Endometrial Injury and Preservation after Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound Ablation of Uterine Fibroids / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To explore the risk factors for incident endometrial injury and 3-month endometrial injury after magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound(MRgFUS)ablation of uterine fibroids(UF). Methods UF patients who were diagnosed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital and underwent MRgFUS ablation in Amcare Women's and Children's Hospital from August 2016 to October 2020 were retrospectively enrolled in this study.Clinical data of 66 UF patients were collected and compared between endometrial injury group and non-injury group.Stepwise regression was employed to determine the risk factors for the incident endometrial injury and 3-month endometrial injury.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship of endometrial injury with age,pre-ablation tumor size,multiple UF,International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics(FIGO)classification,T2WI signal intensity,and treatment time.Results In terms of incident endometrial injury,the 66 patients included 41(62.1%)cases with no injury,4 cases(6.1%) with grade 1 injury,5 cases(7.6%)with grade 2 injury,and 16 cases(24.2%)with grade 3 injury.In terms of 3-month endometrial injury,the 66 patients included 49 cases(74.2%)with no injury,5 cases(7.6%)with grade 1 injury,2 cases(3.0%)with grade 2 injury,and 10 cases(15.2%)with grade 3 injury.Stepwise regression analysis indicated that FIGO classification was significantly associated with incident endometrial injury(

Associated factors of masked obesity in female college students / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#The status of masked obesity in female college students and the related factors were investigated to provide a theoretical reference for instructing the physical health education of female college students and improving their physical exercises.@*Methods@#Body composition tests were performed on 2 975 female college students, selected from 3 colleges in North China by using cluster sampling method during October to December in 2018, and their basic information and lifestyle were investigated using questionnaires.@*Results@#The incidence of masked obesity among female college students was 33.18%, of which 2.53% came from low-weight people. The difference in the incidence of masked obesity among female college students with different take-out frequencies was statistically significant (χ2=21.98, P<0.01). Compared with those who never take takeaway, people who take takeaway every day have an increased risk of masked obesity (OR=1.49, 95%CI=0.76-2.91). The difference in the incidence of masked obesity with the frequency of eating midnight snack was statistically significant (χ2=20.80, P<0.05). The difference in the incidence of masked obesity among female college students with different exercise time was statistically significant (χ2=18.49, P<0.01). Compared with exercise time above 60 min/d, female college students who are not exercising have an increased risk of masked obesity (OR=3.20, 95%CI=1.63-6.30). The difference in the incidence of masked obesity among female college students with different weight satisfaction was statistically significant (χ2=217.54, P<0.01). Compared with female college students who were satisfied with weight, female college students who were not satisfied with weight had an increased risk of masked obesity (OR=3.47, 95%CI=1.91-6.31). The difference in the incidence of masked obesity in different weightdown plans is statistically significant (χ2=186.40, P<0.01). Those who want to lose weight have a higher risk of developing masked obesity than those who want to gain weight (OR=18.11, 95%CI=5.54-50.13).@*Conclusion@#Female college students who drink a small amount of water, eat takeaways often, eat midnight snacks, do not exercise, and are not satisfied with their weight are more likely to develop masked obesity.

