Hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma: magnetic resonance imaging characteristics.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to analyze MR imaging features of hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma (HEAML). METHODS: This study included 113 patients with 122 pathologically confirmed HEAML who underwent enhanced MRI scanning before partial hepatectomy. MR images were retrospectively reviewed and correlated with pathological findings. RESULTS: The mean age of 113 patients was 48.12 ± 11.77 years old, and the male to female ratio was 1:3.35 with 87 females (76.99%). 107 (94.69%) patients presented as single tumor, and 96 patients (84.96%) were asymptomatic. 122 HEAML lesions were diagnosed pathologically in 113 patients, with the average of 4.47 ± 3.26 cm. 109 lesions (89.34%) and 108 lesions (88.52%) showed regular and well-defined boundary. On T1WI, 121 lesions (99.18%) mainly presented hypointensity. On T2WI, 118 lesions (96.72%) and 109 lesions (89.34%) mainly showed hyperintensity and heterogeneous signals. Most of the lesions (97.46%) showed hyperintensity on DWI. 118 lesions (96.72%) manifested as severe hyperenhancement and 106 lesions (86.89%) showed heterogeneity during the arterial phase. As for the lesion enhancement pattern, 73 lesions (59.84%) presented as persistent enhancement, 37 lesions (30.33%) as wash out, 8 lesions (6.56%) as degressive enhancement, and 4 lesions (3.28%) as poor blood supply. Additionally, 96 lesions (78.69%) with intra-tumor vessels and 85 lesions (69.67%) with outer rim were confirmed during the delayed phase. CONCLUSION: At enhanced MRI, hypointensity on T1WI, hyperintensity and heterogeneous signals on T2WI, hyperintensity on DWI, little or no fat component, heterogenous hyperenhancement, persistent enhancement, intra-tumor vessels, and outer rim would be helpful to diagnose HEAML.

MSCT study of the relationships between pulmonary subsolid nodules and bronchi and vessels / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationships and types between pulmonary subsolid nodules and bronchi and vessels,and their diagnostic values in differentiating subsolid nodules.Methods MSCT images of 40 subsolid nodules were retrospectively reviewed.The relationships between subsolid nodules and bronchi were divided into five types.Type Ⅰ:the bronchi were “cutoff”in the solid part of nodules.Type Ⅱ:the bronchi were distortion and extension in the solid parts of nodules.Type Ⅲ:the bronchi were distortion and extension in the GGO parts of nodules.Type Ⅳ:the bronchi were normal course in the GGO parts of nodules.Type Ⅴ:the bronchi were circumvent nodule lesions.The relationships between subsolid nodules and vessels were categorized into four types.Type Ⅰ:vessels passing by SSNs;Type Ⅱ:intact vessels passing through SSNs;Type Ⅲ:distorted,dilated or tortuous vessels seen within SSNs;Type Ⅳ:more complicated vessels other than described above.The relationship types were correlated to pathologic and/or clinical findings of subsolid nodules.Results Of 40 subsolid nodules,4 were preinvasive nodules,6 micro infiltrating adeocarcinomas and 30 invasive ones that were pathologically proven.Types Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ vascular relationships were observed in 0,8,21 and 11 subsolid nodules,respectively.Type Ⅲ relationship was the dominating one.All 11 subsolid nodules were invasive adenocarcinomas,when the relationship between subsolid nodules and vessle was type Ⅳ.There were 17 invasive adenocarcinomas,2 preinvasive ones,and 2 infiltrating ones when the relationship between subsolid nodules and vessel was type Ⅲ.Correlation analysis showed strong correlation between invasive adenocarcinoma and type Ⅲ and Ⅳ relationships.There was significantly statistical significance among 3 groups of relationships between subsolid nodule and vessels(χ2 =1 5.1 90,P =0.004).Types Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ and V brochi relationships were observed in 20,5,6,9 and 0 subsolid nodules,respectively.Type I relationship was the dominating relationship.There were 1 7 invasive adenocarcinomas, 1 preinvasive one,2 micro invasive ones when the relationship between subsolid nodules and bronchi were typeⅠ.There was significantly statistical significance among 3 groups of relationships between subsolid nodule and bronchi (χ2 =23.81 1,P =0.001 ).Conclusion Different subsolid nodules have different relationships with bronchi and vessels.Understanding and recognizing the characteristic subsolid nodule-bronchi and subsolid nodule-vessel relationships may help to identify which nodules are more likely to be malignant.

