AIM: To investigate the effects of selective phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor olprinone on cough response in guinea pigs sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. METHODS: Forty sensitized guinea pigs were randomly divided into control ( n = 10), challenged ( n = 10), olprinone ( n = 10) and aminophylline group ( n = 10 ). Two hours after challenged with the aerosol of 1% ovalbumin or saline, animals were intraperitoneally injected either with saline,25 mg/kg of olprinone or 25 mg/kg aminophylline. At 24 h, the injection was repeated with 2. 5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg olprinone or 2. 5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg aminophylline respectively in olprinone and aminophylline group, cough response to inhaled capsaicin and airway responsiveness to methacholine (PC150) were measured. Then, total cell number and differential counts were analyzed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. RESULTS: The cough frequency was (5 ± 2) times/3 min in control group and (24 ± 3 ) times/3 min in challenged group ( P ＜ 0. 05 ), while PC150 was (659 + 57 ) mg/L in control group and (238 + 67 ) mg/L inchallenged group ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). 25 mg/kg olprinone significantly inhibited the augmented cough response and airway hyperresponsiveness, the cough frequency and PC150 were (15 ±2) times/3 min and (580 ±45) mg/L (P ＜ 0. 05 ), which differed significantly from (18 ± 2) times/3 min and (438± 52) mg/L in aminophilline group (P ＜ 0. 05). However, olprinone failed to reverse the elevated total cell number and percentage of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from guinea pigs challenged with ovalbumin (P ＞ 0. 05 ). CONCLUSION: Phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor attenuates cough response associated with eosinophilic airway inflammation by bronchodilatory effect.

BACKGROUND: Adequate preparation of donors and recipients prior to living-related donor renal transplantation, short warm and cold ischemia time for donor kidney, good histocompatibility of human leukocyte antigen match, and low postoperative rejection incidence provide feasibility for use of low-dose immunosuppressive agents after living-related donor renal transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of low-dose calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), an immunosuppressive agent, in living-related donor renal transplantation. METHODS: A total of 38 recipients who underwent living-related donor renal transplantation at the Center of Renal Transplantation of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2006 to June 2008 were randomized for treatment with mycophenolate mofetil (750 mg twice a day), prednisone, and either standard-dose CNI (n=18) or low-dose CNI (n=20) during 12 months post-transplantation. Ciclosporin A was given orally (starting dose, 6 and 4 mg/kg per day, respectively) in two divided doses to achieve the 12-hour whole blood concentration as measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The starting dose of tacrolimus was 0.12 and 0.08 mg/kg per day respectively, and its whole blood concentration was measured by enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique. After transplantation, patients were followed up. Renal function, pulmonary infection, liver dysfunction, and CNI nephrotoxicity at different time periods were compared between different regimens. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: During 12 months post-transplantation, patient death occurred in one of 18 patients (5.6%) in the CNI standard-dose group and none of 20 patients (0%) in the CNI low-dose group. There was no significant difference in renal function and acute rejection between CNI standard-dose and CNI low-dose groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of liver dysfunction and CNI nephrotoxicity was significantly lower in the CNI low-dose group than in the CNI standard-dose group (P < 0.05). In addition, a low-dose CNI regimen helped recipients to lessen the economic burdens. These findings indicate that it is effective, safe and economical to use a low-dose CNI regimen in living-related donor renal transplantation.

· AIM: To report a rare case of mesenchymalchondrosarcoma in the orbit and to explore its clinicmanifestations, pathologic characters, management andprognosis. · METHODS: We report a case of mesenchymalchondrosarcoma of the orbit. The clinical materials,including ophthalmological examination, computed tomo-graphy scan of the orbit, histopathology and immunohis-tochemistry of the biopsy specimen was reported, and itspertinent literatures were reviewed.· RESULTS: A 36-year-old female was seen with proptosisand decreased vision. Histopathology demonstrated anadmixture of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells andislands of mature hyaline cartilage. Immunohistochemicalstudies revealed positivity for vimentin and S-100, whichwas consistent with the diagnosis of mesenchymalchondrosarcoma.· CONCLUSION: Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in theorbit is extremely rare malignant tumor. Multi-modalitytreatments (surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy)may lead to long-term survival.

