Objective To evaluate the application of CT myelography (CTM) in detecting the site of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and analyze it's imaging features.Methods Six patients (3 women and 3 men) with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) were included, who met the criteria of the International Headache Classification (2nd edition, 2004). Five patients subsequently underwent whole spine MRI and all 6 patients underwent CTM. Autologous blood mixed with omnipaque (300 mg/ml) was injected followed by selective puncture at the leak site indicated by CTM. Results MRI was failed to find leak site in the 5 patients, whereas CTM successfully found leak sites in all 6 patients. There were 1 to 7 leak sites respectively with an average of 4.2 sites (totally 25 points). Leak sites at cervical (12 sites) and thoracic (12 sites) were more frequent than at lumbar (1 site). CTM was featured by linear leakage of the contrast medium along the spinal nerve roots, paraspinal collections of hyper-density contrast medium and beak-like enlargement of the nerve sleeves. All patients responded well to the treatment, with complete resolution of symptoms. Conclusion CTM has been shown to be a study of choice to accurately define the location and extent of a CSF leak.

Objective:To explore changes of central retinal vascular caliber and fractal dimension (Df) and their cor‐relation with blood pressure in hypertensive population .Methods :A total of 2169 subjects>30 years old were en‐rolled in this cross‐sectional study .They were divided into hypertension group (n=819) and non‐hypertension group (n=1350) .Fundus photos were collected in all subjects ,and semi‐automatic software was used to quantitatively ana‐lyze central retinal vascular caliber and Df ,and they were compared between two groups .Results:Compared with non- hypertension group ,there were significant reductions in central retinal arteriolar equivalent [CRAE ,(135.2 ± 10.72) μm vs .(132.25 ± 11.56) μm] ,central retinal venular equivalent [CRVE ,(184.95 ± 16.29) μm vs . (182.52 ± 17.07)μm] and Df [ (1.38 ± 0.05) vs .(1.34 ± 0.05)] in hypertension group , P<0.01 all .After adjus‐ting for age and gender ,analysis of covariance indicated that CRAE and Df of hypertension group were still signifi‐cantly lower than those of non - hypertension group (P<0.01 both) .Linear correlation analysis indicated that sys‐tolic blood pressure (SBP) ,diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and pulse pressure (PP) were inversely correlated with CRAE and Df ( r= -0.340~ -0.174 , P<0.01 all) .After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors ,multi‐factor linear regression analysis indicated that CRAE and Df were still inversely correlated with SBP ,DBP and PP (stand‐ardizedβ= -0.190~ -0.134 ,P<0.01 all) .Df of hypertension course >5 years group was significantly lower than that of ≤5 years group [ (1.33 ± 0.05) vs .(1.35 ± 0.05)] , P<0.01. Conclusion:CARE ,Df are significantly in‐versely correlated to SBP ,DBP and PP in hypertensive population ,while correlation of Df is most .

Objective To investigate the association between air pollution and the daily number of outpatient visits for dermatitis in Beijing city, and to evaluate the sensitivity to air pollution in populations of different gender and age. Methods Time-series data on daily outpatient visits for dermatitis between April 2012 and April 2014 were collected from Air Force General Hospital of PLA. The daily average concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide(NO2), and particulate matters(PM2.5, PM10)were obtained from Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center, and routine meteorological data (including daily mean temperature, relative humidity and wind speed)were collected from the China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System. A generalized additive model was used to analyze the association between daily average concentrations of air pollutants and the number of daily outpatient visits for dermatitis. Results In single-pollutant models, an increase of 10 μg/m3 in daily concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and NO2 was associated with the number of outpatient visits for dermatitis with the relative risk being 1.003 1 (95% CI, 1.001 6 - 1.004 5), 1.0025 (95% CI, 1.001 4 - 1.003 7), 1.0057 (95% CI, 1.001 5 - 1.009 9)and 1.009 7 (95% CI, 1.005 6 - 1.013 8)respectively. Similarly, multipollutant models showed that air pollutant concentrations were significantly associated with the daily number of outpatient visits for dermatitis. Distributed lag models showed that the effects of PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 on daily outpatient visits for dermatitis were mainly observed on the day of exposure, while the effect of SO2 increased along with the increment of lag days. Stratification analysis showed that people aged less than 60 years and females were relatively more sensitive to particulate matters (PM2.5, PM10), while NO2 affected all groups of people at the same degree, and SO2 mainly affected people aged 35 - 60 years. Conclusion Air pollutants PM2.5, PM10, SO2 and NO2 may all increase the risk of dermatitis in Beijing area.

