Parsimonious clinical prediction model for the diagnosis of complicated appendicitis.

Objective: To develop a logistic regression model that combines clinical and radiological parameters for prediction of complicated appendicitis.

Methods: 248 patients with histologically proven uncomplicated (n = 214) and complicated (n = 34) acute appendicitis were analyzed retrospectively. All patients had undergone a presurgical abdominal and/or pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan, assessed by two radiologists.

Synthesis and antiproliferative activities of lupanol derivatives towards human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells.

A series of lupanol derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activities against three human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells lines, Eca-109, TE-1 and EC-9706. Among lupanol derivatives, seven were new compounds, and lupanol cinnamate analogues and , hydrazone analogues and presented high activities towards all the tested tumour cells, even higher activities than those of doxorubicine.

Adenoviral vector mediated ferritin over-expression in mesenchymal stem cells detected by 7T MRI in vitro.

Objective: The aim of the present work was to verify whether adenoviral vector mediated ferritin over-expression in mesenchymal stem cells could be detected by 7T MRI device, and to explore the relationship between ferritin content and MRI signal intensities.

Methods: A recombined adenoviral vector (rAdV) encoding ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) subunit was specially designed for the aim of infecting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Ferritin over-expression in BMSCs was determined by cell immunocytochemistry and the ferritin content in cells was determined by ELISA assay.

Synthesis and in vitro antitumour activities of lupeol derivatives.

Nine lupeol derivatives were synthesised and assayed in vitro for their antitumour activities against three human tumour cells lines, A549, LAC and HepG2. Of lupeol derivaties, six were new compounds, and five compounds against A549 cells, four compounds against HepG2 cells and three compounds against LAC cells were effective in reducing viability, and the most promising compounds 5, 6 and 9 exhibited high activities against lung and liver cancer cells, even higher activities than those of adriamycin.

7.0 T high-resolution 1H-MR spectroscopy of metabolic changes induced by chronic codeine phosphate in rat hippocampus.

Codeine phosphate is used widely to treat cough and pain. It is actually a sedative, but is known to cause codeine dependence. The exact mechanisms of codeine dependence are not fully understood, but are generally believed to be related to drug-induced neuroadaptation.

2D-1H proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging study on brain metabolite alterations in patients with diabetic hypertension.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible metabolic alterations in the frontal cortex and parietal white matter in patients with diabetic hypertension (DHT) using proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic imaging. A total of 33 DHT patients and 30 healthy control subjects aged between 45 and 75 were included in the present study. All subjects were right‑handed.

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is highly sensitive for lipid-soluble metabolites.

Although the water-soluble metabolite profile of human mesenchymal stem cells is known, the lipid profile still needs further investigation. In this study, methanol-chloroform was used to extract pid-soluble metabolites and perchloric acid was used to extract water-soluble metabolites. Furthermore, a dual phase extraction method using methanol-chloroform and water was used to obtain both water and lipid fractions simultaneously.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Vascular Cognitive Impairment With No Dementia.

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia (VCIND) are highly predictive of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. In this study, a 2-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed in 25 patients with aMCI, 28 patients with VCIND, and 32 normal controls (NCs). The concentrations of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), myoinositol (MI), and creatine (Cr) were measured, and their ratios were calculated.

Synthesis and in vitro antitumor activities of lupeol dicarboxylic acid monoester derivatives.

Ten lupeol dicarboxylic acid monoester derivatives as new potent antitumor agents were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antitumor activities against A549, LAC, HepG2 and HeLa cell lines. Among them, compounds 1-5 showed excellent antitumor activities against all tested tumor cell lines and compounds 6-10 exhibited high activities against A549, HepG2 and HeLa cells, exceeded lupeol, lupanol and doxorubicin. Compound 2 displayed the highest potent antitumor activities with IC50 values of 5.

Behavioral deficits, abnormal corticosterone, and reduced prefrontal metabolites of adolescent rats subject to early life stress.

The present study investigated the effect of early life stress in adolescent rats on brain metabolites, serum corticosterone, and depressive-like behavior. A group of rats was subject to early life stress from postnatal day (PND) 1 to 14. A matched control group was studied.

Quantification of choline concentration following liver cell apoptosis using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility of quantifying liver choline concentrations in both normal and apoptotic rabbit livers in vivo, using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).

Methods: 1H-MRS was performed in 18 rabbits using a 1.5T GE MR system with an eight-channel head/neck receiving coil.

Quantitative multivoxel proton MR spectroscopy study of brain metabolites in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a pilot study.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to investigate brain metabolic changes in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) using multivoxel proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MVS).

Methods: Fourteen aMCI patients and fifteen healthy control subjects participated in this experiment. All MR measurements were acquired using a 1.

[Study on fMRI brain map in patients undergoing needling at Zusanli (ST36) by reinforcing method].

Objective: To observe the characteristic of the fMRI brain map in patients undergoing needling at Zusanli (ST36) by reinforcing method for exploring the essence of Meridian-Collaterals and the mechanisms of acupuncture in treating diseases.

Methods: Twenty-six healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to two groups by double blinded method, 16 in the acupoint group and 10 in the non-acupoint group. Using GE Signa 1.