ObjectiveTo explore the values of 3D enhanced T2-star weighted angiography (ESWAN) in detecting iron deposition of the brain in patients with multiple sclerosis ( MS).Methods Conventional MRI and 3D ESWAN were performed in 22 patients with released-remitting MS(RR-MS) and in 22 age- and gender-matched normal controls.Both the magnitude images and phase images were available after post processing of the original ESWAN data post processing.The expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores of the patients were from 0 to 8.5,and the course of disease were between 0.5 year and 15 years.The manifestation of MS lesions was evaluated on conventional MR images and ESWAN images by two experienced radiologists with blind methods.The phase values were measured for MS lesions between the semioval center and periventricular white matter and the corresponding regions in the normal control group were measured as well The Wilcoxon rank test was used to compare the differences of phase values between MS patients and normal controls,and the Spearman rank correlation analysis were used to analyze the correlations among the phase values of MS lesions,EDSS scores and course of disease of MS patients.Results( 1 ) MS lesions were observed on magnitude images and phase images,respectively and together.Two hundred and thirteen(32.8％ )lesions were detected on both the magnitude images and phase images,164 (25.2％)lesions were detected on the magnitude images only,and 273 (42.0％) lesions were detected on the phase images only.A total of 650 lesions were observed on the ESWAN,which showed more 42 lesions than conventional images(608).Among 486(273 + 213 )lesions observed on the phase images,205 (31.5％) lesions were homogeneously hypointense,45 (6.9％ ) lesions showed hypointense ring,and 236 (36.4％ ) lesions were inhomogeneously hypointense.(2) “ Penetrating veins” were showed in 424 (65.2％ ) periventricular lesions.The “penetrating veins” showed dilated and prolonged in 198 (30.5％ ) acute lesions,thin and short in 208 (32.9％ ) chronic lesions.However,the “penetrating veins” of 12 ( 1.8％ ) chronic lesions in 5 stable MS patients were expanded and prolonged slightly.( 3 ) The average phase value of the lesions ( - 0.05 ± 0.08) in patients with RR-MS was significantly lower than that of corresponding to regions (0.06 ± 0.05 ) in the normal control group( Z = 22.30,P ＜ 0.01 ).(4) The phase values of MS lesions were significantly correlated to the EDSS and course of disease of patients with RR-MS (r = -0.98,0.99 respectively,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionESWAN can be helpful in the evaluation and quantification of abnormal iron deposition in MS lesions,which provides important values for the pathogenesis and pathological study for MS patients.

Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; metabolism ; Drug Synergism ; Female ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Midazolam ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Primary Cell Culture ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels ; drug effects

ObjectiveTo investigate the variation of thalamus metabolism in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or neuronmyelitis optica (NMO) using 1H-MRS.Methods1H-MRS was performed to 32 MS patients (MS group),28 NMO patients (NMO group) and 35 healthy volunteers (normal control group).The ratios of metabolism in thalamus,including N-acetylaspartic acid/creatine (NAA/Cr),choline/creatine (Cho/Cr) and myo-inositol/creatine (mI/Cr) were calculated and compared.ResultsThere was statistical difference of NAA/Cr in thalamus among the three groups (P＜0.05).NAA/Cr in thalamus of MS group was significantly lower than that of normal control group (t= -3.45,P＜0.05),while no statistical difference of Cho/Cr and mI/Cr was found (t=0.086,0.661,all P＞0.05).No statistical difference of NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr or ml/Cr was found between NMO group and normal control group (t=-0.792,1.408,1.735,all P＞0.05).Conclusion1H-MRS shows the decrease of thalamus NAA/Cr that suggesting axon damage in MS patients,but in NMO patients no same result is found.1 H-MRS can reflect the pathological changes of MS and NMO,and improve the differential diagnosis of the two diseases.

Objective To evaluate X-ray,CT and MRI findings of soft tissue infections in AIDS. Methods Three cases of soft tissue infections with AIDS were retrospectively analyzed by comparing the imaging findings with pathological results.All patients were performed MRI,X-ray was in 1 case,CT was in 1 case.Results Cellulitis was in 1 case:MRI showed extended thickening of subcutaneous tissues, ill-defined hypointense areas on T_1WI and hyperintensity on T_2WI,and reticular pattern on GRE. Necrotizing fasciitis was in 1 case:MRI showed obvious thickening of subcutaneous tissues and deep fasciae, abnormally increased signal intensity on T_1 and T_2WI.Fluid collections were within muscles and muscles interval on fat-suppressed T2 WI.Tuberculosis was in 1 case:CT demonstrated multiple low density areas in the subcutaneous tissues and clear peripheral rim enhancement.MRI appeared hypointense on T_1WI and hyperintensity on T_2WI,and peripheral rim enhancement following gadolinium injection.Conclusion Infections of soft tissue are common complication in patients with AIDS,radiology is important in early diagnosis and treatment planning in this population.

