[Acupoint massage, acupoint sticking combined with moxibustion for postpartum urinary retention: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint massage, acupoint sticking combined with moxibustion at Shuidao (ST 28) for postpartum urinary retention. METHODS: A total of 120 patients with postpartum urinary retention were randomly divided a triple-combination group, a double-combination group, and a massage group, with 40 patients in each group. All groups received standard postpartum care to stimulate urination. The patients in the massage group received rapid acupoint massage at the bilateral Shuidao (ST 28); the patients in the double-combination group additionally received acupoint sticking of self-made Tongquan powder at bilateral Shuidao (ST 28); the patients in the triple-combination group further received moxibustion at bilateral Shuidao (ST 28). The treatment was given once in all three groups. After 5 hours of treatment completion, bladder residual volume was measured; the time and volume of first urination as well as total urination volume after 5 hours of treatment completion were recorded; the patients' sensation of urination smoothness, satisfaction rate, length of hospital stay, and hospital costs were evaluated. RESULTS: The triple-combination group showed significantly lower residual urine volumes (P<0.05), earlier first urination time (P<0.05, P<0.001), and higher first urination volumes and total urination volumes after 5 hours of treatment completion compared to the other two groups (P<0.05, P<0.001). The sensation of urination smoothness and patient satisfaction were also significantly better in the triple-combination group (P<0.001, P<0.05). The double-combination group had higher volume of first urination and total urination volume after 5 hours of treatment completion than the massage group (P<0.05), and better sensation of urination smoothness and patient satisfaction (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the length of hospital stay and costs among the three groups (P>0.05). The total effective rates were 100.0% (40/40) for the triple-combination group, 90.0% (36/40) for the double-combination group, and 70.0% (28/40) for the massage group, with the triple-combination group significantly outperforming the other two groups (P<0.05, P<0.001), and double-combination group outperforming the massage group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupoint massage, acupoint sticking combined with moxibustion at Shuidao (ST 28) could effectively improve urination in patients with postpartum urinary retention, and enhance patient satisfaction.

Crosstalk of cuproptosis-related subtypes, establishment of a prognostic signature, and immune infiltration characteristics in gastric cancer.

Background: Cuproptosis is a novel form of cellular demise that occurs through a unique pathway involving lipoylated proteins in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and is closely linked to mitochondrial metabolism. Nevertheless, the comprehensive elucidation of the impact of carcinogenesis-associated genes (CRGs) on prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME), and therapeutic response in patients with gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. Methods: In total, 1374 GC samples were gathered from three Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The samples were then stratified into different subtypes through unsupervised clustering of the 13 CRG profiles. The CRG_score was developed to quantify CRG patterns of individual tumors. Subsequently, we investigated the associations among the various groups and clinicopathological features, immune infiltration features, TME mutation status, and response to immunotherapy. Results: The GC samples were divided into two clusters based on their distinct clinicopathological features, prognosis, and immune characteristics. Using LASSO and Cox regression analyses, 9 genes were identified for constructing a prognostic signature related to cuproptosis. The novel signature displayed outstanding durability and prognostic capability for the overall lifespan of individuals. Additionally, the expression levels of signature genes in GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were tested by qRT-PCR. Moreover, we developed a remarkably dependable nomogram to enhance the practicality of the CRG_score in clinical settings. High tumor mutation burden, increased microsatellite instability-high, immune activation, along with good survival probability and increased immunoreactivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors, were distinguishing features of low CRG_scores. Conclusions: The findings of this study revealed the possible impacts of CRGs on the TME, clinical and pathological characteristics, and outlook of patients with GC. This signature was strongly linked to the immune response against GC and has the potential to serve as a valuable tool for predicting patient prognosis.

