Objective To explore the value of integrating CT image features and quantitative dual-energy computed tomography(DECT)parameters in predicting cervical lymph nodes metastasis from laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma(LHSCC).Methods The clinical and imaging data of 99 patients with LHSCC confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were divided into metastatic group(41 cases)and non-metastatic group(58 cases).The CT image features,including location,size and depth,were analyzed,respectively.The quantitative DECT parameters in the arterial and venous phases including iodine concentration(IC)and normalized iodine concentration(NIC)were measured.The rank sum test or independent-samples t-test were used to compare the difference of CT image features and quantitative DECT parameters between the two groups.The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to build the models based on CT image features(image feature model)and combination of CT image features and quantitative DECT parameters(combined model).The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was performed to analyze and compare the difference of predictive efficiency between the two groups.Results There were significant differences in tumor location between the non-metastatic group and the metastatic group(χ2=21.736,P<0.001).Size(33.20 mm vs 24.95 mm,P<0.001),depth(21.10 mm vs 13.15 mm,P<0.001)and NIC in the arterial phase(0.18 vs 0.14,P<0.001)in the metastatic group were significantly higher than those in the non-metastatic group.The area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,accuracy of the combined model were 0.851,75.6%,82.8%,58.5%,87.9%and 75.8%for predicting cervical lymph nodes metastasis.The AUC,sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,accuracy of the image feature model were 0.792,95.1%,56.9%,53.7%,81.0%and 69.7%,respectively.The prediction performance of the combined model was better than that of the image feature model(Z=-2.028,P=0.043).Conclusion Integrating CT image features and quantitative DECT parameters has important value for predicting cervical lymph nodes metastasis from LHSCC.

Objective To explore the value of integrating CT image features and quantitative dual-energy computed tomography(DECT)parameters in predicting cervical lymph nodes metastasis from laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma(LHSCC).Methods The clinical and imaging data of 99 patients with LHSCC confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were divided into metastatic group(41 cases)and non-metastatic group(58 cases).The CT image features,including location,size and depth,were analyzed,respectively.The quantitative DECT parameters in the arterial and venous phases including iodine concentration(IC)and normalized iodine concentration(NIC)were measured.The rank sum test or independent-samples t-test were used to compare the difference of CT image features and quantitative DECT parameters between the two groups.The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to build the models based on CT image features(image feature model)and combination of CT image features and quantitative DECT parameters(combined model).The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was performed to analyze and compare the difference of predictive efficiency between the two groups.Results There were significant differences in tumor location between the non-metastatic group and the metastatic group(χ2=21.736,P<0.001).Size(33.20 mm vs 24.95 mm,P<0.001),depth(21.10 mm vs 13.15 mm,P<0.001)and NIC in the arterial phase(0.18 vs 0.14,P<0.001)in the metastatic group were significantly higher than those in the non-metastatic group.The area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,accuracy of the combined model were 0.851,75.6%,82.8%,58.5%,87.9%and 75.8%for predicting cervical lymph nodes metastasis.The AUC,sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,accuracy of the image feature model were 0.792,95.1%,56.9%,53.7%,81.0%and 69.7%,respectively.The prediction performance of the combined model was better than that of the image feature model(Z=-2.028,P=0.043).Conclusion Integrating CT image features and quantitative DECT parameters has important value for predicting cervical lymph nodes metastasis from LHSCC.

Hematoma enlargement occurs in about 20％ ～ 30％ of patients with intraeerebral hemorrhage,leading to worsening of the medical conditions and severe economic and social burden.It is pivotal to explore its mechanism and predictors,establish reliable prediction model,to understand the occurrence,development and treatment of the disease.In this paper,the physiopathologic mechanisms,imaging predictors,biochemical predictors,prediction models of hematoma enlargement are summarized as follows.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been widely used in the treatment ofhypoxia,ischemia,and a series of diseases caused by hypoxia and ischemia.The treatment effect of HBOT on gliomas remains controversial.The presence of local hypoxia in gliomas is the main cause of tumor resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy;HBOT can improve the oxygen content in these areas,and thus,treatment should be as effective as other hypoxic diseases;however,most researchers believe that in the process of gliomas,the efficacy of HBOT alone is limited,and HBOT is usually not used alone.More commonly,HBOT is commonly used as adjuvant therapy in other treatments (such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy).Based on the above contents,we summarized as follows and put forward the views on the current debate.