Objective To evaluate abdominal imaging in AIDS.Methods The imaging examinations(including US,CT and MR)of 6 patients with AIDS associated abdominal foci were analysed retrospectively.All the cases were performed US,and CT scan,of which 4 performed enhanced CT scan and 1 with MR.Results Abdominal tuberculosis were found in 4 patients,including abdominal lymph nodes tuberculosis(3 cases)and pancreatic tuberculosis(1 case).The imaging of lymph nodes tuberculosis typically showed enlarged peripheral rim enhancement with central low-attenuation on contrast-enhanced CT. Pancreatic tuberculosis demonstrated low-attenuation area in pancreatic head and slightly peripheral enhancement.Disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma was seen in 1 case:CT and MRI scan demonstrated tumour infiltrated along hepatic portal vein and bronchovascular bundles.Pelvic tumor was observed in 1 case:CT scan showed large mass with thick and irregular wall and central low attenuation liquefacient necrotic area in the pelvic cavity.Conclusion The imaging findings of AIDS with abdominal foci is extraordinarily helpful to the diagnosis of such disease.Tissue biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; isolation & purification ; Paraffin Embedding ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Young Adult

This study is to develop an HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of (-)-epicatechin, 5-O-caffeoylshikimic acid, neoisoastilbin, astilbin, neoisoastilbin, isoastilbin and engeletin in Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma. Samples of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma, Heterosmilacis Chinensis Rhizoma and Heterosmilacis Yunnanensis Rhizoma were separated on an Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 column with gradient elution of acetonitrile-0.05% phosphoric acid at a flow rate of 1.0 mL · min(-1). The detected wavelength was set at 230 nm and the column temperature was maintained at 35 °C. The contents of (-)-epicatechin, 5-O-caffeoylshikimic acid, neoastilbin, astilbin, neoisoastilbin, isoastilbin and engeletin in 84 Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma samples were in the range of trace-1.381, trace-9.913, trace-3.673, 0.6706-27.08, trace-1.181, trace-4.833 and trace-2.754 mg · g(-1), respectively. The established method was used for analysis of common adulterants. The results demonstrated that the contents of (-)-epicatechin in Heterosmilacis Yunnanensis Rhizoma and Heterosmilacis Chinensis Rhizoma were 0.01163-0.06007 mg · g(-1) and 0.01583-0.08585 mg · g(-1), respectively, while the other six constituents were not detected. The method is simple and accurate, and can be used for the quality control of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma. The constituents of Heterosmilacis Yunnanensis Rhizoma and Heterosmilacis Chinensis Rhizoma are significantly different from Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma, and they are not suitable for using as Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Liliaceae ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry

Objective To compare the pharmacognosy characteristics of aerial roots of Ficus microcarpa Linn.f. and Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem.. Methods Fresh aerial roots were harvested and were used as the experimental samples. Stereoscopy was used for the observation of macroscopic appearance of Ficus microcarpa Linn.f. and Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem.,and the microscope was used for the examination of their microscopic features of the velamen surface, cross section of root tip, cross section and longitudinal section of the posterior root, and powder. Results The appearance characteristics of the two species were as follows:the number of aerial roots of Ficus microcarpa Linn. f. was more,and the diameter was smaller than that of Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. The root tips of Ficus microcarpa Linn. f. aerial roots were light yellow turning to yellow-white, covered with gray or yellowish-white lenticels;the root tips of Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. aerial roots were light yellow or yellow, covered with gray lenticels. Microscopic identification results of the two plants were as follows:the primary xylems of transverse section of root tips and posterior roots of Ficus microcarpa Linn.f. and Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. were different,the former being five to seven heptarch,and the latter being six to eleven heptarch. Both of the two species had non-articulated unbranched laticifers in their longitudinal section of posterior root, and the diameter of Ficus. elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. was slightly larger than that of Ficus microcarpa Linn. f.. The powder of Ficus microcarpa Linn. f. was red brown,with spiral and pitted vessels;Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. was yellow brown,with single small and large pitted vessels,and the color of its fiber was shallow or nearly colorless or even transparent, with lines of cluster crystal. Conclusion The results will provide evidence for the identification , exploitation and utilization of Ficus microcarpa Linn . f . and Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem.

Objective To explore the effects and safety of hemoperfusion(HP) therapy on tetramine poisoning in infants.Methods Thirty-five infants with tetramine poisoning were divided into two groups: HP group(n=18) and non HP group(n=17).The changes of blood tetramine concentration and clinical symptom improving of both groups after the treatment were observed together with the adverse effects of HP group.Results The average blood tetramine concentration of HP group was higher than that of non HP group(342.2?333.4 vs 117.9?50.8 ?g/L,P

Curcumin-ethyl-cellulose (EC) sustained-release composite particles were prepared by using supercritical CO2 anti-solvent technology. With drug loading and yield of inclusion complex as evaluation indexes, on the basis of single factor tests, orthogonal experimental design was used to optimize the preparation process of curcumin-EC sustained-release composite particles. The experiments such as drug loading, yield, particle size distribution, electron microscope analysis (SEM) , infrared spectrum (IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and in vitro dissolution were used to analyze the optimal process combination. The orthogonal experimental optimization process conditions were set as follows: crystallization temperature 45 degrees C, crystallization pressure 10 MPa, curcumin concentration 8 g x L(-1), solvent flow rate 0.9 mL x min(-1), and CO2 velocity 4 L x min(-1). Under the optimal conditions, the average drug loading and yield of curcumin-EC sustained-release composite particles were 33.01% and 83.97%, and the average particle size of the particles was 20.632 μm. IR and DSC analysis showed that curcumin might complex with EC. The experiments of in vitro dissolution showed that curcumin-EC composite particles had good sustained-release effect. Curcumin-EC sustained-release composite particles can be prepared by supercritical CO2 anti-solvent technology.
Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Cellulose ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Curcumin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Solubility ; Solvents ; Technology, Pharmaceutical