Treatment efficacy and safety of apatinib monotherapy in patients with failed standard regimen for advanced colorectal cancer / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#[Abstract] Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of apatinib monotherapy in the treatment for patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) who failed standard regimen. Methods: The required sample size in this prospective study was calculated with the PASS 15 software. A total of 52 patients with advanced colorectal cancer who failed standard regimen from July 2017 to August 2018 were included in this study. The patients were given apatinib monotherapy with an initial dosage of 750 mg or 500 mg. The objective remission rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were evaluated; the patients were followed up and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated, and adverse events during treatment were recorded. The primary endpoint of this study was PFS, and secondary endpoints were ORR, DCR, OS and safety. Result: Of the 52 patients included, 45 patients, all of whom were late stage CRC patients with at least two systematic chemotherapeutic treatments, were available for efficacy evaluation. Treatment efficacy evaluation showed complete response of 0 case, partial response of 5 cases, stable disease of 30 cases and progression disease of 10 cases; the ORR was 11.11%, and the DCR was 77.78%. The prognosis data indicated that the median PFS of the 45 CRC patients was 3.95 months (95% CI=3.16-4.74), and the median OS was 10.3 months (95% CI=5.70-14.90). In terms of adverse events evaluation, the adverse reactions with grade 3 or above were hand-foot syndrome (6 cases, 13.33%), hypertension (5 cases, 11.11%), proteinuria (3 cases, 6.67%), diarrhea (3 cases, 6.67%), fatigue (2 cases, 4.44%) and bleeding (1 case, 2.22%). Conclusion: Apatinib monotherapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer, who failed the standard regimens, has potential clinical benefits, and the overall toxicity profile is manageable.

EffectofGSTP1geneticvariationontherecurrenceriskandprognosisofcolorectal cancerpatients received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#[Abstract] Objective: To investigate the influence of glutathione S-transferase P-1 (GSTP1) genetic variation on the recurrence risk and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: The clinical data of 195 CRC patients, who received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in the Department of Gastroenterology of the FirstAffiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2010 to December 2018, were collected for this study. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) based adjuvant chemotherapy was given after surgical resection. The recurrence status of the patients was assessed during hospitalization period, and the long-term survival data of patients were obtained by telephone follow-up after finishing the scheduled adjuvant chemotherapy. GSTP1 genotyping was performed with the DNA extracted from peripheral blood specimens, and its correlation with patients’clinical characteristics wasanalyzed.Additionally, RNAwasextractedfrom peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) specimens of some CRC patients that prior to chemotherapy for GSTP1 mRNA expression analysis. The univariate analysis of genotypes and prognosis was carried out by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and adjusted by multivariate Cox regression model. Results: The median disease-free survival (DFS) of the 195 CRC patients was 4.8 years, and the median overall survival (OS) was 6.2 years. Polymorphism analysis indicated that the I105VlocusofGSTP-1coding region was correlated with prognosis. The prevalence of I105V in the study population: AA genotype of 135 cases (69.23%), AG genotype of 56 cases (28.72%) and GG genotype of 4 cases (2.05%), the minor allele frequency of I105V was 0.16. The genotype distribution was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05). The analysis of recurrence risk and prognosis found that the median DFS of patients with AA genotype and AG/GG genotype was 5.7 and 3.9 years respectively (P<0.01), while the median OS of two groups of patients was 7.0 and 4.5 years respectively (P<0.01). The multivariate Cox regression results indicated that AG/GG genotype was an independent factor for OS (OR=1.54, P<0.05). The mRNA expression of GSTP1 in PBMC of the patients with AG/GG genotypes were significantly higher than those patients with AA genotype (P<0.01). Conclusion: GSTP1 I105V genetic variation influences the recurrence risk and prognosis of CRC patients received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy possibly via mediating the mRNAexpression of GSTP1.

Perfect cellular platform for electrophysiology:acutely isolated vagal ganglion neurons from adult canines / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To establish a platform of electrophysiology using vagal ganglion neurons (VGNs) isolated from adult canines. METHODS The VGNs were enzymatically isolated from adult canines of either gender and cultured under experimental conditions. Action potential (AP), repetitive firing, voltage-gated outward K+ currents (IK) and hyperpolarization-mediated inward currents (Ih) were recorded under current-and voltage-clamp configurations before and after treatment. RESULTS Analysis of AP waveform showed that ① inaddition to traditionally classified myelinated A- and unmyelinated C-types, myelinated Ah-types could also be identified in females rather than in males; ② step current depolarization evoked a stimulus intensity-dependent repetitive discharge, and to reach a similar firing frequency, the lowest stimulus intensity was required for A-types, a similar or slightly higher stimulus intensity was needed for Ah-types, and the highest stimulus intensity was required for C-types;③tetro?dotoxin significantly reduced the rate of depolarization and positively shifted the AP firing threshold of Ah-types, and iberiotoxin dramatically increased the neuroexcitability of Ah-types;④all tested neurons functionally expressed IK and Ih, and the current density for both channels on average was A-types>Ah-types>C-types; ⑤ although the distribution of afferent types of VGNs differed between males and females, the known difference in discharge profiles of A- and C-types isolated from male and female rats was not studied here. CONCLUSION The VGNs can be successfully isolated from adult canines, AP, IK and Ih can be recorded. The tight seal can be held for at least 30 min, which may be enough for pharmacological investigation.

