Objective:To analyze the clinical and echocardiographic features of constrictive pericarditis. Methods: Thirty-six patients diagnosed as having constrictive pericarditis from Oct. 1989 to Jun. 2007 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Clinical manifestations and echocardiographic features were analyzed. Results: The main clinical manifestations were fatigue, effort dyspnea(100%), and sign of pressure elevation of vena cava(97%). Echocardiographic features included thickening of pericardium(67%), abnormal motion of septal and posterior wall of left ventricle in diastole(83%,75% respectively), left and right atrial enlargement(92%,39% respectively), early filling changes of mitral flow with respiration(93%), inferior vena cava dilation and without respiration variation(100%), mitral annulus paradoxical enhanced motion in early diastole. Conclusion: Clinical manifestations of pressure elevation of vena cava were indicators for diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. Echocardiography could be a valuable method for confirming the diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and features of tongue manifestation.Methods A total of 1 655 physical examination individuals were selected,and height and body weight were measured to calculate BMI.Traditional Chinese Medicine tongue inspection was performed,and map of tongue manifestation was photographed by a digital camera.Results Among the 1 655 physical examination individuals,prevalences of normal weight,overweight/obesity and low weight were 50.94％,43.74％ and 5.32％,respectively.The prevalences of individuals had dark red tongue (37.98％ vs.24.56％;x2=40.883,P＜0.001),purplish tongue (5.94％ vs.3.44％;x2=8.133,P=0.017),dark purplish tongue (2.35％ vs.0.59％;x2=10.398,P=0.006),yellow fur (63.95％ vs.58.84％;x2=9.570,P=0.008),thick greasy fur (24.86％ vs.17.20％;x2=18.698,P＜0.001) in the overweight/obesity group were significantly higher than those in the normal weight group,and the prevalence of individuals had exfoliative fur/little fur/less fur in the overweight/obesity group was significantly higher than that in the normal weight group (1.93％ vs.3.91％;x2=6.454,P=0.040).The prevalences of individuals had red or deep red tongue (48.86％ vs.24.72％;x2=24.608,P＜0.001),red dot tongue (7.95％ vs.1.93％;x2=12.254,P=0.002),thin whitish fur (22.73％ vs.9.53％;x2=14.030,P=0.001) in the low weight group were significantly higher than those in the normal weight group.Binary logistic regression analysis showed positive correlation between dark red tongue (OR 1.830,95％ CI 1.515-2.211;P＜0.001),purplish tongue (OR 1.874,95％ CI 1.211-2.901;P=0.005),dark purplish tongue (OR 4.259,95％ CI 1.610-11.266;P=0.003),yellow fur (OR 1.294,95％ CI 1.093-1.531;P=0.003),gray-black fur (OR 6.147,95％ CI 1.816-20.811;P=0.004),thick greasy fur (OR 1.597,95％ CI 1.289-1.978;P＜0.001) and BMI,and negative correlation between pink tongue (OR 0.766,95％ CI 0.637-0.920;P=0.004),red or deep red tongue (OR 0.659,95％ CI 0.549-0.789;P＜0.001),red dot tongue (OR 0.548,95％ CI 0.326-0.921;P=0.023),thin whitish fur (OR 0.695,95％ CI 0.536-0.900;P=0.006),whitish fur (OR 0.821,95％ CI 0.683-0.986;P=0.035) and BMI.Conclusions There is some correlation between BMI and features of tongue manifestation.Abnormal tongue color is mainly dark red tongue in the overweight/obesity individuals,and red or deep red tongue in low weight individuals.Abnormal tongue fur is mainly thick yellow fur.The tongue shape is normal in different body weight groups.

Objective To study the metabolic parameters in health checkup people with dark red tongue and light red tongue,with different coating nature,coating color or liguliform,to understand the relationship between dark red tongue and human metabolic state.Methods Clinical data of 2 891 individuals who underwent health checkup in our center between Dec.2013 and Aug.2014 were collected,including body mass index,blood pressure,blood glucose,lipid and uric acid.Tongue diagnosis was made by Chinese Medicine practitioners.Results The dark red tongue was more common in males,it was found in 61.58％ males and 38.42％ females in the dark red tongue group.The average level including body mass index,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,blood glucose,total cholesterol,triglyceride,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood uric acid in dark red tongue group were higher than those in light red tongue group (P＜0.01).When the dark red tongue had yellow fur-like or thick and greasy coat,the average level of body mass index,blood glucose,total cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood uric acid were higher than those of the normal dark red tongue group,the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower than that of the normal dark red tongue group.Conclusions Dark red tongue has homogeneous relations with abnormal metabolic parameters,it may be the external expression of metabolic abnormalities;tongue is the external macro manifestation of human body health state.

