OBJECTIVETo establish an animal model of acute blunt scrotal trauma (BST) and evaluate the types of lesion by conventional ultrasonography (CUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS).

METHODSWe made acute BST models in 21 healthy male New Zealand rabbits by striking 3 - 12 times the unilateral testes randomly selected with a 0. 5 kg iron ball falling freely from a 30 cm height. Then we evaluated the lesion types in the models by CUS and CEUS and verified our evaluation against pathological results.

RESULTSAcute BST models were successfully established in all the 21 animals, including contusion in 10, hematoma in 6, and rupture in 5, all confirmed by pathology. CUS clearly manifested the morphology, internal echoes, and blood flow of the testes, but had a low rate of accurate diagnosis in testicular contusion for over 6 hours as well as in complex lesions. CEUS revealed an earlier perfusion of the contrast agent and shorter arriving time (AT) and time to peak intensity ( TP) in testicular contusion than in the control testes (P <0.05) , but showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the half time of descending peak intensity (P>0.05). For testicular hematoma, contrast agent clearly presented its outline and a delayed low enhancement in the surrounding tissue, with significant differences from the control in AT and TTP. In severe testis rupture, occasional outflow but no perfusion of contrast agent was observed.

CONCLUSIONBST models can be established in rabbits by repeated strikes of the unilateral testes lesion of contrast agent was observed. with a freely falling iron ball. Simple contusion injury can be induced by less than 6 strikes, while complex injuries can be inflicted by more than 10. Combined application of CUS and CEUS can improve the accuracy of diagnosis of different types of lesion.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rabbits ; Scrotum ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Ultrasonography ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating ; diagnostic imaging

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVECybeKnife is a newly developed technology in the field of stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy (SRS/SRT). Compared with conventional SRS/SRT, there are many advantages for CyberKnife in terms of treating tumors that move with respiration, being real-time image-guidance, frameless, high accurateness, and so on. Recently, it has been used to treat different types of malignant carcinoma including intracranial and caudomedial tumors. This study was designed to evaluate the short-term efficacy and toxicity of the CyberKnife radiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODSA total of 20 patients with locally advanced (stage II-III) pancreatic cancer treated with CyberKnife were recruited between April 2009 and December 2009. Of 20 patients, 13 were with cancer located at the pancreatic head and 7 were located at the pancreatic body and tail. The planning target volume (PTV) was defined as gross tumor volume (GTV) plus 2-3 mm, and more than 95% PTV should be covered by 75% isodose surface. The median of PTV was 47 cm³ (26-64 cm³). The median total prescription dose was 40 Gy (32-55 Gy) at 3-6 fractions. During treatment delivery, X-Sight Spine Tracking System was used in 5 patients to track movement of the tumor. Other 15 patients were implanted fiducials in the tumors to track movement of the tumor and patient breathing patterns.

RESULTSThe median follow-up time was 7 months (3-11 months). All patients had finished the treatment and 19 were alive by the last follow-up. Slight fatigue was the most common complain. Evaluated by CT scan, 6 were complete response, 9 were partial response, 3 were stable disease, and 1 was progression; 1 was dead. There were 6 patients with grade I granulocytopenia, 7 with grade I nausea, and 5 with grade II vomiting.

CONCLUSIONSThe CyberKnife radiosurgery for the locally advanced pancreatic cancer shows a high rate of local control and minimal toxicity. Long-term follow-up is necessary to evaluate the survival and late toxicity.

Adult ; Aged ; CA-19-9 Antigen ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; etiology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Quality of Life ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Radiosurgery ; adverse effects ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Remission Induction ; Thrombocytopenia ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo establish a nude mouse model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) lymph node metastasis and screen the signature genes associated with the metastasis.

METHODSThe NPC 5-8F-EGFP cells were inoculated into nude mice, from which a 5-8F-LN cell line with lymph node metastasis potential was obtained. The lymphatic metastasis-related signature genes of breast cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were screened by data mining method.

RESULTSThe NPC cell lines 5-8F and 6-10B showed 307 differentially expressed genes by microarray analysis, from which 20 overlapping genes were identified, and 3 overexpressed genes were found with probable metastasis potential, namely the ADM, IRF1, and CAV1 genes. Quantitative RT-PCR validated the data mining results in the 5-8F-EGFP, 6-10B-EGFP, NP69, and 5-8F-LN cell lines. The 3 NPC cell lines 5-8F-EGFP, 6-10B-EGFP and 5-8F-LN showed significantly higher expressions of IRF1 than NP69 cells (P=0.008, 0.022, and 0.006, respectively. The expression level of CAV1 in 5-8F-EGFP cells was significantly higher than that in 6-10B-EGFP cells (P=0.014), but ADM expression showed no significant difference between the 4 cell lines.

CONCLUSIONSIRF1 may play an important role in the progression of NPC. The overexpression of CAV1 in 5-8F-EGFP cells can be associated with the high metastatic potential of the cells.

