Objective To discuss the 3D reconstruction dual-source CT angiography (DSCT) in diagnosing nutcracker syn- drome. Methods 24 cases with known or suspected "nutcracker" syndrome were underwent with DSCTA and 3D recon- struction, left renal vein (LRV) were demonstrated and measured. Results Among 24 cases, 16 cases were diagnosed with " nutcracker" syndrome; the imaging demonstrated LRV were compressed. The angle between SMA and AO of 24 cases with "nutcracker" syndrome was abnormally acute(

Objective To discuss the 3D reconstruction dual-source CT angiography (DSCT) in diagnosing nutcracker syn-drome,Methods 24 cases with known or suspected "nutcracker" syndrome were underwent with DSCTA and 3D recon-struction, left renal vein (LRV) were demonstrated and measured. Results Among 24 cases, 16 cases were diagnosed with "nutcracker" syndrome; the imaging demonstrated LRV were compressed. The angle between SMA and AO of 24 cases with "nutcracker" syndrome was abnormally acute(<45°). The angle A was 14°～38°, the average angle was 28.12°±7.92°. The angle A' was 11°～21°, the average angle was 16.46°±3.42°. Conclusion The 3D reconstruction DSCTA may be the most useful tool in diagnosing nutcracker phenomenon.

Objective To investigate image quality and clinical value of dual-source dual energy virtual non-contrast (VNC) CT of the head. MethodsSixty-two patients suspected of cerebrovascular diseases underwent conventional non-contrast (CNC) CT and dual energy CTA examination of the head with dual-source CT. Virtual non-contrast images were reconstructed using dual energy software. The CT values of gray matter, white matter, cerebrospinal fluid, hyperdense hemorrhagic lesion and hypodense ischemic lesion were compared between CNC and VNC images. A four-score scale was used to assess image quality subjectively. Image noise, radiation dosage and detection rate were compared between CNC and VNC images. Paired t test, Wilcoxon signed ranks test and Chi-square test (McNemar test and Kappa test) were used. Results The CT value on CNC and VNC images, were (43. 3 ± 1.5) and (33. 2 ± 1.3) HU for gray matter (t = 46.98, P ＜ 0. 01), (32. 9 ± 1.3) and (28.8 ± 1.6) HU for white matter(t = 16. 28, P ＜0.01), (9.0 ± 1.4) and (5.3 ± 1.9) HU for cerebrospinal fluid (t=12.41, P＜0.01),(62.8 ±10.0) and (51.3 ± 11.5) HU for hyperdense lesion (Z = -4.37, P ＜ 0.01), (20.7 ±4.7) and (18.0 ±6. 9) HU for hypodense lesion (t = 3. 84, P ＜ 0. 01), respectively. VNC images[(1.63 ±0.34) HU]had more noise than CNC images[(0.99±0.18) HU](Z= -6.41, P＜0.01). VNC [(0. 53 ± 0. 08) mSv]had less effective dose than CNC[(1.37 ± 0. 23) mSy](Z= - 6. 45, P ＜ 0. 01).In subjective assessment, VNC images had more noise (2. 7 ± 0. 5 for VNC and 3.9 ± 0. 3 for CNC,Z = -6. 84, P ＜ 0. 01) and skull base-related artifacts (2. 4 ± 0. 9 for VNC and 3.7 ± 0. 5 for CNC,Z = -6. 15, P ＜0. 01) than CNC images. The gray/white matter contrast (1.3 ± 0. 5 for VNC and 3.3 ±0. 6 for CNC, Z = - 7. 01, P ＜ 0. 01), hyperdense lesion display (3.0 ± 0. 4 for VNC and 4. 0 ± 0. 0 for CNC,Z = -4. 52, P ＜ 0. 01) and hypodense lesion display (3.2 ± 0. 8 for VNC and 3.9 ± 0. 3 for CNC,Z= -3. 12, P ＜0. 01) on VNC images were lower than those on CNC images. In per-patient analysis,29 cases of hyperdense lesion (hemorrhage) were found on VNC images without misdiagnosis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were all 100. 0% (29/29,33/33, 29/29, 33/33). VNC images had the same detection rate of hyperdense lesions as CNC images (P ＞0. 05, Kappa = 1. 000) at per-patient level. Twenty-two patients with hypodense ischemic lesions were found on VNC images with one false positive case and two false negative cases. The sensitivity,specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 91.3% (21/23), 97.4%(38/39), 95.5% (21/22) and 95.0% (38/40) respectively. No statistical difference was found in detecting hypodense lesions between VNC and CNC images (χ2 = 0. 00, P ＞ 0. 05, Kappa = 0. 895). In per-lesion analysis, 53 hemorrhage lesions were found on VNC images with false negative results of four lesions and no false positive result. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 93.0% (53/57), 100. 0% (38/38), 100. 0% (53/53) and 90. 5% (38/42)respectively. There was no significant difference in detection rate of hyperdense lesion between VNC and CNC images (χ2 =2. 25, P ＞0. 05, Kappa =0. 914). Thirty-eight hypodense lesions were found on VNC images with 2 false positive lesions and 13 false negative lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 73.5% (36/49), 96.4% (53/55), 94. 7% (36/38)and 80. 3% (53/66) respectively. The detection rate of hypodense lesion on VNC images was lower than that on CNC images (χ2 = 6. 67 ,P ＜ 0.01, Kappa = 0. 707). Conclusion Compared with CNC images,head VNC images have reduced image quality and radiation dosage. VNC images can replace CNC images potentially in detecting intracranial hemorrhage and provide information for ischemic cerebrovascular diseases to some extent.

