Combined acupuncture and HuangDiSan treatment affects behavior and synaptophysin levels in the hippocampus of senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 after neural stem cell transplantation.

Sanjiao acupuncture and HuangDiSan can promote the proliferation, migration and differentiation of exogenous neural stem cells in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice and can improve learning and memory impairment and behavioral function in dementia-model mice. Thus, we sought to determine whether Sanjiao acupuncture and HuangDiSan can elevate the effect of neural stem cell transplantation in Alzheimer's disease model mice. Sanjiao acupuncture was used to stimulate Danzhong (CV17), Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), bilateral Xuehai (SP10) and bilateral Zusanli (ST36) 15 days before and after implantation of neural stem cells (5 × 105) into the hippocampal dentate gyrus of SAMP8 mice. Simultaneously, 0.2 mL HuangDiSan, containing Rehmannia Root and Chinese Angelica, was intragastrically administered. Our results demonstrated that compared with mice undergoing neural stem cell transplantation alone, learning ability was significantly improved and synaptophysin mRNA and protein levels were greatly increased in the hippocampus of mice undergoing both Sanjiao acupuncture and intragastric administration of HuangDiSan. We conclude that the combination of Sanjiao acupuncture and HuangDiSan can effectively improve dementia symptoms in mice, and the mechanism of this action might be related to the regulation of synaptophysin expression.

Dual-energy CT: clinical application in differentiating an adrenal adenoma from a metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Application of dual-energy CT in characterization of adrenal nodules has not been well evaluated. PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of dual-energy CT scan to differentiate an adrenal adenoma from a metastasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients presenting 63 adrenal nodules underwent dual-energy CT scan at tube voltages of 80 kVp and 140 kVp. Mean attenuation values were measured for every nodule at 80/140 kVp and at 40/100 keV. Mean attenuation value changes between 140 kVp and 80 kVp (MAVC140-80kVp) and mean attenuation value changes between 100 keV and 40 keV (MAVC100-40keV) were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 63 adrenal nodules available for analyses, 42 nodules were classified as adenoma (26 lipid-rich and 16 lipid-poor) and 21 were classified as metastases. MAVC140-80kVp and MAVC100-40keV of all adenomas (including lipid-poor and lipid-rich) were significantly higher than metastases (P < 0.001). According to receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, areas under the ROC curve of MAVC140-80kVp and MAVC100-40keV for diagnosing adrenal adenomas were both of 0.964. When the cut-off points were set at 2.42 HU and 6.95 HU for MAVC140-80kVp and MAVC100-40keV, the two parameters both had a sensitivity of 78.6% and a specificity of 100% in adenoma diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Unique energy spectrum information provided by dual-energy CT scan displays a high capacity to distinguish adrenal adenoma from metastasis.