Enhancing wound healing and overcoming cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OC) poses significant oncological challenges, notably impaired wound healing in the context of cisplatin (DDP) resistance. This study investigates the role of miR-200b in OC, emphasizing its impact on wound healing processes through DNMT3A/TGF-ß1 pathway. The primary aim was to explore how miR-200b regulates autophagy and its consequential effects on wound healing in OC, alongside its influence on cisplatin resistance. Utilizing DDP-sensitive (A2780) and resistant (A2780/DDP) OC cell lines, along with human fibroblast cultures, the study employed an array of in vitro techniques. These included cell transfection with miR-200b mimic or inhibitor, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assays, quantitative PCR, Western blotting, MTT and particularly, wound healing assays. The research highlighted the role of miR-200b in wound healing within OC. Inhibition of miR-200b in A2780 cells and its mimic in A2780/DDP cells affected cell viability, indicating the link with DDP resistance. Crucially, miR-200b mimic significantly delayed fibroblast-mediated wound closure in assays, underscoring its impact on wound healing. Bioinformatics analysis and subsequent DLR assays confirmed miR-200b's interaction with DNMT3A, affecting TGF-ß1 expression, the key factor in wound repair. Further, ChIP, quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses validated the interaction and expression changes in DNMT3A and TGF-ß1. The study demonstrated that miR-200b played a pivotal role in OC by modulating autophagy, which in turn significantly affected wound healing through the DNMT3A/TGF-ß1 pathway.

Radioiodination, purification, and evaluation of antihuman tumor-derived immunoglobulin G light chain monoclonal antibody in tumor-bearing nude mice.

We report the synthesis and biological evaluation of 131 I-labeled antihuman tumor-derived immunoglobulin G (IgG) light chain monoclonal antibody (4E9) ([131 I]I-4E9) as a promising probe for tumor imaging. [131 I]I-4E9 was synthesized in radiochemical yield of 89.9 ± 4.7% with radiochemical purity of more than 99%. [131 I]I-4E9 showed high stability in normal saline and human serum. In cell uptake studies, [131 I]I-4E9 exhibited favorable binding affinity and high specificity in HeLa MR cells. In biodistribution studies, [131 I]I-4E9 showed high tumor uptake, high tumor/non-tumor ratios, and specific binding in BALB/c nu/nu mice bearing human HeLa MR xenografts. Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) imaging of [131 I]I-4E9 in the HeLa MR xenograft model demonstrated clear visualization of tumor after 48 h and confirmed specific binding in tumor. These findings suggest that [131 I]I-4E9 possesses favorable biological characteristics and warrants further investigation as a prospective probe for imaging and treatment of cancers.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the potential biological function of FSCN1 in HeLa cervical cancer cells.

Fascin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1), an actin-bundling protein associated with cell migration and invasion, is highly expressed in various tumor tissues. FSCN1 has also been reported to be a marker of increased invasive potential in cervical cancers. However, the functions of FSCN1 are still not fully understood in cervical cancers. Here, the gene expression profile of HeLa cells transfected with FSCN1 shRNA (shFSCN1) was compared with that of cells transfected with empty vector (shCtrl). The results showed that shFSCN1 extensively affected the transcription level of 5,043 genes in HeLa cells. In particular, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that a large number of upregulated genes were annotated with terms including transcription regulation and DNA binding. The downregulated genes were enriched in some cancer pathways, including angiogenesis and cell adhesion. qPCR validation confirmed that FSCN1 knockdown significantly affected the expression of selected genes in HeLa cells either negatively or positively. Expression analysis in TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) revealed that FSCN1 had negative correlations with several transcription factors and a positive correlation with an angiogenic factor (angiopoietin like 4, ANGPTL4) in cervical tumor tissue. In particular, validation by Western blotting showed that FSCN1 knockdown decreased the protein level of ANGPTL4. Our results demonstrated that FSCN1 is not only an actin-binding protein but also a transcriptional regulator and an angiogenic factor in cervical cancer. Thus, our study provides important insights for further study on the regulatory mechanism of FSCN1 in cervical cancer.

Diagnosis and management of non-communicating rudimentary horn pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: Non-communicating rudimentary horn pregnancy is a rare condition associated with serious complications and consequences. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reported a case of a 44-day non-communicating rudimentary horn pregnancy who was diagnosed by three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), followed by treatment via laparoscopic resection. RESULTS: The 3D-US and pelvic MRI scan showed a consistent result. Serious complications and consequences were avoided. Postoperative diagnosis showed that the malformation was classified as type IIc. CONCLUSIONS: For such diagnosis as a unicornuate uterus with a rudimentary horn, if there are no symptoms, it cannot be treated. Once pregnancy is in the rudimentary horn, 3D-US or MRI should be conducted to determine the implantation location of the pregnancy capsule and the operation should be performed as soon as possible to avoid uterine rupture. Laparoscopic surgery can be chosen in the early stage.

