Objective Toexplore the findings of bile flow artifacts (BFA)on MR cholangiopancreatography(MRCP). MethodsEighty five patients with normal common bile duct (CBD)and 95 patients with dilated CBD who had MRCP examination were studied retrospectively. Findings of BFA on original thin images of MRCP were recorded. Date were tested by Chi-square test and Spearman ceefficient of rank correlation analysis. ResultsThe rate of BFA in CBD with normal group was 38. 8％ ( 33/85 ), in dilated group was 83.2％ (79/95), there was statistically significant difference between them( x2 ＝ 37. 512,P ＝ 0. 000). BFA was not observed when the diameter of CBD was no more than 4 mm. BFA was partly observed when the diameter of CBD was 4 mm ＜ ψ≤ 8 mm, single- string sign was predominant findings (52.6％ ,30/57 ). Three-string sign was predominant findings in CBD with slight-dilated group ( 85.7％,36/42). Multi-string sign was predominant findings in CBD with medium-dilated group (84. 6％, 22/26 ).There was statistically significant difference between each groups ( x2 ＝ 284. 561, P ＝ 0. 000 ).BFA had different manifestations with CBD of different diameter, there was relative between them ( r ＝ 0. 553, P ＝0. 000). ConclusionBFA can occur in CBD with normal diameter. CBD with dilated group has higher rate of BFA than CBD with normal diameter. Manifestations of BFA are relative with the diameter of CBD.

Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP)and its diagnostic value.Methods Imaging examinations and clinical data of 13 patients with AIP were reviewed retrospectively.Results All patients had enlargement of pancreas either diffusely ( n =11 ) or focally in pancreatic head ( n =2 ).The swollen pancreas was of homogeneous density on CT scan ( n =13 ),hypointense on T1-weighted images and mildly hyperintense on T2-weighted images in 4 patients.It was demonstrated as mild enhancement on artery phase of dynamic imaging and progressive enhancement on portal and delayed phase images.Capsule-like enhanced rim was presented around the pancreas in 9 patients.Stricture or obliteration of the common bile duct located in pancreatic head was found in 10 patients accompanied by intrahepatic bile duct dilation.Pancreatic duct was invisible on axial images in 11 cases.Among the 6 patients underwent MRCP,it was showed diffuse and irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct and stricture of common bile duct located in pancreatic head in 4 cases.ERCP showed diffuse and irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct in 7 cases.Extra-pancreatic lesion included veins around pancreas involvement in 8 cases;multiple low density renal lesions in 6 cases; retroperitoneal fibrosis in 2 cases; stricture of hilar duct,interstitial lung disease and ankylosing spondylitis in 1 case,respectively.Conclusions AIP shows some characteristic imaging features,and imaging examinations play an important role in the diagnosis of AIP.Recognition of extra-pancreatic lesions aids in the correct diagnosis of AIP.

To study whether the late-acting co-stimulatory molecules ICOS can suppress the apoptosis and sustain the survival and proliferation of T cells through the survivin pathway, ICOS signals deficient T-cells were infected with adenovirus carried survivin gene, other T-cells were given ICOS co-stimulatory signals, then infected with adenovirus carried dominant-negative mutant survivin gene. Apoptosis and proliferation were determined by TUNEL and CCK-8 respectively. The results show that engagement of ICOS signal increased the expression level of survivin significantly. Survivin can sustain co-stimulatory deficient T cells survival and suppress the apoptosis. Mutant survivin inhibits ICOS signal positive T cells survival and increase its apoptosis. Late-acting co-stimulatory molecules ICOS can suppress the apoptosis and sustain the survival of T cells through the survivin pathway.

[ Abstract] Objective To investigate the effect of IL-8 on the viability and migration of HepG2 cells and the potential effect of integrins (αsubunits ) on the migration of HepG2 cells.Methods HepG2 cells were stimulated by IL-8 at different concentrations ranging from 0 to 125 ng/ml in vitro.MTT assay was preformed to detect the viability of HepG2 cells.Scratch wound migration assay was used to explore the effect of IL-8 on the migration of HepG2 cells at the time points of 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h,respectively.Transwell assay was conducted to detect the vertical migration of HepG2 cells after stimulation with IL-8 for 24 h.The F-actin of HepG2 cells was observed by immunofluorescence analysis after treatment with IL-8 at different concentrations.The expression of αsubunits of integrins in HepG2 cells treated with IL-8 for 8h was detected using Western boltting assays.Results Compared with the control group, HepG2 cells treated with IL-8 showed improved proliferation activities, but there was no significant difference between the groups of HepG2 cells treated with IL-8 at different concentrations.The cell scratch healing assays and Transwell analysis both indicated that IL-8 promoted the migration of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner.Meanwhile, the cytoskeleton of HepG2 cells was rearranged and the number of filopodium-like protrusions (FLPs) was increased rapidly after treatment with IL-8.Western blotting analysis showed that IL-8 up-regulated the expression of αsubunit of integrins and there was a concentration difference betweenαsubunits.Conclusion IL-8 promotes the migration of HepG2 cells by up-regulating the expression ofαsubunits, and different αsubunits may play different roles.

