Objective To improve the quality of life in patients with early penile carcinoma (T1N0M0) after partial excision of penile. Methods The clinical data of 21 patients with early penile carcinoma who were treated with partial excision of penile combined with penile lengthening surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Results The patients were followed up for 8 months to 5 years. None of patients had recurrence, and there were no external urethral stenosis and postoperative infection. The length of penile at extension state before surgery was 7.6-11.7 (8.3 ± 1.8) cm, and after surgery was 6.3-10.5 (7.4 ± 1.4) cm. All the patients were able to urinate in a standing position, 11 cases had normal sexual function, and 6 cases could complete after drug and psychological guidance. Conclusions Partial excision of penile combined with penile lengthening surgery is an effective treatment in patients with early penile carcinoma. It can significantly improve the patients' quality of life, and is an effective and feasible treatment method.

Objective To investigate the appropriate low tube current of abdominal CT on a 64-slice spiral CT. Methods (1) Phantom study:The phantom Catphan500R was scanned with a fixed 120 kVp,and 450,400,380,360,340,320,300,280 mA, respectively. 15, 9, 8, 7, 6 mm diameter low-contrast objects with 1% contrast were scanned for evaluating image quality. CT images were graded in terms of lowcontrast conspicuity by using a five-point scale. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the appropriate tube current and the interval leading to the qualitative change. (2) Clinical study: 3 groups of 45 patients who had 2 examinations of non-enhanced abdominal CT within 3 months were enrolled. All patients were scanned with 450 mA at first scanning. For the second scanning, group-1 was scanned with optimal tube current, group-2 was scanned with optimal tube current plus interval, group-3 was scanned with optimal tube current sinus interval. CT images were graded in terms of the diagnostic acceptability at three anatomic levels including porta hepatis, pancreas and the upper pole kidney, and the image noises of eight organs including abdominal aorta, portal vein, liver, spleen, gallbladder, pancreas, renal cortex, renal medulla were graded by using a five-point scale. The image quality was compared with non-parametric rank sum test,and the individual factors of the patients were compared with the A VONA. Results (1) The optimal tube current and interval leading to the qualitative change were 340 mA and 40 mA respectively. (2) There were no significant differences in image quality between 340 mA and 450 mA in group-1, between 380 mA and 450 mA in group-2 (P ＞ 0. 05). There was significant difference in image quality between 300 mA and 450 mA in group-3 (the mean scores for 300 mA were 2. 92 ± 0. 62,2.92 ± 0. 62,2.64 ± 0. 84,2. 72 ±0.82,2.63 ±0.71,2.51 ±0.84,3.04 ±0.72,3.04 ±0.72,2.63 ±0.71,2.52 ±0.73,2.93 ±0.81respectively; for 450 mA were 3.93 ± 0. 72,3.94 ± 0. 72,3.41 ± 0. 64,3.43 ± 0. 61,3.62 ± 0. 93,3.63 ±0.71,3.93 ±0.81,3.93 ±0.81,3.43 ±0.61,3.52 ±0.92,3.84 ±0.82 respectively) (Z = -2.449 to - 2. 236, P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusion Radiation dose can be effectively reduced by using an appropriate and lower current of 340 mA.

[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration (US-FNA) in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules with different size.METHODSThe clinical data of 122 thyroid nodules of 109 cases referred to FNAC for diagnosis were retrospectively reviewed. The final operating histological results of 122 nodules were considered gold standard. RESULTSNon-diagnostic FNAC results occurred in 17 nodules (13.9%). FNAC achieved a sensitivity of 78.6%, a specificity of 93.9%, a positive predictive value of 93.6%, a negative predictive value of 78.3%, and a total accuracy of 85.7%. There was no significant difference between the diameter of the nodule≤1 cm group and>1 cm group, except negative predictive value. The non-diagnostic results rate was no significant difference between groups of different nodule size, benign or malignant nodules, and different operators. CONCLUSIONFNAC is a sensitive, specific and accurate method for differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

ObjectiveTo explore an individualized abdominal scan protocol with a 64-slice CT scanner.MethodsFrom Sep.2010 to Nov.2010,one hundred consecutive patients,who underwent twice non-contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans within 3 months,were enrolled in this study.For each patient,the tube current of 274 eff.mAs and 207 eff.mAs were applied respectively in the first and second abdominal scan.The imaging qualities of the two scans were evaluated retrospectively by 3 reviewers.All the individual variants,including height,weight,body mass index (BMI),the maximum transverse diameter,the anteroposterior diameter and the average maximum diameter of abdomen were recorded.A five-point scale was used for grading the image noise of eight organs,including abdominal aorta,portal vein,liver,spleen,gallbladder,pancreas,renal cortex and renal medulla. Diagnostic acceptability of CT images at three anatomic levels,including porta bepatis,pancreas and the upper pole of renal,was also evaluated by using a five-point scale.The noise value of abdominal aorta was defined as the standard deviation (SD) of CT values of aorta at the level of porta hepatis.Scatter diagram and Pearson correlation analysis were used for evaluating the linear relationship between the individual variants and the noise value of abdominal aorta,and multivariate linear regression analysis was used for evaluating the relevance between the individual variants and the noise value of aorta.ResultsIn this patients group,the average height was ( 164.6 ± 7.5 ) cm,the average weight was (64.3 ± 11.0) kg,the BMI was (23.7 ±3.3) kg/m2,the maximum transverse diameter of abdomen was(29.8 ± 2.3 )cm,the anteroposterior diameter of abdomen was (23.1 ± 2.9) cm,and the average maximum diameter of abdomen was ( 26.5 ± 2.5 ) cm.Pearson correlation analysis showed significant positive linear correlation between the noise value of abdominal aorta( 1 1.7 ± 3.0)and patients' weight ( r =0.744,P ＜ 0.01 ),BMI ( r =0.689,P ＜ 0.01 ),the maximum transverse diameter ( r =0.813,P ＜ 0.01 ),the anteroposterior diameter ( r =0.781,P ＜ 0.01 ),the average maximum diameter of the abdomen ( r =0.789,P ＜ 0.01 ) ; however,there was no positive linear correlation between the noise value of abdominal aorta and patients' height ( r =0.292,P ＜ 0.01 ). The maximum transverse diameter of abdomen is greatly related to the noise value of abdominal aorta (Beta =0.487,P ＜0.01 ).For the patient with the maximum transverse diameter of abdomen ranging from 27 to 32 cm,diagnostic acceptability of CT images at the anatomic level of porta hepatis showed statistical significance compared with the patient with the maximal transverse diameter of the abdomen greater than 32 cm or less than 27 cm (P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion The tube current of 207 eft.mAs is reasonable for abdominal CT scan for patients with the maximal transverse diameter of the abdomen ranging from 27 to 32 cm.

