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2009 Year 24 Volume 1 Issue
- Abstract：<正>IN 1979, with a group of cardiologists, I was invited to China, met Dr. Xiu-jie Liu at the Fuwai Hospital of Beijing, and left with him a device that we had invented that was called a "nuclear stethoscope." It was a simple radiation detector that could track the filling4|20|0Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：This paper outlines briefly the role of nuclear medicine in life sciences and health care. Molecular imaging by using isotopic tracers can noninvasively visualize the chemistry or hidden process in the cells and tissues inside the body, obtaining "functional" images to provide early information of any disease and revealing the secrets of life. The vitality of nuclear medicine is its ability to translate bench into new clinical application that can benefits the patients. Although nuclear medicine community in China has made significant achievement with a great effort since 1950s, there are many obstacles to future development. Recommended measures are proposed here in an attempt to solve our existing problems.5|64|1Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To describe the pitfalls in positron emission tomography/computed tomography （PET/CT） imaging and classify them according to the principles of their generation. Methods We summarized retrospectively the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose （FDP） PET/CT imaging pit-falls through reviewing the PET/CT images of 872 patients. The pitfalls were divided into artifacts and infrequent physiological uptake, and the artifacts were further classified according to their causes. Meanwhile, we calculated the incidences of various pitfalls. Whether the PET/CT pitfalls influenced the diagnostic decision was analyzed. The appearances of pitfalls in PET were also described. Results Pitfalls could be found in PET/CT images of 684 （78.4%） patients. Artifacts were found in 664 （76.15%） patients, and could be classified into self-factor artifacts and equipment-or technology-related artifacts. Among self-factor artifacts, respiratory motion （57.5%）, postprandial or hyperglycemia artifacts （2.41%）, and metal or high density matter artifacts （1.38%） were frequent. As for equipment- or technology-related factors, injection point outleakage or radiotracer contamination （13.88%） and truncation artifacts （1.83%） were most common ones. Infrequent physiological FDG uptakes, including fatty uptake, endometrial uptake, and bilateral breast feeding period uptake, were found in 20 （2.29%） patients. Among all pitfalls, the artifacts in 92 （13.4%） patients and infrequent physiological uptakes in 6 （0.88%） patients affected the diagnostic results. Artifact images in PET could be described as hot or cold area and the images of infrequent physiological uptake were always shown as hot area. Conclusions The incidence of pitfall in PET/CT imaging was high and the causes of pitfalls are various. Among all causes that artifacts generated, respiratory motion is the most common. Some pitfalls may disturb clinical physicians’ decision, so it is important to recognize artifacts and physiological uptake, and distinguish them from pathological uptakes.4|30|3Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To investigate the mutations of mitochondrial genome in a pedigree with suspected maternally inherited diabetes and deafness and to explore the correlations between the mutations and clinical features. Methods Genomic DNA was isolated from blood leucocytes of each member of the pedigree. The mitochondrial genome was amplified with 24-pair primers that could cover the entire mitochondrial DNA. Direct sequencing of PCR products was used to identify any mitochondrial DNA mutations. Results Family members on the maternal side all harbored the tRNALeu（UUR） A3243G mutation. The paternal side family members did not have the mutation. The age-of-onset of diabetes of the 4 maternal side family members was 15, 41, 44, and 65 years old, and their corresponding heteroplasmy level of the mutation was 34.5%, 14.9%, 14.6%, and 5.9%, respectively. The age-of-onset of diabetes and heteroplasmy level of A3243G mutation were negatively correlated with a correlation coefficient of -0.980 （P=0.02）. Meanwhile, patient with high heteroplasmy level of A3243G mutation had relatively low severity of disease. Moreover, 6 reported polymorphisms and 2 new variants were found. Conclusions The main cause of diabetes in this pedigree is the tRNALeu（UUR） A3243G mutation. However, other gene variants may contribute to its pathogenicity. The heteroplasmy level of the tRNALeu（UUR） A3243G mutation is positively associated with earlier age-of-onset and increasing severity of diabetes.5|55|7Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of SP600125, a specific c-jun N-terminal protein kinase （JNK） inhibitor, on Staphylococcus aureus （S. aureus）-induced U937 cell death and the underlying mechanism. Methods The human monocytic U937 cells were treated with S. aureus at different time with or without SP600125. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. JNK, Bax, and caspase-3 activities were detected by Western blotting. Results S. aureus induced apoptosis in cultured U937 cells in a time-dependent manner. Expression of Bax and phospho-JNK significantly increased in S. aureus-treated U937 cells, and the level of activated caspase-3 also increased in a time-dependent manner. Inhibition of JNK with SP600125 significantly inhibited S. aureus-induced apoptosis in U937 cells. Conclusions S. aureus can induce apoptosis in U937 cells by phosphorylation of JNK and activation of Bax and caspase-3. SP600125 protects U937 cells from apoptosis induced by S. aureus via inhibiting the activity of JNK.4|46|3Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To analyze the influence of segmental pedicle screws versus hybrid instrumentation on the correction results in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients undergoing posterior selective thoracic fusion. Methods By reviewing the medical records and roentgenograms of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients who underwent selective thoracic fusion from February 2000 to January 2007 in our hospital, the patients were divided into 2 groups according to different instrumentation fashions: Group A was hook-screw-rod （hybrid） internal fixation type, Group B was screw-rod （all pedicle screws） internal fixation type, and the screws were used in every segment on the concave side of the thoracic curve. The parameters of the scoliosis were measured and the correction results were analyzed. Results Totally, 48 patients （7 males, 41 females） were included, with an average age of 14.4 years old and a mean follow-up time of 12.3 months. Thirty and 18 patients were assigned to group A and group B, respectively. The mean preoperative coronal Cobb angles of the thoracic curve were 48.8° and 47.4°, respectively. After surgery, they were corrected to 13.7° and 6.8°, respectively. At final follow-up, they were 17.0° and 9.5°, with an average correction rate of 64.6% and 79.0%, respectively, and the correction rate of group B was significantly higher than that of group A （P=0.003）. The mean preoperative coronal Cobb angles of the lumbar curve were 32.6° and 35.2°, respectively. After surgery, they were corrected to 8.6° and 8.3°, respectively. At final follow-up, they were 10.3° and 11.1°, with an average correction rate of 66.8% and 69.9%, respectively, and the correction rate of group B was significantly higher than that of group A （P=0.003）. The correction loss of the thoracic curve and lumbar curve in the 2 groups were 3.1° and 1.8°, 2.4° and 2.4°, respectively. No significant difference was noted （both P>0.05）. The decompensation rate at final follow-up in these 2 groups were 4% （1/25） and 7.1% （1/14） respectively, with no significant difference （P>0.05）.Conclusions Both all pedicle screws and hybrid instrumentation can offer good correction results of the thoracic curve and lumbar curve in posterior selective thoracic fusion in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. While with all pedicle screws, the correction results of the thoracic curve and lumbar curve are both better than those with hybrid instrumentation without increased decompensation rate.4|40|11Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To assess the clinical values of computed tomographic colonography （CTC） in diagnosis of colonic polyps. Methods Forty-two patients who were clinically suspicious of colonic polyps or underwent colonic polyps screening received examinations with both CTC and conventional colonoscopy. Sixteen- or 64-slice spiral computed tomography and professional imaging processing techniques were used for evaluation. Per-polyp and per-patient results were analyzed. Those by per-polyp were subsequently divided into ≥10mm group, 5-10 mm group, and ≤5mm group. Sensitivity, positive predictive value （PPV）, specificity, negative predictive value （NPV）, and accuracy were calculated using statistical method for diagnostic studies, with conventional colonoscopy as a gold standard. Results Ninety and 61 polyps were found by CTC and conventional colonoscopy, respectively. The per-polyp sensitivity/PPV were 80.3%/55.6% in total, and 100%/92.9%, 93.8%/65.2%, and 68.8%/41.5% in the ≥10 mm group, 5-10 mm group, and ≤5mm group, respectively. The per-patient sensitivity, PPV, specificity, NPV, and accuracy were 97.1%, 89.5%, 42.9%, 75.0%, and 88.1%, respectively. Conclusion CTC can clearly reveal the morphology of colonic polyps and be used as a routine monitoring method for the clinical diagnosis of polyps.4|25|1Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To investigate the changes of neural stem cells （NSCs） in the rat hippocampus after cerebral infarction （CI） and to evaluate the neurogenesis caused by the activation of NSCs. Methods CI models of rats were made and rats were assigned to 6 groups: sham-operated, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days after CI. The dynamic expression of bromodeoxyuridine （BrdU）, polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule （PSA-NCAM）, glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP）, and neuronal nuclear antigen （NeuN） were determined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. BrdU was used to mark the proliferated NSCs. PSA-NCAM was used to mark the plasticity of activated NSCs. GFAP and NeuN were used to mark the differentiated NSCs. Results Compared with the controls, the number of BrdU+ cells in the hippocampus increased significantly at 1 day after CI （P<0.05）, reached peak at 7 days after CI （P<0.05）, decreased but still elevated compared with the controls at 14 days after CI （P<0.05）, and nearly unchanged at 28 days after