Anti-Hypertensive Action of Fenofibrate via UCP2 Upregulation Mediated by PPAR Activation in Baroreflex Afferent Pathway / 神经科学通报·英文版

Fenofibrate, an agonist for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α), lowers blood pressure, but whether this action is mediated via baroreflex afferents has not been elucidated. In this study, the distribution of PPAR-α and PPAR-γ was assessed in the nodose ganglion (NG) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Hypertension induced by drinking high fructose (HFD) was reduced, along with complete restoration of impaired baroreceptor sensitivity, by chronic treatment with fenofibrate. The molecular data also showed that both PPAR-α and PPAR-γ were dramatically up-regulated in the NG and NTS of the HFD group. Expression of the downstream signaling molecule of PPAR-α, the mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), was up-regulated in the baroreflex afferent pathway under similar experimental conditions, along with amelioration of reduced superoxide dismutase activity and increased superoxide in HFD rats. These results suggest that chronic treatment with fenofibrate plays a crucial role in the neural control of blood pressure by improving baroreflex afferent function due at least partially to PPAR-mediated up-regulation of UCP2 expression and reduction of oxidative stress.

Predictive Value of Texture Analysis in the Treatment of Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery for Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of texture analysis in the treatment of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery(MRgFUS)for symptomatic uterine fibroids.Methods Totally 16 patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids who accepted MRgFUS in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from April 2010 to January 2013 were included. Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)was performed before treatment,immediately after treatment,and during the 12-month follow-up. The TexRAD software was used to measure the texture parameters of the fibroids in T2WI sagittal images,and the texture indicators including means and standard deviations(SD),entropy,mean of positive pixels(MPP),skewness,and kurtosis were collected. The fibroid's volume and their change rates were calculated by measuring the relevant diameter of the target fibroid. The Uterine Fibroid Symptoms and Quality of Life(UFS-QOL)was used to calculate the symptom severity scores(SSS)and its change rate. The statistical difference of parameters among the groups was analyzed. The correlations between each texture parameter and the therapeutic outcome of the fibroids were analyzed respectively.Results The average volume for fibroids before treatment was(96.5±84.9)cm ,which was reduced to(55.1±71.0)cm after treatment for 12 months,and the volume change rate(εV%)was(49±20)%. The standardized SSS score before treatment was(34.18±15.29)scores,decreased to(17.78±11.84)scores 12 months after treatment,with a change rate of(45±32)%,and the non-perfused volume ratio(NPV%)was(62±20)%. There were significant differences among the parameters mean,SD,entropy,and MPP among three groups(all P<0.05),and the changes of them were regular,all of which showed a significant decrease immediately after treatment and a significant increase 12 months after treatment,and the increase degree was higher than the preoperative level. SD(SSF2:r=0.503,P=0.047;SSF4:r=0.529,P=0.035;SSF6:r=0.519,P=0.039)and entropy(SSF2:r=0.527,P=0.036;SSF4:r=0.517,P=0.040;SSF6:r=0.495,P=0.050)of the after-treatment group moderately associated with the εV%. Entropy of the before-treatment group was moderately associated with NPV%(SSF2:r=0.507,P=0.045;SSF4:r=0.543,P=0.030;SSF6:r=0.548,P=0.028).Conclusion There is a certain correlation between the changes of MRI texture parameters before and after treatment and the effect of MRgFUS in the treatment of uterine fibroids,and texture analysis may have certain value in the predicting the effect of MRgFUS on uterine fibroids.

