Objective To investigate the effect of fluoride on expression of Runx2 mRNA and protein in bone tissue of rats. Methods Fourteen SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group(tap water with fluoride ＜ 0.06 mg/L), and fluorosis group(fluoride 50 mg/L in water). After 4 moths, expressions of both mRNA and protein of Runx2 in rat bone tissue were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results The results showed that the expression of Runx2 mRNA and protein in fluoride-treated bone tissue were 2.287 ± 0.261 and 0.929 ± 0.229, respectively, both of which were significantly higher than those of control group(0.995 ± 0.123,0.317 ± 0.068, t = 11.85,6.78, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions Fluoride can increase the expression of Runx2 mRNA and protein in bone tissue of rats, and Runx2 may be involved in the pathogenesis of bone injury caused by fluoride.

Objective To study histological and cytological characteristics of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum by needle biopsy. Methods Needle biopsy specimens of 19 cases of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum were studied with pathological, cytological, histochemical and immunohistochemical staining examination. Results Of 19 cases, 12 were males and 7 were females, with a mean age of 58.1 years. Histopathlogical examination of needle biopsy specimens revealed that 10 of them were tubulopapillary. 3 undifferentiated. 1 signet ringoid cell, 1 small cell, 2 of low-grade malignant cystic cell and 2 of myofibroblastic cell types. 16 cases were positive by cytology smear but 3 negative. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the neoplastic cells of all cases were positive for keratin, vimentin, EMA, antimesothelial cell antigen and CI but negative for HCI. Conclusion The diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum can be established by its clinical manifestation, combined with pathological, cytological, histochemical staining and immunohisitochemical staining of specimens obtained by ultrasound guided needle biopsy.

Objective To study the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of low-grade malignant cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum (LGMCMP). Methods 25 cases of LGMCMP were analyzed retrospectively on their clinicopathologic features and immunohistochemical and electron microscopic findings, therapeutic approach and prognosis were also studied. Results Of 25 cases, 18 were females and 7 were males with a mean age of 39.6 years (range 16-84 years). According to their imaging characteristics, symptoms and physical signs, three morphological patterns of these tumors were found, i.e. localized cystic mass, multiple cystic nodules and diffuse cystic nodules. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the neoplastic cells were positive for CK, Vimentin, EMA, and anti-mesothelial cell antigen. Histochemically, the tumors were positive for CI but negative for HCI. Electron microscopic study of 11 cases revealed that the neoplastic cells had profuse slender microvilli on cell surface, large amount of microfilaments (tono-filaments) and abundant desmosomes. Conclusion LGMCMP is an uncommon neoplasm of low-grade malignancy, generally occurring in young women with distinct clinicopathologic features.

Objective To assess the image quality (IQ) of an iterative reconstruction (IR) technique (iDose4) from prospective electrocardiography (ECG)-triggered coronary CTA on a 256 MSCT scanner and determine the optimal dose reduction using IR that can provide IQ comparable to filtered back projection (FBP).Methods Prospectively ECG gated CCTA were performed on 120 patients [76 men,44 women; age:(53 ± 10)y] using a 256-slice MSCT (Brilliance iCT,Philips Healthcare).The control group (Group A,n =30) were scanned using the conventional tube output (120 kVp,210 mAs) and reconstructed using FBP.The other 3 groups were scanned with the same kVp but successively reduced tube output as follows:B (n =30):105 mAs,C (n =30):84 mAs:D (n =30):65 mAs and reconstructed using IR levels of L4 to L6,respectively.All images were reconstructed using the same kernel (XCB).Two radiologists graded IQ in a blinded fashion on a 4-point scale (4-excellent,3-good,2-fair and 1-poor).Quantitative measurements of CT values,image noise,Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were obtained in each group.Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for comparisons of objective evaluation indices (noise,CNR) and radiation dose (CTDIvol,DLP,ED) between the four groups.The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparisons of demographic data and for detection of differences in subjective evaluation of IQ among groups.A level of P ＜ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.A ROC analysis was performed to determine a radiation reduction threshold up to which excellent IQ was maintained.Results There was no significant differences in objective noise among Groups A (37.4 ±7.9) HU,B(33.2±7.1) HU,C(35.7±9.8) HU,and D(36.0±6.8) HU (F=1.48,P=0.22).There was no significant differences in CNR among Groups A(15.0 ±2.3),B(16.5 ±3.6),C(16.3 ±3.5),and D(15.3±2.8) (F=1.70,P =0.17).Group B and C had good and excellent scores of the subjective IQ (≥3),and there was no significant differences in the scores of the subjective IQ between Group A,and Groups B,C (P =0.30-1.00).Significant differences in image sharpness and study acceptability were observed between groups A and D (P ＜ 0.01).Using the criterion of excellent IQ (score 4),the ROC curve of dose levels and IQ acceptability established a reduction of 60％ of tube output (Group C) as optimum cutoff point (AUC:0.76,95％ CI:0.65-0.87).The effective dose (ED) of Group C was 61％ lower than that of Group A,(1.2 ± 0.1) mSv vs.(3.1 ± 0.6) mSv.Conclusion Iterative reconstruction techniques can provide 61％ ED reduction in prospectively-triggered coronary CTA using 256-slice MSCT while maintaining excellent image quality.

