BACKGROUND: Various artifacts are found to be appeared in the nuclear magnetic resonance; the frequently appearing ones are the motion artifacts, plait artifacts, metallic artifacts, partial volume effect artifacts, chemical shift artifacts, phase artifacts, zipper artifacts and so on. However, there is still has no report on the controlling and revising method of the zipper artifacts which is produced in the spin-echo sequence imaging process. OBJECTIVE: Based on the discussion of the mechanism of the production of zipper artifact in the spin-echo sequence imaging process, a new impulse sequence is worked out to avoid the zipper artifact. METHODS: Standard SE sequence was complied to obtain the standard image, and compiling the artifact sequence to obtain the linear disturbance image and zipper artifact image, compiling the modified sequence to obtain the modified zipper artifact image. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Usually, the linear disturbance image could obtained in the instantaneous gradient of 5 degree with the echo sequence of 120 degree, and the zipper artifact will be obtained in the instantaneous gradient of 90 degree with the echo sequence of 120 degree. Modified sequence instantaneous gradient of 90 degree with the echo sequence of 120 degree can completely eliminate zipper artifact. The interesting result obtained in this paper is that the zipper artifact can be totally avoided with this new impulse sequence.

Objective: To evaluate the repair method and its curative effects on defects and joint instability in elderly patients with recurrent soft tissue sarcoma around the knee after wide excision. Methods:Our study included 6 elderly patients with limb sal-vage and effective preoperative chemotherapy. These patients underwent extended resections, including internal or lateral articular cap-sule and collateral ligament excisions. Owing to polyleptic soft-tissue sarcoma around the knee, formed soft-tissue defects, and joint in-stability, collateral ligament and/or partial articular capsule was reconstructed using #5 Ethibond sutures. Simultaneously, soft-tissue de-fects around the knee were repaired by composite-wide pedicled fasciocutaneous flaps or medial head of gastrocnemius muscle flaps of the leg. The maximum flexion angles of the knee (MFKs) were observed and statistically tested before and during surgery, with a fol-low-up period of 6 months. Results: The immediate stability of the joints and complete coverage of the soft tissue defects were achieved during the surgery. The MFKs during preoperative treatment, intraoperative treatment, and six-month follow-up were 115.0° ± 7.8°, 101.7° ± 9.3°, and 104.8° ± 10.2°, respectively, with significant differences between the preoperative and intraoperative MFKs (t=2.68, P<0.05). By contrast, no difference existed between the intraoperative and six-month follow-up MFKs (t=0.55, P>0.05). Conclu-sion:This repair method can be applied to elderly patients with polyleptic soft tissue sarcoma around the knee by using simple, fast, and reliable surgical techniques for the reconstruction, stability, and repair of soft tissue defects in the knee joint.

Objective To study the correlation between the blood selenium level and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)with the occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM).Methods Among 1 360 pregnant women in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2012,68 cases GDM were diagnosed as GDM (observation group)and other 113 non-GDM pregnant women were ran-domly selected from these 1360 pregnant women as the control group.The serum selenium level and GSH-Px activity were com-pared between the two groups.Results The selenium level and GSH-Px activity in the control group were higher than those in the observation group.The selenium level was (3.07±0.51)mmol/L in the control group and (2.06±0.41)mmol/L in the observa-tion group,respectively;the GSH-Px activity was (197.23±18.73)U in the control group and (151.35±19.67)U in the observa-tion group,the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P <0.05).Conclusion The decrease of serum se-lenium level and GSH-Px activity may be one of the pathogenic causes of GDM.

Child ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Mitochondrial Diseases

Objective To construct the lentivirus carrying human ?-catenin-EGFP(enhanced green fluorescent protein)and observe its expression in human follicle stem cells.Methods The ?-catenin gene sequence was amplified by RT-PCR from extraction of total RNA of human vascular endothelial cells.TA cloning technique was utilized to acquire gene subcloned pUCm-T-?-catenin.After transformation reaction,candidate clone was further analyzed by PCR and gene sequencing.Then the plasmid was transfected into FT293 cells.After identification by Western blotting,the plasmid was transfected into FT293 cells again for packaging.Infection titer was monitored by green EGFP expression.The expression of ?-catenin-lentivirus in human follicle stem cells were observed under inverted fluorescence microscope.Results The ?-catenin gene was cloned into the lentivirus successfully.The high expression of green fluorescence protein in FT293 cell line was found under fluorescent microscope.Viral titer checked by real-time PCR was about 2.0?108 TU/mL.When the multiplicity of infection(MOI)was 10,the infection efficiency of ?-catenin-lentivirus in human follicle stem cells was nearly 80% after infection 48 h around.After 3 weeks of continuous observation,we found the infection efficiency still keeping in the range of 80%-90%.Conclusion The lentivirus expression vector for ?-catenin was successfully constructed.It can steadily infect human follicle stem cells and the infection efficiency is considerable high.