OBJECTIVETo measure the peripheral serum levels of CC-chemokine ligand-18 (CCL-18) in patients with pneumoconiosis, and to investigate the feasibility of the index asa potential biomarker for pneumoconiosis.

METHODSSeventy-seven male patients with pneumoconiosis (stage 1:40 cases, stage 2:22 cases, stage 3:15 cases), including 42 cases of silicosis and 35 cases of coal worker pneumoconiosis, were enrolled as subjects, and 162 healthy male physical examinees in our hospital were used as controls. A fasting blood sample (3 ml) was collected from the peripheral venous blood of each patient or control. The CCL-18 concentration in serum was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe serum CCL-18 concentrations of the patients with pneumoconiosis were significantly higher than those of the controls [(116.70 ± 82.85) ng/ml vs. (83.34 ± 64.83) ng/ml]; (Z = -2.389, P < 0.05). The serum CCL-18 concentrations of the patients with silicosis were significantly higher than those of the patients with coal worker pneumoconiosis (147.02 ± 93.32 ng/ml vs. 96.43 ± 47.19 ng/ml; Z = -3.030, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in serum CCL-18 concentration among different stages of pneumoconiosis (P > 0.05). The degree of respiratory impairment was positively correlated with the serum CCL-18 concentration in patients with pneumoconiosis (r = 0.611, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSerum CCL-18 level can be used as a potential biomarker for pneumoconiosis.

Case-Control Studies ; Chemokines, CC ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; blood ; epidemiology

BACKGROUNDPreoperative tumor grading becomes one of the most important predictors for lymphadenectomy at primary surgery for clinical stage I endometriod adenocarcinoma. However, there is an inconsistency of tumor grade between preoperative curettage and final hysterectomy specimens, and its associated factors are poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of tumor grade by preoperative curettage so as to achieve a better stratified management for clinical stage I endometriod adenocarcinoma.

METHODSClinical data of totally 687 patients with clinical stage I endometriod adenocarcinoma who underwent preoperative curettage and primary surgery were retrospectively collected. Compared with final hysterectomy specimens, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of tumor grade by preoperative curettage were calculated and their associations with clinicopathologic parameters, including age, status of menopause, position of uterus, location and size of lesion, histological grade, depth of myometrial invasion, cervical invasion, extrauterine spread, peritoneal cytology, metastasis to retroperitoneal lymph node, serum CA125 level, and hormone receptor status, were analyzed.

RESULTSIn final hysterectomy specimens, 139 of 259 grade 1 patients by curettage were upgraded to grade 1 or 2; 31 of 296 grade 2 were upgraded to grade 3, with a significantly discrepant rate of 40.9% (281/687) and an upgraded rate of 24.7% (170/687). The specificity and negative predictive value for grade 3 were 90.7% and 89.9%, while the sensitivity and positive predictive value for grade 1 were 67.1% and 40.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative tumor grade by curettage does not accurately predict final histological results, especially in those classified as grade 1. Complete surgical staging seems to be necessary for clinical stage I endometriod adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Curettage ; methods ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Retrospective Studies

Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

UNLABELLEDTo study the method for dose calculation and beam weight optimization of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

METHODSThe IMRT dose calculation model based on two-dimensional convolution was constructed, the program of dose calculation and beam weight optimization with genetic algorithm was written with Visual c#.Net, and the optimization results were analyzed.

RESULTSGenetic algorithm optimization of beam weights can produce highly conformal dose distributions within a clinically acceptable computation time.

CONCLUSIONGenetic algorithm is valid and efficient in IMRT beam weight optimization, which may facilitate IMRT treatment planning.

Algorithms ; Humans ; Models, Statistical ; Models, Theoretical ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods ; standards

To identify the active constituents in vitro and blood-absorbed ingredients in vivo from Yin Chen Hao decoction provides scientific evidence for probing its prevention and treatment mechanism on acute liver injury. An ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) method was applied for analysis of Yin Chen Hao decoction and the serum samples of mice with con-A induced acute liver injury after preventive oral administration for 14 days (the use of all laboratory animals in this study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Naval Medical University, 19YF1459400). A total of 90 chemical constituents were identified from Yin Chen Hao decoction, mainly were flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, quinones. 5 prototype compounds were identified in the serum, including chrysophanol, deoxyrhapontin-8-O-gallate, mussaenosidic acid, herniarin, emodin. The established UPLC-QTOF/MS method could efficiently and sensitively identify the constituents in vitro and blood-absorbed ingredients of Yin Chen Hao decoction, primarily clarify the material basis of its hepatoprotective effect, and provided a scientific basis for the quality marker selection and the pharmacodynamic material basis research on the decoction.

