[Analysis of changes in intrinsic neural timescales in male smoking addicts based on whole brain resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging].

Objective: To investigate the abnormal changes of intrinsic neural time scale (INT) in male smoking addicts based on whole brain resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Methods: A case-control study. The clinical data and whole brain rs-fMRI data of 139 male subjects, aged (34.1±8.8) years, recruited through the online platform from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the existence of smoking addiction, they were divided into smoking addiction group (n=83) and healthy control group (n=56).INT was calculated to reflect the brain neural activity dynamics. Single sample t test was used to obtain the whole brain spatial distribution maps of INT in smoking addiction group and the control group. Then two-sample t test was conducted to explore the difference of INT between the smoking addition group and the healthy control group, with age and years of education as covariates. Finally, Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between INT and nicotine dependence scale score and smoking index. Results: Subjects with smoking addiction and healthy control group showed a similar pattern of hierarchical neural timescales, namely shorter INT in sensorimotor areas and longer INT in parietal lobe, posterior cingulate cortex. In addition, in the smoking addiction group, the left medial occipital gyrus (peak t=-3.18), left suproccipital gyrus (peak t=-3.66), bilateral pericalar cleft cortex (left: peak t=-3.02, right: peak t=-3.22), bilateral lingual gyrus (left: peak t=-3.10, right: t peak=-3.04), left cuneus (peak t=-2.97), default network associated brain region [left anterior cuneus(peak t=-3.23), left angular gyrus (peak t=-3.07), and left posterior cingulate cortex (peak t=-3.54) were significantly lower than those of healthy controls (gaussian random field correction, voxel level all P<0.005, mass level all P<0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between INT and nicotine dependence scale score and smoking index (both P>0.05 after Bonferroni correction). Conclusion: Compared with healthy controls, smoking addicts showed abnormal changes in the dynamics of neural activity in the visual cortex and the default network.

[The value of T2 mapping for evaluating the pathological type, grade and depth of myometrial invasion in endometrial carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the value of T2 map and synthetic T2WI generated by T2 mapping in evaluating the histological type, pathological classification and depth of myometrial invasion of endometrial carcinoma (EC). Methods: Seventy-three patients with pathologically proven EC diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2019 to December 2021 and 42 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. All subjects underwent conventional MRI, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and T2 mapping sequence for the pelvic cavity to test the T2 values and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the focus nidus of the patients and the normal endometrium of the volunteers. The T2 and ADC values of EC vs normal endometrium, and those of different histological types and pathological grades were compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of T2 and ADC values in determining the pathological type and classification of EC. In addition, two radiologists used synthetic T2WI combined with T2 map and conventional T2WI combined with DWI, respectively, to evaluate the depth of myometrial invasion, and compared the imaging results with the results of pathological diagnosis to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the two methods in determining the depth of myometrial invasion. Results: The T2 and ADC values of endometrial carcinoma were 85.0 (80.8, 92.5) ms and 0.71 (0.64, 0.77) ×10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of normal endometrium [147.4 (123.4, 176.7) ms and 1.46 (1.26, 1.76)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively; both P<0.05]. The T2 values of endometrioid carcinoma (EA) [84.1 (79.5, 88.7) ms] were significantly lower than those of non-EA [98.8 (92.1, 102.8) ms; P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in ADC values between EA and non-EA (P=0.075). The T2 values of G1, G2 and G3 groups in EA were 89.1 (84.4, 94.4) ms, 83.6 (80.9, 86.2) ms, and 76.5 (71.4, 80.3) ms, respectively. There were significant differences in the T2 values between G1 vs G2, G1 vs G3, and G2 vs G3 groups, respectively (all P<0.017). Significant difference was also found in the ADC values between the G1 and G3 groups (P<0.017). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of T2 values in distinguishing EA from non-EA was 0.867. The AUC of T2 values, ADC values and their combination in predicting high-grade EA was 0.888, 0.730 and 0.895, respectively. The accuracy of synthetic T2WI+ T2 map and conventional T2WI+ DWI in the diagnosis of deep myometrial invasion was 78.1% and 79.5%, respectively, with no significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusions: T2 mapping has great potential in preoperative evaluation of EC. The quantitative T2 value can be used in the diagnosis, pathological classification and grading of EC. The combination of synthetic T2WI and T2 map may be helpful to determine the depth of myometrial invasion.

