The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using 18F-FDG and PET for the detection of infection associated with lower limb arthroplasty.Seventy-four prostheses in 62 patients in whom infection was suspected after artificial hip or knee placement were studied with this technique. Images were obtained 60 min after an intravenous injection of FDG. The images were interpreted as positive for infection if tracer uptake was increased at the bone-prosthesis interface. A final diagnosis was made by surgical exploration or clinical follow-up for 1 y. PET results were compared with the follow-up outcome in all patients.The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PET for detecting infection associated with knee prostheses were 90.9%, 72.0%, and 77.8%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PET for detecting infection associated with hip prostheses were 90%, 89.3%, and 89.5%, respectively. Overall, the sensitivity was 90.5% and the specificity was 81.1% for detection of lower limb infections.FDG PET is a useful imaging modality for detecting infections associated with lower limb arthroplasty and is more accurate for detecting infections associated with hip prostheses than for detecting infections associated with knee prostheses.
To evaluate the effect of transurethral laser prostatectomy (TULP) and its relation with the size of prostate.469 benign prostatic hyperplasia receiving TULP from 1988 to 1998 were reviewed retrospectively, and the methods of operation and preoperative and postoperative symptom were compared. The effect of 233 patients undergoing TULP was compared with the size of the prostate.The average value for IPSS of 469 patients decreased from 26.7 (preoperation) to 14.2 (postoperation). The mean value of maximum uroflow rate increased from 6.2 ml/s (preoperation) to 11.8 ml/s (postoperation). No difference was seen in postoperative effect between the transurethral contact and noncontact laser prostatectomy. If the estimating weight of prostate exceeded 50 g, the maximum flow rate after 3 years was decreased evidently, the value of IPSS increased to over 20.If the estimating weight of prostate is less than 50 g, TULP is indicated.
Apolipoprotein B100 (apoB), the only protein of low-density lipoprotein, is produced primarily in the liver and serves as a ligand for the low-density lipoprotein receptor. Hepatic cell-specific expression of the human apoB gene is controlled by at least two cis-acting positive elements located between positions-128 and -70 (H. K. Das, T. Leff, and J.L. Breslow, J. Biol. Chem. 263:11452-11458, 1988). The distal element (-128 to -85) appears to be liver specific since it shows positive activity in HepG2 cells and negative activity in HeLa cells. The proximal element (-84 to -70) acts as a positive element in both these cell lines, and two rat liver nuclear proteins, BRF-1 and C/EBP, bind to two overlapping sites (-84 to -60 and -70 to -50, respectively). By gel mobility shift assay, we have identified a rat liver nuclear protein (BRF-2) which binds to the distal element (-128 to -85) of the apoB gene. This putative trans-acting factor has been purified to apparent homogeneity by DEAE-cellulose, heparin-agarose, and DNA-specific affinity chromatography. The purified BRF-2 has an apparent molecular mass of 120 kDa and was found to specifically recognize sequence -128 to -85; BRF-2 also produced a strong hypersensitive site at nucleotide position -95 with copper-orthophenanthroline reagent. A double-stranded oligonucleotide (-128 to -85) containing a 3-nucleotide (TTC) insertion between position -95 and -94 was found to abolish DNA binding by BRF-2. This result suggests that the region surrounding the hypersensitive site -95 is important for protein-DNA interaction. By using apoB promoter fragments containing various internal deletions as templates for gel mobility shift assay, the region between -104 and -85 was identified to be crucial for binding by BRF-2. We propose that BRF-2 may play an important role in the tissue-specific regulation of apoB gene transcription.
The transcranial Doppler and psychological measurement methods were used to evaluate the effect of musical relaxation therapy on the cerebral arteriosclerosis. The results showed that the musical relaxation therapy could improve the cerebral blood flow (physiological), offset the Type A behavior and eliminate the emotional disturbance (psychological), and that its effect was better than that of the control patients. The mechanism of the effect may be related to the 1/f sound wave (physical), abdominal respiration with long expiration and involuntary inspiration (physiological) and the hinting effects of the inducing phrases (psychological).
PRL regulates milk gene expression, at least in part, by activating JAK2 kinase and STAT5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 5), initially termed mammary gland factor (MGF). These experiments were initiated to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of transcriptional activation via PRL receptor (PRL-R) signaling. Binding of PRL to the recombinant pigeon PRL-R-activated transcription driven by a 2.8 kbp 5'-fragment of the rat beta-casein gene. PRL enhanced the expression of chimeric reporters containing the beta-casein PRL response element (PRE), but not the c-fos sis-inducible element, when the reporters were transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells with the PRL-R. Wild type receptor, which contains a duplication of the entire extracellular ligand-binding domain, was only slightly more effective than a truncation mutant with a single extracellular domain. Transfection with either JAK1, JAK2, or JAK3 increased basal transcription through both the PRE and sis-inducible element. Coexpression of JAK2 with PRL-R resulted in amplification of the induction of the PRE by PRL, whereas JAKs 1 and 3 did not amplify the PRL effect. Overexpression of JAK2 mutants blocked PRE activation by PRL. Mutant JAK2 also interfered with PRE activation by JAK3 but did not affect JAK1's stimulatory effect.
42 cases of the large benign hypertrophy of the prostate were treated by transurethral noncontact laser ablation. The results of the patients followed up no less than six months and treatment were reported. The technique of the procedure and its related problems were described and our experience was presented. If we use the technique of the procedure skill fully, noncontact laser ablation of large benign hypertrophy of the prostate is safe and effective.
To study the effect of laser prostatectomy for benign hypertrophy of prostate by transurethral noncontact laser ablation.204 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated by transurethral noncontact laser ablation.163 patients resumed urination in a week, and 37 in two weeks. Four patients were treated by open procedure. Patients were followed up for 14 months. Symptomatic scores (I-PSS) exceeded the middle rank in 90% patients and the maximum urinary flow rate was 89%.It is an effective method for adjusting the strength, direction, range and frequency of laser to prevent bleeding, perforation and long-term urethral stricture.