Ferroptosis-related genes are potential prognostic molecular markers for patients with colorectal cancer.

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered programmed cell death that plays a vital role in the occurrence and development of tumors. However, little is known about its prognostic value of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study was to investigate the clinical significance of FRGs on overall survival (OS) of patients with CRC. The mRNA expression profiles and corresponding clinical data of CRC patients were downloaded from public databases. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression was applied to identify hub FRGs and establish a novel ferroptosis-related gene signature in predicting OS in training cohort, and assessed in the validation cohort. Then, the genomic-clinicopathologic nomogram integrating risk scores and clinicopathological features were established. Thirteen FRGs were identified to be most significantly related to the OS of CRC patients. Based on the LASSO Cox regression algorithm, we selected 10 genes from 13 FRGs to establish a prognostic risk signature. The log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed the predictive value of the risk scores for OS in CRC patients. The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (tdROC) of signature indicates the showed powerful prediction ability in both training cohort and validation cohort. Then, a genomic-clinicopathologic nomogram integrating age, stage, and risk scores was established and demonstrated high predictive accuracy and clinical value, which was validated through tdROC and calibration curves. The ferroptosis-related gene signature and genomic-clinicopathologic nomogram could be used to predict the prognosis of CRC patients and might also be potential therapeutic targets.

Factors associated with caesarean section in women referred for preinduction - a nested case-control study in dinoprostone and misoprostol groups.

OBJECTIVES: Induction of labour is a beneficial perinatal procedure, but may be associated with some risks. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the need for Caesarean section in women referred for preinduction with dinoprostone and misoprostol. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was a retrospective cohort study of 560 pregnant women who underwent labour induction for medical reasons. Analyses were performed separately in the dinoprostone and misoprostol group. Above other characteristics, the diameters of the pelvis and abdominal circumference of pregnant women were analysed. RESULTS: There were some mothers' characteristics like age, weight, BMI, presence of hypothyroidism or diabetes, which were not associated with Caesarean section deliveries. Women in the misoprostol group with gestational age less than 38 weeks had an increased risk of Caesarean section (OR 2.189; p = 0.041). The analyses of combined effect of mothers age and parity history showed 6.7 (in dinoprostone group) and over 10 times (in misoprostol group) increased the risk of Caesarean section in nulliparous women over 35 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The increased risk of Caesarean delivery in the dinoprostone group was combined with the intertrochanteric dimensions such as the mother's height measuring less than 165 cm, nulliparity and hypertension. In the misoprostol group, strong risk factors for Caesarean delivery were mothers aged 35 years or more, gestational age less than 38 weeks and nulliparity and hypertension as in dinoprostone group. The oxytocin infusion had increased the risk of Caesarean section only in the combined dinoprostone and misoprostol group. Further high-quality studies are warranted.

Death Domain-Associated Protein Promotes Colon Cancer Metastasis through Direct Interaction with ZEB1.

Background: Death domain-associated protein (DAXX) is a tumor suppressor and its loss has been found in a variety of cancer types. Dysregulation of DAXX is strongly correlated with cancer metastasis. However, the role and functions of DAXX in colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis are not fully understood. Methods: We validated the mRNA and protein expression of DAXX in CRC specimens and CRC cell lines using real-time reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The overexpression plasmids of ZEB1 and E-cadherin and the siRNAs for DAXX and ZEB1 knockdown were constructed to study the impact of these factors on cells. Wound-healing assay and Transwell assay were performed to examine the cell motility and cell migration and invasion abilities, respectively. Luciferase assay was performed to assess the E-cadherin promoter activity. Immunoprecipitation assay was performed to investigate the interaction between proteins. The rescue experiment was carried out to verify whether the effect of DAXX on E-cadherin expression is depended on ZEB1. Results: DAXX expression was lower in liver metastases than in primary colon cancer tissues. Our results demonstrated that DAXX directly interacted with ZEB1 and suppressed its inhibitory effect on promoter activity of E-cadherin through a ZEB1-dependent manner, and thus suppresses the cell motility, migration, and invasion of CRC cell lines. Conclusion: In sum, these findings supported that the loss of DAXX is associated with cancer cell metastases in CRC. ZEB1-mediated transcriptional suppression of E-cadherin is a possible mechanism. DAXX/ZEB-1 pathway could be a potential therapeutic target for preventing cancer metastasis in CRC.

