Objetcive To analyze the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)features in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) of different size and to discuss the diagnostic value of CEUS in CCRCCs. Methods The contrast-enhanced and conventional US features of 80 CCRCCs confirmed pathologically were retrospectively analyzed. Samples were divided into three groups by diameters: small CCRCCs (≤30 mm), medium CCRCCs(＞30 mm) and large CCRCCs(＞50 mm). The tumoral vascularity, lesion homogeneity and presence of an anechoic rim were observed on conventional US. The enhancement of echogenicity, homogeneity and pseudocapsule were evaluated on CEUS. Results Among the 80 renal masses, 32 were small CCRCCs, 28 were medium CCRCCs while the large CCRCCs were 20. On conventional US, 18.8%(6/32) of small CCRCCs, 71.4%(20/28) of medium CCRCCs and 95%(19/20) of large CCRCCs demonstrated as heterogeneous and the differences were highly statistically significant, whereas there were no differences in the tumoral vascularity and the presence of pseudocapsule sign among the three groups. On CEUS, 28.1%(9/32) of small CCRCCs, 85.7%(24/28) of medium CCRCCs and 100%(20/20) of large CCRCCs showed a homogeneous enhancement. The incidence of pseudocapsule sign in medium tumors was higher than small and large groups(71.4%,50% and 25%,respectively). There were statistically significant differences among the three groups in the enhanced homogeneity and the presence of pseudocapsule sign. However, all the three groups revealed mainly isoechoic and hyperechoic and there were no differences among them. Compared with conventional US, CEUS depicted significantly the increased tumoral vascularity (51.3% vs. 87.5%) and pseudocapsule sign(22.5% vs. 51.3%). Eight lesions demonstrated heterogeneous contrast enhancement on CEUS while homogeneous on conventional US, but there were no differences in lesion homogeneity between conventional US and CEUS findings. Conclusions Different sizes of CCRCC showed distinct CEUS features in the enhanced homogeneity and the presence of pseudocapsule sign. CEUS is more effective on improving the sonographic characteristics of tumoral visualization and may provide important information of US findings for the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical and epidemiological value of semi-quantitative regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF)imaging in children with school phobia. Methods A total of 20 cases diagnosed with school phobia were examined with rCBF.Twelve were males and the other 8 were females.The mean age was(14.2?2.1)years(11-18 years).Semi-quantitative analysis methods were used to investigate the correlations among gender,age and rCBF. ResultsThere were significant differences in the rCBF of right fronto-parietal lobe,right occipital lobe,caput and putamen,left thalamus and hippocampus,and temporo-occipital lobe between males and females(P0.05).Only the PI of left temporo-parietal lobe of those ≥ 15 years old was significantly different from that of those

Aim To investgate the mechnism through which ginkgolides affect learning and memory capabilities of the Alzheimers disease-like rats. Methods Okadaic acid(OA)was injected into the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus and the rats were gavaged with ginkgolides. The learning and memory abilities of the rats were assessed through Morris water maze behavioral test, and the expressions of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and ChAT were observed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively.Results Compared with the control rats, the capabilities of learning and memory were lowered significantly(P

Objective To find out the iodine nutritional status of children in Xiamen island, and to provide the scientific basis for iodine supplimentation. Methods On March 2010, thyroids of all children aged 6to 12, from primary school on the Xiaodeng island of Xiamen were examined by palpation, urinary iodine, iodine content of salt athome and IQ level were tested, and were collected 20 households, iodine content of drinking water was tested randomly. Results IQ testing and thyroid palpation were carried out among a total of 156 children, the goiter rate of children was 1.28% (2/156), the mean IQ was 110; 154 urine samples were taken, the median urinary iodine was 219.1 μg/L; a total of 153 salt samples were tested, and the qualified rate of iodized salt was 87.58%(134/153), and the mean iodine content in the tap water was 4.52 μg/L Conclusions Iodine nutritional status of the island residents is better, and there are no such problems as excessive iodine.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics of hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia (HAAA). A retrospective analysis was conducted among 8 cases of established HAAA in light of the clinical and laboratory findings and the patient outcomes.

