Background and purpose:Although FDG tumor imaging has been applied in clinic widely, dual-phase imaging can provide much more information about the FDG uptaking of pulmonary lesions. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of dual-phase18F-FDG coincidence detection SPECT/CT imaging in the differential diagnosis of the pulmonary lesions.Methods:There were 28 patients with pulmonary lesions which were detected by CT. All the patients undertook the SPECT/CT imaging at 2 time-phases respectively: early imaging at 40-60 min and delayed imaging at 2-3 h after the intravenous injection of FDG. Data processing: calculating the radio of T and N in early and delayed imaging respectively; T: The radioactive count of the lesions; N: The radioactive count of the normal tissue; and the change rate:ΔT/N. ROC was used to ifnd out the threshold of T1/N1, T2/N2及ΔT/N in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant lesions. AUC was used to evaluate the diagnosis value of the dual-phase and single-phase imaging.Results:The threshold of T1/N1 in early imaging was 2.65, whereas AUC was 0.767. The sensitivity, speciifcity and accuracy were 83.3%, 30% and 64.3%, respectively. The threshold of T2/N2 in delayed imaging was 3.14, whereas AUC was 0.847. The sensitivity, speciifcity and accuracy were 94.4%, 60.0% and 82.1%, respectively. The threshold ofΔT/N in delayed imaging was 16.9%, whereas AUC is 0.950. The sensitivity, speciifcity and accuracy were 88.5%, 71.4% and 86.2%, respectively.Conclusion:Dual-phase18F-FDG coincidence detection SPECT/CT imaging has much higher accuracy and speciifcity. However it still has false positivity, and should be analyzed with CT and clinical history.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and features of thyroid nodules in middle and aged patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). Methods High-resolution ultrasonography was used to detect thyroid nodules in 132 cases middle and aged patients with type 2 diabetes and 89 patients without diabetes.The nodule features and its relationships with related indicators in diabetic patients were analyzed. Results The prevalence of thyroid nodules in middle and aged patients with type 2 diabetes was higher than that without diabetes (67.4％ vs. 53.9％,P＜0.05),and most occurred in 50 to 59 age group (66.7％ vs. 42.9％) without dependence on changes in thyroid functions and volumes.In diabetes group,the prevalence of thyroid nodules were 59.5％ in male and 81.3％ in female (P＜0.05),no obvious difference was observed in the size and number of thyroid nodules between male and female,multiple nodules and micronodule (＜ 1.0 cm) had the higher incidences in both sexes.The prevalence of thyroid nodules was increased with aging,but not with diabetes duration and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) level (x2 =0.797,P=0.372; x2 =1.078,P =0.229). Conclusions It is common that thyroid nodules combined with diabetes in middle and aged patients,thyroid ultrasound screening and regular following-up of patients aged ≥50 years have important clinical significance.

AIM: To further investigate the etiology and treatment strategies of diabetic macular edema(DME)by studying the correlation between responses to intravitreal injection of Ranibizumab(IVR)and diabetic retinopathy(DR)extent in DME patients.

METHODS: This study comprised 33 eyes of 27 non proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)patients with DME and 34 eyes of 32 PDR patients with DME, who had been followed for at least 6mo after IVR. We compared the responses to the anti-VEGF treatment between the two groups.

RESULTS: NPDR patients had strong statistical improvement in best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and central macular thickness(CMT)after both 3-month treatment and 6-month treatment(P<0.05), While PDR patients had not(P>0.05). There were also statistical differences(P<0.05)in BCVA and CMT between NPDR group and PDR at a time when the patients had received both 3-month treatment and 6-month treatment.

CONCLUSION: Different extents of DR have influence on DME responses to anti-VEGF.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the brain pathological changes following exdogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) intraventricular transplantation in neonatal rats with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), and to explore the feasibility of NSCs transplantation for the treatment of PVL in premature infants.

METHODSNSCs were prepared from E14 embryonic rat brain. Two-day-old neonatal rats were randomly divided into six groups: PVL, PVL+culture medium, PVL+NSCs, sham operation, sham operation+culture medium, and sham operation+NSCs (18-21 rats each group). Intraventricular transplantation of exdogenous NSCs was performed 72 hrs after PVL induction or sham operation. The cerebral pathological evaluation was undertaken by light microscopy 7, 14 and 21 days after transplantation.

