Objective To investigate the techniques and influence factors for the respiratory navigator echo triggered whole-heart coronary MR angiography(WH-CMRA)and evaluate its application in visualizing coronary arteries and the image quality.Methods Ninety two volunteers were acquired with WH-CMRA at 3 T MR scanner using respiratory navigator-echo gated TFE sequence.Imaging quality was visually graded as 0—Ⅳ grade according to the visual inspection,average length,diameter and sharpness of coronary arteries.The correlation between the imaging quality and respiratory pattern,heart rate and navigator efficiency was analyzed.Results The imaging quality in 92 cases was that 28 were graded as Ⅳ, 53 were graded as Ⅲ,9 were graded as Ⅱ and 2 were graded as Ⅰ.The successful rate of scan was 88% (81/92).The imaging quality is mainly graded as Ⅳ when the heart rate was less than 75 beats per minute (bpm)and the sharpness of vessel was(48?11)%.When heart rate was more than 75 bpm,the image quality was mostly graded as Ⅲ and the sharpness was(33?15)%.The correlation between heart rate and imaging quality score was negative(r=-0.726,P0.05).Conclusion 3 T WH-CMRA technique could facilitated the visualization of whole coronary arteries at free breathing but having indications on heart rate.

BACKGROUND:Human amniotic epithelial cells are an important source of cells in regenerative medicine as its multipotentation, but new studies mainly focused on differentiation features and there were little research oneffect of culture in vitro on biological property of amniotic epithelial cells.
OBJECTIVE:To analyze the effects of in vitro culture on growth, cellphenotype and differentiation capacity of human amniotic epithelial cells into cardiomyocyte-like cells, and explore the correlation of primarily cultured human amniotic epithelial cells marker SSEA-4 expression level and the change of biological characteristics of human amniotic epithelial cells.
METHODS:Primarily cultured human amniotic epithelial cells were obtained from amniotic tissues by using the same separation protocol. Human amniotic epithelial cells were cultured in vitro. The proliferation, cellphenotype and the differentiation capacity of human amniotic epithelial cells into cardiomyocyte-like cells were evaluated by means of cellcounting kit-8, flow cytometry and real-time PCR.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The SSEA-4 positive cells in primarily cultured human amniotic epithelial cells from different fetal tissues were between 26.7%-97%, which indicated that there was great individual difference among amniotic tissue samples. Moreover, with passage, the SSEA-4 expression in human amniotic epithelial cells decreased significantly, which did not correlate with the SSEA-4 expression in primarily cultured human amniotic epithelial cells. Results indicated that there was great individual difference in SSEA-4 expression level in primarily cultured human amniotic epithelial cells from different amniotic tissue samples. Thus, it is necessary to set up clinical screening indexes to get samples with higher SSEA-4 expression stably and to control the quality of human amniotic epithelial cells. In addition, during culture period, SSEA-4 expression level was affected by culture conditions. The culture conditions of human amniotic epithelial cells should be optimized to maintain SSEA-4 expression at a high level. In addition, the differentiation capacity of human amniotic epithelial cells into cardiomyocyte-like cells was also affected by individual difference among different samples and culture conditions, which wil be further studied in the future.

Objective To establish the finite element model of uterosacral ligament (USL) and cardinal ligament (CL) and analyze the stress distribution and deformation with USL and CL under different working conditions. Methods Patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳpelvic organ prolapse (POP) and healthy female volunteers were selected for research subject, and divided into anterior uterus group and posterior uterus group. Two POP patients and two volunteers were selectd into the anterior uterus group and posterior uterine group respectively. Pelvic MRI scan was performed in two groups. Based on the original MRI data sets, the finite element model of USL and CL was constructed by using the software such as the Mimics, and the stress distribution and deformation of USL and CL were simulated. Results Under the premise of the elastic modulus fixed and three different working conditions such as 60 cmH2O, 99 cmH2O and 168 cmH2O (1 cmH2O=0.098 kPa) with abdominal pressure generated by maximum Valsalva maneuver, according to the present conditions and the simulation, the trend was analyzed: the stress and deformation of the uterus, anterior vaginal wall, USL and CL in two groups were mainly distributed in the middle and lower part of the anterior vaginal wall or the ligament and the cervix-vagina junction, the maximum stress and the maximum displacement were mainly concentrated in the lower region of the anterior vaginal wall. With increasing of abdominal pressure generated by the maximum Valsalva maneuver, the maximum stress values of the POP patient in anterior uterus group under three different working conditions were: 0.027 9, 0.046 0, 0.078 0 MPa, and the maximum displacement values were: 9.145 5, 15.090 0, 25.607 0 mm. The maximum stress values of the volunteer in anterior uterus group under three different working conditions were:0.012 6, 0.020 8, 0.035 3 MPa, and the maximum displacement values were: 1.816 7, 2.997 5, 5.086 7 mm. The maximum stress values of the POP patient in posterior uterine group under three different conditions were: 0.069 4, 0.114 6, 0.194 5 MPa, and the maximum displacement values were:11.658 0, 19.236 0, 32.643 0 mm. The maximum stress values of the volunteer in posterior uterus group under three different working conditions were:0.009 1, 0.015 1, 0.025 6 MPa, and the maximum displacement values were:2.581 6, 4.259 6, 7.228 4 mm. The maximum stress values and the maximum displacement values were all increased with increasing of abdominal pressure in the two groups. The maximum stress values and the maximum displacement values of the POP patients were greater than those of volunteers. Under different working conditions, the maximum stress values and maximum displacement values of the posterior uterus POP patient were all greater than those of the anterior uterus POP patient. Conclusions The finite element model of USL and CL is completely based on the MRI technology and the model is real and reliable. The increase of abdominal pressure will produce a larger stress and deformation of USL and CL, which is one of the reasons causing the injury of the ligament.

