Objective To examine the expressions of AQP1 and VEGF in human hepatitis B associated hepatocellular c arcinoma and to investigate its relationship with the occurrence and development of hepatocellularcarcinoma. Methods AQP1 and VEGF expressionsin the cancer tissues and AQP1 and VEGF levels in the serum were detected in 62 cases of hepatocellula carcinomaby immunohistochemistry and ELISA , respectively. Results The expressions of AQP1 and VEGF in the liver cancers were significantly higher than in the normal tissues (P<0.01). The higher expression was related to pathologic type,degrees of differentiation and lymph node metastasis, but not related to sex, age and TNM stages. In the serum of liver cancer, the concentrations of AQP1 and VEGF were significantly higher than those in the control group. Conclusion High expressions of AQP1 and VEGF in the patients with liver cancer may be correlated to the occurrence and development of liver cancer. Plasma levels ofAQP1 and VEGF may be more meaningful for the evaluation of clinical prognosis.

The traditional denoising algorithm for ultrasound images would lost a lot of details and weak edge information when suppressing speckle noise. A new denoising algorithm of adaptive threshold based on curvelet transform is proposed in this paper. The algorithm utilizes differences of coefficients' local variance between texture and smooth region in each layer of ultrasound image to define fuzzy regions and membership functions. In the end, using the adaptive threshold that determine by the membership function to denoise the ultrasound image. The experimental text shows that the algorithm can reduce the speckle noise effectively and retain the detail information of original image at the same time, thus it can greatly enhance the performance of B ultrasound instrument.
Algorithms ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Ultrasonics

In order to investigate if there exists interaction between mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) protein, and how the interaction regulates tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) transcription activity, the human p38 and extracellular-signal regulated protein kinase 2 (ERK2) genes were amplified from human flag-p38 and flag-ERK2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into pcDNA3-HA. Protein expression of the plasmids was examined by Western blotting. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to identify if there exists interaction between MAPK and STAT3 proteins. If the interaction was approved to be true, report gene system was applied to find how the interaction affect transcriptional expression of TNF-?. After STAT3 pathway was inhibited by RNA interfering, the action on TNF-? activity was determined. The results of DNA sequencing and enzyme digestion showed that the cloned p38 and ERK2 genes were correct, to be 1 080 bp or so. p38 and ERK2 proteins were expressed in 293T cell to be approximately 40 ku. Co-immunoprecipitation data showed that p38 and ERK2 proteins integrated with STAT3 protein in vivo. TNF-? reporter gene activity results found that protein complex of p38-STAT3 and ERK2-STAT3 coordinately increased TNF-? activity. After STAT3 was interfered, the TNF-? activity markedly decreased. These data indicated that there exists interaction between p38 and STAT3 protein, ERK2 and STAT3 protein. The complex of the proteins can coordinately regulate TNF-? expression. After interfereing STAT3 pathway, the coordinated action on TNF-? transcription activity might be obviously reduced.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects and the possible mechanism of fecal transplantation on rats with Clostridium difficile-associated pseudomembranous colitis. Methods A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups including the healthy control group, model group, fecal transplant treatment group and vancomycin treatment group. Rats in three experimental groups were subcuta-neously injected with clindamycin phosphate (10 mg), followed by treatment with toxin producing Clostridi-um difficile (ACTT43255) enema 24 hours later. The rats in fecal transplant treatment group and vancomy-cin treatment group were respectively treated with fecal suspension and vancomycin one day after modeling. The rats were fasted for one day after the last administration and then executed. The levels of potassium ion ( K) , sodium ion ( Na) , albumin ( ALB) , white blood cells ( WBC) , C-reaction protein ( CRP) , interleu-kin-1β ( IL-1β) , interleukin-10 ( IL-10 ) , interleukin-12 ( IL-12 ) and interleukin-17 ( IL-17 ) as well as the percentage of neutrophils ( N%) in serum samples were detected. The colon tissue samples were collect-ed for pathology examination. Results The rat model of pseudomembranous colitis was successfully estab-lished by subcutaneous injection of clindamycin in combination with toxin-producing Clostridium difficile (ACTT43255) enema. The signs of intestinal inflammation including serious weight loss, remarkably short-ened colon length and significantly increased colon wet weight index were observed in rats from the model group (P<0. 05). Compared with the rats from model group, the rats received fecal transplant showed sig-nificantly increased levels of K, ALB, IL-10 and IL-10/IL-12 in serum and decreased levels of WBC, N%, CRP, IL-1β and IL-17 (P<0. 05). Conclusion Fecal transplantation was proved to be an effective ap-proach for the treatment of pseudomembranous colitis. The therapeutic mechanism might due to its impacts on serum inflammatory factors.

