The role of β-catenin deletion in Sox2-positive cells in inner-ear development and polarity regulation in mice / 复旦学报（医学版）

Objective To investigate the role of β-catenin,the core protein of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling,in the inner-ear development and polarity regulation.Methods β-catenin was conditionally deleted from precursor cells of inner-ear sensory epithelium (Sox2-positive cells) in embryonic mice.Morphological changes of the inner ear were observed.Immunofluorescence staining was performed to basilar membranes,utricles and saccules to observe the hair-cell changes in arrangement and polarity.Results Compared with the control group,knock-out of β-catenin in Sox2-positive cells resulted in smaller otic vesicles,cochleas and vestibules,and fewer hair cells (HCs) in vestibular sensory epithelium (P＜0.01).Stereocilium showed misorientation and kinocillia had a change in location and quantity in the cochlea.Scattered misorented HCs were also observed in the vestibule.Conclusions β-catenin is crucial for the development of inner ear and polarity manipulation of HCs in mice.The canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling may be involved in the regulation of cochlea extension and planar cell polarity (PCP) of inner ear,which is known to be controlled by non-canonical Wnt/PCP signaling.

Association between Glutathione S-Transferase T1, M1, and P1 Genotypes and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are enzymes which play an important role in the neutralization of toxic compounds and eradication of electrophilic carcinogens. Genetic polymorphisms within the genes encoding for GSTs may therefore cause variations in their enzyme activity, which may in turn influence the interindividual susceptibility to cancers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms of GSTT1, GSTM1, and GSTP1 and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in 264 cases and 317 controls in a Chinese population. Genotyping was performed by using multiplex PCR (for GSTT1 and GSTM1) and PCR-RFLP (for GSTP1) methods. The association between the polymorphic genotypes and CRC risk was evaluated by deriving odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using unconditional logistic regression analysis. Our results showed that individuals with GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes exhibited a higher risk of CRC (GSTT1, OR,1.66; 95% CI, 1.20-2.31, P=0.003; GSTM1, OR,1.57; 95% CI,1.13-2.18, P=0.007), while no association was observed for GSTP1 (P(heterozygous)=0.790 or P(variant)=0.261). Furthermore, individuals who simultaneously carried the null genotypes for both GSTT1 and GSTM1 showed a stronger risk association (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.33-2.85; P<0.001). In conclusion, the GSTT1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms, but not GSTP1, may modulate the CRC risk among Chinese.

Transdifferention of some supporting cells in the cochlea induced by Ad5 atoh1/EGFP in the young adult guinea pigs / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore whether the Ad5-atoh1/EGFP could transdifferent the supporting cells into the new hair cells in young adult guinea pigs cochlea in vivo.@*METHOD@#Twelve healthy pigmented guinea pigs weighted 200-250 g were included in this experiment. 5 ul of Ad5-E1/E3 defected-atoh1/EGFP were infused into the scala media through a hole made on the lateral wall of the cochlea. Six of the 12 animal were killed 2 weeks after the infusion operation. The others were killed 4 weeks after the operation. The whole mount of the basal membranes were directly observed under the fluorescence microscope for the expression of the EGFP (enhance green fluorescent protein) or for the expression of the hair cellspecific marker and nuclear after staining with myosin VIIa rabbit polyclonal antibody and Dapi dye.@*RESULT@#New cells with big nuclear, ellipse body and expressed with EGFP were found in the region near to the outmost row of the outer hair cells in 2 animal 2 weeks after the infusion. Moreover there were 3 animals with specific morphologic new cells in the location where ever been located by the outer hair cells and the region as 2 weeks animals 4 weeks after the infusion. Those cells were stained by myosin VIIa antibody.@*CONCLUSION@#Atoh1 gene could transdifferent some supporting cells in the basal membrane into hair cell like cells in young adult guinea pigs in vivo. These supporting cells locate in the region of outer hair cells and the basal membrane which do not belong to the region of outer hair cells.