BACKGROUNDThere is currently considerable interest in the potential value of selective inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 4 in the treatment of asthma. However, whether they influence eosinophilic airway inflammation-associated cough remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of selective phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor SB207499 on cough response and airway inflammation in guinea pigs sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin.

METHODSForty sensitized guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups: control (n = 10), challenge (n = 10), SB207499 (n = 10) and aminophylline (n = 10), then challenged with aerosol of 1% ovalbumin or saline. Two hours later, animals were intraperitoneally injected with either saline, 25 mg/kg of SB207499 or aminophylline. At the 24th hour, the injection was repeated with 2.5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg SB207499 or aminophylline, then cough response to inhaled capsaicin and airway responsiveness to methacholine inducing a 150% of the peak airway pressure to the baseline (PC150) was measured. Finally, total cell number and differentials in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were analysed.

RESULTSThe cough frequency per 3 minutes and PC150 in the challenge group were (22 +/- 4) times/3 minutes and (198 +/- 54) microg/ml, which were significantly different from (6 +/- 2) times/3 minutes and (691 +/- 81) microg/ml in the control group (P < 0.05, respectively). The injection of 25 mg/kg SB207499 significantly inhibited the increased cough response and airway hyperresponsiveness, the cough frequency and PC150 in guinea pigs were (13 +/- 2) times/3 minutes and (680 +/- 81) microg/ml (P < 0.05), which differed significantly from (18 +/- 2) times/3 minutes and (400 +/- 86) microg/ml after the administration of the same dose of aminophylline (P < 0.05). The inhibition of SB207499 on cough response was dose-dependent. Similarly, SB207499 decreased the total cell number and percentage of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid to (2.1 +/- 0.5) x 10(6)/ml and (20 +/- 5)% respectively, which were significantly different from (3.2 +/- 0.5) x 10(6)/ml and (29 +/- 5)% in the aminophylline group (P < 0.05, respectively) or (4.2 +/- 0.7) x 10(6)/ml and (35 +/- 4)% in the challenge group (P < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONPhosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor may be more useful than aminophylline for cough associated with eosinophilic airway inflammation via inhibiting airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity ; drug therapy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Cough ; drug therapy ; Cyclic AMP ; biosynthesis ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4 ; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Nitriles ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the MSCT features and diagnosis of foot and ankle tendon injury and improve the recognition to avoid the missed.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to December 2010, 32 patients suspected of foot and ankle tendon injury were enrolled and included 24 males and 8 females with an average age of 43 years ranging from 23 to 68 years. All patients had pain, tenderness, swelling or disfunction in the diseased foot and were finally confirmed with surgery, MRI, contralateral contrast and followed-up. The MSCT was performed with a multi-detector CT scanner (Emotion 6; Siemens) within 7 days after injury. Two experienced radiologists evaluated the tendon abnormalities before told the outcome.

RESULTSWith 5 patients lost, the final study included 27 patients. Thirty-one tendon injuries were finally confirmed in 23 cases. Thirty-five tendon abnormalities were diagnosed on CT images among all 243 tendons but 4 of them were misdiagnoses. The CT overall diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy was 88.8% (31/35), 98.1% (208/212), and 98.4% (239/243). Eleven tendon dislocations showed as the tendon partially or completely off the tendon groove. Thirteen tendon entrapment showed no less than half section of the tendon embedded the fracture in the axial images, and 7 tendons located in the fracture gap or 6 tendons closely related with widened fracture in VR images (2 misdiagnosis). Four bone chip insertion showed the chip inserted in the tendons both in the axial images and VR images (1 misdiagnosis). Four tendon ruptures showed discontinuity and shortening of the tendon (1 misdiagnosis). Three tendon injuries showed thickening, density reduction and blurring of tendons, and misty surrounding fat space.

CONCLUSIONWith comprehensive MSCT examination (thin-slice scanning and volume rendering) of foot and ankle, the tendon dislocation, tendon entrapment, bone chip intercalation, and tendon rupture/injury could be confidently diagnose.

Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Foot Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; methods ; Tendon Injuries ; diagnostic imaging