Objective To study a characteristic CT sign of pulmonary tuberculosis granuloma and improve the diagnostic accuracy of the disease.Methods The clinical data and CT findings of 32 cases with pulmonary tuberculosis granuloma were retrospectively analyzed.All cases were pathologic confimed by bronchoscopy or biopsy.All the patients had spiral CT scan,of which five had CT enhancement.Results In 51 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis granuloma 32 hadCrawling Sign,which showed the trend that le-sions from the peripheral spread to the hilum of lung along the bronchovascular bundle with the outer part larger than the inside,like a lesion crawled along the bronchial tree.Conclusion TheCrawling Signis a quite characteristic CT sign of the tuberculous granu-loma which can help to differentiate tuberculous granuloma from lung cancer and other lung diseases.

Objective To study the effect of restraint and watered stress of different durations on the gastric empting in rats. Methods 48 male SD rats (weight ±150 g) were divided randomly into 6 groups with 8 in each. The experimental rats were restrained and watered in 23℃ water box for 1 h/d, while the controls were free. The body weight, general conditions and behavioral indexes of the rats were observed and recorded. The gastric empting rate was measured in rats with semi-solid diet after 3 d,7 d and 28 d during the statistically significant differences among different groups of different stress groups,and between the 3 d test group and 3 d control group. The gastric empting rate was higer in the 7-day test than in 7 d controlled group, lower in the 28 d test group than 28 d control group. Conclusion Different chronic stress can cause changes of gastric empting rate. With the prolonging of stress time, the empting rate is rising and then decending.

Objective In order to study the relationship between the efficacy of IFN and ribavirin in treating the patients with chronic hepatitis C and the anti-IFN antibodies.Methods 20 patients received 3MU rIFN ?-2b three times a week and ribavirim 1?050mg once a day for 24 weeks;32 patients were treated with 3MU rIFN ?-2b and without ribavin.These patients were all followed up 24weeks after stopping treatment,meanwhile the anti-IFN antibodies were detected.Results In first group,50% of the patients had complete response,which was higher obviously than 18.7% in the second group;25%relapse developed in the first group,which was lower than 56.3% in the second group.25% of the patients had no response in each groups.The relapse was related to the anti-IFN antibodies,especially neutralizing antibodies.Conclusion The efficacy of combined treatment with IFN?-2b and ribavirin is superior to the treatment with only rIFN?-2b.The relapse is related to anti-IFN antibodies,especially neutralizing antibodies.

Objective:To observe the effect of combining Chinese medicine and tuina along the meridians on motor function and activities of daily living (ADL) in patient with post-stroke upper limb spasticity. Methods:A total of 220 patients with post-stroke upper limb spasticity were randomly allocated into a treatment group (n=110) and a control group (n=110). Patients in the treatment group received tuina along the meridians combined with spasticity-alleviating and collateral-unblocking Chinese medicine, whereas patients in the control group received routine rehabilitation therapy. Patients in both groups were treated for 3 weeks. Then the patients’ motor function, ADL and muscle tone were evaluated before and after treatment using the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA), modified Barthel index (MBI) and modified Ashworth scale (MAS). Results:After treatment, the FMA scores, MBI scores, and muscle (shoulder intortor, elbow flexors and wrist flexors) tones were significantly improved (P<0.05), but the improvement was more significant in the treatment group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion:Tuina along the meridians combined with spasticity-alleviating and collateral-unblocking Chinese medicine can substantially alleviate muscle tone on the affected side and remarkably improve the patients’ motor function and ADL.

