ObjectiveTo study the relationship between 18F-FDG uptake and tumor cell density,glucose transporter expression,cellular proliferation and angiogenesis before and after radiotherapy in C6 glioma rats.MethodsThirty C6 glioma-bearing male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups:A,B and C ( 10 rats in each group).Two weeks later,18F-FDG PET/CT was performed in group A.In groups B and C,18 F-FDG PET/CT was performed at 48 h and 1 week after radiotherapy,respectively.The ratio of SUVmax of tumor to muscle (T/M) was calculated.HE staining,immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to measure tumor cell density,Ki67 labeling index ( LI),microvessel density ( MVD),Glut-1 and VEGF expression quantitatively.The one-way analysis of variance and bivariate correlation analysis were used to compare the changes of each indicator and evaluate the correlation between T/M and biological indicators,respectively.Results Significant differences of T/M,tumor cell density,Ki67 LI,MVD,Glut-1 and VEGF among groups A,B and C were observed ( F =6.77,60.66,104.56,95.49,9.13,24.48,respectively,all P ＜0.05).Least significant difference (LSD) test showed that there was no significant difference between group A and B in T/M,tumor cell density and Ki67 LI ( 10.86 ± 3.31,730.50 ± 78.93,20.02 ± 2.14 vs 9.23 ± 4.56,672.70 ± 92.98,18.56 ± 2.26).However,the indicators of group C (5.16 ± 2.52,355.60 ± 72.62,7.81 ± 1.76 ) were significantly decreased compared with those of groups A and B (all P ＜0.05 ).MVD and Glut-1 expression of group B increased slightly compared with those of group A ( 19.50 ± 1.96,0.20 ± 0.09 vs 17.90 ± 2.02,0.15 ± 0.04),but the difference was not statistically significant.Nevertheless,the two indicators were significantly decreased in group C ( 8.40 +1.84 and 0.07 ±0.06,P ＜0.05).VEGF expression in group B (0.42 ±0.13) was significantly higher than that in groups A and C (0.17 ±0.04 and 0.16 ± 0.09) ( both P ＜ 0.05 ).The changes of T/M were positively correlated with the changes of tumor cell density between groups A and B ( r =O.81,P ＜ 0.05 ).Changes of T/M were positively correlated with the changes of tumor cell density,Ki67 LI,MVD and Glut-1 between groups A and C (r =O.83,0.71,0.68,0.62,all P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionsThe changes of 18 F-FDG uptake in C6 glioma rats were only correlated to the changes of tumor cell density at 48 h after radiotherapy.However,the changes of 18F-FDG uptake closely correlate to the changes of a variety of biological indicators at 1 week post radiotherapy.

Objective To investigate the correlation between CT perfusion parameters of pulmonary carcinoma and standardized uptake values(SUV)derived from ~(18)F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography(~8F-FDG PET)and tumor microvessel density(MVD),and to determine the validity of CT perfusion in assessing tumor angiagenic activity of pulmonary carcinoma.Methods Fifty patients(mean age 57.5,17 females)with pulmonary carcinoma underwent CT perfusion using 16-slice helical CT.Blood flow(BF,ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1)),blood volume(BV,ml?100g~(-1)),mean transmit time(MTF,s)and permeability surface area product(PS,ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1))were analyzed.SUV of PET was calculated in 14 patients.The CD34 immunohistochemical staining was used for tumor microvessel counting.CT perfusion parameters of pulmonary carcinoma were correlatively studied with SUV and tumor MVD.Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the association between CT perfusion parameters and SUV and MVD.Results The average values of BF,BV,MTT and PS were 97.30 ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1), 8.86 ml?100g~(-1),6.75 s and 34.52 ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1),respectively.The average value of MVD was 61.82/FOV.The mean value of SUV was 5.96.There was positive correlation between BF and SUV(r= 0.727,P

