Objective:To optimize the scan parameters for ultra-low dose computed tomography (ULDCT) of the chest using spectral purification technology, and assess the feasibility of maintaining image quality while reducing radiation dosage.Methods:An anthropomorphic chest phantom embedded with simulated pulmonary nodules was utilized for low-dose computed tomography(LDCT) and ULDCT scans. LDCT was conducted using a reference tube current of 25 mAs and a pitch of 1.0. ULDCT incorporating spectral purification technology was conducted using four reference tube currents, i. e., 50, 100, 150, and 200 mAs (labeled ULDCT1-4), and a pitch of 1.5. Other parameters were consistent. The volume CT dose index and the dose-length product were extracted from the dose reports, and then the effective doses were calculated. The objective image quality was assessed using metrics including image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The subjective image quality of ULDCT images was assessed on a four-point scale with LDCT images as reference.Results:The ULDCT4 at a reference tube current of 200 mAs showed a lower effective dose compared to LDCT ( t = -17.30, P < 0.001). The objective image quality assessments indicated that noise levels in four ULDCT groups were higher than those in LDCT ( t = 21.96, 10.56, 3.15, 3.14, P < 0.05). Notably, the SNR and CNR for the aortic arch were higher in ULDCT4 compared to LDCT ( t = 3.55, 71.96, P < 0.05). The SNR of pulmonary nodules in ULDCT4 was comparable to that in LDCT ( P > 0.05), but the CNR was higher ( t = 0.79, P < 0.001). Subjective image quality assessments reveal that the image quality of ULDCT4 was higher than that of LDCT, with scores of 3.80±0.46 for noise, 3.70±0.46 for contrast and sharpness, and 3.37±0.66 for pulmonary nodules. Conclusions:ULDCT (200 mAs) using spectral purification technology can yield higher image quality than LDCT while substantially reducing the radiation dose, thus demonstrating substantial clinical potential and the promise of replacing LDCT in early lung cancer screening.

Objective:To optimize the scan parameters for ultra-low dose computed tomography (ULDCT) of the chest using spectral purification technology, and assess the feasibility of maintaining image quality while reducing radiation dosage.Methods:An anthropomorphic chest phantom embedded with simulated pulmonary nodules was utilized for low-dose computed tomography(LDCT) and ULDCT scans. LDCT was conducted using a reference tube current of 25 mAs and a pitch of 1.0. ULDCT incorporating spectral purification technology was conducted using four reference tube currents, i. e., 50, 100, 150, and 200 mAs (labeled ULDCT1-4), and a pitch of 1.5. Other parameters were consistent. The volume CT dose index and the dose-length product were extracted from the dose reports, and then the effective doses were calculated. The objective image quality was assessed using metrics including image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The subjective image quality of ULDCT images was assessed on a four-point scale with LDCT images as reference.Results:The ULDCT4 at a reference tube current of 200 mAs showed a lower effective dose compared to LDCT ( t = -17.30, P < 0.001). The objective image quality assessments indicated that noise levels in four ULDCT groups were higher than those in LDCT ( t = 21.96, 10.56, 3.15, 3.14, P < 0.05). Notably, the SNR and CNR for the aortic arch were higher in ULDCT4 compared to LDCT ( t = 3.55, 71.96, P < 0.05). The SNR of pulmonary nodules in ULDCT4 was comparable to that in LDCT ( P > 0.05), but the CNR was higher ( t = 0.79, P < 0.001). Subjective image quality assessments reveal that the image quality of ULDCT4 was higher than that of LDCT, with scores of 3.80±0.46 for noise, 3.70±0.46 for contrast and sharpness, and 3.37±0.66 for pulmonary nodules. Conclusions:ULDCT (200 mAs) using spectral purification technology can yield higher image quality than LDCT while substantially reducing the radiation dose, thus demonstrating substantial clinical potential and the promise of replacing LDCT in early lung cancer screening.

Objective To evaluate the cause and the treatment of the vagus nerve reflex in patients with hemoptysis during bron-chial artery embolization (BAE).Methods 1 12 patients with much hemoptysis were enrolled,9 of whom represented vagus nerve reflex in the process of interventional embolization.Results In 9 patients with mixed vagal reflex,5 occurred in the process of bron-chial artery embolization,1 in removing of sheath,1 in hemostasis by compression and 2 in returning to the ward.The intraoperative vagus reflex during BAE was related to over tension and unnormolized operation,and it improved by block of vagus nerve,raising blood pressure and fluid expansion without serious complications.Conclusion Vagus nerve reflex during BAE should be noticed, and early detection and timely intervention may improve its prognosis.

