Objective To investigate the anatomic relationship between the upper thoracic vertebrae and adjacent structures in anterior approach of upper thoracic spine, an anatomy study was conducted and its clinical significance was evaluated. Methods Twenty upper thoracic spine specimens of adult human cadaver were exposed, measured and studied for their anatomic landmarks. The origin, course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, thoracic duct and blood vessels and their relationship were measured and analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of different surgical approaches exposing the upper thoracic vertebrae were also evaluated and compared. Results The right recurrent laryngeal nerve reaches the tracheo-esophageal groove at the level of C6-7 disc in 55% of the specimens and derives from vagus nerve at the level of T1,2. The thoracic duct empties into the systemic venous system from T1 to T1-2 disc space in 75% of the specimens and among them, more than 50% up to T1 level. The left brachiocephalic vein is at T3 in 55% of the specimens; and the aortic arch is at T3-4 disc in 80% of the specimens. The anterior aspect of T3 can be easily exposed through a modified anterior approach to the upper thoracic vertebrae in only 45% of the specimens(9), compared with outside space of the brachiocephalic trunk(between the right brachiocephalic vein and the brachiocephalic trunk and left brachiocephalic vein) in 95% of the specimens (19). Conclusion Surgical approach through outside space of the brachiocephalic trunk is simple and adequate to expose the T3,4 vertebra body and can get more exposed space of 0.5-1 of the vertebra body than through inner space of the brachiocephalic trunk and can be utilized selectively during anterior upper thoracic spine surgery. Attention should be paid to avoid injury of vagus nerve in the middle, right recurrent laryngeal nerve on the right and thoracic duct on the left, respectively.

Objective To investigate the procedure of anterior thoracic corpectomy and the surgical outcomes of upper thoracic spine tumors by the right space of the ascending aorta and the right space of the brachiocephalic artery. Methods 12 patients underwent surgery between June 2000 and January 2006. There were 8 cases of primary tumors and 4 metastatic carcinomas, 4 cases of tumor in T3 and 6 cases in T4 and 3 cases in T3,4. The anterior modified transmanubrium approach was made. After the exposure of the tumor through the right space of the ascending aorta and the right space of the brachiocephalic artery, the involved vertebral body and contiguous discs were resected, the spinal cord was decompressed. Curettage was performed in 3 cases for other tumors, en bloc vertebrectomies were performed. As a body replacement, in case of benign disease autogenous bone graft harvested from the dorsal iliac crest was used, and for malignant bone tumors using bone cement. To secure the strut, anterior cervical titanium alloy plates were used until T5. Neurological status was graded according to Frankel grading system. Results 6 cases of bradycardia and hypotension or increasing airway resistance occurred intraoperatively. The mean follow-up period was 28.6 months (range 4-66 months). 3 patients with autogenous bone graft had bone union 6 months postoperatively. According to Frankel grading system, 1 patient improved from grade A preoperation to B postoperation, while another patient from B to C; of the 5 cases with grade C preoperation, 4 patients improved to D postoperation and 1 patient to E; 4 patients improved from D to E; 1 patient with grade E left unchanged. 3 patients died from general metastasis and failure 10-20 months postoperatively. One patient with giant cell tumor recurred 10 months postoperatively. Conclusion Clear exposure and satisfactory outcome can be obtained by the use of the right space of the ascending aorta and the right space of the brachiocephalic artery; it is especially indicated to the upper thoracic spine T3 and T4 tumors, where the spinal compression is located anteriorly.

Objective To analyze the efficacy and safety of HAA induction regimen consisted of homoharringtonine (HHT),cytarabine (Ara-C) and aclacinomycin (ACM) in naive and refractory relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.Methods Data from 66 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases hospitalized and treated with HAA induction regimen was analyzed retrospectively.Results 45 of the 66 cases suffered from naive AML,and 21 were refractory relapsed.HAA efficacy in naive AML was evaluated in 41 cases with 36 in complete remission (CR) and 1 in partial remission (PR).The efficiency of HAA induction regimen was 90.2 ％ (37/41)in naive AML group and 42.9 ％ (9/21) in refractory relapsed group,respectively.There were no differences (P ＞ 0.05) when considering patient' s gender,age,disease subtype and white blood cell count at onset.14 patients in CR with naive AML were followed-up for a median time of 9 months (2-17 months),and 5 cases relapsed (35.7 ％) in a range of 2-8 months.The median myelosuppression period was 14 days (3-23 days).Nausea and vomiting [20 ％ (13/66)] were the major side effects of HAA regimen,and the other side effects were abdominal pain and diarrhea [9 ％ (6/66).After chemotherapy,53 ％ (35/66) of the cases experienced infection/fever due to neutropenia.Other severe non-hematological side effects did not occur.Conclusion HAA regimen may be an ideal choice for the induction chemotherapy of naive and relapsed refractory AML.

[Summary] To investigate the correlation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and evaluate the modification effects of body mass index in Chinese adults.The study samples were from a community-based health examination survey in Xuzhou,Jiangsu province of China.A total of 32 433 subjects with biomarkers available were included in the present study.Serum ALT,triglyceride,total cholesterol,high density lipoprotein-cholesterol,low density lipoprotein-cholesterol,and glucose levels were measured.IFG was defined as from 6.1 mmol/L to 7.0 mmol/L.Results are expressed as x±s.The correlation between serum ALT and impaired fasting glucose was assessed using logistic correlation.The correlation of serum ALT and IFG in the group of fasting blood glucose was segnificantly (r=0.07,P＜0.01),while the correlation with the normal blood glucose group fasting blood glucose is weak (r=0.001,P＞0.05).After adjusted for age,sex,and body mass index,there was a strong correlation between the fasting blood glucose (r =0.04,P＜0.01) in ALT and IFG group.After further adjustment for serum lipids,blood pressure,this correlation still exists (r =0.03,P＜0.01).Body mass index influences correlation of ALT and IFG.The present data indicate that the serum ALT is related to the risk of IFG in Chinese adults,and body mass index level may affect the relationship.

Objective:To investigate the understanding of cancer pain by medical doctors and its therapeutic status in Shanghai. Methods:We recruited 1 982 medical physicians from 106 secondary and tertiary hospitals in Shanghai city from January to March in 2007. The understanding and the therapeutic status of cancer pain were investigated by conducting a questionnaire survey and the results were statistically analyzed.Rusults:There were 52.3% physicians who believed that they understand the treatment protocol of the Three-step Analgesic Ladder regimen. The rate increased by 21.6 percentage point compared with the results in 1999. The understanding degree of oncologists was significantly better than non-oncologists. There were 16.8% physicians giving the correct answers on the three main principles of the dosage titration in analgesic management. The correct rate of oncologists was significantly higher than that of non-oncologists. Opium with strong analgesic effect had become the first choice for severe cancer pain, and the use of pethidine (Dolantin) for severe cancer pain decreased significantly.The pain was significantly relieved in 74.8% patients. The pain-relieving rate increased by 25.4 percentage point compared with the results in 1999. There were 81.1% medical doctors confirming the effect of pain treatment and among them oncologists were more optimistic to therapeutic outcome than others. There were 93.3% physicians who agreed that it was necessary to carry out the standardized training of cancer pain treatment and the requirement of non-oncologists were much emergent. The over-strict controls by the hospitals and the regulations were the main obstacles for using analgesic drugs.Conclusion:The understanding of medical doctors and the diagnostic and therapeutic levels of cancer pain were improved significantly compared with those in 1999. But more training of cancer pain treatment are still required to publicize the standardized therapy and overcome the obstacles of using analgesic drug.