Objective To examine self-reported symptoms by the patients receiving cancer therapy, and find out the symptoms that should be coped with and managed during the treatment. Methods A pilot study was conducted on self-reported symptoms on 185 patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for different cancers. The Therapy-Related Symptoms Checklist (TRSC) was used. Results Severe symptoms on the TRSC subscales: loss of appetite,feeling sluggish, weight loss, nausea and hair loss, were reported by the patients. The frequently reported symptoms by those on chemotherapy were nausea, feeling sluggish, weight loss, vomiting, and taste change. The frequently reported symptoms by those on radiotherapy were feeling sluggish, weight loss, loss of appetite, difficult sleeping, and changing taste. The symptoms of loss of appetite, feeling sluggish, weight loss, hair loss, and nausea were both frequently reported by those on radiotherapy and those on chemotherapy. Conclusion Symptom monitoring may be facilitated by TRSC, based on the severity and frequency of reported symptoms, more patients and caregivers could know which symptoms should be preferential interventions.

Objective To review the diagnosis and treatment of basal cell carcinoma of the scrorum. Methods Clinical data of 7 patients with basal cell carcinoma of the scrotum were analyzed retrospectively. The mean age of the patients was 66 years. The most common presenting symptom was a plaque or nodular lesion with pruritis on the scrotum. The lesions ranged from 1.5 cm to 4.5 cm in diameter. Five of the 7 patients had a history of misdiagnosis. The diagnosis was established by biopsy of the lesion in all the patients. All of the 7 patients had no distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis and were treated by wide surgical resection.Results Histopathologic examination of the specimens confirmed the negative surgical margins in all cases.The most common histological feature was lobules, columns, bands and cords of basaloid cells associated with a surrounding loose fibromucinous stroma.One patient developed left inguinal lymph node metastasis at 21 months postoperatively,and was treated by bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection.The patient was free of cancer for 36 months after that. Another patient developed lung metastasis 48 months after the first operation.He was treated by systemic chemotherapy with cyclophosph amide, epirubicin and cisplatin for 6 cycles and obtained complete remission.This patient was free of cancer for 13 months after the chemotherapy.The remaining 5 patients were all free of cancer after the operation. Conclusions Basal cell carcinoma of the scrotum is rare.Wide surgical resection alone is usually considered to be curative. Because of its potential of metastasis, long-term followup is indicated for this disease.

PurposeTo investigate the role of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in the detection of focal liver lesions (FLL).Materials and Methods T2WI, dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) and DWI (b=100 s/mm2 and 600 s/mm2 respectively) were performed in 205 patients with 310 FLLs. All images were read by two reviewers to determine the detection of FLLs and score the confidence. The consistency of the results given by the two reviewers was evaluated. The confidence scores between different sequences and the detection rate of different sequences were also compared.Results The consistency of the two reviewers was excellent or good in T2WI, high b value DWI, low b value DWI, and DCE (Kappa=0.71, 0.85, 0.82 and 0.64,P<0.05). As to the confidence score of lesion detection, high b value DWI and low b value DWI were both significantly higher than T2WI (P<0.01), but both were lower than DCE (P<0.01). DWI yielded higher score and detection rate for detecting FLLs than T2WI (86.5%vs. 70.3%,P<0.01), but lower than DCE (91.6%,P<0.05). For small malignant lesions (≤2 cm in diameter), DWI showed similar detection rate with DCE (P>0.05), but higher than T2WI (P<0.01). The combination of DWI and DCE detected more small malignant lesions than DWI or DCE alone (P<0.01).Conclusion DWI can detect more FLLs than T2WI, and can help DCE detect small malignant FLLs. Therefore DWI is suggested to be included in the routine protocol of liver MRI examination.

Objective To discuss the outcomes of the clinically insignificant residual fragments after minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Methods 75 patients (11％) with CIRF among 655 who underwent initial MPCNL from January 2008 to December 2010 were diagnosed by CT scan.Clinical data of 68 patients (39 male and 29 female) were analyzed retrospectively.Previous open surgery hadbeen performed in 13 and ESWL in 20 cases.The median residual fragment size was 1.8 mm.The anatomical distribution of CIRF was 9 at upper pole,14 at middle,34 at lower,9 at renal ureteropelvic junction and 2 at upper and lower pole.Stone analysis showed 40 cases of calcium oxalate calculi,15 of calcium oxalate calculi mixed with carbonate calculi,2 calcium oxalate calculi mixed with uric acid,3 calcium oxalate calculi mixed with struuvite stone,3 struuvite stone,2 uric acid stone and 3 carbonate apatite mixed with struvite stone.Mean follow up was 23 months (12-36).Follow-up consisted of physical examination,serum routine,urine routine and CT imaging. Results 14(21％) patients (3 upper pole,1 middle pole,4 lower pole and 6 ureteropelvic junction) had symptomatic episodes,including 9 hematuria,2 renal colic pain,5 lower urinary tract symptoms,12 with size of CIRF ＞ 4 rmm.8 patients required surgical procedures.5 patients (1 middle,2 upper pole and 2 renal pelvis) underwent ESWL.3 patients with ureteral CIRF were performed ureteroscopic lithotripsy.The CIRF were clear after surgeries.4 paticnts with CIRF ＞ 4 mm did not have symptoms.These patients were recommended to conservational treatments.2 patients with ureteral CIRF had renal colic pains.The stones were excluded after spasmolytic analgesic treatments.27％ (3/11)CIRF located in upper pole had symptom,compared with 4％ (1/14) in middle pole,11％ (4/36) in lower pole and 67％ (6/9) in ureteropelvic junction. Conclusions CIRF can be located variously in the kidney and ureter.Most CIRF are calcium oxalate calculi and locate in the lower pole.Patients with the history of previous open surgery or SWL are more likely to get CIRF.Medium-term follow-up of CIRF revealed that CIRF located in the renal ureteropelvis junction are more likely to have clinical symptoms.

