Objective To investigate the value of multi-slice CT (MSCT) in diagnosing early acute appendicitis (AA).Methods From June 2008 to June 2011,abdomen MSCT images of 41 patients with acute simple appendicitis confirmed by surgery and pathology were evaluated retrospectively. Thirty-six patients with clinically confirmed normal appendix served as the control groups with 18 patients in complicated-normal-appendix (CNA) group and 18 patients in noncomplicated-normal-appendix (NCNA)group. The appendix was reconstructed by using multiplanar reformation (MPR) and curved planar reformation (CPR) techniques. The differences between early AA and normal appendix in appendiceal diameter,thickness of the appendiceal wall, maximum depth of the intraluminal appendiceal fluid (MDIAF), abnormal enhancement of the appendiceal wall, appendicolith and the periappendiceal abnormalities were evaluated and compared by using analysis of variance,R test and Chi-square test.Results The mean thickness of the appendiceal wall was (2.88 ±0.62),(2.58 -±0.50) and (2.73 ±0.53) mm in early AA,CNA and NCNA groups respectively,with no statistically significant difference among them ( F =1.73,P=0.19).The nean appendiceal diameter was (11.37 ± 1.94),(7.03 -±0.89),(6.75 ±0.63) mm,and median MDIAF was 4.05 (2.65-8.50),1.68 (0-.40),0 (0-1.90) mm in early AA,CNA and NCNA groups respectively,with statistically significant differences between early AA and the two normal appendix groups ( Z =7.02,7.24 ; P =0.00 ).The abnormal enhancement of appendiceal wall was found in 61.1％ (11/18) of early AA,16.7％ (3/18) of CNA and 11.1％ (2/18) of NCNA groups respectively,with statistically significant differences between early AA and the two normal appendix groups (x2 =12.83,P =0.00). Using a cutoff value of 7.8 mm of the appendiceal diameter and 2.6 mm of MDIAF for the early AA,the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were 97.6％ (40/41),91.7％ (33/36) and 94.8％ (73/77),and 100.0％ (36/36),88.9％ (32/36) and 94.4％ (68/72),respectively.Conclusions MSCT is particularly useful for the diagnosis of early AA. When appendiceal diameter is greater than 7.8 mm,and MDIAF greater than 2.6mm,early AA can be diagnosed with confidence.

Deletions of chromosome 6q, particularly in the proximal region, are relatively rare. Here, we report on a de novo interstitial deletion of (6)(q13q16.2) in a girl with facial dysmorphism, congenital hip dislocation, porencephaly, and brain atrophy. Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis showed arr 6q13q16.2(73,378,824-99,824,130), demonstrating higher resolution than the conventional cytogenetic findings, del(6)(q12q15). The clinical data were analyzed and compared with those of similar patients previously reported in the literature.
Abnormalities, Multiple/*genetics ; *Chromosome Deletion ; *Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Karyotyping ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

PURPOSE: Obesity is associated with metabolic dysregulation, but the underlying metabolic signatures involving clinical and inflammatory profiles of obese asthma are largely unexplored. We aimed at identifying the metabolic signatures of obese asthma. METHODS: Eligible subjects with obese (n = 11) and lean (n = 22) asthma underwent body composition and clinical assessment, sputum induction, and blood sampling. Sputum supernatant was assessed for interleukin (IL)-1β, -4, -5, -6, -13, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and serum was detected for leptin, adiponectin and C-reactive protein. Untargeted gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS)-based metabolic profiles in sputum, serum and peripheral blood monocular cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminate analysis (OPLS-DA) and pathway topology enrichment analysis. The differential metabolites were further validated by correlation analysis with body composition, and clinical and inflammatory profiles. RESULTS: Body composition, asthma control, and the levels of IL-1β, -4, -13, leptin and adiponectin in obese asthmatics were significantly different from those in lean asthmatics. OPLS-DA analysis revealed 28 differential metabolites that distinguished obese from lean asthmatic subjects. The validation analysis identified 18 potential metabolic signatures (11 in sputum, 4 in serum and 2 in PBMCs) of obese asthmatics. Pathway topology enrichment analysis revealed that cyanoamino acid metabolism, caffeine metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, pentose phosphate pathway in sputum, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism and pentose phosphate pathway in serum are suggested to be significant pathways related to obese asthma. CONCLUSIONS: GC-TOF-MS-based metabolomics indicates obese asthma is characterized by a metabolic profile different from lean asthma. The potential metabolic signatures indicated novel immune-metabolic mechanisms in obese asthma with providing more phenotypic and therapeutic implications, which needs further replication and validation.
Adiponectin ; Alanine ; Aspartic Acid ; Asthma* ; Body Composition ; C-Reactive Protein ; Caffeine ; Chromatography, Gas ; Glutamic Acid ; Interleukins ; Leptin ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolism ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Obesity ; Pentose Phosphate Pathway ; Phenylalanine ; Pilot Projects* ; Sputum ; Tryptophan ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Tyrosine