The microvasculature of the rectus abdominis muscle in dogs was observed under scanning electron microscope. The specimens were treated by vascular corrosion east and enzymic digestive methods. Some new results had been obtained.The intramuscular arterioles penetrate the muscular fasciculus with almost right angle. The capillaries go along the myofibers oriented parallel to each other and arrange fascicularly. The morphologically distinct precapillary sphincters are apparent at the original region of the capillaries. There are abundant anastomosing channels between the capillaries which constitute ladder-like microvascular networks encircling the myofibers. Sometimes, the calibre was partial enlarged in the anastomosing channel, which may be beneficial to store of the blood oxygen.The physiological significance of the intramuscular microvasculature was discussed.

The origin of 200 occipital arteries on 100 cadavers were investigated. 199 cases of the occipital arteries originated from the external carotid artery and only one was found arising from the common carotid. The artery arised as an independent stem in 80.5% of cases and from a common stem with other arteries in 19.5%. In 85.6% of cases the site of origin of the artery was within 10mm above or below the mandibular level. In addition, the sites of origin of the occipital and facial arteries were compared. It was found that the site of the occipital artery was usually higher than that of the facial artery in contrary to the statement of the conventional textbooks that they are in a level opposite to each other.

Objective To study the finding and patterns of chronic inflammatory sinonasal disease on CT. Methods All of 93 patients with chronic inflammatory sinonasal disease by clinical observations and operation,the appearances and patterns of chronic inflammatory sinonasal disease were analyszed.Results Six radiological patterns of inflammatory sinonasal disease were identified:( 1) infundibular,16/93 or 17%;( 2) osteaomeatal unit,27/93 or 28% ; (3) sphenoethmoidal recess,5/93 or 6%;(4) sinonasal polyposis,17/93 or 18%;(5) sporadic ( unclassifiabal ) ,13/93 or 14%;(6) mixing pattern,15/93 or 16% .Conclusion Assignment of patients to radiological patterns allows tailored endoscopic sinonasal surgical approach.

Objective To examine the clinical effects of intravenous lyophilize recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) in patients with refractory heart failure caused by coronary artery disease.Methods Seven patients with refractory heart failure caused by coronary artery disease were treated with rhBNP.The rhBNP nea grade,symptoms and signs,24 hours urine output,heart rate,blood pressure and central venous pressure were evaluated at 0,15,30 min and 1,2,4,8,12,24,and 48 h.Serum potassium,sodium,creatinine and plasma BNP before and after treatment were measured.Results After rhBNP therapy,dyspnea grade were improved in 5 patients.Symptoms and signs got better in 6 patients.Systolic blood pressure at 15 min of treatment distolic blood pressure was decreased slightly from (112.00±10.42) mm Hg to (105.14±7.76) mm Hg (P＜0.05) and became (108.71±6.63)mm Hg at 30 rain which was the same with that before treatment.There was no statistical significance in heart beat[ ( 88.57±16.92 ) vs.( 86.00±16.21 ) ] beat/min,serum sodium [ ( 133.57±5,38 ) mmol/Lvs.( 133.57±8.16) mmol/L ],serum potassium [ (3.83±0.37) mmol/L vs.(4.19±0.58 ) mmol/L ],ereatinine [ (93.11±27.90) μmol/L vs ( 123.01±93.01 ) μmol/L ] before and after treatment,and BNP[ ( 1218.43±847.83) vs.(1433.71±676.08)ng/L] before treatment and at24 h treatment,as well as urine output [(2329±1573 ) vs.(2126±1074) ml ] ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Urine output was increased during the treatment,but the usage of diuretic was remarkably decreased.Central venous pressure was gradually decreased from 30 rain to 48 h( P ＜ 0.05 ).Condusion rhBNP can decrease central venous pressure and increase urine output with exerts little side effects on electrolytes and renal function.Therefore rhBNP has positive clinical effects on refractory heart failure which is caused by coronary artery disease.

Objective To investigate the effect of 9-cis retinoid acid(c-RA),a retinoid X receptor(RXR)agonist,on hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)induced apoptosis in cultured rat neonatal cardiomyoeytes,and to explore the mechanism.Method Cultured cardiomyocpes were randomly divided into three groups:normal group treated with vehicle(N group),H2O2 group treated with 100 μmol/L H2O2(H group),and c-RA group pretreated with 100nmol/L c-RA(H+R group).Cell viability was detected by MTT.Morphological changes of apoptotic cardiomyocytes were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining under fluorescence microscope.The apoptotic rate was determined by flow cytometry.Mitochondrial membrane potential(△(ψ)m)was measured by JC-1 dye.Cellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)production was detected by CM-H2DCFDA fluorescent probe.All measurement data wIe expressed as(x±s),and statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA analysis and Dunnett test.Differences were considered significant when P was＜0.05.Results Treatment with c-RA significantly enhanced cell viability,reduced apoptosis ratio,stabled mitoehondrial membrane potential and reduced level of cellular reactive oxygen species.Conclusions RXR agonist c-RA inhibits H2O2-induced myocyte apoptosis in cultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes,which may be related to alleviate oxidative stress injury.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between MRI features and pathology in brain edema at the early stage of severe burn (50％ TBSA Ⅲ degree) in dogs.Methods: Fifty-two dogs were randomized into control, simple burn (SB), burn plus sodium lactate (BSL), and burn plus glucose solution groups (BGS). The manifestation of the brain of control group was compared with that of burn groups at 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours postburn with MRI and pathological examination (gross appearance, electron microscopy and light microscopy).Results: The earliest findings of brain edema were seen at 12 hours after burn in BGS group, in which brain swelling was the main feature of MRI. The decrease of SIR on T1WI was not observed until it was exceeded 10％.Signal of T2WI increased by 8.29％ at 24 hours after burn.It was difficult to distinguish the gray matter from the white matter at the boundary line, which became blurred later. Histological changes of brain edema were observed as early as 6 hours after burn, being accompanied by swelling of endothelial cells and peri-vescular astrocytes, and vacuolation took place in neurons at 12 hours after burn, with different degrees of necrosis of capillary endothelimn,neurons, and axons. These changes became more marked with elapse of time. The BGS group showed the most obvious changes mentioned above at 24 hours after burn.Conclusions: The model of the brain edema after severe burn has the feature of both vasogenic edema and cytotoxic edema on the MRI and pathology. Positive MRI findings lagged behind that of the pathomorphological changes.

