Objective To evaluate the value of Multi-slice spiral CT angiography for spinal cord vessels.Methods 11 adult subjects with suspected of myelopathy were performed with Multi-slice spiral CT angiography,An iodine contrast agent was injected at 3.5 ml/s,for total 100 ml.The parameters were axial 16 slice mode,0.625 mm slice thickness,0.8 s rotation,delay time depending on smartprep (15—25 s), multi-phase scan.The coronal and sagittal MPR and SSD were generated on a workstation compared with spinal digital subtraction angiography (DSA) to analyze normal or abnormal spinal cord vessels.Results Normal findings at spinal CTA and digital subtraction angiography in six adult normal subjects and spinal cord vascular malformations( 1 intradural extramedullary AVF,4 dural AVFs) in five cases,Recognizable intradural vessels corresponding to anterior median (midline) veins and/or anterior spinal arteries were show in six adult normal subjects.Abnormal intradural vessels were detected in all five spinal cord vascular malformation with CT angiography ,in comparison with digital subtraction angiography these vessels were primarily enlarged veins of the coronal venous plexus on the cord surface,radiculomedullary-dural arteries could not be clearly shown in four dural AVF,only one anterior spinal artery was detected in one patient with intradural medullary AVF,which direct shunt between anterior spinal artery and perimedullary vein with tortuous draining vessel.Conclusion Multi-slice CT angiography is able to visualize the normal or abnormal spinal cord vessels.It could be used as a noninvasive method to screen the spinal cord vascular disease.

Objective To explore different socio-demographic and clinical characteristics for early onset patients (EOP) with psoriasis and late onset patients (LOP) with psoriasis in Chinese population and to provide scientific evidences for establishing comprehensive prevention and treatment strategy for psoriasis.Methods Cross-sectional study was performed.A total of 942 diagnosed psoriasis patients who paid a visit to outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital in China from 12th September 2013 to 19th May 2015 was consecutively enrolled and investigated.Exploratory analysis was conducted to detect the association between disease onset age and patients features.Results Among 942 enrolled psoriasis outpatients,the average age was (40.6 ± 13.6) years with a range from 5 to 80 years.The sex ratio was 2.1 in favor of male.The most observed type of psoriasis in the present study was psoriasis vulgaris (98.3％).The average psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) for patients were 9.47 ±7.63.Comorbidity was combined in 20.2％ cases.Patients with EOP had a significantly higher likelihood of family history of disease.Compared EOP to LOP,LOP had a significantly higher likelihood of comorbidities involvement (P ＜ 0.05) and significant higher BMI index (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The present study supports the hypothesis that there are clinical differences between EOP and LOP in Chinese population.Both dermatologists and patients should pay more attention to psoriasis-associated features,such as family history and comorbidity diseases involvements.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the treatment of the scrotal vein malformation in teenagers and clinical efficacy.

METHODS32 cases with the local and diffuse scrotal vein malformation were retrospectively analyzed. 31 cases underwent local injection with 40% urea before resection. The urea was injected locally into tumor through multi-points within 30 seconds, 2-6 ml every time, one time a day. The injection was performed for 5-12 days. The treatment was refused in one case. The therapeutic effect and cosmetic result were recorded.

RESULTSThe tumors were removed radically in 28 cases including one operation in 25 cases and secondary operation in 3 cases. The patients were followed up for 1-3 years with no recurrence. Cosmetic result with bilaterally symmetric scrotum was satisfactory. The tumors in 3 severe cases were partially resected with improvement.

CONCLUSIONSCombined treatment with urea injection and surgical procedure can effectively treat the scrotal vein malformation with satisfactory result.

Adolescent ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; blood supply ; Urea ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Vascular Malformations ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of astragalus on tubulointerstitial lesions in rats with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and to explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSTwenty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups. The rat model of IgA nephropathy was induced by intragastric administration of bovine serum albumin and injections of LPS and CC14. Six weeks later, the rats with IgAN were randomly treated with oral astragalus (3 g/kg/d, for 6 weeks) or normal saline. Normal control rats which were not subjected to IgAN were treated with normal saline. The number of urinary erythrocytes and urinary protein and B-D-N-Acetyl glucosaminidase (NAG) contents were determined by Pan-automatic biochemistry analyzing meter. Expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in tubulointerstitial tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. A semiquantitative score was used to evaluate the degree of renal pathologic lesions.

RESULTSThe number of urinary erythrocytes (74.02+/-16.58 / microL vs 383.23+/-4.94 /microL) and urinary protein (13.88+/-4.94 vs 59.82+/-14.73 mg/L) and NAG contents (2.84+/-0.31 vs 5.24+/-0.80 U/L) in the astragalus-treated IgAN rats decreased remarkably compared with those in the IgAN rats without astragalus treatment (P<0.01). Expression of the NF-kappaB and MCP-1 in the renal tissues in the IgAN rats without astragalus treatment was significantly higher than that in the astragalus-treated IgAN rats and normal control rats (P<0.01). There were significant differences in the scores of renal pathologic lesions between the IgAN rats with or without astragalus treatment (6.03+/-0.46 vs 10.57+/-1.23; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAstragalus can decrease the number of urinary erythrocytes and urinary protein and NAG contents, and relieves tubulointerstitial lesions, possibly through the down-regulation of NF-kappaB and MCP-1 expression in rats with IgAN.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Chemokine CCL2 ; analysis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Tubules ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factor RelA ; analysis

BACKGROUNDHemangiopericytomas (HPCs) have a relentless tendency for local recurrence and metastases, differentiating between benign meningiomas and HPCs before surgery is important for both treatment planning and the prognosis appraisal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlations between CT perfusion parameters and microvessel density (MVD) in extra-axial tumors and the possible role of CT perfusion imaging in preoperatively differentiating benign meningiomas and HPCs.

METHODSSeventeen patients with benign meningiomas and peritumoral edema, 12 patients with HPCs and peritumoral edema underwent 64-slice CT perfusion imaging pre-operation. Perfusion was calculated using the Patlak method. The quantitative parameters, include cerebral blood volume (CBV), permeability surface (PS) of parenchyma, peritumoral edema among benign meningiomas and HPCs were compared respectively. CBV and PS in parenchyma, peritumoral edema of benign meningiomas and HPCs were also compared to that of the contrallateral normal white matter respectively. The correlations between CBV, PS of tumoral parenchyma and MVD were examined.

RESULTSThe value of CBV and PS in parenchyma of HPCs were significantly higher than that of benign meningiomas (P < 0.05), while the values of CBV and PS in peritumoral edema of benign meningiomas and HPCs were not significantly different (P > 0.05). MVD in parenchyma of HPCs were significantly higher than that of benign meningiomas (P < 0.05). There were positive correlations between CBV and MVD (r = 0.648, P < 0.05), PS and MVD (r = 0.541, P < 0.05) respectively. Furthermore, the value of CBV and PS in parenchyma of benign meningiomas and HPCs were significantly higher than that of contrallateral normal white matter (P < 0.05), the value of CBV in peritumoral edema of benign meningiomas and HPCs were significantly lower than that of contrallateral normal white matter (P < 0.05), while the value of PS in peritumoral edema of benign meningiomas and HPCs were not significantly different with that of contrallateral normal white matter (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCT perfusion imaging can provide critical information on the vascularity of HPC and benign meningiomas. Determination of maximal CBV and corresponding PS values in the parenchyma may be useful in the preoperative differentiating HPC from benign meningiomas.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hemangiopericytoma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Meningioma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of lung Krüppel-like transcription factor (KLF2/LKLF) in lung tissues of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the relationship between KLF2 and NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and make further explore the effects of KLF2 on the expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS).

METHODSTwenty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into a COPD group (n = 10) and a normal control group (n = 11). The rat model of COPD established by cigarette smoking and intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and lung tissues were obtained. The expressions of KLF2, Nrf2, gamma-GCS mRNA and protein in lung tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blot, in situ hybridization (ISH) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To explore the relationship between KLF2 and Nrf2 protein,we utilize the method of co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP).

RESULTSIHC and Western blot showed that protein expressions of KLF2, Nrf2, gamma-GCS were higher in the lung tissues from rats with COPD than those in the control groups (all P < 0.05). The levels of KLF2, gamma-GCS mRNA were markedly increased in the COPD group (all P < 0.01) while Nrf2 mRNA expression in COPD group had no significant difference with that in control group ( P > 0.05). CO-IP result showed that KLF2 were obviously present in immunoprecipitates of Nrf2 (P < 0.01) . Linear correlation analysis showed that the level of KLF2 protein was positively correlated with the level of Nrf2 protein (P < 0.05), and KLF2, Nrf2 proteins were positively correlated with gamma-GCS mRNA and protein (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of KLF2 is significantly up-regulated in COPD, which maybe up-regulate gamma-GCS mRNA expression by increasing Nrf2 expression and nuclear translocation against oxidative stress.