Image findings of tendon sheaths affected by diffuse tenosynovial giant cell tumors of the skull base.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated radiographic images and the differential diagnosis of intracranial diffuse tenosynovial giant cell tumor (D-TGCT) in order to better understand the disease and improve the rate of preoperative diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Images and clinical data of patients with D-TGCT were retrospectively analyzed. Routine Computer Tomography (CT), routine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and contrast-enhanced MRI were performed for nine cases. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) was also performed for one case. RESULTS: We reviewed nine patients (6 males and 3 females) aged between 24 and 64 years, with a mean age of 47.33 ± 14.92 years. The most frequent complaints were hearing loss (5/9, 55.6%), pain (4/9, 44%), masticatory symptoms (2/9, 22.2%), and mass (4/9, 44.4%), with a mean duration of 22 ± 21.43 months. All cases were centered on the base of the skull, and showed hyper-density soft-tissue mass with osteolytic bone destruction on CT. The tumor signal mainly showed iso-intensity or hypo-intensity on T1WI compared with that in the brain parenchyma in all patients. On T2WI, nine lesions mainly showed hypo-intensity. Among these nine lesions, three displayed cystic region showing hyper-intensity on T2WI and hypo-intensity on T1WI (Figure 2A, 2B) in the lesion. Nine lesions showed hypo-intensity on DWI sequences. SWI images presented low signal in two cases, showing the "flowering effect". Nine patients showed heterogeneous enhancement, and two patients had meningeal thickening. CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial D-TGCT is extremely rare, but must be differentiated from other tumors. Osteolytic bone destruction in the area of the skull base with hyper-density soft-tissue mass and hypo-intensity on T2WI images are indicative of D-TGCT.

[Relationship of diffusion kurtosis imaging parameters with the pathologic type and prognosis of rectal tumors].

Objective: To explore the application value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in the differential diagnosis of rectal tumors and evaluating the prognostic factors associated with rectal adenocarcinoma. Methods: A total of 105 patients with rectal tumors admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2018 to August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance DKI scanning. The mean diffusivity (MD), mean kurtosis (MK) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were measured and the relationship of these parameters with pathological types and prognostic factors of rectal tumor were analyzed. The diagnostic efficacy of MD, MK, and ADC for positive circumferential resection margin (CRM) and extramural venous invasion (EMVI) of rectal adenocarcinoma was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: MD and ADC were only related to pathological type. The MD and ADC were (2.091±0.390)×10(-3) and (1.478±0.265)×10(-3) mm(2)/s in mucinous adenocarcinoma, higher than (1.136±0.182)×10(-3) and (0.767±0.077)×10(-3) mm(2)/s in unspecified adenocarcinoma and (1.617±0.697)×10(-3) and (0.940±0.179)×10(-3) mm(2)/s in tubulo-villous adenoma. The MD and ADC in unspecified adenocarcinoma were lower than those in tubule-villous adenoma (P<0.05). Nevertheless, MK was associated with pathological type, N stage, CRM and EMVI. The MK was 0.566±0.110 in mucinous adenocarcinoma, lower than 0.982±0.135 in unspecified adenocarcinoma and 0.827±0.121 in tubulo-villous adenoma. The MK in unspecified adenocarcinoma was higher than that in intubulo-villous adenoma. The MK was 0.984±0.107 in pN1-2, higher than 0.881±0.146 in pN0. The MK was 0.990±0.142 in positive CRM, higher than 0.862±0.114 in negative CRM. The MK was 0.996±0.140 in positive EMVI, higher than 0.832±0.100 in negative EMVI (P<0.05). The ROC curves showed that the AUCs of MD, MK and ADC in diagnosing positive CRM were 0.459, 0.653 and 0.408, respectively; with MK=1.006 as the optimal diagnostic threshold, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 51.9% and 81.0%, respectively. The AUCs of MD, MK and ADC values in diagnosing positive EMVI were 0.510, 0.662 and 0.388, respectively; with MK=1.010 as the optimal diagnostic threshold, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 50.9% and 87.5%, respectively. Conclusions: DKI quantitative parameter is helpful for discriminating rectal tubulo-villous adenoma, unspecified adenocarcinoma, and mucinous adenocarcinoma, and is helpful for predicting the prognosis of patients with rectal adenocarcinoma. High MK is associated with positive CRM and EMVI.

