Objective To evaluate characteristic clinical and imaging findings of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET) in dual-phase contrast enhancement MSCT.Methods The dual-phase contrast enhancement MSCT images of 23 lesions in 20 patients with histologically confirmed pancreatic NET were studied retrospectively.Their clinical presentations,imaging characters as well as the intensities of lesions and normal pancreas in each phase were measured,and the following indices were calculated.First,the absolute enhancement of lesions,including the increasing of CT value of the maximum enhancement area within a tumor in arterial phase,that was named A1 in short,and that of the minimum enhancement area was labeled as A2.The same ROI measured increasing CT values in portal venous phase was labeled as V1 and V2 respectively.Secondly,the relatively enhancement indices comparing with the normal pancreas in the same patient within the same phase were calculated.This included the differences between the maximum,as well as the minimum,enhancement areas of tumors and the normal pancreas in arterial phase,which was named as AP1 and AP2 respectively,and those differences in portal venous phase,which were labeled as VP1 and VP2 respectively.All of the tumors were graded as G1 to G3 according to the WHO classification in 2010.A Kruskal Wallis test were performed to compare differences of tumor diameters and the enhancement indices.The change trend of enhancement indices varying with pathology grading were described.Fisher exact test was used to find differences of clinical and imaging characters.Results Twenty-three lesions in 20 patients included 13 lesions in grade 1 (G1),8 in G2,and 2 in G3.Among the 10 patients with G1 NET,7 of them had no endocrine symptoms,while the other 3 had endocrine symptoms.Six of them had no abdominal pain,while 4 of them complained of it.All of the 10 patients with G1 NET had no hepatic metastasis.Among 8 patients with G2 NET,4 of them were with endocrine abnormality,and the other 4 were not.Five of them complained of abdominal pain while the other 3 did not.Six of them had no hepatic metastasis,and 2 of them had.Both of the 2 patients with NET in G3 did not have any endocrine abnormality,and one of them complained abdominal pain.Both of them were with hepatic metastasis.There was no difference between groups that whether or not endocrine syndrome and abdominal pain was presented (x2 =2.238,0.713,P =0.318,1.000),while hepatic metastasis was of significant differences (x2 =9.516,P =0.003).Tumor location,distinct outline,necrosis and/or calcification were not significantly different.Tumor enhancement showed a probable trend of decrease in group of higher grade.A1 decreased from (126.4 ± 45.7)HU to (38.7± 8.5)HU (x2 =7.254,P=0.027),A2 decreased from (94.1 ±31.1)HU to (22.8 ± 14.0) HU (x2 =7.323,P =0.026) and AP1 dropped from 80.6 HU(-21.8 — 169.7 HU) to -36.7 HU(-41.6—-31.7 HU) (x2 =6.778,P =0.034).All of the indices mentioned above were of significant difference and the other indices showed no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Quantitative assessment of their enhancement patterns may provide useful information to preoperative grading of pancreatic NET,and tumors in a higher grade may show poorer enhancement.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of thoracic and lumbar epidural block on the depth of propofol sedation.MethodsForty-five ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients with stomach cancer ( n =15) or colorectal cancer ( n =30) aged 20-64 yr weighing 46-79 kg with body height 151-179 cm undergoing elective radical operation were enrolled in this study.The 30 patients with colorectal cancer were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n =15 each):group control (group Ⅰ ) and group lumbar epidural group(group Ⅱ ).The 15 patients with stomach cancer received thoracic epidural block (group Ⅲ ).Epidural block was performed at L2.3 interspace in groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ and at T9.10 interspace in group Ⅲ.After a test dose of 3 ml 1.5％ lidocaine,a bolus of 1.5％ lidocaine 12 ml (in groupsⅡ and Ⅲ ) or 12 ml of normal saline (in group Ⅰ ) was injected into epidural space.Target-controlled infusion(TCI) of propofol was started at 12 min after epidural lidocaine.Target plasma concentration of propofol was set at 4 μg/ml.Fentanyl 4 μg/kg was injected iv as soon as the patients lost consciousness.Tracheal intubation was facilitated with vecuronium 0.1 ng/kg.The patients were mechanically ventilated.Radial artery was cannulated for direct BP monitoring and blood sampling.BIS value was monitored (Aspect Medical System).The number of spinal sequent affected in the subarachnoid epidural anesthesia was counted before propofol TCI.Arterial blood sampies were collected at 2,3,4 and 5 min of propofol TCI for determination of plasma concentration of propofol ( by HPLC).BIS value and plasma concentration of propofol calculated by TCI pump were recorded at 2,3,4 and 5 min of propofol TCI.ResultsThe BIS values were significantly lower in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ than in group Ⅰ and in group Ⅲ than in group Ⅱ.There was no significant difference in plasma propofol concentration measured by HPLC and plasma concentration of propofol calculated by TCI pump.ConclusionThe efficacy of thoracic epidural block enhancing propofol sedation is higher than that of lumbar epidural block.