This study was aimed to discuss the diagnosis significance of the diseased tongue demonstration in Shanghuo (heatiness) people. Based on 303Shanghuo cases, the relevance of diseased tongue demonstration and inquiry data were analyzed. The results showed that 53.14%Shanghuo cases had at least more than 2Shanghuo inducing causes. The most common inducing cause combinations were pathogenic factors neither endogenous nor exogenous (unbalanced diet, overworked) and internal factors (over stressed, emotional). When there were several Shanghuo causes occurred at the same time, the probability of appearing diseased tongue demonstration increased significantly. There were 29.95%Shanghuo cases occurredShanghuo experience frequently. And in these cases, the probability of appearing diseased tongue demonstration increased significantly. It was concluded that when Shanghuo people had diseased tongue demonstration appeared, it was not merely just“is going to get ill”, but was already suffering from heat syndrome. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physical examination, to effectively differentiate“is going to get ill” and“being ill” was initially important. And the diseased tongue demonstration was a crucial diagnostic basis.

Objective To investigate the value of prospectively electrocardiogram (ECG)-triggered high-pitch coronary computed tomography angiography at 70 kV and 30 mL contrast medium with Stellar detector dual-source CT.Methods 60 patients with the BMI<24.9 kg/m2 were randomized into two groups:Group A (30 cases)with the tube voltage of 70 kV and 30 mL contrast medi-um.Group B (30 cases)with the tube voltage of 100 kV and 50 mL contrast medium.All the patients were performed with a Stellar detector dual-source CT using a prospectively ECG triggered high-pitch spiral technique.The images of Group A were reconstructed with SAFIRE technique,while Group B were with FBP technique.The objective image quality includes CT attenuation,SNR, CNR.And radiation dose was also calculated.The subjective was evaluated by 4-scale point.Independent sample t test was used.Re-sults There was no difference for subjective image quality between the groups,A:(3.38±0.942),B:(3.50±0.682),(t=-0.562, P >0.05).The CT attenuation of the 70 kV group were higher than that of the 100 kV group for all the segments(P <0.01).The SNR and the CNR have no statistically significant difference between the groups (P >0.05).Compared with the 100 kV group,the radiation dose of the 70 kV group was reduced by 76.5% (A:0.19±0.023 mSv,B:0.81±0.101 mSv,P <0.01).Conclusion Using 70 kV with 30 mL contrast medium in Stellar detector dual-source CT coronary angiography for the patients with a normal BMI could obtain qualified diagnostic image with low radiation dose and contrast medium.

This study was aimed to investigate the congenital constitution terms consist of Bing and connotation in medical books before Qing dynasty. By searching the character Bing as a keyword in the Encyclopedia of Tradi-tional Chinese Medicine (TCM), 6480 articles were retrieved. Through reading each of the articles, 9 congenital con-stitution terms were concluded. The results showed that Sui dynasty recorded the earliest congenital constitution term. And till the end of Ming dynasty, altogether 9 terms, which were Bing Qi, Bing Zhi, Bing Shou, Bing Fu, Suo Bing, Fu Bing, Qi Bing, Bing Ti and Su Bing, appeared in sequence. The terms appeared with high frequency were Bing Shou ( 33 . 27%) and Bing Fu ( 32 . 99%) . There were 5 congenital constitution relat-ed factors altogether , which were physique , parental heredity , life span , qi and blood as well as region , ap-peared in sequence . And the term appeared with high frequency was physique ( 32.11%) . It was concluded that before Qing dynasty, all congenital constitution terms occurred with the character of Bing (endowment). The usage of different terms to state congenital constitution was intended to describe different associated factors . It reflected the understanding of congenital constitution process. The first known congenital constitution factor was not parental heredity but physique . Qi and blood was the second most appeared factor . This indicated that con-genital constitution does not only involve the structure of the body ( physique ) , but also the function of the body (qi and blood). The investigation about congenital constitution of ancient TCM brings a positive practical signifi-cance for the modern health cognition and health maintenance .