[Analysis of effective connectivity in default mode network in male long-term smokers based on dynamic causal modeling].

Objective: To investigate the alterations in effective connection of default mode network (DMN) in long-term male smokers and its correlation with clinical characteristics of smoking. Methods: A total of 131 subjects through WeChat platform and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance (rs-fMRI) examinations were recruited, including 76 long-term smokers [long-term smoking group, male, aged 20 to 55 (32.1±6.3) years] and 55 non-smokers [healthy controls, male, aged 20 to 55(32.3±7.4) years] from January 2014 to December 2018. Long-term smokers were defined as those who smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day for more than 2 years, and met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Four Edition (DSM-Ⅳ) criteria for substance dependence. Four major nodes of DMN, including left inferior parietal lobule (LIPL), right inferior parietal lobule (RIPL), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were chosen as for the region of interest. The effective connectivity (EC) alterations of DMN between smoking group and healthy controls were compared using dynamic causal modeling (DCM). The correlation between EC with significant difference among the two groups and Nicotine Dependence Scale (FTND) score, pack-year score and smoking duration were evaluated. Results: Compared to the healthy controls, the EC of LIPL to PCC and PCC to mPFC were decreased in the smoking group (EC = -0.091, -0.174, respectively, Bayesian-PP>0.95), and the EC of RIPL to PCC was increased (EC = 0.136, Bayesian-PP>0.95). Besides, EC of LIPL to PCC showed negative correlation with pack-year scores(r=-0.282,P=0.017). No significant linear correlations were observed between EC with significant group difference and FTND score or smoking duration (r=-0.103、-0.089,all P>0.05). Conclusion: Long-term smokers showed multiple abnormalities in IPL-PCC-mPFC circuits, and associated with the pack-year scores.

[Magnetic resonance imaging findings of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia].

This paper analyzed the imaging data of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) in 5 cases, with 1 male, 4 females, aged 28-61 years. MRI of IPEH revealed well-demarcated masses with central iso-or hypointensity and peripheral hyperintensity on T2-weighted image(T2WI), as well as peripheral enhancement or hyperintensity on T2WI with/without hypointense foci, as well as homogeneous enhancement or heterogeneous enhancement with nonenhanced foci. CT demonstrated iso-or slightly hyperdense, well-circumscribed mass with bone destruction or calcification.

[Study on the mechanism of brain damage based on structural covariant network to evaluate the brain structure of nicotine addicts].

Objective: To explore the neuromechanism of nicotine dependence, structural covariation networks (SCNs) based on voxel-based morphometry (VBM) were used to study the synergistic changes in gray matter volume in different cerebral cortices of nicotine dependent individuals. Methods: During the period from August 2016 to February 2018, a total of 118 long-term smokers and 57 non-smoking healthy controls (both 18-55 male volunteers) through online platforms and leaflets were recruited. The subjects were scanned with SIEMENS Skyro 3.0T magnetic resonance scanner and underwent routine MRI sequence (preliminary elimination of intracranial lesions) and 3D-T1 (3D-mprage) sequence structure. Two imaging experts used Matlab software platform to carry on segmentation by using SPM8, and to find out the differences between the two groups of brain regions, and differences in brain regions as region of interest (ROI) structure association network analysis. Results: The gray matter volume (GMV) of the right anterior central gyrus and the left inferior parietal lobe in the smoking group decreased(voxels size were 55 and 284, respectively), and no gray matter volume (GMV) area increased. The network structure of covariant analysis found that when the inferior parietal lobe as the seed points, the smoking group showed a rising trend in left parietal lobe and left temporal pole, bilateral middle temporal gyrus, left postcentral gyrus and right middle frontal gyrus gray matter volume, and a downtrend in the right side of the left medial frontal gyrus, superior parietal lobe, bilateral temporal gyrus, left cingulate gyrus and left cerebellum (central) compared with the control group. Conclusion: In long-term smokers, there is a volume change of gray matter in the brain structure. Abnormal changes in the structure covariant network of the inferior parietal lobe can lead to impaired brain function in nicotine dependent patients.

