Objective To detect the feasibility of magnetically labeled swine bone marrow mesenehymal stem cells(MSCs)with SHU 555A combined with poly-L-arginine(PLL),under MR imaging in vitro and in vivo.Methods Swine mesenehymal stem cells were isolated and culture-expanded 3 passages in vitro,then magnetically labeled by incubation with SHU 555A(25?g Fe/ml,Resovist,Schering)for 24 hours with 750 ng/mL poly-L-lysine(PLL;average MW_275 kDa)added 1 hour before incubation.Cellular iron incorporation and detention at 0 d,4 d,8 d,12 d,16 d,20 d after labeling was qualitatively assessed using Prussian blue and quantified at atomic absorption spectrometry.Cell viability was assessed by trypan-blue exclusion test.Cell suspensions underwent MR imaging with T_1-and T_2-weighted spin-echo and fast field-echo sequences on a clinical 1.5 T MR system.At last,1?10~6 SHU 555A labeled and unlabeled MSCs were transextracardially implanted into the infracted and normal myocardium approximately 2 week following the ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery in 1 swine respectively,and finally performed 1.5-T MRI within 1 week after infarction.Results①Intracytoplasmic particles stained with Prussian blue stain were detected for all cells with mean cellular iron content of(13.13?2.30)pg per cell.With division of stem cells, the stained particles decreased gradually with iron content(0.68?0.20)pg per cell.at 16 days after labeling, approximately to the prelabeled baseline values.(0.21?0.06)pg per cell(P＞0.05).The viability of the labeled cells at various time points were not significantly different with that of nonlabeled cells(P＞0.05).②MR images showed signal intensity changed most obviouly in T2*WI in vitro.The percentage change of signal intensity increased with increasing cell numbers,and decreased with the time.As few as 5?10~4-1?10~5 cells could be detected by using this approach.③Two injected sites containing MR-MSCs were detected in vivo,presentingas low signal intensity areas with the T_2*WI scanning sequence.Conclusion Swine bone marrow MSCs can be labeled with SHU555A-PLL and depicted with a standard 1.5-T MR imager in vitro and in vivo.(J lntervent Radiol,2007,16:115-121)

BACKGROUNDAutoimmune encephalitis associated with antibodies against γ-aminobutyric acid B receptor (GABA B R) in patients with limbic encephalitis (LE) was first described in 2010. We present a series of Han Chinese patients for further clinical refinement.

METHODSSerum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients referred to the program of encephalitis and paraneoplastic syndrome of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were tested with indirect immunofluorescence. Clinical information of patients with anti-GABA B R antibody positivity was retrospectively reviewed, and descriptive statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTSAll eighteen anti-GABA B R antibody-positive cases had limbic syndromes, and electroencephalogram (EEG) or neuroimaging evidence fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of LE. Four patients had additional antibodies against Hu in serum and one had anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antibody in both sera and CSF. Seventeen (17/18) patients presented with new-onset refractory seizure or status epileptics. Twelve (12/18) patients had memory deficits, 11 (11/18) patients had personality change, 7 (7/18) patients had disturbance of consciousness, and 3 (3/18) patients showed cerebellar dysfunction. One patient with LE had progressive motor and sensory polyneuropathy. Lung cancer was detected in 6 (6/18) patients. Ten (10/18) patients showed abnormality in bilateral or unilateral mediotemporal region on magnetic resonance imaging. Ten (10/18) patients had temporal lobe epileptic activity with or without general slowing on EEG. Seventeen patients received immunotherapy and 15 of them showed neurological improvement. Four patients with lung cancer died within 1-12 months due to neoplastic complications.

CONCLUSIONSOur study demonstrates that most Han Chinese patients with anti-GABA B R antibody-associated LE have prominent refractory epilepsy and show neurological improvement on immunotherapy. Patients with underlying lung tumor have a relatively poor prognosis. Testing for anti-GABA B R antibodies is necessary for patients with possible LE or new-onset epilepsy with unknown etiology.