Adult ; Atropine ; therapeutic use ; Bronchodilator Agents ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Hemofiltration ; Humans ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Poisoning ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Yigu capsule contained serum on mRNA and protein expression of osteoblast estrogen receptor (ER), for investigating the mechanism of its preventing and treating osteoporosis by means of regulating estrogen.

METHODSOsteoblasts separated from newborn SD rats were cultured, and divided into 3 groups after being passaged, i.e. the drug-serum treated group, the blank serum group and the DMEM medium control group. The relative amount of ERalpha and ERbeta expression were determined with RT-PCR, the affinity (expressed by equilibrium dissociation constant, KD) and number of ER (RT) were analysed by radioligand assay.

RESULTSThe relative amount of ERbeta mRNA expression were increased in the drug-serum group, with significant difference as compared with that in the other two groups (P < 0.05), but no significant difference among the three groups in ERa mRNA expression (P > 0.05). KD in the drug-serum group showed insignificant difference as compared with that in the other two groups (P > 0.05), but RT increased in the drug-serum group and the difference in the three groups was significant (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDrug-contained serum of Yigu capsule can up-regulate the expression of osteoblast ERbeta mRNA and increase the amount of ERs. Regulating estrogen is possibly one of the mechanisms of Yigu capsule in preventing and treating osteoporosis.

Animals ; Capsules ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Separation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Serum

Liver fibrosis is a common pathological process for chronic liver injury caused by multiple etiological factors and an inevitable phase leading to liver cirrhosis. According to the previous studies, hesperidin (HDN) shows a very good protective effect on CCl4-induced chemical hepatic fibrosis in rats. In this experiment, based on the findings of the previous studies, a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced HSC-T6 model was established to observe the inhibitory effect of HDN on HSC-T6 proliferation. The ELISA method was adopted to detect the content of collagen I in HSC-T6 supernatant. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, Smad2, Smad3, Smad7 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA expressions were measured by RT-PCR; TGF-beta1 and CT-GF protein expressions in HSC-T6 were determined by Western blot, in order to study HDN's effect on TGF-beta1 signaling pathway in HSC and its potential action mechanism. The results demonstrated that HDN could notably improve HSC-T6 proliferation, Collagen I growth and TGF-beta1, Smad2, Smad3 and CTGF mRNA.expressions. After being intervened with HDN, it could notably inhibit HSC-T6 proliferation and Collagen I growth, reduce TGF-beta1, Smad2, Smad3 and CTGF mRNA and TGF-beta1, CTGF protein expressions and increase Smad7 mRNA expression. HDN's antihepatic fibrosis effect may be related to the inhibition of HSC proliferation and activation by modulating TGF-beta/Smad signaling pathway.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; physiology ; Hesperidin ; pharmacology ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Smad Proteins ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; physiology

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of vasopressin receptor antagonist tolvaptan for treating dilutional hyponatremia casused by decompensated liver cirrhosis.Methods Ninety-six subjects with decompensated liver cirrhosis complicated by dilutional hyponatremia were divided into test group (n =56) and control group (n =40) by double blind method.Test group were treated with a single dose of tolvaptan 15 mg orally in addition to routine therapy,while control group were treated with routine therapy plus placebo.The changes in serum sodium concentration,liver functions,ascites,and edema of lower extremities between the two groups were observed.Measurement data were compared by t test,and categorical data were compared by chisquare test.Results On day 7,36 (64.3％) patients in test group and 9 (22.5％) patients in control group reached normal serum sodium concentrations (x2 =5.241,P＜0.01).All the patients in test group and only 3 patients in control group had 24 hours' total urine volume above 3500 mL.Difference of 24 hours' total urine volume during 7-day treatment between the two groups was statistically significant (t=20.899,P＜0.01).Thirty-nine patients in test group and 15 patients in control group had reduced ascites (x2 =4.260,P=0.039),but improvement of edema in lower extremities of both groups was comparable (12 cases in test group and 7 cases in control group; x2 =0.227,P=0.634).Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT),total bilirubin (TBil),potassium and creatinine levels of test group were improved after treatment,but were not significantly different from either baseline levels (t=1.509,0.783,1.107,1.237; both P＞0.05) or those of the control group (t=1.712,1.635,1.121,0.873; both P＞0.05).Conclusions Single dose of tolvaptan (15 mg) exerts a strong diuretic effect and is able to greatly increase serum sodium concentration,thus has distinct therapeutic effect for patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis complicated by dilutional hyponatremia.

italic>Panax quinquefolium L. is a valuable Chinese herbal medicine with a large market demand. It has a complex chemical composition and numerous biological activities. At present, research on P. quinquefolium is focused on its underground parts, with especial interest in its saponins. There are few studies on non-saponins and the aboveground parts of Panax quinquefolium. Current quality standards are based on the saponin contents, which does not address the other benefits of Panax quinquefolium. This paper summarizes progress on the chemical components, pharmacological effects, quality evaluation, and product development of P. quinquefolium in recent years, and provides references for its further R&D and comprehensive utilization.