Objective To explore the metabolic characteristic of prostate cancer (PCa) in central gland with magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic, and evaluate the value of MRS in the differential diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia nodus. Methods MR images were performed in 38 cases with prostate disease by 3.0T MR, 11 cases with PCa in central gland and 27 cases with benign prostatic hyperplasia nodus. All the cases were scanned by routine, then by the combined MRS. MRS findings were reviewed in 27 cases with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 11 cases with PCa (3 in central gland origin, 8 with large tumor invading both peripheral zone and central gland). (Cho+Cr)/Cit ratios of PCa and BPH were retrospectively measured, (Cho+Cr)/Cit of PCa voxels were compared with that of BPH voxels. Results Significantly higher choline levels and lower citrate levels were observed in central gland of PCa compared with BPH. In the glandular BPH region, the amount of Cit was high; while in the stromal region, the Cit and Cho level was much lower. The average (Cho+Cre)/Cit values of PCa and BHP were 1.94±1.43 and 0. 83±0. 28 respectively, the difference in ratio between both was statistically significant (P＜0. 01). Conclusions The combined use of MRI and MR spectroscopy is propitious for differentiating prostate cancer in central gland and benign prostatic hyperplasia nodus and for increasing the diagnostic accuracy of prostate cancer.

Objective To study the expression level and clinical significance of bcl-XL gene in childhood medulloblastoma.Methods The expression of Bcl-XL protein and bcl-XL mRNA were determined by immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization in 41 samples of medulloblastoma tissues,as well as 20 normal brain tissues.Results The positive rate of Bcl-XL protein(90.2%) and bclXL mRNA(95.1%) in medulloblastoma group were significantly higher than those in normal human brain tissues(all P

Objective To explore whether dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA (DCE MRA) can provide an effective assessment of renal vascular in living donors before transplantation.Methods Thirty five healthy living renal donor candidates were scanned on MR system before transplantation.After injection of Gd-DTPA 1 ml in vein, a test-bolus scan was used to get the time delay of Gd-DTPA reaching renal artery.Then, a 3D T1-weighted fast low-angle shot sequence (3D FLASH) was performed in the coronal plane.The 3D FLASH scan would repeat four times with an inter-phase of 10 seconds.Thus, the imaging of the renal arterial, venous and collecting systems were got.Two radiologists observed renal arteries and veins on original imaging and MIP reconstructed imaging.The quality of MR angiography was evaluated on a fivepoint scale and the vascular anatomy or variations of the arterial and venous systems were recorded, using intraoperative findings as a standard of reference.Results The quality for all MRA was good or very good for the most of living renal donors.Among 70 renals, several variations of vascular were found, including 5 left accessory artery, 9 right accessory artery, 3 left proximal arterial branch and 6 right proximal arterial branch.Among 70 renal veins, 1 right accessory veins and 2 left varieocele were observed.One small accessory artery of right kidney was missed with DCE MRA, but identified by operation.Conclusion DCE MRA was noninvasive tool for evaluation of the renal vasculature and variations with high accuracy.It would be a good modality in preoperative evaluation of living renal donors.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of death receptor 4(DR4) and DR5 in human craniopharyngioma.Methods The expression of DR4 and DR5 was determined by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in 28 samples of craniopharyngioma and 25 samples of normal brain tissue.Results With low expression in partial normal brain tissue,DR was expressed highly in all of the craniopharyngioma samples.High DR expression in craniopharyngioma tissue differed from low DR expression in normal brain tissue(P0.05).Conclusions High DR expression is prevalent in craniopharyngioma tissue.This may contribute to the apoptosis-induced therapy of craniopharyngioma.The control of DR expression lays in protein level.This may contribute to the selective induced-apoptosis of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-induced ligand.

BACKGROUNDCardiomyocyte transplantation for the therapy of myocardial ischaemia is being paid close attention. However, how the microenvironment controls the differentiation of transplanted bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) is unknown. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a cytokine, increases during myocardial infarction, but it is not known whether ET-1 is responsible for the fate of transplanted BMSCs. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ET-1 on differentiation and maturation of induced rabbit BMSCs, in vitro, to elucidate the cellular biological mechanisms.

