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Objective To investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of diethyl citrate (Et2Cit) on oxidative stress and vascular calcification in chronic renal failure (CRF). Methods SD rats were divided into four groups: control group, model group, Et2Cit group and Et2Cit+NPS2143 (calcium sensitive receptor inhibitors) group. Alizarin red staining was used to detect aortic calcification in CRF rats. Concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide (NO) in the aorta and plasma of CRF rats were measured. The cells were divided into four groups: control group, high-phosphorus group, Et2Cit group, and Et2Cit+NPS2143 group. The levels of dihydroethidium (DHE) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by flow cytometry. Results Compared with that in the control group, the aortic calcification degree in the model group was significantly increased. Et2Cit intervention could reduce the aortic calcification level. Aorta and plasma SOD and NO contents in the model group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Et2Cit intervention could increase SOD and NO contents in the aorta and plasma (P<0.05). However, when NPS2143 and Et2Cit were given simultaneously, the effect of Et2Cit in improving vascular calcification and oxidative stress levels were inhibited (P<0.05). DHE and ROS levels were increased in cells under high phosphorus environment (P<0.05), and Et2Cit intervention could decrease DHE and ROS levels (P<0.05). However, compared with Et2Cit group, DHE and ROS levels in Et2Cit+NPS2143 group were increased (P<0.05). Conclusion Et2Cit inhibited oxidative stress level in CRF vascular calcification, which is dependent on calcium-sensitive receptors.
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Objective To assess the value of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) in the differentiation of benign solitary pulmonary nodules(SPN) from malignant ones.Methods Thirty-seven patients with solitary pulmonary nodules(≤3 cm phi)were examined by contrast-enhanced CT.Qualitative and quantitative characters of benign and malignant lesions were analysed after administration of Ultravist in order to evaluate the attenuation value of contrast-enhanced CT in the differentiation of benign SPN from malignant ones .Results A threshold value of 30 HU was selected on enhanced CT images to distinguish malignant( CT value≥30 HU)from benign( CT value
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Objective To evaluate the role of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnose of prostatic cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and to determine the correlation between dynamic MRI findings with angiogenesis.Methods Thirty-two cases of prostatic cancer and 40 cases of BPH underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.All the patients in this study were diagnosed by histopathology.The results of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI were evaluated by early-phase enhancement parameters and time-signal intensity curves (SI-T curves), and the curves were classified according to their shapes as type Ⅰ, which had steady enhancement; type Ⅱ, plateau of signal intensity; and type Ⅲ, washout of signal intensity.The pathologic specimens of region of interest (ROI) were obtained, and HE staining, immunohistochemical vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and microvessel density (MVD) measurements were performed.The relationships among dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI features, VEGF, and MVD expression were analyzed.Results In the early-phase enhancement parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, onset time,maximum signal intensity, and early-phase enhancement rate differed between prostatic cancer and BPH(P
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Objective To evaluate the correlation between the irradiation dose and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) enhanced MR imaging of the irradiated liver. Methods 25 rabbits were separated randomly into 5 groups. 3 days after focal irradiation (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40Gy), MR imaging was performed before and after SPIO injection with TSE-T 2W sequence, and the number of Kupffer cell containing SPIO particles was counted. The characteristics of MR enhancement were evaluated according to the pathological findings.Results The liver injury induced by no less than 30Gy irradiation can be detected by SPIO-enhanced T 2 weighted imaging (P
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Objective To investigate the MR features of adenomyosis and its diagnostic value.Methods Forty-six patients with suspicious adenomyosis underwent preoperative ultrasound and MR exam.Inversion recovery sequence(IR)T 1-weighted images and turbo spin echo sequence(TSE)including T 1-weighted and T 2-weighted images were adopted.All patients were performed with contrast enhancement.Comparative analysis between MRI findings and pathology results was done. Results The diagnostic specificity,sensitivity and accuracy of MRI was 100%,94.74% and 97.14% respectively.The effect of MRI for diagnosis of adenomyosis was better than that of US significantly.All cases showed enlargement of uterus with regular contour.Diffuse and local thickening of junctional zone or low signal intensity lesion in outer myometrial layer was found on T 2-weighted images,sometimes bright foci observed in lesion on T 2-weighted images or on T 1-weighted images.Conclusion MRI has high value in gualitative diagnosis and localization of adenomyosis.It can be used as an important complementary method to ultrasound.
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Objective To study the clinial application value of MR dispersion arthrography in meniscus tear of knee.Methods The conventional MR scans of 24 knee joints in 24 patients who were considered to have meniscus tear were performed and followed by MR dispersion arthrography.All cases were approved by arthroscope or operation.The results of both convention MR scan and MR arthrography were compared with arthroscope and operation.The sensitivity and the specificity of plain MR scan and MR dispersion scan were evaluated respectively.Results The signal intensity in the area of meniscus tear was obiously highen on MR dispersion scan than that of MR plain scan.The sensitivity was improved from 74.2% to 94.3% ,and the specificity improved from 88% to 94.3%.Conclusion MR dispersion scan is superior to convention MR scan in image quality and sensitivity in detecting meniscus tear.