RESULTSThe pathological changes in the cerebral white matter were gradually improved with the prolonged time after transplantation. After 21 days of transplantation, 50% of the cerebral white matter showed mild pathological changes and 50% of that showed severe pathological changes, with neuronal pathological scores of 1.28+/-0.86, in the untreated PVL group. In the PVL+NSCs group, 30% of normal white matter, 40% of mild and 30% of severe pathological changes in the white matter were observed, with neuronal pathological scores of 0.32+/-0.16, 21 days after transplantation. There were very significant differences in both of pathological changes in the cerebral white matter and neuronal pathological scores between the PVL and PVL+NSCs groups (x2=10.7, P<0.01; F=29.664, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIntraventricular transplantation of exdogenous NSCs can apparently improve cerebral white matter damage. It is suggested that intraventricular transplantation of NSCs is of a great potential feasibility for the treatment of PVL in premature infants.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; pathology ; therapy ; Neurons ; cytology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cell Transplantation

OBJECTIVEAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained tachyarrhythmia in the general population. AF and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) share several common risk factors. We investigated the association between chronic kidney disease and risk of atrial fibrillation in hospitalized patients with CKD.

METHODSOne thousand one hundred and sixty-eight patients [(63.3 ± 14.2) years, 54.5% males] hospitalized CKD patients were included. AF was determined by electrocardiogram or medical history. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation was compared in CKD patients with various age, sex and glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors of AF.

RESULTThe mean eGFR was (22.2 ± 19.7) ml · min(-1) · 1.73 m(-2); eGFR was ≤ 45 ml · min(-1) · 1.73 m(-2) in 84.2% patients and 38.5% patients received hemodialysis. AF was present in 14.2% of the study population and 17.2% in patients ≥ 60 years old. Prevalence of AF was significantly higher in patients with eGFR ≤ 45 ml · min(-1) · 1.73 m(-2) compared patients with eGFR > 45 ml · min(-1) · 1.73 m(-2) (15.8% vs. 5.4%, P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age, body mass index (BMI), heart failure (HF), left atrial diameter (LAD), eGFR and dialysis were independent risk factors for AF.

CONCLUSIONSAF is much more frequent in CKD patients than in the general population. Age, BMI, HF, LAD, eGFR and dialysis are risk factors for AF in hospitalized patients with CKD.

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; epidemiology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo establish a reliable neonatal rat model of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) which is expected to be similar to PVL of human preterm infants pathologically, and to explore the concomitant eye lesions in the PVL model.

METHODSTwo-old-day neonatal rats were randomly divided into a PVL group and a sham-operated group (n=19 each). The PVL model was established by the ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries, followed by a 30-min exposure to 8% oxygen. The cerebral infarction area was assessed with TTC staining 1 day after operation. Cerebral pathology was examined under a light micsrocope 2 and 21 days after operation. The examinations of eyes under a slip lamp and the pathology of eyeballs under a light microscope were performed 21 days after operation.

RESULTSThe TTC staining cerebral slices showed there were extensive white areas of infarction in the brain of the PVL group, with an infarction area of 53.45 +/- 33.90 mm3 and a percentage of infarction of (24.98 +/- 15.44)% . Significant cystic necrosis and apoptosis around the periventricular and subcortical white matter and mild damage in cortical neurons were observed in the PVL group 2 days after operation. The more obvious cystic necrosis around the periventricular area was found in the PVL group 21 days after operation. There were no pathological changes in the brain of the sham-operated group. All of rats in the PVL group had bilateral cataracts, however, no pathological changes were observed in their postbulbar tissues. The sham-operated group did not show eye abnormal.

CONCLUSIONSThe PVL animal model that was similar to PVL of human preterm infants pathologically was successfully established by the ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries, followed by 30-min hypoxia exposure, with a positive effect and a good repeatability. Cataract can also be induced by the method.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; pathology ; Cataract ; etiology ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; complications ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the characteristics of the blood glucose fluctuation in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods The 92 elderly patients with T2DM (the elderly group) and 58 young and middle-aged patients with T2DM (the non-elderly group) were monitored using the continuous glucose monitoring system(CGMS). The characteristics of glucose profiles of the two different age groups, and of the different glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level groups in the elderly were comparatively analyzed. Results (1)There was no significant difference in HbA1c level between the elderly group and the non-elderly group. Compared with the non-elderly group, the elderly group showed the increases in blood glucose fluctuant coefficient [BGFC, (2.68±1.00) mmol/L vs. (2.12±0.74) mmol/L, t=-3.691, P＜0.001], in postprandial glucose excursion (PPGE) of breakfast and supper [(5.96±2.47) mmol/L vs. (5.11±2.44) mmol/L, t=-2.058, P＜0.05; (5.17±2.15) mmol/L vs. (4.16±2.28) mmol/L, t=-2.730, P＜0.01], in the time to postprandial glucose peak of breakfast and lunch [(112.5±29.7) min vs. (97.0±27.2) min, t=-3.225, P＜0.01; (140.0±39.7) min vs. (118.1±42.6) min, t=-3.195, P＜0.01], in the frequency of hypoglycemia (26.3% vs. 5.5%, P＜0.05), and showed the largest amplitude of glycemic excursions [LAGE, (9.66±2.48) mmol/L vs.(8.40±3.13) mmol/L, t=-2.720, P＜0.01]. (2)In the elderly, along with decreased HbA1c, the incidence of hypoglycaemia increased (P＜0.05); And along with increased HbA1c, the amplitude of blood glucose fluctuation increased. There were significant differences in BGFC, PPGE of breakfast and lunch, and LAGE among different HbA1c level groups (P＜0.01, P＜0.05, P＜0.05, P＜0.001). (3)HbA1c was positively correlated with FBG, mean blood glucose (MBG), percentage of time at glycemia (PT7.8, PT11.1), the lowest blood glucose (LBG), the highest blood glucose (HBG), BGFC, PPGE and LAGE (r=0.899-0.289, all P＜0.001). Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that MBG, FBG and PT7.8 was the independent influential factor of HbA1c (adjusted R2=0.807, P＜0.05). Conclusions The elderly patients with T2DM are at a particularly high risk for postprandial hyperglycemia and nocturnal hypoglycemic episodes, CGMS could show glucose fluctuation characters of T2DM patients diurnally, and provide a clinical basis for reasonable therapy.