METHODSSerum samples from 8 patients with HAAA were tested for the antibodies to hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, E and CMV, and 7 patients showed negative serological results while only one was positive for HBsAg. The percentage of CD4(+) cells was significantly lowered while the percentage of CD8(+) cells significantly increased to result in a lowered ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) cells in these HAAA patients. A shift in the Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 balance to a Th1 and Tc1 dominance was noted. The percentage of Treg cells was obviously decreased. Significant increments were found in the serum levels of interleukin-2, THF-α and interferon-γ. Three of the patients responded to immunosuppresssive treatment; one patient achieved a complete remission, two had a partial remission, and five failed to respond to the therapy and died.

CONCLUSIONSHAAA may not have an obvious association with viral infections as by hepatitis virus A, B, C, D, or E, and its pathogenesis often involves abnormalities of the T cell immunity. Commonly with a poor prognosis, HAAA is associated with a high mortality rate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; etiology ; immunology ; virology ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Female ; Hepatitis ; complications ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate values of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in eyes filled with silicone oil.Design Prospective cases series.Participants 40 eyes of 40 patients were filled with silicone oil after ocular injury.Methods MRI was performed in the 40 patients,including axial FSE T_1WI,T_2WI,coronal T_2WI with fat saturation,oblique sagittal T_1WI and axial T_2FLAIR.MRI findings,in- cluding morpbous,signal and complications were analyzed.Oculi axes were measured.Main Outcome Measures Morphous,signal, complications and oculi axes of the eyes filled with silicone oil.Results Affected oculi axis was 2.18cm?0.21cm,normal oculi axis was 2.48cm?0.16cm.The silicone oil in eyes demonstrated isointense signal or slightly hyperintense signal on T_1WI and T_2WI,hypointense signal after fat saturation.Hydrops was found in vitreous cavity in 33 patients,including simple hydrops in 17 patients and complicated other abnormality in 16 patients.Choroidal detachment was found in 11 patients,complicating vitreous hydrops in 5 patients and lo- calized bulge of eyeball wall.Retinal detachments were found in 4 patients,of whom 3 patients complicated with vitreous hydrops.Per- fluorocarbon liquid residual in vitreous cavity,foreign body in anterior chamber,localized thickness of the wall of the globe and meagre- mean of silicone oil in vitreous cavity were found respectively in one patient complicating vitreous hydrops.Except for eye changes, fracture of orbital wall and foreign body in orbit were found in one patient.Conclusions MRI can display the changes of eyes filled with silicone oil,and measure oculi axes biologically and accurately offering important clinical application value.(Ophthalmol CHN,2007,16: 312-315)

