Objective To compare the image quality of portal venous system in the patients with live cirrhosis and portal hyper-tension using two different inj ection methods,so as to investigate the optimization of imaging techniques.Methods Single-phase in-jection (group A)or biphasic injection (group B)was applied by random on 40 patients for portal venous system vascular imaging, and subsequently image quality and technical advantages between the two groups were compared and analyzed respectively.Results 1.There was no significant difference in image quality between the two groups(P>0.05),while contrast agent dosage (90 mL)in group B is less than group A(100 mL).2.The CT value of Portal vein,liver parenchyma and P-L discrepancy in group B were slightly lower than those in group A,however,no statistical difference was noted(P>0.05).After 45 second,the P-L discrepancy of group B was larger than that of group A.The peak times of portal vein,liver parenchyma and the P-L discrepancy in group B were longer than those in group A(P<0.05).3.The graph of P-L discrepancy demonstrated:the threshold interval of P-L discrep-ancy in group B was longer than that in group A.Conclusion Biphasic inj ection methods could not only afford reliable imaging quali-ty on portal venous system vascular imaging in the patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension,but also lead to a less total dose of contrast agent.Therefore,it could be used as an optimal choice of imaging technology for portal venous system vascular ima-ging.

Objective To describe the clinical features of pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and heighten the ratio of diagnosis.Methods With a case report and review of the related literature,the etiology,clinical manifestations,pathology diagnosis,differential diagnosis,management and prognosis of pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma were described.Results The etiology of this rare disease remained unknown.Symptoms were scanty and usually mild.Chest radiograph or computed tomography usually revealed multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules.Primitive lumen formed by a single cell was the pathologic feature.Immunohistochemical stains showed that the malignant cells are of the endothelial type.There was no effective treatment for this disease and its prognosis was unpredictable.Conclusion Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is rare and often misdiagnosed as other pulmonary diseases.

A novel method was proposed for the quantification of nitrite ion in aqueous samples by the combination of an advanced quantitative fluorescence model with ratiometric fluorescence indicator 2 , 3-diaminonaphthalene . The proposed method was tentatively applied to direct quantitative determination of nitrite ion in turbid environmental water samples containing both scatterers and absorbers; and its performance was thoroughly investigated and evaluated. Experimental results showed that the proposed method could realize accurate quantitative determination of nitrite ion in environmental water samples with recovery rates in the range of 90. 8%-103. 0%, which were comparable to the corresponding values of HPLC-DAD experiments. The limit of detection and limit of quantification of the proposed method were estimated to be 1 . 9 and 5. 8 nmo/L, respectively.

Purpose To compare radiation dose and image quality of different scan modes for CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) including high-pitch flash mode, dual energy CT (DECT) mode, 128-slice mode of dual source CT and 64-slice CT mode. Materials and Methods One hundred and sixty-seven patients with suspected pulmonary embolism were retrospectively studied. All the patients underwent CTPA. Twenty patients were selected randomly from the patients scanned by high-pitch flash mode. Patients who were scanned by the other three modes were selected with body mass index and age matched those in high-pitch flash mode, with 20 patients in each group. Two radiologists assessed signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and image quality with 5-piont scale. Dose parameters of volume CT dose index (CTDIvol), dose length product (DLP), and effective dose (ED) were compared among the four groups. Results Mean CTDIvol, DLP and ED were (3.72±0.74) mGy, (137.5±28.7) mGy · cm, and (2.34±0.41) mSv for Flash mode;(5.31±1.21) mGy, (181.6±34.5) mGy· cm and (3.24±0.57) mSv for DECT mode;(5.66±1.47) mGy, (198.7±42.1) mGy·cm and (3.58±0.63) mSv for 128-CT mode;and (6.75±1.68) mGy, (231.5±54.2) mGy·cm and (4.21±0.89) mSv for 64-CT mode. There was no significant difference of SNR and image quality among the four modes (P>0.05). Conclusion There are no significant difference of image quality among the four groups. Flash mode allows for minimum radiation dose compared to other modes. DECT mode and 128-CT mode get higher radiation dose with no difference between them. 64-CT mode gets the highest radiation dose.

