Objective To investigate possible mechanism of Ginsenoside Rg1 on dopaminergic nigral neurons apoptosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and its protective effect.Methods C57BL/6N mice were administrated with 1-Methy-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyri-dine (MPTP) to produce chronic PD model,PD mice were observed in behavioral changes.The expression levels of caspase-3 and TH in ventral midbrain were studied with immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Apoptotic cell numbers were determined by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL).Results In group treated with Ginsenoside Rg1,the number of TH-positive neurons in SN was only decreased by 31% as compared with the control group (55%)(P<0.01),the expression of caspase-3 was apparently decreased and major expressed in the cytosol of nigral neurons and TUNEL positive cells in SN decreased (P<0.01).Conclusion The neuroprotective effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 on dopaminergic nigral neurons apoptosis of the mice model of Parkinson's disease induced by MPTP is significant,Decreased expression of Caspase-3 may be the major mechanism of Ginsenoside Rg1 for antiapoptosis.

Objective To compare the enhancement characteristic of the gallbladder diseases and to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy in differential diagnosis of the gallbladder diseases between contrast-enhanced sonography (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT).Methods Seventy-two patiens with gallbladder lesions were examined by CEUS and CECT before operation and all final diagnoses were confirmed by surgery and/or pathological diagnosis.Results 1)In early phase,84.6％ (33/39) and 79.5％ (31/39) of benign diseases showed hyper-enhancement on CEUS and CECT,and 97.0％ (32/33) and 87.9％ (29/33) of malignant diseases showed hyper-enhancement on CEUS and CECT respectively (P =0.250).In later phase,91.2％ (31/34) and 88.2％ (30/34) of benign diseases showing hypo-enhancement (P =1.000),and 100％ of the malignant diseases showing hypo-enhancement on CEUS and CECT respectively.2)The time of enhancement from hyper-to hypo in CEUS for benign and malignant diseases were (39.9 ± 15.7)s and (29.9 ± 5.6)s respectively (t =3.61,P =1.000).3)The inhomogeneous enhancement on CEUS and CECT were 41.0％ (16/39) and 53.8％ (21/39) in the benign diseases respectively (P =0.063),84.8 ％ (28/33) and 97.0 ％ (32/33) in the malignant diseases respectively(P =0.125).4)The destruction of the gallbladder wall on CEUS and CECT are 87.9％ (29/33) and 90.9％ (30/33) respectively(P =1.000).5)The accuracy,diagnostic sensitivity,specificity of CEUS and CECT were 91.7％(66/72) and 87.5％(63/72),97.0％(32/33) and 93.9％(31/33),87.2％(34/39) and 82.15％ (32/39) respectively (P =0.250,1.000,0.500).Conclusions The enhancement pattern of the gallbladder diseases on CEUS and CECT were much similar.CEUS has equal diagnostic efficacy in comparison with CECT,but CEUS can supply more diagnostic information than CECT.

Objective To compare contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)and contrast-enhaneed computed tomography(CECT)on the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma(RCC). Methods CEUS and CECT were performed on 117 patients(87 men and 30 women)with 124 renal lesions(single nodule in 110 and two nodules in 7)from 2004 to 2008.Among them,there were 63 patients with 65 lesions diagnosed as RCC confirmed by pathology.The tumor enhancement pattern,extent,and dynamic change of CEUS and CECT were compared.The diagnostic efficacy of CEUS and the agreement of CECT and CEUS in diagnosing RCC were analyzed. Results The rate of displaying hypervascular performance on cortical phase,and pseudocapsule enhancement of the RCC lesions by CEUS and CECT were 87.7%(57/65)and 63.1%(41/65),89.2%(58/65)and 69.2%(45/65)(P<0.05).The rate of displaying heterogeneous enhancement were 72.3%(47/65)and 56.9%(37/65)(P>0.05)Using the diagnosis of CECT as reference diagnostic criteria,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predietive value,negative predictive value,and accuracy of CEUS in diagnosing RCC were 89.1%(57/64),91.7%(55/60),91.9%(57/62),88.7%(55/62)and 90.3%(112/124).The agreement of CECT and CEUS in diagnosing RCC was high(κ=0.806). Conclusions CEUS and CECT have the coordinate efficacy in diagnosing RCC.

Tanshinone ⅡA is one of the main effective components in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. It plays a role in the resistance to atherosclerosis by participating in anti-inflammatory in vascular wall, such as the regulating endothelial cell apoptosis and correcting lipid metabolism disorder. This article summarized recent researches of the basic role of tanshinone ⅡA in the resistance to atherosclerosis and provided references for clinical application of antiatherosclerotic effect of tanshinone ⅡA.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with ethanol injection with a multipronged needle under ultrasound guidance for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) larger than 3 cm in diameter.Methods 65 patients with 67HCC nodules ranging from 3.1 to 7.0 cm in diameter were treated percutaneously under ultrasound guidance.Tumor response and complications after treatment were observed.Results Complete ablation was achieved in 94.0％ (63/67) of HCC nodules.4 residual tumor nodules received complete ablation after additional treatment.Ablation-related major complications was occurred in 3 patients,including liver abscess in 1 case,abdominal bleeding in 1 case and massive ascites in 1 case,all were cured by conservative therapy.After a mean follow-up period of (20.0 ± 7.6) months (6.7-32.6 months),local-tumor progression was observed in 10 (14.9％) of 67 HCC nodules,and distant recurrence was observed in 32 (49.2％) of 65patients.The 1-year and 2-year survival rate were 93.1 ％ and 88.1％,respectively.Conclusions RFA combined with ethanol injetion with a multipronged needle is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma larger than 3 cm,especially 3-5 cm in diameter.