[Clinical observation of rapid massage at Shuidao (ST 28) to prevent postpartum urinary retention].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect of rapid massage at Shuidao (ST 28) to prevent puerpera from postpartum urinary retention. METHODS: A total of 200 puerpera giving birth through vagina were enrolled and divided into an observation group and a control group according to the random number table method, 100 cases in each group. In the observation group, rapid massage at Shuidao (ST 28) was applied. In the control group,there was no intervention and urinated naturally. The traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scale was used to evaluate poor sense of urination, and record puerpera with or without postpartum urinary retention, the poor sense of first urination, the first time of urination, the amount of first urination and postpartum hemorrhage. RESULTS: The poor sense of first urination in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control (P<0.001), the first time of urination in the observation group was significantly earlier than that in the control group (P<0.001), the amount of first urination in the observation group was significantly more than that in the control group (P<0.001), the observation group was superior to the control group to prevent postpartum urinary retention (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Rapid massage at Shuidao (ST 28) can reduce the poor sense of first urination, significantly advance the time of spontaneous urination, significantly increase the amount of first urination and effectively prevent postpartum urinary retention.

Enhanced EJ Cell Killing of (125)I Radiation by Combining with Cytosine Deaminase Gene Therapy Regulated by Synthetic Radio-Responsive Promoter.

AIM: To investigate the enhancing effect of radionuclide therapy by the therapeutic gene placed under the control of radio-responsive promoter. METHODS: The recombinant lentivirus E8-codA-GFP, including a synthetic radiation-sensitive promoter E8, cytosine deaminase (CD) gene, and green fluorescent protein gene, was constructed. The gene expression activated by (125)I radiation was assessed by observation of green fluorescence. The ability of converting 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to 5-fluorourial (5-FU) by CD enzyme was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The viability of the infected cells exposed to (125)I in the presence of 5-FC was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the infected cells exposed to (125)I alone served as negative control and 5-FU as positive control. RESULTS: The recombinant lentiviral vector was constructed successfully. On exposure of infected cells to (125)I, green fluorescence can be observed and 5-FU can be detected. MTT assay showed that the survival rate for infected cells treated with (125)I was lower compared with the (125)I control group, but higher than the positive control group. CONCLUSION: The synthetic promoter E8 can induce the expression of downstream CD gene under (125)I radiation, and the tumor killing effect of (125)I can be enhanced by combining CD gene therapy with radiosensitive promoter.

[Use of fiber-reinforced chemical curing resin to close the inter-proximate space of the posterior teeth].

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of using fiber-reinforced chemical curing resin to close the inter-proximate space of the posterior teeth and block the food impaction. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-two patients with food impaction of posterior teeth were selected in this study. The total number of the food impaction was 170. They were divided into narrow-gap group and wide-gap group according to the damage of the inter-proximate space. Jingjin enamel adhesive reinforced polyethylene fiber ribbon was used in both group to close the inter-proximate space. The patients were reviewed at 6-month and 1-year. After the second follow-up examination, 161 restorations of 154 patients were included in this study. The differences between the 2 groups were analyzed by Chi-square test with SPSS 13.0 software package. RESULTS: Statistical differences were found in the retention rate of the restorations at 6-month between the 2 groups (P<0.05). The retention rate in the narrow-gap group was significantly lower than that in the wide-gap group. However, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups at 1-year. There was no significant difference in integrality between the 2 groups at 6-month and 1-year. CONCLUSIONS: The use of fiber-rein forced chemical curing resin to close the inter-proximate space of the posterior teeth and block the food impaction is more suitable for patients with clinical crown elongation, gingival recession, alveolar bone loss and the tissue damages in the inter-proximate space, which will cause food impaction.

Expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 and connective tissue growth factor in women with pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). METHODS: This study was conducted from May to December 2009. Fifty patients with POP that underwent vaginal hysterectomy in the Department of Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei, Wuhan, China were enrolled in this study. They were divided into: Group 1 (n=10); Group 2 (n=10); and Group 3 (n=10) according to Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitation (POP-Q). Meanwhile, 20 cases treated by vaginal hysterectomy for other benign gynecological diseases were selected as the control group. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were performed to detect the expression of TGF-ß1 and CTGF. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining of TGF-ß1 and CTGF were mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of fibroblast cells. The expression of TGF-ß1 and CTGF protein was significantly negatively correlated with POP-Q stage. There were significantly positive correlations between the expression of TGF-ß1 and CTGF protein. The expression of TGF-ß1 protein among the 3 POP groups were all significantly lower than that of the control group, while there was no significant differences in the expression of TGF-ß1 protein among the POP groups, excluding the comparison between Groups 1 and 3. The expression of CTGF protein in the 3 POP groups were all significantly lower than that of the control group, and significant differences were also detected among the 3 POP groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that the TGF-ß1 and CTGF protein expression may be associated with POP, especially in POP-Q stages.

[(131)I labeling and bioactivity evaluation of a novel RGD dimer targeted to integrin αvß3 receptor].

OBJECTIVE: To study the (131)I labeling, tumor targeting property, biodistrubution and imaging of a novel disulfide bridged Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide dimer and investigate its possibility for tumor angiogenesis imaging. METHODS: A disulfide bridged cRGD peptide dimer [c(RGD)2] was designed according to the published RESULTS of structure-activity relationship study of c(RGDfV) and modified with hydrophilic amino acid. The affinity of the peptide to αvß3 receptor was determined by binding assay. The peptide was labeled with (131)I by ChT method. The stability and lg n-octanol-water partition coefficient of the labeled peptide were tested. The biodistribution, inhibition with unlabeled peptide and imaging were performed by injecting the labeled peptide into the mice bearing meloma B16. RESULTS: The (131)I labeling efficiency and radiochemical purity were (76.35 ± 2.33)% and (95.20 ± 3.25)%, respectively. Ka was (0.137 ± 0.057) × 10(9) /mol/L, and lgPo(ctanol/water) was-1.628. The tumor uptake of the labeled peptide at 1 h, 3 h, 5 h and 24 h were (0.67 ± 0.13)%ID/g, (0.42 ± 0.08)%ID/g, (0.51± 0.11)%ID/g and (0.18 ± 0.02)%ID/g, respectively. The tumor clearance was low, so the T/NT increased with time. The T/M and T/B were 4.42 ± 1.70 and 2.27 ± 0.45, respectively, 24 h post-injection. The hepatic uptake of the labeled peptide was low. The tumor-to-liver ratio was 2.10 ± 0.60 at 1 h post-injection, coinjection of c(RGD)2 with (131)I-c(RGD)2 resulted in a significant decrease in tumor uptake. In total body images, only kidneys were distinctive whereas tumor was clear in chest images 3 h post-injection. CONCLUSION: c(RGD)2 can be successfully labeled with (131)I by ChT method. The labeled peptide can be specifically combined with tumor, which suggests its possibility in tumor angiogenesis imaging. Its low liver uptake provides an advantage for tumor imaging.

Efficacy of multifaceted interventions in reducing complications of peripherally inserted central catheter in adult oncology patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of multifaceted interventions in reducing complications of peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) in adult oncology patients. METHODS: Multifaceted interventions were implemented in our department in December 2006. These interventions include: (1) A mandatory nurse reeducation was developed by a multidisciplinary task force; (2) Modification of peripherally inserted central catheter insertion: take a chest X-ray before removal of the guidewire and cutting of the catheter. The guidewire in the catheter facilitates the accurate location of the tip of PICC on chest X-ray and make the malposition correction (withdrawing, reinsertion, even reinsertion following withdrawal) easily; (3) Using a 2% chlorhexidine preparation, replace 10% povidone iodine for skin antisepsis; (4) Maintenance of maximum sterile barrier precautions during PICC insertion and aftercare; (5) Designing of a PICC archive form and establishing a PICC archive for each patient. The PICC complication rates of groups before and after interventions were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: Sixty-nine PICC lines were inserted before these interventions, and 165 were inserted after implementation of these interventions. Compared with preintervention group, the postintervention group was associated with a 62.14% decrease in the overall complication rate (11.52% vs 30.43% [P = 0.0004]; incidence density, 1.82 vs 4.62 per 1,000 PICC days) with a 67.48% decrease in the infective complications rate (4.24% vs 13.04% [P = 0.015]) with a 58.19% decrease in the noninfective complications rate (7.27% vs 17.39% [P = 0.0199]). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that these interventions implemented in this study may be help in reducing complications of PICC in adult oncology patients.