Objective To investigate the current conditions of water iodine,childrens'iodine nutrition and residents'edible circumstance of iodized salt in the villages with high iodine in drinking water and the adjacent three villages in Xiamen city of Fujian province.Methods Four natural villages of Qianbian,Donglian,Dazhong and Dongshan of Xiangan county were chosen as survey spots in 2008.In each village,one running water sample and all well water samples were collected to obtain the benchmark for each location.All children aged 7-13 year in the four villages underwent thyroid palpation and were selected to measure the urine iodine and the salt iodine.The water iodine and urine iodine were determined by As3+-Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometry digestion,salt iodine was determined by direct titration.Results In four investigated villages,iodine of four running water samples were all 1.5μg/L.The range of 237 well water iodine samples was from 0.1 μg/L to 506.0 μg/L.There were 18.6% (44/237)specimens in which the well water iodine less than 10 μg/L,73.4%(174/237)between 10 μg/L and 150 μg/L and 8%(19/237)more than 150μg/L.The median of urinary iodine was 153.3 μg/L in 79 urine samples,which was 114%(9/79)more than 200μg/L and less than 300μg/L,12.7%(10/79)equal or more than 300 μg/L and less than 500μg/L,7.6%(6/79)equal or more than 500μg/L and less than 800 μg/L in all samples.Seventy-nine students were examined by palpation and the total goiter rate of children measured was 11.4% (9/79).Seventy-one samples of iodine salt were detected and the coverage rate of iodized salt was 77.5%(55/71).Conclusions The well water iodine contents have a wide distribution in the investigated villages.We should enhance the community awareness by educating them on the damage of iodine excess and iodine deficiency.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder causing dementia worldwide, and is mainly characterized by aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ). Increasing evidence has shown that plant extracts have the potential to delay AD development. The plant sterol β-Sitosterol has a potential role in inhibiting the production of platelet Aβ, suggesting that it may be useful for AD prevention. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of β-Sitosterol on deficits in learning and memory in amyloid protein precursor/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double transgenic mice. APP/PS1 mice were treated with β-Sitosterol for four weeks, from the age of seven months. Brain Aβ metabolism was evaluated using ELISA and Western blotting. We found that β-Sitosterol treatment can improve spatial learning and recognition memory ability, and reduce plaque load in APP/PS1 mice. β-Sitosterol treatment helped reverse dendritic spine loss in APP/PS1 mice and reversed the decreased hippocampal neuron miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency. Our research helps to explain and support the neuroprotective effect of β-Sitosterol, which may offer a novel pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of AD. Taken together, these findings suggest that β-Sitosterol ameliorates memory and learning impairment in APP/PS1 mice and possibly decreases Aβ deposition.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder causing dementia worldwide, and is mainly characterized by aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ). Increasing evidence has shown that plant extracts have the potential to delay AD development. The plant sterol β-Sitosterol has a potential role in inhibiting the production of platelet Aβ, suggesting that it may be useful for AD prevention. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of β-Sitosterol on deficits in learning and memory in amyloid protein precursor/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double transgenic mice. APP/PS1 mice were treated with β-Sitosterol for four weeks, from the age of seven months. Brain Aβ metabolism was evaluated using ELISA and Western blotting. We found that β-Sitosterol treatment can improve spatial learning and recognition memory ability, and reduce plaque load in APP/PS1 mice. β-Sitosterol treatment helped reverse dendritic spine loss in APP/PS1 mice and reversed the decreased hippocampal neuron miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency. Our research helps to explain and support the neuroprotective effect of β-Sitosterol, which may offer a novel pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of AD. Taken together, these findings suggest that β-Sitosterol ameliorates memory and learning impairment in APP/PS1 mice and possibly decreases Aβ deposition.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cadmium (Cd) on estrogen receptor and to assess its endocrine disrupting action.

METHODSThe estrogen receptor rich supernatant was prepared from the ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of cadmium on estrogen binding were performed using a sing-dose ligand-binding assay. Extract from uterus were treated with various concentrations of cadmium (0, 10(-3), 10(-5) or 10(-7) mol/L) for various pre-incubation time (0, 30, 60, 90 min) by means of orthogonal experimental design with orthogonal layout of L16(4(5)) (the experiment was repeated for 5 times). In addition to the radioinert competitor, each assay included a zero tube and a DES standard curve for quality control purpose. Data for cadmium and the DES standard curve were plotted as percent [3H]-E2 bound versus log (molar concentration), and the IC50 for cadmium was determined. The RBA for cadmium was calculated by dividing the IC50 of DES in terms of the IC50 of cadmium.

RESULTSCadmium could not block the binding of estradiol to the receptor because hormone binding did not change with increasing cadmium concentration or increasing preincubation time. The results showed that the binding of [3H]-estradiol to uterine cytosols was not significant (P > 0.05). The Bmax (its unit is pmol/mg protein) of various concentrations of cadmium (0, 10(-3), 10(-5) or 10(-7) mol/L) for pre-incubating 0 min is 203.15 +/- 75.16, 203.41 +/- 22.78, 220.82 +/- 45.35, 209.10 +/- 49.66 respectively; The Bmax of them for pre-incubating 30 min is 215.67 +/- 92.97, 139.79 +/- 53.78, 205.27 +/- 23.60, 172.63 +/- 55.09 respectively. The Bmax of them for pre-incubating 60 min is 197.11 +/- 50.68, 203.24 +/- 66.33, 183.92 +/- 31.89, 183.33 +/- 32.70, respectively. The Bmax of them for pre-incubating 90 min is 229.69 +/- 76.88, 175.70 +/- 70.28, 164.26 +/- 24.46, 150.78 +/- 65.97 respectively. Mean IC50 for cadmium is 10(-4) - 10(-3) M. If the affinities of DES binding to estrogen receptors was taken to be 100%, the relative binding affinities of cadmium was 10(-6) - 10(-7). The results indicated that cadmium had only a very poor affinity with estrogen receptor.

CONCLUSIONIn vitro assay cadmium did not have distinct disrupting effect on binding of estradiol to estrogen receptors from rat uterine.

Animals ; Cadmium ; toxicity ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Uterus ; drug effects ; metabolism