Objective To study the CT and MRI findings of ectopic pituitary adenoma in the sphenoid sinus and evaluate their clinical significance. Methods All 8 cases of ectopic pituitary adenoma occurring in the sphenoid sinus were verified by pathology. CT and MRI findings were analyzed retrospectively. Results The lesions occurring in the sphenoid sinus showed no continuity to the intrasellar pituitary gland. The lesions with a well-defined margin showed an oval shape in 3 cases, and an irregular shape in 5 cases. The maximum diameter of the lesions ranged from 20 to 46 mm. On non-enhanced CT, lesion appeared as an isointense mass in 7 cases and a slight hypointense mass in one case. Two cases showed relatively homogeneous moderate enhancement on enhanced CT. The lesions resulted in adjacent bony displacement, remodeling and sclerosis of varying degree. In addition, 5 cases displayed local bony invasion. The bony sellar floor was observed to be intact in 3 cases while bony destruction was displayed in 5 cases. On MR T1WI, ectopic pituitary adenoma revealed isointense signal compared to gray matter in 6 cases and slight hypointense signal in 2 cases. On T2 WI, the lesions showed slight hyperintense singal in 2 cases and isointense signal in 6 cases. The signal of these lesions was inhomogeneous. The stippled and thinly stripped hypointense signal on T1WI and hyperintense signal on T2WI corresponded to the enlarged gland lumen of ectopic pituitary adenoma histopathologically. MR imaging demonstrated mild to moderate inhomogeneous enhancement. A cribriform-like pattern was found on enhanced T1 WI in all of these cases. The time-intensity curve (TIC) of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MR imaging showed rapidly enhancing and slow washout pattern in 2 cases. The Lesions were found to associate with empty sella in 5 cases, encase adjacent cavernous sinus in 5 cases, and invade the clivus in 4 cases. Conclusions Scattered hyperintense bubbles and strips on MR T2WI and cribriform-like appearance on enhanced T1WI were typical manifestations of ectopic pituitary adenoma in the sphenoid sinus. Combined findings of CT and MRI can provide us with more comprehensive information in both diagnosis and therapy.

BACKGROUND: Gelatin methacryloyl has been widely used in the field of tissue engineering, as it has suitable biological properties, tunable physical and chemical properties, non-cytotoxic and non-immunogenicity.OBJECTIVE: To summarize the latest advances in the repair of skin and soft tissue damage using gelatin methacryl hydrogel materials. METHODS: PubMed and SciFinder were retrieved for articles concerning gelatin methacrylate hydrogels published from January 2007 to August 2017. The key words were "seed cell, skin regeneration, wound vascularization, gelatin, gelatin methacryloyl, scaffold material, wound healing, microenvironment, tissue construction, skin tissue engineering". RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel is very similar to the native extracellular matrix, and has a cell adhesion site, a matrix metalloproteinase-reactive peptide-based sequence and a cross-linkable property exhibiting good tissue affinity. The hydrogel has adjustable physical and chemical properties, a certain degree of adhesion and biodegradability, which make it an ideal cell scaffold, allowing all kinds of cells to proliferate and extend on its surface. Therefore, gelatin methacrylamide hydrogel has broad prospects in the skin tissue engineering, which can accelerate wound vascularization and epithelial tissue regeneration, improve wound healing rate, reduce the probability of infection, and improve the patient's quality life. The gelatin methacrylamide hydrogen is proved to provide an efficient and portable gel dressing for burn wounds and war wounds, and it can also be used to fill skin and soft tissue defects such as trauma and ulcers, and cover cosmetic incisions.

BACKGROUND: Compound gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel has been shown to have unique advantages in bone, cartilage, myocardium, and vascular regeneration.OBJECTIVE: To summarize the novel progress of compound GelMA hydrogel for bone tissue engineering. METHODS: PubMed database and CNKI database from 2010 to 2017 were searched by using the keywords of "gelatin, methacrylamide, hydrogel, hydroxyapatite, bone tissue engineering, bone regeneration, seed cells, microenvironment" in Chinese and English, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Inorganic components can be added in a specific way into the compound GelMA hydrogel to prepare tissue-engineered bone using photolithography, microfluidics, microfabrication and 3D printing techniques. The prepared tissue-engineered bone has similar structural, mechanical and biological properties to natural bone tissue, and importantly, it has osteogenic ability. Gene-modified seed cells that are co-cultured with the compound GelMA hydrogel in a 3D environment are found to grow well and express some genes related to bone regeneration and vascular regeneration. Therefore, the compound GelMA hydrogel has a good osteogenesis effect in vitro,which is an excellent material for bone tissue engineering.

Objective To investigate the change of serum vitamin D level in the patients with lower respira-tory tract infection and its correlation with lower respiratory tract infection so as to provide reference for clini-cal treatment.Methods 156 cases of lower respiratory tract infection and 60 persons undergoing healthy phys-ical examination in this hospital were collected as the infection group and healthy control group.The sputum specimens from the infection group conducted the bacterial culture and identification.Then the serum vitamin D levels were analyzed in the two groups.Results The serum vitamin D levels in the infection group and healthy control group were 25.76 ng/mL and 49.81 ng/mL,and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01).In the infection group,serum vitamin D levels in the patients with klebsiella pneumoniae,Acine-tobacter baumannii,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli and fungal infection w ere(25.79 ± 7.17),(24.11 ± 10.27),(27.76 ± 9.27),(24.79 ± 6.95),(22.93 ± 3.71)and(30.59 ± 21.31) ng/mL respectively,the difference had statistical significance compared with the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion The level of serum vitamin D in the patients with lower respiratory tract infection is lower than that in healthy population.Its level is associated with lower respiratory tract infection,but the specific mech-anism remains to be further studied.

OBJECTIVETo investigate nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rat peritoneal macrophages (PMAs) and the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on NF-kappaB activation.

METHODSPMAS from normal SD rats were randomly divided into 7 groups, including a control group, a LPS group and 5 resveratrol groups (I-V). PMAs of the control group were incubated in DMEM, and those in LPS group in DMEM containing LPS (10 microg/ml). PMAS of resveratrol groups I-V were incubated in DMEM containing LPS (10 microg/ml) and different concentrations of resveratrol. After 24 h of incubation, NF-kappaB activation in the PMAs was determined, and the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and nitric oxide (NO) in the culture medium were measured.

RESULTSExposure to LPS resulted in an excessive enhancement of cytokine and NO expressions in the PMAs. Resveratrol at 1.25-10 microg/ml produced a dose- dependent inhibition of cytokine and NO expressions and on NF-kappaB activation in LPS-stimulated PMAs.

CONCLUSIONResveratrol can inhibit LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation in rat PMAs and subsequently suppress the expressions of TNF-alpha, IL-1 and NO.

Animals ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Macrophage Activation ; drug effects ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of resvertrol on the intestinal mucosal cells in rats with severe acute pancreatitis and explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSTwenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into the sham-operation (SO) group, severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) group and resveratrol-treated (RES) group. In the SO group, the pancreases were slightly flipped only. In the SAP and RES groups, SAP model was established by retrograde injection of 40 g/L sodium chrolate (1 ml/kg) through the pancreatic duct, and in the latter group, resveratrol (10 mg/kg) was given intravenously. Specimens were obtained 6 h after SAP model establishment and the endotoxin levels in the portal vein was determined with turbidimetry to evaluate the effect of resversatrol on the intestinal endotoxin translocation in SAP rats. Apoptosis of the mucosal cells was detected by TUNEL methods, and the expression of bax and bcl-2 mRNA were determined by RT-PCR. The mitochondrial membrane potential of the intestinal mucosal cells was measured by confocal microscopy.

RESULTSThe endotoxin levels in the portal vein were significantly lower in RES group than in SAP group (P<0.01). TUNEL assay demonstrated significantly higher apoptotic index of the mucosal cells in SAP group than that in RES group (P<0.01). The expression of Bax mRNA in the intestinal mucosal cell was significantly higher in SAP group than in RES group (P<0.01), whereas the expression of bcl-2 mRNA was significantly lower in SAP group (P<0.01). The mitochondrial membrane potential of the intestinal mucosal cell was significantly lower in SAP group than in RES group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONResvertrol can inhibit the apoptosis of the intestinal mucosa cells and maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier to prevent the bacterial and endotoxin translocation in SAP.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sodium Chloride ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of vibration perception threshold (VPT) in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) by the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and to establish its cut-off threshold. METHODS: All patients had the VPT examination and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) examination. NCV examination showed that 283 patients with Type 2 diabetes were divided into a DPN group (n=151) and an NDPN group (n=132). The VPT diagnosis was evaluated by Youden index, sensitivity, specificity and the area under ROC curve. The best cut-off threshold was defined by the Youden index. RESULTS: 1) The NCV was significantly slower, while the VPT was higher in the DPN group than those in the NDPN group (both P values <0.05). 2) The VPT and NCV of both sides of the limb had no difference in all patients. 3) With NCV as the golden diagnosis criterion, the area under ROC of VPT was 0.707, the best cut-off threshold was 10.54 V, the sensitivity was 0.596, the specificity was 0.848, and the Youden index was 0.445. 4) The diagnosis ratio of NCV combined with VPT was 60.4%, significantly higher than that of NCV alone (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Compared with NCV examination, VPT has good diagnostic value for DPN. The best cut-off value is 10.54 V.
Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neural Conduction ; physiology ; Perception ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; diagnosis ; ROC Curve ; Sensory Thresholds ; physiology ; Vibration