[The value of high resolution diffusion weighted imaging in differentiating benign and malignant epithelial tumors of parotid gland].

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of RESOLVE DWI in the evaluation of benign and malignant epithelial tumors of parotid gland. Methods: A total of 106 patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University with epithelial tumors of parotid gland confirmed by pathology from July 2015 to October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent preoperative routine MRI and RESOLVE DWI, the ADC average values were calculated, t test were used to compare the ADC values of benign and malignant epithelial tumors of parotid gland. Diagnostic performance of ADC value was compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC)curves. Results: All lesions were solitary, including 69 benign epithelial tumors and 37 malignant epithelial tumors. The mean ADC values of pleomorphic adenoma and basal cell adenoma, adenolymphoma and malignant epithelial tumors were (1.47±0.16)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, (0.83±0.19)×10(-3) mm(2)/s and(1.14±0.14)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, the mean ADC value of adenolymphoma lower than the rest of the two groups, there were statistically significant differences among them (P<0.05). Using 0.94×10(-3) mm(2)/s≤ADC value≤1.28×10(-3)mm(2)/s as the critical value for diagnosing malignant epithelial tumors of parotid gland and comparing with pathological results, the result obtained had a sensitivity of 81.1%, specificity of 88.9%. ADC value had high correlations compared with pathological results, kappa value was 0.600. Conclusion: RESOLVE DWI can be applied in differential diagnosis between benign and malignant epithelial tumors of parotid gland.

Fisetin Exerts Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Effects in Multiple Mutant hSOD1 Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis by Activating ERK.

Oxidative stress exhibits a central role in the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease commonly found to include a copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene mutation. Fisetin, a natural antioxidant, has shown benefits in varied neurodegenerative diseases. The possible effect of fisetin in ALS has not been clarified as of yet. We investigated whether fisetin affected mutant hSOD1 ALS models. Three different hSOD1-related mutant models were used: Drosophila expressing mutant hSOD1G85R, hSOD1G93A NSC34 cells, and transgenic mice. Fisetin treatment provided neuroprotection as demonstrated by an improved survival rate, attenuated motor impairment, reduced ROS damage and regulated redox homeostasis compared with those in controls. Furthermore, fisetin increased the expression of phosphorylated ERK and upregulated antioxidant factors, which were reversed by MEK/ERK inhibition. Finally, fisetin reduced the levels of both mutant and wild-type hSOD1 in vivo and in vitro, as well as the levels of detergent-insoluble hSOD1 proteins. The results indicate that fisetin protects cells from ROS damage and improves the pathological behaviors caused by oxidative stress in disease models related to SOD1 gene mutations probably by activating ERK, thereby providing a potential treatment for ALS.

[Structural changes of brain gray matter in male long-term smokers under magnetic resonance imaging].