Objective To estimate reliability of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in measuring liver stiffness of volunteers and patients with chronic liver disease and to assess inter-rater consistency.Methods MRE was performed on a 3.0 T scanner in all subjects,including 24 volunteers (control group) and 64 patients with liver disease (chronic liver disease group).Liver stiffness was measured blindly by two raters.The pathological fibrosis score was applied as a standard reference for liver fibrosis in 22 patients.The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate inter-rater reliability.The differences of liver stiffness between two groups were evaluated using non-parametric MannWhitney U test.Spearman analysis was used to analyze the correlation between fibrosis stages and liver stiffness.Results The intraclass correlation coefficient of liver stiffness was perfect (ICC =0.99,P ＜ 0.01)between two raters.There was significant difference of mean stiffness between control group and patient group (U =90.5,P ＜0.01) with(2.35 ±0.34) kPa and(4.17 ± 0.47) kPa,respectively.The correlation between fibrosis stage (3,3,5,5 and 6 patients in fibrosis stage S0,S1,S2,S3 and S4) and stiffness (2.13,3.25,3.82,5.45 and 7.35 kPa) was very strong (r =0.96,P ＜0.01).Conclusion MRE is a reliable and promising tool to measure liver stiffness and to assess liver fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of lateral ventricle transplantation of neurotrophic factor-transfected cells derived from Glia cell line on vascular dementia in rats and gene expression of Drebrin in hippocampal region.Methods By using gene clone technique,the GDNF gene was transfected into SH-SY5Y cell lines.104 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing (200± 20) gram were divided into groups:transplanted group,injected group,control group,all of which accepted operation by permanent ligation of left common carotid artery and clipping right common carotid artery repeatedly to build up model of vascular dementia,and sham operation group which accepted no ligation or clipping.6 rats from each group were decapitated on the third day,seventh day and tenth day after transplanting treatment were for fluorescence detection.The rest 20 rats in each group were used to detect learning and memory functions by Morris water maze on the third day and decapitated on the fourth day after transplanting treatment.Then GDNF level in temporal lobe were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),while Drebrin mRNA and protein levels in hippocampal region were detected by real time-PCR and Westernblot respectively.Results There was strong fluorescent light detected around lateral ventricle of rats in transplanted group on the third day after transplantation,which faded on the seventh day and disappeared on the tenth day.The learning and memory functions of rats in transplanted group were improved significantly.The escape latency was shorter in transplanted group than in injected group and control group [(34.89±4.15) s vs.(43.86±6.95) s,(50.89±3.66) s,both P＜0.05],while shuttle times through the third quadrant were more often in transplanted group than in injected group and control group [(11.00±1.49) vs.(9.26 ±1.38),(8.04 ± 1.12),both P＜0.05].GDNF level and Drebrin mRNA and protein levels were higher in transplanted group than in injected group and control group [GDNF:(315.71±27.43) vs.(256.26±19.90),(141.95±21.33),Drebrin mRNA:(5.54±0.35) vs.(3.10±0.33),(1.32±0.23),Drebrinprotein:(0.55±0.05) vs.(0.43±0.06),(0.26±0.06),all P＜0.05].Conclusions GDNF-transfected cells could survive in the lateral cerebral ventricle of rats for about seven days.The method for treating vascular dementia through the technique of transplanting GDNF-transfected cells is certain feasible,which has a better therapeutic effect than GDNF-injection directly into lateral cerebral ventricle.The therapeutic effect of GDNF on vascular dementia may be related to its action of regulating neural plasticity.

