Objective To study the HRCT features of pneumatized inferior turbinate and to evaluate their diagnostic value.Methods Twelve cases of pneumatized inferior turbinates demonstrated by HRCT were retrospectively analyzed.Results Coronal HRCT could demonstrate pneumatization of the inferior turbinate clearly and directly.Unilateral pneumatization was found in 11 cases and bilateral in one case. According to the location of pneumatization,pneumatized inferior turbinates were classified into three types : bulbous,lamellar,and extensive types.Five of 12 cases were bulbous,5 were lamellar and 2 were extensive type.On coronal HRCT scans,bulbous type showed nodular shape in one case,oval and ellipse shape in 2 cases each,respectively.Lamellar pneumatization appeared as curved stripe-like shape in 4 cases communicating with the maxillary sinus and ellipse shape in one case.Extensive type was found in 2 cases, curled lamella-like shape was found in 1 case communicating with the maxillary sinus and ellipse shape in another case.In 5 cases with maxillary sinus communication,axial HRCT revealed a defect on the medial wall of the maxillary sinus.In such a condition,the maxillary process of palatine bone and maxillary bone attached to the lower turbinate separately.Conclusion HRCT was an optimal imaging modality for the diagnosis of pneumatization of the inferior turbinate and may help the clinicians to differentiate from other causes of the inferior turbinate hypertrophy.

Objective To study the CT and MRI findings of osteosarcoma in paranasal sinus and evaluate their clinical value.Methods All 9 cases of osteosarcoma were verified by histopathology.Imaging data were analyzed retrospectively.Results The lesion occurred in maxillary sinus in 5 cases,in ethmoid sinus in 3 cases and in sphenoid sinus in one case.Primary osteosarcoma was found in 7 cases.Secondary osteosarcoma occurred from fibrous dysplasia and ossifying fibroma each in one case.On CT,the involved areas revealed bony destruction associated with ill-defined and irregular soft tissue mass.The lesion showed heterogeneous density with minimal or massive tumor bone formation,cloud-like in 3 cases,ivory-like in 2 cases,spicule-like in 2 cases,cloud- and spicule -like in one case and spicule- and ivory-like in one case.Postcontrast CT showed mild to moderate inhomogeneous enhancement in 3 cases.On MR T_1 WI,the lesions showed hypointensity compared to brain in 5 cases and iso-intensity in 2 cases.On T_2WI,the lesions showed heterogeneous hyperintensity in 4 cases and isointensity in 3 cases with marked hypointense foci which corresponded to tumor bone on CT.Postcontrast MR imaging demonstrated moderate to marked inhomogeneous enhancement in these cases.MRI showed accurately the extent and associated changes of the lesions.The lesions invaded the orbit,pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossae,skull base and extensive craniofacial structures in 5,4,3 cases and 1 case,respectively.Conclusion CT is the optimal modality in showing tumor bone of osteosareoma in paranasal sinus.MRI can demonstrate optimally the invading extent of the lesions.Combined imaging modalities can provide more comprehensive information for diagnosis and therapy of osteosarcoma in paranasal sinus.

Objective To investigate the CT and MRI findings of cavernous hemangioma in paranasal sinus so as to promote the diagnostic accuracy.Methods All 30 cases of cavernous hemangioma in paranasal sinus were verified with pathological examinations.The CT and MRI findings were analyzed retrospectively.Results The lesions occurred in the maxillary sinus in 25 cases,in the anterior ethmoid sinus in 3 cases and in the sphenoid sinus in 2 cases.The lesions extended and compressed adjacent structures.MRI showed the extent and the associated changes of the lesions more clearly compared to CT. On CT,all the involved paranasal sinuses invariably expanded.The bony walls of paranasal sinuses were compressed and remodeled with focal defect in 28 cases,mostly in the medial wall of the maxillary sinus (21 cases).Bony scelerosis of the residual walls of paranasal sinus were found in 8 cases.The lesions demonstrated well-defined margin and heterogeneous density with phlebolith in 10 cases.Postcontrast CT showed marked inhomogeneous enhancement in 16 cases.On MR T_1WI,canernous hemangioma showed hypointense signal compared to brain in 4 cases and isointense signal in 14 cases.On T_2WI,the lesions revealed heterogeneous hyperintense singal in 16 cases and isointense signal in 2 cases with multiple hypointense foci.Postcontrast MR imaging demonstrated marked inhomogeneous enhancement in these cases,honeycomb-like appearance in 8 cases and variegated appearance in 10 cases.The feature of progressive enhancement was found on dynamic contrast enhancement of MRI in 8 cases.Conclusions The characteristic bony change together with phlebolith can suggest the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma in paranasal sinus on CT.The heterogeneous hyperintense singal on MR T_2WI,progressive enhancement and honeycomb-like or variegated appearance on postcontrast MRI were also the characteristic findings of cavernous hemangioma in paranasal sinus.Combination of CT and MRI findings can provide more accurate information for the diagnosis and therapy of cavernous hemangioma in paranasal sinus.

