Dynamic evaluation of 18F-FDG uptake by microPET and whole-body autoradiography in a fibrosarcoma-bearing mouse model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fluorine-18-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) has been used in the clinic as a diagnostic radiotracer for monitoring many kinds of tumors, but its value for monitoring fibrosarcoma is not well established. METHODS: In this study, the uptake of 18F-FDG in a fibrosarcoma-bearing mouse model was evaluated using the high resolution positron emission tomography (PET) system microPET. Tumor cells were implanted in 3 FVB/N mice, and static microPET scanning was performed on day 1, 7, 12 and 15 after implantation. A dynamic microPET image was scanned on day 12 to determine the 18F-FDG uptake in 3 other tumor-bearing mice. Time-activity curves were plotted by drawing regions of interest in the tumor, liver, kidneys and muscles. The mice were sacrificed after dynamic microPET imaging and whole-body autoradiography (WBAR) was performed. For biodistribution study, 9 tumor-bearing mice, 3 per experimental group, were studied at 3 time points and the results were compared with the static microPET images. RESULTS: MicroPET images suggested that 18F-FDG could be used to monitor the growth of tumors 7 days after implantation. Dynamic scans of 18F-FDG uptake reached a plateau in the tumor after 20 minutes on day 12 after implantation. Both microPET and WBAR revealed evidence of tumor necrosis. The results of biodistribution and WBAR agreed with those from microPET images. CONCLUSION: MicroPET was useful for monitoring the growth of fibrosarcoma and determination of the maximal uptake time point of 18F-FDG in tumors in this tumor-bearing mouse model.     

Prognostic role of alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference in acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the utility of the alveolar - arterial oxygen pressure difference (AaDO (2)) in predicting the short-term prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS AND RESULTS: This study retrospectively enrolled 114 consecutive patients with acute PE, diagnosed by either spiral computed tomography or high probability ventilation - perfusion lung scans. During the first 24 h of admission, all patients had initial artery blood gas collected under room air. Patient exclusion criteria were chronic lung disease, septic emboli, and moderate and low probability lung scans. Patients were assigned to 2 groups based on either 30-day death or a 30-day composite event. Receiver operating characteristic analyses was used to determine the AaDO(2) cut-off value for predicting primary and composite endpoints. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences in AaDO(2) between the 30-day composite endpoint group and the 30-day composite event-free survival group (p=0.012). The AaDO(2) had a strong trend between the 30-day death group and the survival group (p=0.062). The best cut-off value for AaDO(2) was 53 mmHg and using this, the positive predictive value for 30-day death was 25% and the negative predictive value was 92%. For the 30-day composite endpoint, the positive predictive value for AaDO(2) was 35%, and the negative predictive value was 84%. In this study, thrombocytopenia was also an indicator of poor prognosis for patients with acute PE. CONCLUSION: The AaDO(2) measurement is a highly useful and simple measurement for predicting short-term prognosis in patients with acute PE. It has high negative predictive value and moderate positive predictive value for 30-day death and 30-day composite event. Aggressive thrombolytic treatment strategies should be considered for patients with an initial poor prognostic parameter (ie, AaDO(2) >or=53 mmHg).     

A preliminary study of the relationship between antibiotic administration and changes in bacteriological profile of wound infection in a burn unit

Objective:To investigate the relationship between antibiotic administration and the changes in bacteriological profile in a burn unit. Methods: The data of consumption of different kinds of antibiotics, including total antibiotic consumption [expressed as the number of defined daily doses (DDD)] as well as pathogen identification, were collected in a 8-year period. The constituent ratios of different kinds of antibiotics in total antibiotic consumption to isolation rates of various species of bacteria were calculated, and their correlation was analyzed. Results: Within this period, it was found that the aminoglycosides and first generation cephalosporins were used less frequently, while the polypeptides, carbopenem and macrolides were used proportionally more. At the same time, the isolation rates of Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter sp, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were gradually increased. The constituent ratios of predominant pathogens were correlated to the different kinds of antibiotics consumption in the burn unit. Conclusion: The results suggested that the consumption of different antibiotics was closely related to the trends of emergence of bacterial isolates from infected burn wounds. The result might imply that to regulate the administration of certain antibiotics might help decrease the emergence of certain pathogenic bacteria in burn infections.     