Objective To study the feasibility and clinical values of diffusion tensor tractography (DTT)in the spinal cord at 3.0 T MR.Methods Forty patients with spinal cord compression including cervical cord herniation and cervical spondylosis(30 cases),tumors in spinal canal(9 cases)and old injury in cervical vertebrae(1 cases)and 20 healthy volunteers participated in this study.Single-shot spin- echo echo-planar diffusion tensor sequence for tractography of the spinal cord was performed.The fibers of spinal cord were visualized by using fiber tracking software.Results On the DTT maps,the normal spinal cord was depicted as a fiber tract showing color-encoded cephaloeaudally,which indicated anisotropy in the cephalocaudal direction.By setting two ROI,the main spinal cord fiber tracts,such as corticospinal or spinothalamic tract,were visualized.The tracts from two sides of the brain did not completely cross.It was asymmetric in the number of tracts on the two sides in most normal subjects(8/10).The tracts of all patients with cord compression were seen oppressed or damaged in different degrees.The DrrT in patients with cervical spondylosis and extramedullary-intradural neurolemmoma demonstrated that tracts were oppressed but not damaged.The DTT in one ependymoma showed that tract was markedly compressed and slightly damaged.Conclusion DTT is a promising tool for demonstrating the spinal cord tracts and abnormalities,can provide useful information for the localization of compression and evaluation of the impairment extent on the white matter tracts of the spinal cord.

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effect on sudden deafness between acupuncture and moxibustion therapy of excitation-focus transfer and routine medication.

METHODSEighty cases of sudden deafness were randomly divided into two groups, 40 cases in each one. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy of excitation-focus transfer was adopted in observation group on Yongquan (KI 1) (with reducing and slightly heavy manipulation), Tinggong (SI 19), Tinghui (GB 2) and Ermen (TE 21), and associated with suspending moxibustion for thermal sensitization on Yongquan (KI 1). In control group, the routine medications were given. The therapeutic effects of two groups were compared with each other.

RESULTSAfter three sessions of treatment, dB value of hearing loss in two groups decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), but the improvement of hearing in observation group was superior to that in control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 80.0% (32/40) in observation group, which was better than that 55.0% (22/40) in control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and moxibustion therapy of excitation-focus transfer presents superior therapeutic effect on sudden deafness as compared with the routine western therapy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore feasible and reliable methods for estnbolishment and of acute lung injury model in animal models.

METHODSTwenty-four healthy adult mongrel dogs with oleic acid-induced acute lung injury were evaluated for early-stage physiological response to acute lung injury using a balloon catheter system for measuring esophageal and gastric pressure.

RESULTSIn canine models of early-stage oleic acid-induced acute lung injury that sustained spontaneous breathing, in terms of respiratory mechanics, some parameters obviously increased including the respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (VE), peak inspiratory volume (Vinsp, peak), mean inspiratory volume (VT/Ti), inspiratory airway resistance (Raw, insp) (P<0.001 for all the parameters), with also significantly increased peak transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi, peak, P=0.0185). The tidal volume (VT) and dynamic lung compliance (CL,dyn), however, were significantly decreased (P<0.001), and significant variation occurred in the ratio of inspiratory time to duration of one breath (Ti/Ttot, P=0.163). In terms of gas exchange, the pH, PaO(2), SaO(2), PaO(2)/FiO(2), and end tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PETCO(2)) all evidently declined (P<0.001), but PaCO(2) and ratio of alveolar dead space to tidal volume [VD(alv)/VT] increased significantly (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONApplication of balloon catheter system for measuring esophageal and gastric pressures allows objective evaluation of the various physiological responses in early stage of acute lung injury.