Objective To investigate the effects of β2-adrenergic antagonist ICI118 ,551 on pancreatic cancer cell G1/S phase arrest and its action mechanism .Methods The cell cycle indexes were determined by the flow cytometry assay ;the expressions of Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E were analyzed by Western blot ;the activation of NF-κB was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay ;the proliferation of PanCa cells was determined by BALB/c athymic nude mice subrenal capsular assay .Results β2-adrenergic antagonist ICI118 ,551 significantly induced G1/S phase arrest compared with β1-adrenergic antagonist metoprolol in MIA PaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cell lines .ICI118 ,551 inhibited the expressions of Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E and reduced the activation of NF-κB .The proliferation of PanCa cells was strongly suppressed in the renal capsule xenografts in mice after ICI 118 ,551 treatment .Conclusion The blockage ofβ2-adrenoceptor markedly induces PanCa cells to arrest at G1/S phase and inhibits the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells .

The genomic island(GI)characteristics and virulence factor differences of clinical isolates of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Hainan Province,China were analyzed to provide a scientific basis for diagnosis and treatment of melioidosis.In total,52 B.pseudomallei isolates were collected for detection of virulence-related GIs by PCR.The whole genome sequence annotation format file was submitted on Islandviwer 4 platform,and the genomes of the same species and close relatives were added for comparison.Two algorithms,SIGI-HMM and IslandPath-DIMOB,were integrated to predict GIs and sequence a-lignments were conducted to identify specific GIs and differences in virulence factors.The genomes of 52 clinical strains could be divided into three branches based on evolutionary distance,with 82.69％(43/52)of strains concentrated in branch 1.In to-tal,828 GIs were identified among the 52 B.pseudomallei genomes,which formed 157 GI clusters based on sequence similari-ty.GIs accounted for 2.05％-6.38％of the genome content.While GI clusters 1 and 2 were present in all strains,a total of 84(53.50％)GI clusters only clustered within a single genome isolate.Of 10 GI likely specific clusters,five were from the same genus,two from another genus,and three with uncertain origins.Moreover,25 GI clusters were associated with virulence,which included eight shared by B.pseudomallei BP76 and BP169,which had the highest number of virulence-associated GIs among all isolates.O the 52 B.pseudomallei isolates,variations were identified in the virulence genes fhaB1,fhaB2,BPSL1661,cheY1,wzM,tssH-5/clpV,tssA-5,boaA,and boaB.Comparisons of these findings with clinical isolates from Thailand and Australia showed that B.pseudomallei isolates from Hainan had significant differences in the sequences of boaA,boaB,cheY1,and chbp.Additionally,fhaB1,fhaB3,and bimA displayed significant variations specifically within the Australian isolates.B.pseudomallei GI was conserved and specific to Hainan.The identification of specific GI and virulence factors was useful to clarify the source of horizontal gene transfer and differences in virulence at the molecular level.

Lupeol is a kind of triterpenoid widely found in a variety of Chinese herbal medicines and food-derived plants. It has multiple pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and promoting skin healing. Recent studies have found that lupeol has anti-tumor effects on liver cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer and other tumor cells. The mechanisms of action are mainly by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, inducing tumor cell apoptosis, and suppressing tumor cell invasion and metastasis. In this review, the anti-tumor research progress, pharmacological activities and molecular mechanisms of lupeol both in vitro and in vivo are reviewed and summarized to provide a theoretical basis for lupeol as a potential anti-tumor drug, and provide references for its anti-tumor mechanism.