Three-dimensional reconstruction and anatomic variation of the portal vein based on 64-slice spiral CT data / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the three-dimensional reconstruction methods of the portal vein using 64-slice spiral CT data and the anatomical variation of the portal vein.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three-dimensional reconstruction of the portal vein was performed using Mimics software based on the 64-slice spiral CT data of 64 cases. Each model of the portal vein and its branches was evaluated according to the presentation rate, depiction quality and anatomic variation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The reconstructed model showed a depiction rates of 100% for the 4-grade branches of the portal vein. The stem of the portal vein and the left and right branches of the level III or above were all displayed, but in 2 cases the superior mesenteric vein and in 1 case the spleen vein was displayed only to the level IV. Of the 64 cases, 50 (78.1%) had normal portal vein and 14 (21.9%) showed anatomical variations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The 3D model vividly mimics the anatomic variations of the portal vein to provide valuable information for surgical plans.</p>

Establishment of a whole-body visualization model of breast cancer with high hepatic metastatic potential in nude mice through serial passage in vivo / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a whole-body visualization model of breast cancer with high hepatic metastatic potential in nude mice and observe the development and metastasis of breast cancer by real-time imaging.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>pEGFP-N1 plasmid was transfected into human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 to obtain pEGFP-MDA-MB-231 cells that emitted fluorescence. pEGFP-MDA-MB-231 cells were inoculated orthotopically in BALB/C nude mice and cultured in vivo through serial passage, thereby establishing the mouse model bearing tumors with high hepatic metastasis potential. The fluorescence emitted from the tumors was quantitatively detected and imaged with a fluorescence stereo microscope for real-time visualization of the tumor growth and metastasis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The transfected breast cancer cells stably and efficiently expressed EGFP. After inoculation of the transfected cells in nude mice, 20% of the first-generation cells showed hepatic metastasis, and the rate increased to 80% among the second-generation and up to 100% among the third-generation cells. The reliability of this visualization model was validated with conventional pathological methods.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The whole-body visualization model bearing breast cancer with high hepatic metastasis potential provides a reliable means for studying the mechanisms of hepatic tumor metastasis, and can be instrumental in the exploration of novel means for breast cancer treatment.</p>