Objective To evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of nucleic acid amplification (TB- RNA),bacteriophage-based assay,3D culture and smear on the detection of Mycobacteria tuberculosis.Methods 291 clinical sample including 110 sputum,54 thoracic fluid,37 throat swab,31 bronchial fluid,13 cerebrospinal fluid,12 urine,8 lymph fluid and 20 others (pericardial effusion,feces, blood and abdominal fluid) and gynecological specimen (including 6 leucorrhoea and menstrual blood) were analyzed by these four methods.Results Among the 291 clinical samples,the positive rate of mycobacteria tuberculosis for TB-RNA,bacteriophage-based assay,3D culture and smear were 37.1%,28.9%,27.5% and 10.3%.The sensitivity and specificity of the TB-RNA,bacteriophage-based assay,3D culture and smear were 54.3% & 100%,41.7% & 88.9%,31.7% & 93.5% and 14.6% & 98.9%,respectively.Conclusions TB-RNA is an effective clinical diagnostic method for Mycobacteria tuberculosis.Although the sensitivity of smear is poorer than others,it is a universal testing method in clinical laboratory due to low cost.The positive rate of mycobacteria tuberculosis for 3D culture is lower than that of bacteriophage-based assay and TB-RNA.Although the time to result for 3D culture might last for few weeks,the isolates can be used for drug resistance screening and bacterial identification.

Background Researches showed that the incidence rate of cataract is high in the nickel mining area. Nickel sulphate can apparently inhibit the metabolism and proliferation of human lens epithelium cells. But the study on the injury mechanism of nickel on lens is still seldom. Objective Present study was to investigate the effect of nickel sulphate on the lens of SD rats. Methods Forty-five SPF SD rats aged from 7 to 14 days were grouped randomly into subcutaneous injection group, intraperitoneal injection group and blank group. Nickel sulphate of 2 g/L ( 10 mg/kg) was subcutaneously or intraperitonealy injected for 45 days. The opacity of rat lens was examined under the slit lamp at two-week interval and scored based on the criteria of LOCS II and LOCS III. The rats were sacrificed in 45 days after experiment and the lens were obtained for the pathological examination. Result The mean score of the anterior subcapsule opacity of rat lens was obviously higher in subcutaneous injection group compared with blank control group with a significant difference between them (t= 14. 311, P < 0. 05 ) , but no significant difference in the anterior subcapsule opacity between intraperitoneal injection group and blank control group (t = 4. 355 , P>0. 05 ). The score of posterior subcapsule opacity of lens were evidently higher in both subcutaneous injection group and intraperitoneal injection group than the blank control group (t = 9. 316,P = 0. 004;t = 7. 464, P = 0. 009) ,so was the mean score of the anterior +posterior subcapsule opacities(t = 23. 387,P=0. 000;t= 10. 533,P = 0. 002) and the total score of rat lens opacity ( t = 12. 358 , P = 0. 001; t = 10. 188 , P = 0. 003 ) . No significant differences were found in cortex opacity score and nuclear opacity score among three groups ( P > 0.05 ). Histopathology examination revealed that the degeneration of lens collagen protein was more serious in subcutaneous injection group and intraperitoneal injection group than the blank control group,and the injury degree of lens collagen protein was more dominant in subcutaneous injection group. Conclusion System administration of nickel sulphate induced the injury of anterior and posterior subcapsule of lens in SD rat.

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathogenesis of the damage to peripheral nerves induced by Campylobacter jejuni exotoxin (CJT).

METHODS(1) Animal models: (1) The CJT was extracted from PEN 19-CJ and injected perineurally and intravenously to Wistar rats. (2) The sera and the supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), taken from the rats immunized with the CJT, were injected perineurally at sciatic nerves of experimental rats and intravenously, respectively. (2) Histopathologic study of sciatic nerves: the animals were sacrificed and their sciatic nerves were examined for tease fibers, transverse section with toluidine blues staining and electron microscopy. (3) Immunohistochemistry: sections of sciatic nerves of either normal rats or human which were incubated with CJT and the sciatic nerves with pathological changes induced by CJT were obtained for observation of the binding capability of CJT with peripheral nerves by SABC and FITC-immunofluorescence methods, and nucleic acid hybridization techniques for detection of TNF-alpha mRNA expression in pathological sciatic nerves samples.