Modified gavage methods for guinea pigs / 复旦学报（医学版）

Objective To modify the method of gavage administration in guinea pigs. Methods Fourty awake guinea pigs were kept rearing on the hind legs and leaning on a vertical fixture to avoid their escaping forward. A 1 mL injector was inserted into the mouth to the depth when the molar teeth were passed. Another fourty guinea pigs under general anesthesia were reversed at trendelenburg position and a children suction tube with an outer diameter of 2 mm was inserted into the stomach. Results All of the 80 guinea pigs were administered by modified gavage smoothly for seven consecutive days by one operator each time. None endured much pain or digestive tract injury, or died from air way perfusion by mistake. Conclusions We successfully modified the gavage method in guinea pigs, which would definitely take guinea pigs involved in intragastical pharmacal experiments besides the routine of rats and mice.

Application of computed tomographic colonography in diagnosis of colonic polyps / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the clinical values of computed tomographic colonography (CTC) in diagnosis of colonic polyps.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-two patients who were clinically suspicious of colonic polyps or underwent colonic polyps screening received examinations with both CTC and conventional colonoscopy. Sixteen- or 64-slice spiral computed tomography and professional imaging processing techniques were used for evaluation. Per-polyp and per-patient results were analyzed. Those by per-polyp were subsequently divided into > or = 10 mm group, 5-10 mm group, and < or =5 mm group. Sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were calculated using statistical method for diagnostic studies, with conventional colonoscopy as a gold standard.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ninety and 61 polyps were found by CTC and conventional colonoscopy, respectively. The per-polyp sensitivity/PPV were 80.3%/55.6% in total, and 100%/92.9%, 93.8%/65.2%, and 68.8%/ 41.5% in the > or = 10 mm group, 5-10 mm group, and < or =5 mm group, respectively. The per-patient sensitivity, PPV, specificity, NPV, and accuracy were 97.1%, 89.5%, 42.9%, 75.0%, and 88.1%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CTC can clearly reveal the morphology of colonic polyps and be used as a routine monitoring method for the clinical diagnosis of polyps.</p>

Diffusion weighted imaging combined with magnetic resonance conventional sequences for the diagnosis of rectal cancer / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical value of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) combined with conventional sequences of magnetic resonance imaging (T1 and T2-weighted imaging) for the diagnosis of rectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DWI and conventional sequences were performed in 29 patients with endoscopically diagnosed rectal cancer and 15 patients without rectal cancer. Two doctors who were blind to the history of the patients interpreted the imaging findings. The sensitivity and specificity of conventional sequences with and without DWI were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The areas under ROC were 0.915 and 0.930 for conventional sequences alone, and 0.990 and 0.994 for conventional sequences with DWI, respectively, indicating that although both of them were optimal methods for the diagnosis of rectal cancer, the accuracy of conventional sequences with DWI was significantly superior to that of conventional sequence alone (P < 0.05). The Kappa value was 0.850 for conventional sequences alone and 0.858 for DWI with conventional sequences.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DWI was necessary for the diagnosis of rectal cancer when performing conventional sequences.</p>

Imaging features of autoimmune pancreatitis / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical, pathological, and imaging features of autoimmune pancreatitis (AlP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 10 patients (all men; aged 47-80 years, mean 61.3 years) with AlP in our hospital between March 2000 and August 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. gamma-globulin, immunoglobulin C (IgG), rheumatoid factors, and autoantibodies were examined for all cases. The imaging findings were reviewed, which included helical computed tomography (CT), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), and B-mode ultrasound in all patients, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in 9 patients, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in 7 patients. Follow-up imaging results were available in 5 patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Clinically, the most common early symptoms included obstructive jaundice (9/10) and non-specific abdominal pain (1/10), accompanied by the elevated levels of serum gamma-globulin, IgG or the presence of autoantibodies. Diabetes mellitus was detected at presentation in 2 patients. imaging findings included: CT showed diffuse (n=9) and focal (n=1) enlargement of pancreas. Minimal peripancreatic stranding was found in 7 patients, with no pancreatic pseudocyst and calcification. Six patients had enlarged peripancreatic lymph nodes. After contrast injection for 4 patients, delayed enhancement of the pancreatic parenchyma was observed, along with low-density capsule-like rim surrounding the pancreas. Magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse enlargement of pancreas in 9 patients. MRCP showed diffuse (n=6) and segmental (n=3) irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct. B-mode ultrasound showed diffuse (n=9) and focal (n=1) enlargement of the pancreas. EUS showed diffuse (n=9) and focal (n=1) enlargement with hypoecho. ERCP showed stricture of distal common bile duct and irregular dilation of proximal bile ducts in 7 patients, diffuse stricture in main pancreatic duct in 4 patients, and segmental stricture in 3 patients. During the follow-up, abnormalities of imaging and serum markers were resolved after steroid therapy in 5 patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AIP is a distinctive type of chronic pancreatitis that shows specific imaging features.</p>