Objective To investigate the association between concentrations of environmental air pollutants and the daily number of outpatient visits for urticaria in Beijing. Methods Time series analysis in combination with distributed lag non?linear model(DLNM)and Spearman′s rank correlation test was used to analyze the association between PM2.5 concentrations and the daily number of outpatient visits for urticaria. All effect estimates were expressed as a risk ratio(RR)for the daily number of outpatient visits with an interquartile range(IQR)increase of 82.8 μg/m3 in PM2.5. Results From January 1st 2013 to June 30th 2014, the daily average PM2.5 concentration, temperature, relative humidity and number of visits for urticaria were 89.3 μg/m3, 12.7 ℃, 51.9% and 27.3 respectively. Spearman′s rank correlation test showed that the daily average PM2.5 concentration and number of visits for urticaria were correlated with daily mean temperature(rs =-0.21, 0.36, respectively, P < 0.05)and relative humidity(rs = 0.49, 0.31, respectively, P < 0.05), but no correlation was observed between daily average PM2.5 concentrations and daily number of visits for urticaria(rs=0.01, P>0.05). There was no significant correlation between daily number of outpatient visits for urticaria and daily PM2.5 concentration lagged by 0-14 days(RR=1, 95%CI:0.89, 1.13). After potential confounding factors were adjusted, an 82.8μg/m3 increase in daily PM2.5 concentration at lag 0-20 days was significantly associated with a 22%(95%CI:3%, 46%)increase in daily number of outpatient visits for urticaria, suggesting that the lagged effect of PM2.5 was obviously increased. Conclusion The association between PM2.5 concentrations and the number of visits for urticaria is easily affected by meteorological factors and biological confounding factors, and relative humidity and mean temperature are both positively correlated with the number of visits for urticaria.

Objective To investigate the surgical outcomes and strategies selection of endoscopic endonasal approach and craniotomy in the treatment of cranial base chordomas.Methods Thirty-one patients diagnosed pathologically with cranial base chordoma in Tianjin huanhu hospital from Jan.2010 to Sep.2020 were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into the endoscopic endonasal group and the craniotomy microscope group according to the different surgical approaches.The surgical results and follow-up between the two groups were compared.Results In the endoscopic endonasal group,there were 7 cases of gross total resection,9 cases of subtotal resection and 2 cases of partial resection.The main complications included death in 2 cases,cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 8 cases,cranial nerve injury in 2 cases and hypopituitarism in 1 case.In the craniotomy microscope group,there were 2 cases of gross total resection,10 cases of subtotal resection,and 1 case of partial resection.The main complications included cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 1 case,cranial nerve injury in 3 cases,epilepsy in 1 case and epidural hematoma in 1 case.There was no statistical significance in the resection rate between the two groups(P＞0.05).The rate of cerebrospinal fluid leakage in the endoscopic group was significantly higher than that in the craniotomy microscope group,and the comparison was statistically significant(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant between the two groups for tumor recurrence or progression.Conclusions The endoscopic endonasal approaches for resection of cranial base chordomas have improved the gross total resection rate,but craniotomy is still an important surgical method for tumor resection.It is necessary to select an appropriate surgical approach according to the lesion location and pattern of tumor growth.

Objective:To explore the application value of three dimensional T 1 weighted sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts by using different flip angle evolutions (3D T 1-SPACE) combined with three dimensional time of flight MR angiography (3D-TOF MRA) in the follow-up of stent-assisted coil embolization for intracranial aneurysm. Methods:From December 2017 to October 2018, 25 patients with intracranial aneurysm who underwent stent-assisted coil embolization in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital were enrolled. All of them had wide neck intracranial aneurysms and were followed up for 6 to 10 months after endovascular treatment using 3D-TOF MRA, 3D T 1-SPACE sequence and DSA. The DSA and 3D-TOF MRA were performed to evaluate aneurysm remnants using Raymond grade scale. Meanwhile, 3D-TOF MRA and 3D T 1-SPACE sequence were performed to evaluate in-stent lumen visibility using the 4-point scale. The paired sample Wilcoxon test was used to evaluate the aneurysm remnants and the parent artery patency. DSA was used as the gold standard to calculate the specificity and accuracy of the aneurysm remnants evaluated by 3D-TOF MRA. Results:Six to ten months′ follow up after the procedure, for aneurysm occlusion, the Raymond grade scale of the 25 patients evaluated by DSA indicated grade 1 in 23 patients, 2 in 1 and 3 in 1. For patients evaluated by 3D-TOF MRA, the results demonstrated grade 1 in 21 patients, 2 in 3 and 3 in 1. There was no difference between the 2 methods ( Z=-0.557, P=0.577). The in-stent lumens of parent vessel evaluated by 3D-TOF MRA showed that there were 14 patients with grade 3, 8 patients with grade 2 and 3 patients with grade 1. However, 3D T 1-SPACE demonstrated that all 25 patients were grade 4. The 3D T 1-SPACE was superior to evaluate the in-stent lumens than 3D-TOF MRA ( Z=-4.484, P<0.001). Taking DSA as standard, the specificity and accuracy of the aneurysm remnants evaluated by 3D-TOF MRA were 86.9% (20/23) and 84.0% (21/25), respectively. Conclusion:3.0 T 3D T 1-SPACE MR sequence can be used to assess parent artery patency, with in-stent lumen being clearly visible. 3D-TOF MRA can evaluate intracranial aneurysm remnants. The combination of these two MRI imaging techniques can be used as an optional follow-up evaluation after the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

Objective:To compare procedural parameters and perioperative complications between the first-generation Pipeline embolization device (PED Classic) and the second-generation Pipeline embolization device (PED Flex).Methods:A total of 53 patients who underwent intracranial aneurysm treatment with the PED Classic from February 2015 to August 2016 and 118 patients who underwent treatment with the PED Flex from January 2018 to July 2019 at Zhengzhou University People's Hospital were enrolled in this retrospective study. Procedure time, contrast dosage, fluoroscopy time and perioperative complications in the two groups were recorded. Independent sample t-test was performed to analyze the difference of procedure time, contrast dosage and fluoroscopy time between the two groups, and Chi-square test was performed to analyze the perioperative complications. Results:There were 53 cases with 73 aneurysms in the PED Classic group and 118 cases with 146 aneurysms in the PED Flex group. The procedure time was (159.0±42.0) min in the PED Classic group, and (121.9±46.0) min in the PED Flex group. The difference was statistically significant ( t=5.012, P<0.001). The contrast dosage was (156.4±39.4) ml in the PED Classic group and (110.1±38.5) ml in the PED Flex group. The difference was statistically significant ( t=7.229, P<0.001). The difference of fluoroscopy time between PED Classic group and PED Flex group was also statistically significant ( t=10.196, P<0.001), with the average of (34.7±5.7) min and (22.8±7.6) min, respectively. The perioperative complications rate in the PED Classic group (9.4%, 5/53) was higher than that of the PED Flex group (2.5%, 3/118), but there was no statistical significance between the two groups (χ 2=2.503, P=0.114). Conclusion:The use of PED Flex seems safe in treating intracranial aneurysms, and the device deployment is easier compared with the use of PED Classic. However, serious complications remain to be noted.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate spiral CT urography (SCTU) and CT virtual endoscopy (CTVE) in detecting urologic diseases.