The gene encoding a extremely thermostable and acid-stable alpha-Amylase was amplified by PCR using hyperthermophilic archaebacterium pyrococcus furiosus genomic DNA as template. Then the gene was cloned into the vector of pPIC9K. The recombinant vector pPIC9K-amy was then transformed into E. coli DH5alpha strain. Sequencing test showed that the a-amylase gene cloned consisted of 1305 base pairs and the mature protein encoded by the gene consisted of 435 amino acids. The recombinant vector was transformed into chromosome of methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris GS115 strain. Regulated by the alpha-Factor, promoter of AOX1 gene and termination signal of yeast genomic, the recombinant a-Amylase was expressed and excreted out of the cells. The expression of the recombinant alpha-amylase was strictly induced by methanol. As induction time increased, the activity of amylase per milliliter medium went up accordingly. After 7 days induction, the activity of the amylase reached the max. The recombinant alpha-amylase exhibited maximal activity at 90 to approximately 100 degrees C and at pHranging from 4.5 to 5.0. The enzyme is so thermostable that after disposed at 100 degrees C for 5 hours over 60% of activity was retained.
Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme Stability ; Genetic Vectors ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pyrococcus furiosus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; alpha-Amylases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEChildren with Tourette's syndrome (TS) have a poor treatment compliance due to side effects and inconvenient administration of oral drugs. This study explored the efficacy and safety of clonidine transdermal patch for treating TS in children.

METHODSA total of 119 children with TS were randomly treated with the clonidine transdermal patch (n=65) or with oral haloperidol (n=54). The therapeutic efficacy was assessed based on the results of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) 4 weeks after treatment.

RESULTSThe clonidine transdermal patch group showed a higher reduction in the overall tic symptom scores (61.5+/-7.5%) than that in the haloperidol group (41.0+/-6.3%; p<0.05). Clonidine transdermal patch treatment was effective in 53 patients (81.5%) and 36 patients (67.5%) showed effective to oral haloperidol (p>0.05). Mild side effects (decrease of blood pressure and dizziness) were observed in 1 patient in the clonidine transdermal patch group. Mild hypermyotonia, drowsiness or lassitude as side effects occurred in 6 patients in the haloperidol group.

CONCLUSIONSClonidine transdermal patch is effective for the treatment of TS in children and its side effects are mild and rare.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clonidine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Female ; Haloperidol ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Tourette Syndrome ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between EGFR activation and down-regulation of miRNA-145 in lung cancer.

METHODSNormal human lung epithelia cell line (BEAS-2B), human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines with wild-type EGFR (A549 and H292) and human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines with EGFR mutation (H1975 and H1650) were chosen in this study. The levels of miRNA-145 and p-EGFR were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively, and the relationship between p-EGFR and miRNA-145 levels was analyzed. The miRNA-145 levels were determined by qRT-PCR after activating EGFR with EGF or blocking EGFR signal pathway with AG1478. In addition, ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 was used to inhibit ERK1/2 activation and then the expression of miRNA-145 was detected.

RESULTSThe miRNA-145 levels were closely negatively related with p-EGFR in lung cancer cells (r = -0.926, P = 0.024). EGF down-regulated miRNA-145 expression, particularly in BEAS-2B cells (53.0%; t = 30.993, P = 0.001) and A549 cells (42.6%; t = 14.326, P = 0.005).The miRNA-145 was up-regulated after inhibiting p-EGFR with AG1478, and significantly enhanced by 67.5% in H1975 cells when treated with AG1478 (t = 8.269, P = 0.014). The ERK1/2 signal pathway was activated by p-EGFR. U0126 restored the miRNA-145 down-regulation induced by EGFR-activation in lung cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONThe activation of EGFR down-regulates miRNA-145 expression through ERK1/2 in lung cancer cells.

Butadienes ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Nitriles ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; Quinazolines ; pharmacology ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Tyrphostins ; pharmacology