Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of non-enhanced magnetic resonance venography (MRV) for deep pelvic vein disease. Methods A total of 50 patients highly suspicious of pelvic and lower extremity vein disease were enrolled in the present study, and they were subjected to lower extremity vascular 2D-TOF MRV(two-dimensional time-of-flight MR venography)examination with the following technical parameter: echo time 5-7 ms, repetition time 35-45 ms, and flip angle 35°-45°. The MRV range included the scanning from low segment of inferior vena cava (IVC) to the popliteal vein (PV); the image quality was scaled into grades, and the results of MRV were compared with those of ultrasound and DSA. Results The images of all 50 patients clearly showed the scanning from low segment of IVC to the PV and its branches, with the diagnostic accuracy reaching 96.0%. The images of 25 patients clearly showed a total of 723 veins, including IVC, common iliac vein (CIV), internal iliac vein, external iliac vein (EIV), common femoral vein, deep femoral vein, superficial femoral vein and PV, with a consistent rate of 96.4%. Thrombosis from inferior segment of IVC to EIV was shown on MRV images of 9 patients, while it could not be clearly and completely manifested by B-ultrasound. Ten patients received DSA simultaneously, and the MRV results of 9 were in accord with those of DSA findings. MRV of one patient with thrombosis at initial segment of CIV was shown normal on DSA. Conclusion MRV for diagnosis of lower extremity vascular lesions has the advantage of non-trauma, greater scanning range, high grade contrast, excellent image delineation and intuitive convincement, making it worth popularizing in clinic.

The recombinant fusion protein staphylokinase-hirudin(rSFH) was purified from the high density-fermented engineered E.coli by means of ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) and gel filtration (GF). The purity of rSFH reached to more than 98% determined by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE, and the yield was up to 0.7g per liter of fermentation broth. The analysis of homologous dimmer of rSFH appeared during the purification and calculation of the surface hydrophobic area had been carried out by means of hydrophobic chromatography and MALD-TOF. The influence of sodium chloride and temperature on the behavior of rSFH reversible dimerization was analyzed by high performance sized- exclusive chromatography(HPSEC). It is concluded that the hydrophobic interaction played an important role in the reversible dimerization of rSFH.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the characteristics and operative selection of far lateral lumbar disc herniation (FLLDH).

METHODSTwenty-three cases of FLLDH, 14 were foraminal, and 9 were extraforaminal lumbar disc herniation. Of the 23 cases, low back pain was observed in 8 cases (31%), severe lower leg pain in 21 cases (91%) and Lasegue sign in 10 cases (43%). CT and MRI showed the protruded disc in and outside of the foramen clearly. Three surgical procedures were performed, including hemilaminotomy with medial facetectomy, facetectomy with pedicle screw fixation and fusion with posteolateral bone grafting, and the transmuscular approaches.

RESULTSTwenty-two cases were followed up for an average of 3.6 years. According to the Macnab criteria, 15 patients achieved excellent results, good 4, fair 3 and poor 0. Excellent and good rate was 86%.

CONCLUSIONSThe symptoms and signs of FLLDH mainly result from injury of upper nerve segments with the dominant symptom of severe lower leg pain. CT and MRI appearance are not only sensitive but also specific for the diagnosis of FLLDH. In foraminal lumbar disc herniation, the hemilaminotomy with medial facetectomy is recommended. While in extraforaminal lumbar disc herniation, either facetectomy with pedicle screw fixation and fusion with posterolateral bone grafting or transmuscular approaches for removal of nucleus pulposus can be chosen. Microendoscopic discectomy is a new, safe and efficient method for the disease, however, a skillful microendoscopic technique should be mastered prior.

Adult ; Aged ; Diskectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are well known as a common intracranial benign tumor, and a portion of PAs are refractory to current therapeutic methods. ErbB receptors family signaling pathway regulates the expression of PAs activation associated gene. Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can inhibit proliferation of PAs. Leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains protein 1 ( LRIG1), a negative mediated gene of ErbB receptors family, plays a role in many tumors. However, there are seldom researches about the functional role of LRIG1 in PAs. The aim of this study is to explore the potential effect of LRIG1 and its regulating mechanism in PAs. First, we investigated the role of LRIG1 in cell migration, invasion of PAs with transfected LRIG1 or control. Then, we explored its impact on cell proliferation and apoptosis of PAs in vivo. To study the regulating mechanism of LRIG1, we examined the expression of molecular factor of PI3K/AKT and Ras/Raf/ERK pathway using Western blotting in vitro and RT-PCR in vitro and in vivo. It was found that LRIG1 over-expression inhibited cell migration, invasion and proliferation, and promoted apoptosis of PAs in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, LRIG1 suppressed the expression of signaling of PI3K/AKT and Ras/Raf/ERK pathways in PAs. LRIG1, as a negative mediated gene of tumor, can inhibit biological function of PAs via inhibiting PI3K/AKT and Ras/Raf/ERK pathways, and it might be a new target for gene therapy of PAs.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; genetics ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Mice ; Oncogene Protein v-akt ; biosynthesis ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; raf Kinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics