Objective To determine the measurement consistency of diffusion coefficient D, perfusion fraction f and pseudodiffusion coefficient D*in rectal cancers based on different ROIs. Methods Forty-three patients with histologically proven rectal cancers were examined using echo-planar DW-MRI with eight b values (0 to 1 000 s/mm2). Intravoxel incoherent motion parameters were measured on intravoxel
incoherent motion map that contained the largest tumor cross-section, according to two distinct ROI protocols:freehand outline ROI and semi-automatic tumor center ROI. The two protocols were compared for differences in IVIM parameters and the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were also calculated. intra-and inter-observer variability using paired t test and Bland-Altman plot. Results The IVIM parameters(D, f and D*) obtained by ROIs for outlined and center analysis were (1.08 ± 0.24) × 10-3mm2/s, (0.16 ± 0.06), (26.59 ± 19.54) × 10-3mm2/s and (1.06 ± 0.27) × 10-3mm2/s, (0.17 ± 0.07), (30.79 ± 20.85) × 10-3mm2/s, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the means of the IVIM parameters (D, f, D*) calculated by the two methods (t=1.113,-0.259,-1.660;P=0.272, 0.797,0.104, respectively),and the relative ICC were 0.863, 0.469, 0.663, respectively. The intra-observer 95% limits of consistency of IVIM parameters were (-0.012—0.038) × 10-3mm2/s, (-0.003—0.007), (-0.923—1.166) × 10-3mm2/s with ROI outline tumor, respectively;(-0.024—0.044)×10-3mm2/s, (-0.005—0.015), (-1.670—4.195)×10-3mm2/s with center ROI, respectively. The inter-observer 95% limits of consistency of perfusion parameters were (-0.047—0.009) × 10-3mm2/s, (-0.015—0.009), (-7.206—3.190) × 10-3mm2/s with ROI outlined tumor, respectively;(-0.068—0.048) × 10-3mm2/s, (-0.005—0.041), (-17.657—0.779) × 10-3mm2/s with center ROI, respectively. Conclusions There was no statistically significant difference between the outlined ROI and tumor center ROI analysis of rectal cancers' IVIM parameters. The tumor analysis by outlined ROI protocol appropriately improves intra-and inter-observer consistency and can provide more reproducible and stable results.

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Neiguan" (PC 6) on ischemic myocardial injury, and to explain the response patterns and characteristics of the specific effect of acupoints along meridians in sodium channel in the level of cardiac organ.

METHODSA total of 60 SPF male rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a non-acupoint group, a Neiguan group and a Lieque group, 12 cases in each one. Except the blank group, rats in the remaining group were treated with subcutaneous injection of isoprenaline to establish the model of myocardial ischemia. Rats in the Neiguan group, Lieque group and non- acupoint group were treated with EA, dilatational wave, with a frequency of 2 Hz/20 Hz. The intensity was 2-3 mA. The needles were retained for 20 min per time, once a day for consecutive 7 days. In the blank group and control group, the rats were grasped and fixed at the treating time each day. The western-blot method was used to test the expression of voltage-gated sodium channel alpha subunit (Nav 1.5), protein tyrosine kinase (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPs).

RESULTSThe expression of Nav 1.5 and PTKs in the model group was lower than that in the blank group (both P<0. 01); the expression in the Neiguan group and Lieque group was higher than that in the model group (all P < 0.01); the expression of Nav 1.5 and PTKs in the Neiguan group was higher than that in the Lieque group (both P < 0.01). The expression of PTPs in the model group and non-acupoint group was higher than that in the blank group (both P < 0.01); the expression of PTPs in the Neiguan group and Lieque group was significantly down-regulated, which was lower than the model group (both P < 0.01); the down-regulation in the Neiguan group was significantly different from that in the Lieque group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA at "Neiguan" (PC 6), by down-regulating the expression of PTPs, up-regulating the expression of Nav 1.5 and PTKs, is likely to achieve the aim of regulation on sodium channel activity and calcium overload, further to improve myocardial ischemia, which provides experimental basis for the theory of the specific effect of acupoints along meridians.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Channels ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of adenovirus-mediated tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 gene on the invasion of laryngeal squamous cancer. METHOD: Ad-TFPI-2 was transfected into laryngeal squamous cancer (Hep-2) cell. Western-blot was used to test the TFPI-2 protein expression and Boyden Chamber experiment was used to examine the invasive ability of Hep-2 cells. Furthermore, the Ad-TFPI-2 infected Hep-2 cells were subcutaneously inoculated in nude mice and the tumor formation capability were observed. RESULT: Ad-TFPI-2 was identified correctly by endonuclease and sequencing and the virus titer was 2.8 x 10(13) PFU/L. In the Hep-2 cells of treated group, the TFPI-2 protein expression was increased while the invasive capability was descent. The tumor formation capability was also decreased in the treated group nude mouse model. CONCLUSION TFPI-2 recombinant adenovirus can effectively inhibit the invasive capability of laryngeal squamous cancer.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Transfection

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Chonglian oral liquid on inflammatory and immune markers as well as the clinical outcomes of patients with mild-to-moderate corona virus disease 2019（COVID-19） and comprehensively evaluate its efficacy and safety. MethodA clinical randomized controlled trial （RCT） was conducted， involving 120 confirmed cases of mild-to-moderate COVID-19. The patients were randomly divided into two groups， with 55 cases in the observation group and 56 cases in the control group. According to the updated diagnosis and treatment protocol， the control group received standard western medical treatment， while the observation group received Chonglian oral liquid in addition to standard western medical treatment. Both groups were treated continuously for 10 days. The traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， syndrome efficacy， fever abatement time， nucleic acid negative conversion time， inflammatory and immune markers， improvement in imaging findings， clinical outcomes， and occurrence of adverse events were compared between the two groups. ResultBoth groups showed a significant decrease in TCM syndrome scores after treatment （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the observation group exhibited a more significant improvement in cough， dry throat， sore throat， fatigue， and muscle pain （P<0.05）. The total effective rate in the observation group was 100% （55/55）， significantly higher than 98.21% （55/56） in the control group （Z=3.707， P<0.01）. The observation group also showed a significantly shorter duration of fever abatement and nucleic acid negative conversion compared with the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. Both groups had a significant increase in lymphocyte count （LYM）， lymphocyte percentage （LYM%）， mature T lymphocytes （CD3⁺）， and helper/inducer T lymphocytes （CD4⁺） after treatment （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the observation group showed greater improvement in these markers （P<0.05）. In terms of inflammatory markers， both groups had a significant decrease compared with those before treatment （P<0.01）. The observation group exhibited lower levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein （hs-CRP）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and procalcitonin （PCT） than the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in imaging efficacy evaluation and clinical outcomes between the two groups. No adverse events were reported in either group during the treatment period. ConclusionChonglian oral liquid combined with standard western medical treatment significantly improves clinical symptoms， shortens fever abatement and nucleic acid negative conversion time， regulates immune function， and inhibits inflammatory responses in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19， leading to improved clinical efficacy.