RESULTS(1) Remarkable peripheral neuropathies with axon degeneration and/or demyelination were found in the nerves induced by both CJT injection perineurally and intravenously. The axon degeneration was more obvious. Pathological changes were identified in 76.8% (2,763/3,600) of teasing fibers after perineural injection, but only 9.6% (230/2,400) of fibers were damaged in control group (P < 0.01). The peak severity of fiber damage was found on the 3rd day after CJT intravenous injection with the incidence of abnormal fibers was 19.5% (390/2,000), and abnormalities of 15.5% (310/2000) on the 14th day. However, no abnormal changes were demonstrated in control group (P < 0.01). So was in the groups injected with anti-CJT sera and the supernatants of PBMCs compared with control (P > 0.05). (2) Binding of CJT to the nerve was found dominant in the sciatic nerves taken from normal rats or human either incubated with CJT or in the pathological sciatic nerves induced by CJT to various degrees. The binding of CJT to all these nerves was determined. (3) After intravenous injection with CJT, no histopathologic change could be found in the other viscera of the rats, with the exception of remarkable pathological change in peripheral nerves.

CONCLUSIONS(1) CJT could remarkably damage the peripheral nerves in rats. Specific pathogenicity of CJT to peripheral nerves was well shown, because no histopathologic abnormalities could be found in the other viscera, such as brain, liver and kidney etc. although there was remarkable pathological change along the peripheral nerve in the animals. (2) No immunological pathogenicity of CJT could be demonstrated in the nerves of rats after immunization with CJT.

Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; blood ; Bacterial Toxins ; immunology ; toxicity ; Campylobacter jejuni ; immunology ; Exotoxins ; immunology ; toxicity ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Peripheral Nerves ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

Objective:To observe the effect of acupuncture in regulating ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP),and discuss the action of acupuncture in intervening heroin-induced brain damage.Methods:Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into a control group,a model group and an acupuncture group by using the random number table.Rats in the model and acupuncture groups received intramuscular heroin injection for successive 8 d at a progressively increased dose.Afterwards,the injection was suspended for 5 d for withdrawal.The heroin relapse rat model was established by repeating the drug addiction and withdrawal process for 3 times.The control group followed the step of the model establishment,but was given intramuscular injection of normal saline at the stage of addiction and no intervention at the stage of withdrawal;the model group was given intramuscular heroin injection at a progressively increased dose at the addiction stage and no intervention at the withdrawal stage;the acupuncture group was dealt in the same way as the model group at the addiction stage,but received acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20) and Dazhui (GV 14) at the withdrawal stage,with the needles retained for 30 min each time,1 session a day,for successive 5 d.On the 39th day,brain tissues were extracted from the hippocampus and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the three groups of rats.The apoptosis of brain nerve cells was detected by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick and labeling (TUNEL).The mRNA and protein expressions of ubiquitin (Ub),ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) and 26S were examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).Results:Compared with the model group,rat's hippocampus and VTA in the acupuncture group showed significantly fewer cells positively stained by TUNEL staining (P＜0.01),and its mRNA and protein expressions of Ub,E3,26S were significantly lower (P＜0.01).Conclusion:Reducing nerve cell apoptosis and regulating the mRNA and protein expressions of Ub,E3 and 26S in rat's hippocampus and VTA are possibly one of the action mechanisms of acupuncture in intervening heroin-induced brain damage.

BACKGROUNDIt is unclear whether a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) would impact the effect of catheter ablation on persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to compare the effect of catheter ablation on persistent AF with and without a history of PAF.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty-three patients underwent catheter ablation of persistent AF lasting for > 1 month and were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had a history of PAF or not. Group I consisted of persistent AF patients with a history of PAF, and group II consisted of persistent AF patients without such a history. All patients received catheter ablation focused on pulmonary vein isolation and were observed for arrhythmia recurrences, which were defined as documented episodes of AF or atrial tachycardia after a blanking period of 3 months.

RESULTSOne hundred and three patients (60.9%) in group I and sixty-six patients (39.1%) in group II were successfully followed and included in analysis. There were no significant differences in clinical and echocardiographic characteristics between both groups except for a younger age and more male patients in group II. After (15.5 ± 10.7) months of follow-up, 59 (57.3%) patients in group I and 49 (74.2%) patients in group II maintained sinus rhythm free of anti-arrhythmia drugs (P = 0.025). Multivariate analyses found left atrial anteroposterior diameter (P = 0.006) and persistent AF with a history of PAF (OR 1.792, 95%CI 1.019 - 3.152; P = 0.043) as the only independent statistical predictors of arrhythmia recurrences.

