Adult ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; methods ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods ; Vidarabine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate question comprehension and production among agrammatic aphasics, and to explore the mechanisms of any dysfunction in questioning.Methods Twenty aphasics were recruited in this study.According to the Chinese Agrammatism Battery,10 were classified as agrammatic (the agrammatic group) and 10 as non-agrammatic (the non-agrammatic group).Ten normal subjects served as a control group.All the subjects were tested in terms of their comprehension and production of questions using a set of general and what-where-who- why questions (wh-questions).Results No significant difference was found between the two experimental groups with regard to the correct comprehension and production of both general and wh-questions.However,there was a sig- nificant difference in correctness between comprehension and production.The performance of the agrammatic aphasics was worse than that of the non-agramatics and the normal subjects.Conclusion The impaired question comprehen- sion and production of Chinese agrammatic aphasics has its own characteristies which can form a basis for rehabilita- tion planning and outcome prediction.

Objective To provide a theoretical foundation for language rehabilitation by investigating the characteristics of verb impairment in Chinese agrammatism(CA)and exploring its mechanism.Methods Fifteen CA patients and 15 normal subjects(control group)were recruited and evaluated using a standardized aphasia battery in Chinese,the Chinese agrammatism battery,a verb comprehension and production task and a short-term memory task.Results Compared with the control group,verb comprehension and production,as well as working memory were significantly damaged among the CA patients,and it was more difficult for the agrammatic aphasics to produce than to comprehend verbs(P＜0.01).Verbs with a more complex argument structure(in terms of the number and type of arguments)were more difficult for the agrammatie aphasics to produce than those with a less complex argu- ment structure.But the complexity of the argument structure did not influence the agrammatic aphasics'verb compre- hension.Conclusion The semantic entry of a verb,shared by both comprehension and production,was intact,but the verb's grammar entry was impaired.Poor working memory together with the complexity of the argument structure accounted for the impaired verb production of the agrammatic patients.

Objective To investigate the processing characteristics of locative prepositions in patients with Chinese aphasia,and to provide the theoretical evidence for the rehabilitation of aphasia.Methods Twenty aphasic patients caused by left-hemisphere stroke and twenty matched normal controls were studied.Using the locative prepo- sition repeating task(single words,locative preposition phrases and words in sentences),the comprehension task, filling-gap task,the visual-spatial function task and the short-term memory task,we compared the performance be- tween these two groups.Results The aphasic patients had more difficulty in repeating locative prepositions in sen- tences,in comprehension task and filling-gap task,their short term memory was impaired.Both groups did well in re- peating single words and phrases.Conclusion The processing of locative prepositions was impaired in Chinese aphasics.The repetition of locative prepositions was more difficult than that of phrases and single words.The preposi- tions were often omitted.It might be due to the impairment of their short-term memory,or it might have something to do with role they played in the syntactic structure.The latter might also impact the comprehension and filling-gap score.We should make plans before rehabilitation therapy.

Objective To explore the feasibility of evaluating the lung function by MSCT in emphysema.Methods The MSCT scan and pulmonary function tests(PFF)were respectively performed in 147 receptors within one week.They were randomly divided into 2 groups:group A(120 receptors), including normal,mild,moderate and severe abnormal pulmonary function based on the PFT,for comparing the correlation between pulmonary quantitative indexes of MSCT pulmonary function and PFT and settingup the primary grade criteria of abnormal pulmonary function in emphysema,group B(27 receptors)for evaluating the diagnostic accuracy in group A.The total lung was respectively scanned at the full inspiration and full expiration with MSCT.The pulmonary quantitative indexes of MSCT were measured with Siemens Pulmo pulmonary quantitative software.Results There was correlation between pulmonary quantitative indexes of MSCT and PFF.The Piex/in_(-910)showed best correlation with FEV_1%(r=-0.905,P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate left ventricular function in neonates with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and its correlation with thyroid hormones serum levels.

METHODSM-mode echocardiography [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS)], pulse wave Doppler [the peak early diastolic mitral inflow velocity (Em), the peak late diastolic mitral inflow velocity (Am)], quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI) [the systolic peak mitral annular velocity (sm), the early diastolic peak mitral annular velocity (em), the late diastolic peak mitral annular velocity (am)] and tissue tracking imaging (TTI) [the systolic mitral annular displacement (MAD)] were evaluated in 35 neonates with congenital hypothyroidism aged 15-28 days and 30 normal neonates in this study. Correlation analysis was also made between left ventricular function and serum TT3, TT4 and TSH levels.

