Objective To summarize and study the features of intracranial chondroma on CT and MRI imaging.Methods CT and MRI findings of ten cases of intracranial chondroma proved by surgery and pathology from 1994.1 to 2004.9 were retrospectively analyzed.Results Among 10 cases, 4 cases were located at the skull base, 4 cases at convexity, 1 case at the region of falx cerebri, and 1 case within the brain parenchyma.CT scans showed obvious calcification and clear border of the tumors in 10 cases, mixed attenuation in 9 cases, and adjacent bone invasion in 5 cases.4 cases of MRI scans showed hypointense signal on T1 and T2-weighted images in calcified element of the tumor, intermediate to hypointense signal intensity on T1-weighted image, and hyperintense signal intensity on T2-weighted image in parenchyma of the tumor.4 cases of CT scans showed slightly enhancement.Conclusion Intracranial chondroma are often originated from synchondrosis of the skull base, convexity of brain and region of falx cerebri. Obvious calcification may be seen in most cases. Slightly enhancement and marked delayed contrast enhancement were characteristic. The accurate diagnosis still depends on pathology.

Objective Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPDs) are significant events which are associated with worsened quality of life and more rapid decline in lung function.And they also can increase mortality and health care costs.Pharmacologic interventions can alter the frequency of AECOPDs and COPD-related hospitalizations, mainly by focusing on three ways: antiinfective agents, antiinflammatory agents and antioxidants which also become the chief clue to the current researches for new drugs and therapies.The combination therapy of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonists is the most widely recommended strategy for acute exacerbation prevention.But the inhaled corticosteroids possibly increase the risk for pneumonia.Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism of benefit in patient subpopulations, and to compare between efficacy of combination therapy and side-effect with inhaled corticosteroids, bronchodilators, or their combination in different patient phenotypes.We must have a better understanding of the heterogeneity implicit for COPD and the types of COPD exacerbations, and individualized treatments need to be investigated.

Objective To compare the similarities and differences in changes of cardiac muscle structure between the rat models of chronic cor pulmonale induced by hypoxia and active immunization of M2-muscarinic receptor under light microscope and electron microscope, and to explore the dependablity of the antibody effects on cardiac architecture. Methods The 48 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: (1) Hypoxia group: the typical model of chronic cor pulmonale was established according to XUE's method; (2) Active immunization group was immunized by M2-muscarinic receptor peptide; (3) Control group was fed in normal condition; (4) Cyclosporin A group: the hypoxia group plus cyclosporin A treatment at the same time. The antibody against M2-muscarinic receptor was detected by SA-ELISA, and the pathological exemplar of cardiac muscle was observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Results (1) Antibody level of M2-muscarinic receptor; the P/N values gradually increased along with the process of experiment, and the max value in active immunization group was 5. 13. At the end of the second week, the value in hypoxia group increased to 2.08, but was still less than in active immunization group (4.66). (2) Under light microscope: in hypoxia group and active immunization group, the hearts displayed significant alterations including disorder of cardiac muscle fiber, necrosis of myocardial cells together with the infiltration of inflammatory cells. There were no differences in light microscopic findings between hypoxia and cyclosporin A group. (3) Under transmission electronic microscope examination in both active immunization group and hypoxia group, the hearts showed s1imilar significant alterations such as focal cardiac muscle fiberlysis, loss of normal muscle fiber banding pattern, mitochondrial swelling and condensation, sarcoplasmic vacuolation and deposition of dense granules in both the sarcoplasmic and muscle fiber. The contour of myocyte was irregular and plasma membranes were discontinuous in some cells. All altered myocytes were fairly widely distributed throughout the myocardium. The interstitium showed edema, deposits of flocculent serum protein, activated fibroblasts and increased amounts of collagen fibers. No obvious alterations were observed in cyclosporin A group. Conclusions The positive rate and the titer of antibody against M2-muscarinic receptor are obviously increased in the rat model of chronic cor pulmonale, which indicates that there is a relationship between the antibody against M2-muscarinic receptor and the pathogenesis of chronic cor pulmonale.

Objective To improve the ability of rheumatologist to diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated with ureterohydronephrosis by analyzing the characteristics of clinical manifestations.Methods Patients with ureterohydronephrosis hospitalized in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2000 to 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical characteristics, serological findings, treatment and prognosis of these patients were reviewed. Comparisons between the groups were performed with X2 test and t-test. Results SLE patient with ureterohydronephrosis accounted for 1.26% of the SLE patients hospitalized in the same period. Twenty-eight patients presented with gastrointestinal symptoms, 14 patients suffered from bladder irritative symptoms. Nineteen patients were with bilateral ureterohydronephrosis, and 8 patients were with unilateral ureterohydronephrosis. Fourteen patients had stype positive ANA, 14 patients had positive antiSSA antibodies. All patients were treated with steroid and immune suppressive therapy, 11 patients were cured, while 3 patients had no improvement. Conclusion Ureterohydronephrosis isn't a very rare complication of SLE. SLE patients with ureterohydronephrosis often present with gastrointestinal symptoms and have high incidence of chronic intestinal pseudo obstruction. High ratio of stype ANA antibody and high positive rate of anti-SSA are most important characteristics in this subtype of SLE patients. The complications can be reversed if the patients are treated early and appropritaely.