Adrenomedullin ; genetics ; Animals ; Caveolin 1 ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 ; genetics ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transplantation, Heterologous

OBJECTIVETo study the major metabolites of antitumor lead compound T-OA (oleanolic acyl-3, 5, 6-trimethyl pyrazine-2-methyl ester) in rat urine, in order to preliminarily infer its metabolic mode in rats.

METHODRat urines of the blank group, the raw material group (ligustrazine TMP and oleanolic acid OA Moore equivalent) and the T-OA group were collected and freeze-dried; Solids were extracted by ethyl acetate; And then the extracts were re-dissolved with acetonitrile. HPLC-HRMS coupling technique was adopted to find the potential mass spectrum peak under ESI(+) (see symbol) ESI(-) modes. Metabolite-related information was obtained by comparing the three groups of spectra.

RESULTOne metabolite of OA and two metabolites of TMP were identified in the raw material group; none metabolite of T-OA but one phase II metabolite was detected in the T-OA group.

CONCLUSIONIt is the first time to identify one phase II metabolite of T-OA and one phase II metabolite of OA were identified in rat urine. On that basis, the researchers preliminarily inferred that T-OA does not show the efficacy in the form of raw material. The HPLC-HRMS method established could be used to identify metabolites of related derivative structures. This paper could also provide certain reference for designing pro-drugs based on oleanolic acid.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; metabolism ; urine ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Molecular Structure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To understand healthcare-associated infection(HAI)in group burn/trauma patients,and explore its risk factors.Methods HAI occurred among 25 hospitalized patients with group burn/trauma during a bus deflagration event on May 12,2014 were monitored and analyzed.Results Of 25 burn/trauma patients,7 de-veloped 10 times of HAI,incidence and case incidence of HAI were 28.00% and 40.00% respectively;the main in-fection sites were wound and lower respiratory tract,accounting for 60.00% and 30.00% respectively.30 strains of pathogens were isolated from 7 patients with HAI,including 16 strains (53.34%)of gram-negative bacteria,13 strains(43.33%)of gram-positive bacteria,and 1 fungus (3.33% ).Risk factors for HAI were large burned area, high degree of inhalation injury,arteriovenous catheterization,urinary tract catheterization,tracheotomy,use of ventilator,and surgery.Conclusion Incidence of HAI is high in the group burn/trauma patients,corresponding in-tervention measures should be formulated according to the risk factors,so as to reduce the occurrence of HAI.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of triptolide on Notch receptor and ligand expressions in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA).

METHODSForty rats were randomly divided into normal control (NC) group, model (MC) group, methotrexate group and triptolide groups. Rat models of AA were established by an intradermal injection of 0.1 mL Freund's complete adjuvant into the right paw. Twelve days after the injection, the rats were treated with corresponding drugs for 30 days; the rats in NC group and MC group were given saline only. Paw edema volume (E), arthritis index (AI), pulmonary function, histomorphologies, and Notch receptor/ ligand expression in the lung tissue were analyzed after the treatments.

RESULTSCompared with the NC group, E, AI, Notch3, Notch4, and Delta1 expressions in the lung tissues significantly increased while pulmonary function and pulmonary expressions of Notch1, Jagged1, and Jagged2 significantly decreased the model rats (P<0.01). Compared with the MC group, triptolide-treated rats showed significantly improved pulmonary functions, increased expressions of Notch1, Jagged1, and Jagged2 and decreased expressions of Notch3, Notch4, and Delta1 in the lungs (P<0.05, P<0.01); the therapeutic effect of triptolide was better than that of methotrexate.

CONCLUSIONTriptolide can reduce inflammatory reaction and immune complex deposition to improve joint and pulmonary symptoms in rats with AA possibly by up-regulating the expressions of Notch3, Notch4, and Delta1 and down-regulating the expressions of Jagged1, Jagged2, and Notch1.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Jagged-1 Protein ; Jagged-2 Protein ; Ligands ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Methotrexate ; pharmacology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Receptor, Notch3 ; Receptor, Notch4 ; Receptors, Notch ; metabolism ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; drug therapy ; Serrate-Jagged Proteins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Xinfeng Capsule (XFC) on pulmonary function and related mechanism in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) rats.

METHODSThe rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control (NC), model control (MC) groups, methotrexate (MTX), tripterygium glycosides tablet (TPT) and Xinfeng capsule (XFC) treatment groups. The adjuvant-induced arthritis model was established by intracutaneous injection of 0.1 mL Freund ' s complete adjuvant in the right paw of rats; the drugs were given 19 d after model establishment. The toe swelling degree (E), arthritis index (AI), pulmonary function, peripheral blood Treg levels, pathological changes of lung tissue and expression of Foxp3, TGF-β1, Smad3, Smad7 proteins in lung tissue were measured 30 d after drug administration.

RESULTSCompared to NC group, the levels of E, AI, alveolitis score, TGF-β1 and Smad3 were significantly increased (P <0.05 or P <0.01); maximum expiratory flow 25% of vital capacity (FEF25),50% maximal expiratory vital capacity flow (FEF50), maximum expiratory flow at 75% of vital capacity (FEF75), maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMF), force peak expiratory flow (PEF), CD4+ CD25+ Treg, Foxp3 and Smad7 were significantly decreased in MC group (P <0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared to MC group,the expression of E, AI, TGF-β1 and Smad3 were reduced, while FEF50, FEF75, MMF, PEF, Treg, Foxp3 and Smad7 were elevated in XFC group (P <0.05 or P <0.01). Compared to XFC group, the level of body mass,FEF25,FEF50, FEF75, MMF and Treg were lower in MTX and TPT groups (P <0.05 or P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere are inflamed joints and reduced pulmonary function in rats of adjuvant-induced arthritis. XFC can inhibit paw edema degrees, reduce arthritis response, and improve pulmonary function, which is associated with up-regulating expression of Treg and Foxp3, down-regulating the expression of TGF-β1 and adjusting TGF-β1/Smads signal pathway.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Smad3 Protein ; metabolism ; Smad7 Protein ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in detecting testicular perfusion in acute testis contusion.

METHODSWe established the model of testis contusion in 11 healthy male New Zealand rabbits by randomly hitting one side of the scrotum under general anesthesia. We examined the bilateral scrotums of all the animals before, immediately after and at 2, 4 and 6 hours after modeling by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and CEUS, and analyzed the time-intensity curve (TIC), arriving time (AT), time to peak intensity (TTP), peak intensity (PI), half time of descending peak intensity (HT) and area under the curve (AUC) in the healthy and injured testis, respectively.

RESULTSCEUS exhibited a higher sensitivity in detecting tissue perfusion than CDFI. The mode of contrast agent perfusion in testicular contusion was fast in and slow out. There were no evident differences between the contused and the healthy testis in AT, TTP and PI before modeling. The contused testis showed significantly earlier AT and TTP, higher PI and larger AUC (P < 0.05) than the healthy one at different time points after modeling, but no statistically significant difference was found in HT (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAccurate parameters of testicular perfusion in acute testis contusion can be quantitatively obtained by CEUS, which are of important value for the diagnosis of testis contusion.

Animals ; Contrast Media ; Contusions ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Rabbits ; Testis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

Aim To primarily discuss the mechanism of Rhizoma Alismatis decoction on prevention and treatment of hyperlipemia,through investigating hepat-ic expressions of peroxisome proliferator activated re-ceptor-α(PPARα)and acyl CoA oxidase (ACO)in rats with hyperlipemia. Methods Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats(160 ~ 180 g)were randomly divided into five groups:control group,model group,high-dose of Rhizoma Alismatis decoction group (H-RAD),low-dose of Rhizoma Alismatis decoction group(L-RAD), and Xue-Zhi-Kang group(XZK). Rats in control group were fed with ordinary forage,and the others were with high-fat forage,which lasted for four weeks. At the same time,high and low-dose of Rhizoma Alismatis decoction,as well as Xuezhikang capsule,was admin-istered in respectively designed groups. Then,the TC, TG,HDL and LDL of serum were detected,the mor-phology of liver tissues was observed with HE,and the expressions of PPARα and ACO were detected with RT-PCR and Western blot after four weeks. Results Rhizoma Alismatis decoction could significantly reduce serum concentration of TC,TG and LDL(P < 0. 01), while increasing the concentration of HDL(P < 0. 01) and strengthening the expressions of PPARα and ACO (P < 0. 01). Conclusion Strengthening the expres-sions of PPARα and ACO can be viewed as mecha-nisms of Rhizoma Alismatis decoction in prevention and treatment of hyperlipemia.

Objective: To compare the therapeutic efficacy between warm needling moxibustion and electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of simple obesity due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney. Methods: Seventy patients with simple obesity due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney were randomly divided into a warm needling moxibustion group and an EA group, with 35 subjects in each group. Same major acupoints were selected for the two groups, including Shuifen (CV 9), Guanyuan (CV 4), Daheng (SP 15), Shuidao (ST 28), Shousanli (LI 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3). The warm needling moxibustion group received warm needling moxibustion, while the EA group received EA treatment. The interventions were performed once every other day, with 15 treatments as one course. The therapeutic efficacy, body weight and body mass index (BMI) were then observed and compared. Results: The total effective rate in the warm needling moxibustion group was 85.7％ versus 77.1％ in the EA group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The warm needling moxibustion was remarkably superior to the EA in weight loss and lowering BMI, both with statistical significance (P<0.05, P<0.01). At the three-month follow-up, the body weight and BMI further decreased in the warm needling moxibustion group (both P<0.05), and the levels were lower than those in the EA group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion: Warm needling moxibustion can produce reliable and consistent efficacy in the treatment of simple obesity due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney. Compared with EA, warm needling moxibustion shows advantage in both short-term and long-term efficacies, and thus is worth promotion in clinical practice.