Objective To investigate the correlations between the soluble form of B7-H3 ( sB7-H3) and the cytokines of IL-17 and IL-8 in serum samples from patients with primary hepatocellular carcino-ma ( HCC) and to evaluate their clinical values for early diagnosis of HCC.Methods Serum samples were collected from 63 patients with HCC and 50 healthy subjects.The expression of sB7-H3, IL-17 and IL-8 in serum samples were detected by ELISA.Receiver operating characteristic ( ROC) curve was generated to an-alyze the diagnostic values of sB7-H3, IL-17 and IL-8 for hepatoma.The logistic regression model was used to predict the probability of hepatoma by using sB7-H3, IL-17 and IL-8 in combination.Results The levels of sB7-H3, IL-17 and IL-8 in serum samples collected from the patients with HCC were significantly higher than those from healthy subjects.A positive correlation was found between the levels of sB7-H3 and IL-17 in serum samples from patients with HCC.No correlation was found between sB7-H3 and IL-8.A negative cor-relation was found between the levels of IL-17 and IL-8 in serum samples from patients with HCC.ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of sB7-H3, IL-17 and IL-8 were 0.832, 0.657 and 0.953, respectively, indicating the statistical significance of them for the diagnosis of HCC.The logistic regression showed that the AUC, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the regression model PRE in the pre-diction of HCC were 0.960, 91.30% and 94.29%, respectively, which was much better than using the three indicators alone.Conclusion The levels of sB7-H3 were positively correlated to the levels of IL-17 in serum samples from patient with HCC.The logistic regression model of combination of sB7-H3, IL-17 and IL-8 obtained in this study could be used for early clinical diagnosis of HCC in the future.

By sorting out and analyzing the contents about pulse diagnosis in Tanksuqnameh, it was found that in terms of pulse theory, the book contains academic viewpoints of different periods and doctors about three portions and nine readings pulse method and nutritive qi operation law in Huang Di Nei Jing, the Cunkou pulse-taking method and the Cunguanchi theory in Nan Jing, the Renying and Qikou pulse-taking method and the three-region pulse-taking method in Mai Jing, and the seven superficies-indicating, eight interior-indicating and nine channels pulse of Mai Jue, etc.; in terms of pulse theory interpretation, multiple annotations from famous doctors are cited, and TCM basic theories and knowledge of astronomy and mathematics are applied, combined with the background of ancient Iranian medicine and local medical experience for explanation; in terms of pulse diagnosis techniques, pulse diagnosis techniques such as "three fingers determining three guan", "adjusting finger density", "floating and sinking pulse", "foot back pulse breaking life and death" were recorded in books of Nan Jing, Mai Jue, Lei Zheng Huo Ren Shu, etc.; in terms of influencing pulse factors, the male and female pulse, physical pulse, and four time pulse were recorded. Tanksuqnameh is a universal work of Persian Traditional Chinese Medicine, compiled by the author Rashid-ul-Din based on his research on Chinese culture and medical knowledge, combined with the unique customs, language and culture, and way of thinking in the Middle East region, to reorganize various pulse theories from before the Han Dynasty to the Tang and Song Dynasties in China. The publication of this book indicates that TCM pulse diagnosis had been promoted to the Middle East in the 14th century and provided valuable experience for local medical development. The author's sense of identification and research spirit towards different cultures provide a historical example for achieving cross-cultural communication between TCM and medicine in different regions. The preserved literature from the Tang and Song Dynasties in the book can provide clues for a deeper understanding of ancient pulse theory in TCM, but some details do not explain thoroughly or does not match the current clinical practice. Therefore, attention should be paid to distinguishing in research and application.

Objective:To explore the associations of platelet parameters platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and plateletcrit (PCT) with the risk for stroke in people with different blood pressure levels.Methods:All the participants were from Dongfeng-Tongji cohort, including 38 295 retired employees from Dongfeng Motor Corporation at the first follow-up survey. After excluding participants with coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, history of platelet influential drug use and those with missed data of platelet parameters or blood pressure or lost to follow-up, finally a total of 21 294 participants were included in this study. All the participants completed baseline questionnaires, physical examinations, clinical biochemical tests, and blood sample collection. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratios ( HRs) and the corresponding 95% confident intervals ( CIs) for the associations between platelet parameters and risk for stroke in people with different blood pressure levels. Results:After a mean follow-up of 8.0 years, 1 578 participants developed incident stroke [1 266 ischemic stroke (IS) cases and 312 hemorrhagic stroke (HS) cases]. Compared with the participants with PLT<188×10 9/L, those with PLT≥188×10 9/L among hypertension cases were significantly associated with higher risks for stroke and IS (stroke: HR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.12-1.44; IS: HR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.21-1.60). Among hypertension group, compared with participants with PCT<0.165%, PCT≥0.165% were significantly associated with higher risk for stroke ( HR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.01-1.30) and lower risk for HS ( HR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.53-0.93); Among non-hypertension and hypertension group, PCT ≥0.165% were significantly associated with higher risks of IS ( HR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.05-1.54; HR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.14-1.50). MPV and PDW were not significantly associated with risk for stroke. Risk for stroke increased significantly in hypertension cases with different platelet parameters levels compared with non-hypertension cases with lower levels of each platelet parameters. Conclusion:Higher levels of PLT and PCT could increase the risks for stroke and IS in middle-aged and elderly hypertension patients, and lower levels of PCT could decrease the risk for HS in hypertension patients.