A novel layered target is designed to evaluating the axial resolution of very -high -frequency B -type ultrasonoscope. Compared with the conventional target made of tungsten wire, the target proves to be accurate, reliable and easy to make and to use, and thus it is a potential gauge or a test tool.

The dietary property of the oil of seed of Yen-how (Suaeda Salsa Pall.), a coastal wild plant, was studied with the pair-feeding method. In compare with the peanut oil, the growth effect and the digestibility of the Yen-how oil were determined. It is found that the growth-promoting effect and the digestibility of Yen-how oil are comparable with that of the peanut oil. The average increase in body weight of the young rats for each gram of Yen-how oil consumed is 1.38?0.26g, while that of peanut oil is 1.33 ?0.25g. The digestibility of Yen-how oil is 98.3 ?0.9% and that of the peanut oil is 96.0 ?1.3%. The authors concluded that the Yen-how oil is justified for edible purpose of human subjects.

Obese gene was cloned and its protein product which named leptin was found to be expressed specially in fat tissues in 1994. As a metabolic signal of reproductive system, leptin reflects the situations of nutrition and energy, which the body supplys to the brain, and stimulates reproductive endocrinology system, then regulates the functions of reproduction through hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The present status of leptin in this field was reviewed.

Obese gene was cloned and its protein product which named leptin was found to be expressed specially in fat tissues in 1994. As a metabolic signal of reproductive system, leptin reflects the situations of nutrition and energy, which the body supplys to the brain, and stimulates reproductive endocrinology system, then regulates the functions of reproduction through hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.The present status of eptin in this field was reviewed.

AIM: To study the chemical components in Compound Kushen Injection(Radix Sophorae Flavescentis),and to develop a method to identify the composition contained Radix Sophorae Flavescentis. METHODS: The sample was analysed with gradient elution by HPLC.Agilent MS TRAP equipped with ESI source was used as detector and operated in positive ion mode. RESULTS: 11 components were identified in Compound Kushen Injection. CONCLUSION: This method is simple,rapid and can be used for the analysis of components in Compound Kusen Injection.

In present study, animal model of cardiac hypertrophy induced by abdominal aortic stenosis was utilized, and the lysosomes were investigated by electron microscopy and ultrastructural cytochemistry. The results showed that while cardiac hypertrophy developed, lysosomes participate in apparent remolding of cardiac muscle cells; in the late stage of cardiac hypertrophy, a great deal of autophagocytoses were viewed in some muscle cells which may result in irreversible cell damage.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of β-adrenergic receptor(β2AR) stimulation on vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis in physiological state and receptor overexpression model.Methodsβ2AR overexpression model was established by transgenic techniques. Hoechst 33342 staining as well as flow cytometer(FCM) detected were chosen to measure the incidence of vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis.ResultsVascular smooth muscle cell exhibited significantly fewer viable cell rate when stimulated with β2AR agonist isoproteronol for 48 hours compared with control (P<0.01),while no difference at the time point of 24 hours. Much fewer viable rate detected by FCM and high apoptotic rate by Hoechst staining were observed when VSMCs overexpressing β2AR were stimulated with isoproteronol for 24 hours (P<0.01).ConclusionStimulation of physiological and overexpressing β2AR could induce apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cell.

Objective To evaluate the effects of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) on ventricular remodeling. Methods Parameters of every subject including left ventricular mass ( LVM), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), E/A ratio, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), ambulatory blood pressure monitoring(ABPM) data including 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure(mSBP) and 24-hour mean diastolic blood pressure(mDBP) were collected. Then the relationship of IGT and myocardial remodeling related parameters were analyzed. Results The rate of diastolic dysfunction was higher in the IGT combined with hypertensive group(74% ) compared with the hypertensive group( 39% )( x2 = 6. 5, P ＜ 0. 05 ). The rate of diastolic dysfunction was higher in the IGT group( 34% ) compared with the normal group( 10% ) (x2 = 5.2,P ＜0. 05). The rate of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH)in the IGT combined with hypertensive group (24%) was higher than the other three groups (Hypertension group 7%, IGT group 0, Normal group 0) (x2 =4.561,P ＜0.05), and there was no significance between the rest three groups (P ＞0.05).Stepwise multiple regression showed age and 2 Hours' Postprandial Blood Glucose were independent risk factors of E/A ratio. Conclusions These results suggested that IGT is a possible contributor to left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, and is one of the histopathology of left ventricular remodeling.