Objective To study the image features and clinical significance of 3-dimensional (3-D)and multiplanar reconstruction with spiral CT(SCT) in cervical spinal fractures.MethodPlain film radiography and spiral CT scanning were taken for 26 cases of cervical spinal fractures.The type of fractures, diagnositic successful rate, parameter of scanning and late stage managing methods were investigated retrospectively to find out the effective difference between the diagnosis of plain X-ray and SCT. The imagin location of fractures,sequence of cenrum, heighth of centrum, fracture line, auxillary structure and rotation/dislocation of the fractures were emphasized to evaluate the advantages of 3-D imaging.ResultIn the 26 cases, there were 4 Jefferson fractures, (in which 1 combined with articular dislocations), 17 C2 spinous process fractures, (in which 1 had failure of plain X-ray diagnostic), 1 Hangman fracture, 2 C1～2 imbalance, (in which 1 had failure of plain X-ray diagnostic).There were 2 cases of axoid longitudinal fractures without obvious dislocation. The diagnositic successful rate were 100% in SCT group, while 65% in X-ray group in which 6 cases had diagnostic failure and 3 cases had fracture mis-diagnozing as dislocation.The anatomical structure of upper cervical spine was complicated and was significantly different from other cervical spine constructions. Spiral CT could reveal high resolution images of the upper cervical spine, morphosis of vertibral canal, dislocation information of fracture mass and its relation with neighbouring tissues. Especially in C1 burst fracture,C2 dens fracture and C1～2 dislocation, SCT could provide clear 3-D information of the size of collateral mass and the dislocation degree, furthermore, images could be rotated freely to observe the fracture in any proper section. That provides important information for the decision of operation, selection of operation types and evaluation of operation dager.ConclusionThe spiral CT scan and 3D reconstruction can reveal fracture better.The advantages of SCT are suggested that this diagnostic modality may be the standard method for the initial evaluation of the upper cervical spine injury.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-protein-coding RNAs,which play important roles in the cell proliferation,differentiation,apoptosis,as well as activation of oncogenic and antioncogenic signals.Researches show that the abnormal expressions of miRNAs are closely related to the tumorigenesis,histological type,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of lung cancer.So miRNAs may be the most potential and promising therapeutic targets for lung cancer.

Objective The autoantibodies against angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor(AT_1 RAb)have been dis- covered in the patients with malignant hypertensive and preeclampsia,this autoantiboies(AT_1-AA)have an ago- nist-like activity effect similar to angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ).This study aimed at investigation the effect of Ang Ⅱ agonist-like activity by AT_1-AA on VSMCs proliferation was obtained from essential hypertensive patients. Methods VSMCs were cultured from aorta of WKY rats.The hypertensive patients" serum was purified by am- monium sulfate precipitation and affinity chromatography.The effect on VSMC proliferation this autoantilody was determined by BrdU incorporation.Total protein and the expression of phosphorylation JAK-STAT were assessed by Western blotting.Results AT_1RAb caused a significant increase in BrdU incorporation similar to Ang Ⅱ during 0-24 h reaching peak value at 12 h.The A value of in 450 nm was higher in AT_1RAb group (0.236?0.012)than AG490+AT_1RAb group(0.176?0.009),Losartan+AT_1RAb groups(0.119?0.006) and Serum Free group(0.127?0.006)(P

Background Auditing of surgical outcome is controversial due to lack of standard auditing system. POSSUM (Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Morbidity and mortality)system provides a risk adjusted auditing in surgical practice, which is a reliable scoring system. However it has not been generalized in China, especially in gastric surgery. Present study evaluates the application of POSSUM system to compare surgical outcome of malignant gastric disease between specialized unit and general unit. Methods Retrospective study was performed on 394 patients who underwent surgical intervention for gastric cancer and malignant gastric lymphoma. POSSUM data were collected according to standard criteria described by its original authors. Exponential analysis method was used for data analysis. Observed to Expected morbidity (O:E) ratio was calculated for each unit to give risk adjusted comparison. All the complications were categorized into minor to severe to give an objective view of complications. Results There was significant difference in surgical outcome between specialized unit and general unit. POSSUM predicted morbidity well and O: E ratio of specialized unit was better than general unit. Further more postop stay wassignificantly shorter(P ＜0.001 ) in specialized unit and number of moderate and severe morbidity was significantly lower (P＜0.001) than general unit. Conclusions Surgical outcome of specialized unit was better than general unit. POSSUM can be used for risk adjusted auditing of postop complications in malignant gastric disease, which provides a reliable audit. However morbidity definition in POSSUM should be amended and modification in POSSUM formula may be necessary to fit major surgical interventions like gastric cancer surgery.