Objective To investigate cortical activation patterns for covert and overt picture naming with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods fMRI data were collected on 24-27 years old volunteers during performance of covert and overt picture naming. After statistical postprocessing analysis, head movement data were compared across tasks and average neural activation maps were available for both tasks. Results Mean and maximal translations of head movement in covert picture naming were less than those in overt picture naming, but the difference has no statistical significance (P=0.23). It was shown that covert picture naming involved an orchestration of bilateral occipital gyri and cerebellums, bilateral supplementary motor area, postcentral gyri, inferior frontal gyrus and anterior cingulate cortex. Activations in overt picture naming included those in covert naming (but more intensive), bilateral precentral gyri and posterior superior temporal gyri, left anterior superior temporal gyrus, bilateral thalamus, basal ganglia, and left insula. Conclusion Covert and overt picture naming are two different tasks involving different neural processing networks and levels. They can not be taken as substitutes for each other.

Objective To observe the effect of the average heart rate (HR) and the variability of HR on image quality of 3D free-breathing whole-heart coronary MR angiography (MRCA). Methods A total of 65 healthy volunteers underwent retrospectively electrocardiography-gated 3D free-breathing whole-heart coronary MRA with ECG-gated 3D segmented-k-space gradient echo sequence. Two observers evaluated image quality of each coronary segment. Visualization of the proximal coronary arteries (CA) with coronary MRA was qualitatively evaluated using a four point grading scale (1: excellent; 2: good; 3: moderate; 4: non-diagnostic). Pearson correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between image quality of each coronary artery and the average HR and heart rate variability. Results Average HR was 64.5±13.3 beats per minute (bpm) (range 40-86 bpm) with a variability of (6.1%±2.6)%. No significant correlation presented between mean HR and image quality of all segments of the left circumflex and left anterior descending artery except the right coronary artery (P<0.05). heart rate variability significantly correlated with overall image quality (P<0.001) and image quality of each coronary artery. Conclusion heart rate variability influences the image quality of 3D free-breathing coronary MRA more obvious than HR does.

Objective To observe changes of the structure and function of microvessels during the formation and development of the rat cerebral glioma with steady-state susceptibility contrast-enhanced MR imaging. Methods A total of 30 bearing-tumor rats were divided into 3 groups (1-week group, 2-week group and 3-week group) and underwent MR examination. Blood volime (BV) and vessel size index (VSI_(MRI)) of peripheral tumor areas, central tumor areas and normal cerebral tissue in the opposite side were measured, and compared with histologic findings. Results With time of bearing-tumor increasing, BV of central tumor area present an up-and-down curve-like change, which related to the host blood vessel regression in tumor central area, the decreasing of blood vessel density and histopathologically obvious necrosis. BV of peripheral tumor areas increased because of active blood angiogenesis in this area, while VSI_(MRI) increased gradually, especially in the central tumor area. There was obviously correlation between the VSI_(MRI) and VSI _(histo) (P<0.01). Conclusion BV and VSI_(MRI) can exactly reflect the morphology and functional information of microcirculation of tumor during the growth and development of gliomas.

Objective To explore the of value steady-state susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI (SSCE-MRI) in assessment of anti-angiogenesis therapy in rat C6 glioma. Methods Seventeen rats with the bearing-tumor were randomly divided into the therapy group (n=8) and the contrast group (n=9). Human-recombination endostatin (10 mg/kg) was injected to animals in therapy group, and saline of the same dose was injected to the contrast group for 7 days. Blood volume (BV) and vessel size index (VSI) were measured of tumors in peripheral, central and normal areas with MR pre- and post-therapy. Results After therapy of endostatin, the tumor volume was obviously different between therapy group and contrast group (t=5.26, P<0.05). BV and VSI_(MRI) of tumor decreased in both peripheral and central areas, particularly in the peripheral area (t=4.14, 3.66, all P<0.01). Conclusion Assessment of therapeutic effect of anti-angiogenesis in C6 glioma is feasible with SSCE-MRI, and it can reflect the changes of BV and VSI_(MRI) pre- and post-therapy.