Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ependymoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hemangioblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Meningioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; von Hippel-Lindau Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Astrocytoma ; blood supply ; pathology ; Capillaries ; pathology ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; blood supply ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ependymoma ; blood supply ; pathology ; Glioblastoma ; blood supply ; pathology ; Hemangioblastoma ; blood supply ; pathology ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial ; blood supply ; pathology ; Oligodendroglioma ; blood supply ; pathology ; Paraganglioma ; blood supply ; pathology

Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Glioblastoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Pineal Gland ; pathology

Objective To investigate the methods of reducing radiation dose in CT coronary angiography through optimizing individualized scan dosage protocol.Methods Two hundred patients (group A)underwent coronary CTA examination which was performed with fixed 120 kV and variable mA according to their BMI.The mA was set as 150-300 mA(BMI ＜ 18.5 kg/m2),300-500 mA (18.5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ＜ 25.0 kg/m2),and 500-800 mA(BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2).When all examinations were finished,a linear regression was employed to analyze the correlation between mA and BMI,body surface(Suf),image noise(SD)respectively.The results of the analysis were used to formulate a regression equation,which was further used to establish a table list for quick search on how much mA that individualized coronary CTA scan would need.Another 200 patients(group B)enrolled for the individualized scan were scanned under new protocol that previous study established.The tube voltage was 100 and 120 kV.The tube current was variable according to the data in the table list.One-way ANOVA and Kruskal-wallis H test were used for statistics.Results Regression equation between mA and BMI,Suf,SD was:mA =17.984 × BMI + 169.149 × Suf-2.282 × SD-361.039.The SD(group A:32.08 ± 5.80,group B:28.60±4.47),dose index volume(CTDIvol)[group A:(41.97 ± 11.37)mGy,group B:(33.18±10.07)mGy],effective dose(ED)[group A:(10.91 ±3.07)mSy,group B:(8.83 ±2.72)mSv]had significant differences between the two groups(F =43.45,63.71,49.07 respectively,P ＜0.01 for all).The SD and ED results obtained in group B were better than those in group A.Conclusion Better performances were obtained when BMI combined Suf was used as a new individualized protocol than when BMI was used only,which means good image quality and lower radiation dosage in coronary CTA examination.

Adenoma ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; secondary ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Reoperation ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism ; Temporal Lobe ; pathology

OBJECTIVEPropylthiouracil (PTU) as a drug used during the treatment of hyperthyroidism could induce antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-positive vasculitis. Here the author reported a childhood case of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-positive vasculitis induced by PTU, which is rarely described.

METHODSThe diagnosis was made according to the symptoms, signs, serum markers and renal biopsy, and the relevant literature was reviewed.

RESULTSThe 12-year-old girl presented with gross hematuria, proteinuria, renal function damage [Ccr 52.46 ml/(min. 1.73 m(2))], positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA-MPO) (MPO ELISA 140%) and a vasculitis lesion in the renal biopsy sample. She had been treated with PTU for 5 years because of Graves disease. After the diagnosis, the PTU was withdrawn, and prednisone (40 mg/d) and cyclophosphamide (25 mg, Bid) were applied. Three weeks after the therapy with prednisone and cyclophosphamide the gross hematuria disappeared. Three months after the treatment the renal function returned to normal [Ccr 124 mg/(min.1.73 m(2))], and the titer of ANCA-MPO decreased from 140% to 57%.

CONCLUSIONPTU may induce antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody positive vasculitis. A right diagnosis and treatment can improve its prognosis of the disease.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; blood ; Antithyroid Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; drug therapy ; Prognosis ; Propylthiouracil ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Vasculitis ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo predict part of medicinal properties of traditional Chinese medicine components and traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces by using the traditional Chinese medicinal property data prediction platform, in order to establish the relationship between properties of traditional Chinese medicine components and traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces.

METHODThe properties of traditional Chinese medicine components were predicted by using the medicinal property data prediction platform based on the pharmacological effects of the components.

RESULTThe total sum of identical or similar results of the prediction for the properties of traditional Chinese medicine components and traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces accounted for over 75%.

CONCLUSIONThe self-similarity exists between properties of traditional Chinese medicine components and traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces, which reflects the inheritance, additivity and emergence among different properties of traditional Chinese medicines.

Drug Combinations ; Drug Prescriptions ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of cortical SCF/KIT system at different blood glucose level in mice.

METHODS27 male C57 mice were randomly divided into control group, diabetes group, and diabetes plus insulin group. The diabetic mice were induced by streptozotocin. Western-blot and double-immunofluorescence histochemistry were used to detect the expression of SCF and KIT.

RESULTSBoth methods indicate that the level of S-SCF and M-SCF were decreased significantly in the diabetes group, and this trend can be reversed effectively when the insulin was utilized.

CONCLUSIONThe decline of SCF might be one of underlying mechanisms of diabetic encephalopathy.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; physiology ; Insulin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Stem Cell Factor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe activity of deer serum albumin on proliferation of rat osteogenic-like cells UMR-106 and the IGF-I secretion were investigated in order to elucidate pilose antler's bone-strengthening mechanism.

METHODDeer serum albumin was isolated from freeze-dry pilose antler powder extract. The methods were Sephacryl S-200HR gel filtration, POROS 20QE ion-exchange and TSK G3000SW chromatographies. The effect of deer serum albumin on proliferatio of UMR-106 cells was assaied by MTT, and the secretion of IGF-I of UMR-106 cells was assaied by RIA.

RESULTDeer serum albumin, with the molecular weight of 56.3 kDa, significantly increased the proliferation rate of the osteoblast-like UMR-106 cell and IGF-I secretion. When concentration of deer serum albumin reached 0.149 microg x mL(-1), UMR-106 cell proliferation rate was 241.03% and IGF-I secretion was 66.89 ng x mL(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe concentration of deer serum albumin, from 14.9 ng x mL(-1) to 14.90 microg x mL(-1), significantly increased the proliferation rate of the osteoblast-like UMR-106 cell and IGF- I secretion.

Animals ; Antlers ; chemistry ; Bone Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Deer ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; secretion ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Osteoblasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osteosarcoma ; pathology ; Rats ; Serum Albumin ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features, treatment response and prognosis of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA).

METHODSAmongst a total of 6 287 patients with central nervous system tumors encountered in Nanjing General Hospital of PLA during the period from 1980 to 2004, 15 cases of PXA were found. Two additional cases of PXA were also retrieved from the authors' consultation files. The clinicopathologic features of the 17 cases were studied. Follow-up information was available in 10 patients.

RESULTSThe age of the patients ranged from 12 to 55 years (mean = 30.8 years). The male-to-female ratio was 6:11. Commonest clinical symptoms included seizures, headaches and dizziness. The tumors in 16 patients were located in the superficial cerebral cortex (94.1%). Seven cases (41.2%) involved the temporal lobe. The size of the tumors varied from 2 to 7 cm (mean = 4.3 cm). Cystic degeneration was noted in 9 cases. For those in-house cases, total tumor excision was performed in 12 patients and subtotal tumor excision was performed in 3 patients. Amongst the 10 patients with follow-up information available, 8 were alive. The post-operative survival ranged from 10 months to more than 13 years (mean survival = 6 years). Classic histopathologic features included an admixture of mononuclear cells, bizarre multinucleated giant cells, spindled cells and lipid-rich vacuolated cells. The tumor cells were associated with abundant lymphocytes and reticulin fibers. They showed little tumor necrosis or mitotic activity. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated diffuse positive staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin and S-100 protein. Seventy-seven percent of the cases also showed positive staining for CD34. One case had anaplastic transformation, with increased mitotic activity (mitotic count >or= 5 per 10 high power fields). The tumor cells infiltrated the underlying cerebral cortex with extension into perivascular spaces in 2 cases. Radiologic examination revealed tumor recurrence with diffuse leptomeningeal spread in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONSPXA is low-grade glial tumor, corresponding to WHO grade II. Cases with typical pathologic features and total tumor excision carry favorable prognosis. Local recurrence or anaplastic transformation may occur in rare examples. Histologically, PXA can be mistaken as WHO grade IV giant cell glioblastoma, as both entities possess tumor giant cells. PXA however harbors lipiodized astrocytes and lacks coagulative tumor necrosis and high mitotic activity. Frequent expression of CD34 in PXA is also helpful in differential diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; analysis ; Glioblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; S100 Proteins ; analysis ; Young Adult