Acute Lung Injury ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Animals ; Catheterization ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Esophagus ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Male ; Pressure ; Reproducibility of Results ; Respiratory Mechanics ; physiology ; Stomach ; Time Factors

Age Factors ; Aged ; Anticoagulants ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; International Normalized Ratio ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of Qidan granule in rats.

METHODSThe rats were randomly divided into six experimental groups: normal group, model group, Qidan group, Tetrandrine group. All rats except normal group were treated with silicon dioxide (50 mg/rat) by intratracheal instillation to induce silicosis. Qidan group and Tetrandrine group were treated with Qidan granule (3125 mg/kg) or treated with Tetrandrine (22 mg/kg) respectively. All the rats were sacrificed after 5 months. Calculate Lung/body coefficient by weighting the lung wet weight and the body weight of rats. Content of Hydroxyproline was measured by alkaline hydrolysis. The gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 was examined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Paraffin embedded lung sections with HE staining, VG staining and Gomori staining were observed under light microscope.

RESULTSIn Qidan group and Tetrandrine group, Lung/body coefficient and content of Hydroxyproline and expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 were lower as compared with model group (P < 0.05). Model group mainly showed III approximately IV grade silicotic nodule, which contained thick collagen and sparse reticulum fibe; Qidan group and Tetrandrine group appeared with II grade silicotic nodule, which contained tiny collagen and intensive reticulum fibe. Tetrandrine group showed injury of kidney, and others were normal.

CONCLUSIONQidan granule extract should prevent and from inhibit the remarkably silicotic fibrosis in rats.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Silicosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) in rats with pulmonary damage induced by paraquat (PQ).

METHODSFifty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly assigned into the control group (normal saline), the PQ-treatment groups (4 groups) and the PDTC treatment groups (4 groups). Except the rats in the control group, the rats in the PQ group were gavaged only with 40 mg/kg PQ, and PDTC group with 40 mg/kg PQ plus immediate injection 120 mg/kg PDTC (i.p). On the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th and 28th day after treatments, one group rats of each treatments were sacrificed and lung and blood samples were collected. The level of TGF-beta(1) protein in the plasma, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta(1), MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were evaluated using RT-PCR and real-time quantitative PCR, while pathological changes of lung were examined under optical microscope and electrical microscope.

RESULTSThe TGF-beta(1) protein, TGF-beta(1) and MMP-2 mRNA expression were increased significantly in the earlier stage and then decreased after PQ administration (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the mRNA level of TIMP-1 was augmented continuously (P < 0.01) throughout the study compared to the control group. In comparison with the PQ group, in the PDTC treatment group, the TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression on the 3rd and the 14th day, 0.54 +/- 0.08 and 0.72 +/- 0.04 respectively, the MMP-2 mRNA expression on the 7th and 14th day, 1.62 +/- 0.50 and 1.97 +/- 0.34 respective-ly, and the TIMP-1 mRNA on the 7th and 21st day, 1.79 +/- 0.21 and 2.00 +/- 0.34 respectively, were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPDTC could attenuate paraquat-induced up-regulation of TGF-beta(1) and its mRNA expression, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNA levels, which indicates that PDTC may exert its protective effects on paraquat-induced pulmonary damage by alleviating the earlier inflammation damage and adjust-ing the balance between MMPs and TIMPs. However, further studies are still warranted to investigate and clarify the underlying mechanisms involved in this complicated process.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pyrrolidines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiocarbamates ; pharmacology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To explore the effects of chitosan flocculation clarification process and alcohol precipitation process on the principal chemical constituents of water extract of Codonopsis Radix. Methods The influence of two purification processes on water extract of Codonopsis Radix was investigated through lobetyolin contents, extract yield, and relative apparent content of each component in HPLC fingerprint as evaluation indexes. Results Chitosan flocculation clarification process showed a significantly higher extract yield of water extract compared with alcohol precipitation process, and it has a markedly better retention effect for strong polarity constituents; alcohol precipitation process exhibit a little better retention effect for lobetyolin and a better retention effect for weak polarity constituents. Conclusion The above two processes have some regularity in the influence on the main chemical constituents in the water extract of Codonopsis Radix, which can provide some guidance for the reasonable choice of the purification process for water extracts of Codonopsis Radix, and other TCM water extracts.