CI. The number of BrdU+/PSA-NCAM+ cells increased significantly at 7 days after CI （P<0.05）, reached peak at 14 days after CI （P<0.05）, and decreased but still elevated compared with the controls at 28 days after CI （P<0.05）. The number of BrdU+/PSA-NCAM+ cells was equal to 60% of the number of BrdU+ cells in all the same period. The number of BrdU+/NeuN+ cells in the hippocampus increased significantly at 14 days after CI （P<0.05） and reached peak at 28 day after CI （P<0.05）. The number of BrdU+/GFAP+cells in the hippocampus nearly unchanged after CI. Conclusion CI can stimulate the proliferation of inherent NSCs, and most proliferated NSCs may differentiate into neurons and represent neural plasticity.4|53|21Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To investigate the correlation between subaxial cervical spine instability and cervical spondylotic sympathetic symptoms as well as the difference of cervical spondylotic subaxial instability between male and female patients. Methods We analyzed retrospectively 318 surgical cases of cervical spondylosis treated at Department of Orthopedic Surgery of Peking Union Medical College Hospital between July 2003 and December 2007. All cases were divided into group A without sympathetic symptoms （n=284） and group B with sympathetic symptoms （n=34）. Angular and horizontal translation values between two adjacent vertebral bodies from C2 to C7 were measured separately on hyperflexion and hyperextension lateral cervical spine radiographs. Fisher’s exact test was used to evaluate the correlation between subaxial cervical instability and sympathetic symptoms. Intragroup correlation between patient gender and subaxial cervical instability was also evaluated. Results Subaxial instability incidences in groups A and B were 21.8% （62/284） and 55.9% （19/34）, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated a definite correlation between subaxial cervical instability and sympathetic symptoms （P=0.000）. Among patients without sympathetic symptoms, subaxial instability incidences were 21.4% （37/173） in males and 22.5% （25/111） in females, respectively （P=0.883）. While among patients with sympathetic symptoms, subaxial instability incidences were 27.3% （3/11） in males and 69.6% （16/23） in females, respectively, indicating significant difference （P=0.030）. Subaxial instability was most commonly seen at C4-C5 intervertebral space in sympathetic cervical spondylosis patients. Conclusions High correlation exists between subaxial cervical spine instability and cervical spondylotic sympathetic symptoms, especially in female patients. Hyperextension and hyperflexion radiographs of cervical spine are important to assess sympathetic cervical spondylotic subaxial instability.4|75|18Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To determine the levels of CC chemokine ligand 5 （CCL5） in serum and synovial fluid （SF） from patients with rheumatoid arthritis （RA） and their relations with disease activity and medication. Methods CCL5 in serum and SF was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） in 28 RA patients and 21 osteoarthritis （OA） patients. In RA patients, the correlations of CCL5 levels in serum and SF with disease activity were analyzed. Meanwhile, the serum CCL5 levels among RA patients treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs （DMARDs）, Tripterygium Glucosides, and other Chinese herbs without disease-modifying effects were also compared. Results CCL5 levels in both serum and SF of RA patients were significantly higher than those of OA patients （P<0.05）. Moreover, the level of CCL5 was higher in SF than that in serum of RA patients （P<0.01）. Serum CCL5 level was correlated significantly with the number of swollen joints （r=0.3329, P<0.05）, erythrocyte sedimentation rate （r=0.4001, P<0.05）, and C reactive protein （r=0.3735, P<0.01）. In addition, the level of CCL5 had a trend of lower in patients treated with DMARDs or Tripterygium Glucosides than those treated with other Chinese herbs, although the difference was not significant among those patients due to the small number of patients in each group. Conclusions In RA patients, the expression of CCL5 increases and correlates with some clinical and laboratory parameters of RA, which indicate that CCL5 plays an important role in RA and may serve as a useful marker of disease activity. DMARDs and Tripterygium Glucosides might exert their clinical effects through reducing CCL5 production in RA.4|64|11Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To evaluate the effects of supplementation of glutamine （GLN） on maintaining glutathione （GSH） level, immune system function, liver function, and clinical outcome of patients receiving abdominal operation. Methods Forty patients undergoing elective abdominal surgical treatment were randomly divided into 2 groups: study group （n=20） and control group （n=20）. All patients received total parenteral nutrition （TPN） for up to 7 days during perioperative period. The study group received TPN supplemented with GLN dipeptide while the control group received TPN without GLN dipeptide. Patients in both groups received equivalent nitrogen and caloric intake. Blood sample was taken on preoperative day, and the 1st,3rd,6th postoperative day to measure GSH level, immune indexes, and liver function indexes. Results The decrease of GSH level in plasma and red blood cell （RBC） in study group was less than