重组2型腺相关病毒-转化生长因子β3对实验性肝纤维化大鼠肝脏组织病理学和Ⅰ型胶原表达的影响

Objective To investgate the effects of TGF β 3 on rat hepatic fibrosis. Methods The TGF β 3 cDNA was cloned into rAAV2 vector. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model group, negative control group and TGF β 3 group. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by hypodermic injection of 40% CCI4. Recombinant AAV2-TGF β 3 viral particles were injected via the vena caudalis one week before CCh treatment. Rats were executed 8 weeks after CCI4 treatment, global histological change was observed after HE staining, the distribution of the collagen fibers was observed after masson staining, his-tochemistry was done to observe the expression of collagen Ⅰ; The positive area rate of the collagen fibers and the average optical rate of collagen Ⅰ were quantified. Results HE staining indicated that collagen fibers were reduced in the TGF β 3 group. Masson staining shown that the collagen fibers were distributed around the blood vessel, in the portal area and disse space. Compared to the model group (13.2%±2.2%) and negative control group (12.3%±1.5%), the collagen fibers in liver tissues of TGF β3 group (7.7% ± 1.5%) were significantly decreased (q = 9.456, P < 0.01; q = 8.217, P < 0.01). Histochemistry indicated that the collagen fibers of liver tissues of TGF 15 3 group (0.185±0.033) were significantly higher than those in the model group (0.252±0.042) and the negative control group (0.230±0.029), (q = 6.228, P < 0.01; q = 4.346, P < 0.01). Conclusion TGF β 3 alleviates the damage to hepatic cell and the level offibrosis in CCI4 treated rats and inhibits the expression of collagen Ⅰ.     

联合应用口服水剂和水灌肠肠道充盈法的MSCT研究

目的：评价口服水剂、水灌肠及两者联合应用充盈肠道后,使用MSCT显示成人正常肠道的能力。材料和方法：将43名非肠道病变志愿者分别采用口服水剂法(21例)、水灌肠法(12例)、双重法(口服水剂和水灌肠联合应用,10例)充盈肠道,然后行MSCT平扫和增强扫描并进行图像重建,对小肠和大肠各肠段充盈状态进行评价。结果：口服水剂法回肠充盈良好,水灌肠法大肠充盈良好,双重法回肠及大肠均充盈良好。口服水剂法小肠充盈优于水灌肠法,与双重法无显著差异,大肠充盈状态水灌肠法明显优于口服水剂法,与双重法无显著差异。结论：口服水剂和水灌肠联合应用可以在MSCT同时较好地充盈显示小肠和大肠,而两种方法单独使用则仅能分别充盈显示小肠和大肠,需要根据显示目的选择相应的充盈方法。     

PCR amplified HLA DQ alpha and DQ beta DNA typed by dot-blot hybridization and direct sequence for suspect.

For more effective screening of suspects, we combined two methods to individualize the biologic evidence from a crime scene: polymerase chain reaction (PCR) dot-blot hybridization for DNA typing of HLA Dq alpha; and PCR direct sequencing for DNA typing of HLA DQ beta. PCR-DQ alpha was typed by an AmpliType HLA DQ alpha kit from Cetus. PCR-DQ beta was typed by direct sequence using the dideoxy chain termination method. In 20 DNA samples, complete separation was demonstrated by these two polymorphic DNAs. This will be of considerable use in screening suspects in crime investigation work. The sensitivity of PCR is useful for trace evidence, and the rapid results of dot-blot hybridization and the precise results of direct sequencing have significant advantages.     

Sensitive trace-first liquid chromatographic determination of 4-aminopyridine in 3,4-diaminopyridine

For the treatment of human neuromuscular diseases, 3,4-diaminopyridine (DAP) is six to ten times more effective than 4-aminopyridine (AP), but only half as convulsant and toxic. Therefore, there is a need for the determination of AP in DAP. With only conventional equipment, high-pressure liquid chromatography can be used for the extremely sensitive detection of a trace contaminant under one condition: that is, the trace must be eluted before the major component it contaminates. Prior elution presents a trace peak in a fully exploitable form that is maximally efficient and maximally observable. This has already been demonstrated with a Pirkle-concept chiral stationary phase for determination of a chiral trace. However, its application to determination of a nonchiral trace with a reversed phase has not previously been reported. Such an application is reported here. In this demonstrative study, selectivity and loading capability were iteratively improved. Ion pairing with dodecanesulfonate maximized selectivity. It was again shown that using a less concentrated sample in greater volume maximizes loading capability without obscuring the peak of the trace. Eventually, the ability to detect 0.005% AP in DAP was demonstrated. Whether that sensitivity might be improved still more, perhaps with a larger column, was not established.     

The filter properties of the arterial beds of organs in rats.

The frequency properties of arterial beds in organs were studied by temporarily ligating the renal, the gastric, the splenic or the superior mesenteric arteries of rats. Blood-pressure waves of the tail arteries were recorded before and during the ligations, and were analysed by Fourier's transformation. Their frequency spectra have been found to change profiles following specific patterns with the ligations of different arteries. The results were significant with regard to the frequency selectivities of the organic arterial beds. Such frequency properties can be clearly explained when the circulation system is viewed as an electrical circuit network in which the organic arterial beds work as filters.