[Clinical observation of 45 cases with radicular cyst treated with non-surgical methods].

PURPOSE: To observe the clinical effect and the influential factors of non-surgical treatment of radicular cyst. METHODS: A total of 45 cases with radicular cyst were included from 2002 to 2008. They were treated by non-surgical treatment including decompression of cyst cavity or overfilling of the root canal. All the patients were examined at 3,6 months and 1,2,3 years after treatment. The therapeutic result was analyzed with SPSS15.0 software package for X(2) test. RESULTS: Of the 45 cases, 22 were cured at a follow-up period of 1-4 years, the cure rate was 48.89%. Seventeen cases were improved, the improvement rate 37.78%, and the total efficiency rate was 86.67%. Six cases failed to the treatment, and the failure rate was 13.33%. CONCLUSIONS: With decompression of cyst cavities or overfilling of the root canals, non-surgical treatment of radicular cyst is a simple, economical, safe, and effective treatment modality.

[Treatment of teeth with open canal system using mineral trioxide aggregate as apical barrier under the dental operating microscope].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of closing root apex of permanent teeth with mineral trioxide aggregate to form barricade in root tip under the dental operating microscope. METHODS: 63 teeth treated in our department with open root apex and periapical periodontitis were selected, MTA was used to rigorously close the root apex under microscope, and thermoplastic gutta pertscha was used to fill dental root after formation of barricade in the root tip. All patients revisited regularly for clinical examinations after treatment. RESULTS: Among the 63 treated teeth, only one tooth (23) was insufficiently filled because of the long dental root and unclear field of vision under microscope, the remaining 62 teeth were filled adequately. The postoperative dental film showed 43 teeth were properly filled while 17 had a little over-filling. The patients were rechecked after three months, and the results showed that 2 patients underwent retro-filling because of fistula, 2 patients were lost during follow-up period, and the remaining patients reached the requirement for success including no sensitivity to percussion, improvement or disappearance of pathological changes around the root tip on dental film and regeneration of bone trabecula. The therapeutic effect was not influenced by minor over-filling. The overall success rate was 95%. CONCLUSION: The method of using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) to treat teeth with root apex open is accurate and convenient and the effect is pretty good.

[Study of clinical value of dual-phase imaging using single photon emission computed tomography with coincidence detection for differentiating benign from malignant lesions].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of dual-phase imaging of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) using single photon emission computed tomography with coincidence detection (SPECT with coincidence) for differentiating benign and malignant lesions. METHODS: Thirty patients with unknown lesions from June 2003 to March 2004 in our hospital were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent dual-phase imaging of 18F-FDG SPECT with coincidence. The early images were obtained 60 min post injection. And the patients were divided into 2 groups, one receiving delayed scans at 210 min after 18F-FDG injection and the other at 270 min. Lesion status was determined by pathologic findings or by clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Forty-eight lesions (30 malignant and 18 benign lesions verified by pathologic findings or clinical follow-up) of 30 patients were detected by dual-phase imaging, in which there were 29 true positive results, 15 true negative, 3 false positive and 1 false negative. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of dual-phase imaging were 96.7%, 83.3%, 91.6%, 90.6%, and 93.8%, respectively. Those of early imaging and CT were 93.3%, 72.2%, 85.4%, 84.8%, 86.7% and 76.9%, 57.1%, 70.0%, 76.9%, 57.1%, respectively. The T/NT of all malignant lesions (except 1 false negative case) in delayed imaging were significantly increased (t=-3.071, P<0.01). However, there were no statistical differences in the T/NT of benign lesions (t=0.398, P=0.695) between early and delayed imagings. CONCLUSION: Dual-phase imaging of FDG SPECT with coincidence provides benefit for differentiating benign and malignant lesions.

[Measurement of glomerular filtration rate with renal dynamic imaging: comparison with two-sample method].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by renal dynamic imaging with that estimated by two-sample method and evaluate the reliability of measurement of GFR by renal dynamic imaging. METHODS: The study was performed in 54 patients (33 males and 21 females; aged 15 to 82 years) with primary or secondary chronic nephrosis. The patients were intravenously bolus injected with 185 MBq /1mL of (99)Tc(m)-DTPA 20 min after drinking 300 mL of water. Renal dynamic imaging was performed and the image was processed according to standard procedure (Gates' method) to obtain GFR. 3 mL of blood was withdrawn 2 h and 4 h postinjection, respectively, and radioactivity of 1mL plasma was measured. GFR was calculated by the formula of two-sample method. The correlation of GFRs measured by renal dynamic imaging and by two-sample method was analyzed using regression analysis. The correlations of GFRs determined by the two methods with urea and creatinine were also measured. RESULTS: The GFR measured by renal dynamic imaging was slightly lower than that measured by two-sample method. Excellent correlation was obtained by two methods with r= 0.881 5 and P<0.01. The linear regression equation was GFR (renal dynamic imaging method)=0.661 4GFR (two-sample method) +21.89. The related lines of GFRs measured by the two methods with urea or creatinine were similar, which indicated the two methods were similar in identifying the changes in renal function. GFRs measured by the two methods showed good agreement for most of patients except three patients who were too thin or too fat. CONCLUSION: Generally, GFR obtained by renal dynamic imaging is reliable for identifying the changes in renal function and correlated well with GFR obtained by two-sample method. But great error may be obtained with specific individuals, such as too thin or too fat subjects.

[Study on biodistribution and imaging of radioiodinated antisense oligonucleotides in nude mice bearing human lymphoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possibility of using radioiodine labeled framework region (FR) antisense oligonucleotides (ASONs) as an imaging agent or antisense therapeutic radiopharmaceutical in lymphoma. METHODS: A 18-mer partial phosphorothioate oligonucleotide sequence was synthesized and grafted in 5' with a tyramine group which was further radioiodinated. Radioiodination of the tyramine derivatized oligonucleotides was performed using the chloramine T method. (1) Normal CD-1 mice were injected via a tail vein with 148 kBq (125)I-FR-ASON (2-3 microg). Animals were sacrificed at the end of 1, 2, 4 and 24 h, and tissue samples were studied.(2) Liposome-mediated 3.33 MBq (131)I-FR-ASON (7-9 microg) were injected intratumorally into tumor-bearing BALB/c mice (6 weeks after inoculation of 107 Namalwa cells) meanwhile liposome-mediated (131)I labeled sense oligonucleotides served as controls. Biodistribution was monitored by sequential scintigraphy and organ radioactivity measurement 24 h after injection. Percentage of the injected dose per gram of tumor and tumor/non-tumor tissue ratios (T/NT) were calculated for each group of mice and the difference between two groups was assessed. RESULTS: The 5' tyramine group allowed specific and stable radiolabeling of the ASON with radioiodine. The radioactivity reached its peak 1 h after injection, and then decreased rapidly in normal mice after intravenous administration of (125)I-FR-ASON. The liver, stomach and intestine played an important role in biodistribution and radioactivity counts were low in bone, brain and blood. When (131)I-FR-ASON was injected intratumorally into mice grafted with Namalwa cell line, images showed the tracer accumulated in the tumor. Immediately after intratumoral administration, only the tumor was visible. Scintiscans performed at the end of 1 and 2 h showed elimination of the tracer from the tumor to the abdomen and at the end of 24 h the tumor was clearly seen. Percentage of the injected dose per gram of tumor and T/NT ratios for the sense group (control) were significantly lower than those of the antisense group. CONCLUSION: Radiolabeled Ig FR ASON showed high specificity in V1 family B-cell lymphoma, which should be further investigated for nuclear medicine imaging application and radionuclide antisense therapy.