Employment ; Humans ; Japan ; Surveys and Questionnaires

ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic performance of bone SPECT and CT fusion imaging in bone metastases from pediatric neuroblastoma.MethodsTwenty-four pediatric patients with neuroblastoma were included in this retrospective study.All patients underwent planar imaging and SPECT integrated with CT.Lesion visibility,diagnostic certainty and diagnostic performance were evaluated with KolmogorovSmirnov test andx2 test.ResultsLesion visibility of SPECT alone,SPECT integrated with CT were significantly better than that of planar imaging ( both H =69.000,P ＜ 0.05 ).SPECT and CT fusion imaging,SPECT alone both detected five more bone lesions than planar bone imaging (77 vs 72).The diagnostic accuracy of SPECT imaging (62.34％,48/77 )was significantly higher than that of planar imaging (45.45％,35/77; x2 =4.416,P ＜ 0.05 ).The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of SPECT and CT fusion imaging for diagnosing malignant bone lesions were significantly higher than those of planar imaging:82.35％ (42/51) vs 53.19％ ( 25/47),88.46％ ( 23/26 ) vs 40.00％ ( 10/25 ),84.42％ ( 65/77 ) vs 45.45％ (35/77 ; x2 =12.571,14.016,25.667,all P ＜ 0.01 ).The diagnostic specificity and accuracy of SPECT and CT fusion imaging were significantly higher than those of SPECT alone ( 53.85％,14/26 ;62.34％,48/77) (x2 =7.589,9.606,both P ＜0.01 ).However,there was no significant difference of sensitivity between the two methods (x2 =2.942,P ＞ 0.05 ).Diagnostic certainty by SPECT and CT fusion imaging was significantly higher than that by SPECT alone ( H =28.000,P ＜ 0.05 ) and by planar imaging (H =21.000,P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionSPECT and CT fusion imaging can detect more bone lesions in patients with pediatric neuroblastoma.It is helpful for diagnosing bone metastases from pediatric neuroblastoma.

AlM: To discuss the application effect of surgical simulator to improve the microsurgical skills in junior ophthalmologist. METHODS: Lecture teaching, training in surgical simulator and operation in animal eyes were received in all these ophthalmologists. Results of the ability of operation in cataract surgery after this training were analyzed. RESULTS: After taught theory, students completed cataract surgical procedures on simulator and the mean test score was 75. 91 ± 6. 53 points. After trained on simulator repeatedly, the mean test score was 85. 57±4. 64 points. There was statistically significant difference ( P<0. 01) . During the third stage of practicing on animal eyes, the score was 89. 77 ± 7. 61 points, there was statistically significant difference compared with former two stages (P<0. 05).CONCLUSlON: Comprehensive training can improve microsurgical skills of junior ophthalmologist, but the long effect need to be observed.

Objective To evaluate the assistant diagnostic value of low dose CT in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) based on ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) SPECT imaging.Methods One hundred and two patients with clinical suspected PE had been enrolled for this retrospective study.The final diagnosis of PE was made according to the 2008 guidelines of European Society of Cardiology (ESC).All patients underwent V/Q SPECT/CT (Hawkeye 4,GE).The imaging findings from low dose CT lung window were used for differential diagnoses of abnormal regions in SPECT imaging.The diagnostic efficiency of V/Q SPECT alone was compared with that of V/Q SPECT combined with low dose CT scan.Crosstabsx2 test was performed using SPSS 13.0 software.Results Twenty-nine patients (28.43％,29/102) were finally diagnosed as PE.V/Q SPECT alone had a sensitivity of 93.10％ (27/29),a specificity of 90.41％ (66/73),and an accuracy of 91.18％ (93/102).With additional diagnostic information from low dose CT,the diagnostic specificity increased to 95.89％ (70/73,X2 =1.72,P ＞ 0.05 ),and the accuracy increased to 95.10％ (97/102,x2 =1.23,P ＞ 0.05) though the sensitivity remained the same.Conclusion Imaginginformation from low dose CT in hybrid SPECT/CT may enhance V/Q diagnostic accuracy for PE.