Objective To investigate the effects of normal caloric high-protein diet on metabolic parameters and gastrointestinal hormones in patients with obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods Totally 30 obese subjects (OB group) and 40 obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM group) received normal caloric high-protein diet for 24 weeks.Then body weight,fat mass,and metabolic parameters were assessed.The serum ghrelin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels were also measured at 0 and 2 h after an oral 100 g of steamed bread meal test.Results After 24 weeks,body weight [(78.23 ± 7.51) kg vs (80.83±8.13) kg,P=0.016; (80.45±7.48) kg vs (83.26±9.35) kg,P=0.011],body mass index [(31.03 ±2.72) kg/m2 vs (32.01 ±2.95) kg/m2,P=0.033; (32.63 ±2.81) kg/m2 vs (33.86±3.03) kg/m2,P =0.043],waist circumference [(93.65 ± 6.23) cm vs (97.30 ± 7.81) cm,P =0.041 ;(97.02±7.43) cm vs (101.87 ±9.87) cm,P =0.034],fat mass [(30.42 ±6.18) kg vs (32.47 ±5.91) kg,P=0.022; (34.23 ±7.03) kg vs (36.64 ±6.83) kg,P =0.032],fasting serum insulin [(10.81±3.69) mmol/Lvs (13.58±4.86) mmol/L,P=0.012; (9.58±3.51) mmol/Lvs (10.82±4.28) mmol/L,P =0.015],HOMA-insulin resistance index [(2.42 ± 0.83) vs (3.16 ± 1.21),P =0.019; (3.15±0.74) vs (4.13±0.67),P=0.024] and triglycerides [(1.24±0.32) mmol/Lvs (1.49±0.52) mmol/L,P=0.046; (1.86±1.05) mmol/L vs (2.46±1.85) mmol/L,P=0.034] were significantly decreased in OB and T2DM groups,respectively,compared with 0 week.Fasting blood glucose (FBG)and glycosylated hemoglobin were also significantly declined in T2DM group [FBG:(6.73 ± 1.25) mmol/Lv s (8.63 ±2.81)) mmol/L,P=0.010; HbA1c (6.44 ±0.47) vs (7.38 ±0.33),P=0.031].The serum ghrelin and GLP-1 both increased at 0h and 2 h after meal test in OB and T2DM groups [fasting serum ghrelin:(4.98 ±0.89) μg/L vs (3.95 ±0.98) μg/L,P=0.021; (4.23 ± 1.67) μg/L vs (3.15 ± 1.01) μgL,P=0.025; 2 h postprandial serum ghrelin:(2.98 ±0.96) μg/L vs (2.56 ±0.83) μg/L,P =0.046; (2.83 ± 1.03) μg/L vs (1.95 ±0.92) μg/L,P =0.033; fasting serum GLP-1:(6.06 ±0.63) μg/L vs (5.13±0.59) μg/L,P=0.041; (5.23±0.71) μg/Lv s (4.49±0.53) μg/L,P=0.039; 2 h postprandialserum GLP-1:(10.01±1.01) μg/L vs (7.68±0.94) μg/L,P=0.007; (8.87±0.94) μg/Lvs (6.59 ± 0.87) μg/L,P =0.013].Conclusions Normal caloric high-protein diet can reduce body weight and serum glucose.Those effects may be due to the increase in secretion of GLP-1.

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of vascular endothelium secreted factors after oral fatty meal test and the correlation of the factors with blood lipid in elderly diabetic patients. Methods Thirty-six elderly diabetic patients (diabetic group) and twenty heahhy elderly subjects(control group) were selected into the study and received oral fatty meal test for 6 hours. Diabetic group was divided into three subgroups, including fasting hypertriglyceridemia subgroup, postprandial hypertriglyceridemia subgroup and postprandial normotriglyceridemia subgroup. Serum nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAl-1) and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) were measured before and after oral fatty meal test. Results (1) The level of serum NO was significantly increased and ET-1 was significantly reduced in control group 2 hours after oral fatty meal test and were returned to basal state 6 hours after the test. But in diabetic group, postprandial serum NO level were decreased and ET-1 were increased gradually and reached to the peak 6 hours after oral fatty meal test. The ratio of NO/ET-1 was lower in diabetic group than that in control group (P< 0.01). There were important differences among fasting hypertriglyceridemia subgroup, postprandial hypertriglyceridemia subgroup and postprandial normotriglyeeridemia subgroup(P<0.05 or<0.01). (2) The level of PAl-1 was increased and t-PA was decreased slightly 4 hours after oral fatty meal test in control and diabetic groups. Compared with control group, PAI-1/ t-PA obviously increased in diabetic group. Meanwhile, PAI-1/t-PA in fasting hypertriglyeeridemia and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia subgroups were significantly higher than that in postprandial normotriglyceridemia subgroup(P<0. 05 or<0.01). (3) In the diabetic group, TG was negatively correlated with NO and t-PA(r=-0.360 P<0.05; r=-0.649, P<0.01) and positively correlated with ET-1 and PAI-1(r=0.421,P<0.01;r=0.520,P<0.01). Conclusions The elderly diabetic patients suffer from the imbalance of vascular endothelium secreted factors. The postprandial abnormal TG metabolism may aggravate the change and further damage the vascular endothelial function.

