Chinese medical journal
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Chinese medical journal · Sep 2012
Detection of siderotic nodules in the liver with susceptibility weighted imaging: correlations to serum ferritin, Child-Pugh grade and hyaluronic acid levels.
Chronic liver disease causes aberrant formation of fibrous tissue that impedes normal liver function, ultimately resulting in liver cirrhosis. Iron uptake can occur within the hepatic parenchyma or within the various nodules that form in a cirrhotic liver, termed siderotic nodules (SN). We aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) for detection of SN in patients with liver cirrhosis, and to evaluate the potential of SN numbers for assessing the degree of hepatic iron deposition, liver function, and liver fibrosis stage. ⋯ The sensitivity and contrast of SWI for detecting SN in patients with liver cirrhosis are higher than conventional MRI. The number of SN can help to assess the degree of iron deposition in patients with liver cirrhosis.
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Chinese medical journal · Sep 2012
Nifedipine induced autophagy through Beclin1 and mTOR pathway in endometrial carcinoma cells.
Endometrial carcinoma is one of the most common female tract genital malignant tumors. Nifedipine, an L-type calcium channel antagonist can inhibit cell proliferation of carcinomas. Recent studies indicated that a rise in the free cytosolic calcium ([Ca(2+)](c)) was a potent inducer of autophagy. Here, we investigated the relationship between nifedipine and autophagy in Hec-1A cells. ⋯ Proliferation and migration in vitro of endometrial carcinoma Hec-1A cells are significantly suppressed by nifedipine. The nifedipine leads autophagy to oppose Hec-1A cells apoptosis. Autophagy inhibition by 3-MA leads down-regulation of Cav1.3 and enhances nifedipine-induced cell death. The nifedipine-induced autophagy is linked to Beclin1 and mTOR pathways.
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Chinese medical journal · Sep 2012
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of hepatocarcinogenesis in liver cirrhosis.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often occurs in association with liver cirrhosis. A stepwise carcinogenesis for HCC has been proposed. The purpose of this study was to observe the enhancement pattern of hepatocellular nodules in cirrhotic patients using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and to correlate patterns of enhancement at CEUS with the diagnosis of hepatocellular nodules using pathologic correlation as the gold standard. ⋯ Pattern of enhancement at CEUS correlates with the pathologic diagnosis of hepatocellular nodules in liver cirrhosis, and may be helpful in predicting the progress from RN to HCC nodules.
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Chinese medical journal · Sep 2012
Long-term outcomes of surgical treatment for pulmonary carcinoid tumors: 20 years' experience with 131 patients.
Bronchial carcinoids are rare malignant neuroendocrine neoplasms. Some issues regarding surgical treatment of bronchial carcinoids remain controversial, including the role of bronchoplastic surgery and necessity of systematic lymphadenectomy. ⋯ Bronchoplastic surgery should be considered whenever possible for central carcinoids. Systematic lymphadenectomy is recommended for bronchial carcinoid patients. Histology and nodal status were significant independent prognostic factors of overall survival of patients with bronchial carcinoid.
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Chinese medical journal · Sep 2012
Relationship between 6-minute walk test and pulmonary function test in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with different severities.
The relationship between the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and pulmonary function test in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. We evaluate the correlation of 6MWT and spirometric parameters in stable COPD with different severities. 6MWT data assessed included three variables: the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), 6-minute walk work (6MWORK), and pulse oxygen desaturation rate (SPO(2)%). ⋯ 6MWT correlated with the spirometric parameters in severe and very severe COPD patients. 6MWT may be used to monitor changes of pulmonary function in these patients.