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effects of PTEN gene transfection combined with L-OHP on human cholangiocarcinoma cell line, QBC939, providing a new method for gene therapy of human biliary duct carcinoma. Methods: A eukaryotic expression vector containing PTEN gene was transfected into human QBC939 cells under mediation of lipofectamine and positive cell clones were selected and amplified. Expression of PTEN gene was detected by immunohistochemistry. MTT test was used to determine the in vitro activity of cells, electron microscope was applied to observe cell ultrastructure, and flow cytometry was used for determining the cell cycle and apoptosis. In vitro test was used to study the invasive ability of cells before and after treatment. Results: After transfected with PTEN gene, QBC939 cells had a higher expression of PTEN gene (P

Animals ; Fatty Liver ; metabolism ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Uncoupling Protein 2

To report the clinical, imaging, and pathological feature of a rare case of central precocious puberty with primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease(PPNAD), and to conduct a retrospective analysis of PPNAD with relevant literatures. The pubic hair was found in the child for more than one year. Physical examination showed Cushing′s syndrome. ACTH in blood decreased, cortisol rhythm was disordered, 24-hour urine free cortisol increased and the paradoxical increase of urine free cortisol after high dose dexamethasone suppression test. Adrenal enhancement computed tomography(CT)showed multiple small nodular shadows in bilateral adrenal glands. Gonadotropin releasing hormone(GnRH)stimulation test supported central precocious puberty and GnRH analogue was used to control the sexual development. PPNAD was supported by pathology result. The symptoms of Cushing′s syndrome were relieved partially after left adrenalectomy.

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological features of Guillain-Barré syndrome with treatment-related fluctuations ( GBS-TRF ).Methods Clinical data were obtained from medical records of patients with GBS-TRF during the period 1999 to 2014 in our Hospital.Sural nerve specimens were collected and summarized retrospectively ( two cases ).Results Eight of 868 cases with GBS had at least one TRF including three chronic hepatitis B patients.The onset of disease was ranged in age from six to 63 years, averaging 34 years.It is more common in men than in women in a ratio of seven:one.Triggering infections occurred in three patients.The initial symptom included weakness of the lower limbs ( five cases ) and upper extremities ( three cases ).Sensory symptom was presented in six patients.Five patients had associated respiratory paralysis.None of them had cranial nerve palsy or autonomic dysfunction.Five patients had two attacks , one had three attacks and two had six attacks.The interval between attacks ranged between 14 days and 46 days ( mean 23 days ).The striking pathologic finding was the presence of sectional selective nerve fiber degeneration ( SNFD ) with evidence of demyelination.Conclusions Patients with GBS-TRF shows similar onset age , preceding infection , cerebrospinal fluid findings, and electrophysiologic characteristics comparing to patients with GBS ,while there are more male patients than female patients.SNFD found in sural nerve biopsy reveals ischemic neuropathy , which predicts that injury of arterioles might play an important role in the pathogenesis of GBS -TRF.

Objective To screen and analyze the serum microRNA (miRNA) profile of moyamoya disease (MMD), so as to elucidate the possible pathogenesis of the disease. Methods MiRNA microarray was used to test the serum of 10 MMD patients and 10 healthy controls to identify the miRNA profile. Some angiogenesis-associated miRNAs were validated by RT- PCR. TargetScan software was used for prediction and the differential miRNAs were obtained. Furthermore, the key signal pathways and miRNAs involved in MMD pathogenesis were analyzed by gene ontology and pathway analysis. Results A genome-wide miRNA array revealed 50 up-regulated and 44 down-regulated miRNAs in the sera of MMD patients; several important miRNA families and clusters were detected. RT-PCR assay confirmed that miRNA-106b, miRNA-130a and miRNA-126 were significantly up-regulated and miRNA-125a-3p was significantly down-regulated in the serum of MMD patients, suggesting the high reliability of miRNA array. Pathway analysis showed that themost enriched pathway wasmTOR signaling pathway, with 16 potential functional targets. Conclusion We have identified the serum miRNA signature in MMD patients, and further analysis indicates that mTOR pathway-associated miRNAs might play an important role in MMD pathogenesis.

Objective To compare the accuracy of 64-slice spiral coronary angiography (CTA) and myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in the detection of functionally relevant coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Twenty patients diagnosed as CAD and 11 suspected CAD were studied. Both 64-slice spiral CTA and MPI images were analyzed. For the evaluation of CTA,luminal narrowing ≥50% and ＜50% were visually assessed. Perfusion defects on MPI were detected and allocated to their corresponding coronary vessels.Results Among total 124 coronary vessels, CTA detected stenoses ≥50% in 23 arteries, and 7 showed perfusion defects in the corresponding myocardial areas on MPI. Ten of 101 vessels had stenoses＜50%,and no perfusion defects in the corresponding myocardial areas was found on MPI. There was difference between the degree of coronary artery stenoses and the risk probabilities of myocardial ischemia (χ~2=6.667, P=0.01). No statistical difference was detected between the coronary artery stenoses site and the risk probabilities of myocardial ischemia (χ~2=6.839, P=0.065). The sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values of 64-slice spiral CTA in detecting perfusion defects on MPI was 41.18%, 85.05%, 90.01% and 30.43%, respectively.Conclusion 64-slice spiral CTA can display important morphologic information of coronary arteries, but with a low positive predictive value. MPI can be used as an important method to evaluate the change of heart function resulted from CAD.