Objective:To explore the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on interleukin-33 (IL-33)/growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (ST2) signaling pathway in the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) of rats modeling hyperalgesia (HP).Methods:This study consisted of two experiments. In the first, 30 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a Sham-HP group, an HP group, an antibody group and an inhibitor group, each of 6. HP was induced in all except the rats of the blank and Sham-HP groups by injecting carrageenan (Car) and prostaglandin E2 subcutaneously at the bottom of the left hind feet. The antibody and inhibitor groups were then given intrathecal injections of anti-ST2 antibody and a tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-specific inhibitor, respectively. In the second experiment, 42 SD rats were randomly divided into a Sham-HP group, an HP group, a TENSⅠgroup, a TENS II group, a TENS I inhibitor group, a TENS II inhibitor group, and a Sham-TENS group, each of 6. All of the groups had HP induced as in experiment one. All of the rats except those in the Sham-HP, HP and Sham-TENS groups were then given TENS, and the TENS I and II inhibitor groups were offered intrathecal injection of TNF-α-specific inhibitors. Mechanical pain thresholds (MPTs) were documented 4h, 24h, 48h, 72h, 6d, 7d 4h, 7d 1h, and 7d after the Car injections. Western blotting was used to measure the protein expressions of IL-33, ST2 and TNF-α 6d after the Car injection in both experiments.Results:In experiment one, the average MPTs of the HP, antibody and inhibitor groups had decreased significantly 4 hours after the Car injection compared with the blank and Sham-HP groups. However, 7d 1h after the Car injection the value had increased significantly in the Sham-HP, antibody and inhibitor groups compared with the HP group, while the expressions of IL-33, ST2 and TNF-α had decreased significantly. In experiment two, by 4 hours after the Car injection, the average MPT of all the other groups had decreased significantly compared with the Sham-HP group. Moreover, by 7d 1h after the Car injection, the average MPTs of the groups receiving TENS had increased significantly, with significantly lower MPT in the TENS Ⅱ group than in group Ⅰ, on average. There was also significantly higher expression of IL-33, ST2 and TNF-α in group II. Compared with the TENS Ⅰ and Ⅱ groups, the average MPT was significantly higher in the TENS I and Ⅱ inhibitor groups, but IL-33, ST2 and TNF-α expression was lower.Conclusions:TENS can inhibit TNF-α expression, which influences the signals of the DRG IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway to reverse hyperalgesia. TENS combined with anti-TNF-α treatment is superior to TENS alone in treating hyperalgesia.

Endometrial receptivity is key to clinical pregnancy by in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET)technique.Endometrial thickness(EMT)is a major index for pregnancy monitoring,but the optimal time indicating endometrial receptivity is controversially uncertain.Multiple studies have demonstrated the correlation between EMT and IVF pregnancy outcomes and EMT of a moderate range is essential for good pregnancy outcomes and a thin endometrium produces negative pregnancy outcomes.In this paper,we reviewed the research on the im-pact of EMT on IVF-ET pregnancy outcomes in terms of timing of EMT measurement,clinical pregnancy rate,live birth rate,ectopic pregnancy rate,placenta praevia,and low birth weight,investigating the mechanism of occur-rence and treatment of thin endometrium so as to provide clinical references for improving IVF pregnancy outcomes.

Objective:To explore the correlations between 11C-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane (CFT) microPET/CT imaging and the degree of damage to dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra of midbrain and the severity of Parkinson′s disease (PD). Methods:Sixty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into PD model group ( n=48) and control group ( n=12) by random number table method. The PD model was established by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the right striatum. The rotational behavior test and 11C-CFT microPET/CT imaging were performed at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after the establishment of PD model. The radioactivity uptake values of bilateral striatum were analyzed and the radioactivity uptake ratio of injured side to healthy side was calculated. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive positive neurons in the pars compacta of substantia nigra was counted by immunofluorescence staining, and the ratio of total number of TH positive neurons in injured side to healthy side was calculated. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, the least significant difference t test and Pearson correlation analysis. Results:At 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after the establishment of PD model, the rotation speed of PD model to the healthy side was (4.55±1.37), (8.64±1.64), (9.96±1.83) and (11.67±2.77) r/min, respectively, while there was no rotation behavior in the control group. Meanwhile, the ratios of 11C-CFT uptake and the number of TH positive neurons in the PD model group were 0.658±0.038, 0.580±0.094, 0.513±0.042, 0.394±0.065 and 0.698±0.066, 0.604±0.062, 0.546±0.064, 0.315±0.082, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group (0.997±0.048 and 0.996±0.054; F values: 167.50, 169.20, both P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that 11C-CFT uptake ratio was correlated with rotation behavior (rotation speed) and TH positive neuron ratio ( r values: -0.877, 0.897, both P<0.001). Conclusion:In the PD animal model, the ratios of 11C-CFT uptake has a good correlation with the degree of damage to dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain (TH positive neuron ratio) and the severity of PD.

Chemotherapy is commonly used for cancer treatment. With the development of diagnos-tic techniques, surgical methods and chemotherapy programs, the survival rate of cancer patients has been improved significantly. On the other hand, many chemotherapy drugs have cardiotoxicity and may cause fatal heart damage, such as myocardial infarction and heart failure. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the oc-currence of cardiotoxicity so that preventive measures could be taken timely. Compared with other methods, radionuclide imaging based on the molecular level has its unique advantage. This review briefly evaluates the current monitoring methods of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity and focuses on the application of radio-nuclide imaging in the monitoring of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.

Purpose To investigate the 18F-FDG PET/CT manifestation ofextranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) for providing important reference for the early diagnosis,accurate staging and guiding treatment of the disease.Materials and Methods The imagings and clinical data of twenty-six patients with nasal ENKTCL were analyzed retrospectively.The diagnosis was confirmed by pathological biopsy and immunohistochemistry.The distribution and metabolic signs of the lesions were summarized,and the influence of PET/CT on nasal ENKTCL staging was analyzed.Results Totally 102 positive lesions were detected in 26 patients.The SUVmax of all lesions was 12.2±5.4 (3.2-28.5).The primary lesions were mainly located in the nasal cavity (16/26,61.5％).Facial soft tissue and paranasal sinus tissue involvement were most common adjacent invasions.The distribution of the remaining affected tissues and organs in the whole body showed no obvious regularity.Lymph node involvement was most common in cervical lymph nodes.The lesion detection rates of PET/CT and conventional imaging (plain scan/enhanced CT,plain scar/ enhanced MRI,ultrasound,etc.) in lymph node and extranodal organ involvement were 96.7％ and 65.5％,respectively,and the accuracy of staging were 92.3％ and 73.1％,respectively.Clinical stages were changed in 15 patients (57.7％)because of PET/CT examination,among which,the staging was improved in twelve cases for finding more lesions,the staging of the suspicious lesions were reduced and the nature was defined in three cases because of their lack of metabolism on the PET/CT,and the treatment plan was affected in nine cases for staging adjustment.Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT can accurately show the distribution of nasal ENKTCL lesions.Compared with the conventional imaging methods,more lymph nodes and extranodal organ involvement can be detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT,which makes the staging more accurate and guides the clinical treatment more effectively.

Objective The 18F-ML-10 PET/CT apoptosis imaging was taken in the early Parkinson's disease (PD) rat models.The feasibility of diagnosis of PD with 18F-ML-10 PET/CT apoptosis imaging is explored.Methods Twenty adult healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group and PD model group (n=l 0).Intrastriat administration of 6-hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA) was performed to induce progressive and retrograde degenerative changes in the substantial nigra of neurons (PD models).One week after apomorphine inducement,the rotational behaviors of the rats were evaluated.~C-CFT PET/CT imaging and 18F-ML-10 PET/CT were performed to observe the dopamine transport protein expression in the corpus striatum and apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.Immunofluorescence staining of anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody was performed to evaluate the survival of dopaminergic cells in the compact part of substantia nigra.TUNEL was performed to evaluate the apoptosis of dopaminergic cells in the compact part of substantia nigra.Nissl staining was performed to detect the cellular morphology.Results One week after PD modeling,the rats in the experimental group obviously rotated to the contralateral,and the average rotation speed was (4.52 ±1.03) r/min.The ratio of 11C-CFT between the right and left striatum of rats in the experimental group was 0.556±0.017,which was significantly lower than that of the control group (0.998±0.013,P＜0.05).The radioactivity ratio of'8F-ML-10 between the right and left substantia nigra of rats was 1.722±0.083,which was significantly higher than that of the control group (1.024±0.056,P＜0.05).Immunofluorescence showed that the ratio of TH-positive neurons between the right and left compact part of substantia nigra in rats of the experimental group was 0.528 ±0.012,which was significantly lower than that of the control group (1.036±0.030,P＜0.05).TUNEL showed that the number of dopaminergic neuronal apoptosis in the experimental group was 43.200±2.507,which was significantly larger than that of the control group (1.400±0.427,P＜0.05).Conclusion PD is associated with apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons;18F-ML-10 PET/CT imaging can be used to diagnose PD in the early-stage.

Objective To confirm whether the open-ended coaxial line is effective in detection of the differences in dielectric properties between colorectal cancer tissues and surrounding normal tissues and evaluation of the depth of tumor invasion. Methods The open-ended coaxial line system at frequencies ranging from 50 to 500 MHz in 98 freshly excised colorectal cancerous specimens obtained from the operating theatre of Zhujiang Hospital, was used to detect both the relative permittivity and conductivity on the serosal surface of the carcinoma nidus, the mucosa of the carcinoma nidus, and the mucosa of the surgical resection margin. Pathological examinations were conducted on each specimen after surgery. Results The values for relative permittivity and conductivity of the colorectal cancerous mucosa were significantly higher than those of the normal mucosa (P < 0.01). For the tumor which had invaded or penetrated the serosa (stage ≥ T3), the dielectric properties of both the cancerous serosa and mucosa were higher than the one restricted to muscularis propria or less intestine wall (stage < T3) over the measured frequency range, and there existed statistical differences at the common frequencies of 213 MHz and 426 MHz. Conclusion The open-ended coaxial line system may result in fast and effective diagnostic differentiation between cancerous and normal colorectal tissues as well as reasonable assessment of the tumor infiltration depth.

Assessment of cell apoptosis may help for an early and exact diagnosis of some diseases,and provide important evidence for therapy and its results.As a safe,noninvasive and real-time imaging means of the highest level in nuclear medicine,positron emission tomography (PET) can use apoptotic PET tracer to detect cell apoptosis.The exploitation of suitable probes is important for PET to detect early cell apoptosis.According to various biochemical changes of apoptotic cells,there are already quite an amount apoptosis imaging probes have been investigated.This review mainly introduces PET apoptosis imaging probes and their latest application.

Objective To explore the effects of periesophagogastric vascular ligation on free portal pressure (FPP) and incidence of rebleeding for patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension. Methods A total of 60 patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension who were admitted to our hospital from October 2008 to October 2011 were selected and were allo-cated to observation group and control group according to their surgical methods, with 30 patients in each group. The observation group received periesophagogastric vascular ligation, while the control group received periesophagogastric devascularization. The curative effects of two different surgical methods in the two groups were compared. Results Vol-ume of bleeding during surgery, surgical time and other clinical indices in the observation group were all significantly smaller or shorter than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05);incidence of rebleeding and hepatic encephalopathy in the observation group were significantly lower than that in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05); FPP in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Periesophagogastric vascular ligation helps effectively lower FPP induced by cirrhotic portal hypertension, reduce incidence of rebleeding, and lower postoperative mortality and incidence of complications.