Objective To preliminarily investigate the feasibility of MRI-T2* map in evaluating myocardial iron load of myocardial iron overload rabbit models.Methods Eleven rabbits were included in this study and divided into two groups,myocardial iron overload group (n =10) and the control group (n =1).Iron dextrin (dose of 50 mg/kg) was injected in muscles of thigh once a week,totally 12 weeks.Serum iron test and MRI examination were performed before iron injection,and 1 week to 12 weeks after iron injection.MRI scan protocol included short axial T2* map of the left ventricle and cross-section T2* map of the liver.T2* and R2* of the heart and the liver were measured.One rabbit was killed after MRI examination at pre-iron injection,1 week to 8 weeks,11 weeks and 12 weeks after iron injection,respectively.Heart and liver were avulsed to undergo in vitro MRI scan and then paraffin embedded for pathological slices.MRI scan protocol and measurements of the heart and the liver samples were the same to that of in vivo ones.Pearson correlation was used to calculate the relationships between the parameters.Results Myocardial T2* [(32.5 ± 8.3 ms)] and R2* values [(38.4 ± 7.9) Hz] had significant correlation with injecting iron content(1 033.2 ± 673.4 mg),the Pearson coefficients were-0.799 (P =0.001) and 0.770 (P =0.002),respectively.Myocardial T2 had no significant correlation with liver T2* values (r =0.556,P =0.070).T2* values of heart and liver in vivo [(32.5 ± 8.3) ms and (8.8 ± 5.4) ms],respectively had strong correlation with those in vitro [(19.4 ± 6.5) ms and (9.8 ± 5.0) ms],respectively (r =0.757,P =0.007 and r=0.861,P=0.001).T2* and R2* values of the heart and the liver in vivo and in vitro had no significant correlations with serum iron (P ＞ 0.05).On Prussian blue staining slices,blue particles of myocardium,sinus hepaticus and hepatocyte increased with injecting iron content.Conclusions It is feasible for MRI-T2* map to evaluate the myocardial iron load noninvasively.It may provide reliable information for detecting myocardial iron overload in patients with iron overload at an early stage.

Objective To observe the effects of chronic arsenic exposure on mRNA expression of estrogen receptor-binding fragment-associated gene 9 (Ebag9) and estrogen-responsive finger protein (efp) in uterus and ovary of female rats.Methods Fifty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups according to arsenic (As2O3) concentrations given through drinking-water:0.00 (control),0.05,0.10,0.20,0.40 mg/L arsenic exposure groups and real-time RCR (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of Ebag9 and efp in uterus and ovary tissue at the 31 weeks of experiment.Results The mRNA expression levels of Ebag9 and efp of the 0.00,0.05,0.10,0.20,0.40 mg/L arsenic exposure groups were respectively as follows:0.761 ± 0.178,0.521 ± 0.130,0.544 ± 0.035,0.525 ± 0.198,0.498 ± 0.240 and 0.795 ± 0.171,0.874 ± 0.077,0.797 ± 0.066,0.796 ± 0.040,0.832 ± 0.096.Compared with control group,a decreased tendency was observed in Ebag9 mRNA level(with P value 0.055 in 0.40 mg/L arsenic exposure group) and increased tendency in efp mRNA level in experimental groups (all P ＞ 0.05).The mRNA expression levels of Ebag9 and efp in ovary of the five groups were by turns:0.702 ± 0.484,0.719 ± 0.336,0.693 ± 0.095,0.706 ± 0.055,0.728 ± 0.073 and 0.924 ± 0.061,1.009 ± 0.034,0.930 ± 0.085,0.929 ± 0.068,1.012 ± 0.101.Compared with control group,the expression level of Ebag9 mRNA showed a increased tendency in 0.05,0.20,0.40 mg/L arsenic exposure groups(all P ＞ 0.05).The efp mRNA level increased in experimental groups,with significant difference in 0.05,0.40 mg/L groups (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The expression of efp mRNA has changed in ovary of female rats exposed to chronic arsenic.Arsenic may act as an environmental endocrine disruptor to exert its effect.

Objective To investigate CT and MRI findings of giant cell tumors of the temporal bone(GCTTB).Methods CT and MRI features of 5 cases pathologically proven GCTTB were retrospectively reviewed.The lesion characteristics,including location, size,shape,margin,attenuation on CT scans,signal intensity on MR images,and enhancement pattern were documented and analyzed.Results In all 5 patients,the lesions were located adj acent to the mandibular fossa.These lesions were round or oval in shape,predominantly demonstrated as expansive lytic bone destruction containing hyperattenuating septa,calcifications,non-sclerotic borders,and discontinuous bony shells,with“boundary angle”sign.No soft tissue masses were found around the lesions.These lesions with different content demonstrated various MRI signal intensity,and the solid component enhanced intensely.Conclusion GCTTB is rare.Features such as expansive growing pattern,discontinuous bony shell,intralesional septa,calcification,and “boundary angle”sign are common,which may help in the radiographic diagnosis of giant cell tumor.

