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 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 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.

A microwave digestion system was preparation for the digestion of the sediment samples of 16 stations in the Southe mid_Atlantic ridge by using HNO3_H2 O2_HF as the digestion reagent. The rare earth elements ( RE ) in sediments were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and distribution characteristics of rare earth elements were studied. The microwave digestion_ICP_MS method was used for the determination of rare earth elements with a good linear relationship ( r=0 . 9997-1 . 0000 ) for each element. The detection limit reached ng/L level, the relative standard deviation ( RSD, n=3 ) was less than 3% and the relative error was 6%. The total amount of rare earth elements (ΣRE) in sediment samples from 16 stations varied in the range of 37. 25-134. 77 μg/g, the ratio range of light RE/heavy RE ( LRE/HRE) was 0 . 61-1 . 70 , the average value was 1 . 27 , and the enrichment of light rare earth elements in sediments was slightly obvious. The RE distribution patterns were basically the same in each station with obvious fractionation between LRE and HRE. The RE distribution patterns were also similar in sediments from different sources with slightly difference between terrestrial and marine sediments. The δEu and δCe in the sediments had negative anomaly which showed that the rare earth elements in sediments came from the seawater. This study first analyzed the content and distribution of rare earth elements in the southern Atlantic, providing data and technical support for further study of the distribution of rare earth elements in the Atlantic.

Objective To assess the cost-utility and medical economics of surgjcal treatment for SAP.Methods A retrospective study of SAP patients admitted from January to December 2003 to Ruijin Hospital was carried out.The cost of treatment was obtained from financial department and patients questionnaire;health-related quality of life was assessed by using the SF-36 brief questionnaire and the results were compared with normal population and were converted into rQALY,then utility scores were obtained so as to conduct CUA (cost-utility analysis)and related factors were analyzed.Results 98 patients with SAP were discharged,85 were discharged healthy;of them,59 patients had complete records were followed up,2 died during follow up,with a mortality of 3.4%,one patients could not finish the questionnaire and 6 did not respond,finally 50 finished the questionnaire;the total cost in hospital was 9899095 yuan,per capita 101011 yuan;the corrected post-discharge cost was 681737 yuan;the total cost was 10580832 yuan.The cost of medication was the highest,which accounted for 56%of all the cost.The means and deviations for each of eight scales(PF,RP,RE,BP,VT,MH,SF,GH)scores of SF-36 in SAP patients were 83.00±14.64,61.5.0±42.32,68.67±36.52,79.98±14.90,68.80±18.94,72.40±14.75,75.00±17.53,64.70±18.28.compared with normal population,gained 1929.05 QALYs;the cost-utility analysis was 5485 yuan per QALY.The patient's age,length of stay,chronic co-morbidity was associated with the cost of treatment.Conclusions SAP treatment in surgery department was justified in medical economics.Medication contributed to the most part of total costs.The related factors of cost included age,length of stay and chronic co-morbidity.

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.