RESULTSLeft systolic function parameters (LVEF, LVFS, sm and MAD) were 0.62 +/- 0.08, (28.21 +/- 5.31)%, (2.58 +/- 0.59) cm/s and (0.27 +/- 0.07) cm, respectively, in CH group, and 0.67 +/- 0.06, (31.16 +/- 4.13)%, (3.24 +/- 0.52) cm/s and (0.41 +/- 0.08) cm in control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Left diastolic function parameters (Am, Em/Am, em/am, Em and em) were (0.59 +/- 0.10) m/s, 0.98 +/- 0.18, 0.82 +/- 0.40, (0.57 +/- 0.11) m/s and (2.83 +/- 1.48) cm/s, respectively, in CH group, and (0.65 +/- 0.10) m/s, 1.14 +/- 0.20, 1.25 +/- 0.33, (0.73 +/- 0.11) m/s and (4.46 +/- 1.29) cm/s in control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). MAD, sm, Em and em in CH group were greatly lower than that in control group (P < 0.001). Left systolic function (LVEF, sm, MAD) and diastolic function (Em, Am, em, em/am) were positively correlated with TT3, TT4 serum levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and negatively with TT4 serum levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). MAD, Em and em were highly correlated with TT4, TSH serum levels (r = 0.700, r = 0.564, r = 0.593, r = 0.564, P < 0.001; r = -0.674, r = -0.521, r = -0.578, r = -0.632, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSNeonates with CH have lower left systolic and diastolic function. Left ventricular function was affected by thyroid hormones. QTVI and TTI are more sensitive parameters in evaluating left ventricular function of neonates with congenital hypothyroidism than conventional echocardiography.

Congenital Hypothyroidism ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; physiopathology ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology

OBJECTIVEAlthough several reports documented the association of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and left ventricular (LV) function in infants or neonates, right ventricular (RV) function in neonates with CH has not been previously studied. The aim of the present study was to assess RV function in neonates with CH before and after thyroxine substitution therapy by quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI) and tissue tracking imaging (TTI).

METHODSFifty-two neonates aged 18-28 days (25 males and 27 females) with CH and 35 healthy neonates aged 18-28 days (16 males and 19 females) were studied by QTVI, TTI as well as conventional pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography (PWD). The standard apical four-chamber view for long-axis motion of the right ventricle was used for echocardiographic evaluation. Peak systolic displacement (D), peak systolic velocity (Vs), peak early (Ve) and late (Va) diastolic velocity of tricuspid annule were measured, Ve/Va ratio was calculated as well. Transtricuspid flow velocity during early diastole (E) and late diastole (A) were also measured by pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography. PWD and E/A ratio were calculated too. For each neonate, serum hormone levels of TSH, TT(3), TT(4), FT(3) and FT(4) were measured with a standard chemiluminescent immunoassay. After 1 month of levothyroxine (L-T(4)) substitution therapy in CH neonates, all the echocardiographic evaluations and biochemical tests were re-evaluated. Correlation analysis was also made between serum thyroid hormones levels and right ventricular function.

RESULTSThe indices of right ventricular diastolic function by PWD (E and E/A ratio) in CH group were (45 +/- 10) cm/s and (0.8 +/- 0.3), respectively. Compared with controls, E and E/A ratio in CH neonates were significantly lower (P < 0.001, respectively), while A did not differ between the two groups (P > 0.05). QTVI and TTI showed that right diastolic function (Ve and Ve/Va ratio) as well as right systolic function (Vs and D) in CH group were (3.69 +/- 1.38) cm/s, (0.74 +/- 0.19) cm/s, (4.38 +/- 0.63) cm/s and (0.52 +/- 0.12) cm, respectively. CH neonates had significantly lower Ve, Ve/Va ratio, Vs and D of tricuspid annular velocity (P < 0.001, respectively), whereas there was no significant difference in Va between the two groups (P > 0.05). After 1 month of substitutive therapy, CH neonates showed a significant increase of Ve, Ve/Va ratio, Vs, D, E, and E/A ratio, (6.92 +/- 1.86) cm/s, (1.13 +/- 0.22), (5.92 +/- 1.03) cm/s, (0.78 +/- 0.17) cm, (61 +/- 10) cm/s and (1.1 +/- 0.4), respectively (P < 0.001). Those parameters were positively correlated with serum TT(3), TT(4), FT(3) and FT(4) levels (P < 0.01, respectively), and were negatively correlated with serum TSH levels (P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSOur findings suggest that neonates with CH are associated with right ventricular subclinical systolic and diastolic dysfunction, which can be reversed by early L-T(4) substitution therapy. QTVI and TTI are valuable methods to evaluate right ventricular function in neonates. Systolic and diastolic velocities of the tricuspid annulus measured by QTVI and TTI are useful and accurate to assess RV function in neonates.