Objective To analyze clinical features and prognosis of primary intestinal T cell lymphoma (ITCL)which was misdiagnosed as Crohn′s disease (CD),and summarized the key points of differentiation between ITCL and CD.Methods From January 2003 to January 2014,clinical data of patients with ITCL once misdiagnosed as CD were retrospectively analyzed,which included demographic,clinical,pathological and prognostic data.The data of 177 patients diagnosed as CD from January 2012 to January 2014 were collected. The demographic,clinical,pathological and prognostic data of these two groups were analyzed and compared. The continuous variables were compared with t test or Mann-WhitneyU test,and the differences of classification variables between two groups were analyzed by Chi-square test or Fisher exact probability method.Results A
total of 18 patients (17 males and one female)with ITCL misdiagnosed as CD were enrolled in the study,and the median age at diagnosis was 38.5 (28.8 to 42.5)years and the median duration of diagnosis was 6.00 (3.75 to 13.25)months.The common primary symptoms were abdominal pain (12/18),diarrhea (13/18)and anemia (13/18).Intestinal perforation was primary symptom in two cases (2/18).However,B symptoms of lymphoma was observed in 16 patients,which included fever in 13 patients,weight loss in 16 patients and night sweat in one patient.One or more serious complications appeared in 12 patients,which included intestinal perforation in nine patients,severe gastrointestinal bleeding in seven patients and intestinal obstruction in two patients.In 177 patients with CD,104 patients were male (58.8%),and the median age at diagnosis was 22.0 (18.0 to 29.0) years.The primary symptoms were abdominal pain (88.7%,157/177),diarrhea (55.9%,99/177),anemia (63.8%,113/177),fever (33.3%,59/177)and weight loss (59.9%,106/177).During the disease course,30 patients (16.9%)had intestinal perforation (mainly chronic),12 patients (6.8%)had intestinal obstruction and seven patients (4.0%)had severe gastrointestinal bleeding.Compared to CD patients,male patients were more common in ITCL (χ2 =8.837,P <0.01),age at diagnosis was older (χ2 =314.5,P <0.01),the disease course was shorter (U=385.0,P <0.01),weight loss (χ2 =5.867,P <0.05)and fever (χ2 =10.609,P <0.01)were more common in clinical symptoms and intestinal perforation and severe gastrointestinal bleeding were more common in complications (χ2 =9.185,24.908,both P <0.01).The lesions of ITCL were multiple lesions, small bowel involved in eight cases,colon involved in 14 cases and one case with esophagus involved.Under endoscopy examination,most lesions appeared as ulcerations and were segmentally distributed.Compared to CD, lymphocyte proliferation was more common in the intestinal histopathological findings of ITCL (17/18 vs 19.7%(35/177);χ2 =42.844,P <0.01)and granuloma was rare (0 vs 42.8%(76/177),χ2 =12.665,P <0.01). Among 18 patients with ITCL,nine received chemotherapy and the median survival time was two months. Conclusions Primary ITCL had non-specific symptoms and was easily misdiagnosed as CD.More attention should be paid to the differential diagnosis of the two disease.

Objective To study the feasibility of Bama miniature pig model establishment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with streptozotocin (STZ), and observe the changes in protein kinase B (PKB) and phosphorylation expressions in skeletal muscle, liver, and pancreatic tissues of the miniature pig model. Methods A total of 10 healthy male Bama miniature pigs were randomly divided into two groups:control group (n=5, fed normal diet) and diabetic model group (n=5, fed high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with STZ to establish T2DM Bama miniature pig model). The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin (FINS) levels were measured, and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated in two groups. The PKB and phosphorylation expressions in skeletal muscle, liver and pancreatic tissues were measured using Western blot assay. Results (1) After 10 months of high-fat and high-sugar diet, the body weight, FPG, FINS and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in model group than those of control group (P<0.01). (2) After STZ treatment, compared with control group, there was a further increased level of FPG and a significantly decreased level of FINS in model group (P<0.01). (3) Compared with control group, the PKB and phosphorylation expression levels in skeletal muscle, liver and pancreas were significantly lower in model group (P<0.05). Conclusion The high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with STZ can successfully establish the T2DM miniature pig model. The PKB and phosphorylation expression levels in skeletal muscle, liver, and pancreatic tissues are decreased in model pigs.