Objective To investigate the effect of insulin and gliclazide therapy on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and insulin sensitivity in the liver of type 2 diabetic rats.Methods A high fat diet plus a low-dose of streptozotocin was implemented to create a type 2 diabetic rats which were randomly divided into diabetes mellitus (DM) group,insulin treatment (INS) group and gliclazide treatment (GT)group; and healthy rats were as normal control group.Diabetic rats in INS and GT groups were given neutral protamine hagedorn (NPH) insulin and gliclazide respectively for 3 weeks.Protein expression levels of immunoglobulin binding protein (Bip),spliced X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-ls),phosphorylated c-Jun on serine 73 (p-c-Jun),phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 on serine 307 (p-IRS-1),and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) in liver homogenate were detected by Western blotting.Results Compared with the normal rats,Bip and XBP-Is in the DM group were up-regulated (0.28 ±0.07 vs 0.90 ±0.10 for Bip;0.41 ± 0.07 vs 0.95 ±0.07 for XBP-1 s; both P ＜ 0.01 ) ; p-c-Jun (0.59 ± 0.18 vs 1.94 ± 0.03 ),p-IRS-1( 1.73 ± 0.18 vs 5.32 ± 0.22) and G6Pase (0.11 ± 0.01 vs 0.45 ± 0.01 ) were increased ( all P values ＜0.01 ).In the INS group,all of aforementioned changes were reversed (0.90 ± 0.10 vs 0.25 ± 0.04 for Bip; 0.95 ±0.07 vs 0.47 ±0.01 for XBP-1s; 1.94 ± 0.03 vs 0.50 ±0.10 for p-c-Jun; 5.32 ± 0.22 vs 1.59 ±0.32 for p-IRS-1 ; 0.45 ±0.01 vs 0.15 ±0.02 for G6Pase,all P values ＜0.01 ).In the GT group,all of aforementioned changes were also attenuated ( 0.90 ± 0.10 vs 0.53 ± 00.02 for Bip ; 0.95 ± 0.07 vs 0.78±0.02 for XBP-1s; 1.94 ±0.03 vs 1.33 ±0.11 for p-c-Jun; 5.32 ±0.22 vs 3.13 ±0.02 for p-IRS-1; 0.45 ± 0.01 vs 0.25 ± 0.01 for G6Pase,all P values ＜ 0.05).Furthermore,all of aforementioned protein levels were down-regulated more obviously in the INS group comparing to the GT group ( all P values ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions Both insulin and gliclazide therapy could relieve ER stress and e-Jun N-terminal kinase activity and improved insulin sensitivity.The effect of insulin on Bip,XBP-1s,p-c-Jun,p-IRS-1 and G6Pase protein expressions is more obvious than that of glilcazide,which indicates besides lowering glucose,insulin might have protective effects of anti-inflammation,anti-oxidative stress or stimulation of lipid redistribution.

The effect of insulin treatment on fatty liver was investigated in diabetic mice fed with high-fat diet.C57 BL/6J mice were fed with high fat diet for 12 weeks,and then treated with Glargine for 4 weeks.The results showed that during intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test,blood glucose,serum total cholesterol and triglyceride(TG) were significantly lower in insulin-treated high fat group than those in untreated ones(P<0.05).The hepatic histology showed minimal or barely visible fat in hepmic cells along with TG content in liver decreasing by 20.71%. The results suggest that insulin ameliorates hepatic intracellular lipid accumulation induced by high fat diet.

Objective To study angiography characteristics of myocardial infarction complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM). Methods A total of 389 cases confirmed by coronary angiography were divided into two groups according to the status if they had combined with DM(166 patients) or not(223 patients). Results The DM patients suffered more from hypertension than without DM patients(P

Objective To investigate the cytolytic activity of extracellular cytolytic toxin rVVC of Vibrio vulnificus on the apoptosis of human ECV304 cells, and to analyze the activities of Caspase-3,-8 and -9. Methods The cytotoxic effect of refolded rVVC on the growth and apoptosis of ECV304 cells was identified by MTT, Hochest33342/PI fluorescent staining, flow cytometry and DNA agarose electrophoresis analysis, respectively. The activities of Caspase-3, -8 and -9 was measured using a colorimetric method. Results The viability of human ECV304 cells exposed to rVVC was inhibited by rVVC after 24 h. 2.0 HU/ml rVVC groups had a better cytotoxic effect to human ECV304 than that of 0.5 HU /ml rVVC groups. The apoptosis of human ECV304 cells in 2.0 HU/ml rVVC+40 μmol/L Z-VAD-FMK groups was relative reduced than that of 2.0 HU/ml of rVVC groups. After 0.5 h treatment with 2.0 HU/ml of rVVC, the Caspase-3 activity in human ECV304 cells increased gradually and reached the peak at 3 h (versus control groups, P<0.01). The activity of Caspase-8 and -9 remained unchanging. Conclusion The rVVC has cytotoxic effect on human ECV304 and the cytolysin is probably correlated with Caspase-3.