Objective To explore the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MS) and prostate volume. Methods One thousand and ninety-eight males aged 36-90 years were divided into two groups according to the definition of MS by CDS in 2004 : MS group and control group. The blood pressure, body weight and height were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Biochemical assays including fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and prostate specific antigen (PSA) were performed. Prostate volume was measured by abdominal ultrasound. Results (1) The BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, prostate volume and PSA level were higher, while HDL-C level was lower in MS group than in control group (all P<0.05). (2)Compared with control group, the prostate volume was enlarged in MS group [(37.8±21.3)ml vs. (31.0±11.1)ml, P<0.01]. (3)The prostate volume was positively correlated with PSA level (r= 0. 350, P< 0. 01), age (r = 0. 429, P<0.01), BMI (r=0.145,P<0.01) and systolic blood pressure (r=0.133, P<0.05), and was negatively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (r= -0. 193,P<0. 01). ConclusionsMetabolic syndrome is related to the enlargement of prostate volume.

Objective To analyze the prevalence and risk factors of the hyperuricemia ( HUA) in the adult population (aged≥20)in Shandong Province.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 11 234 subjects(8399 males and 2835 females)selected in a randomized, stratified study between January and December of 2012.The serum samples were collected and some biochemical indicators were assayed including serum uric acid (SUA), glucose, blood lipids, liver function and renal function .The body height , body mass and blood pressure were also measured , and the body mass index (BMI)was calculated.Multiple linear regression was used to clarify the contributions of different variables to SUA .The risk factors of HUA were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis .Results The overall incidence of HUA was 15.71%,and was 18.89% in men and 6.31% in women, respectively.After age 35,the level of SUA declined with age in males.However,the opposite was true in women .Our results also indicated that drinking , obesity, hyper-triglyceridemia , hypertension , serum creatinine ( SCr ) , blood urea nitrogen ( BUN ) , alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ) , serum gamma-glutamyltransferase ( GGT ) were associated with HUA in men while hypertension , low-density lipoprotein, hyper-triglyceridemia,ALT,SCr and BUN were related to HUA in women .Conclusion HUA is prevalent in Shandong Province .Drinking,obesity,hypertension,abnormal liver and renal functions might increase the risk of HUA while changing lifestyle by decreasing alcohol consumption , adopting a proper diet and controlling hypertension and obesity might decrease the risk of HUA .

Objective To explore CT,MRI findings of extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (EMC).Methods Imaging information of all 8 cases of EMC verified by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.Results The location of lesions included lower extremity in 4 cases,forearm in 1 case,trunk in 2 cases and right lung in 1 case.The CT examination was performed in 7 cases,and 5 cases contained different patterns of ring-and-arc,granular,clump or irregular streaky mineralization.Dense calcification was detected in 3 cases,and focal in 2 cases.The nonmineralized component had slightly lower attenuation on CT scans than adjacent muscle.Four cases of peripheral located EMC demonstrated isointense on T1 WI,and mixed signal intensity on T2WI.For the cases of fine and dense calcification in 2 cases,numbers of dot-like low-intensity signals were detected resembling “pepper sign”; while for the cases of focal mineralization in 1 case,the low intensity area was located centrally in the high intensity area.Heterogeneous enhancement was found both in the calcified and uncalcified areas.One case of central located tumor exhibited low and high intensity on T1 and T2 weighted images,and nodual enhancement was observed.Conclusion EMC has several characteristic imaging features,including various mineralization pattern,enhancement of calcified area and signal intensity,which might have diagnostic value for this rare tumor.

Objective To study the mechanism of RING finger protein 34 ( RNF34 ) involved in innate immunity . Methods Recombinant PCR was used and transient expression of the plasmid was achieved in HEK 293T cells.The cells were stimulated with Sendai virus ( SeV) or N-RIG-Ⅰfor the indicated time while luciferase activity was observed using the dual-luciferase reporter assay kit .Results We constructed the plasmid pcDNA 3-Flag-RNF34 and its three mutations .The study found that when stimulated by SeV , RNF34 could inhibit the activity of NF-κB and IFN-βmore significantly than RNF34-ΔFYVE, RNF34-ΔCID and RNF34-ΔRING.We also found that RNF 34 and its three mutants had similar inhibitory effect when the activation of NF-κB and IFN-βwas stimulated by the N-RIG-Ⅰ.Conclusion RNF34 negatively regulates innate immunity by acting on the RIG-Ⅰ-MAVS signaling pathway .