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Z Lu

Publications and source records attributed to Z Lu.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Enhanced expression of TGF-betas and their receptors in human acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine which mechanisms are involved in pancreatic remodeling, repair, and fibrosis after acute necrotizing pancreatitis (NP) in humans. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Transforming growth factor betas (TGF-betas) are multifunctional polypeptides that have been implicated in the regulation and formation of extracellular matrix and fibrosis. They exert their functions by binding to specific receptors. In this study, we analyze the expression of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and TGF-beta3 and their receptors type I (Tbeta-RI [ALK5]), type II (Tbeta-RII), and type III (Tbeta-RIII) in NP. PATIENTS: Pancreatic tissue samples were obtained from 6 female and 8 male patients with a median age of 65 years (range, 37 to 77 years) undergoing surgery for NP. The median Ranson score of the patients was 6 (range, 2 to 9). The operation was performed a median 5.5 days (range, 4 to 17 days) after the onset of acute pancreatitis. Pancreatic tissue obtained from 12 previously healthy organ donors (6 male, 6 female; median age of 43 years) served as controls. METHODS: The expression of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, Tbeta-RI (ALK5), Tbeta-RII, Tbeta-RIII, and collagen type I mRNA was analyzed by Northern blot analysis. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis using polyclonal antibodies was performed to detect TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, Tbeta-RI (ALK5), and Tbeta-RII. RESULTS: Northern blot analysis showed an increase in TGF-betas and their receptors in NP tissue samples compared with samples from normal controls. The increase was 3.5-fold for TGF-beta1 (p < 0.05), 2.7-fold for TGF-beta2 (p < 0.05), 3.5-fold for TGF-beta3 (p < 0.05), 10-fold for Tbeta-RI (ALK5) (p < 0.05), 5.7-fold for Tbeta-RII (p < 0.05), and 1.4-fold for Tbeta-RIII (not significant). Collagen type I mRNA was also markedly increased in NP samples and correlated with the level of TGF-betas. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated intense TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, Tbeta-RI (ALK5), and Tbeta-RII immunoreactivity in the remaining acinar and ductal cells in most NP samples; in the normal control pancreas, there was weak to moderate immunoreactivity for these factors only in some acinar cells and a few ductal cells. CONCLUSION: The marked increase in expression of TGF-betas and their signaling receptors Tbeta-RI (ALK5) and Tbeta-RII suggests a role for TGF-betas in the repair process after the onset of NP in humans and raises the possibility that TGF-betas might be involved in tissue remodeling and the fibrotic reaction that occurs in the pancreas after necrosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Moderate activation of the apoptosis inhibitor bcl-xL worsens the prognosis in pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the expression of the antiapoptotic gene bcl-xL in human pancreatic cancer and to correlate the results with clinical patient parameters. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Bcl-xL belongs to the bcl-2-related gene family and acts as a broad antiapoptotic factor to extend both normal and tumor cell survival. Recent findings indicate that tumor cell death induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy is mediated by the activation of apoptosis. The fact that pancreatic cancer has an extremely malignant potential and that it is resistant to most anticancer treatment modalities suggests that mechanisms are activated that increase the viability of pancreatic cancer cells. METHODS: Seventy-four pancreatic cancer tissue samples were obtained from 32 female and 42 male patients undergoing surgery for exocrine pancreatic cancer. Normal human pancreatic tissue samples were available from 11 organ donors and 4 patients without pancreatic disease. The levels of bcl-xL mRNA expression were analyzed by Northern blot analysis. The exact site of bcl-xL mRNA transcription was determined by nonradioactive in situ hybridization. In addition, immunohistochemistry using specific polyclonal antibodies was used to localize the protein. RESULTS: Northern blot analysis indicated that, in comparison with the normal pancreas, bcl-xL mRNA was markedly overexpressed in 54% of the pancreatic cancer samples. Densitometric analysis revealed that pancreatic adenocarcinomas exhibited a mean 3.4-fold increase (p < 0.01) in bcl-xL mRNA levels in comparison with normal controls. With in situ hybridization, bcl-xL mRNA was found to be highly expressed in the cancer cells of tumor samples that exhibited increased mRNA expression by Northern blot analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed bcl-x immunostaining in 88% of the cancer samples. Correlation of the molecular data with clinical patient parameters revealed that patients whose tumors exhibited no, faint, or weak bcl-xL expression lived significantly longer after tumor resection (median 12 months) than patients whose tumors exhibited moderate bcl-xL mRNA expression (median 5 months) (p < 0.05). However, 5 patients whose tumors exhibited intense bcl-xL mRNA expression tended to live longer (median 14 months). CONCLUSION: Enhanced expression of the antiapoptotic gene bcl-xL in pancreatic cancer and its association with shorter patient survival suggests that this factor may enhance the viability of pancreatic cancer cells in vivo. Inhibition of apoptotic pathways might be one of the reasons why pancreatic cancer shows only limited sensitivity to anticancer treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Immunoreactive endothelin-1 and its receptors in human adrenal tissues.