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic value of MRI and SPECT in early postburn brain edema in severely burned dogs.

METHODSTwenty-six mongrel dogs were randomized into control (n = 6) and burned groups in which every 5 dogs were allotted to each of following time points: 6, 12, 18 and 24 postburn hours (PBHs). The dogs in burn groups were inflicted with 50% TBSA of III degree skin burn and were infused with 5% glucose solution after 6 PBHs, so that severe early postburn brain edema was produced. MRI and SPECT were employed to observe dynamically the brain of dogs in all groups. The results were collected and compared with one another.

RESULTSThe results indicated that with MRI brain morphological change of early brain edema could be shown as early as within 12 PBH and diffuse brain edema became more obvious with elapse of time. The changes might be difficult to be found by MRI when T(1)WISIR decreased below 10%. T(2)WI SIR increased by 8.29% at 24 PBH with blurred demarcation between the brain gray and white matters. There was diffused and progressive nuclide ((99)TCm-ECD) concentration in the brain tissue as shown by SPECT at 6 PBH. The radio-nuclide taking ratio increased significantly after 12 PBH, especially at 24 PBH (P < 0.01) when compared with that before burn.

CONCLUSIONCombined application of MRI and SPECT could evidently increase sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of early postburn brain edema.

Animals ; Brain Edema ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Burns ; complications ; Dogs ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of infantile neuroblastoma (NB) and the factors that affect prognosis.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data collected from 44 cases of NB who received treatment in The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from March 2008 to March 2017 to summarize the clinical characteristics of NB and the factors that affect prognosis.Results:Among the 44 cases, 21 were male and 23 were female, with a median age of 5.5 months (range, 0 days-12 months). Four cases had stage I NB, seven cases stage II NB, five cases stage III NB, 15 cases stage IV NB, and 13 cases stage IVs NB. The tumors were located in the adrenal glands and retroperitoneum ( n = 26, 59.1%), posterior mediastinum ( n = 15, 34.1%), pelvis ( n = 2, 4.5%), and neck ( n = 1, 2.3%). The median follow-up time was 90 months (range, 2-144 months). The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 93.2% and 90.9%, respectively. Among 35 cases who survived more than 5 years, 30 cases survived healthily, 5 cases survived with tumor, and 4 cases died. Bone marrow metastasis, bone metastasis, and the extent of tumor resection greatly affect the prognosis of NB ( χ2 = 6.92, 12.19, 4.70, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:The overall prognosis of NB is good in infants. NB mainly occurs in the abdomen. The survival rate of infants with stage IVs NB is lower than that of infants with stages I, II, and III NB. The prognosis of NB occurring in the abdomen is poorer than that occurring in other regions. Bone marrow metastasis, bone metastasis, and the extent of tumor resection are adverse factors affecting the prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the facilitators and hindrances of smoking cessation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to provide a basis for developing individualized smoking cessation intervention strategies for COPD patients.Methods:Based on the health ecology theory and using a phenomenological approach in qualitative research, purposive sampling was used to select 15 COPD patients with smoking history who were admitted to Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital from March to May 2023 and face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted. Colaizzi seven-step analysis was used to analyze the interview content.Results:A total of 15 COPD patients were interviewed, including 13 males and 2 females, aged 61-75 years old. The facilitators of smoking cessation in COPD patients included complications, sequelae of novel coronavirus infection, fear of death, smoking cessation counseling by medical staff, heavy family financial burden, and smoke-free environment. The hindrances of smoking cessation in COPD patients included milder disease symptoms of COPD, higher levels of nicotine dependence, false disease-related perceptions, family supervision and control, and occupational experience.Conclusions:Smoking cessation in COPD patients is influenced by five factors: personal characteristics, behavioral characteristics, interpersonal network, living and working conditions, and policy environment. Medical staff and relevant national institutions should formulate corresponding smoking cessation strategies according to address the facilitators and hindrances of smoking cessation in COPD patients, so as to further reduce the smoking prevalence of COPD patients, promote the health of patients and reduce the burden of disease.