Objective To investigate the change of intestinal barrier function and the protection of pentoxifylline (PTX) to intestinal barrier. Methods Fifty-four SD male rats were randomly divided into 3groups, including sham operation group, ANP group, PTX group. ANP rat model were induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into pancreatic and bile duct. Rats in sham operation group underwent operation without injection of taurocholate. After ANP induction, the rats in PTX group received PTX at a dose of 25 mg/kg weight via penis vein. The rats were sacrificed 3, 6, 24 h after operation, the serum levels of amylase, D-lactic acid, TNF-α were determined. The pancreas tissue and terminal ileum were harvested for pathological examination; ZO-1 levels of ileum epithelial tight junction were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results Six hours after induction, the serum levels of amylase, TNF-α, D-lactic acid in ANP group were(9141±672)U/L, (347.96±79.47) pg/ml and (10.21±1.08 ) rmg/L, which were significantly higher than those in sham operation group [(1723 ± 57 )U/L, (134.09 ± 31.36 )pg/ml and (4.33 ±0.49)mg/L, P ＜0.01]. The serum levels of amylase, TNF-α, D-lactic acid in PTX group were (7965 ± 318 ) U/L, (238.48 ± 44.35 ) pg/ml and ( 8.75 ± 1.28 ) mg/L, which were significantly lower than those in ANP group, but they were significantly higher than those in sham group ( P＜0.05 or ＜0.01). The positive rate of ZO-1 was (3.29±0.36)% in sham operation group, and it was (1.91 ± 0. 32)% in ANP group,which was significantly lower than that in sham operation group (P ＜ 0.05 ); and the value was (2.53±0.43)%in PTX group, which was lower than that in sham group, but it was higher than that in ANP group(P＜0.05).Conclusions PTX may attenuate intestinal barrier function injury by decreasing the breakdown of intestinal ZO-1.

BACKGROUND: It is often difficult to determine the cause of low back pain (LBP) in the patients with lumbar disc herniation. The herniated disc has long been thought to be an important cause of the patient's complaint about LBP and sciatica. Whether the adjacent degenerative disc results in LBP needs further confirmations. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine whether the degenerative disc adjacent to the herniated disc in patients with LBP and radicular pain can result in discogenic LBP, as assessed by provocative discography, and to report the outcomes of the residual LBP when adjacent symptomatic disc were treated with methylene blue after microendoscopic discectomy. METHODS: Twenty lumbar disc herniation patients complaint about LBP and radicular pain underwent provocative discography. There was one degenerative herniated disc with one or more adjacent degenerative discs in their MRI. Provocative discography was performed on all degenerative discs and at least one normal disc for control. The severity of LBP and leg pain of all patients was assessed using visual analog scale before discography. All patients underwent microendoscopic discectomy at herniated level, and intradiscal injection of methylene blue was given at painful adjacent level in five patients after microendoscopic discectomy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Discographies were performed on 64 discs of 20 patients, from L2-3 to L5-S1. There were 11 discs satisfying the positive response criteria, including 6 in degenerative segment adjacent to the herniated disc and 5 in the herniated disc that induced corresponding radiculopathy. The leg pains were evidently improved in all patients, while LBP was partially improved after microendoscopic discectomy. Six patients with symptomatic adjacent degenerative disc still had evident LBP, influencing their daily living. Five of them received intradiscal injection of methylene blue treatment and the LBP was relived. One patient refusing to the treatment still complained the LBP. Results evidenced that accompanying LBP for many LDH patients may come from the degenerative levels adjacent to the herniated disc.

Objective To summarize primary experiences of integrated fetal diagnosis and postnatal treatment for the transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Methods Five fetus were diagnozed as TGA at(28.4 ±4.4) weeks of gestation via fetal echocardiography. The mean age of the pregnant women was (28.4 ±3.0) years old. Delivers were taken by caesarean at (36.5 ±1.8) weeks of gestation. The body weight of neonates was (2468 ±442) grams. All neonates were transported to the department of neonatology and re-checked by echocardiography. 3 cases were TGA with intact ventricular septum, 2 cases were TGA with ventricular septal defect. Prostaglandin and mechanical ventilation were applied if oxygen saturation was lower. The standard arterial switch procedure was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate hypothermia. Results The mean age for patients at surgery was (9. 0 ±6. 2) days ( ranged 2-19 days). Three neonates survived, 2 preterm neonates died. One with body weight 1770 g, 2 days after operation was died of sudden heart arrest and failure of resuscitation. Another was treated by mechanical ventilation and prostaglandin after delivery and underwent operation at the second postnatal day, the neonate appeared low cardiac output and high serum lactate postoperatively and died in the third day. Conclusion The integrated fetal diagnosis and postnatal treatment for TGA could prevent severe cyanosis and emergency transportation after parturition. The lack of any link in the cooperation among the multidisciplinary team could affect the benefits for the TGA neonates provided by prenatal diagnosis.