To elucidate the pathophysiologic significance of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in adrenal and the mechanism for reduced responsiveness to exogenous ET-1 in aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), we have investigated ET-1 receptors by radioligand binding assay (RBA) in human normal adrenal (NA), APA, idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA), and pheochromocytoma (PHEO), immunoreactive (ir-) ET-1 content in NA, APA and PHEO by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and immunohistochemical staining of ET-1 with the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase (PAP) method in NA, APA, and PHEO. A single class of high-affinity binding sites for ET-1 was found in human NA and tumor tissues. Dissociation constant (Kd) values of ET-1 receptors were similar in NA, APA, and IHA, but maximal binding capacity (Bmax) of ET-1 receptors was lower in APA than in NA and IHA. Both Kd and Bmax in PHEO were higher than those in NA, APA, and IHA. Ir-ET-1 content in tumors of APA and PHEO were higher than in NA. Immunohistochemical staining was more intense in the tumor cells of APA and PHEO than in NA. These results suggest that the reduced response to exogenous ET-1 in APA could be related to downregulation of ET-1 receptors in the tumor. Increased ET-1 content and receptors may lead to hypersecretion of catecholamine in PHEO. ET-1 produced in normal and tumor adrenal tissues may regulate aldosterone and catecholamine secretion from adrenals in a paracrine/autocrine fashion.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1998

A conserved African swine fever virus right variable region gene, l11L, is non-essential for growth in vitro and virulence in domestic swine.

The right variable region of the African swine fever virus (ASFV) genome is known to contain genes with functions involving virus virulence and host range in swine. A novel open reading frame, ORF l11L, which was absent in the non-pathogenic, cell culture-adapted European isolate BA71V, was identified in the pathogenic African isolate Malawi Lil-20/1. The location of l11L in the right variable region, together with its absence in BA71V, suggested that l11L may have a function in virus virulence and/or host range. Here, we show that the l11L gene is highly conserved among pathogenic African, European and Caribbean ASFV field isolates and that it exists either in a short form, encoding a protein of 77-78 amino acids (9.1 kDa) or in a longer form of 93-94 amino acids (11.1 kDa). The presence of two predicted membrane-spanning segments suggests that l11L is an integral membrane protein. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that l11L mRNA is expressed late in the virus replication cycle. A recombinant l11L gene deletion mutant, deltal11L, was constructed from the ASFV isolate Malawi Lil-20/1 to examine gene function. Deletion of l11L did not affect virus replication in swine macrophage cell cultures nor virulence in domestic pigs, indicating that l11L is non-essential for growth in vitro and for virus virulence in domestic swine.

African Swine Fever Virus↗
PubMed1998

Prevalence of human melioidosis on Hainan Island in China.