Objective: To evaluate gray matter structure changes in long-term male smokers by voxel-based morphological method. Methods: Fifty long-term smokers and 37 non-smoking healthy volunteers were scanned with Siemens Skyro 3.0T magnetic resonance scanner from August 2014 to August 2016. The subjects underwent routine MRI (excluding intracranial lesions) sequences and 3D-T1 structural sequences (3D-mprage). SPM8 pretreatment based on Matlab was used to analyze the structural data. All of the data were analyzed by SPM8 software. The data were compared between groups with independent sample t test. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between gray matter volume (GMV) and smoking data of two groups. Results: The gray matter volume of bilateral thalamic, right supramarginal gyrus, left supramarginal gyrus and left putamen of smoking group were (0.55±0.07), (0.40±0.05), (0.48±0.07) and (0.14±0.04) voxels, respectively, and the gray matter volume of the corresponding gyri in control group were (0.61±0.09), (0.43±0.06), (0.54±0.07) and (0.16±0.03) voxels, respectively; and the gray matter volume of smoking group were all lower than those in control group (t=-3.81, -3.51, -3.86, -2.33, all P<0.05), family wise error (FWE) correction (P<0.05). The gray matter volume of bilateral thalamus, right supramarginal gyrus and left putamen was negatively correlated with smoking index (r=-0.368, -0.189, -0.274, all P<0.05), and also negatively correlated with smoking years (r=-0.391, -0.221, -0.355, all P<0.05), and bilateral thalamus gray matter volume was negatively correlated with daily cigarette smoking (r=-0.186, P<0.05). Conclusion: The changes of brain structure of smokers mainly occur on reward-related pathways and marginal systems, and related to accumulation of cigarette smoking.

[Value of diffusion-weighted imaging in differentiating sellar malignant germ cell tumors from raniopharyngioma].

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) values in the differentiation of sellar malignant germ cell tumors and raniopharyngioma. Methods: This retrospective study included 36 patients(14 cases of malignant germ cell tumor and 22 patients with raniopharyngioma) with histopathologically-confirmed sellar tumors from January 2013 to April 2017 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University.All patients underwent conventional MRI and DWI before the treatment. ADC maps were reconstructed, and ADC values of the sellar lesions were calculated and compared between the groups. Diagnostic value of ADC was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves. Results: The mean ADC values of malignant germ cell tumors were significantly lower than that in raniopharyngioma[(0.93±0.23)×10(-3) mm(2)/s vs (1.69±0.21)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, t=-10.19, P<0.01]. The area under the ROC curves of ADC values diagnosing malignant germ cell tumors and raniopharyngioma was 0.987. The optimal cutoff values of ADC for differential diagnosis of malignant germ cell tumors and raniopharyngioma was 1.52×10(-3) mm(2)/s, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy was 81.2%, 100%, 88.9%, respectively. ADC value had a high consistency with pathological results (Kappa value was 0.887). Conclusion: Malignant germ cell tumors and raniopharyngioma have different ADC value, which can improve the diagnostic accuracy.

[Resting-state network evaluation of chronic smokers by functional magnetic resonance imaging.]

Objective: To explore the neuromechanism of nicotine smoking, we use independent component analysis (ICA) of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the differences of functional connectivity of resting-state networks (RSN) in chronic smokers. Methods: Forty-five chronic smokers and thirty-four age and gender matched normal nonsmoking controls experienced resting-state fMRI scanning in 3.0T MRI scanner.Differences of the function connection in each RSN between chronic smokers group and nonsmoking controls group were analyzed by SPM software which was based on Matlab platform. Results: Compared with normal nonsmoking controls, changes of functional connectivity within each RSN in chronic smokers: (1) medial visual network: functional connectivity decreased in right cuneus (t=4.17, P<0.05) and left calcarine (t=3.08, P<0.05); (2) lateral visual network: decreased in left gyrus occipital superior (t=3.42, P<0.05); (3) occipital pole visual network: decreased in right gyrus occipital medius and left gyrus occipital medius (t=3.58, P<0.05); (4) dorsal attention network (DAN): increased in right gyrus occipital superior (t=3.42, P<0.05); (5) left frontoparietal network: decreased in left inferior parietal lobe (t=3.77, P<0.05); (6) right frontoparietal network: increased in right gyrus frontalis medius (t=3.42, P<0.05). Conclusion: There are some RSNs changes of chronic smokers compared with normal nonsmoking controls, with multiple brain regions functional connectivity abnormalities.