【Objective】To clarify the role of neuro-cadherin（N-cadherin）in epithelial-mesenchymal transition of diabetic retinopathy，and to investigate the effect of N-cadherin on proliferation ，migration and invasion of retinal pigment epithelial cells.【Methods】Cells were turned into over-expressed or silenced N-cadherin by using Ad-N-cadherin （Ad-N-cad）and Ad-si N-cadherin（si N-cad）. Glucose（25 mmol/L）was used to simulate high glucose（HG）condi⁃ tions. Cell Counting Kit-8（CCK-8）kit was used to detect cell proliferation. Transwell chamber was used to detect the vertical migration and invasion of cells.【Results】Transwell assay showed N-cadherin over-expression increased the num⁃ ber of cells migrated to the transwell subventricular chamber. The difference was statistically significant（P < 0.05）. The number of ARPE19 cells that migrated to or invaded the transwell subventricular chamber increased after high glucose treatment. N-cadherin knockdown suppressed high glucose-induced migration and invasion（P < 0.05）. CCK8 results showed N-cadherin knockdown could inhibit cell proliferation induced by high glucose（P < 0.05）.【Conclusion】N-cad⁃ herin may promote cell migration，and down-regulation of N-cadherin can inhibit cell proliferation，migration and inva⁃ sion induced by high glucose.

OBJECTIVEUtilizing the hypoxia inducible factor 1/hypoxia reaction element (HIF-1/ HRE) gene regulation system to construct antisense vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) cDNA eukaryotic expression vector promoted by HRE, and investigate its targeted inhibiting VEGF expression of osteosarcoma cells in hypoxia environment.

METHODSEukaryotic expression plasmid with HRE promoter was constructed containing luciferase reporter gene and antisense VEGF165 cDNA by using PCR and recombinant DNA techniques. The recombinant vectors were transfected into osteosarcoma cells with lipofectin method. Hypoxia-inducible reporter gene expression was determined by liquid scintillation analyzer and the expression of VEGF protein was detected by ELISA method.

RESULTSThe eukaryotic expression plasmid containing antisense VEGF165 and luciferase promoted by HRE was constructed successfully. After being transferred into MG63 cells, luciferase expression was increased 3.5 x 10(2) times and VEGF protein expression decreased 45% under hypoxia condition.

CONCLUSIONAntisense VEGF165 cDNA expression, efficiently realized by HRE promoter under hypoxia condition, provides an experimental basis for targeted antiangiogenesis of tumors.

Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; genetics ; Luciferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plasmids ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of VEGF expression in osteosarcoma cell line and the target killing effect of HSV1-TK/GCV system on transfected osteosarcoma cells under hypoxia conditions.

METHODSEukaryotic expression plasmid with HRE promoter was constructed to express the antisense VEGF165 cDNA and Hygromycin phospho-transferase-thymidine kinase (HyTK) fusion gene. The recombinant vectors were then transfected into osteosarcoma cell line MG63 with lipofectin mediated gene transfer methods. PCR and RT-PCR were used to confirm the presence and expression of TK gene. The sensitivity of transfected cells to GCV and "bystander effect (BSE)" of HSV1-TK/GCV system under normoxia or hypoxia conditions were measured by MTT assay and mixed co-culture experiment. The expression of VEGF protein was detected by ELISA under hypoxia condition. Cell cycle phase distribution was determined by flow cytometry. In addition, electromicroscopy was used to document ultrastructural alterations.

