Autopsy ; Eye Injuries ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans

Objective To evaluate the CT findings of pancreatic carcinoid tumors.Methods The CT imaging data of five patients with pancreatic carcinoid tumors confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.Results The tumors ranged in maximum diameter from 2.0 to 11.0 cm with a mean of 6.4 cm. On unenhanced CT,the tumors were slightly hypodense relative to the pancreatic parenchyma,homogenous in 2 cases,and heterogenous in 3 cases.One tumor showed calcification.After contrast material injection, the solid component of the tumor showed marked heterogenous enhancement on the arterial phase scanning in 3 cases,and mild heterogenous enhancement in 2 cases.The degree of tumor enhancement was less intense than the surrounding pancreatic parenchyma due to necrosis of various degree,which led to the cystic appearance of the tumor in 1 ease.On the portal phase scanning,all tumors showed marked enhancement similar to that of the pancreatic parenchyma.On the delayed phase scanning,the degree of enhancement was more intense than the surrounding pancreatic parenchyma in 1 case.Liver metastases with retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy and peripancreatic vessels invasion were seen in 1 case.No dilatation of the biliary tract or pancreatic duct was present.Conclusion The CT features of pancreatic carcinoid tumors included infrequent dilatation of the biliary tract or pancreatic duct and unusual vascular involvement,calcification within the mass,marked enhancement similar to that of the surrounding pancreatic parenchyma during the portal phase scanning and more intense during the delayed phase scanning.

OBJECTIVETo select the best preparation method of vincristine transfersomes (VCR-T) and predict its possibility of being a new formulation of VCR.

METHODOrthogonal design was used to optimize the preparation methods on the basis of single factor pretests; and the permeation tests in vitro were performed in modified Franz diffusion cells.

RESULTThe optimum formula was: pH was equal to 7.3, the ratio of lecithin to sodium deoxycholate is 70/20, the weight of VCR is 10 mg, hydrating time is 30 minutes. The optimized solution was light yellow and transparent colloid solution. The VCR-T are spherical and smooth with average diameters of 94 nm and an encapsulation ratio of 90%. The test in vitro showed that VCR-T could permeat through mouse skin at zero rate with the cumulative penetrating quality amounting to 63.8%.

CONCLUSIONTransfersomes may become a promising carrier of VCR for clinic use.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Deoxycholic Acid ; Drug Carriers ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mice ; Particle Size ; Phosphatidylcholines ; Skin Absorption ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Vincristine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo study the liver targeted drug delivery system of TBMS--the effective anticancer component from Bolbstemma paniculatum, and to discuss the system's function of decreasing toxicity.

METHODBCA was used as carrier material. The preparation through overall feedback dynamic techniques. The properties of preparation and toxicology were also technology of nanoparticles was optimized studied. Thenanoparticles' targeting in mice vivo was observed with transmission electron microscopy. The function of decreasing toxicity was researched by the XXTX-2000 automatic quantitative analysis management system.

RESULTD50 was 0.68 microm. Drug-loading rate and entrapment rate were 37.3% and 88.6% respectively. The release in vitro accorded with Weibull equation. The reaching release balance time and the t 1/2 extended 26 times and 19 times respectively comparing with injection. Nanoparticles mainly distributed in liver tissue. Their toxicity to lung and liver was evidently lower than injection. Nanoparticles' LD50 exceeded injection's by 13.5% and their stimulus was much lower than injection.

CONCLUSIONThe TBMS can be targeted to liver by liver targeted drug delivery system. At the same time, the problem about the toxicity hindering clinical application could be solved, which lays the foundation for the further studies on TBMS.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Cucurbitaceae ; chemistry ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Excipients ; Liver ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nanostructures ; Particle Size ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Tissue Distribution

OBJECTIVETo establish the quantitative methods for calycosin glycoside and formononetin in Radix Astragali, and the samples from different sources were analyzed, in order to supply the basis for the quality control of Radix Astragali.

METHODThe content of calycosin glycoside and formononetin in 59 samples of Radix Astragali from eight with different provinces was analyzed by HPLC-DAD.

RESULTThe contents of calycosin glycoside and formononetin in Radix Astragali from different sources, with different cultivating method or in different ages differed markedly, and the results showed that the quality of samples from Shannxi, Innermongolia and Shanxi were better than other sources, and the semi-wild samples were better than other cultiving samples, moreover the shorter age, the better quality.

CONCLUSIONThis simple, accurate and reproducible method could use to determine the contents of isoflavanoids in Radix Astragali.

Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; growth & development ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ecosystem ; Glucosides ; analysis ; standards ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; standards ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVESTo investigate if there is altered microRNAs (miRNAs) expression in aortic dissection (Debakey Type A) and normal aorta tissue.

METHODSTotal RNA was exacted from aorta of 5 patients with aortic dissection (AD) and four patients without aortic diseases (NA). miRNAs of the aortic tissues were analyzed by miRNA microarray. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to verify the expression of miRNAs in larger sample size (AD = 11 and NA = 9).

RESULTShsa-miR-146b-5p_st, hsa-miR-19a_st and hsa-miR-505_st were significantly upregulated while hsa-miR-1268_st and hsa-miR-939_st were significantly downregulated [fold change > 2, q-value (%) ≤ 5] in AD group compared with NA group. RT-PCR verified hsa-miR-146b-5p_st miRNAs change in AD group.

CONCLUSIONSAltered miRNAs expression might play an essential role in the pathogenesis of aortic dissection formation and hsa-miR-146b-5p_st might serve as a new diagnosis biomarker of aortic dissection.

Aneurysm, Dissecting ; genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects on thyroid function in patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis treated with aconite cake-separated moxibustion and option the better therapeutic program.

METHODSEighty-five cases were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (42 cases) and a western medication group (43 cases). The moxibustion group was treated by aconite cake-separated moxibustion therapy with acupoints of two groups [(1) Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4); (2) Dazhui (GV 14), Shenshu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4)] alternatively and oral administration of 25 microg Euthyrox everyday. The western medication group was oral administration of 25 microg Euthyrox everyday. Indices of thyroid function before and after treatment and clinical effect were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe clinical total effective rate and effective rate of thyroid function were 25.0% (10/40), 87.5% (35/40) in moxibustion group respectively, 7.53% (3/40) and 57.5% (23/40) in western medication group, with significant differences between two groups (both P < 0.05). Content of serum free thyroxine index (FT4) increased significantly in the moxibustion group after treatment (P < 0.01); content of serum supersensitive thyrotropin (S-TSH) in the moxibustion group was lower than that of western medication group, and contents of serum FT4 and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were higher than those of western medication group, but with no significant differences (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAconite cake-separated moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Mingmen (GV 4) combined with oral administration of Euthyrox can improve clinical symptoms and thyroid function in patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is better than simple oral administration of Euthyrox.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hashimoto Disease ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Thyroid Gland ; physiopathology ; secretion ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood ; Thyrotropin ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate target-controlled infusion (TCI) of remifentail-propofol and the balanced anesthesia of fentanyl-isoflurane during the operation with suspension laryngscope.

METHODSSixty ASA I-II patients scheduled for the surgery through suspension laryngoscopy were randomly divided into two groups: TCI group and control group. In TCI group, anesthesia was maintained with TCI remifentanil-propofol which was stopped at the end of operation. The target plasma concentration of remifentanil was set at 6 microg/L and propofol at 3 mg/L. In control group, anesthesia was induced with intravenous fentanl 2.5 microg/kg and propofol 1-2 mg/kg, maintained with fentanl 0.03 microg.kg(-1). min(-1) and 1% isoflurane which was stopped at the end of surgery. Intubation was facilitated with succinylcholine 1-1.5 mg/kg.MAP, HR, ECG, S(p)O(2) and P(ET)CO(2) were monitored during anesthesia. The following parameters were recorded and compared between two groups: (1) the changes in blood pressure (BP), heart rate(HR) and S(p)O(2) at different time point; (2) recovery profile including the time of response to verbal commands, autonomous breathing, tracheal extubation, orientation recovery, discharging from PACU after operation; (3) OAAS scores after operation; (4) postoperative complications; (5) unexpected events and awareness during operation.

RESULT(1) The hemodynamics were stable while the target plasma concentration of remifentanil was set at 6 microg/L and propofol at 3 mg/L. (2) During tracheal intubation, suspension laryngoscope was inserted, and extubation MAP was significantly lower in TCI group than that in control group; (3) There were no significant differences in hemodynamic values and S(p)O(2) of different time points between two groups. Study group was faster than control group on recovery profile including the time of response to verbal commands, autonomous breathing, tracheal extubation, orientation recovery and discharging from PACU. There was respectively one unexpected event in both groups.

CONCLUSIONRemifentanil supplemented with isoflurane anesthesia can achieve the optimal hemodynamic stability during the operation with suspension laryngoscopy and better recovery profile from anesthesia than fentanyl.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anesthetics, Combined ; administration & dosage ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperidines ; administration & dosage ; Propofol ; administration & dosage

BACKGROUNDOld pelvis fractures are among the most challenging fractures to treat because of their complex anatomy, difficult-to-access surgical sites, and the relatively low incidence of such cases. Proper evaluation and surgical planning are necessary to achieve the pelvic ring symmetry and stable fixation of the fracture. The goal of this study was to assess the use of three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques for surgical management of old pelvic fractures.

METHODSFirst, 16 dried human cadaveric pelvises were used to confirm the anatomical accuracy of the 3D models printed based on radiographic data. Next, nine clinical cases between January 2009 and April 2013 were used to evaluate the surgical reconstruction based on the 3D printed models. The pelvic injuries were all type C, and the average time from injury to reconstruction was 11 weeks (range: 8-17 weeks). The workflow consisted of: (1) Printing patient-specific bone models based on preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans, (2) virtual fracture reduction using the printed 3D anatomic template, (3) virtual fracture fixation using Kirschner wires, and (4) preoperatively measuring the osteotomy and implant position relative to landmarks using the virtually defined deformation. These models aided communication between surgical team members during the procedure. This technique was validated by comparing the preoperative planning to the intraoperative procedure.

RESULTSThe accuracy of the 3D printed models was within specification. Production of a model from standard CT DICOM data took 7 hours (range: 6-9 hours). Preoperative planning using the 3D printed models was feasible in all cases. Good correlation was found between the preoperative planning and postoperative follow-up X-ray in all nine cases. The patients were followed for 3-29 months (median: 5 months). The fracture healing time was 9-17 weeks (mean: 10 weeks). No delayed incision healing, wound infection, or nonunions occurred. The results were excellent in two cases, good in five, and poor in two based on the Majeed score.

CONCLUSIONSThe 3D printing planning technique for pelvic surgery was successfully integrated into a clinical workflow to improve patient-specific preoperative planning by providing a visual and haptic model of the injury and allowing patient-specific adaptation of each osteosynthesis implant to the virtually reduced pelvis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Bones ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Young Adult