CONCLUSIONThe arrhythmia recurrence rate of catheter ablation based on pulmonary vein isolation in persistent AF with a history of PAF was higher than those without a history of PAF.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Pulmonary Veins ; surgery ; Recurrence

BACKGROUNDExtensive atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is associated with an increased success rate of catheter ablation in chronic AF patients and an increased rate of atrial tachycardia (AT) during the procedure. The mechanism of these ATs varies in previous studies. Our study aimed to report the mechanism of organized AT occurring during the stepwise ablation procedure of chronic AF.

METHODSA prospective cohort of 86 consecutive patients who underwent an ablation procedure for chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) was investigated. The stepwise procedure was performed in the following order: circumferential pulmonary vein ablation, complex fractionated atrial electrograms ablation, mapping and ablation of AT. The endpoint was noninducibility of AF/AT after sinus rhythm (SR) was restored or the procedure time was beyond 6 hours.

RESULTSSixty-nine (80%) of patients converted to SR via AT. A total of 179 sustained ATs were observed in 69 patients during the procedure. There were 81% (n = 145) macroreentrant ATs which included 65 perimitral circuits, 48 peritricuspid tachycardia and 32 roof dependent circuits, 12% (n = 21) localized reentrant and 7% (n = 13) focal ATs. Thirty (15%) patients experienced significant left atrium (LA) and LA appendage (LAA) conduction delay or dissociation in the procedure or during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONSMost CAF patients converted to SR via ablation of organized AT occurring during the stepwise procedure. The mechanism of most of these ATs was macro-reentry.

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Heart Atria ; surgery ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; surgery ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; prevention & control

Objective To explore the clinical significance and antimicrobial resistance of group B Streptococcus(GBS)isolated from midstream urine culture,aiming to provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of clinical urinary tract infection(UTI).Methods Information about GBS strains isolated from midstream urine culture of in-patients and outpatient in a hospital in Nanjing from February 2020 to December 2022 were retrieved through labora-tory information system,strains with complete data were screened out.Case data,urine routine,and antimicrobial susceptibility testing results were reviewed.Results A total of 9 081 non-repetitive bacterial strains were detected from midstream urine culture,including 425 GBS strains,accounting for 4.7％,ranking sixth.Strains with incom-plete data were excluded,a total of 365 patients were included in the study.169(46.3％)were males and 196(53.7％)were females,with an average age of(55.4±15.2)years.365 patients who were detected GBS were from 17 de-partments,with the highest proportion being department of urology(n=237,64.9％).The underlying diseases of patients mainly included hypertension(n=136),diabetes(n=95),urolithiasis(n=120)and urinary tumors(n=98).211 patients underwent urological surgery,all were treated with antimicrobial agents before surgery,and 205 patients underwent indwelling urinary catheters after surgery;9 patients were detected GBS from urine during the middle and advanced stage of pregnancy.36.4％(n=133),38.9％(n=142)and 24.7％(n=90)patients had GBS colony count ≤104 CFU/mL,104-105 CFU/mL,and ≥105 CFU/mL,respectively.Patients with symptoms of UTI accounted for 24.9％(n=91),and asymptomatic bacteriuria accounted for 75.1％(n=274).The incidence of UTI symptoms in males was lower than that in females(19.5％vs 29.6％,P＜0.05).As the GBS colony count in urine culture increased,the proportion of patients with symptoms of UTI showed an upward trend(P＜0.05).On the day of urine culture,the positive rates of urine routine white blood cells,leukocyte esterase,and nitrite were 53.2％,50.1％,and 3.8％,respectively.The positive rates of urine occult blood,leukocyte esterase,white blood cells,and urine protein in patients with symptomatic UTI were all higher than those with asymptomatic bacteriuria patients(all P＜0.05).No GBS were found to be resistant to penicillin,ampicillin,vancomycin,linezolid,and tigecycline.The resistance rate to levofloxacin and moxifloxacin was about 40％,and resistance rate to tetracycline and clindamycin was over 60％.Conclusion GBS isolated from urine is more common in non-pregnant adults,and only a small percentage have symptoms of UTI.The results of urine culture and urine routine should be comprehen-sively judged based on patient's clinical symptoms and signs.GBS in urine is susceptible to multiple antimicrobial agents,and clinical medication should be adopted rationally based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing result.