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OBJECTIVE Oxidative sress is one of the key factor responsible for occurrence and development of hepatic fibrosis, a common consequence of chronic liver injury of multiple etiology. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) serves as a major regulator of a celular defense system against oxidative stress. Xiaochaihutang (XCHT), a compound of seven botanical extracts used for liver diseases traditionally in East Asia. However, few studies have investigated its anti-hepatic fibrosis effects and pathophysiological mechanism of action. The present study was designed to confirm the anti-hepatic fibrosis effects and explore its potential mechanism of action by investigating the intervention of Nrf2 pathway. METHODS Liver fibrosis was induced by repeated injection of Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) over a period of 9 weeks. Starting from the 6th week, the animals in treatment groups were given the appropriate dose of XCHT granules and silybin. Biochemical parameters, histological changes of the liver and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were determined. The expressions of Nrf2, Keap1, Nqo1, HO-1, Gclc and Gclm were assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS CCl4 caused a significant fibrosis damage in the rat liver and the liver functions and fibrosis degree were significantly improved by XCHT (5 g·kg- 1 and 10 g·kg- 1). XCHT (5 g·kg- 1 and 10 g·kg- 1) treatment significantly decreased the number of cells labeled with α-SMA antibodies. Moreover, XCHT (5 g·kg-1 and 10 g·kg-1) significantly increase Nqo1, HO-1, Gclc and Gclm expressions in the liver. CONCLUSION These studies establish XCHT is a potentially useful therapeutic agent for treatment of hepatic fibrosis and it might be via regulation of Nrf2 pathway in rats against oxidative stress, making further efforts to inhibiting the activated HSCs. Activation or up-regulation of Nrf2 pathway may be an alternative treatment strategy for liver fibrosis.
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Objective To design a simple and easy to operate new position radiography as same effect as the ordinary lateral position of the hip joint.Methods Using different angles for bone model radiography, the tilt angle of X-ray and the bone model were measured in order to obtain that the femoral head and neck was fully displayed.30 subjects with hip joint disease underwent routine and improved lateral radiography of the hip joint were enrolled, and the actual operations and image quality of the two methods were compared.Results The tilt angle of X-ray was 35°-45°,and the tilt angle of the bone model was 60°-70°, and the score was 3.The new lateral radiography of the hip joint was feasible,the display rate of the articular surface and joint space were 96.7%,the display rate of the femoral head and neck all were 100%,the display rate of the greater trochanter of femur was 80%,the display rate of the lesser trochanter was 100%.Conclusion The improved method of hip joint lateral position of X-ray can better show the femoral head, neck and the rest of the bone.
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Objective To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) to diagnose thyroid nodules with different calcifications,and analyze its correlation with age and gender.Methods The image characteristics of high frequency ultrasound and pathological results of 522 patients with calcified thyroid nodules were analyzed retrospectively.CEUS enhancement patterns of different age and gender were observed and compared.Results There were no malignant nodules in patients under the age of 10.In the group of male and female,malignant nodules patients constituted the highest proportion between 40-49years old and a minimal proportion between 10-19 years old.The CEUS for weak enhancement with micro calcifications were mostly malignant nodules;the high or equal enhancement with macrocalcifications were mostly benign nodules.But a part of micro calcifications in young women patients (20 to 29 years old) with high or equal enhancement were mostly malignant nodules.Conclusions The CEUS for weak enhancement with microcalcifications are mostly malignant nodules,but a part of microcalcifications in young women patients (20 to 29 years old) with high or equal enhancement are mostly malignant nodules.
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ABSTRACT:Objective To construct a recombinant adenovirus vector harboring fusion gene NT4p53(C22)Ant and study its killing effect on HepG2 tumor cells.Methods Using molecular cloning technology,the rAVV-NT4p53(C22)Ant was produced by homologous recombination.Then we collected virus supernatant and measured its titer after it was amplified by PCR.The effect of this fusion gene on HepG2 tumor cells was evaluated by IHC, MTT assay,PI staining and flow cytometry.Results The recombinant adenovirus was successfully constructed. The p53 expression rate in rAAV-NT4p53(C22)Ant group was (44.88±2.45)%.MTT assay showed that rAAV-NT4p53(C22)Ant could strongly suppress the growth of HepG2 tumor cells.Flow cytometry showed that rAAV-NT4p53(C22)Ant could induce obvious apoptosis of HepG2 tumor cells.Conclusion The recombinant adenovirus vector encoding gene NT4p53(C22)Ant has been successfully constructed and expressed in this experiment,and it can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of HepG2 tumor cells.
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Objective To analyze the misdiagnosed cases of the nodular goiter (NG)in real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS),in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy of NG.Methods Two-hundred and sixty-five cases of NG CEUS images,especially the 48 nodules in 44 misdiagnosis cases,were retrospectively analyzed to find out the main reasons of the misdiagnosis.In addition,the factors which effected the results of CEUS such as size,number and calcification of NG nodules were summarized.Results There were 42 nodules misdiagnosed as thyroid cancer,5 nodules misdiagnosed as thyroid adenoma and 1 nodular goiter misdiagnosed as subacute thyroiditis in 874 nodular goiter cases.The misdiagnosis rate of nodular goiter was 5.49% (48/874)by the diagnostic criterion of homogeneous enhancement in CEUS.The differences size and calcification of nodules had a significant impact on CEUS.The misdiagnosis rate of the NG nodules with major diameter less than 10 mm was much higher than that of more than 10 mm,the misdiagnosis rate of NG nodules with coarse calcification was much higher than the situation of microcalcification(P <0.05).Conclusions Major diameter less than 10mm and coarse calcifications of NG nodular are the main factors which influence the results of CEUS.
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Objective To improve lesion detection of the radial head with adjusted elbow joint lateral position on X-ray.Methods (1)20 subjects underwent elbow joint CT three-dimensional reconstruction (average intensity projection),which was as X-ray radio-graphy image.The tilt angle of the humerus and the projection direction for fully display of the radial head in projection images and the tilt angle of the humerus against detector in X-ray radiography were measured.(2)20 subjects (patients and volunteers)with el-bow joint disease underwent routine and improved elbow joint lateral position were enrolled.And assessed the bare blocking rate of the radial head articular surface of the two positions.Results (1)The angle between the the humerus and the direction of projection were 49°-60°and 30°-41°in CT and X-ray,respectively.The average angle was (35.5±1)°.(2).The blocking rate and bare bloc-king rate of the radial head articular surface in routine elbow joint lateral position were 71.6%-100% and 0%-28.4%,respective-ly.The average rate of bare blocking was 14.2%.Fracture 13 cases and 5 cases of suspected fractures.The blocking rate and bare blocking rate of the radial head articular surface in improved elbow joint lateral position were 4.8%-25% and 75%-95.2%,re-spectively.The average rate of bare blocking was 85.1%.Fracture 1 7 cases and 1 case of suspectet fractures.Conclusion The im-proved elbow joint lateral position of X-ray can display the radial head articular surface better than the routine position.
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Objective To evaluate the value of the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules under the background of Hashimoto' s thyroiditis (HT) using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS).Methods Ninety-three single thyroid nodules with HT confirmed by operations and pathology were given CEUS examination,and time-intensity curves were drawn by using TomTec analyzing software.The parameters as follows:rise time (RT),time to peak (TTP),mean transit time (mTT) and maximum intensity(IMAX) were compared by independent-samples t test,and the diagnostic value of parameters were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results In 93nodules,there were 56 benign thyroid nodules,and 37 malignant thyroid nodules.(1) After injection of contrast media,the enhancement and wash-out in benign nodules were mostly the same with peripheral gland,as well as the enhance intensity.Malignant nodules presented lower enhancement,with later rise time and earlier wash-out compared to peripheral gland.(2) mTT was longer,while IMAX was higher in benign nodules than those in malignant nodules (P ＜0.05).But there were no significant differences in RT or TTP between the two groups.(3) The cut-off value in diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules with HT assessed by ROC curve were mTT 21.70 s,IMAX 86.41％.When mTT,IMAX,and combination of the two parameters were used for the diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules with HT,the sensitivity were 86.5 ％,83.8 ％,97.3 ％ and the specificity were 69.6 ％,75.0 ％,48.2 ％,respectively.Conclusions CEUS is helpful to identify the benign and malignant thyroid nodules under the background of HT.
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Objective To investigate the different roles of two-dimensional,color Doppler ultrasound and real-time ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT).Methods One hundred and forty-one patients clinically diagnosed as HT underwent traditional ultrasound and elastography.The patients were classified into three groups,the hyperthyroidism group,the hypothyroidism group and the euthyroidism group.One hundred and eight volunteers with normal thyroid functions were enrolled as control group.Ultrasonic characteristics (size,echo,accompanied nodules,blood flow distribution of thyroid) and thyroid elastic parameters were recorded and analyzed.Results ①Focal hypoechoic pattern was mainly seen in the group of HT hyperthyroidim,diffuse hypoechoic pattern was mainly seen in the groups of HT euthyroidism,diffuse hypoechoic pattern with heterogeneous linear hyperechoic and nodular changes were mainly seen in the HT hypothyroidism group.②Blood flow reduced according to the order by the hyperthyroidim group,euthyroidism group and hypothyroidism group.③Patients with HT hyperthyroidism had elastic image pattern Ⅰ.Patients with HT euthyroidism had pattern Ⅰ and pattern Ⅱ.Patients with HT hypothyroidism had pattern Ⅱ and pattern Ⅲ.④There were significant differences (P＜0.05) between the mean elastic strain and the ratio of the blue area in each group.Conclusions Real-time ultrasound elastography is helpful for the diagnosis of HT.