Adult ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Child, Preschool ; Congenital Hypothyroidism ; physiopathology ; Diastole ; drug effects ; physiology ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Systole ; drug effects ; physiology ; Thyrotropin ; pharmacology ; Thyroxine ; blood ; pharmacology ; Tricuspid Valve ; physiopathology ; Ventricular Function, Left ; drug effects ; physiology ; radiation effects ; Ventricular Function, Right ; drug effects ; physiology

Objective To study sleep characteristics in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) through polysomnography (PSG). Methods Twenty-five TLE patients (TLE group) and eighteen healthy volunteer subjects (control group) were recruited to our study. Patients of two groups were evaluated by whole-night PSG, including total time in bed (TIB), total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), sleep latency (SL), rapid eye movement latency (REML), wake after sleep onset (WASO), the percentages of non-REM (NREM) 1, 2 and 3 stages and the percentages of rapid eye movement (REM) occupied TST (N1％, N2％, N3％and REM％), the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), hypopnea index, mean oxygen saturation (SpO2) and nadir SpO2, periodic leg movements (PLMs) index and PLMs index of REM sleep, sleep stage shifts (SSS) and sleep stage shifts per hour (SSS/h), NREM1, NREM2, NREM3 and REM sleep stage and wake shifts (abbreviated as N1, N2, N3, REM and W) and their proportions of SSS (abbreviated as N1/SSS, N2/SSS, N3/SSS, REM/SSS and W/SSS). Results Compared with control group, WASO, PLMs, PLMs index of REM sleep, SSS, SSS/H and N2 were significantly increased in TLE group. Moreover, compared with control group, SpO2 was decreased in TLE group (P<0.05). Conclusion Our results suggest that TLE patients have sleep disorder manifested as disorder of sleep structure, increased incidents of respiratory and motion events.

OBJECTIVETo explore the management of fungal pyelonephritis in infants.

METHODData from 5 cases with fungal pyelonephritis, including the clinical situation, laboratory examination, feature of imaging, and treatment were analyzed.

RESULTAll the 5 cases were preterm and low birth weight infants. In 3 cases the disease was unilateral, in 2 cases were bilateral, and acute renal failure occurred. Fungus balls presented on imaging. Urine culture was positive of Candida albicans. Treatment with percutaneous nephrostomy, irrigation and antifungal agent were associated with good prognosis. Only 1 case died. The surviving patients were followed up for 10 - 20 months and the results showed normal growth and development. B-mode ultrasound examination did not show any malformation of the urinary system.

CONCLUSIONFungal pyelonephritis was commom in preterm infants. Candida albicans was the major pathogenic microorganism. Percutaneous nephrostomy and drainage were effective in patients with urinary obstruction in relief of obstruction, early diagnosis and control of infection.

Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; therapy ; Amphotericin B ; administration & dosage ; Antifungal Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Candida albicans ; isolation & purification ; Candidiasis ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Chymotrypsin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Pyelonephritis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Ureteral Obstruction ; etiology ; therapy ; Urine ; microbiology

AIMTo investigate the change of latency and interpeak latency of each component of BAEP (brainstem auditory evoked potential, BAEP) and its correlation with PV/PFV (pontine volume/posterior fossa volume, PV/PFV) ratio in OPCA (olivopontocerebellar atrophy, OPCA).

METHODSWe used Keypoint EMG/EP to determine waves I PL (peak latency, PL), III PL, V PL and I - III IPL (interpeak latency, IPL), III - V IPL, I - V IPL and used 1.5TMR 3D volume rendering software to determine PV (pontine volume, PV), CV(cerebellar volume, CV) and PFV (posterior fossa volume,PFV). Then calculated PV/PFV ratio, CV/PFV ratio and PV/ CV ratio in OPCA group and control group.

RESULTSCompared with control group, in OPCA group wave IIII PL, I - III IPL were significantly elongated (P < 0.05), III - V IPL was significantly shorten (P < 0.05), PV/PFV ratio was significantly decreased (P < 0.01); there was a positive correlation between III-V IPL and PV/PFV ratio (r = 0.83, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn patients with OPCA, III PL, I - III IPL of BAEP were elongated and III - V IPL of BAEP was shorten. III - V IPL became shorter when the volume of pontine decreased.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Pons ; pathology