Objective To explore the effect of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) on expressions of hypoxia inducing factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)and regeneration of hepatic vascular plexus after orthotopic liver transplantation ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.Methods Theexperimental study was conducted.According to the random number table,240 SD rats were divided into the 3 groups,80 rats in each group.Empty virus group:rats were transfected with the empty virus.Induced group:rats were transfected with HO-1 overexpression adenovirus.Inhibited group:rats were transfected with HO-1 RNAi adenovirus.Rats were made pairs (1 ∶ 1) and established rat liver transplantation model according to two cuffs method.Rats with less weight and with heavier weight were respectively chosen as donor rats and recipient rats,and then recieved tail intravenous injection of adenovirus at 24 hours before operation.(1) Detection of transfection efficiency of adenovirus before operation:HO-1 expression of liver tissue of rats in each group was detected by Western blot at 12 and 24 hours after injection of adenovirus.(2) Liver function test of recipient rats after liver transplantation:liver functions of recipient rats [alanine transaminase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST),alkaline phosphatase (ALP),gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)] were detected at l,3,7 and 14 days postoperatively.(3) Pathological histology of liver tissue and injury scores of recipient rats in the 3 groups after liver transplantation:paraffin sections of recipient rats in the 3 groups at postoperative 1 and 14 days were stained by HE staining and observed by light microscope,and were evaluated by Suzuki damage score standard.(4) Relative expressions of HIF-1α,VEGF and HO-1 in liver tissue of recipient rats were detected by Western blot.(5) Von Willebrand factor (vWF) in liver tissue of recipient rats at 14 days postoperatively was detected by immunofluorescence staining and small vessels were counted.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as x ±s.Comparison between groups was analyzed by the independent-sample t test,comparison among groups was done using one-way ANOVA,and pairwise comparison was analyzed by the LSD test.Results (1) Detection of transfection efficiency of adenovirus before operation:the relative expression of HO-1 of liver tissue of rats at 12 and 24 hours preoperatively after injection of adenovirus was 1.08±0.16 and 1.08±0.26 in the empty virus group,1.18±0.21 and 1.39±0.19 in the induced group,0.87±0.26 and 0.57±0.12 in the inhibited group,respectively,with statistically significant differences in different time points (F =4.232,36.513,P＜ 0.05).(2) Liver function test of recipient rats after liver transplantation:level of ALT at 3 days postoperatively in the empty virus group,induced group and inhibited group was (504±67)U/L,(438±47)U/L and (490±39)U/L,with a statistically significant difference (F=3.517,P＜0.05).Levels of ALT,AST and ALP at 7 days posto-peratively were (443±49) U/L,(430± 34) U/L,(455± 38) U/L in the empty virus group and (382± 49) U/L,(372±50) U/L,(394±25) U/L in the induced group and (493±44) U/L,(455±62) U/L,(470±72) U/L in the inhibited group,respectively,with statistically significant differences (F =10.950,5.667,5.398,P＜0.05).Levels of ALT,AST,ALP and GGT at 14 days postoperatively were (394±46)U/L,(361 ±68)U/L,(417 ±17)U/L,(4.5±1.1)U/L in the empty virus group and (283±47) U/L,(288±60) U/L,(332±46) U/L,(2.5±0.5) U/L in the induced group and (446± 43) U/L,(422± 51) U/L,(423± 63) U/L,(4.3 ± 1.3) U/L in the inhibited group,respectively,with statistically significant differences (F=26.906,9.924,8.013,9.279,P＜ 0.05).(3) Pathological histology of liver tissue and injury scores of recipient rats in the 3 groups after liver transplantation:liver cell swelling,loose cytoplasm and a varying quantity of inflammatory cell infiltration in the portal regions in the liver tissue of 3 groups were observed at 1 day postoperatively.A few inflammatory cell infiltrations in the portal regions,basically normal liver cell arrangement and a slightly swelling of liver cell were found in the empty virus group at 14 days postoperatively.Reduced liver cell swelling and basically normal structure of liver lobule were observed in the induced group.There were small patchy or focal necrosis of liver cell,masses of inflammatory cell infiltration in the portal regions and damage of bile duct in the inhibited group.Suzuki score at 1 day postoperatively in the empty virus group,induced group and inhibited group were respectively 6.7± 1.7,6.1 ± 1.2 and 7.6± 1.3,with no statistically significant difference (F=2.257,P＞0.05).Suzuki score at 14day postoperatively in the empty virus group,induced group and inhibited group were respectively 4.0±0.8,2.9± 0.8 and 5.1± 1.4,with a statistically significant difference (F=9.776,P＜0.05).(4) Western blot results:the relative expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF (43 KD) in liver tissue of recipient rats at 1 day postoperatively were 0.21±0.10,0.30±0.12 in the empty virus group and 0.23±0.09,0.34±0.14 in the induced group and 0.17± 0.06,0.29±0.11 in the inhibited group,respectively,with no statistically significant difference (F =0.902,0.410,P＞0.05).The relative expressions of VEGF (24 KD) and HO-1 in liver tissue of recipient rats at 1 day postoperatively were 1.21 ±0.25,0.55±0.12 in the empty virus group and 2.13±0.40,0.72±0.12 in the induced group and 0.91±0.22,0.26±0.07 in the inhibited group,respectively,with statistically significant differences (F=35.158,39.082,P ＜ 0.05).The relative expressions of HIF-1α,VEGF (43 KD),VEGF (24 KD) and HO-1 in liver tissue of recipient rats at 7 days postoperatively were 0.49±0.22,0.46±0.13,0.98± 0.37,0.98±0.37 in the empty virus group and 0.83±0.26,0.63±0.19,1.60±0.33,1.49±0.46 in the induced group and 0.24±0.09,0.30±0.12,0.64±0.18,0.75±0.26 in the inhibited group,respectively,with statistically significant differences (F=16.853,10.021,20.756,8.156,P＜0.05).(5) Immunofluorescence staining results:number of small vessels at 14 days postoperatively in the empty virus group,induced group and inhibited group was respectively 7.9±2.0,10.6± 1.9 and 7.6 ± 1.9,with a statistically significant difference (F=5.921,P＜0.05).Conclusion HO-1 could promote expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF in liver tissue after liver transplantation ischemia-reperfusion injury and regeneration of intrahepatic vascular plexus,and it also alleviate bile duct ischemia-reperfusion injury after liver transplantation.