Adult ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; China ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Limbic Encephalitis ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the enhancing effects of ginsenoside Rg3 combined with mitomycin C and tegafur (MF) on postoperative chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer.

METHODSSeventy-one postoperative patients with advanced gastric cancer were randomly divided into two groups, the control group (n=33), which received treatment with only MF (Mitomycin C+Tegafur), and the trial group (n=38), which were treated with ginsenoside Rg3+MF. The serum VEGF levels in the control group and trial group were detected preoperatively and postoperatively, meanwhile, the serum VEGF levels in 30 healthy persons were detected as comparison. The relations between patients survival and serum VEGF levels were analyzed.

RESULTSThe levels of serum VEGF in advanced gastric cancer were higher than those in healthy persons [(297.8+/-129.6) pg/ml vs (212.3+/-67.5) pg/ml] (P<0.01), and were correlated with the depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, tumor size > 4 cm and TNM stage (P<0.05). Fourteen weeks after operation, the levels of serum VEGF in trial group decreased below those of preoperation and approached to normal range, while in the control group, the levels of serum VEGF decreased near those of preoperation only. The median survival of patients in trial group and control group were 40 and 25 months respectively. The survival rate of patients in trial group was significantly higher than that in control group (P=0.047).

CONCLUSIONThe combined application of ginsenoside Rg3+MF chemotherapy can decrease the concentration of serum VEGF and improve the survival rate in advanced gastric cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitomycin ; therapeutic use ; Neoplasm Staging ; Phytotherapy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Tegafur ; therapeutic use ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of high frequency ultrasound in diagnosing peripheral nerve diseases (PNDs).

METHODSFrom January 2003 to December 2006, 64 cases of PNDs were analyzed retrospectively. The ultrasound diagnosis was compared with the operative and pathological diagnosis.

RESULTSBased on the operative and histopathological results, in 38 patients with trauma or entrapment, 38 among 45 traumatic nerves were rightly diagnosed by ultrasound. The coincidence rate was 84.4%. In 26 patients with original peripheral nerve tumors (PNTs), including 20 neurilemmomas, 4 neurofibromas and 2 malignant neurilemmomas, 16 cases were diagnosed by ultrasound with a coincidence rate of 61.5%. The coincidence rates in limbs and trunk were 86.7% (13/15) and 27.3% (3/11) respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe study suggests that high frequency ultrasound can locate peripheral nerve trauma precisely, assess the impair degree correctly and provide useful information for clinic diagnosis. The high frequency ultrasound brings better diagnosis outcome in limbs nerve tumors than in trunk.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Trauma, Nervous System ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo do some comparative study on anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects between the Dao-di herb and non Dao-di herb of Huangqin (the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis) and provide thinking and evidence for study on geoherbalism and clinical usage of Huangqin.

METHODThe anti-inflammatory action was assessed by auricular swelling induced by dimethylbenzene in mice and the antipyretic action was monitored by dried yeast-induced mice fever.

RESULTAll samples of both Dao-di and non Dao-di herbs of Huangqin showed antipyretic effect. The Dao-di Huangqin samples showed antipyretic effect between 61% to 53% , whereas the non Dao-di Huangqin samples between 53% to 43%. Six Dao-di Huangqin samples showed better antipyretic effect than four non Dao-di Huangqin samples. All samples of both Dao-di and non Dao-di Huangqin showed anti-inflammatory effect. Dao-di Huangqin showed anti-inflammatory effect between 73% to 54%, whereas non dao-di Huangqin between 53% to 34%. Six Dao-di Huangqin showed better anti-inflammatory effect than four non Dao-di Huangqin. In totality, results from analysis of geoherbalism showed that geoherbal production areas of Huangqin had better effect than that of the non geoherbal production areas in anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects.