Eight human cases of melioidosis were diagnosed at Hainan People's Hospital over a period of one year. Four of the cases were of septicemia form, while the rest were of chronic form with abscesses in different organs. All the isolates were intrinsically resistant to cefazolin, cefuroxime, and gentamicin, while being rather sensitive to ampicillin/sulbactam, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, and imipenem. A serological survey of exotoxin antibodies at different farms showed that Xinglong was a farm seriously devastated by Burkholderia pseudomallei, while the mountainous farm of Licai had the lowest prevalence (P< 0.01). From the results of serological survey and melioidosis case distribution, it could be clearly seen that melioidosis predominantly exists in coastal plain regions around this island, where the altitude above sea-level is below 100 m, the annual rainfall is up to 2,300 mm and a rather warm climate in coldest months of December and January.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Detection of ultrasonic tones and simulated dolphin echolocation clicks by a teleost fish, the American shad (Alosa sapidissima).

The authors previously reported that American shad (Alosa sapidissima) can detect sounds from 100 Hz to 180 kHz, with two regions of best sensitivity, one from 200 to 800 Hz and the other from 25 to 150 kHz [Mann et al., Nature 389, 341 (1997)]. These results demonstrated ultrasonic hearing by shad, but thresholds at lower frequencies were potentially masked by background noise in the experimental room. In this study, the thresholds of the American shad in a quieter and smaller tank, as well as thresholds for detecting stimulated echolocation sounds of bottlenosed dolphins was determined. Shad had lower thresholds for detection (from 0.2 to 0.8 kHz) in the quieter and smaller tank compared with the previous experiment, with low-frequency background noise but similar thresholds at ultrasonic frequencies. Shad were also able to detect echolocation clicks with a threshold of 171 dB re: 1 microPa peak to peak. If spherical spreading and an absorption coefficient of 0.02 dB/m of dolphin echolocation clicks are assumed, shad should be able to detect echolocating Tursiops truncatus at ranges up to 187 m. The authors propose that ultrasonic hearing evolved in shad in response to selection pressures from echolocating odontocete cetaceans.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The African swine fever virus thymidine kinase gene is required for efficient replication in swine macrophages and for virulence in swine.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) replicates in the cytoplasm of infected cells and contains genes encoding a number of enzymes needed for DNA synthesis, including a thymidine kinase (TK) gene. Recombinant TK gene deletion viruses were produced by using two highly pathogenic isolates of ASFV through homologous recombination with an ASFV p72 promoter-beta-glucuronidase indicator cassette (p72GUS) flanked by ASFV sequences targeting the TK region. Attempts to isolate double-crossover TK gene deletion mutants on swine macrophages failed, suggesting a growth deficiency of TK- ASFV on macrophages. Two pathogenic ASFV isolates, ASFV Malawi and ASFV Haiti, partially adapted to Vero cells, were used successfully to construct TK deletion viruses on Vero cells. The selected viruses grew well on Vero cells, but both mutants exhibited a growth defect on swine macrophages at low multiplicities of infection (MOI), yielding 0.1 to 1.0% of wild-type levels. At high MOI, the macrophage growth defect was not apparent. The Malawi TK deletion mutant showed reduced virulence for swine, producing transient fevers, lower viremia titers, and reduced mortality. In contrast, 100% mortality was observed for swine inoculated with the TK+ revertant virus. Swine surviving TK- ASFV infection remained free of clinical signs of African swine fever following subsequent challenge with the parental pathogenic ASFV. The data indicate that the TK gene of ASFV is important for growth in swine macrophages in vitro and is a virus virulence factor in swine.

African Swine Fever↗
PubMed1998

A nonessential African swine fever virus gene UK is a significant virulence determinant in domestic swine.