Using of multislice helical CT colonography in patients with malignant lesions of colon / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the techniques and clinical applications of multislice helical computed tomography (CT) colonography in colonic lesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-nine patients with malignant lesions of colon underwent volume scanning using multislice helical CT. Four types of reconstruction including CT virtual colonoscopy (CTVC), shaded surface display (SSD), Raysum, and multiple planar reconstruction (MPR) were used for image post-processing. The results were compared with those of colonoscopy and pathology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Multislice helical CT colonography detected 54 colorectal carcinomas, 4 adenomas with focal carcinoma, 1 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The lesions' number, size, location, morphology, stricture of intestinal cavity, infiltration, and metastasis were shown satisfactorily by multislice helical CT colonography. Whole colon could be shown in all patients. CT colonography displayed 4 synchronous colonic tumors, 1 ascending colon carcinoma combined with left renal carcinoma among 54 patients with colonic carcinomas. The accuracy of location of CT colonography was 100%. There were 9 cases that CT showed the tumor location was different from the finding of conventional colonoscopy, while all of the CT location were proven exact by operation. CT colonography also displayed the infiltration of serous layer and fatty tissue in 45 cases; 21 cases matched the pathological results in all the 24 cases of suspicious lymph node metastasis, the sensitivity was 87.5%, the specificity was 90.6%; 9 cases hepatic metastasis, 2 ovarian metastasis, and 1 double adrenal gland metastasis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Multislice helical CT colonography is effective in preoperative diagnosis, location, stage, and making treatment plan of colorectal carcinoma. It can display the portion not seen during colonoscopy and may have an adjunctive role.</p>

Clinical Value of ~(18)F-FDG PET-CT Fusion Imaging in Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization with Lipiodol / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To discuss the clinical value of ~(18)F-FDG PET-CT fusion imaging in hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolizationTACE)with lipiodol. Methods 15 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma diameter 4～10 cm) were investigated with ~(18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging within three months after TACE. The findings of imaging were compared with the results of anteriography and clinical follow-up.Results After TACE, regions of absent~(18)F-FDG uptakes could be found in all 15 patients. Increased ~(18)F-FDG uptakes could be found in liver of 11 cases. The other 4 patients had no increased~(18)F-FDG uptakes in liver. The regions of increased ~(18)F-FDG uptakes were residual viable tumor confirmed by anteriography and clinical follow-up , and most of them locate around region of absent ~(18) F-FDG uptakes.~(18)F-FDG PET-CT fusion imaging showed that there were no correlation between increased ~(18)F-FDG uptakes and lipiodol dense distribution. After another TACE given or radiotherapy based on ~(18)F-FDG PET-CT fusion imaging, the areas of increased ~(18)F-FDG uptakes reduced or disappeared. In 4 patients without Increased ~(18)F-FDG uptakes ,DSA showed that there were still viable tumor in the peripheral zone of tumor.Conclusion Residual viable tumor can still be found in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after TACE.~(18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging can characterize and locate the most residual viable tumor, monitor response and be a guide in following therapy, but some viable tumor can not be found by ~(18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging.