Comparison of Nongated Chest CT and Dedicated Calcium Scoring CT for Coronary Calcium Quantification Using a 256-Dector Row CT Scanner.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a marker of atherosclerosis and an independent risk factor for cardiac-related mortality and frequently detected on noncontrast chest CT. We aimed to investigate the reliability and accuracy of determining CAC using noncontrast, nongated chest CT with 256-detector row.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1318 patients for chest examination were enrolled to undergo both nongated chest CT and dedicated calcium-scoring CT (CSCT) on a 256-detector row CT scanner.

Application of Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction-V With Combination of 80 kV for Reducing Radiation Dose and Improving Image Quality in Renal Computed Tomography Angiography for Slim Patients.

Objectives: To explore the application of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V (ASIR-V) with combination of 80 kV for reducing radiation dose and improving image quality in renal computed tomography angiography (CTA) for slim patients compared with traditional filtered back projection (FBP) reconstruction using 120 kV.

Methods: Eighty patients for renal CTA were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into group A and group B. Group A used 120 kV and 600 mgI/kg contrast agent and FBP reconstruction, while group B used 80 kV and 350 mgI/kg contrast agent and both FBP and ASIR-V reconstruction from 10%ASIR-V to 100%ASIR-V with 10%ASIR-V interval.

LncRNA ZEB2-AS1 contributes to the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer via activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Studies have shown that long noncoding RNA Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 antisense RNA 1 (ZEB2-AS1) is involved in the progression of lung cancer, bladder cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, its role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer remains unknown. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway contributes to the development of gastric cancer.

Differences between the perspectives of physicians and patients on the potential barriers to optimal diabetes control in China: a multicenter study.

Background: To investigate the potential barriers to optimal diabetes control by evaluating the different perspectives of physicians and patients on such matters in China.

Methods: This multi-center survey was conducted from December 2015 to March 2016. A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to sample representative diabetes physicians and patients in 18 hospitals in Shaanxi province, China.

Reducing both radiation and contrast doses in coronary CT angiography in lean patients on a 16-cm wide-detector CT using 70 kVp and ASiR-V algorithm, in comparison with the conventional 100-kVp protocol.

Objective: To investigate the value of prospectively ECG-triggered coronary CT angiography (CCTA) for lean patients with body mass index (BMI) ≤ 23 kg/m using 70 kVp and high-level volume-based adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASiR-V) algorithm on a 16-cm wide-detector CT system for reducing both radiation and contrast doses in comparison with the conventional 100-kVp protocol.

Materials And Methods: Thirty patients (group A) were prospectively enrolled to undergo 70-kVp CCTA on a 16-cm wide-detector CT scanner with noise index (NI) of 36 HU and at weight-dependent contrast dose rate of 16 mg I/kg/s for 9-s injection. Images were reconstructed with 80% ASiR-V.

The Value of 16-cm Wide-Detector Computed Tomography in Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography for Patients With High Heart Rate Variability.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate radiation dose and image quality of coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography (CCTA) for patients with high heart rate variability (HRv) using 16-cm wide-detector CT scanner.

Methods: One hundred sixty-six patients with uncontrolled heart rate underwent CCTA on a 16-cm wide-detector CT system and were divided into 2 groups based on their HRv for analysis: group A (n = 95, HRv ≤10 beats/min [bpm]) and group B (n = 71, HRv >10 bpm). Images in both groups were reconstructed with motion correction algorithm.

Sirt1 mediates improvement of isoflurane-induced memory impairment following hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning in middle-aged mice.

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) preconditioning (PC) has been suggested as a feasible method to provide neuroprotection from postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). However, whether HBO-PC can ameliorate cognitive deficits induced by isoflurane, and the possible mechanism by which it may exert its effect, has not yet been clarified. In the present study, middle-aged mice were exposed to isoflurane anesthesia (1.

Triple-rule-out CT angiography using two axial scans with 16 cm wide-detector for radiation dose reduction.

Objective: To explore the use of two consecutive axial scans in triple-rule-out (TRO) examination on a 16 cm wide-detector CT for radiation dose reduction.

Materials And Methods: Sixty TRO patients were assigned to either study group (Group A, n = 30) or control group (Group B, n = 30). Group A used a two-phasic contrast injection: 25mgI/kg/s for 12 s in 1st and at 3.