CONCLUSIONBoth the Dao-di and non Dao-di Huangqin have effects of anti-inflammatory and antipyretic to a certain extent, but the efficacy of the Dao-di Huangqin surpass the non Dao-di Huangqin.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; Antipyretics ; administration & dosage ; China ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Fever ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate associations of overall obesity (OO) and abdominal obesity (AO) with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) among type 2 diabetes(T2DM) patients. Methods A community-based study for T2DM patients was conducted in rural communities in Beijing．Every patient completed a questionnaire to collect demography, lifestyle and diseases history, and underwent physical examinations, baPWV assessments and blood biochemical tests. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the relationship between obesity index and baPWV. Abnormal baPWV was defined as patients with baPWV≥1,700 cm/s. Logistic regression model was performed to explore the risk of abnormal baPWV after adjusting for poetential confounders step by step. Results A total of 2 048 T2DM patients were recruited. The average age was (59.2±8.3) years and total prevalence of abnormal baPWV was 49.7%. After multivariable adjustment, linear regression showed that there was a negative correlation between body mass index(BMI) and baPWV and a positive correlation between waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and baPWV. Compared to normal weight group, those with BMI≥28 kg/m2 had lower risk of abnormal baPWV (OR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.44-0.78，P<0.001), but there was an increased risk of 46% among patients with obesity in WHR (OR=1.46, 95% CI:1.07-2.00，P=0.018). Compared to those without OO and AO, patients without OO but with AO had a 1.67-fold increasesd risk of abnormal baPWV (OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.19-2.35，P=0.003). Conclusions Abdominal obesity is related with arterial stiffnening among T2DM patients, and it is critical to evaluate arterial stiffness of T2DM patients with abdmonal obesity and normal BMI in order to reduce future risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Objective To explore the relationship between sleep duration and different ischemic stroke (IS) subtypes. Methods Participants in the study were recruited from rural communities in Beijing. The survey questionnaires, physical examination and biochemical tests were performed. Sleep duration was categorized into 5 groups, namely ≤5 hours/day, 6 hours/day (5.5-6.5 h/d), 7 hours/day (6.5-7.5 h/d), 8 hours/day (7.5-8.5 h/d) and ≥9 hours/day(≥8.5 h/d). Classification of ischemic stroke was based on Trial of org 10172 in acute stroke treatment(TOAST)classification. Logistic models were used to evaluate the associations between sleep duration and different IS subtypes. Results A total of 6 370 participants were recruited. The average age was (58.34±9.37) years old. Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, sex, behavioral lifestyle, socioeconomic status and health status, compared to subjects with 7 hours/day, subjects with sleep duration ≤5 hours/day was significantly associated with increased risk of IS (OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.42-2.15, P<0.001), large-artery atherosclerosis (OR=1.98, 95% CI:1.46-2.70, P<0.001), small-artery occlusion lacunar (OR=5.73, 95% CI:3.34-9.83, P<0.001) and stroke of undetermined etiology (OR=4.43, 95% CI:1.86-10.53, P=0.001). Subjects with sleep duration 8 hours/day and ≥9 hours/day was only found to be significantly associated with IS and large-artery atherosclerosis (P<0.05). Conclusions Short sleep duration is associated with increased risk of IS, large-artery atherosclerosis, small-artery occlusion lacunar and stroke of undetermined etiology. But long sleep duration is only associated with increased risk of IS and large-artery atherosclerosis.

