Rosai-Dorfman disease: a retrospective analysis of 13 cases.

Background: Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare, idiopathic, histiocytic proliferative disorder, the infrequent occurrence of which limits in-depth studies. Consequently, many characteristics of this disease remain unknown, restricting early diagnosis and proper treatment.

Methods: In this study, the literature was reviewed and a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 13 patients with RDD conducted to investigate the demographic data, clinical data, laboratory and imaging results, treatment, and prognosis of this disease.

Presence of tumour-infiltrating FOXP3+ lymphocytes correlates with immature tumour angiogenesis in renal cell carcinomas.

Background: FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) inhibit effector T cell functions and are implicated in tumour progression. However, together with microvessel density (MVD) they remain controversial prognostic predictors for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and potential associations have yet to be determined. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of Tregs and MVD and their potential relationship in RCCs.

[Transport of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in saturated packed column: effects of humic acid, pH and ionic strengths].

Quartz sand was selected as collector and saturated packed column was constructed to explore the effects of environmental factors (humic acid, pH and ionic strengths of the bulk solution) on the transport and fate of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (Nano-HAP) through measuring zeta potentials and representative c(i)/c(0) of Nano-HAP. It was suggested that zeta potentials of Nano-HAP colloids became more negative with increasing humic acid concentration and the change in solution composition from 0 to 10 mg/L humic acid yielded an increase in the zeta potentials of Nano-HAP colloids from -15 mV to -55 mV and a sharp decrease in a (attachment efficiency) from 1.0 to 0.

TWEAK/Fn14 promotes the proliferation and collagen synthesis of rat cardiac fibroblasts via the NF-кB pathway.

We wished to elucidate a potential role of the tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)/fibroblast growth factor-inducible molecule 14 (Fn14) axis in myocardial fibrosis. Stimulation of neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) with TWEAK could increase CFs numbers and collagen synthesis. Conversely, when CFs were pretreated with siRNA against Fn14, induction of cell proliferation and collagen synthesis by TWEAK were inhibited.

Comparison of pulsed and pseudocontinuous arterial spin-labeling for measuring CO2 -induced cerebrovascular reactivity.

Purpose: To compare the performance of pulsed and pseudocontinuous arterial spin-labeling (PASL and pCASL) methods in measuring CO(2) -induced cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR).

Materials And Methods: Subjects were scanned using both ASL sequences during a controlled hypercapnia procedure and visual stimulation. CVR was computed as the percent CO(2) -induced increase in cerebral blood flow (Δ%CBF) per mmHg increase in end-tidal PCO(2) .

Noncontrast dynamic MRA in intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM), comparison with time of flight (TOF) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) remains the gold standard to diagnose intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) but is invasive. Existing magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is suboptimal for assessing the hemodynamics of AVMs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of a novel noncontrast four-dimensional (4D) dynamic MRA (dMRA) in the evaluation of intracranial AVMs through comparison with DSA and time-of-flight (TOF) MRA.

Longitudinal reproducibility and accuracy of pseudo-continuous arterial spin-labeled perfusion MR imaging in typically developing children.

Purpose: To evaluate the longitudinal repeatability and accuracy of cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements by using pseudo-continuous arterial spin-labeled (pCASL) perfusion magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in typically developing children.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval with HIPAA compliance and informed consent were obtained. Twenty-two children aged 7-17 years underwent repeated pCASL examinations 2-4 weeks apart with a 3-T MR imager, along with in vivo blood T1 and arterial transit time measurements.

Comparative study on ureteroscopic lithotripsy and laparoscopic ureterolithotomy for treatment of unilateral upper ureteral stones.

Purpose: To compare the curative effects of ureteroscopic lithotripsy and laparoscopic ureterolithotomy for unilateral upper ureteral stones, and to explore optimal surgical indications and skills.

Methods: Fifty cases of unilateral upper ureteral stones were randomly divided into two groups: one group underwent ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy under epidural or lumbar anesthesia (n=25), and another group underwent laparoscopic ureterolithotomy under general anesthesia (n=25). Double-J stent was routinely indwelled in both groups.

Effect of acupuncture on hippocampal Ref-1 expression in cerebral multi-infarction rats.

Redox effector factor (Ref-1) is a sensitive marker for oxidative cellular injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture on hippocampal Ref-1 expression in cerebral multi-infarction rats. The rats with reference memory impairment were randomly allocated to three groups: impaired group, acupuncture group and placebo acupuncture group.

Regulation of the let-7a-3 promoter by NF-κB.

Changes in microRNA expression have been linked to a wide array of pathological states. However, little is known about the regulation of microRNA expression. The let-7 microRNA is a tumor suppressor that inhibits cellular proliferation and promotes differentiation, and is frequently lost in tumors.

The value of arterial spin-labeled perfusion imaging in acute ischemic stroke: comparison with dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential clinical value of arterial spin-labeled (ASL) perfusion MRI in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) through comparison with dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) enhanced perfusion MRI.

Methods: Pseudocontinuous ASL with 3-dimensional background-suppressed gradient and spin echo readout was applied with DSC perfusion MRI on 26 patients with AIS. ASL cerebral blood flow and multiparametric DSC perfusion maps were rated for image quality and lesion severity/conspicuity.

