Objective To evaluate solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) using quantitative dynamic contrast enhanced functional computed tomography (CT), and to illustrate its clinical efficacy in differential diagnosis between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules.Methods Eighty patients with non-calcified SPNs (diameter, 5-30 mm) were studied with dynamic contrast enhanced CT.Patterns of time-density curve (T-DC) were assessed.The precontrast density, peak height in density (PH: the maximum value of the T-DC), and S/A ratio (the ratio of the PH of SPN over aorta) were recorded.Enhancement patterns of SPNs were also recorded.The perfusion of SPNs was calculated.Results Malignant, benign, and inflammatory nodules showed quite different patterns in T-DC.PH and S/A ratio of the malignant and inflammatory nodules were significantly higher than those of the benign nodules (P

Background and purpose:To improve the quality of life of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer is one of the problems which the oncologists have to be aware of. Gefi tinib has been used to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer. We studied the effect of gefi tinib in the improvement of quality of life of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Methods:There were 70 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated in our cancer center. One oral gefi tinib tablet(250 mg) was administered every day without interruption unless disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred. The impact of treatment on disease-related symptoms and quality of life(QoL) were evaluated with the Chinese versions of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires(EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-LC13) . Results:58 patients finished the questionnaires. The mean scores of fi ve functional scales(physical,role,emotional cognitional and social) were 63,56,68,65,61 respectively after eight weeks of treatment,compared to 52,49,64,60,52 respectively before treatment,and the mean score of global QoL after and before treatment were 60 and 53 respectively. There were statistical differences in fi ve functional scales and global QoL(P

Background and purpose:Hypoxia induced the decreased radiosensitivity of tumor cells, which was the cause of tumor radioresistance and relapse and metastasis. During the course, HIF-1a played the most important role in the regulation of hypoxia. However, it’s still unknown about the effect of HIF-1a on the radiosensitivity of hypoxia tumor cells and the relationship with autophagy. This study was to inhibit HIF-1αexpression in hypoxic lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 with RNA interference (RNAi), and explore its effect on hypoxic cell radiosensitivity and autophagy. Methods: Plasmids pHIF-1α-shRNA and Neg-shRNA (negative control) were constructed and transfected into hypoxic A549 cells, this positive clone was named A549/HIF-1α-shRNA. Clone formation array was applied to calculate the value of D0, SF2, SER. The expression of HIF-1α, LC3, c-parp was detected by Western blot. Results:The SF2 of hypoxic A549 cell was 0.62, which was higher than that of normoxic A549 cell, SER was 1.45. The level of LC3Ⅱincreased significantly and the level of c-parp decreased after the radiation of hypoxic A549 cell. The level of HIF-1a increased in hypoxic A549 cells. The expression of HIF-1αin hypoxic A549 cells was suppressed markedly after transfection of HIF-1α-shRNA;this clone was named A549/HIF-1α-shRNA. The SF2 and SER were significantly lower in A549/HIF-1α-shRNA cells, 0.45 and 0.72 respectively. Under the hypoxic condition and after the inhibition of HIF-1α, the expression of LC3Ⅱ decreased significantly and the expression of c-parp increased. Conclusion:We successfully established a cell model that HIF-1αexpression was suppressed almost completely by RNAi. The inhibition of HIF-1αby shRNA may raise the radiosensitivity and decrease the autophagy of hypoxic A549 cells in vitro.

Fibroblast Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Phosphorus ; metabolism

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Amyloidosis ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; pathology ; Muscular Atrophy ; pathology ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; pathology ; Young Adult

Bronchi ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Middle Aged

The paper is aimed to study the difference in yield and quality at different harvest time and determine the optimum harvest of planting Gentiana in Ludian traditional harvest period. The authors analyzed the variation in fresh weight, dry weight, dry discount rate, length, diameter, volume and the content of gentiopicroside, loganin acid, alcohol-soluble extract and total ash and made a comprehensive appraisal of yield, appearance quality and intrinsic quality by gray relational distance ideal Comprehensive Evaluation method. The results showed that there is a big difference in yield and quality both 2-year-old and 3-year-old Gentiana harvested in traditional harvest period and the comprehensive evaluation more better when harvested more later. It can be seen, Gentiana harvested the later had a better yield and quality in Ludian traditional harvest period. The harvest of Gentiana can be appropriate delayed depending on the particular circumstances of production.
Agriculture ; methods ; China ; Gentiana ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Iridoid Glucosides ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Quality Control ; Time Factors

Background:Tryptophan(TRP)is an essential amino acid,and can produce 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)via 5-HT signal pathway and kynurenine( KYN)metabolic pathway under the catalysis of enzyme,thereby participating in the pathogenesis of visceral hypersensitivity in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D). Aims:To investigate the relationship between visceral sensitivity and TRP metabolic pathway in patients with IBS-D. Methods:Thirty patients with IBS-D and 30 healthy controls from June 2012 to January 2014 at Guangdong Provincial TCM Hospital were enrolled. Score of gastrointestinal symptom rating scale( GSRS)was evaluated. Visceral sensitivity was measured by anorectal manometry. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect mRNA and protein expressions of colon mucosal IDo, respectively. Serum 5-HT,5-HIAA,TRP,IDo,KYN,KYNA concentrations and IDo activity,KAT activity were determined by high performance liquid chromatography assay. Results:Compared with control group,GSRS score was significantly increased(P < 0. 05),initial perception threshold,defecation threshold,pain threshold were significantly decreased(P < 0. 05),anorectal constriction pressure was significantly increased( P < 0. 05),serum 5-HT,5-HIAA concentrations were significantly increased(P < 0. 05),mRNA and protein expressions of IDo were significantly increased (P < 0. 05),serum KYN was significantly increased(P < 0. 05),KYNA was significantly decreased(P < 0. 01),IDo activity was significantly incseased(P < 0. 01),and KAT activity was significantly decreased in IBS-D group(P < 0. 01). Correlation analysis showed that initial perception threshold,defecation threshold,pain threshold and anorectal constriction pressure were correlated with 5-HT,5-HIAA,TRP,KYN,KYNA,IDo activity and KAT activity in patients with IBS-D (P < 0. 05). Conclusions:TRP metabolic pathway is correlated with visceral hypersensitivity in patients with IBS-D.

Objective To detect the levels of transforming growth factor-?_1(TGF-?_1) in plasma,serum and urinary of children with Immunoglobulin A glomerulonephritis(IgAGN) and mesangial proliferate glomerulonephritis(MsPGN) and explore the different effects of TGF-?_1 in the two diseases.Methods The plasma,serum and urinary TGF-?_1 levels were measured in 24 children with IgAGN,and 30 children with MsPGN and 30 healthy controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results The TGF-?_1 levels in plasma,serum and urinary samples of IgAGN group were increased.The TGF-?_1 levels of IgAGN were significantly higher than those of MsPGN and heathy controls(P(0.05)).Conclusion It is showed that TGF-?_1 plays a diffenent role in IgAGN and MsPGN.

Objective To explore the diagnostic merits of the average apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCav) for leukoencephalopathy in neonates and children.Methods One hundred and fifty-six neonates and children with central nervous system signs or symptoms were classified into 6 groups according to their ages(1 d-0.05).Contrast to the normal,the ADCav of leukoencephalopathy in neonates and children decreased.With increasing age,there showed a linear downtrend in each group.Conclusions The ADCav rises in neonates and children with leukoencephalopathy.The ADCav variation precedes changes in routine MRI.