Objective To explore therapeutic effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) combined with nimustine (ACNU)on human glioma stem cells model,and analyze the related mechanism involved.Methods Balb/c nude mice were inoculated subcutaneously with human glioma stem cell line SU3,then were divided randomly into 4 groups,i.e.,the ACNU group,the HBO group,the ACNU + HBO group and the blank control group.The body weight and tumor volume of the tumor-bearing mice were measured regularly during the experiment.Unisense microelectrode was applied to detect oxygen level in tumor-bearing mice after HBO treatment.Upon completion of treatment,the tumor-beating mice were sacrificed and tumors were weighed.Histomorphological analyses of the transplanted tumors were also performed to analyze hypoxia,necrosis and expression levels of angiogenic related factors.Results Following HBO therapy,the oxygen level in the tumor tissue of the tumor-beating mice was significantly increased(P ＜ 0.01),and necrotic hemorrhage experienced a sharp decrease,when compared with the control group.The tumor weight of the ACNU + HBO group was the lowest(1.43 ± 0.38)g,and statistical differences could be seen,when compared with those of the other 3 groups(P ＜0.05.Tumor inhibition rates of the ACNU + HBO group,the ACNU group and the HBO group were respectively 76.29％,43.79％ and 31.51％.The expression levels of TNF-α,HIF-1α,NF-κB and VEGF and the density of inflammatory cell infiltration were negatively correlated with tumor inhibition rate.Conclusions HBO therapy could alter the hypoxic microenvironment in which tumor stem cells survive,and could also inhibit tumor cell proliferation and tumor-related inflammatory cell infiltration triggered by glioma stem cells to a certain extent.Besides,combined HBO therapy could improve the curative effect of ACNU,and reverse the hypoxia micro-environment of tumor stem cell niche via negative regulation on the expressions of NF-κB,HIF-1α,TNF-α and VEGF.