Research on relationship between serum mast cell carboxypetidase levels and bronchial asthma / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To investigate the role of the mast cell carboxypetidase in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma through measuring the serum.The mast cell carboxypetidase levels of asthma patients,and further study the relationship between the mast cell carboxypetidase levels and pulmonary function or IgE.Methods: There were person with Moderate and severe persistent asthma were recruited into this study as the case group.The experience of the pulmonary function and immunoglobulin E levels have been complicat-ed.The person were divided into IgE increased group(n=20) and IgE normal group (n=15) according to the IgE level.And there were healthy person were recruited as the matched group.The mast cell carboxypetidase were measured using ELISA.The level of mast cell carboxypetidase were compared among asthma patients and healthy patients.The correlation between the mast cell carboxypetidase and IgE or the lung function.Results:The level of plasma mast cell carboxypetidase in the person with asthma was higher than that in healthy control group(P<0.05).The level of plasma mast cell carboxypetidase of the person in IgE increased group was higher than that in IgE normal group(P<0.05).In addition,there was a significant negative correlation between the serum mast cell carboxypetidase levels and FEV1(%) in the asthma acute phase,but there was no correlation in the stability of asthma(r=-0.42,P=0.044;r=-0.284,P=0.099).Conclusion: The mast cell carboxypetidase leve,as an inflammatory factor,could participates in the airway in-flammatory response of the asthma acute phase.

Colistin and anti-Gram-positive bacterial agents against Acinetobacter baumannii

Introduction Acinetobacter baumannii has attained an alarming level of resistance to antibacterial drugs. Clinicians are now considering the use of older agents or unorthodox combinations of licensed drugs against multidrug-resistant strains to bridge the current treatment gap. We investigated the in vitro activities of combination treatments that included colistin with vancomycin, norvancomycin or linezolid against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Methods The fractional inhibitory concentration index and time-kill assays were used to explore the combined effects of colistin with vancomycin, norvancomycin or linezolid against 40 clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to evaluate the interactions in response to the combination of colistin and vancomycin. Results The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of vancomycin and norvancomycin for half of the isolates decreased below the susceptibility break point, and the MIC of linezolid for one isolate was decreased to the blood and epithelial lining fluid concentration using the current dosing regimen. When vancomycin or norvancomycin was combined with subinhibitory doses of colistin, the multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii test samples were eradicated. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that subinhibitory doses of colistin were able to disrupt the outer membrane, facilitating a disruption of the cell wall and leading to cell lysis. Conclusions Subinhibitory doses of colistin significantly enhanced the antibacterial activity of vancomycin, norvancomycin, and linezolid against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. .

Buyang Huanwu Decoction () reduces infarct volume and enhances estradiol and estradiol receptor concentration in ovariectomized rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (, BYHWD) on estradiol (E2) and estradiol receptor (ER) in serum and brain in ovariectomized rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult female rats were ovariectomized and focal cerebral ischemic was induced by MCAO. Rats were randomly divided into normal, ovariectomy (OVX), MCAO, OVX+MCAO, OVX+MCAO+E2, and OVX+MCAO+BYHWD group. Rats were administered BYHWD 5 g/kg daily, estradiol valerate 500 μg/kg per day or distilled water for 7 consecutive days. Neuronal function and infarct volume were measured on day 7 after artery occlusion, and E2 and ER concentration in serum and brain were checked by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BYHWD significantly improved the neurological behavior, reduced the infarction volume, increased E2 concentration in serum and brain, and increased ER concentration in the brain in ovariectomized rats after MCAO.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The neuroprotective effects of BYHWD are associated with estrogen and its receptor.</p>