Food intake has a great influence on blood glucose in patients with diabetes.This study was to determine the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of a particular pomelo named Majia pomelo and its effects on postprandial glucose (PPG) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).Twenty healthy subjects and 20 T2D patients (controlled on lifestyle measures and/or metformin) were tested on 2 separate days with 50 g of glucose and 50 g equivalent of carbohydrates from Majia pomelo for GI measurement.To test effects of Majia pomelo on PPG,19 hospitalized T2D patients (controlled on insulin therapy) were selected for a 9-day study.The dose of insulin for each patient was adjusted on the first 3 days.A total of 100 mg Majia pomelo was consumed per meal in the last 3 tested days.Blood glucose was measured to evaluate the glycemic excursions.The GIs for Majia pomelo in healthy individuals and T2D patients were 78.34± 1.88 and 72.15±1.95 respectively.The value of GL was as low as 4.23 in diabetic patients with serving size of 100 g pomelo,indicting Majia pomelo as a high GI but low GL fruit.Consumption of Majia pomelo in hospitalized T2D patients did not cause significant glucose fluctuation.It was concluded that high GI pomelo can serve as a low GL fruit if it is consumed with a limited daily amount and thus can be supplied to diabetic patients.These results may mean more varieties of food choices for T2D patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MR) on detecting transplanted nanometer small superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIO) labeled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in swine model with acute myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODSMSCs isolated from swine were incubated with nanometer SPIO for 24 hours and the third-passage MSCs were labeled with DNA dye 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and aliphatic red fluorescent dye PKH(26)-GL. Presence of small particles of SPIO in MSCs was assessed by Prussian Blue staining and electron microscopy. Three animals in each group received SPIO-labeled MSCs (5 x 10(5); 1 x 10(6); 2 x 10(6)) and MSCs without SPIO (1 x 10(6)) injections into the infarcted myocardium approximately 1 hour following left anterior descending coronary artery. MRI (1.5-T) was performed 20 to 24 hours post infarction in all animals and the animals were subsequently sacrificed for histology 1 hour post MRI.

RESULTSIn vitro Prussian Blue staining and electron microscopy examination revealed numerous iron particles in the cytoplasm of MSCs. Low signal intensity spots with the scanning T(2)(*)WI-Flash 2d sequence were detected in all SPIO-MSCs but not in SPIO-negative-MSCs injected myocardial sites in vivo with the clinical 1.5 T scanner. Prussian blue, DAPI and PKH(26) positive cells were detected histologically in sections corresponding to low signal intensity spots area shown on MRI.

CONCLUSIONMagnetically labeled MSCs transplanted in myocardial ischemia area of swine can be visualized in vivo with a clinical 1.5-T MRI and could be used for tracking SPIO-MSCs clinically.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ferrosoferric Oxide ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Myocardial Infarction ; pathology ; surgery ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Nanoparticles ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of dynamic SPECT (99m)Tc-galactosyl human serum albumin (GSA) scintigraphy on the assessment of reserve function of cirrhosis liver.

METHODSFrom January 2010 to December 2011, 55 patients with cirrhosis liver were enrolled in this study. The case numbers of male and female were 43 and 12 respectively and the age was (51 ± 9) years (ranging from 35 to 69 years). After routine biochemistry test, CT scan and (99m)Tc-GSA dynamic SPECT scan were performed in turn using a juxtaposed SPECT/CT system. Then the morphologic volume of liver parenchyma (MLV), functional liver volume (FLV) and the hepatic cell absorption rate constant (GSA-K) were calculated. The correlations between GSA-K and routine biochemistry test, Child-Pugh score, indocyanine green clearance rate (ICG-K) were analyzed. The patients were further divided into 3 groups according to whether there was occlusion or stenosis in the main branch of left portal vein (group 1, n = 5), right portal vein (group 2, n = 13) or not (group 3, n = 37) and the regional hepatic functions index of the 3 groups were compared.

RESULTSThe value of FLV of the whole, left and right liver was (594 ± 152) ml, (244 ± 119) ml and (356 ± 171) ml, respectively. There were correlations between GSA-K and total bilirubin, prothrombintime, Child-Pugh score and ICG-K (r = -0.730--0.298, P < 0.05). The FLV and MLV ratios of involved hemiliver to uninvolved hemiliver were 0.09 ± 0.06 and 0.30 ± 0.14 in group 1, 0.57 ± 0.43 and 1.08 ± 0.63 in group 2, 0.71 ± 0.30 and 0.71 ± 0.48 in group 3. The difference in MLV-FLV ratio was signifcant between group 1 and group 3, between group 2 and group 3 (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSThe dynamic SPCECT (99m)Tc-GSA scintigraphy can not only assess the whole liver function of cirrhosis liver effectively, but also evaluate the variation of regional liver function accurately.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin ; metabolism ; Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate ; metabolism ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon