ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the methods for solving the neck two-point T2-DIXON fat-water separation misalignment. Methods During August 2015 to July 2016, 140 patients with fat-water separation on the nasopharynx and cervical axial T2-DIXON images were prospectively recruited from Sichuan Cancer Hospital. There was no metal implant in the fat-water separation misalignment area. The patients were divided into 7 groups by random number table method with 20 patients in each group for the axial T2-DIXON scan: Group A adopted plan 1( increasing localized shim box on the fat-water separation misalignment area);Group B adopted plan 2(increasing the times of repeated acquisition to 2 of the T2-DIXON sequence);Group C adopted plan 3 (placing the shimming assist device on the inspection area);Group D adopted plan 1+plan 2;Group E adopted plan 1+plan 3;Group F adopted plan 2+plan 3;Group G adopted plan 1+plan 2+plan 3. The images quality of two scans were graded and compared. We compared the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of T2-DIXON image on the same muscle tissue between the two scans of each group. The difference of SNR on the two scan images was compared with the paired t test, the difference of SNR among seven groups was conducted with independent sample t test, and the comparison of image quality classification was conducted by rank sum test. Results The image quality of all the seven groups was improved to some different degrees. The cases with image quality reaching level 3 were 12, 15, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 18 in A to G groups, respectively. It was better to use the combination of two or more methods to improve the quality of the image than to use a single method. There were no statistically significant differences in SNR between two scans in A, C and E group (all P>0.05).There were statistically significant differences in SNR between two scans in groups of B, D, F and G(all P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences among the 7 groups, with the best quality in G group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the first SNR among the 7 groups (P>0.05);there were significant differences in the second scans among the 7 groups (P<0.05) .Conclusions This study suggests that placing localized shim box, increasing the times of repeated acquisition, and use of shimming assist device in MRI correct the fat-water separation misalignment, help to provide images with high quality. The combination of the above method was better than using the single method. The SNR can be improved when increasing the times of repeated acquisition.
ABSTRACT
Illicium verum was a medicinal plant containing many valuable active ingredients. However, the rich extracts from its fruit are invariably wasted for inefficient separation processes. To further utilize these resources, the four extracts were obtained. The results showed that the optimum extraction times for methanol/ethanol, ether/ethanol, benzene/ethanol, and petroleum ether/ethanol extraction were 3, 5, 9, and 5 h for each single extraction, respectively. Among the four methods, the third method was found to be optimum, and gave a maximum yield of 31.63%. It was suggested that the extracts could be used as rare spices, biomedicines, liquid bioenergy, etc
ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the value of thickness and arterial resistive index (RI) of wrist synovium in differentiation from activity to non-activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Ninety-two clinically confirmed RA patients underwent high frequency ultrasonography. Maximum thickness and arterial RI of the wrist synovium were measured in active and nonactive stage. Results Thickened synovium was found in 75 of 92 patients. Color signal in the synovium was detected and then RI was measured in 67 patients, including 31 in active stage and 36 in nonactive stage. The wrist synovium thickness of 67 patients was (2.97±1.49) mm and arterial RI was 0.74±0.17. RI decreased significantly in patients in active stage compared with that in nonactive stage (P<0.001). Conclusion Arterial RI measurement with high frequency ultrasonography may be served as an objective marker of synovial membrane disease in RA. The thickness of synovium cannot predict the activity of RA.
ABSTRACT
Microthrombosis may be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac microangiopathy due to diabetes. Recent studies have shown that fibrinogen-like protein 2 (fgl2) plays a pivotal role in microthrombosis in viral hepatitis, acute vascular xenograft rejection and cytokine-induced fetal loss syndrome. The current study was designed to examine the expression of fgl2 in microvascular endothelial cells and investigate the effects of microthrombi due to fgl2 on cardiac function and structure in rats with type 2 diabetes. Following induction of type 2 diabetes, 24 rats were observed dynamically. Fgl2 expression and related cardiac microthrombosis were examined. Local or circulating TNF-α was measured. Coronary flow (CF) per min was calculated as an index of cardiac microcirculation. Cardiac function and morphology were evaluated. It was found that Fgl2 was highly expressed in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells of rats with type 2 diabetes, which was promoted by local or circulating TNF-α. The Fgl2 expression was associated with cardiac hyaline microthrombosis. In parallel with the fgl2 expression, CF per min, cardiac diastolic or systolic function and cardiac morphology were aggravated to some extent. It was concluded that in rats with type 2 diabetes, microthrombosis due to fgl2 contributes to the impairment of cardiac diastolic or systolic function and morphological changes.
ABSTRACT
To evaluate the feasibility of real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RTMCE) by quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion in rabbits, transthoracic RTMCE was performed in 10 healthy rabbits by using continuous infusion of SonoVue into the auricular vein. The short axis view at the papillary muscle level was obtained. The duration of the time that the contrast took to appear in right heart, left heart and myocardium was recorded. The regional myocardial signal intensity (SI) versus refilling time plots were fitted to an exponential function: y(t) =A(1-e(-beta(t-t0))) + C, where y is SI at any given time, A is the SI plateau that reflects myocardial blood volume, and beta is the slope of the refilling curve that reflects myocardial microbubble velocity. The A, beta and Axbeta values at different infusion rate of SonoVue were analyzed and the A, beta and Axbeta values in each segment in the short axis view at the papillary muscle level were compared. All the animal experiments were successful and high-quality images were obtained. The best intravenous infusion rate for SonoVue was 30 mL/h. The contrast appeared in right heart, left heart and myocardium at 7.5+/-2.2 s, 9.1+/-2.4 s and 12.2+/-1.6 s respectively. After 16.6+/-2.3s, myocardial opacification reached a steady state. The mean A, beta and Axbeta value in the short axis view at the papillary muscle level were 9.8+/-3.0 dB, 1.4+/-0.5 s(-1) and 13.5+/-3.6 dBxs(-1) respectively. A, beta and Axbeta values showed no significant differences among 6 segments. It was suggested that RTMCE was feasible for quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion in rabbits. It provides a non-invasive method to evaluate the myocardial perfusion in rabbit disease models.
ABSTRACT
To develop a more efficient antithrombotic way after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the anticoagulant effects were compared of human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) gene transfection and aspirin oral administration (traditional method) on vein grafts. An eukaryotic expression plasmid pCMV-(Kozak) TFPI was prepared. Animal model of carotid artery bypass grafting was constructed. In operation, endothelial cells of vein grafts in TFPI group and empty plasmid control group were transfected with pCMV-(Kozak) TFPI and empty plasmid pCMV respectively, while no transfection was conducted in aspirin control group. After operation, aspirin (2 mg.kg(-1).(-1)) was administered (i.g.) in aspirin control group. Three days later, grafts (n=10) were harvested for RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses of exogenous gene expression and for pathological, scanning electron microscopic observation of thrombus. Thirty days later, the patency rates of remnant grafts (n=10) were recorded by vessel Doppler ultrasonography. Human TFPI gene products were detected in gene transferred vein grafts. Three days later, thrombi were found in 7 animals of aspirin control group and in 8 animals of empty plasmid control group, but in only 1 of TFPI group (P<0.01). Thirty days later, 5 grafts were occluded in empty plasmid control group, but none of grafts was occluded in the other groups (P<0.05). The endothelial surfaces of grafts in both of the control groups were covered with aggregated erythrocytes and platelets, and it were not seen in TFPI group. It was suggested that the anticoagulant effects on vein grafts of human TFPI gene transfection are better than those of aspirin.