomly divided into two groups (test group and conventional group, 60 patients in each). The parameters for test group included 3-G DSCT, Turbo Flash scan mode, CARE kV, with reference 90 kV, pitch 2.0, and ADMIRE algorithm, while those parameters for conventional group included the 128-slice CT, conventional spiral scan mode, 120 kV, pitch 1.2, and FBP algorithm. The CT values of aorta, spinal posterior muscle, and subcutaneous fat, the aortic noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast noise ratio (CNR) were compared to evaluate the image quality between two groups. Two experienced doctors scored the image quality using a double-blind method, and compared the CT dose index volume (CTDI vol), dose-length product (DLP), and effective dose ( E) of the two groups. Results:The CT value of the aorta and spinal posterior muscle and the aortic SNR in the test group were (45.38±4.77), (53.41±8.44) HU, and 2.82±0.59, and significantly higher than those in the conventional group [(39.68±6.26), (42.66±6.32) HU, 2.58±0.61, t=5.608, 7.897, 2.162, P<0.05]. The aortic noise, CNR and subjective scores between the two groups had no significant difference( P>0.05). The CTDI vol, DLP, and E in the test group were (3.09±1.02) mGy, (107.57±32.81) mGy·cm, (1.51±0.46) mSv, significantly lower than those in the conventional group [(7.00±1.80) mGy, (261.65±73.93) mGy·cm, (3.66±1.03) mSv; t=-14.680, -14.756, -14.756, P<0.05]. Conclusions:In the screening of COVID-19, using low-dose scanning mode of 3-G DSCT combined with iterative reconstruction technology would provide diagnostic quality images and meanwhile effectively reduce the radiation dose and improve the SNR of the image.

Objective:To explore a low dose CT scanning method on novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia based on infection prevention and control.Methods:A total of 140 patients with confirmed novel coronavirus pneumonia in Xiehe hospital from January 20, 2020 to February 28, 2020 were undertaken CT scan and divided into low dose group and conventional dose group. The patients in low dose group(120 kV, 31 mAs) consisted of mild type(51), severe type(15) and critically ill type(4); and those in conventional dose group(120 kv, adaptive milliampere second) consisted of mild type(48), severe type(17) and critically ill type(5). The effective radiation dose, SNR and CNR of CT scan were compared between two groups. A senior and a middle radiologist made the image subjective quality scores, respectively.Results:The effective dose in low dose group was lower than that of conventional dose group( t=-48.343, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in SNR and CNR between two groups( P>0.05). For severe and critically ill patients, the score in low dose group was significantly lower than that in conventional dose group( t=-2.781, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in scores between two groups for mild patients( P>0.05). Conclusions:Low-dose CT scanning could meet the image quality needs for patients with COVID-19 and meanwhile significantly reduce the radiation dose.