Increasing evidences have shown the existance of a mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase(mtNOS),which binds to the matrix face of the mitochondrial inner membrane and produces nitric oxide(NO) through a Ca~(2+)sensitive pathway.Under physiological condition,the NO catalyzed by mtNOS regulates mitochondrial oxygen consumption and transmembrane potential via reversible competition with cytochrome C oxidase.The reaction of NO with superoxide anion,which was produced by mitochondrial respiratory chain,yields peroxynitrite.Peroxynitrite irreversibly modifies susceptible targets in mitochondria and induces oxidative and/or nitrative stress.In addition,NO has also been implicated in the programmed cell death.This article reviews the current understanding of mtNOS's role in the regulation of mitochondrial functions.

Objective To study the changes of magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging(DWI) in acute cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. Methods Adult healthy NewZeadand rabbits(103 cases) were used to established middle cerebral ischemia and reperfusion(MCAO/R) model by intraluminal thread technique,and 58 successful models were randomly divided into permanent ischemic group(30 cases) which further divided into ischemic 1 h,3 h,6 h,12 h,24 h,48 h groups consisting 5 cases and ischemic reperfusion group 28 cases which further divided into reperfusion 0h,2h,5h,11h,23h,47h groups consisting 5,5,5,4,5,4 cases respectively.Another 10 rabbits were regarded as ischemic contrast(5 cases) and reperfusion contrast(5 cases).The changes of hyper-intensity signal area on DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) were measured in different groups Results 1.In ischemic group rabbits,the hyper-intensity signal area on DWI with declined ADC appeared at ischemic 1h.The hyper-intensity signal areas on DWI at different times were larger than that at ischemic 1h and unchanged at 24h.The mean ADC at different times declined at first and then gradually increased.2.In reperfusion group rabbits: compared with ischemic 1h,the hyper-intensity signal area on DWI reduced while ADC increased at reperfusion 2 and 5h,but the hyper-intensity signal area on DWI enlarged with ADC high at reperfusion 11h,then the hyper-intensity signal area on DWI enlarged with ADC reduced siginificantly at 23h and 47h.Conclusion The hyper-intensity signal area on DWI and the decreasing ADC in acute cerebral ischemia could be improved by early reperfusion,but the secondary decreasing ADC would be induced with continously reperfusion.

Objective:to compare traditional method of applying clinical memory scale with computerized multimedia method.Method:50 volunteers were tested with the two methods in a random sequence.Result:there was no difference in MQ(memory quotation) and results of 5 subscales got by the two methods.Conclusion:results of computerized multimedia applying of clinical memory test are consistent with that got by the traditional way.

While the field of ATP synthase research has a long history filled with landmark discoveries, recent structural works provide us with important insights into the mechanisms that links the proton movement with the rotation of the Fo motor. Here, we propose a mechanism of unidirectional rotation of the Fo complex, which is in agreement with these new structural insights as well as our more general ΔΨ-driving hypothesis of membrane proteins: A proton path in the rotor-stator interface is formed dynamically in concert with the rotation of the Fo rotor. The trajectory of the proton viewed in the reference system of the rotor (R-path) must lag behind that of the stator (S-path). The proton moves from a higher energy site to a lower site following both trajectories simultaneously. The two trajectories meet each other at the transient proton-binding site, resulting in a relative rotation between the rotor and stator. The kinetic energy of protons gained from ΔΨ is transferred to the c-ring as the protons are captured sequentially by the binding sites along the proton path, thus driving the unidirectional rotation of the c-ring. Our ΔΨ-driving hypothesis on Fo motor is an attempt to unveil the robust mechanism of energy conversion in the highly conserved, ubiquitously expressed rotary ATP synthases.
Membrane Potentials ; physiology ; Membrane Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Protein Conformation

Objective To introduce three new methods for measuring breast volume. Methods The breast volume was measured and the 3D image yielded with a special software or calculated with two mathematical formulas, according to its base, horizontal and saggital sections. Results The average deviations of these protocols were less than 10 % of the actual sizes in our investigation. Conclusion The computer aided measurement for the volume of the breast is an accurate and reliable method and can be used in the designs for augmentation and reduction of mammaplasty.

Objective The study was to investigate a new method of rapid expansion by biomechanical methods. Methods Dogs were set up as animal models. Six areas, 5 cm?8 cm each, were symmetrically designed on a dog. Expanders of 240 ml were implanted in each area. Four groups were divided: A. Injection of 2 weeks. B. Injection of 6 weeks. C. Sham operation group. D. Blank control group. The first two groups were subdivided into three groups respectively according to maintaining times: one week, two weeks and four weeks. The following indexes were measured on the second stage surgery: biomechanical properties of the skin, stress strength, stress strain, stress relaxation and creep, the collagen content and alignment of skin. Results After expansion, maximal stress strength fell off, and stress strain curve moved backward. Relaxation curve fell off as well, as creep curve rose up. With elongation of the maintaining period, viscoelasticity of the skin gradually approximated normal skin, and had less relation with injection time. With the maintaining period increased, the collage content increased distinctly, and the alignment became much order. Conclusion Two week maintaining period is very important for expanded skin to recover the biomechanical properties and the content of collagen and alignment.