[Genetic relationships between Tuva population and the neighboring populations in the Altai Region of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region].

In the Hanasi scenic spot of the Altai Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, there is a special population known as Xinjiang Tuvinians for short. These Tuvinians were classified as Mongolians in the early 1950s by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, but they claimed that they have an independent origin. To resolve this dispute and their genetic relationships with the people in the neighboring regions, we randomly selected 150 male Tuvinians in the Altai Region. Fourteen Y chromosomal markers were genotyped and eleven haplogroups were constructed. The frequencies of the haplogroups K-M9 and Q-M242 were higher in Xinjiang Tuvinians or Tuvinians in the Tuva Republic than those in the other populations (e.g., Mongolians and Kazakh). Principal component analysis , multi-dimensional scaling analysis and further phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the Xinjiang Tuvinians were far separated from Mongolians and Kazakh. Based on these results, we proposed that Xinjiang Tuvinians are genetically distinct from Mongolians and Kazakh.

The effects of hypotonic and isotonic negative contrast agent on gastrointestinal distention and physiological intake of 18F-FDG.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore the effects of hypotonic and isotonic oral mannitol on intestinal distention and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) intake in PET/computed tomography (CT) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 124 patients without gastrointestinal disease were evaluated with PET/CT imaging and divided into four groups using a random number table. Group 1 drank plain water, group 2 drank 2.5% mannitol, group 3 drank 2.5% mannitol and also received 10 mg of scopolamine butylbromide, and group 4 drank 2.5% mannitol and also received 20 mg of scopolamine butylbromide. The patients in each group underwent PET/CT imaging 50 min after (18)F-FDG injection. In these groups, differences such as age, sex, disease distribution, oral liquid amount, and adverse reactions were compared. Gastrointestinal distention and F-FDG intake were analyzed by two experts in nuclear medicine by visual observation. Data were statistically analyzed using a rank-sum test, R×C contingency table, one-way analysis of variance, and a paired t-test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in blood glucose levels after oral administration of 2.5% mannitol (t=0.62, P>0.05). Gastrointestinal distention of patients in groups 2, 3, and 4 was superior to that of patients in group 1 (P<0.05/6). In addition to the sigmoid colon and rectum, (18)F-FDG intake in each part of the gastrointestinal tract in groups 2, 3, and 4 was less than that in group 1 (P<0.05/6). Patients in group 4 experienced significantly more adverse reactions compared with patients in the other groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Oral negative contrast agent and hypotonic bowel preparation decreased the physiological intake of (18)F-FDG, increased the distention of the gastrointestinal tract, and thus improved the image quality.

Oblique coronal view of the ACL double-bundle: Comparison of the Chinese Visible Human dataset and low-field MRI.

The aim of this study was to distinguish the individual bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) using the Chinese Visible Human (CVH) dataset and images obtained by low-field routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the oblique and coronal planes. Sectional anatomical data of the knee were selected from the CVH dataset and reconstructed in 3D. MRI of normal knees was performed with a low-field-strength magnet in the coronal plane. The shape of the ACL was clearly displayed. Using the oblique coronal plane, the anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundles of the ACL were distinguished in the reconstructed anatomical data and the MR images. The double-bundle structure of the ACL was evaluated in the CVH 3D reconstructions and MR images. Using the oblique coronal plane, it was possible to review the ACL structure in the knee. The study demonstrated the feasibility of distinguishing the two bundles in the ACL with CVH 3D reconstruction and low-field strength MRI. The accuracy in the grading of ACL injury in presurgical planning may be improved.

Whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging vs. FDG-PET for the detection of non-small-cell lung cancer. How do they measure up?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic efficacy of whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging (WB-DWI) and [18F] fluoro-2-D-glucose PET/CT(FDG-PET/CT)for assessment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 56 patients (21 female, 35 male; 35-76 years) with NSCLC proved by pathologic examination or follow-up imaging findings was set as reference standards, and all patients underwent both WB-DWI at 1.5T (MAGNETOM Avanto) and PET/CT (Biograph 16). For WB-DWI, a free breathing diffusion-weighted single-shot spin-echo epi-sequence in five-stations (head-neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis-thigh) was used. Each station-series contained 30 contiguous axial slices. Imaging parameters: FOV 360x360 mm, matrix size 128x80. B-values: 0 and 1000 s/mm(2) applied along x, y and z, 5 averages, acquisition time: 2.23 min/series, total: 11.55 min. The efficacy of WB-DWI and PET/CT were determined in a blinded reading by two radiologists and two nuclear medicine physicians using pathology and size change during follow up exams as the reference standard. RESULTS: Primary tumors (n=56 patients) were correctly detected in 56 (100%) patients by both PET/CT and WB-DWI. Ninety-six lymph nodes metastases were determined with pathologic and follow-up examinations. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) being for lymph node metastases: 91%, 90%, 90%, 96%, 80% with WB-DWI and 98%, 97%, 97%, 99%, 93% with PET-CT, other metastases: 90%, 95%, 92%, 97%, 83% with WB-DWI and 98%, 100%, 98%, 100%, 95% with PET-CT). Differences in the accuracy of lymph node metastasis detection between PET/CT and WB-DWI (P=.031) were significant. The differences were not statistically significant for detection of other metastases. CONCLUSIONS: WB-DWI is a feasible clinical technique for the assessment of NSCLC, lymph nodes and metastastic spread with high sensitivity and accuracy, but it was limited in the evaluation of neck lymph node metastases and small metastastic lung nodules.

[The expression of 5 immune molecules on rat peripheral leucocytes after heart transplantation].

AIM: To observe 5 kinds of immune molecule expressions on rat peripheral leucocytes at varying time points after ectopic heart transplantation and explore the mechanism of acute rejection reaction. METHODS: Donor's heart derived from SD rat was transplanted into the abdomen cavity of Wistar rat by anastomosis of donor's aorta and pulmonary artery to recipient's abdominal aorta and inferior-venacava for establishing coronary perfusion. Before and after transplantation, peripheral leucocytes were isolated from venous blood and labelled with the monoclonal antibodies(mAbs) against CD4, CD8, IL-2R, ICAM-I and MHC-II molecules, respectively. The these molecule levels were assessed by flowcytometry. Simultaneity, graft's pathological changes and their survival rate were observed. RESULTS: At 24 hours after transplantation, MHC-II molecule expression was increased, while expressions of CD4, IL-2R and ICAM-I were significantly decreased, but CD8 expression had no change. At 72 hours after operation, the expressions of CD4, CD8 and IL-2R increased and expressions of CD8 and IL-2R reached to peak. At 7-10 days after operation, except that CD4 expression increased continuously, the expressions of 4 other molecules decreased gradually. The survival rate of graft at varying times after operation were 100%( 24 h), 85.7%(3 days), 16.7%(7 days) and, 0 (10 and 12 days), respectively. Pathological examination showed that there was no notable pathological change in cardiac muscle tissue. At the third day after operation, 4 out of 7 transplanted hearts had only grade I A pathological change. Grade II and above grade II pathological changes were observed in all 6 grafts at the 7th day after operation. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that graft rejection reaction begin to appear in first 72 hours, and effector phase of the reaction appear mainly within 3-7 days after heart transplantation.