High-resolution MRI imaging in patients with middle cerebral artery stenosis / 医疗卫生装备

Object To compare images of the vessel wall between symptomatic and asymptomatic atherosclerotic plaques of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR MRI).Methods HR MRI data were acquired in 36 patients with MCA atherosclerotic stenosis (≥50％) confirmed by MRA, CTA, of whom, 25 symptomatic patients and 11 asymptomatic ones were enrolled into a symptomatic group and an asymptomatic group respectively. The wall thickness and cross-sectional area of stenotic segments were measured and compared between the two groups. The data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 statistical software.Results The cross-sectional area in the symptomatic group was (3.04±1.03)mm2,while the asymptomatic group was (3.28±0.96)mm2, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The symptomatic group had a larger wall thickness ((2.32±0.61)mm) when compared with the asymptomatic group ((2.10±0.77)mm), and higher prevalence of plaque enhancement after contrast injection (83.3％).Conclusion Different vessel wall properties on HR MRI are observed between symptomatic and asymptomatic MCA stenosis. Symptomatic MCA stenosis has a larger wall thickness and higher prevalence of plaque enhancement after contrast injection when compared with the asymptomatic.

The application of the PET/CT technology in the diagnosis of atypical spinal tuberculosis / 预防医学

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of PET/CT technique in the atypical spinal tuberculosis. Methods A total of 60 patients who had suffered from spinal tuberculosis and spinal metastasis confirmed by surgical interventions from 2010 to 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. 18F-FDG PET/CT examination was made at our department. Image data of X-ray, CT, and PET/CT were compared in the diagnosis accuracy. Results A total of 52 males and 8 females, aged from 38 to 82 years (mean, 50.2 years) were collected. The statistical analysis showed PET/CT technology with sensitivity of 85%, and specificity of 95%, which were significantly higher than those of X-ray and CT (AUC=0.900, P<0.05) . 18F-FDG PET/CT can find more lesions than X-ray and CT, find "cold abscess" and "cold zone" of spinal tuberculosis, that was an exclusive value of PET/CT diagnosis for atypical spinal tuberculosis. Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT shows an important clinical diagnostic value for the atypical spinal tuberculosis.

Chemical constituents from stems of Hedyotis hedyotidea and their immunosuppressive activity / 中国中药杂志

Hedyotis hedyotidea has been traditionally used for the treatment of arthritis, cold, cough, gastro-enteritis, headstroke, etc. But few studies have screened the active compounds from extracts of H. hedyotidea. In this study, the structure of the chemical constituents from stems of H. hedyotidea were determined and the immunosuppressive activity of the compounds was evaluated. The compounds were separated and purified with silica gel, gel column chromatographies and preparative HPLC, and their structures were identified by spectral methods such as MS and NMR. Eleven compounds were obtained and identified as(6S,9S) -vomifoliol (1), betulonic acid (2), betulinic acid (3), betulin(4), 3-epi-betulinic acid (5), ursolic acid (6), β-sitosterol (7), stigmast-4-en-3-one (8), 7β-hydroxysitosterol (9), (3β,7β) -7-methoxystigmast-5-en-3-ol (10) and morindacin (11). This is the first report of compounds 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 from H. hedyotidea. Compounds 1, 2 and 8-11 were firstly isolated from the genus Hedyotis, and compounds 9 and 10 were isolated from the family Rubiaceae for the first time. The immunosuppressive activity of these compounds was tested using the lymphocyte transsormationtest. Compounds 4, 6 and 9 showed significant immunosuppressive activity.

miR-98 suppresses melanoma metastasis through a negative feedback loop with its target gene IL-6

Dysregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression has a critical role in tumor development and metastasis. However, the mechanism by which miRNAs control melanoma metastasis is unknown. Here, we report reduced miR-98 expression in melanoma tissues with increasing tumor stage as well as metastasis; its expression is also negatively associated with melanoma patient survival. Furthermore, we demonstrate that miR-98 inhibits melanoma cell migration in vitro as well as metastatic tumor size in vivo. We also found that IL-6 is a target gene of miR-98, and IL-6 represses miR-98 levels via the Stat3-NF-kappaB-lin28B pathway. In an in vivo melanoma model, we demonstrate that miR-98 reduces melanoma metastasis and increases survival in part by reducing IL-6 levels; it also decreases Stat3 and p65 phosphorylation as well as lin28B mRNA levels. These results suggest that miR-98 inhibits melanoma metastasis in part through a novel miR-98-IL-6-negative feedback loop.

Investigation of ocular structure in pigmented rabbit and C57BL/6 mouse using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) can quantitatively analyze some ocular parameters in vivo.Although human ocular parameters have been obtained by SD-OCT,few studies were performed in animal experiment.Objective This study was to investigate the anterior and posterior segment parameters of C57BL/6 mice and pigmented rabbits using SD-OCT in vivo.Methods Some anterior and posterior segment ocular parameters,including the central corneal thickness (CCT),anterior chamber depth (ACD),white-to-white (WTW),optic nerve head (ONH) depth/width and retinal thickness,were measured in 8 eyes of 4 health SPF C57BL/6 mice and 12 eyes of 6 health SPF pigmented rabbits using SD-OCT.Results For C57BL/6 mice,Cornea,iris,lens in pupil area were clearly exhibited by SD-OCT.Mean CCT,ACD and WTW were (96±9)μm,(460±8) μm and (2.86 ± 0.41) mm pre-mydriasis,respectively,the corresponding values of post-mydriasis were (96±8) μm,(356±20)μm and (2.87±0.62)mm.There were no statistical differences of CCT and WTW between pre-and post-mydriasis (t =0.478,P =0.647 ; t =-0.737,P =0.485).ACD of post-mydriasis was significantly shallower than that of baseline (t =-13.022,P＜0.001).For the pigmented rabbits,the thickness of corneal thinnest point,retinal thickness,ONH depth and width were (370 ± 10) μm,(175 ± 4) μm,(1.35 ± 0.51) mm and (4.52±0.82) mm,respectively.Conclusions As a non-contact and non-invasive technology,SD-OCT can provide not only high resolution cross-sectional ocular images,but also high precise quantitative parameters for both C57BL/6 mouse and pigmented rabbit in vivo.

Changes of fibronectin and type IV collagen expression in cultured rat mesangial cells transfected with connective tissue growth factor expression vector / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the development of glomerulosclerosis by experimental alteration of fibronectin (FN) and Type IV collagen (Col IV) expression in cultured rat mesangial cells (MsC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CTGF expression vector was transfected into MsC by Lipofectimine method. Protein and mRNA expression levels of CTGF, FN and Col IV were studied by Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two of MsC clones (MCT-1 and MCT-2) with CTGF overexpression were successfully established and found to have significant increases of FN and Col IV at both protein and mRNA levels. Compared with the controls, the expression of FN protein and mRNA in the two clones were 3.2 times (P < 0.05) and 2.9 times (P < 0.05) higher respectively. The expression of Col IV protein and mRNA was 3.8 times (P < 0.01) and 2.4 times (P < 0.01) higher respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CTGF up-regulates FN and Col IV expression in MsC and may play an important role in the development of glomerulosclerosis.</p>

Clinical analysis of 942 cases of Kawasaki disease / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The study was designed to investigate the clinical characteristics and the effects of therapeutic proposal on Kawasaki disease (KD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical features, diagnosis and treatment for totally 942 patients with KD hospitalized during Jan, 2000 to Dec, 2004 were reviewed. Clinical features of typical and incomplete KD were compared. Also, influential factors for KD resistant to intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy were analyzed. Five hundred and ten cases were followed up for analyzing the prognosis of coronary artery lesion (CAL).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) 774 cases were diagnosed as typical KD, and 168 cases as incomplete KD. The incidence of infants with incomplete KD was higher than that of infants with typical KD (18.5% vs. 10.1%, P < 0.01). As compared with typical KD, the cases of incomplete KD had a long duration of fever before final diagnosis [(7.7 +/- 2.9) d vs. (7.0 +/- 2.4) d, P < 0.01], high hemoglobin level [Hb, (106.6 +/- 13.4) g/L vs. (103.5 +/- 12.3) g/L, P < 0.01], high hematocrit [Hct, (32.0 +/- 4.3)% vs. (31.0 +/- 4.0)%, P < 0.01], and high prevalence of CAL (23.8% vs. 16.8%, P < 0.05), respectively. The occurrence rate and emerging time of clinical manifestations in incomplete KD and in typical KD were presented, respectively: non-exudative conjunctivitis [occurrence rate, 64.9% vs. 93.5%; emerging time, (4.4 +/- 1.4) d vs. (4.0 +/- 1.6) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], erythema and cracking of lips [occurrence rate, 50.6% vs. 94.8%; emerging time, (4.9 +/- 1.4) d vs. (4.5 +/- 1.6) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], rash [occurrence rate, 35.1% vs. 87.7%; emerging time, (3.9 +/- 1.9) d vs. (3.4 +/- 1.7) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], erythema and edema of extremity [occurrence rate, 26.8% vs. 71.4%; emerging time, (6.7 +/- 1.5) d vs. (5.3 +/- 1.7) d, respectively (P < 0.01)], cervical lymphadenopathy [occurrence rate, 34.5% vs. 68.0%; emerging time, (4.3 +/- 2.5) d vs. (3.6 +/- 2.2) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], strawberry tongue [occurrence rate, 31.0% vs. 59.8%; emerging time, (5.6 +/- 2.2) d vs. (4.9 +/- 1.8) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], membranous desquamation of fingertips [occurrence rate, 34.5% vs. 56.3%; emerging time, (11.7 +/- 3.3) d vs. (10.3 +/- 2.7) d, respectively (P < 0.01)], and desquamation peri-anus [occurrence rate, 42.9% vs. 50.0%; emerging time, (6.7 +/- 2.7) d vs. (6.9 +/- 2.5) d, respectively (P > 0.05)]. Except for peri-anus desquamation, other clinical manifestations in incomplete KD were sporadical as compared to typical KD. (2) Six per cent (51/857) of cases were resistant to the IVIG therapy. As compared to the group responding to IVIG therapy, high prevalence of CAL (31.4% vs. 17.1%, P < 0.05), long fever duration [(10.6 +/- 3.9) d vs. (7.5 +/- 2.3) d, P < 0.01], low Hb level [(99.9 +/- 14.1) g/L vs. (104.3 +/- 12.4) g/L, P < 0.01], low Hct [(30.1 +/- 4.5)% vs. (31.2 +/- 4.0)%, P < 0.05], low platelet [PLT, (256.9 +/- 142.4) x 10(9)/L vs. (309.7 +/- 131.5) x 10(9)/L, P < 0.05], and low albumin level [ALB, (27.8 +/- 8.4) g/L vs. (33.5 +/- 6.7) g/L, P < 0.01] were found in the group resistant to IVIG therapy, respectively. (3) In patients who received IVIG 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg, the recovery rates from CAL were 83.1% and 89.7% (P > 0.05), respectively. The prevalence of CAL in those without CAL in acute and subacute stages was 0.9% and 3.5% (P > 0.05), respectively, during 2 year-follow-up period.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>(1) Infants appeared to have more chances to suffer from incomplete KD. Incomplete KD had high prevalence of CAL. The peri-anus desquamation might be an important clue for early diagnosis of incomplete KD. (2) In acute stage, the influential factors for KD resistance to IVIG therapy included prolonged fever, non-elevated PLT, and persistent decrease in Hb, Hct and ALB levels. (3) Children receiving IVIG 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg had the similar effects on recovery and prevention from CAL within the first two years after KD onset.</p>