Sequence analysis of the right variable genomic region of the pathogenic African swine fever virus (ASFV) isolate E70 revealed a novel gene, UK, that is immediately upstream from the previously described ASFV virulence-associated gene NL-S (L. Zsak, Z. Lu, G. F. Kutish, J. G. Neilan, and D. L. Rock, J. Virol. 70:8865-8871, 1996). UK, transcriptionally oriented toward the right end of the genome, predicts a protein of 96 amino acids with a molecular mass of 10.7 kDa. Searches of genetic databases did not find significant similarity between UK and other known genes. Sequence analysis of the UK genes from several pathogenic ASFVs from Europe, the Caribbean, and Africa demonstrated that this gene was highly conserved among diverse pathogenic isolates, including those from both tick and pig sources. Polyclonal antibodies raised against the UK protein specifically precipitated a 15-kDa protein from ASFV-infected macrophage cell cultures as early as 2 h postinfection. A recombinant UK gene deletion mutant, deltaUK, and its revertant, UK-R, were constructed from the E70 isolate to study gene function. Although deletion of UK did not affect the growth characteristics of the virus in macrophage cell cultures, deltaUK exhibited reduced virulence in infected pigs. While mortality among parental E70- or UK-R-infected animals was 100%, all deltaUK-infected pigs survived infection. Fever responses were comparable in E70-, UK-R-, and deltaUK-infected groups; however, deltaUK-infected animals exhibited significant, 100- to 1,000-fold, reductions in viremia titers. These data indicate that the highly conserved UK gene of ASFV, while being nonessential for growth in macrophages in vitro, is an important viral virulence determinant for domestic pigs.

African Swine Fever Virus↗
PubMed1998

Activation of protein kinase C triggers its ubiquitination and degradation.

Treatment of cells with tumor-promoting phorbol esters results in the activation but then depletion of phorbol ester-responsive protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway has been implicated in regulating the levels of many cellular proteins, including those involved in cell cycle control. We report here that in 3Y1 rat fibroblasts, proteasome inhibitors prevent the depletion of PKC isoforms alpha, delta, and epsilon in response to the tumor-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Proteasome inhibitors also blocked the tumor-promoting effects of TPA on 3Y1 cells overexpressing c-Src, which results from the depletion of PKC delta. Consistent with the involvement of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the degradation of PKC isoforms, ubiquitinated PKC alpha, delta, and epsilon were detected within 30 min of TPA treatment. Diacylglycerol, the physiological activator of PKC, also stimulated ubiquitination and degradation of PKC, suggesting that ubiquitination is a physiological response to PKC activation. Compounds that inhibit activation of PKC prevented both TPA- and diacylglycerol-induced PKC depletion and ubiquitination. Moreover, a kinase-dead ATP-binding mutant of PKC alpha could not be depleted by TPA treatment. These data are consistent with a suicide model whereby activation of PKC triggers its own degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

bax, but not bcl-2, influences the prognosis of human pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: bcl-2 and bax belong to the bcl-2-related gene family, which marks a new class of genes that influence apoptosis. The bcl-2 oncogene acts as a broad antiapoptotic factor and extends both normal and tumour cell survival. In contrast, the bax gene is a promoter of apoptosis. AIMS: To analyse the expression of bcl-2 and bax in pancreatic cancer and correlate the results with clinical parameters. PATIENTS: Pancreatic cancer tissue samples were obtained from 28 female and 32 male patients (median age 63, range 43-79 years) having surgery for pancreatic cancer. Normal pancreatic tissues obtained from 18 previously healthy organ donors served as controls. METHODS: The levels of bcl-2 and bax mRNA expression were analysed by northern blot and the exact site of mRNA transcription was determined by in situ hybridisation. The presence of the corresponding proteins was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Northern blot analysis indicated that, in comparison with the normal pancreas, bcl-2 mRNA was overexpressed in 30% and bax mRNA in 61% of the pancreatic cancer samples. Concomitant overexpression of bcl-2 and bax was present in 26% of the cancer samples. Pancreatic adenocarcinomas exhibited 3.7-fold and 5.4-fold increases (p < 0.001) in bcl-2 and bax mRNA levels respectively. In situ hybridisation showed that both bcl-2 and bax mRNA were expressed in the cancer cells. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive Bcl-2 and Bax immunostaining in 28 and 83% of the cancer samples respectively. In multivariate analysis (Cox regression model), bax expression was found to be a strong indicator of survival (p < 0.001). Patients whose tumours exhibited Bax immunostaining lived significantly longer (12 months) than those whose tumours were Bax negative (five months) (p < 0.039). In contrast, no relation was found between Bcl-2 and survival time. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that genes that are involved in the regulation of apoptosis are upregulated in human pancreatic cancer cells. Prolonged survival times in patients in whom apoptosis promoting factors are upregulated indicate that apoptotic pathways are of biological significance in pancreatic cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

The Tlx-2 homeobox gene is a downstream target of BMP signalling and is required for mouse mesoderm development.