Podophyllotoxin (PTOX) is an extremely important plant-derived natural product, of which derivatives, like etoposide and teniposide, have been widely applied in therapies for cancers and venereal wart. A durable, intense plant extraction of podophyllotoxin posed a severe pressure on wild resources; researchers consequently sought to explore new sources, like cultivation, plant cell or organ culture, and chemical synthesis. Understanding biosynthesis of PTOX is one of the basic necessary steps for standard cultivation of medicinal plants and metabolite engineering. An important progress has been made in this field during the last two decades, particularly in the last ten years. Although a number of reviews concerning the related topic have existed, we specifically deal with biosynthesis of podophyllotoxin with an emphasis on the literatures of the past decade, highlighting characterization of genes encoding synthetic enzymes and down-stream metabolism of PTOX. The present review focuses on several key biosynthesis processes, important metabolites, function of related enzymes, and characterization of cDNA encoding the enzymes. Finally, the author proposed a hypothetical biosynthetic scheme of podophyllotoxin and perspectives.
Plants, Medicinal ; metabolism ; Podophyllotoxin ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the efficiency and safety of hair removal with Lightsheer 800 nm diode laser. Methods Lightsheer, 800 nm diode laser, was used to remove hairs from different areas, including hairlines, lips, whiskers, armpit, chest, back, limbs and bikinis area, in 432 patients. Results At least twice treatments, the maximum 29 times, were needed to achieve satisfactory results. Total effective rate increased with the treatment times but depended on the different area:63.4 % of hairlines, 67.7 % of lips, 71.9 % of whiskers, 100 % of armpit, 100 % of chest, 100 %of back, 82.6 % of limbs and 100 % of bikinis area, respectively. The adverse effect was observed with temporal hypopigmentation in 4 patients and hyperpigmentation in 9 patients, without any scar formation. Conclusions Lightsheer 800 nm diode laser is a safe and efficient method of laser hair removal.

Objective To detect the proliferation of and production of interferon-γ by drug-specific peripheral T cells from patients with severe drug eruption.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 10 patients with severe drug eruption,10 patients with mild or moderate drug eruption and 10 normal human controls,stimulated with causative drugs to obtain drug-specific T cells.Then,both PBMCs and drug-specific T cells were stimulated with causative drugs or unrelated drugs followed by the detection of secretion levels of IFN-γ with ex vivo enzyme-linked immunodotting (ELISpot) assay and cultured ELlSpot assav respectively.Results After stimulation with causative drugs,a higher level of IFN-γ was secreted by PBMCs and drug-specific T cells from patients with severe drug eruption compared with those from normal human controls (both P<0.01).and by drug-specific T cells than by PBMCs (P<0.01).The culture with unrelated drugs could neither induce the generation of drug-specific T cells nor promote the secretion of IFN-γ by PBMCs from the patients.Drug-specific T cells still existed in the peripheral blood of 3 patients within 1 to 3 years after recovery of drug eruption.Conclusions There are drug-specific T cells in peripheral blood of patients with severe drug eruption,and they may persist for a certain period of time after recovery of drug eruption.Ex vivo ELISpot combined with cultured ELISpot may be applied to the identification of causative drugs in vivo.

Objectives To investigate the binding of natural IgM to Staphylococcus aureus and its role in the phagocytosis of S. aureus by phagocytes, and to pave way for further study on the role and mechanism of natural IgM in defense of bacteria. Methods The binding of natural antikeratin IgM 3B4 to S. aureus was analyzed by ELISA and indirect immunoiluorescence. The role of 3B4 in the phagocytosis was analyzed by colony forming assay and flow cytometry (FCM). Results Both ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence proved the binding of natural IgM 3B4 to S. aureus. Colony forming assay found that the amount of colony forming units decreased significantly when 3B4 was added. The analysis of FCM showed that 3B4 augmented phagocytosis of 5. aureus by phagocytes. Conclusions Natural antikeratin IgM 3B4 can bind to S. aureus and regulate the phagocytosis of it, indicating that natural IgM may play some role in the defense against bacterial infection.

Objective To construct an anti-keratin autoantibody (AK auto Ab) transgenic mouse model. Methods Linearized transgene plasmid was microinjected into the zygotes of CBA?C57BL/6 mice, which were transplanted into the oviducts of pseudo-pregnant mice. PCR was used to identify the genotype of the offsprings, and ELISA was applied to measure the serum levels of AK auto Ab. Results Twelve transgene positive founder mice were obtained, and 9 of them produced offsprings as the third generation. The serum level of AK auto Ab was increased in 3 of the transgenic mice. Conclusions AK auto Ab transgenic mice were successfully established; these mice could serve as an animal model with increased serum levels of AK auto Ab.

Objective To prepare natural anti-keratin IgM monoclonal antibody. Methods Spleen cells of BALB/c mice raised in specific pathogen free conditions were directly fused with Sp2/0 myeloma cells. The hybridoma supernatants were tested by ELISA using pre-extracted keratin. The natural IgM obtained was further identified by immunochemistry and immunoblot methods. Results The cell fusion rate was about 60% without pre-immunization. About 14% supernatants reacted with the keratin antigen. Three hybridoma strains secreting natural IgM monoclonal antibody against keratin were obtained. The immunochemistry results showed that the natural anti-keratin IgM was able to bind to epidermis, sebaceous gland, hair follicule, and muscle tissues. Conclusion B lymphocytes in normal BALB/c mice spleen can produce natural antibody against kerain.