Objective To investigate the prevalences of the obesity and hypertension in southern mountain regions of Ningxia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among a representative sample of 10 639 adults using questionnaires, physical examinations, and blood pressure measurement in southern mountain areas with a population proportionate sampling method. Results The prevalences of overweight,obesity,central obesity,high percentage of body fat,and hypertension were 33.53%,10.71%,19.50%,27.69%,and 31.57% respectively, which were 30.31%,9.62%,16.70%,24.90%,and 27.61% after age-adjustment in rural areas of Ningxia,and increased with aging(Ptrend<0.05). The prevalences of overweight,obesity,and hypertension were higher in males than those in females(P<0.05),and that of central obesity was higher in females than in males(P=0.003).The prevalences of hypertension in subjects with overweight, obesity, central obesity, high percentage of body fat were 38. 14%, 53.75%,52.69%,and 48.90%,respectively. Body mass index,waist circumference,and percentage of body fat were positively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure(P<0.05). The multivariable logistic model revealed that the risk of hypertension in different types of obesity increased about 1.5 times. Conclusion There is high prevalence of obesity and hypertension among the adults in southern mountain areas of Ningxia. The prevalence of hypertension in obesity,central obesity,and high percentage of body fat is closed to or more than half of the population investigated.

Objective To investigate the correlation between iodine nutritional status and thyroid diseases in some areas of Ningxia. Methods The physical examination, questionnaire survey, and measurement of urine iodine, thyroid function, thyroid associated antibodies were performed, with thyroid ultrasonography in Jingyuan County, Xingqing District and Guyuan City, Ningxia Yinchuan City, totally including 2827 adults. Results The median urinary iodine of all subjects was 258. 7(76. 6-1506. 4) μg/L. The average level of urinary iodine in rural areas [203.3(64. 6-1154)μg/L] was lower than that in cities[340. 7(114. 8-1726. 1)μg/L, Z=19. 514, P>0. 01]. The average urinary iodine level was lower in people over 65 years old[234. 2(58. 9-2285. 4) μg/L, x2=6.449, P=0. 040]. Subjects in hypothyroidism group [232. 5(69. 2-1682. 3) μg/L] had the lowest average urinary iodine level, while hyperthyroidism group[331. 9(102. 4-1862) μg/L] turned to be the highest group( x2=15. 432, P>0. 01). Compared with the normal group, TPOAb and TGAb increased group had similar median levels of urinary iodine (P>0. 05). If compared with single nodule, multiple nodules group and the normal group's median levels of urinary iodine also had no significant difference(P>0. 05). Conclusion Iodine excess was found in the studied population in these areas of Ningxia.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the risk factors in Jingyuan county of Ningxia Autonomous Region.Methods The population proportionate sampling method was applied to enroll a representative sample of 10 639 adults in Jingyuan county and the study was conducted using questionnaires and physical examinations.A total of 10 553 people were included in the analysis after excluding those with missing data.High-resolution ultrasound was used to examine the liver and fasting blood was collected in the morning for measurement of blood glucose,blood lipid,and uric acid.The participants were divided into two groups of those with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease;the difference in blood biochemical indexes between fatty liver and non-fatty liver groups was compared,and the logistic regression model was used to explore the risk factors affecting the prevalence of fatty liver.Results The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was 7.60％.The prevalence of thyroid nodules was higher in men than in women (8.60％ vs.6.82％,x2=1 1.772,P=0.001).The prevalence rate of fatty liver increased with age (x2=57.336,P＜0.001),the prevalence rates among ≥18 years-＜29 years,≥30 years-＜39 years,≥40years-＜49 years,≥50 years-＜59 years,≥60 years-＜69 years,and above 70 years were 2.92％,6.50％,8.81％,9.59％,8.08％,and 4.77％ respectively.The detection rate of overweight,obesity,abdominal obesity,impaired fasting glucose,impaired glucose tolerance,diabetes,hypertension,hyperuricemia,and dyslipidemia were higher in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease group than in the normal group (P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease group had a higher risk for overweight,obesity,abdominal obesity,impaired fasting glucose,impaired glucose tolerance,diabetes,hypertension,hyperurcemia,and dyslipidemia (OR=5.41,12.45,2.99,1.85,2.05,3.30,1.41,2.23,and 1.98).Conclusion The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver in Jingyuan county of Ningxia Autonomous Region was higher.The groups of overweight,obesity,abdominal obesity,impaired fasting glucose,impaired glucose tolerance,diabetes,hypertension,hyperuricemia,and dyslipidemia were high risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.