Objective To assess the characterization and usefulness of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)to diagnose solid focal lesions of pancreas(s-FLPs)in comparison to contrast enhanced computed tomography(CECT).Methods Forty-nine s-FLPs with final diagnosis were studied with low mechanical index CEUS and CECT.The enhanced patterns and diagnostic capability of CEUS were analyzed,and these results were compared with those from CECT.Results ①In CEUS,the perfusion of capillary could be detected in vascular phase.②The concordance of dual-phases enhanced patterns between CEUS and CECT was 73.5%(36/49).The concordance of enhanced level between early parenchymatous perfusion phase in CEUS and pancreatic phase in CECT could achieve 87.8%(43/49).Hypo/hypo enhancement was the most common enhanced pattern of pancreatic carcinoma in CEUS and CECT.③There was no statistical significance between CEUS and CECT in the differential diagnostic.Conclusions The concordance of enhanted patterns between CEUS and CECT is satisfactory.CEUS is similar to CECT in the differential diagnosis of s-FLPs.CEUS would become an important non-invasive diagnostic method for s-FLPs.

Objective To evaluate the feasilibility of ultrasonic cholangiography(USC)with contrast agent SonoVue in evaluating the obstructive bile duct diseases.Methods Twenty patients with obstructive jaundice(choledocholithiasis in 4,post-operative biliary strictures in 2 and malignant tumors in 14)underwent uhrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainge drainage(PTCD).Afterward,USC with contrast agent SonoVue administrated from the PTCD tube and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography(PTC)were carried out in each patient.By using the surgical or PTC findings as reference standard,accuracy of USC in determining the obstructive level and cause of bstructive was evaluated.Results ①The visualization of contrast agent SonoVue was successfully obtained in all 20 patients,three order of bile duct was visualized in 19 patients.The visualization of the ultrasound contrast agent persisted more than 6 min.There was no side effect occurred during the procedure and no uncomfortable complaint after the procedure.②USC determined correctly in 18 cases.Compared with surgical or PTC findings,the accuracy of USC in determining obstructive levels was 90.0%(18/20),and the accuracy in determining the obstructive cause was 85.0%(17/20).Conclusions As a new and safe technique for cholangiography,USC is comparable to PTC in displaying the intrahepatic bite duct and determining the obstructive levels in patients with obstructive jaundice.

Objective To conclude the characterization of renal cellular carcinoma(RCC)with contrast enhanced ultrasound.Methods Seventy patients(seventy-two nodules)with RCC,which were confirmed by operation and biopsy underwent conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS).Microbubble agents SonoVue and contrast pulse sequence(CPS)were used.The conventional uItrasonographic characterization and the enhancement patterns of lesions were analyzed.Results On baseline sonography,the numbers of lesions that showed hypoechogenicity,isoechogenicity,and hyperechogenicity were 44.4%(32/72),25.0%(18/72)and 30.6%(22/72),respectively.Only 28 lesions(38.9%)showed flow signals on color Doppler sonography,the mean maximum velocity of which WSS(43.7±16.8)cm/s(range,24.8-95 cm/s),and the mean resistance index was 0.635±0.11(range.0.52-0.83).Sixty-three(87.5%)lesions were hyper-vascular in cortical phase.Among them forty-eight(76.2%)lesions were hypo-enhanced,and fifteen(23.8%)lesions were still hyper-vascular in late phase.The remaining nine hypervascular nodules in cortical phase were still hyper-enhancing in late phase.Fifty-four(75.0%)lesions were inhomogeneous enhancement.and pseudocapsule was observed in sixty-three(87.5%)RCC lesions.Conclusions The enhancement patterns of RCC are characteristic,and CEUS may be helpful in differential diagnosis of focal renal lesions.

Objective To compare the enhancement pattern of hilar cholangiocarcinoma on contrast-enhanced sonography(CEUS) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CECT). Methods Thirty-two hilar cholangiocarcinoma lesions in 32 patients were evaluated by CEUS and CECT. CEUS was performed with contrast agent of SonoVue and low mechanical index contrast specific mode. CECT was performed with contrast media of Ultravist and a standard biphasic helical CT scanning protocol. Results In arterial phase of CEUS and CECT,the numbers of the lesions showing hyper-enhancement were 14 (43.8 % ) and 12 (37.5 % ), iso-enhancement were 14 (43.8%) and 9(28. 1%),hypo-enhancement were 4(12.5%) and 11(34.4%),respectively (P = 0. 162).Three lesions (9.4%) showed periphery rim-like hyper-enhancement and 29 (90.6%) showed diffuse homogeneous or heterogeneous enhanced of the whole tumor on CEUS, whereas for CECT the number were 2 (6. 3%) and 30 (93. 8%) respectively ( P = 1. 000). In portal phase, the numbers of the lesions showing hypo-enhancement on CEUS and CECT were 30 (93.8 % ) and 23 ( 71.90% ), iso-enhancement were 1 ( 3.1 % ) and 8 ( 25.0 % ), hyper-enhancement were 1(3. 1%) and 1 (3. 1%), respectively ( P = 0. 046). The portal vein invasion was correctly detected in 16 ( 84. 2 % ), 17 (89. 5 % ), 15 (78.9 % ) lesions with baseline ultrasound, CEUS and CECT, respectively. CEUS and CECT correctly diagnosed 30(93.8% ) and 25 (78. 1% ) lesions prior to operation (P = 0. 125). Conclusions The enhancement pattern of hilar cholangiocarcinoma on CEUS was similar with that on CECT in arterial phase, whereas in portal phase hilar cholangiocarcinoma was prone to show hypo-enhancement on CEUS. CEUS and CECT has similar diagnostie efficacy prior to operation.