Objective To explore therapeutic effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) combined with nimustine (ACNU)on human glioma stem cells model,and analyze the related mechanism involved.Methods Balb/c nude mice were inoculated subcutaneously with human glioma stem cell line SU3,then were divided randomly into 4 groups,i.e.,the ACNU group,the HBO group,the ACNU + HBO group and the blank control group.The body weight and tumor volume of the tumor-bearing mice were measured regularly during the experiment.Unisense microelectrode was applied to detect oxygen level in tumor-bearing mice after HBO treatment.Upon completion of treatment,the tumor-beating mice were sacrificed and tumors were weighed.Histomorphological analyses of the transplanted tumors were also performed to analyze hypoxia,necrosis and expression levels of angiogenic related factors.Results Following HBO therapy,the oxygen level in the tumor tissue of the tumor-beating mice was significantly increased(P ＜ 0.01),and necrotic hemorrhage experienced a sharp decrease,when compared with the control group.The tumor weight of the ACNU + HBO group was the lowest(1.43 ± 0.38)g,and statistical differences could be seen,when compared with those of the other 3 groups(P ＜0.05.Tumor inhibition rates of the ACNU + HBO group,the ACNU group and the HBO group were respectively 76.29％,43.79％ and 31.51％.The expression levels of TNF-α,HIF-1α,NF-κB and VEGF and the density of inflammatory cell infiltration were negatively correlated with tumor inhibition rate.Conclusions HBO therapy could alter the hypoxic microenvironment in which tumor stem cells survive,and could also inhibit tumor cell proliferation and tumor-related inflammatory cell infiltration triggered by glioma stem cells to a certain extent.Besides,combined HBO therapy could improve the curative effect of ACNU,and reverse the hypoxia micro-environment of tumor stem cell niche via negative regulation on the expressions of NF-κB,HIF-1α,TNF-α and VEGF.

BACKGROUND:Transplantation of alogeneic intervertebral disc can be facilitated by the cryopreservation of the intervertebral disc. But the traditional cryopreservation methods always lead to the appearing of ice crystals inside and outside the cels which can cause celular injury. The vitrification method that can avoid the formation of ice crystals have been widely applied in the cryopreservation field. However, only a few reports have assessed the vitrified cryopreservation of the intervertebral disc, and the toxicity of cryoprotectants to the nucleus pulposus cels have not been fuly explored.
OBJECTIVE:To determine the order of toxicity of five commonly used cryoprotectants that are used alone or in combination to rabbit nucleus pulposus cels, and to select the optimal cryoprotectant for the vitrification of the intervertebral disc.
METHODS: We chose five most commonly used cryoprotectants including dimethyl sulphoxide, formamide, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerol. Then, 5 single commonly used cryoprotectants, 10 mixed agents containing any 2 commonly used cryoprotectants, and 10 mixed agents containing any 3 commonly used cryoprotectants were formulated. Cel viability of nucleus pulposus cels was determined using cel counting kit-8 and fluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide method. Al data obtained were analyzed statisticaly to choose the appropriate combining scheme with less toxicity.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The order of the toxicity of these five commonly used cryoprotectants from low to high was ethylene glycol, glycerol, formamide, dimethyl sulphoxide, and propylene glycol. The toxicity of the combined agents containing two or three commonly used cryoprotectants was lower than that of any commonly used cryoprotectants that were used to formulate them. The toxicity of the mixed agents that contained ethylene glycol or glycerol was lower than that of any other mixed agents. So we can choose the mixed cryoprotectants that contain ethylene glycol and (or) glycerol for the vitrification of the intervertebral disc.

The effects of fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5?-3; EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6?-3; DHA) on serum total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were investigated in experimental hypercholesterolemic rats. The fish oil contained about 15% EPA and 43% DHA. Each animal was given 1ml fish oil/day by intragastric feeding for 30 days. The results in twice experiments showed that TC concentration in the serum of rats fed fish oil was markedly decreased as compared to rats fed olive oil, but serum HDL-C elevated. Furthermore, the ratio of HDL-C to TC in the serum was also significantly elevated in rats fed fish oil.