Objective To explore an algorithm to define the threshold value for tumor contouring on 18F-fluorodexyglucose (FDG) PET imaging. Methods A National Electrical Manufacturing Association (NEMA)NU 2 1994 PET phantom with 5 spheres of different diameters were filled with 18F-FDG. Seven different sphere-to-background ratios were obtained and the phantom was scanned by Discovery LS 4. For each sphere-to-background ratio, the maximum standardized uptake value ( SUVmax ) of each sphere, the SUV of the border of each sphere ( SUVborder ), the mean SUV of a 1 cm region of background (SUVbg) and the diameter (D) of each sphere were measured. SPSS 13.0 software was used for curve fitting and regression analysis to obtain the threshold algorithm. The calculated thresholds were applied to delineate 29 pathologically confirmed lung cancer lesions on PET images and the obtained volumes were compared with the volumes contoured on CT images in lung window. Results The algorithm for defining contour threshold is TH% = 33.1% + 46.8% SUVbg/SUVmax + 13.9%/D ( r = 0.994) by phantom studies. For 29 lung cancer lesions, the average gross tumor volumes ( GTV ) delineated on PET and CT are ( 7.36 ± 1.62 ) ml and (8.31 ±2.05) ml, respectively (t = -1.26, P＞0.05). Conclusion The proposed threshold algorithm for tumor contouring on PET image could provide comparable GTV with CT.

Objective To investigate the changes of early and delayed washout rates of 99Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) in ischemic heart disease (IHD), and to explore the value of 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT in evaluating impairment of ischemic myocardial cells. Methods Patients diagnosed of IHD with three-vessel stenosis ( ≥50% ) without myocardial infarction based on angiography (CAG) underwent 99Tcm-MIBI static planar and gated SPECT imaging. The early (90 min after the intravenous injection) and delayed (4 h after the intravenous injection) washout rates of 99Tcm-MIBI and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of IHD patients and normal subjects were compared using t-test. Linear correlation analysis was performed between the early, delayed washout rates and LVEF measured by gated SPECT. Results Statistically significant lower early washout rate of 99Tcm-MIBI was observed in IHD group than control group: (13.44 ± 2.87 )%vs ( 17.32 ± 4.92) %, t = 2.384, P ＜ 0.05, but higher delayed washout rate of 99Tcm-MIBI was observed in IHD group than control group: (19.24 ±4.71)% vs (15.23 ±3.81)%, t= -2.246, P＜0.05. LVEF in IHD group was significantly lower than that in control group: (55.71 ±7.97)% vs (67.75 ±5.43)%, t =-4.418, P ＜0.01. There were no correlations between the early/delayed washout rates and LVEF, respectively in IHD patients (r = -0.212, P ＞ 0.05; r =0.352, P ＞ 0.05, respectively). Conclusion 99Tcm-MIBI washout rate may reflect myocardial cell impairment due to IHD.

Conscious Sedation ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; instrumentation ; methods

Four triterpenoids were isolated and purified from the 95% ethanol extract of Maytenus guangxiensis by silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, MCI column chromatography and preparative RP-HPLC. Their structures were determined from their physicochemical properties and spectral data. They were identified as maytguanone A (1), maytguanone B (2), 11α-methoxyurs-12-ene-1β,3β-diol (3), lup-20(29)-ene-3β,11α-diol (4). Compounds 1 and 2 are new triterpenoids, along with compounds 3 and 4 were isolated from M. guangxiensis for the first time. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1, 3 and 4 was evaluated using the MTT procedure with three cancer cell lines. The results show that compound 3 displayed good inhibitory effects against HeLa, with an IC₅₀ of 10.68 μmol·L^-1.

As a member of G protein coupled-receptors superfamily, free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1), is also known as GPR40, has been shown to regulate numerous pathophysiological processes in a variety of tissues and organs. The activated FFAR1 has a variety of biological functions. For instance, it can not only regulate metabolism of fatty acids and glucose, but also play an important role in immune inflammatory response, it may be a potential drug target for the treatment of various chronic inflammatory diseases. In this review, we focus on the recent researches of FFAR1's action in the regulation of pathophysiological processes, its molecular mechanism and new agonists development. At the same time, this review will take the discovery of series FFAR1 agonists as examples, and display the applied prospects of FFAR1.