Expression of WNT-5a and ROR2 correlates with disease severity in osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma, a common malignancy primarily affecting children, generally has a poor prognosis. Novel diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic markers are required to ameliorate the negative outcomes of this disease. We investigated two potential markers, WNT-5a and ROR2, which are hypothesized to dysregulate WNT signaling pathways to promote tumorigenesis in other types of cancer.

Applications of arterial spin labeled MRI in the brain.

Perfusion provides oxygen and nutrients to tissues and is closely tied to tissue function while disorders of perfusion are major sources of medical morbidity and mortality. It has been almost two decades since the use of arterial spin labeling (ASL) for noninvasive perfusion imaging was first reported. While initial ASL magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies focused primarily on technological development and validation, a number of robust ASL implementations have emerged, and ASL MRI is now also available commercially on several platforms.

Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Acupuncture is commonly used to treat migraine. We assessed the efficacy of acupuncture at migraine-specific acupuncture points compared with other acupuncture points and sham acupuncture.

Methods: We performed a multicentre, single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Loss of Coherence of Low Frequency Fluctuations of BOLD FMRI in Visual Cortex of Healthy Aged Subjects.

Aging effects on blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (fMRI) have been studied using task induced hemodynamic responses with controversial findings. The present study systematically investigated the normal aging effect in the visual cortex using 3 indices of low frequency fluctuations of resting state BOLD fMRI, i.e.

Vitamin k antagonist warfarin for palliative treatment of metachromatic leukodystrophy, a compassionate study of four subjects.

MLD is characterized by accumulation of sulfatides in the brain. Vitamin K regulates two enzymes in sphingolipid biosynthesis and warfarin is known to lower brain sulfatides in rats and mice. We hypothesized that warfarin may mitigate the MLD phenotype by reducing the formation of sulfatides.

4-(2,4-Dichloro-phen-yl)-5,5-dimethyl-2-(3-silatranyl-propyl-mino)-1,3,2-dioxa-phospho-rinane 2-oxide.

In the title compound, C(20)H(31)Cl(2)N(2)O(6)PSi, the dioxaphospho-rinane ring adopts a cis conformation. The silatrane fragment forms a cage-like structure in which there exists an intra-molecular Si-N donor-acceptor bond. In the crystal, centrosymmetrically related mol-ecules are linked by pairs of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into inversion dimers, generating rings with graph-set motif R(2) (2)(8).

Association of KIR2DS4 and its variant KIR1D with syphilis in a Chinese Han population.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum spirochaete bacterium. The killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) gene family encodes cell surface receptors that are found on natural killer (NK) cells and certain T-cell subsets. NK cells are fast-acting effector lymphocytes of innate immunity that respond to infection.

Quantification of arterial cerebral blood volume using multiphase-balanced SSFP-based ASL.

A new technique is introduced in this study for in vivo measurement of arterial cerebral blood volume by combining arterial spin labeling with a segmented multiphase balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) readout sequence. This technique takes advantage of the phenomenon that the longitudinal magnetization of flowing blood is not or only marginally disturbed (besides T(1) relaxation) by the bSSFP ± α pulse train. When the blood water exchanges into tissue, it becomes quickly saturated by the bSSFP pulse train due to 0 velocity and reduced T(1), T(2) relaxation times.

Role of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in evaluation of congenital/developmental brain abnormalities.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an invaluable tool to study brain development and in vivo metabolism of brain. MRS is a noninvasive method and also does not involve ionizing radiation. The spectral patterns obtained from MRS evaluation provide unique information about the neonatal brain in several disease processes including hypoxic-ischemic injury, white matter and metabolic disorders, seizure disorders, and brain tumors.

[Growth of codoped CdWO4 crystals by Bridgman method and their optical spectra].

The CdWO4 crystals with good quality in the size of Phi25 mm x 120 mm, doped with Co in 0.5% molar fraction in the raw composition, were grown by the Bridgman method by taking -70 degrees C x cm(-1) of solid-liquid interface and -0.50 mm x h(-1) growth rate.

No evidence of a link between influenza vaccines and Guillain-Barre syndrome-associated antiganglioside antibodies.

Background: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by acute, progressive peripheral neuropathy and is commonly associated with the presence of antiganglioside antibodies. Previously, influenza vaccination was linked with the increased incidence of GBS; however, whether antiganglioside antibodies are subsequently induced remains unresolved.

Methods: Sera from human subjects vaccinated with seasonal influenza vaccines from the 2007-2008, 2008-2009, or 1976-1977 influenza seasons were screened for the induction of immunity to influenza and the presence of antiganglioside antibodies pre- and post-vaccination.

The bone morphogenetic protein antagonist Gremlin is overexpressed in human malignant mesothelioma.

Gremlin is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist family and its antagonistic effect is likely through direct binding to BMP proteins. As an antagonist of BMP, Gremlin plays a role in regulating organogenesis, body patterning and tissue differentiation. Recent studies have shown a deregulation of Gremlin in several types of human cancers.

[Effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on angiogenesis after neonatal hypoxia ischemia brain damage in rats].

Objective: To investigate effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on angiogenesis in neonatal rats with hypoxia ischemia brain damage (HIBD), and explore the possible mechanism.

Methods: Fifty-four of 10-day-old SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group (n = 6), hypoxia-ischemia brain damage group (n = 24) and ginsenoside Rg1 treatment group (n = 24). SD rats in HIBD group and Rg1 group were treated by separation and ligation of right common carotid artery (CCA) and subsequently exposed to hypoxia for 2.