METHODSThe proliferation of BMSCs isolated from femur of rabbits was induced by ET-1 only, by 5-azacytidine (5-aza) or ET-1 combined with 5-aza. After 4 weeks of induced culturing, the differentiation rate and the diameter of induced myocyte like cells were estimated and the expressions of GATA-4 protein and phosphorylation level were assayed by Western-blot, RT-PCR analysis of beta-myosin heavy chain (MHC). mRNA expression, levels of troponin-I by immunohistochemical staining and ultrastructure of induce-cultured BMSCs were also determined.

RESULTSBy induction with ET-1 and 5-aza, mean cell diameter of induced BMSCs was larger than induced with 5-aza [(6.26 +/- 0.22) microm cf (5.29 +/- 0.19) microm] (P < 0.001). There was no difference in rate of differentiation of myocyte like cells between the groups induced with 5-aza and ET-1 combined with 5-aza [(29.82 +/- 0.23)% cf (29.94 +/- 0.18)%] (P > 0.05). The expressions of GATA-4 protein and phosphorylation were enhanced significantly in groups induced with ET-1 combined with 5-aza (P < 0.05). In the group induced with ET-1 combined with 5-aza, expression of beta-MHC mRNA was higher than control [(0.122 +/- 0.008) cf (0.022 +/- 0.003)] (P < 0.01), and more troponin-I positive cells were also detected in this group. Differentiated BMSCs showed formations of myofilaments and primitive sarcomere, i.e., morphological characteristics of myocyte like cells.

CONCLUSIONSThis study suggests that induced culturing of BMSCs by ET-1 combined with 5-aza can express cardiomyocytic characteristics whereas ET-1 alone could not induce BMSCs to differentiate to myocyte like cells. ET-1 upregulates the expression of GATA-4 protein and phosphorylation level of induced BMSCs, and rapidly promotes the differentiation and maturation of myocyte like cells from BMSCs.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelin-1 ; pharmacology ; GATA4 Transcription Factor ; analysis ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; ultrastructure

Humans ; Infant ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; complications ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Thymus Gland ; abnormalities

The eight heavy metals and two essential constitutes of safflowers planted in linzhi which lies in Southern Tibet were analyzed by ICP-MS and by HPLC respectively. Heavy metals of safflower in the region were at the lower level and the essential constitutes were at the higher level. The better quality of safflower here was assisted by the excellent climate in tibet.
Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Tibet

Abscess ; surgery ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Diseases ; surgery

To investigate the value of MRI for the diagnosis of achilles tendon closed rupture. 1.5T Maestro Class MRI scanner was used for the conventional scanning of 15 patients confirmed with achilles tendon closed ruptures by operation, and then the findings by imaging were compared with those by operation. The 15 patients proved with achilles tendon closed rupture, including 4 cases of incomplete rupture and 11 cases of complete rupture. MRI could display clearly the changes in morphology and signal of incomplete or complete closed ruptures of Achilles tendon, and the results were consistent with those by operation. MRI can make an accurate display of the lo-cation and extent of achilles tendon rupture.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of varicose vein of lower limbs treated by intravenous laser treatment .MethodIntravenous laser apparatus combin ation with operation was used to treat the varicose vein of the lower extremi ties in 98 patients(all 118 legs).The change of symptoms and signs were recorded and compared before and after operation by using venous ultrasonagraphy and pa thological examination to evaluate the treatment effect.ResultsIn the 84 followed up patieats (104 compromised legs),dull,heaviness were rel ieved completely after operation in 87 legs(83.7%),decreased in 11 legs(10.6%); skin pigmentation obviously decreased in 37 of 44 legs(84.1%);superficial varic ose vein disappeared in all the patients.No blood flow signal was detected in 10 1 legs(97.1%) and slow blood flow in 3 legs(2.9%) were detected by ultrasounogr aphy.Pathological examination revealed various degeneration and necrosis in ful l layers of the vessels;and smooth muscle cells were disrupted,cell nucleus bec ame pyknotic, the internal and external elastic laminar were ruptured and no inflammatory cell infiltration in the lumen and wall of the vessels were seen .ConclusionsIntravenous laser treatment is an ideal method in the treatment of varicose vein of lower extremities .