Objective To discuss the risk factors attributing intracranial infection following brain injury operation. Methods Difference factors between intracranial infection group and non-infection group following brain injury operations were compared by retrospective analysis. Results Involved in the study were 770 cases in non-infective group and 142 cases (15.6%) in infective group, with the types of infection including nonbacterial meningitis, bacterial meningitis, cerebral ventriclitis and ventrical pus accumulation, cerebral abscess, subdural pus accumulation, subcutaneous or/and subskull flap pus accumulation or osteomyelitis, and incision infections. The rate of bacterial detection was 27.5%.Postoperative infections following brain injury surgery were related to hotter weather, advanced age of patients, severity of traumatic state, multiple operations in short time, successive or double-lateral craniotomies, long-time (＞5 h) operation, microsurgery, operation on skull base or postfossa, cerebral ventricle draining, subcutaneous or epidural hydrops, and emergency operation(P＜0.05). Conclusion It should be given more attention and prophylactic treatments for the brain injury with infective risk factors mentioned above.

Objective To understand the level and distribution of antibody F1 against plague in population of Ningxia natural plague foci in 2007 and 2008. Methods Seven hundred and eighteen blood samples were collected in five major cities and counties of natural plague foci, and 475 blood samples were collected in nonplague area as control group. Conventional indirect hemagglutination, colloidal gold test, and enzyme-linked immunoassay were employed to test the antibody. If the result was tested positive by more than two methods used then the result was defined as positive. Antibody titer that did not reach the positive standard was defined as suspected samples. Results A total of 718 serum samples were tested, the results showed that 9 samples were positive (antibody titer was 1:16 - 1:64), the positive rate was 1.25%(9/718), suspected samples was 28, the detection rate was 3.90%(28/718). Four hundred and seventy-five serum samples in the non-plague area were all negative by the three methods. There was a significant difference of antibody F1 positive rate between residents in historical epidemic area and history nonepidemic area(χ2 = 4.44, P< 0.05). There was no statistical significance of the positive rate[1.25%(9/718), 1.25%(9/718),2.51%(18/718)]among the three methods used(χ2 = 1.91, P> 0.05). Conclusion There still exists a certain proportion of Fl antibody positive people in Ningxia natural plague foci, and these people are distributed in areas where several animal plague prevalent in recent years.

Cadherins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Receptor, Notch1 ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of short-term intensive therapy on blood glucose control, BETA-cell function, and blood lipid levels in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODSOut-patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled for intensive treatment with sulfonylureas and metformin for 12 weeks, and the therapeutic effect was evaluated.

RESULTSAfter the intensive treatment, FPG, 2 hPG, and HbA1c decreased significantly (P<0.01); HOMA-IR decreased and HOMA-B increased significantly (P<0.01), and TG, CHOL, LDL decreased significantly (P<0.01) after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONShort-term intensive treatment with glimepiride combined with metformin is safe and effective in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients with HbA1c>9%.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metformin ; therapeutic use ; Sulfonylurea Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-complementary phenolic acids from Lonicera japonica.

METHODThe anti-complementary activity-directed isolation was carried out with the hemolysis test as guide. All isolation was evaluated for their in vitro anti-complementary activities. The structures were identified by various spectroscopic data including ESI-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR data.

RESULTFourteen compounds were isolated from the EtOAc fraction of L. japonica extracts, including 8 phenolic acids: 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (1), chlorogenic (2), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4), 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (6), caffeic acid (7) and methyl caffeate acid (8); 3 iridoids: secologanoside (9), sweroside (10) and secoxyloganin (11); and 3 flavonoids: luteolin (12), quercetin (13) and kaempferol (14). Compounds 1-9 and 11-14 showed anti-complementary activity in different extents and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4) exhibited the most significant activity against the classical pathway.

CONCLUSIONCompound 14 is obtained from this plant for the first time, phenolic acids are the main anti-complementary constituents of L. japonica and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(4) is a potential complement inhibitor with strong activity, which worthy to be studied further in the future.

Complement Inactivating Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hydroxybenzoates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lonicera ; chemistry