不同端粒酶抑制剂对肝癌细胞端粒酶活力的影响

目的通过多种端粒酶抑制剂同时作用于人肝癌SMMC-7721细胞,比较各种端粒酶抑制剂抑制癌细胞端粒酶活力的效果。方法利用针对端粒酶RNA的反义寡核苷酸(ASODN)和正义寡核苷酸(NODN),针对端粒酶催化亚基的反义寡核苷酸(HASODN)和正义寡核苷酸(HNODN),以及没食子酰表没食子儿茶素(EGCG),3’-叠氮3’-脱氧胸苷(AZT),全反式维甲酸(ATRA),盐酸阿酶素(ADM)作用于人肝癌SMMC-7721细胞株,实时荧光定量端粒重复序列扩增法(real-timefluorescentquantitativeTRAPassay,FQ-TRAP)检测端粒酶抑制剂作用后SMMC-7721细胞端粒酶活力变化。结果FQ-TRAP法可检测到102个细胞的端粒酶活力,ASODN、NODN、HASODN、HNODN、EGCG、AZT、ADM、ATRA作用于SMMC-7721细胞后,与对照组比较,癌细胞的端粒酶活力均受到抑制(P<0.05),其端粒酶活力的下调率分别为93.30%、43.44%、41.02%、39.26%、58.15%、48.93%、24.44%和53.49%。结论FQ-TRAP法可快速、简便及定量检测人端粒酶活力。ASODN,EGCG抑制SMMC-7721细胞端粒酶活力的效果较明显。     

Development of a multiplex TaqMan real-time PCR assay for the detection of Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pneumoniae in human clinical specimens

Diagnosis of Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pneumoniae infections has traditionally relied on serological assays. We developed a multiplex real-time PCR assay for detection of C. psittaci, C. pneumoniae and an internal control. Results of this assay demonstrated 100% concordance compared to results of previously tested human clinical specimens.     

Image Fusion of Real-Time Ultrasonography with Computed Tomography: Factors Affecting the Registration Error and Motion of Focal Hepatic Lesions

Factors affecting the registration error (RE) and motion of focal hepatic lesions (FHLs) in image fusion of real-time ultrasonography (US) with computed tomography (CT) images were prospectively assessed by focusing on respiratory movement and FHL location. Real-time US and pre-acquired CT images at end-inspiration were fused with FHLs for 103 patients. Three-dimensional US data containing FHLs were obtained during end-inspiratory/expiratory phases. Multivariate analysis revealed that diaphragm motion (p < 0.001), chronic liver disease (p = 0.02) and the absolute difference in distance between the FHL and the central portal vein (CPV) during respiration (p = 0.03) were the independent factors that revealed the maximum effect on RE. In contrast, diaphragm motion (p < 0.001) and distance between the FHL and CPV at inspiration (p = 0.036) revealed the maximum effect on FHL motion. In conclusion, RE and FHL motion are affected by the degree of respiratory movement and the location of the FHL. Therefore, image fusion with CT images should be used with caution if the degree of respiratory motion is significant or if the FHL is located at the periphery of the liver.     

Computer-assisted assessment of ultrasound real-time elastography: Initial experience in 145 breast lesions

PurposeTo develop and evaluate a computer-assisted method of quantifying five-point elasticity scoring system based on ultrasound real-time elastography (RTE), for classifying benign and malignant breast lesions, with pathologic results as the reference standard.Materials and methodsConventional ultrasonography (US) and RTE images of 145 breast lesions (67 malignant, 78 benign) were performed in this study. Each lesion was automatically contoured on the B-mode image by the level set method and mapped on the RTE image. The relative elasticity value of each pixel was reconstructed and classified into hard or soft by the fuzzy c-means clustering method. According to the hardness degree inside lesion and its surrounding tissue, the elasticity score of the RTE image was computed in an automatic way. Visual assessments of the radiologists were used for comparing the diagnostic performance. Histopathologic examination was used as the reference standard. The Student's t test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed for statistical analysis.ResultsConsidering score 4 or higher as test positive for malignancy, the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 93.8% (136/145), 92.5% (62/67), 94.9% (74/78), 93.9% (62/66), and 93.7% (74/79) for the computer-assisted scheme, and 89.7% (130/145), 85.1% (57/67), 93.6% (73/78), 92.0% (57/62), and 88.0% (73/83) for manual assessment. Area under ROC curve (A_z value) for the proposed method was higher than the A_z value for visual assessment (0.96 vs. 0.93).ConclusionComputer-assisted quantification of classical five-point scoring system can significantly eliminate the interobserver variability and thereby improve the diagnostic confidence of classifying the breast lesions to avoid unnecessary biopsy.