[Imaging features analysis of Erdheim-Chester].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the imaging features of Erdheim-Chester. METHODS: A total of 7 patients with ECD confirmed by pathology were analyzed retrospectively.And the DR(n=5), CT(n=6, 3 patients underwent enhanced scan), MR(n=4, 2 patients underwent enhanced scan) and SPECT (n=3) features were observed. RESULTS: Among 7 cases of ECD, four cases of DR images showed luffa cystic changes.Five cases of CT images showed bone dissolved, four showed peripheral localized sclerosis, one showed symmetric sclerosis, No enhancement was found on CT scan.Four cases of MR images, three occurred as long T1 and long T2 signal, one occurred as short T1 and long T2 signal, and inhomogeneous enhancement.One case in soft tissue occurred as long T1 and long T2 signal, and inhomogeneous enhancement.Three cases of SPECT images were characterized by radioactive nuclide concentration of diseased region. CONCLUSION: When ECD lesions located in capitulum and metaphysis, most images of DR and CT show bone dissolved and peripheral localized sclerosis; MRI findings are complicated, the reason might be different proportion of mature and immature lipid components.SPECT would be a kind of effective measure of finding hidden lesion and monitoring curative effect.

[Utility of texture analysis of magnetic resonance imaging in differential diagnosis of common pediatric cerebellar tumors in children].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze magnetic resonance images of the posterior cranial fossa tumors, and evaluate the texture characteristics of three kinds of children's posterior cranial fossa tumors by support vector machine (SVM). METHODS: From May 2008 to August 2015, a total of 76 patients with children's posterior cranial fossa tumors in First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed, texture analysis was performed on the three types of tumors. RESULTS: The 5 texture parameters extracted from the gray level co-occurrence matrix had at least 3 parameters which had statistically significant difference between the two different classes of data sets (P<0.05). For all kinds of data sets, the variance parameters of gray value of ROI region had statistically significant differences.The accuracy rate of SVM test in the remarkable difference of the ependymomas and medulloblastomas, the ependymomas and astrocytomas and the medulloblastomas and astrocytomas was 86.15%±4.16%, 73.63%±5.82% and 74.32%±5.85%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The analysis of texture features can provide more quantitative information which could provide a new thought and method for the differential diagnosis of tumors in the posterior cranial fossa.

Osteoprotegerin polymorphisms in Chinese Han patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

In order to investigate the association between osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we studied OPG rs3102735 T/C and rs2073618 G/C polymorphisms in a Chinese Han population comprising 574 patients with RA and 804 controls. Genotyping by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was conducted. Our data indicated that OPG rs3102735 T/C and rs2073618 G/C polymorphisms were not associated with the risk of RA. However, among older patients (≥55 years), patients with the OPG rs3102735 TC (TC vs TT: OR = 0.68, 95%CI = 0.49­0.96, P = 0.029) and TC/CC (TC+CC vs TT: OR = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.49­0.96, P = 0.026) genotypes showed a significantly lower risk of RA than patients with the TT genotype, while patients with the OPG rs2073618 GC (GC vs GG: OR = 1.53, 95%CI = 1.13­2.07, P = 0.006) and GC/CC (GC+CC vs GG: OR = 1.43, 95%CI = 1.07­1.92, P = 0.015) genotypes showed a significantly higher risk of RA than patients with the GG genotype. We also found a significantly increased risk of RA associated with the OPG rs2073618 GC (GC vs GG: OR = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.07­1.93, P = 0.018) and GC/CC (GC+CC vs GG: OR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.04­1.86, P = 0.024) genotypes among functional class III+IV patients. Our results were obtained from only a moderate-sized sample and, thus, a larger study with a more diverse ethnic population is needed to confirm these results.

Light activated disinfection: an alternative endodontic disinfection strategy.

BACKGROUND: An improved light activated disinfection technique utilizing a specific photosensitizer formulation, liquid optical-conduit, oxygen-carrier and light energy of appropriate wavelength has been introduced recently. This study tested the efficacy of this improved light activated disinfection on ex vivo biofilms of Enterococcus faecalis at two different stages of maturation. METHODS: Eighty-five tooth sections were prepared and endodontic biofilm of E. faecalis were grown within the root canal. In stage 1, conventional light activated disinfection (LAD), chemical disinfectant (sodium hypochlorite) and improved LAD were tested on four-day-old (immature) biofilms. In stage 2, conventional LAD, improved LAD and chemomechanical disinfection (alone and in combination with improved LAD) were tested on four-week-old (mature) biofilms. RESULTS: Sodium hypochlorite and improved LAD showed the ability to significantly inactivate bacteria in four-day-old biofilms when compared to the control and LAD (p < 0.05). Inactivation of bacteria from deeper dentine was higher in improved LAD than sodium hypochlorite. In four-week-old biofilms, a combination of chemomechanical disinfection and improved LAD produced significant bacterial killing compared to either chemomechanical disinfection or improved LAD alone. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted the potential of improved LAD to kill bacteria within dentinal tubules. In combination with chemomechanical preparation, the improved LAD significantly inactivated four-week-old biofilm bacteria.

Global analysis of gene expression in invasion by a lung cancer model.

Metastasis is a complicated multistep process that involves interactions between cancer cells and their surrounding microenvironments. Previously, we have established a series of lung adenocarcinoma cell lines with varying degrees of invasiveness. Tracheal graft assay confirmed that cell lines with higher in vitro invasiveness had greater in vivo invasive potential. In this study, we used these model cell lines to identify invasion-associated genes using cDNA microarray with colorimetric detection. A more invasive subline, CL 1-5-F 4, derived from metastatic lung tumor of severe combined immunodeficient mice inoculated with CL 1-5 cells, was combined with CL 1-0, CL 1-1, and CL 1-5 in cDNA microarray screening. cDNA microarray membranes, each containing 9600 nonredundant expressed sequence tag clones, were used to identify differentially expressed genes in these cell lines. For statistical analysis, self-organizing map algorithm was performed to identify the expression patterns. Positive correlation between gene expression levels and cell line invasiveness was found in 2.9% of the 9600 putative genes. On the other hand, negative correlation was found in 3.3% of the genes. The trends of expression of some of the genes were also confirmed by Northern hybridization and flow cytometry. Our data demonstrated that genes related to cell adhesion, motility, angiogenesis, signal transduction, and some other expressed sequence tag genes may play significant roles in the metastasis process. These results substantiate the model system with which one can identify invasion-associated genes by using cDNA microarray and cancer cell lines of different invasiveness. This technique may allow us to explore complex interactions between multiple genes that orchestrate the process of cancer metastasis.

Expression changes of activin A in the development of hepatic fibrosis.

AIM: To examine the expression of activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor (TGFbeta) superfamily, recently has been reported to be overexpressed in liver cirrhosis, in the course of carbon tetrachloride-induced rat hepatic fibrosis. METHODS: Hepatic fibrosis was induced in rats by subcutaneous injections of 40% carbon tetrachloride oily solution for a period of 1 to 7 weeks. At the end of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 weeks after carbon tetrachloride injections, the rats were killed in group (6-10 rats each time) for study. The activin A messenger RNA expression and its protein localization were assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The normal rat liver expressed activin A mRNA and protein, and its expression was transiently decreased and became undetectable after carbon tetrachloride injections for 2 or 3 weeks and then increased gradually. After injection of carbon tetrachloride for 6 and 7 weeks, activin A mRNA and protein expressions were significantly enhanced in rat liver. Compared with that of the normal rat liver. Activin A mRNA expression levels in rats receiving carbon tetrachloride injections for 6 and 7 weeks were 1.6 and 2.2 times that of those in normal rat liver respectively (0.456 +/- 0.094 vs 0.2860.0670, P< 0.01; 0.620 +/- 0.134 vs 0.286 +/- 0670, P< 0.01). Immunohistochemistry showed that activin A expressed in hepatocytes of normal liver, and its expression was decreased in rats receiving carbon tetrachloride for 2 or 3 weeks. Compared with normal liver, activin A expression distribution mode changed in fibrotic liver, being increased significantly in hepatocytes around fibrotic areas. CONCLUSION: Activin A expression was increased in late stage of hepatic fibrosis, and this may be involved in hepatic fibrosis formation in this period.