METHODSSCTU was performed in 46 patients with urological diseases including renal neoplasms (2), paropelvic cysts (2), ureteral calculi (6), ureteral stenosis (4), ureteral neoplasms (2), double kidneys and ureter malformation (1), bladder neoplasms (28) and bladder endometreosis (1). The 6 patients with ureteral diseases and 29 patients with bladder diseases underwent CTVE based on spiral CT scan. All CTVE findings were compared with those of B-mode ultrosonography, intravenous urography (IVU), retrograde pyelography (RGP), conventional CT or cystoscopy.

RESULTSAll upper urinary tract diseases and bladder diseases (28 cases) were detected by SCTU and CTVE scans and they were confirmed operatively or pathologically except one case of bladder neoplasm (diameter less than 5 mm) was missed.

CONCLUSIONSCTU and CTVE have proved to be non-invasive and reliable in the diagnosis of urological diseases and are superior to IVU or conventional CT. CTVE can serve as a supplementary method to fiberoptic cystoscopy or ureteroscopy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urography ; Urologic Diseases ; diagnosis

Background and objective Metabolic change is one of the important characteristics of radiation pneu-monitis.Radiotherapy,as a conventional method for the treatment of thoracic tumors,can not only effectively kill tumor cells,but also cause adverse reactions such as local inflammation and fibrosis,which leads to limited therapeutic effect and profound impact on the quality of life of patients.Therefore,it is of great significance to explore the metabolic changes caused by radio-therapy.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of X-ray irradiation on the metabolism of a mouse lung epithelial cell line(murine lung epithelial-12,MLE12).Methods MLE12 cells were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into radiation group(IR)and control group(NC).Cells in the IR group were irradiated at a dose of 10 Gy using a Hitachi X-ray irradiator.Cell supernatant samples were collected at 48 h after irradiation.Metabolomic analysis of the samples was performed by liq-uid chromatograph mass spectrometer(LC/MS).Results LC/MS metabolomics analysis revealed the metabolic changes of MLE12 cells at 48 h after irradiation.A total of 38 secretory metabolites were altered in the IR group compared with the NC group.According to the annotation of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)database,the differential metabo-lites are mainly involved in nucleotide metabolism,amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism,among which the difference in nucleotide metabolism is the most significant.Conclusion The metabolism ofMLE12 cells was significantly affected by X-ray irradiation,mainly affecting the nucleotide metabolic pathways,including purine and pyrimidine metabolites and related meta-bolic pathways.

Objective To investigate the impact of variations in RNA-binding motif protein 20(RBM20)and muscle-restricted coiled-coil(MURC)digenic heterozygosity variation on the structural and biological characteristics of human cardiomyocyte AC 16(an adult left ventricular myocardial cell line).Methods Cardiomyocyte AC 16 cell lines were constructed with control,negative scramble,wild-type,MURC single-gene mutant,RBM20 single-gene mutant,and RBM20 and MURC digenic mutant groups.The localization of RBM20 and MURC in cardiomyocytes,cell area,cytoskeletal arrangement,cytoskeleton-related proteins,cell polarity,and intracellular calcium concentration were observed using Western blotting,immunofluorescence staining,and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Myocardial apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry.Ki-67 staining and wound healing assays were performed to detect cardiomyo-cyte proliferation and migration,respectively.Results Digenic mutations had a more pronounced impact than single-gene mutations in RBM20 or MURC on the structural and biological characteristics of cardiomyocytes,manifested by increased cell area,upregulated mRNA expression of hypertrophy-related genes,such as myosin heavy chain 7 and alpha-actin,increased cytoskeleton disturbance,decreased flu-orescence intensity of cytoskeletal proteins β-tubulin and Vinculin(all P＜0.01);increased fluorescence intensity of the polarity protein Part 6(P＜0.05);and significantly elevated cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate,decreased proliferative activity,and elevated migration rate and intracellular calcium ion concentration(all P＜0.01).Conclusion The digenic heterozygous variation in RBM20 and MURC may induce changes in the morphological structure and biological characteristics of myocardial cells,including increased cell area,cytoskeleton dis-turbance,cell polarity,increased apoptosis rate and mobility,decreased cell proliferation activity,and calcium processing ability.