Safety and Efficiency of Anticoagulation Therapy during CVVH in the Patients with MODS and High-Risk Bleeding / 天津医药

Objective To investigate safety and efficiency of anti-coagulation therapy in patients with high-risk of bleeding and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) during continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH). Meth-ods Forty patients with high-risk bleeding MODS during CVVH in our hospital were divided into heparin-free group (A group) and low-dose heparin group (B group). Blood coagulation function, platelets counts, blood urea nitrogen, serum creati-nine, PaO2/FIO2 and Apache Ⅱ scores in two groups were tracked before treatment and 24 h, 48 h after treatment. Filter lifespan, median ventilation time, ICU admission time and bleeding complications were observed. Results (1)There was significant difference in levels of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, PaO2/FIO2 and ApacheⅡscores at 24 h, 48 h after treatment between in low-dose heparin group and those in heparin-free group (P＜0.05). (2)Levels of activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT), thrombin time (TT) were prolonged. Platelets count were significantly lower at 24 h after treat-ment than that before treatment in low-dose heparin group. Levels of APTT, TT and platelets count had no changes with pro-longed time of CVVH therapy.(3)Average ventilation time, ICU admission time were obviously shorter in low-dose heparin group than that in heparin-free group. Filter lifespan was significant longer in low-dose heparin group than that in heparin-free group, (P＜0.05).(4)Bleeding in skin and mucosa was observed in 1 case in low-dose heparin group without other se-vere bleeding complications. Conclusion The results of monocentric study show that low dose of heparin ensure smooth op-eration of CVVH in patients with MODS and high-risk bleeding. The clinical application is safe and efficient.

Proteome comparison of hypopharyngeal gland development between Italian and royal jelly producing worker honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).

The hypopharyngeal gland (HG) of the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) produces royal jelly (RJ) that is essential to feed and raise broods and queens. A strain of bees (high royal jelly producing bee, RJb) has been selected for its high RJ production, but the mechanisms of its higher yield are not understood. In this study, we compared HG acini size, RJ production, and protein differential expressions between the RJb and nonselected honeybee (Italian bee, ITb) using proteomics in combination with an electron microscopy, Western blot, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Generally, the HG of both bees showed age-dependent changes in acini sizes and protein expression as worker behaviors changed from brood nursing to nectar ripening, foraging, and storage activities. The electron microscopic analysis revealed that the HG acini diameter of the RJb strain was large and produced 5 times more RJ than the ITb, demonstrating a positive correlation between the yield and HG acini size. In addition, the proteomic analysis showed that RJb significantly upregulated a large group of proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism and energy production, those involved in protein biosynthesis, development, amino acid metabolism, nucleotide and fatty acid, transporter, protein folding, cytoskeleton, and antioxidation, which coincides with the fact that the HGs of the RJb strain produce more RJ than the ITb strain that is owing to selection pressure. We also observed age-dependent major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) changing both in form and expressional intensity concurrent with task-switching. In addition to MRJPs, the RJb overexpressed proteins such as enolase and transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase, protein biosynthesis, and development proteins compared to the ITb strain to support its large HG growth and RJ secretion. Because of selection pressure, RJb pursued a different strategy of increased RJ production by involving additional proteins compared to its original counterpart ITb. To our knowledge, this morphological and proteomic comparison study on the HG of the two strains of worker honeybees associated with their age-dependent division of labor is the first of its kind. The study provided not only the quantity and quality differences in the HG from the RJb and the ITb, but also addressed the cellular and behavioral biology development question of how the RJb strain can produce RJ more efficiently than its wild type strain (ITb).

Royal jelly proteome comparison between A. mellifera ligustica and A. cerana cerana.

In this study, we compared royal jelly (RJ) produced by Apis mellifera ligustica and Apis cerana cerana in production, protein profiles, and abundances using proteomic approaches. The RJ proteome was displayed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DGE), and proteins were identified using MALDI-TOF MS and LC-Chip/ESI-QTOF MS. Differences in the RJ proteome between the two bee species were validated using western-blot analysis. RJ production by A. cerana cerana (3.21 +/- 0.43 g) is significantly lower than that of A. mellifera ligustica (80.5 +/- 7.83 g). The 2DGE based MS approach identified 52 and 60 proteins in the RJ of A. mellifera ligustica and A. cerana cerana, respectively. The majority of the identified proteins were major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs). Peroxiredoxin 2540, glutathione S-transferase S1, and MRJP5 were detected only in the RJ of A. mellifera ligustica, and MRJP1 was the most abundant MRJP. In contrast, MRJP7 was found only in the RJ of A. cerana cerana. But, similar to A. mellifera ligustica, MRJP1 was found most abundantly in this case too. In this study, glucose oxidase was identified for the first time in the A. cerana cerana RJ. Comparing the protein levels of MRJP1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 between the two species, they were significantly higher in the RJ of A. mellifera ligustica than in A. cerana cerana. This observation was supported by Western blot analysis using anti-MRJP1, 2, 3 antibodies. The result suggested that A. mellifera ligustica needs more nutrition to nurse the developing larvae and queens as compared to that of A. cerana cerana. This study improved our understanding of protein composition of RJ from Western and Eastern honeybees. RJ produced by A. mellifera ligustica exceeds the RJ from A. cerana cerana both in terms of production and health purposes.