that in control group during postoperative period. Ratio of GSH/glutathione disulfide （GSSG） in plasma in study group was higher than that in control group on the 3rd postoperative day （52.53±11.46 vs. 31.43±7.27, P=0.001）. Albumin level in study group was higher than that in control group on the 3rd postoperative day （37.7±3.8g/L vs. 33.8±4.2g/P=0.02）. There was no significant difference in the levels of immunoglobin （IgG,IgM,IgA） or T lymphocyte subgroup （CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8） in both groups during postoperative period. There was one case with infectious complication in control group, while none in study group. A trend of shortened hospital stay was observed in study group compared with control group （22.3± 2.1d vs.24.9±1.7d,P=0.32）. Conclusions Supplementation of GLN-enriched TPN has beneficial effects on maintaining GSH levels in plasma and RBC, sustaining GSH/GSSG ratio and albumin level, and keeping antioxidant abilities during postoperative period in patients with abdominal operation, with the trends of decreasing incidence of infectious complication and shortening hospital stay.4|27|11Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To investigate the clinical features and management of bronchogenic cyst in the adults. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 50 patients admitted to our hospital with histopathologically proved bronchogenic cyst from January 1983 to December 2007. Of all the patients, 28 were male and 22 were female, with an average age of 36.9 （range, 18 to 64） years. The symptoms, location of the cysts, imaging evaluation, surgical treatment manner, and outcome of these patients were analyzed. Results Symptoms were present in 33 of the 50 patients, and cough was the most common symptom. Thirteen patients presented with complications: hemoptysis, infected cyst, dysphagia, paralysis, and hoarseness. The locations of the cysts included the mediastinum （28 cases）, pulmonary parenchyma （12 cases）, hilar area （3 cases）, visceral pleura （1 case）, and some rare locations including the intestinal mesentery （1 case）, retroperitoneum （1 case）, adrenal gland （1 case）, neck （2 cases）, and dura matter of the cervical verte-brae （1 case）. Chest X-ray was performed in 36 patients and computed tomography （CT） was performed in 41 patients. The bronchogenic cyst in CT was characterized as a round, well circumscribed, unilocular mass, with density ranging from that of water to high density （0-50 Hu）. As for treatment, complete resection of the bronchogenic cyst was performed in 47 （94%） patients, subtotal resection was performed in 3 （6%） patients. Open surgery was performed in 45 （90%） patients, and thoracoscopy （video-assisted thoracic surgery） was performed in 5 （10%） paitients. Of the 12 patients with intrapulmonary cyst, 11 patients underwent lobectomy and 1 patient underwent wedge resection. Postoperative sequelae occurred in 2 patients, 1 with persistent air leakage and 1 with hoarseness. All patients were proved with bronchogenic cyst pathologically. The average follow-up period was 6.5 years （range, 4 months to 10 years）, and no late sequelae or recurrence of the cyst occurred. Conclusions The clinical and imaging presentations of bronchogenic cyst in adults are variable. Surgical resection is the best way for diagnosis and treatment. Both open surgery and thoracoscopy are appropriate for the selected candidates.5|23|5Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：Objective To explore an effective method of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus protein extraction suitable for two-dimensional electrophoresis （2-DE） analysis. Methods The extracts of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were prepared with Coca’s solution, lysis buffer of 2-DE, and Trizol reagent, respectively. Bicinchoninic acid （BCA） assay was used to determine the total protein concentration of the samples. The efficiency of different protein extraction methods were evaluated with 2-DE analysis. Results The concentrations of extracted protein by methods of Coca’s solution, lysis buffer, and Trizol reagent were 0.63 g/L,0.90 g/L,and 0.80 g/L, respectively. The 2-DE analysis results showed that some protein spots in low molecular weight （LMW） range could be detected with the Coca’s solution method. With the lysis buffer of 2-DE method, more protein spots in LMW range could be detected, while the medium molecular weight （MMW） protein spots were absent. Several MMW protein spots （174-178 kD and 133 kD） and more LMW protein spots were detected with Trizol reagent method. Conclusions Among Coca’s solution, lysis buffer of 2-DE, and Trizol reagent, the concentration of extracted protein of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus by lysis buffer of 2-DE is the highest. However, most protein components of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus purified mite bodies can be extracted by Trizol reagent, which may generally reflect the whole profile of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergens.5|66|1Updated：2024-04-10
- Abstract：<正>Chinese Medical Sciences Journal （Chin Med SciJ） is a peer-reviewed, general medical journal published by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Chin Med Sci J reports on all aspects of basic and clinical medicine and pharmacology4|1627|0Updated：2024-04-10
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