An unusual scrotal mass: tubular ductal ectasia within the head of the epididymis

A patient complained of a right-sided testicular lump, increasing in size over a month, with some associated mild discomfort. There was no history of trauma or infection. The patient had undergone vasectomy 10 years previously. Clinically, the lump was palpable and it was difficult to determine whether it was intra- or extra-testicular. Ultrasound examination revealed a moderate right-sided hydrocele. The palpable mass was a markedly expanded epididymal head with an unusual echo-pattern, consisting of numerous tubular cystic spaces consistent with ductal ectasia.     

A new ambulatory system for comparative evaluation of the three-dimensional knee kinematics, applied to anterior cruciate ligament injuries

The aim of this study was to develop an ambulatory system for the three-dimensional (3D) knee kinematics evaluation, which can be used outside a laboratory during long-term monitoring. In order to show the efficacy of this ambulatory system, knee function was analysed using this system, after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) lesion, and after reconstructive surgery. The proposed system was composed of two 3D gyroscopes, fixed on the shank and on the thigh, and a portable data logger for signal recording. The measured parameters were the 3D mean range of motion (ROM) and the healthy knee was used as control. The precision of this system was first assessed using an ultrasound reference system. The repeatability was also estimated. A clinical study was then performed on five unilateral ACL-deficient men (range: 19–36 years) prior to, and a year after the surgery. The patients were evaluated with the IKDC score and the kinematics measurements were carried out on a 30 m walking trial. The precision in comparison with the reference system was 4.4°, 2.7° and 4.2° for flexion–extension, internal–external rotation, and abduction–adduction, respectively. The repeatability of the results for the three directions was 0.8°, 0.7° and 1.8°. The averaged ROM of the five patients’ healthy knee were 70.1° [standard deviation (SD) 5.8°], 24.0° (SD 3.0°) and 12.0° (SD 6.3°) for flexion–extension, internal–external rotation and abduction–adduction before surgery, and 76.5° (SD 4.1°), 21.7° (SD 4.9°) and 10.2° (SD 4.6°) 1 year following the reconstruction. The results for the pathologic knee were 64.5° (SD 6.9°), 20.6° (SD 4.0°) and 19.7° (8.2°) during the first evaluation, and 72.3° (SD 2.4°), 25.8° (SD 6.4°) and 12.4° (SD 2.3°) during the second one. The performance of the system enabled us to detect knee function modifications in the sagittal and transverse plane. Prior to the reconstruction, the ROM of the injured knee was lower in flexion–extension and internal–external rotation in comparison with the controlateral knee. One year after the surgery, four patients were classified normal (A) and one almost normal (B), according to the IKDC score, and changes in the kinematics of the five patients remained: lower flexion–extension ROM and higher internal–external rotation ROM in comparison with the controlateral knee. The 3D kinematics was changed after an ACL lesion and remained altered one year after the surgery.     

Continuous 900-megahertz electromagnetic field applied in middle and late-adolescence causes qualitative and quantitative changes in the ovarian morphology,tissue and blood biochemistry of the rat

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to use histological and biochemical methods in order to evaluate changes taking place in the ovarian of rats exposed to the effect of a 900-megahertz (MHz) electromagnetic field (EMF) in middle and late adolescence.

Materials and methods: Twenty-four 34-d-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned equally to control, sham and EMF groups. EMF group rats were exposed to the effect of a 900-MHz EMF for 1?h a day, at the same time every day between postnatal days 35 and 59, while inside an EMF cage. Sham group rats were kept inside the EMF cage for the same time between postnatal days 35 and 59 without being exposed to any EMF effect. At the end of the study, rats’ ovarian were removed and blood specimens were taken. Right ovarium tissues were subjected to routine histological procedures and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid shift and Masson’s trichrome. Follicles were counted in ovarian sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The TUNEL method was used to evaluate apoptosis. Left ovarian tissue and blood specimens were investigated biochemically.

Results: Histopathological examination of EMF group ovarian tissue revealed thinning in the zona granulosa and theca layers, shrinking in granulosa cells, reduced mitotic activity and leukocyte infiltration in the follicles and stroma. Secondary follicle numbers in the EMF group were significantly lower than in the other groups. In terms of biochemistry, EMF and sham group superoxide dismutase, catalase and anti-Mullerian hormone levels and EMF group 3-nitrotyrosine values increased significantly compared to the control group. EMF and sham group serum catalase and 8-hydroxy-deoxiguanosine values increased significantly compared to the control group, and EMF group total oxidant status and oxidative stress index values were significantly higher compared to the sham and control groups.

Conclusions: A total of 900-MHz EMF applied in middle and late adolescence may cause changes in the morphology and biochemistry of the rat ovarium.     

Cyr61基因过表达对人肾小管上皮细胞表达细胞外基质成分的影响

目的观察Cyr61基因过表达对人肾小管上皮细胞(HKC)表达细胞外基质成分的影响,探讨Cyr61在常染色体显性多囊肾病(ADPKD)发病中的作用及机制。方法RT PCR扩增Cyr61全长基因,构建pcDNA3.1+Cyr61重组质粒,转染HKC细胞。经RT PCR、Westernblot鉴定转染细胞系Cyr61基因的整合及表达。荧光定量PCR检测空白HKC、空质粒pcDNA3.1转染的HKC、Cyr61转染的HKC和囊肿衬里上皮细胞内Cyr61、I型和Ⅳ型胶原、层黏连蛋白的基因表达。结果构建了pcDNA3.1+Cyr61重组质粒并转染HKC细胞。Cyr61基因转染组和囊肿衬里上皮细胞内Cyr61蛋白表达显著高于空白HKC组,Cyr61基因转染组的I型和Ⅳ型胶原、层黏连蛋白mRNA表达都明显增高,且Ⅳ型胶原的基因表达增高程度远大于Ⅰ型(P<0.01)。但Cyr61基因转染组上述细胞外基质成分的表达仍显著低于囊肿衬里上皮细胞(P<0.01)。结论过表达Cyr61的HKC表达细胞外基质成分明显增强,尤以Ⅳ型胶原为著。过表达的Cyr61可能通过调节细胞外基质成分,促进细胞外基质重构,参与ADPKD囊肿的形成和发展。     

Body mass index,dose to organs at risk during vaginal brachytherapy,and the role of three-dimensional CT-based treatment planning

PurposeTo assess the effect of body mass index (BMI) on dose to organs at risk (OARs) during high-dose-rate vaginal brachytherapy and evaluate the role of three-dimensional dose evaluation during treatment planning.Methods and MaterialsThree-dimensional dosimetric data for rectum, bladder, sigmoid colon, and small bowel for 125 high-dose-rate vaginal brachytherapy fractions were analyzed. Dose–volume histograms were generated for D_{0.1 cc} and D_{2 cc} of each OAR. Contributing factors including the use of urinary catheter and cylinder size were also recorded. As different dose fractionations were used, the OAR doses were tabulated as a percent dose prescribed to 0.5 cm. All patients were treated to 4 cm of the vaginal length.ResultsMedian BMI in this cohort was 31.7 kg/m². The BMI values had a weak inverse correlation with D_{0.1 cc} to sigmoid colon (r_s = −0.18, p = 0.047) and D_{0.1 cc} to bladder (r_s = −0.19, p = 0.038). There was a strong inverse correlation of D_{2 cc} and increasing BMI (r_s = −0.64, p = 0.003). The median D_{2 cc} was 25.1% for BMI higher than 31 and 61.9% for BMI of 31 or lower. For D_{0.1 cc}, there was also a strong inverse correlation with increasing BMI (r_s = −0.57, p < 0.001). Median D_{1 cc} was 33.5% for BMI >31 and 84.4% for BMI ≤ 31. On multivariate analysis higher BMI remained a significant predictor of lower small bowel D_{2 cc} (p < 0.001) and D_{0.1 cc} (p < 0.001).ConclusionsWomen with a lower BMI receive higher doses to the bladder and small bowel compared with those with a higher BMI. Three-dimensional dose evaluation should be considered in patients with low BMI, particularly when combined with external beam radiation.     

大鼠肺组织羟脯氨酸测定方法及其应用

在参考并改进其他组织中羟脯氨酸（Ｈｙｐ）测定方法的基础上，对大鼠肺组织Ｈｙｐ测定方法的实验条件进行了研究。结果表明，①样品酸水解时间为２－３ｈ；②测量前无需调ｐＨ；③显色反应的温度和时间分别为８０℃和１０ｍｉｎ；④显色后无需冰水冷却。该方法重复性好，回收率高，在放射性肺炎研究中应用时，观察到肺组织Ｈｙｐ含量随照后时间的动态变化及补硒保护均有明显规律。     

缺血损伤对大鼠海马神经元形态及密度的影响

应用Nissl法和Colgi法观测了正常大鼠(Ⅰ组)及脑缺血30、60、90min大鼠(Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组)的海马神经元的形态及密度。结果表明:缺血后海鸟内大部分神经元出现胞体严重空泡化,树突节结化,树突棘脱落。随着缺血时间延长,各种变化加剧。Ⅲ、Ⅳ组海马的神经元密度明显小于Ⅰ,Ⅱ组(P<0.01),而在Ⅰ组与Ⅱ组之间及Ⅲ组与Ⅳ组之间均无显著差异(P>0.05)。     

Proton MR spectroscopic studies of chronic alcohol exposure on the rat brain

PURPOSE: To better understand the long-term pathophysiologic mechanisms of alcoholism-related organic brain damage by serially assessing brain metabolites in chronically exposed rats using both in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) from brain extracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The alcoholic regimen was continued up to 60 weeks. In vivo proton MRS studies were performed at 200 MHz using a small animal imaging/spectrometer. In vitro rat brain extracts were also examined using a 500 MHz vertical bore magnet. Comparison measurements were also obtained in an age-matched control group. RESULTS: In vivo results showed that there is a significant increase in the Cho/NAA ratio in the chronic alcohol-exposed group that reached a maximum around 16 weeks. After 44 weeks of alcohol exposure, Cho/NAA in the alcohol group decreased significantly from its maximum value to a value that was significantly lower than those from the control groups. Brain extract studies demonstrated that PC and GPC were the main components responsible for the observed in vivo spectral changes after 16 and 60 weeks of alcohol consumption, respectively. CONCLUSION: The fluctuation of choline-containing metabolites during alcohol intoxication could explain sometimes seemingly conflicting and confusing results from MRS studies in human and animal studies in which the duration of alcohol consumption and amount are varied widely.     

Evaluation of the accuracy of linear measurements on spiral computed tomography-derived three-dimensional images and its comparison with digital cephalometric radiography

Objectives

The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of linear measurements obtained from reconstructed spiral CT images of human dry skulls in three planes by comparing them with direct skull measurements, and then to compare these with measurements made on photostimulable phosphor cephalograms.

Methods

Using a Siemens Somatom Sensation spiral CT scanner (Munich, Germany), CT images of six human dry skulls were imported into imaging software (Mimics 11.02 Materialise, Leuven, Belgium) and the measurements made were compared to the direct measurements made using a digital calliper (500-171, CD-6C, Mitutoyo, Kawasaki, Japan). The measurements were also compared to those made on frontal and lateral cephalograms taken using a digital cephalostat (Planmeca Oy, Helsinki, Finland). The mean of the 15 linear measurements obtained were compared using the paired Student''s t-test.

Results

CT measurements did not show a significant difference from the direct skull measurements (P < 0.05) in all three planes except for two midsagittal measurements in the anteroposterior plane. Cephalometric measurements were comparable to direct skull measurements for midsagittal measurements in the anteroposterior plane, but showed a significant difference when bilateral measurements were considered. Cephalometric measurements also showed a significant difference in the transverse plane from direct measurements and CT measurements; however, they did not display a significant difference between direct skull measurements and CT measurements for most parameters in the vertical plane.

Conclusion

Linear measurements on the spiral CT were comparable to anatomical measurements and were more reliable than cephalometric measurements. Cephalometric measurements were acceptable for midsagittal measurements in the anteroposterior plane, but showed a significant variation from anatomical and CT measurements in most other parameters.     

清热中药对大鼠下丘脑组织中NA、5-HT含量的影响

选用典型的清热中药黄芩、银花、连翘组成清热方,从体温调节枢神经介质面来探讨清热类中药的解热作用机制.实验表明影响体温调节中枢发热介质5-HT代谢,降低其含量,从而抑制体温调定点上移是清热中药解热作用机理之一.     

大鼠胸部严重创伤后早期下丘脑CRH表达的实验研究

目的 探讨大鼠胸部撞击伤应激反应中,下丘脑表达和分泌促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素(CRH)的变化规律及其反馈调节机制。方法 应用BIM-Ⅲ型多功能小型生物撞击机致伤动物,采用免疫组化和RT-PCR等技术,检测大鼠下丘脑CRH的分布及含量变化规律。分组：对照组、撞击伤后15、30、60、120、360、720分钟组、撞击伤处理组(用CRH1R特异性阻滞剂CP-154526处理)。结果 正常情况下,CRH少量分布于下丘脑室旁核和视上核;撞击伤后,室旁核和视上核的CRH染色明显增加;撞击伤后60分钟,下丘脑CRH mRNA含量明显增加,且呈逐渐增加的趋势,720分钟开始回落;用CP-154526处理的大鼠,撞击伤后,下丘脑CRH含量的增加明显减少。结论 在创伤性应激反应早期,CRH通过与下丘脑神经元CRH1R的结合,选择性地调节下丘脑神经元CRH基因的表达。     

双源CT灌注扫描对于索拉非尼治疗大鼠种植性肝癌疗效的评估

目的 定量分析双源CT灌注扫描各参数在索拉非尼靶向治疗大鼠肝癌模型前后的变化特点,评估各灌注参数与MVD及VEGF之间的相关性的研究.方法 荷瘤大鼠34只,随机分为实验组(26只),对照组(8只).分别给予索拉非尼及含等剂量溶剂的生理盐水20 mg/d,共灌胃21 d.治疗前后应用双源CT分别进行灌注扫描,观察2次灌注参数及肿瘤最大径的变化,第2次扫描结束后行HE及免疫组化检查.结果 (1)实验组大鼠治疗前后肝癌区BF、BV、pBV、ALP有统计学差异(P值均＜0.05),而MPI、PVP、HPI等值均无统计学差异(P值均≥0.05).对照组治疗前后肿瘤区域所有灌注参数均无统计学意义.(2)实验组治疗前后肿瘤最大径平均约为(0.828±0.319) cm和(0.573±0.435) cm (P=0.000),对照组肿瘤治疗前后最大径平均约为(0.816±0.401) cm和(1.370±0.332) cm(P=0.005).(3)MIP、ALP分别与VEGF及MVD呈正相关.结论 双源CT灌注扫描能够作为一项非侵袭性替代参数来评估经索拉非尼治疗后大鼠种植性肝癌的血流动力学变化.     

rhG-CSF对大鼠颈动脉血管内皮细胞增殖及eNOSmRNA表达的影响

目的　研究重组人粒细胞集落刺激因子(rhG CSF)对大鼠颈总动脉损伤后再内皮化和内膜增生过程的影响。方法　5 6只Wistar大鼠随机分为2组。观察组2 8只:rhG CSF皮下注射注射7d后,行左颈总动脉球囊导管拉伤。术后1h、3、5、7、14d取损伤处颈动脉内膜;对照组2 8只:用生理盐水0 .5ml皮下注射代替rhG CSF ,其余操作同观察组。应用免疫组化法观察细胞增殖情况。通过RT PCR方法分析eNOSmRNA表达的影响。结果　发现rhG CSF组PCNA阳性细胞率显著低于对照组(P <0 .0 1) ,eNOSmRNA表达明显高于对照组。结论　rhG CSF对大鼠颈总动脉球囊损伤科促进血管再内皮化和抑制内膜增生过程     

Influence of calcium channel inhibitors on the myocardial uptake and retention of technetium 99m N-NOET, a new myocardial perfusion imaging agent: A study on isolated perfused rat hearts

BACKGROUND: Technetium 99m N-NOET is a new myocardial perfusion imaging agent currently in phase III clinical trials in Europe. In vitro studies on newborn rat cardiomyocytes have shown that calcium inhibitors, such as verapamil or diltiazem, inhibit its cellular uptake by 40%. To determine whether such a specificity exists ex vivo, we studied the effect of verapamil, diltiazem, and nifedipine on the myocardial uptake and retention of Tc-99m N-NOET in isolated perfused rat hearts. METHODS AND RESULTS: After a 15-minute baseline period, rat hearts were perfused with 0.5 micromol/L verapamil (n = 6), 0.75 micromol/L diltiazem (n = 6), or 0.1 micromol/L nifedipine (n = 6) for 10 minutes before the injection of a bolus (40 microCi/250 microL) of the tracer. Control hearts were perfused with either 1.5 mmol/L calcium (same concentration as in the treated groups; n = 7) or 0.75 mmol/L calcium (same contractility as in the treated groups; n = 6). Myocardial activity of Tc-99m N-NOET was monitored for 30 minutes. The functional parameters of the hearts were recorded throughout the experiments. Calcium inhibitors induced a 40% to 55% decrease in maximal first derivative of left ventricular pressure (dP/dt) (0.0001相似文献   

The effect of perfusion on T1 after slice-selective spin inversion in the isolated cardioplegic rat heart: Measurement of a lower bound of intracapillary-extravascular water proton exchange rate

Many NMR measurements of cardiac microcirculation (perfusion, intramyocardial blood volume) depend on some kind of assumption of intracapillary-extravascular water exchange rate, e.g., fast exchange. The magnitude of this water exchange rate, however, is still unknown. The intention of this study was to determine a lower limit for this exchange rate by investigating the effect of perfusion on relaxation time. Studies were performed in the isolated perfused cardioplegic rat heart. After slice-selective inversion, the spin lattice relaxation rate of myocardium within the slice was studied as a function of perfusion and compared with a mathematical model which predicts relaxation rate as a function of perfusion and intracapillary-extravascular exchange rate. A linear relationship was found between relaxation rate T^?1 and perfusion P normalized by perfusate/tissue partition coefficient of water, λ: ΔT^?1 = m · ΔP/λ with 0.82 ≤ m ≤ 1.06. Insertion of experimental data in the model revealed that a lower bound of the exchange rate from intra-to extravascular space is 6.6 s^?1 (4.5 s^?1, P < 0.05), i.e., the intracapillary lifetime of a water molecule is less than 150 ms (222 ms, P < 0.05). Based on this finding, the T₁ mapping after slice-selective inversion could become a valuable noncontrast NMR method to measure variations of perfusion.     

Differential uptake of FDG and DG during post-ischaemic reperfusion in the isolated, perfused rat heart

Fluorine-18 2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) and 2-deoxyglucose (DG) are widely used as tracers of glucose uptake in the myocardium. Although there is agreement that the two analogues behave similarly to glucose under control conditions, there is growing evidence that some interventions (e.g. insulin stimulation or ischaemia/reperfusion) cause differential changes in their behaviour. The addition of a two-surface coil nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probe and a dual-perfusion cannula to our recently developed PET and NMR dual-acquisition (PANDA) system allows us to collect PET (FDG) images and phosphorus-31 NMR (2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate) spectra simultaneously from each independently perfused coronary bed of the heart. We have used this technique to study the effect of regional ischaemia/reperfusion on FDG and DG uptake in the isolated, perfused rat heart. During control perfusion, FDG uptake was almost identical in both coronary beds. When one coronary bed was made ischaemic, FDG uptake ceased on that side but continued on the control side. Reperfusion failed to restore FDG uptake. In contrast, NMR spectra showed that, during reperfusion, the uptake and phosphorylation of DG did not differ between the two coronary beds. The results thus demonstrate that regional myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion has different effects on the uptake of FDG and DG in the isolated, perfused rat heart. Received 5 May and in revised form 18 May 1999     

孕期低强度游泳运动对哺乳期过度喂养子代肥胖大鼠生长发育和糖脂代谢的影响

目的:探究孕期低强度游泳运动对哺乳期过度喂养子代大鼠(OF大鼠)生长发育和糖脂代谢的影响,为孕期体力活动指导提供理论依据。方法:80只SD雌性大鼠妊娠后第3天,随机选取22只母鼠孕期游泳运动(10min/day,6 days/week)至分娩结束,其余58只安静至分娩。全部母鼠分娩后第2天随机调整每窝子鼠喂养数目为4只或10只,最终获得子代大鼠实验分组为孕期安静+哺乳期正常喂养模型对照组(CNC,n=16窝,10只/窝),孕期安静+哺乳期过度喂养对照组(CSC,n=15窝,4只/窝)和孕期游泳运动+哺乳期过度喂养组(ESC,n=22窝,4只/窝)。生理发育指标检查出生后第7天(d7)张耳、d11出牙、d12开眼;神经行为发育指标检查d7断崖回避反射,d14平面翻正反射、d14负向地性反射、d14嗅觉定向和d21避暗试验、d21自主活动;血糖和血脂采用酶化学法,血胰岛素采用放射免疫法。结果:ESC组出生后d14负向地性反射、d21记忆行为和d21自主活动次数显著高于CSC组;ESC组和CSC组的摄乳量、体重、Lee指数、内脏脂肪垫体重比、血清胰岛素、瘦素和TC均显著高于CNC组,但ESC组和CSC组组间比较无显著差异;三组母鼠的血清和乳汁中瘦素、胰岛素水平均无显著差异。结论:哺乳期过度喂养可致OF大鼠具有肥胖表型;以增加母鼠孕期体力活动水平为目的的低强度游泳运动对子代OF大鼠的神经反射、记忆行为和自主活动水平下降有一定的预防效果,但对过度喂养所致子代大鼠肥胖表型和糖脂代谢异常无显著的预防效果。