The feasibility of 1-stop examination of coronary CT angiography and abdominal enhanced CT.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of performing coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) with 1-time injection of the agent.CCTA images (right coronary artery, left anterior descending coronary artery, and left circumflex coronary artery) were collected from 20 patients who completed a 1-stop combined examination of CCTA and abdominal enhanced CT (group A), 20 patients who only underwent abdominal enhanced CT (group B1), and 20 patients who only underwent CCTA (group B2). These images were interpreted using the 5-point Likert scale system by 2 experienced radiologists, and abdominal images were observed for breathing artifact. CT value, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and CTDI were recorded and compare among the 3 groups.The difference in image quality of the coronary and total volume of the contrast agent between group A and group B1 was not statistical significant (P > .05). The CT value and SNR in group B1 (CCTA) (CT: 394.65 ±â€Š59.23, SNR: 17.38 ±â€Š4.13) increased, compare with Group A (CT: 360.35 ±â€Š34.16, SNR: 13.76 ±â€Š1.84, P = .03, .01), while CTDI was undifferentiated between group A (17.14 ±â€Š6.20) and group B1 (18.38 ±â€Š9.79) (P = .64). The difference in CT value and SNR at the arterial phase and CT value at the venous phase between group A (abdomen) and group B2 were statistically significant, the CTDI in group A (9.09 ±â€Š1.05) increased, compared with group B2 (8.23 ±â€Š1.33) (P = .03), and SNR at the venous phase in group B2 (12.50 ±â€Š2.43) increased, compared with group A (10.89 ±â€Š2.03) (P = .03).Revolution CT can capture full images and very rapidly switch to the scan mode, enabling a 1-stop axial CCTA and enhanced helical abdominal scan. The 1-stop combined scan resulted in a satisfactory image quality, which reduced the contrast agent dose and simplified the workflow.The 1-stop combined scan allows for the high success rate of the examination, reduces the number of examinations, and decreases the dose and risk of injection of the contrast agent. This would be helpful for patients to obtain diagnostic images in time.

[Serum proteomic analysis of cicatricial airway stenosis].

OBJECTIVE: To establish serum protein fingerprint profile in patients with cicatricial airway stenosis and compared with healthy control. METHODS: Serum samples of 17 cicatricial airway stenosis patients and 17 healthy persons were analyzed by SELDI-TOF-MS to select the differently expressed proteins through Biomarker Wizard software. RESULTS: Compared with healthy control, 49 protein biomarkers were identified. Among them, 25 proteins were up-regulated, 24 proteins were down-regulated. These proteins were confirmed by searching database. CONCLUSIONS: There are obvious differentially expressed proteins in patients with cicatricial airway stenosis and controls, which may related with the development of airway scar.

[The pilot study of the effect of paclitaxel by local application on scar formation after airway injury in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of local application of paclitaxel on airway scar formation after airway injury in rabbits. METHODS: Forty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups, negative control group (n = 10), saline control group (n = 10), group I (n = 10), group II (n = 10). All rabbits received tracheotomy. In negative control group, the specimens were harvested for histological examination and immunohistochemical analysis immediately after tracheotomy;in other three groups, rabbits received airway injury after tracheotomy. In group I and group II, 0.4 mg/ml and 1.0 mg/ml paclitaxel was applied locally in injured airway segment for 3 minutes after airway injury. The normal saline was used in control group for 3 minutes. The animals were killed in 21 days after operation. The specimens were harvested for histological examination and immunohistochemical analysis. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the ultrastructure of paclitaxel-induced apoptotic cells. RESULTS: The degree of stenosis in group I and group II were significantly decreased compared to those in saline control group [saline control group (59 ± 13)%, group I (27 ± 8)%, group II (22 ± 7)%]. Histological examination showed fibroblast cells and inflammatory cells in group I and group II were significantly fewer than in saline control group. The TGF-ß1 positive cells and VEGF positive cells in group I and group II were significantly decreased compared to those in saline control group (P < 0.05). Paclitaxel-induced cell apoptosis and injured cell organs were observed by transmission electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Local application of paclitaxel inhibits airway scar formation after airway injury in rabbit model, and the inhibition is dose dependent. Paclitaxel may have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of airway stenosis caused by endotracheal intubation, tracheotomy or implantation of airway stents.

Molecular cloning and expression of IL2 cDNA from the Tibet pig.

Interleukin-2 is a vital cytokine secreted by activated T lymphocytes, and plays important role in the regulation of cellular and humoral immunity of animals. In our experiment, IL2 cDNA of the Tibet Pig was first cloned by RT-PCR from ConA-stimulated lymphocytes in the blood and subcloned into pMD-18 T vector, which then was identified with endonuclease restriction. The sequencing result showed that Tibet pig IL-2 (TPIL-2) cDNA was 503 bp long (ORF was 465 bp) (Genbank accession number: AY 294018). The recombinant prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression plasmids of the cDNA were then constructed to analyse the ability to stimulate the proliferation of porcine lymphocytes in vitro. The recombinant porcine IL-2 expressed in the prokaryotic cells was found to be of 43 kDa molecular mass, which was consistent with a 17.4 kDa protein deduced from the IL-2 cDNA sequence (glutathione S-transferase molecular mass is 26 kDa); the recombinant protein in eukaryotic cells was confirmed by use of specific rabbit anti-porcine IL-2 serum in an ELISA. The bioactivity of TPIL-2 was detected through MTT colorimetry by stimulating the proliferation of pig ConA-stimulated blasts in vitro. The results indicate that the TPIL-2 significantly promoted the proliferation of ConA-stimulated blasts of pig. This confirms that IL-2 cDNA of the Tibet pig was successfully cloned and expressed in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, which lays the foundation for the the preparation of specific recombinant IL-2 protein and development of novel immune adjuvants to raise the immunity of pigs against various infectious pathogens and increase the immunoprotective efficacy of vaccines.