Animals ; Dipeptides ; metabolism ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility, effectiveness and practicability of transurethral enucleation plus pneumocystostomy rotary cut (TUE + PCRC) for large benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSWe performed TUE + PCRC for 26 BPH patients aged 62 - 85 years with the prostate volume of 80 - 165 ml. We conducted transurethral enucleation of the hyperplastic prostate glands and pushed them into the bladder, followed by bladder puncture for pneumo-cystostomy rotary cut.

RESULTSAll the surgical procedures were successfully accomplished, with the mean surgical time of 41 (32 - 54) minutes and intraoperative blood loss < 60 ml in all the cases. Twenty-three of the patients were followed up for 2 - 8 months, which revealed no stricture of the urethra or any other severe complications. Compared with the preoperative baseline, significant improvement was achieved in the IPSS (6.5 +/- 2.2 vs 26.2 +/- 2.4), QOL (1.4 +/- 0.9 vs 4.6 +/- 1.2) and Qmax ([5.8 +/- 1.0 ] vs [19.6 +/- 2.8] ml/s) of the patients after surgery (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTUE + PCRC, with its advantages of short operation time and less severe complications, is a safe and effective approach to the management of large BPH.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; methods

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the clinical features of hepatitis A in 1 629 children under 14 years of age treated in our department at various periods of time.

METHODSThe patients were divided into two groups: 1. Group A consisted of 883 patients treated from January 1984 to December 1990; 2. Group B consisted of 746 patients treated from January 1991 to December 2000. The clinical data of all the patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS1. The average age was 7.17+/-3.27 and 8.78+/- 3.28 years (chi2=0.54, P>0.05) and the mean course of disease 26.25+/-16.96 and 25.65+/-12.58 days (chi2=0.29, P>0.05). 2. Double peak or multi-peak serum ALT was found in 89 patients. Four peaks of serum ALT was found in one patient. 3. HBsAg was found positive in 143 patients (8.80%). The mean course of disease was 34.40+/-25.86 and 25.20+/-15.43 days (chi2=146.5, P<0.001) in HBsAg positive and negative patients, respectively. 4. Liver puncture biopsy in 26 patients with hepatitis A showed that there was piecemeal necrosis in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONS1. There was no significant delay in age of children with HAV infection in 1990s. There was no marked difference in the course of disease between the patients simultaneously receiving various drugs and those receiving one or two drugs. 2. The double peak or multi-peak of serum ALT in patients with hepatitis A might be related to liver damage caused by HAV and immune mechanism. 3. The major type of virus for combined infection in patients with hepatitis A is HBV. The course of disease was prolonged with combined infection of HBV. 4. Piecemeal necrosis might be seen in the liver of a small proportion of patients with hepatitis A alone, which may not be enough to suggest chronicity.

Adolescent ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hepatitis A ; diagnosis ; therapy ; virology ; Hepatitis B ; virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Superinfection

Pyroptosis is a newly discovered way of proinflammatory programmed cell death. Pyroptosis is mediated by caspase-1 (Caspase-1). Through the cleavage and activation of GSDM family proteins, small pores are formed on the cell membrane, thus rapid lysis of the cell membrane process, and then leads to intracellular inflammatory content release thereby causing inflammatory response. The three pyroptosis pathways are the classical pathway of Caspase-1, the non-classical pathway of Caspase-4, 5, and 11, and the special pathway of Caspase-3 or Hela cells. Pyroptosis plays an important role in the occurrence, invasion, and metastasis of breast cancer, and is closely related to the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. This article reviews the biological mechanism of pyroptosis and its research progress in breast cancer, to provide a new idea for clinicians in the treatment of breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the profiles of resistance following continuous treatment with TM208 using pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model,as well as to characterize the estrogen levels in hibition in human breast cancer xenograft mice.Methods MCF-7 xenograftnudemice were given TM208 (150 mg · kg-1 · d-1) or vehicle orally for 18 days.The concentrations of estrogen were measured using the human estrogen ELISA kit.The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TM208 were evaluated after administration.A one-compartment model with first order absorption was developed to describe the pharmacokinetics of TM208,and the time course of estrogen degradation was characterized by the indirect response model.Tolerance model was used to describe drug resistance of tumor.Results The simulation results showed that the inhibitory effects of TM208 on estrogen may decrease after continuous administration,and the KTO was 0.68 h-1 Conclusion The established PK/PD model allowed a better understanding of the role of estrogen inhibition in breast cancer treatment with TM208.Simulation based on the estrogen model allowed prediction of the detailed processes of TM208 effects on estrogen.Furthermore,the tolerance model-based modeling and simulation methods provided an option for the description and prediction of estrogen resistance.