Effect of trachea intubation and mechanical ventilation on patient's discharge with successful resuscitation / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To study the effect of trachea intubation and mechanical ventilation on the prognosis and discharge rate of patients with successful cardiac-pulmonary resuscitation.Method The clinical data of 389 patients,who were admitted from January 2005 to February 2007,were retrospectively analyzed.The relation between trachea intubation time and discharge rate was studied.According to the time from cardiac arrest to finishing trachea intubation,patients were divided into group A (within 3 minutes,n=209) and group B (over 3 minutes,n=143);according to the time from reaching emergency medicine department to finishing trachea intubation,the rest patients were divided into group C (within 5 minutes,n=9) and group D (over 5 minutes, n=38) minutes.The discharge rate was calculated between groups.The software of SPSS 11.0 was used for statistical analysis.Results The successful rate was 9.75% (389/3988),and 59 patients were discharged, with discharge rate 1.48% (59/3988).The discharge rate of group A was 19.62% (41/209),and was significantly higher than that of group B 6.99 % (10/143) (P

Changes of fibronectin and type IV collagen expression in cultured rat mesangial cells transfected with Smad 2 vector / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes of fibronectin (FN) and type IV collagen (ColIV) expression in cultured rat mesangial cells (MsC) transfected with Smad 2 vector and to investigate the molecular mechanism of glomerular extracellular matrix accumulation in glomerulosclerosis via transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)/Smad signal pathway.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Smad 2 vector was transfected into MsC by calcium phosphate. Western blot analysis was used to detect Smad 2 protein. The expression of FN and ColIV proteins and their mRNAs was determined by Western blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four MsC clones (T-12, T-31, T-35, T-40) with Smad 2 overexpression were established. The expression of FN and ColIV was significantly increased at mRNA and protein levels in two (T-12, T-31). Compared with controls, the expression of FN proteins and mRNAs in these two clones was 2.4 times (P < 0.05) and 2.7 times (P < 0.05) higher respectively. The expression of ColIV proteins and mRNAs was 2.9 times (P < 0.01) and 3.3 times (P < 0.01) higher respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is postulated that Smad 2 in TGF-beta/Smad signal pathway is important in promoting the accumulation of FN and ColIV in sclerotic glomeruli of diseased kidneys.</p>

Changes of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 expressions on cultured rat mesangial cells transfected with Smad 7 vector / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) expressions in the cultured rat mesangial cells (MsC) transfected with Smad 7 vector and to elucidate the mechanism of Smad 7 in blocking tissue fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Lipofectin method was used to transfect Smad 7 vector into MsC. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses were then used to detect Smad 7 protein and mRNA expression levels. The expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were determined by Western blot, RT-PCR and zymography assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two MsC clones (S-22, S-26) with Smad 7 overexpression were successfully established. The two clones showed an increased expression of MMP-2 protein and enhanced enzyme activity. The expressions of TIMP-2 protein and mRNA however were suppressed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is possible that Smad 7 can alleviate the development of tissue fibrosis by upregulating the expression of MMP-2 and downregulating the expression of TIMP-2 in mesangial cells.</p>

The incident of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with pigmented biliary calculus / 中华消化杂志

Objective To investigate the correlation between the formation of pigmented biliary calculus and biliary H.pylori infection.Methods Bile from 35 patients with pigmented biliary calculus and 10 healthy controls was cultured for aerobic,anaerobic and H.pylori.The expression of H.pylori- DNA in bile,bile duct mucosa and pigmented calculus were determined by PCR.The expression of H. pylori associated protein in bile duct mucosa was determined by Western-blot and Warthin-Starry staining.Results H.pylori culture was negative in all bile samples.In 35 patients with biliary pigmen- ted calculus,H.pylori was detected by PCR in the center of calculus,bile and bile duct mucosa of 14.29%,31.43% and 56.67% patients,respectively.Among H.pylori-DNA positive bile samples,7 contained anti-CagA antibodies,and 6 contained Vac A.in addition to Vacuolating cytotoxin(35000), glycoprotein(30000),Urase Band Urase A.Bacteria resembling H.pylori by Warthin-Starry stainning were found in 7 of 30(23.33%)bile duct mueosal samples from patients with biliary pigmented calculus. H.pylori-DNA and its associated protein were not detected in all bile and bile duct mucosae samples from the healthy controls.Conclusions The evidence of H.pylori-DNA and its associated protein in biliary system might indicate the role of H.pylori in the formation of biliary pigmented calculus.