Objective To investigate the sonographic features of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FV-PTC) and to decrease misdiagnosis rate. Methods Thirty-one patients with 35 FV-PTCs and 66 patients with 75 conventional PTCs (C-PTCs) were enrolled in this study. The sonographic features were reviewed retrospectively between the two groups with universally accepted standards. Results The sonographic features of 35 FV-PTCs included irregular shapes (6/35), anteroposterior to transverse diameter ratio A/T > 1 (7/35), spiculated margins (25/35), marked hypoechogenicity (0/35), hypoechogenicity (18/35), isoechogenicity (16/35), no calcification (15/35), microcalcifications (11/35), macrocalcification (9/35), color Doppler lfow patternⅠ(20/35), color Doppler lfow patternⅡ(10/35), color Doppler lfow patternⅢ(5/35). Irregular shapes, A/T>1, spiculated margins, marked hypoechogenicity, microcalciifcations, and color type Ⅱ were rarer in FV-PTCs than in C-PTCs, while isoechogenicity, no calciifcation, macrocalciifcation, and color type Ⅲwere more frequent in FV-PTCs than in C-PTCs. The differences of the above features were statistically significant [χ2=4.276, P=0.039; χ2=8.125, P=0.004; P=0.009 (Fisher′ s exact test); χ2=8.548, P=0.003;χ2=4.898, P=0.027,χ2=7.796, P=0.005;χ2=5.462, P=0.019;P=0.001 (Fisher′s exact test)] . During the preoperative ultrasonography, 20 of 35 FV-PTCs were diagnosed as malignancy, and others were misdiagnosed as benign nodules (misdiagnosis rate was 43%). The lymphatic metastasis rate of FV-PTCs was 29%(9/31), significantly lower than C-PTCs [62%(41/66),χ2=9.246, P=0.002]. In terms of the sonographic features of metastatic lymph nodes, there was no marked difference between FV-PTCs and C-PTCs. Conclusions Some FV-PTCs are lack of malignant features, and tend to be misdiagnosed frequently when coexisting with benign thyroid nodules. Observing the echogenicity, color lfow characteristics and other features of each thyroid nodule and cervical lymph node with multiple views may decrease the misdiagnosis rate.

Objective To investigate the effect of Octreotide on pancreatic head carcinoma patients with obstructive jaundice who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with pancreatic stent placement.Methods Niney-nine patients hospitalized in Department of Gastroenterology of Wuhan Central Hospital from Jan 2006 to Dec 2011 were included in this study.All the patients were diagnosed as pancreatic head carcinoma with obstructive jaundice.The patients were randomly divided into the Octreotide treatment group and the control group.Both groups underwent ERCP with pancreatic duct stent placement for malignant biliary obstruction.The patients in Octreotide treatment group were injected with subcutaneous Octreotide at a dose of 0.1 mg twice per day for more than 90 day till death.The changes of serum total bilirubin before and after treatment were compared.The improvement of symptoms of nausea,vomiting,abdominal pain,diarrhea and anorexia was compared.The complication rates and survival were also determined.Results Postoperative recurrence of jaundice was observed in six patients in control group,and the cause may be stent occlusion,and 3 of the 6 patients underwent a second ERCP and stent placement,then jaundice was relieved,the other 3 patients did not receive a second ERCP.The serum bilirubin level in the remaining 45 patients returned to basically normal value (below 2 times of the normal value).The prevalence of nausea,vomiting,abdominal pain,diarrhea and anorexia in the 2 groups was not statistically different before treatment,and after treatment the prevalence of symptoms in the 2 groups was significantly decreased except for diarrhea.The decrease in Octreotide treatment group was more obvious than that in control group,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01).In the control group,post-ERCP pancreatitis occurred in three patients,and all were cured after treatment.There was no post-ERCP pancreatitis occurred in the Octreotide treatment group.Minor pain at the injection site was noted in three patients in the Octreotide treatment group.Pain was relieved after changing the injection site.The survival was significantly longer in the Octreotide group than that in control group [(14.4 ± 8.7) months vs (7.3 ± 5.3) months,P ＜ 0.05),and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Octreotide can improve the quality of life and increase the survival of patients with pancreatic head carcinoma who undergo ERCP with pancreatic duct stent placement.