Effects of juice of Fructus Zipiphi Jujubae on blood lipid level and body function in mice / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Fructus Zipiphi Jujubae,with certain cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP),has effects on hypertension,diabetes,cancer and cardiogenic shock.But there has been rare report on the influence of Fructus Zipiphi Jujubae on blood lipid. OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of juice of Fructus Zipiphi Jujubae on body function and blood lipid level in mice. DESIGN:A completely randomized basic study taking experimental animals as the subjects. SETTINGS:Department of bioengineering,school of life science and technology in a university;Department of endocrinology in a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS:The experiment was completed in the Department of Bioengineering,School of Life Science and Technology in Xi'an Jiaotong University from March to May 2003.ICR mice of clean grade, weighing 20 g to 40 g,were provided by the Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine[Certification No.08-004]. Juice of Fructus Zipiphi Jujubae:The Chinese date was picked, cleaned,heated and fractured moderately,mixed with water of 10 times and pectinase with the quantity percentage of 0.70% ,soaked at 50 ℃ for 6 hours,then the juice was filtered and condensed into 16% soluble solids,then sterilized for use later.Forty-eight mice (24 male and 24 female) were randomly divided into 4 groups according to body mass with 12 in each group:normal control group(group A), normal date juice group(group B),model control group(group C) and model date juice group(group D). INTERVENTIONS:Mice in group A were fed with basic diet,drank water for 24 hours;Mice in group B were fed with basic diet,drank water and date juice for 12 hours respectively;Mice in group C were fed with high-fat diet,drank water for 24 hours;Mice in group D were fed with high-fat diet,drank water and date juice for 12 hours respectively.Changes of body mass,indexes of thymus gland and spleen were measured after treated with date juice for 30 days.High fat mice models were established,and blood lipid indexes were determined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Food efficiency of mice,index of thymus gland,spleen index,growth index of mice. RESULTS:The food efficiency and the indexes of thymus gland and spleen in group B were(9.93± 0.473) g/100 g,3.27± 0.35 and 2.93± 0.51 respectively,which were all obviously higher than those in group A[(7.56± 0.382) g/100 g,(3.14± 0.54),(2.87± 0.33)](t=2.55,2.37,2.41,P< 0.05).The body mass was obviously higher in group B [(36.73 ± 4.70) g] than in group A[(34.92 ± 5.12) g] (t=2.32,P< 0.05);while those were very significantly higher in group C and group D [(39.83 ± 6.00), (37.63 ± 2.73) g] than in group A and group B[(34.92 ± 5.12), (36.73 ± 4.70) g](t=4.13,2.48,P< 0.01),and that in the group D[(37.63 ± 2.73) g] was obviously lighter than that in the group C[(39.83 ± 6.00)g](t=2.26,P< 0.05).The serum levels of total cholesterol(TC) in the in group C and group D were significantly higher than those in group A and group B(P< 0.01), while that was significantly lower in group D than in group C(P< 0.05). The serum levels of triglyceride(TG),low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C),arteriosclerosis index(AI),high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C) and HDL-C/TC were significantly higher in group C than in group A(P< 0.01,P< 0.05).TC, HDL-C,AI,HDL-C/TC,TG and LDL-C in group D were lower than those in group C(P< 0.05,P< 0.01). CONCLUSION:Juice of Fructus Zipiphi Jujubae can obviously increase the body mass,promoting food efficiency and indexes of thymus gland and spleen of mice, and has the significant effect on the reinforcement of body function in mice.Juice of Fructus Zipiphi Jujubae can decrease the serum levels of TC,TG and LDL-C in mice with hyperlipidemia,and has the remarkable ameliorating effect on hyperlipidemia of mice induced by high-fat feed.