TGFbeta-related factors are critical regulators of vertebrate mesoderm development. However, the signalling cascades required for their function during this developmental process are poorly defined. Tlx-2 is a homeobox gene expressed in the primitive streak of mouse embryos. Exogenous BMP-2 rapidly activates Tlx-2 expression in the epiblast of E6.5 embryos. A Tlx-2 promoter element responds to BMP-2 signals in P19 cells, and this response is mediated by BMP type I receptors and Smad1. These results suggest that Tlx-2 is a downstream target gene for BMP signalling in the primitive streak where BMP-4 and other TGFbeta-related factors are expressed. Furthermore, disruption of Tlx-2 function leads to early embryonic lethality. Similar to BMP4 and ALK3 mutants, the mutant embryos display severe defects in primitive streak and mesoderm formation. These experiments thus define a BMP/Tlx-2 signalling pathway that is required during early mammalian gastrulation.

Activin Receptors↗
PubMed1998

Meat quality variation in the robotic sorting of pork loins.

A robot was used to make fiber-optic reflectance measurements from 400 to 700 nm in 10-nm increments at six sites, 10 cm apart, along the length of 48 pork loins. Meat quality was assessed in the longissimus dorsi near the thoracolumbar junction using 1) a bag-drip method for fluid loss, 2) a subjective evaluation of wetness, 3) a colorimeter measurement of paleness (CIE L), and 4) a subjective evaluation for Japanese pork color scores (JPCS). Sorting of the loins in the commercial plant from which they originated was correlated (P < .01) with fluid loss (r=.57), with wetness scores (r=-.57), with CIE L* (r=.71), and with JPCS (r=-.64). Laboratory measurements of pH at the site of meat quality assessment were correlated (P < .01) with fluid loss (r=-.61), with wetness scores (r=.65), with CIE L* (r=-.74), and with JPCS (r=.77). Average spectra obtained robotically were correlated (P < .01) with fluid loss (r=.56 at 670 nm, and R=.76 adding 560 and 540 nm), with wetness score (r=-.65 at 480 nm, and R=.75 adding 530 and 570 nm), with CIE L* (r=.76 at 480 nm, and R=.82 adding 690 and 520 nm), and with JPCS (r=-.70). In sorting loins that were all categorized as normal at the plant, mean reflectance data collected robotically were correlated with fluid loss, r=.42 (P > .05) at 700 nm and R=.58 (P > .05) adding 430 nm; with wetness score, r=.25 (P > .05); with CIE L*, r=.58 (P < .025) at 700 nm; and with JPCS, r=-.71 (P < .01) at 700 nm. Thus, as well as detecting obvious PSE loins, the robotic probe also had a limited capability to sort loins all categorized as normal at the plant.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The CXC-chemokine, H174: expression in the central nervous system.

H174 is a new member of the CXC-chemokine family. A cDNA probe containing the entire H174 coding region recognized a predominant inducible transcript of approximately 1.5 kb expressed in interferon (IFN) activated astrocytoma and monocytic cell lines. H174 message can be induced following IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, or IFN-gamma stimulation. H174 message was also detected in IFN treated cultures of primary human astrocytes, but was absent in unstimulated astrocytes. H174, like IP10 and Mig, lacks the ELR sequence associated with the neutrophil specificity characteristic of most CXC-chemokines. Preliminary experiments suggest H174, IP10 and Mig are independently regulated. Recombinant H174 is a weak chemoattractant for monocyte-like cells. H174 can also stimulate calcium flux responses. The data support the classification of H174 as a member of a subfamily of interferon-gamma inducible non-ELR CXC-chemokines. Brain tissues were obtained at autopsy from one patient with AIDS dementia, one patient with multiple sclerosis, and two normal control patients. H174 and Mig were detected by RT-PCR in brain tissue cDNA derived from the patients with pathological conditions associated with activated astrocytes but not in cDNA from control specimens.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1998