RESULTSThe eukaryotic expression vector pBI-HRE-AsVEGF165 -HyTK was constructed successfully. The transfected cell line MG63TV was established and confirmed by PCR and RT-PCR of the presence of transgene and its mRNA expression. GCV was toxic to transfected cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The sensitivity to GCV toxicity was 100 times higher under hypoxia condition than that under normoxic condition. The mixed culture experiments showed that the "bystander effect" was enhanced significantly under hypoxia condition. VEGF expression of transgene cells under hypoxia condition decreased 50% compared to that of normal condition. Under hypoxia and GCV, DNA synthesis of MG63TV cells was inhibited along with an increase of cells at G0 approximately G1 phase, apoptosis and necrosis.

CONCLUSIONSAntisense VEGF expression driven by HRE promoter in combination with hypoxia can provide a target inhibition of VEGF expression in human osteosarcoma cells, with an enhanced selective killing effect and BSE of the HSV-TK/GCV system. The double-gene co-expression system in study provides experimental basis for therapy against osteosarcoma by a synchronous antiangiogenic and suicide gene approach.

Apoptosis ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Bystander Effect ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA, Neoplasm ; biosynthesis ; Ganciclovir ; pharmacology ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; genetics ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thymidine Kinase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

【Objective】 To predict the functional mechanism and clinical significance of highly expressed maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase(MELK) in lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma by bioinformatics. 【Methods】 The chip data set GSE7670 was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO) database and combined with the TCGA lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma(LUSC) database for differential analysis, and to screen out differential kinases(P < 0.05). GO biological function enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis of these kinases were performed. Based on String, a protein interaction network was obtained. MCODE plug-in of Cytoscape was applied to find key node proteins and then MELK kinase protein was picked out. MELK expression was analyzed through Oncomine database. Clinical information from TCGA database was obtained, and the relationship between MELK expression and clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis of LUAD and LUSC was analyzed. GeneMANIA was used to predict the function of MELK, and then to verify related co-expressed genes with GEPIA2. 【Results】 A total of 159 differential kinases were screened out, which were closely related to cell proliferation, apoptosis and various signal pathways. Twenty-one important genes were identified by analyzing protein interaction networks. MELK level was higher in male, young or advanced clinical stage lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma. The patients with high MELK levels had a shorter progression-free survival(PFS) and overall survival(OS) in LUAD, but there was no significant difference in LUSC. MELK was involved in G2/M transition possibly and was co-expressed with proliferation-related genes (MKI67, PCNA, CCNB1, MCM2, and TOP2A) in LUAD and LUSC. 【Conclusions】 MELK is highly expressed in LUAD and LUSC. MELK may be involved in the occurrence and development of LUAD by promoting cell mitosis and G2/M transition. MELK could be a new biomarker for LUAD.

This paper presents a computer-aided diagnosis method for prostate cancer detection using Trans-rectal ultrasound(TRUS) images. Firstly, statistical texture analysis is implemented in every ROI in segmented prostate images. From each ROI, grey level difference vector features, edge-frequency features and texture features in frequency domain are constructed. Then, the number of features is reduced using ANOVA statistics to select the optimal feature subset. Finally, SVM is applied to the selected subset for detecting the cancer regions. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can recognize and detect the cancer images effectively so as to supply essential information for a diagnosis.
Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Male ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Ultrasonography

In this paper, we propose that, the need of the costly re-initialization procedure can be completely eliminated by using the variation formulation, thus increasing the speed of computing operations. The edge detecting function in the geodesic active contour model is improved by incorporating a prior knowledge. The accuracy of the segmentation algorithm can be enhanced by using the minimal variance. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can segment the prostate ultrasound images effectively and avoid the problem of contour leakage.
Algorithms ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Male ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Prostate ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography ; instrumentation ; methods

This paper proposes an algorithm of evaluating the compression depth, and then to extract four normalized mammary elasticity characteristic parameters with respect to the compression depth. The classification experiments show that these elasticity parameters have a good capability in determining whether the tumor is benign or malignant, and if combined with morphological parameters, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity can be improved and increased to 95.19%, 98.82% and 92.16%, respectively.
Algorithms ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Female ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography, Mammary ; methods