Upregulation of lncRNA PlncRNA-1 indicates the poor prognosis and promotes glioma progression by activation of Notch signal pathway.

Prostate cancer-up-regulated long noncoding RNA 1(PlncRNA-1) has been demonstrated to be increased in several cancers, which plays an oncogenic role in the development of cancer. However, the exact functions and molecular mechanism of PlncRNA-1 in the tumorigenesis of glioma has not been studied. In present work, we firstly identified that PlncRNA-1 expression levels were prominently augmented in glioma patient tissues and glioma cell lines compared with adjacent noncancerous tissue and normal cells, respectively.

Association of PON1 gene polymorphisms with polycystic ovarian syndrome risk: a meta-analysis of case-control studies.

Purpose: Evidences showed that paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene polymorphism has an impact on women's susceptibility to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) by influencing the expression and activity of PON1. However, the effects of three PON1 polymorphisms (- 108 C>T, L55M and Q192R) on the incidence of PCOS have generated inconsistent results. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the association between PON1 polymorphisms and PCOS risk.

Biogenic Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation of Silver Nanoparticles from JX556221 Against Human Colon Cancer Cell Line HT-29.

Nanobiotechnology has emerged as a promising technology to develop new therapeutically active nanomaterials. The present study was aimed to biosynthesize AgNPs extracellularly using Aspergillus niger JX556221 fungal extract and to evaluate their anticancer potential against colon cancer cell line, HT-29. UV-visible spectral characterization of the synthesized AgNPs showed higher absorption peak at 440 nm wavelength.

Apatinib alone or combined with radiotherapy in metastatic prostate cancer: Results from a pilot, multicenter study.

Background: To study safety and efficacy of apatinib in combination of radiotherapy in patients with symptomatic bony disease prostate cancer(SBPC), based on the potential synergistic antitumor activity between apatinib and Radiation Therapy (RT).

Patients And Methods: In phase I dose escalation part, 18 patients received apatinib dose at 250 mg every other day, 250 mg daily and 500 mg daily. In phase II part, the 250 mg daily cohorts were expanded to 20 patients in combination of RT (6 Gy/fraction, 5 fraction in total), one patient lost followed up and excluded the study, comparing with RT alone cohort with 10 patients, ratio of RT to RT + apatinib was 1 to 2.

A Bayesian Stepwise Discriminant Model for Predicting Risk Factors of Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes: A Case-control Study.

Background: Preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) can lead to serious consequences such as intrauterine infection, prolapse of the umbilical cord, and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Genital infection is a very important risk which closely related with PPROM. The preliminary study only made qualitative research on genital infection, but there was no deep and clear judgment about the effects of pathogenic bacteria.

Activation of the niacin receptor HCA reduces demyelination and neurofilament loss, and promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury in mice.

After spinal cord injury (SCI), there is an acute phase of alternatively activated (M2) macrophage infiltration, followed by a long-lasting phase of classically activated (M1) macrophage accumulation in the wound, which is believed to derail healing and compromize organ functions. Thus, agents which are able to modulate macrophage phenotypes may provide significant benefits to SCI patients. In the present study, we demonstrate that the niacin receptor HCA is specifically expressed on the cell surface of M1 but not M2 macrophages.

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, involving the skin, misdiagnosed as nasosinusitis and a fungal infection: A case report and literature review.

The present study reports a case of extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, involving the skin. The clinical manifestations, pathological characteristics, treatment and prognosis of the case were analyzed to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment for this disease. The patient was a 56-year-old male, presenting with dark red nodules and plaques that had been visible on the nose for half a year.

Effect of RNAi-mediated silencing of Livin gene on biological properties of colon cancer cell line LoVo.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of RNAi-mediated silencing of the Livin gene on biological properties of the colon cancer cell line LoVo. Interference vectors pSilencer4.1-Ll and pSilencer4.

[Protective effect of lipoxin A4 against rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury in rats].

Aim: To investigate the protective effect of lipoxin A4 (LXA(4);) against rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and the possible mechanism.

Methods: The animal model of AKI was produced by intramuscular injection with glycerol. SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the normal, AKI and LXA(4); groups.