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Objective To investigate the protective effects of Erqi Decoction(EQD; mainly composed of Radix Aristolochiae Kaempferi, Radix Rhizoma Seu Flos Cypripedii, Cortex Fraxini, Cortex Phellodendri, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) on the intestinal tract in rats with acute radiation intestinal injury and its mechanism. Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, EQD group and Baitouweng Decoction group (BD group), 15 rats in each group. The acute radiation enteritis model was established by exposing the whole abdomen to a total dose of 10 Gy of 6 MV higher-energy X-rays. EQD group and BD group were given intragastrical administration with corresponding medicine of EQD at the dose of 8.85 g·kg-1·d-1, BD at the dose of 4.69 g·kg-1·d-1 respectively, and the normal group and the model group were given intragastrical administration with the same volume of normal saline. The treatment lasted for 7 continuous days. After modeling, the morphological change of the proximal ileum tissue was observed under light microscope. Villus height, crypt depth, and thickness of the ileal mucosa and entire wall were measured by image analysis system. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) content in ileum tissue was determined by spectrophotometer, and the expression levels of caspase -3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in ileum tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry. Results EQD group and BD group had milder injuries of the ileal structure, and had higher villus height, crypt depth, and thickness of mucosa and entire wall than those in the model group (P 0.05). MPO content in EQD group and BD group was decreased(P0.05). Conclusion EQD has certain protective effects against radiation-induced intestinal damage, which mechanism is probably associated with relieving the local intestinal inflammatory reaction, accelerating intestinal epithelial cell proliferation, and inhibiting intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis.
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Objective To evaluate characteristics of CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT in pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma (PSH).Methods A retrospective study involving 12 patients (2 males,10 females;24-80 years old) confirmed as PSH by pathology from May 2012 to July 2014 was investigated.All patients underwent chest CT scan,including enhanced CT;and 5 cases underwent whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT.All imaging data were collected and analyzed to find out a more effective diagnostic method.Results In 12 PSH patients,9 had single lesion,of which 4 involved left lung and 5 right lung.The rest 3 patients including 1 with two nodules located in the right lower lobe,and 2 with multiple nodules scattered in several lobes.Plain CT showed all lesions had uniformly isodensity,4 with calcification,3 with air meniscus sign.Contrast-enhanced CT examinations showed that the majority lesions were prominent enhancement and few moderate enhancement,all lesions showed vessel marginating sign and 6 with cystic and necrosis area.18F-FDG PET/CT examinations showed that the lesions displayed patchy pattern of mild to moderate uptake with SUVmax 2.2--4.0.Conclusions The characteristic CT features of PSH,especially the contrast-enhanced CT imaging,are important for diagnosis.18F-FDG PET/CT findings are extremely helpful in differentiating PSH from malignant lesions.
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Generation of bio-engineered teeth by using stem cells will be a major approach for bioengineered implantation. Previous studies have demonstrated that dissociated tooth germ cells are capable of generating a tooth after reaggregation in vitro. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this tooth regeneration are not clear. In this study, we dispersed E13.5 molar germ into single cells, immediately reaggregated them into cell pellet, then grafted the reaggregates under mouse kidney capsule for various times of culture. We investigated the morphogenesis and the expression of several developmental genes in dental epithelial cells in reaggregates of tooth germ cells. We found that dissociated tooth germ cells, after reaggregation, recapitulated normal tooth developmental process. In addition, dissociated dental epithelial cells retained the expression of Fgf8, Noggin, and Shh during reaggregation and tooth regeneration processes. Our results demonstrated that, despite of under dissociated status, dental epithelial cells maintained their odontogenic fate after re-aggregation with dental mesenchymal cells. These results provided important information for future in vitro generation of bio-engineered teeth from stem cells.