Hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic brain lesions: evaluation with 0.35-T fast MR imaging

Two fast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques, advanced Fourier and partial-flip imaging, were used at 0.35 T to examine 21 patients with suspected intracranial lesions; the results were quantitatively compared with a conventional spin-echo study. Both of the fast MR techniques yielded a fourfold reduction in imaging time per section. The advanced Fourier sequence showed contrast that was identical to the conventional spin-echo study with signal-to-noise ratios of 58% and 57% for the first and second echoes, respectively. The partial-flip sequence showed a contrast of 109% and 57% for lesions versus substantia alba, and 107% and 78% for substantia grisea versus substantia alba relative to the first and second echoes of the conventional spin-echo study. The partial-flip sequence was particularly sensitive to magnetic susceptibility; this produced artifacts that may undermine the usefulness of partial flip for routine screening in certain parts of the brain. However, this susceptibility significantly improved the detection of intracranial hemorrhage when compared with the spin-echo sequence, particularly when combined with phase mapping of the partial-flip study.     

Clinical report of cervical arthroplasty in management of spondylotic myelopathy in Chinese

Objectives  

To investigate clinical effects and manual operational point of Bryan cervical disc prosthesis in Chinese, to observe the stability and range of movement (ROM) post-operatively.     

羊踯躅根治疗慢性肾小球肾炎的实验及临床研究

本文用反复静脉注射小剂量牛血清白蛋白复制家兔慢性肾炎,用羊踯躅根治疗。同时,用该药对慢性肾炎病人进行疗效观察。阳性组兔肾小球呈现中至重度颗粒形免疫荧光,肾组织呈明显慢性硬化性肾小球肾炎改变。尿蛋白±～++。治疗组兔及病人治疗后病变及症状均明显减轻或消失。结果提示循环免疫复合物反复沉着可引起兔类似人类的慢性硬化性肾小球肾炎,羊踯躅根对病变有一定的控制和治疗作用,这可能与其抑制免疫发病机制有关。     

The immunomodulatory effects of 3-monochloro-1,2-propanediol on murine splenocyte and peritoneal macrophage function in vitro.

3-Monochloro-1,2-propanediol (MCPD) is a well-known by-product of acid-hydrolyzed soy sauce during its manufacturing process. MCPD has been reported genotoxic in vitro, and reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity in rats. To evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of MCPD on murine splenocyte and macrophage in vitro, we investigated splenocyte blastogenesis by concanavalin A (Con A), anti-CD3, and lipopolyssacharide (LPS), the production of cytokines from splenocyte, and the activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages. There was a significant decrease in lymphocyte blastogenesis to Con A or anti-CD3 at subtoxic dose of MCPD. A significant decrease in splenocyte blastogenesis to LPS was also observed. The production level of interferon (IFN)-gamma on splenocyte culture with Con A was significantly reduced at the higher concentration than 1.0mM of MCPD. The levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 were also decreased at high concentrations of MCPD. There was a significant decrease in production of nitric oxide (NO) by peritoneal macrophages treated with MCPD. MCPD also inhibits tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production of stimulated macrophages. These results indicate that MCPD might be able to reduce the functionality of lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages in vitro.     

Can a leukocyte depletion filter (LDF) reduce the risk of reintroduction of hepatocellular carcinoma cells?

During liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, HCC could theoretically be introduced into the systemic circulation when salvaged blood is used with an autotransfusion device. Several reports have shown that some types of leukocyte depletion filters (LDFs) could completely reduce the risk for reintroducing some types of tumor cells. In this study, we tested the ability of the LDF (RCEZ1T, Pall Biomedical Co, NY, USA) to reduce the risk for reintroducing HCC cells in vitro by using a very sensitive detection method. We divided the test group into 6 groups: group I was 10 cells, group II was 20 cells, group III was 2 x 10(3) cells, group IV was 2 x 10(5) cells, group V was 2 x 10(6) cells, and group VI was 2 x 10(7) cells. The counted cells in 200 mL saline were passed through the RCEZ1T using the force of gravity. To identify the presence of cells, the pellet was resuspended, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a housekeeping gene, was used as a primer. In groups I and II, the HCC cells were completely filtered in all experiments. However, in groups III, IV, and V, the HCC cells were not completely filtered in a few of the repeated experiments, with the unfiltered rate of tumor cells being between 8% and 20%. In group VI, the HCC cells were not completely filtered in all the repeated experiments. In conclusion, the RCEZ1T filter markedly reduced the risk for reintroduction of HCC cells. However, at high HCC cell load the filter cannot completely remove all the tumor cells. Further studies are required to assess the impact in clinical settings.     

Clinical Significance of an Early Protocol Biopsy in Living-Donor Renal Transplantation: Ten-Year Experience at a Single Center

We report here our 10-year experience of a biopsy performed at day 14 after transplantation in 304 patients with stable graft function. The factors that may have influenced subclinical rejection were analyzed according to histology. The incidence of subclinical rejection was 13.2%. Addition of mycophenolate mofetile (MMF) as a primary immunosuppressant significantly decreased the incidence of subclinical rejection compared with patients without such treatment (odds ratio, 0.23; p < 0.05). On the other hand, HLA-DR antigen mismatch (odds ratio, 2.39) and unrelated donor (odds ratio, 2.10) were also significantly associated with decreased subclinical rejection (p < 0.05). The incidence of acute rejection in patients with normal findings was lower than in those with borderline changes or subclinical rejection (0.23 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.48 +/- 0.07 and 0.60 +/- 0.11, respectively; p < 0.05). The graft survival rates in patients with subclinical rejection were lower than in patients with normal or borderline changes at 1 (88.4% vs. 97.9% and 99.1%; p < 0.05), 5 (77.8% vs. 96.2% and 95.9%; p < 0.05) and 10 (62.3% vs. 96.2% and 93.7%; p < 0.05) years. Thus, a protocol biopsy performed on day 14 after transplantation is useful for predicting graft survival. Triple therapy including MMF, related donor and HLA-DR antigen match are important factors for reducing subclinical rejection in living-donor renal transplantation.     

Schizotypal disorder and schizophrenia: a profile analysis of neuropsychological functioning in Japanese patients.

This study compares neuropsychological functioning in a Japanese schizophrenia spectrum disorder group and a group of healthy Japanese volunteers. Participants were 37 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, 28 schizotypal patients, and 99 psychiatrically-normal volunteers. A wide range of cognitive measures were examined. All participants completed a Japanese version of a neuropsychological battery assessing executive function, working memory, processing speed, language, verbal memory, and spatial organization. Comparisons of neuropsychological function demonstrated similarities and differences between patients diagnosed with schizotypal disorder and those diagnosed with schizophrenia. Impairments in verbal memory, language, and processing speed were common to both patient groups and may represent a vulnerability to schizophrenia. Impairments in aspects of working memory, spatial organization and executive function were preferentially observed in schizophrenia and may be features of the overt manifestation of psychosis. Possible differences in the contributions of prefrontal and temporo-limbic structures provide direction for further studies.     

增殖细胞核抗原在口腔鳞状细胞癌中的表达

采用鼠抗ＰＣＮＡ单克隆抗体，ＡＢＣ法，对１１例正常口腔粘膜及２９例口腔鳞癌进行了染色。结果表明：正常粘膜仅在基底层中有少量的ＰＣＮＡ阳性细胞，其阳性分级为１级。而鳞癌阳性分级主要是３～４级，随着组织学分级的升高，ＰＣＮＡ阳性表达率也相应增高。经统计学分析，正常组织与鳞癌之间及鳞癌各级均有非常显著差异（Ｐ＜００１）。提示：ＰＣＮＡ的表达与口腔鳞癌组织学分级有关。     

复合维生素对抗体形成细胞的影响

单独一种维生素缺乏对免疫功能的影响已有较多研究报道,但维生素缺乏一般不会单独发生,为此本实验研究了维生素A、E、B_2、B_6及叶酸供给不足(1/3生理需要量)、加倍补充(2倍和3倍生理需要量)后对小鼠抗体形成细胞的复合效应。动物喂养6周(不足纠正组喂8周),结果显示,不足组抗体形成细胞显著低于对照组,而2倍、3倍组则显著升高,不足组补充正常量维生素后,抗体形成细胞升高超过对照组,与2倍量组无显著差异;另外,该几种维生素对肝脏RNA、脾脏DNA、RNA及肝脏蛋白质均有明显影响,且抗体形成细胞的变化与核酸、蛋白质含量改变相平行,提示后者可能是维生素作用于体液免疫系统的生化机制。