Erythrocyte and plasma Ca2+, Mg2+ and cell membrane adenosine triphosphatase activity in patients with essential hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationships between plasma and intracellular Ca2+, Mg2+ and blood cell membrane adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. METHODS: Plasma and intracellular Ca2+, Mg2+ were measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and red blood cell membrane Na(+)-K+ ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities were determined with colorimetric method in 55 patients with essential hypertension and 32 normotensive controls. RESULTS: The results showed that the hypertensive group consistently demonstrated a significant decreased activity of ATPase studied, with significantly lower plasma Ca2+ and higher cytosolic Ca2+ levels when compared with those in normotensive group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05, respectively). No significant differences were found in either plasma Mg2+ or intracellular Mg2+ level between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that patients with essential hypertension have widespread depression of cell membrane Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities with plasma Ca2+ depletion and cytosolic Ca2+ overload, which may reflect an underlying membrane abnormality in essential hypertension. The cellular abnormalities may be related to the defective transport mechanisms that in turn may be aggravated by plasma Ca2+ depletion.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[MMC conditioning regimen (Melphalan, MeCCNU and cyclophosphamide) followed by allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia].

This paper reports 3 cases of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (Allo-PBSCT) for the patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The patients received MMC preparative regimen with high dose chemotherapy (Melphalan 170 mg/m2, p.o. on Day-5, MeCCNU 400 mg/m2, p.o. on Day-4, and Cyclophosphomide 60 mg/kg/day, i.v. on Days-3 and -2). The HLA-identical sibling donors received filgrastim (rhG-CSF) for mobilization at a dose of 300 micrograms/day for 6 days. Leukaphereses were done at the 6th day of mobilization. A median of 8000 ml (2 times total blood volume) of blood was processed the collecting: 2.5-4.5 x 10(8)/kg MNC, 12.8-20.0 x 10(6)/kg CD34+ cells (including 4.8-7.5 x 10(6)/kg CD34+CD33-, 8.0-13.0 x 10(6)/kg CD34+CD33+), and 3.5-4.3 x 10(5)/kg CFU-GM. Cyclosporin A and methotrexate were used for GVHD prophylaxis. Hematopoitic function recovered as for 14-20 days to > 0.5 x 10(9)/L of neutrophil count, and for 16-34 days to > 20 x 10(9)/L of platelet count. At day + 100, chromosome analysis of bone marrow cells showed that complete chimera without ph1 positive chromosome in Cases 1 and 3, and a partial chimera with 73% donor karyotype in Case 2. All patients now are in disease free survival. No episode of acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) developed. It was concluded that HLA matched sibling allogeneic PBSCT result in rapid hematopoitic reconstitution and the MMC conditioning regimen is effective both in leukemic cells eradication and in immunosuppression for stem cells engraftment, and the drug related toxicity could be tolerated by patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[CT scanning of the cervical lymph node metastases: compared with histologic sections].

With the development of new imaging modality, MRI and CT scanning has become the most useful adjunct to physical examination for the preoperative evaluation of cervical lymph node metastases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck(SCHN). The study was designed to compare CT scans of metastatic lymph node with corresponding histologic sections on 26 dissections in total and discussed the criteria for assessment of nodal metastases with histologic sections. With pathologic findings as the standard, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CT in the detection of nodal disease is 93.8%, 90.0% and 92.3%. Regarding extracapsular nodal spread, CT scanning results in the accuracy of 72.7%. The accuracy of CT detecting central nodal necrosis was 88.9%. This study indicated that CT is accurate in detecting cervical lymph node metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Aged↗