Objective To explore the value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)in differentiating brain tuberculomas from me-tastases.Methods Conventional and enhanced MRI as well as diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)were performed in 24 cases of brain tuberculomas(immature in 18 cases and mature in 6 case)and 36 cases of metastases.The mean ADC values and relative ADC (rADC)values were calculated from the enhanced and non-enhanced regions of mass and the peripheral edema regions of brain le-sions.Results The mean ADC values and rADC values in the enhanced,non-enhanced and the peripheral edema regions were 796.90×10 -6 mm2/s and 1.1 6,864.85×10 -6 mm2/s and 1.27,1 531.60×10 -6 mm2/s and 2.24 for the immature brain tuberculo-mas;791.95×10 -6 mm2/s and 1.1 6,61 1.80×10 -6 mm2/s and 0.87,and 1 488.45×10 -6 mm2/s and 2.10 for the mature tubercu-lomas;421.95×10 -6 mm2/s and 0.61,961.00×10 -6 mm2/s and 1.36,1 545.00×10 -6 mm2/s and 2.18 for the brain metastases, respectively.There were significant differences in the mean ADC values (H =42.293,P ≤0.05)and rADC values (H =42.575, P ≤0.05)for the enhance regions in the three groups .There were also significant differences in the mean ADC values (H =33.100, P ≤0.05)and rADC values (H =1 7.867,P ≤0.05)for the non-enhance regions.No significant difference in the mean ADC values (H =1.550,P ≥0.05)and rADC values (H =5.511,P ≥0.05)were found for the peripheral edema regions.Conclusion The ADC values of DWI can help to differentiate brain tuberculomas from metastases,when combining with the conventional and enhanced MRI.

Dysphagia is a common problem in cerebrovascular diseases such as intracerebral hemorrhage , cere-bral infarction and so on . When food or liquid passes through the larynx , it may cause intensively bucking . Nowadays there are no specific drugs , but the swallowing function will progress after acupuncture and rehabili-tation therapy . We searched and analyzed articles on acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia in recent three years . It showed that both of them were effective for the swallowing function of patients. The combination of both therapies receives better effects. However, there are still argu-ments in the clinical using opportunity of acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy for the treatment . There are so many methods in the treatment of this disease by acupuncture. Hence, there are no efficient contrasts or standard therapies. In the future, the clinical practice should pay more attention to the therapy of high quality and optimization in order to promote its clinical application .

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy ofXing Nao Kai Qiao(brain-awakening orifice-opening) needling method plus Frenkel's balance rehabilitation exercise in treating lower-limb dysfunction due to different types of ataxia after stroke.MethodA total of 115 eligible patients were randomized into two groups. Fifty-seven cases in the treatment group were intervened by Xing Nao Kai Qiaoneedling plus rehabilitation training; 58 cases in the control group were intervened byXing Nao Kai Qiaoneedling method alone. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was adopted to evaluate the symptoms, balance function, and therapeutic efficacy before and after the treatment.Result In the treatment group, the markedly effective rate was respectively 72.2%, 83.3% and 61.1% in the cerebella subtype, brainstem subtype and basal ganglia subtype, and the total effectiverate was respectively 100.0%, 94.4% and 94.4%; in the control group, the markedly effective rate was respectively 21.1%, 35.0% and 58.8%, and the total effective rate was respectively 94.7%, 85.0% and 82.4%, and the between-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). After the treatment, the BBS score showed significant intra-group differences in both groups (P<0.01); the between-group comparisons showed that there were significant differences in comparing the scores of cerebella and brainstem subtypes after the treatment (P<0.05).ConclusionXing Nao Kai Qiaoneedling method plus Frenkel's rehabilitation exercise can effectively improve the symptoms of poststroke lower-limb ataxia, especially for cerebella and brainstem subtypes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; drug therapy ; Rituximab

OBJECTIVEA prospective, multicenter and non-interventional prospective study was conducted to evaluate the clinical features of rituximab combined with chemotherapy (R-Chemo) as first-line treatment on newly diagnosed Chinese patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

METHODSThis was a single arm, prospective, observational multicenter and phase IV clinical trial for 279 patients, who were newly diagnosed as CD20-positive DLBCL from 24 medical centers in China 2011 and 2012, no special exclusion criteria were used. All patients received rituximab based R-Chemo regimes, such as R-CHOP (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone) and other regimes as the first-line treatment. The treatment strategies were determined by physicians and patients without detailed description for treatment course, dose, interval time and examination. Clinical response and safety of all patients were investigated in 120 days after completion of last dose of rituximab.

RESULTSOf 279 patients, 258 with stage I-IV who received at least 1 cycle of rituximab treatment and completed at least one time of tumor assessment were enrolled into intention-to-treat analysis, including 148 male and 110 female. The median age of all patients was 57.2(12.8-88.4) years. ECOG performance statuses of 0 or 1 were observed in 91.1% of patients, international prognostic index levels in the low-risk and low-middle-risk groups in 76.4% of patients, the tumor diameters smaller than 7.5 cm in 69.0% of patients. All patients received 6 median cycles of R-Chemo treatment every 24.4 days. R-CHOP treatment was shown to improve the clinical response with overall response rates of 94.2%. Common adverse events included anemia, marrow failure, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, digestive diseases, infection and liver toxicity. All adverse events are manageable.

CONCLUSIONNon-interventional clinical trial of R-Chemo remains the standard first-line treatment for newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL in real clinical practice, which is consistent with international treatment recommendations for DLBCL patients. R-Chemo can provide the clinical evidence and benefit as the first-line standard treatment for Chinese patients with DLBCL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rituximab ; Treatment Outcome