Objective To measure the chromatic differences of the tongue tip and tongue side and provide quantitative evidence for tongue color diagnosis. Methods Totally 683 healthy people were recruited, and their tongue photos were taken. Then ICC specific documents were used for the correction of all tongue photos, and chromatic values (L*, a*, b*, C*and h°) of tongue tip and tongue side were obtained for further statistical analysis. CIEDE2000 was used for calculating the color differences. Results The average color difference of tongue tip and tongue side in normal pink tongue was 5.4. When pink tongue has abnormal red tongue tip, the average color difference of tongue tip and tongue side was 10.85. Compared with normal tongue tip, the average color difference of tongue tip and tongue side in abnormal color tongue with abnormal red tongue tip increased from 5.4-7.0 to 11.23. Conclusion Red tongue tip is a sensitive sign indicating abnormal heat in the body. Tongue tip quantitative diagnosis is valuable in the determination of heat sign in TCM preventive treatment of disease, and reveal the diagnosis meaning and scientific connotation of red tongue tip.

Objective To evaluate two different MRI techniques , enhanced 3D STIR SPACE and unidirectionally-encoded DWIBS MR Neurography in visualizing the brachial plexus.Methods Twenty healthy volunteers underwent MR scanning by the procedures of unidirectionally -encoded DWIBS and enhanced 3D STIR SPACE sequence of the brachial plexus.Original images were reconstructed with coronal maximum intensity projection ( MIP ).The image quality was assessed by comparing the visualization of various parts of the brachial plexus and the suppression ratio of image background.The degree of visualization was compared via χ2-test of paired data , and comparison of background suppression scores was performed using a nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank sum test.Results The successful rate of visualizing the brachial plexus supraclavicular section ( C5-T1 ) was 84% ( 167/200 ) and 99% ( 198/200 ) , respectively, for the DWIBS and enhanced 3D STIR SPACE, and the rate for the infraclavicular section was 33%( 13/40 ) and 95% ( 38/40 ).The differences between these two techniques were statistically significant (χ2 value was 28.18 and 31.15 respectively, P <0.01).In all images, the scores of grade (Ⅰ-Ⅳ) of background suppression were 0, 0, 4 and 16 for unidirectionally-encoded DWIBS, respectively;while they were 15, 4, 1 and 0 for enhanced 3D STIR SPACE.There was significant difference between the two techniques ( Z =3.96,P <0.01).Conclusions High-quality MR neurography of the brachial plexus can be obtained using the enhanced 3D STIR SPACE sequence.It offers a complete anatomical coverage of the brachial plexus , and thus demonstrates a better capacity in depicting the anatomy of brachial plexus as compared with the unidirectionally-encoded DWIBS.

Objective To explore the clinical value of prospective electrocardiography-triggering high-pitch spiral acquisition by dual-source CT (HP mode ) in children with congenital heart diseases (CHD).MethodsThirty-six patients ( mean age:0.67 years,range:1 month to 2 years and 6 months; 25 males;mean weight:7.7 kg)underwent prospective ECG-triggering high-pitch spiral acquisition.The dose length product (DLP) was recorded to calculate effective dose ( ED ).Two experienced radiologists made diagnosis and assessed the overall image quality by a five-point scale independently.The consistency of their judgment was determined by Kappa statistics.Surgeries were performed in 29 patients,and conventional cardiac angiography(CCA) was performed in 7 patients.The accuracy,sensitivity and specificity of HP mode were calculated based on the surgical or CCA findings.ResultsThe DLP was (5.12 ± 1.64) mGy.cm with a range of 2.4 mGy · cm to 9.2 mGy · cm and ED was (0.125 ± 0.027 ) mSv ranging from 0.078 mSv to 0.179 mSv.The average subjective image quality score was 4.2 ± 0.7.All images were diagnosable.Two radiologists made good agreement ( K =0.774,P ＜ 0.05 ).The accuracy,sensitivity and specificity of HP mode were 98.9％,94.2％ and 99.8％,respectively.ConclusionLow radiation dose with the accurate diagnosis of anomalies makes HP mode a new choice for children with CHD.

Objective To evaluate feasibility and time efficiency of dual-source flash post-processing software (Bone Reading)for reconstruction of bronchial artery.Methods The imaging data of 70 patients with suspected bronchial artery dilatation who underwent bronchial artery-CTA were evaluated by 2 independent radiologists.First,the related contents of bronchial artery such as origination,number, type,route and lumen diameter were evaluated by multiple planar reconstruction (MPR),maximum intensity projection (MIP)and volume rendering technique (VRT).The results and process time were recorded.After a month,the post-processing software(Bone Reading)was used to evaluate the same contents.Results There was very good correlation between both readers for both reading methods without significant differences.There was significant difference of process time between with regular method and with Bone Reading (P<0.05)for both readers.Process time could be decreased by approximately 35%.Conclusion The application of CT software (Bone Reading)is feasible in the CTA of bronchial artery.This method may gain a significant time saving in comparison to regular method.