Objective To evaluate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic right hemi-hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis.Methods The clinical data of 3 patients who underwent laparoscopic right hemi-hepatectomy were analyzed retrospectively.Results In 2 patients the operation was performed successfully.The operative time was 340 min and 300 min,and the intraoperative blood loss was 800 ml and 400 ml.There was no need for blood transfusion.There was a small amount of bile leakage (30-60 ml/day) in these 2 patients.The postoperative hospital stay was 9 d and 11 d.The third patient was converted to open surgery because of profuse bleeding.All the 3 patients recovered well from surgery.Conclusions Total laparoscopic right hemi-hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis was safe and feasible.

Objective To study the feasibility and results of laparoscopic anatomical liver resection for hepatolithiasis.Methods A retrospective study was conducted based on the clinical data of 103 patients who underwent laparoscopic anatomical liver resection from June 2007 to July 2013.Results Total laparoscopic anatomical liver resection was successfully carried out in 97 patients.The mean operation time was 225.5 minutes,the blood loss was 50 ～ 1 000 ml and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 11.4 days.Postoperative complications included bile leakage (n =18),abdominal cavity infection (n =3),pulmonary infection (n =4),wound seroma (n =3),right hepatic duct injury (n =1).There was no perioperative death.Conclusion Laparoscopic anatomical liver resection for hepatolithiasis is a feasible,practical,and minimally invasive procedure.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationship between C-peptide levels and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in type 2 diabetic patients is not clear. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between fasting C-peptide and GI symptoms of gastroparesis in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: We recruited 333 type 2 diabetic patients into the present study. All patients filled out questionnaires of gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI) to evaluate GI symptoms. Hospital anxiety and depression scale were adopted to define anxiety and depression. Patients with GCSI scores ≥ 1.9 were regarded as having symptoms of gastroparesis. RESULTS: In our study, 71 (21.3%) type 2 diabetic patients had GCSI scores ≥ 1.9. In comparison to patients with scores < 1.9, those with scores ≥ 1.9 had significantly lower fasting c-peptide levels (1.49 ng/mL vs 1.94 ng/mL, P < 0.001), higher prevalence of depression (40.9% vs 18.3%, P < 0.001) and anxiety (28.2% vs 13.0%, P = 0.002). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that fasting C-peptide was still significantly associated with symptoms of gastroparesis (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence intervals, 0.48–0.94; P = 0.021), even after adjustments for age, sex, body mass index, HbA1c, current smoking and drinking status, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, linear regressions showed that fasting C-peptide was independently and negatively related to GCSI scores (standardized regression coefficient, −0.29; P < 0.001) in patients with at least one GI symptom. CONCLUSION: GI symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis affect approximately 20% of type 2 diabetes patients and are associated with lower fasting C-peptide levels independent of depression and anxiety status.
Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders ; Body Mass Index ; C-Peptide* ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drinking ; Fasting* ; Gastroparesis* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking

Objective To study the feasibility and results of laparoscopic surgery for cholelithiasis in elderly patients over 80 years old.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 53 patients over 80 years old who underwent laparoscopic surgery for cholelithiasis from January 2015 to April 2017.Results The operation was successfully carried out on 53 patients.The intraoperative blood loss was 5 ～ 300 ml.The operation time was (93.5 ±41.2) minutes and the postoperative hospital stay was (11.0 ± 3.7) days.Postperative complications included bile leakage (n =5),intra-abdominal infection (n =1),pulmonary infection (n =5),wound seroma (n =2).There were no perioperative deaths.Conclusion Laparoscopic surgery for cholelithiasis was safe and efficacious in elderly patients over 80 years old.

Science of cardiac electrophysiology (EP), a most complicated professional branch of car-diovascular medicine, is composed of theoretical knowledge of EP, anatomical knowledge, catheter manipu-lation skills, and antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Longer growth period is involved in clinical cardiac EP physicians due to abstract and complicated electrophysiology knowledge. Starting with simple operation and case to stimulate students' interest in learning, this study focuses on the four teaching modules such as the theory of electrophysiology, the knowledge of anatomy, the skill of the operation of the catheter and the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. It also guides and trains students' simplified habit of thinking and independent thinking and induction learning ability, which improves the cardiac electrophysiologic doctors' efficiency of clinical practice.