Application of single-bolus dual-source dual-energy CT urography in upper tract opacification and diagnostic performance for painless hematuria / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the upper urinary tract opacification and the diagnostic performance of one-bolus dual-source dual-energy CT urography (CTU) for painless hematuria.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 205 patients who underwent dual-source dual-energy CTU for painless hematuria were enrolled in this study. CTU included true non-enhanced phase, dual-energy mode nephrographic phase, and FLASH mode excretory phase imaging of the urinary tract. Two radiologists independently evaluated the degree of upper urinary tract opacification. Prospective interpretations using true non-enhanced, nephrographic and excretory phase imaging for hematuria were recorded, as well as retrospective diagnosis using virtual non-enhanced, nephrographic and excretory phase imaging. The standard of reference included all available clinical, imaging, laboratory and follow-up data for up to 36 months after CTU exam. Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values, and accuracy were calculated. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was undertaken and the area under the curve (AUC) calculated. The prospective and retrospective diagnostic performance for hematuria and the radiation dose of two CTU protocols were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It was found that 87.8% and 86.8% of segments were at least 50% opacified, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy for hematuria for prospective interpretation were 95.2%, 91.9%, 98.2%, 81.0% and 94.6%, respectively. Comparable figures for retrospective diagnosis were 98.8%, 91.9%,98.2%, 94.4% and 97.6%. The AUC for prospective and retrospective diagnosis were 0.931±0.027 and 0.940±0.026, respectively (z=1.425, Bonferroni-corrected P>0.05). The radiation dose of the CTU protocol using in retrospective diagnosis[(12.732±3.485)mSv] was significantly lower than that of prospective diagnosis [(17.002±4.013)mSv] (P<0.05), with dose reduction of (32.74±8.92)%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>One-bolus two-phase dual-source dual-energy CT urography provides at least 50% opacification of upper urinary tract segments and has high diagnostic performance for painless hematuria with relatively low radiation dose.</p>

Optimizing Imaging Quality and Radiation Dose by the Age-Dependent Setting of Tube Voltage in Pediatric Chest Digital Radiography

OBJECTIVE: The quality and radiation dose of different tube voltage sets for chest digital radiography (DR) were compared in a series of pediatric age groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five hundred children aged 0-14 years (yr) were randomly divided into four groups according to the tube voltage protocols for chest DR: lower kilovoltage potential (kVp) (A), intermediate kVp (B), and higher kVp (C) groups, and the fixed high kVp group (controls). The results were analyzed among five different age groups (0-1 yr, 1-3 yr, 3-7 yr, 7-11 yr and 11-14 yr). The dose area product (DAP) and visual grading analysis score (VGAS) were determined and compared by using one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The mean DAP of protocol C was significantly lower as compared with protocols A, B and controls (p < 0.05). DAP was higher in protocol A than the controls (p <0.001), but it was not statistically significantly different between B and the controls (p = 0.976). Mean VGAS was lower in the controls than all three protocols (p < 0.001 for all). Mean VGAS did not differ between protocols A and B (p = 0.334), but was lower in protocol C than A (p = 0.008) and B (p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: Protocol C (higher kVp) may help optimize the trade-off between radiation dose and image quality, and it may be acceptable for use in a pediatric age group from these results.

Clinical application of dual-source computed tomographic urography using dual-energy virtual non enhanced computed tomography / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical feasibility of dual-source computed tomographic urography using dual-energy virtual non-enhanced CT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 240 patients received dual-source CT, which included true non-enhanced CT (TNCT) , nephrographic phase scanning with dual-energy mode (100kVp/230mAs and Sn140kVp/178mAs) , and excretory phase scanning. A contrast bolus injection of 100 ml (370 mgI/ml) contrast agent was applied (4.5ml/s) , followed by 100ml normal saline (4.5ml/s) . Virtual non-enhanced CT (VNCT) image sets were reformatted from 'Liver VNC ' software. The mean CT number, noise, signal to noise ratio (SNR) , image quality, and radiation dose were compared between TNCT and VNCT image sets.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in mean CT numbers of all organs (P>0.05) . However, VNCT images had significantly lower noise and higher SNR than TNCT images (both P<0.05) . Image quality of VNCT was lower than that of TNCT without significant difference (P>0.05) . Radiation dose of nephrographic phase with dual-energy mode was significantly higher than that of TNCT and excretory phase scanning (P<0.05) .</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dual-energy VNCT requires less radiation dose and therefore has a potential to replace TNCT in the dual-source CT urography.</p>

Features of eight segments of liver perfusion with the second generation dual-source computed tomography / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the features of eight segments of liver perfusion with the second generation dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) .</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 15 patients with pancreatic endocrine diseases underwent abdominal CT perfusion with the second generation DSCT. The liver perfusion images were then transferred to workstation, and perfusion parameters were calculated, and then the artery liver perfusion (ALp) , portal-vein liver perfusion (pVp) , and hepatic perfusion index (HpI) of the eight hepatic segments were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ALp was significantly different between segments 3, 4 and segments 5-8 (P<0.05) . pVp was significantly different between segments 2 and segments 6, 7 (P<0.05) . pVp and HpI were significantly different between segment 3 and segments 5-8 (P<0.05,P<0.01) .</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The second generation DSCT can be used to evaluate the perfusion conditions in all eight hepatic segments. The perfusion differs among eight segments of liver, which may be related with the anatomy of the liver vessels and the position of DSCT scanning. Its clinical significance needs further research.</p>

Computed tomographic angiography for evaluation of the relationship between coronary artery stenosis and head and neck artery stenosis / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the relationship between coronary artery stenosis and internal carotid artery, vertebral and basilar artery stenosis using computed tomographic angiography.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The imaging and clinical data of 84 patients who underwent coronary, head and cervical computed tomographic angiography in our hospital between September 2008 and June 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Segment stenosis scoring was performed to quantify the degree of stenosis of coronary arteries. The relationship between the segment stenosis scoring and the degree of stenosis for internal carotid artery, vertebral and basilar artery was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The coronary segment stenosis scores were significantly correlated with the degree of stenosis for internal carotid artery, vertebral and basilar artery (r=0.450 and 0.475,P<0.05) .</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The degree of the stenosis of coronary artery is associated with the stenosis of internal carotid artery, vertebral and basilar artery, which can be confirmed by computed tomographic angiography."</p>

Dual-energy computed tomographic angiography of head and neck arteries with different contrast material doses in second generation dual-source computed tomography system / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the feasibility of a dual-energy computed tomographic angiography (DECTA) protocol using test-bolus injection with reduction of contrast material (CM) dose in second generation dual-source CT system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 57 consecutive patients underwent CT angiography scan covering the cervical and cerebral arteries. CT was performed with second generation dual-source CT system. The time to peak (T) using a test-bolus injection was calculated. The patients were divided into three groups (A, B, and C) with different CM doses (40, 45, and 50 ml) and different delay time points [ (T+1) , (T+1) , and (T+2) s] . All the patients were followed by a 48 ml saline flush. Arterial enhancements were quantified by measuring attenuation values of the aortic arch, bifurcation of common carotid artery, contralateral internal jugular vein of the CM injection, superior vein cava, proximal middle cerebral artery, basilar artery, and straight sinus on source images. Visualizations of intracranial artery and ipsilateral venous effect of the CM injection were rated on a four-point grading scale on CTA images for qualitative assessment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Although the attenuation of internal jugular vein and straight sinus were significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C (P<0.05) , the attenuation of aortic arch, superior vein cava, common carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, and basilar artery vessels showed no significant differences among these three groups. The scores of the visualizations of intracranial artery and ipsilateral venous effect of the CM injection were also not significantly different among these three groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Based on the delay time calculated by a test-bolus injection, a reduced-dose contrast material may provide an equal degree of arterial attenuation and a lower attenuation of vein for dual-energy CTA covering the craniocervical region in second generation dual-source CT system.</p>

Application of second generation dual-source computed tomography dual-energy scan mode in detecting pancreatic adenocarcinoma / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical value of multiple sequences derived from dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) dual-energy scan mode in detecting pancreatic adenocarcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 23 patients with clinically or pathologically diagnosed pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this retrospective study. DSCT (Definition Flash) was used and dual-energy scan mode was used in their pancreatic parenchyma phase scan (100kVp/230mAs and Sn140kVp/178mAs) . Mono-energetic 60kev, mono-energetic 80kev, mono-energetic 100kev, mono-energetic 120kev, linear blend image, non-linear blend image, and iodine map were acquired. pancreatic parenchyma-tumor CT value difference, ratio of tumor to pancreatic parenchyma, and pancreatic parenchyma-tumor contrast to noise ratio were calculated. One-way ANOVA was used for the comparison of diagnostic values of the above eight different dual-energy derived sequences for pancreatic cancer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pancreatic parenchyma-tumor CT value difference, ratio of tumor to pancreatic parenchyma, and pancreatic parenchyma-tumor contrast to noise ratio were significantly different among eight sequences (P<0.05) . Mono-energetic 60kev image showed the largest parenchyma-tumor CT value [ (77.53 ± 23.42) HU] , and iodine map showed the lowest tumor/parenchyma enhancement ratio (0.39?0.12) and the largest contrast to noise ratio (4.08 ± 1.46) .</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Multiple sequences can be derived from dual-energy scan mode with DSCT via multiple post-processing methods. Integration of these sequences may further improve the sensitivity of the multislice spiral CT in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.</p>

Effect of Liuwei Dihuang decoction on brain development of intrauterine growth retardation rats / 中华中医药杂志

Objective: To observe the effect of Liuwei Dihuang decoction on brain development of intrauterine growth retardation rats,and to demonstrate the relationship between brain and kidney in TCM.Methods: Animals were divided into 4 groups at random: normal group,model group,Huangqi(HQ) and Liuwei Dihuang(LD) treated groups.The IUGR model was established by passive smoking.On the 19th day of pregnancy,all rats were killed;the total numbers of embryos,the lively,dead and absorbed embryos were counted.The body and brain weight of lively embryos were scaled respectively,then microstructure and apoptosis in brain were observed.Results: Passive smoking can result in the number of dead and absorbed embryos increases.Compared with normal group,the number of apoptotic cells of model group increased.Compared with model group,in Huangqi and Liuwei Dihuang treated groups,the number of dead and absorbed embryos decreased apparently,body and brain weight increased obviously,the number of apoptotic cells reduced significantly(P

Effect of wolfberry fruit and epimedium on DNA synthesis of the aging-youth 2BS fusion cells / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of water extracts of Wolfberry fruit (WB) and Epimedium (EM) on DNA synthesis of the aging-youth 2BS fusion cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human embryonic lung diploid fibroblasts 2BS national standard strain, were used as an aging model. Cell denucleation and cell fusion techniques were applied to observe the effect of WB and EM on DNA synthesis of 2BS fusion cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 0.025 (V/V) WB or EM water extract containing media, 2BS cells could be continuously cultured for 61.0 +/- 2.9 passages and 56.0 +/- 2.6 passages respectively, while in the control group it was only 49.0 +/- 2.6 passages (P < 0.01). After treatment with WB and EM separately for 2 hrs, the aging 2BS cells were denucleated and fused with young 2BS cells. The [3H]TdR incorporation percentage in these treated cells was significantly higher than that in the untreated control cells (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both WB and EM can accelerate the DNA synthesis rate of the aging youth 2BS fusion cells and prolong the life span of 2BS cells.</p>