This paper presents a non-invasive and non-ionizing radiation method for assessment of osteoporosis by analyzing in vivo MR images. Texture features (entropy, coarse, etc...) derived from co-occurrence matrix and neighborhood graystone difference matrix are obtained. These features are significantly different between patients and control subjects. Then the grayscale MR image is transformed to the binary image, The shape and topology features (area, skeleton length, euler number, etc. ) obtained from the binary image show too significant differences between patients and control subjects.
Bone Density ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Osteoporosis ; pathology

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of recombinant human endostatin combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy for advanced non small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) . Methods Electronic databases including the Cochrane library, PubMed, the Chinese biomedical literature database, China national knowledge internet(,EMbase,VIP and Wanfang database system were searched,until August,2013. The inclusion criteria was efficacy and safety studies of randomized controlled clinical studies in which recombinant human endostatin combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy was compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone for patients with advanced NSCLC. Cochrane handbook 5. 1. 0 was applied in evaluating the quality of included trials and RevMan 5. 1. 0 software was used for data analysis.Results Five studies including 217 cases of advanced NSCLC were included. The results of the meta-analysis exhibited that compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone, recombinant human endostatin combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy could increase effective rate [OR=2. 62,95%CI(1. 41,4. 86),P=0. 002]. But there were no significant differences in clinical benefit rate [OR=2. 08,95%CI(0. 92,4. 73),P=0. 08],one year survival rate [OR=1. 18,95%CI(0. 53,2. 66),P=0. 68], improvement in quality of life [OR=1. 57,95%CI(0. 40,6. 07),P=0. 52],rate of leucopenia [OR=1. 25,95%CI(0. 72,2. 17), P=0.43],radioactive esophagitis [OR=1. 16,95%CI(0. 42,3. 21),P=0. 77] and radiation pneumonitis [OR=2. 47,95%CI (0. 34,17. 68),P=0. 37]. Conclusion Compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone,recombinant human endostatin combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy may be more effective for advanced NSCLC,whereas improvement of life quality and toxicities are similar. For the quality restriction and possible publication bias of the included studies,more high quality randomized controlled trials are required to further verify this conclusion.

Objective:To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP), haplotypes and genotypes of mannan-binding lectin(MBL) gene in the Bai(Pai) nationality from YunNan province, China.Methods:The three SNP sites CGT52TGT, GGC54GAC and GGA57GAA(named alleles D, B and C respectively, wildtype named A) in exon1 of MBL gene of 70 DNA samples of Bai nationality whose three SNP sites, -550G/C, -221C/G and +4C/T(named alleles H/L, X/Y and P/Q respectively), in promoter region of MBL gene had been clear, haplotypes and genotypes of MBL genes were detected and analyzed by sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction.Results:It was found that in Bais population, the frequency of alleles B was 0.100, there only were five haplotypes, HYPA, LXPA, LYQA, LYPA and LYPB, whose frequencies were 0.250, 0.107, 0.407, 0.135 and 0.100 respectively, the frequencies of several genotypes were LYPA/LYPA 0.043, LXPA/LYQA 0.143, LYPA/LYPB 0.014, HYPA/LYQA 0.086, LYPA/ LYQA 0.157, HYPA/LYPA 0.014, LYPB/LYQA 0.143, HYPA/LYPB 0.043, LXPA/LXPA 0.014, HYPA/LXPA 0.043, LYQA/LYQA 0.143 and HYPA/HYPA 0.157.Conclusion:In the MBL genes in Bais population, there is the allele B, the polymorphism haplotypes are mostly LYQA and HYPA, and the genotypes, LYPA/LYQA, HYPA/HYPA, LXPA/LYQA, LYPB/LYQA and LYQA/LYQA.

OBJECTIVES: The number of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) and the ratio between the number of metastatic LNs and the total number of retrieved LNs (the LN ratio [LNR]) have been proposed as risk factors for recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the significance of the number of LNs and the LNR in patients with clinically node negative PTC has not been clearly determined. The purpose of this study is to evaluate their significance. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 382 patients with PTC who had undergone total thyroidectomy with prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) between January 2000 and December 2010. We excluded patients with lobectomy, concurrent lateral compartment neck dissection, a follow-up period less than at least 2 years, number of harvested central LNs less than or equal to one, clinically positive LN, distant metastasis, recurrent cancer or other types of malignancy. The correlations between recurrence and various clinicopathologic characteristics including tumor size, extrathyroidal extension (ETE), stage, number of metastatic central LNs, and the LNR were investigated. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 82.2±26.4 months, recurrence occurred in 14 patients (3.7%). Tumor size ≥20 mm, maximal ETE, presence of central LN metastasis, number of metastatic LNs ≥2, and LNR ≥0.31 correlated with recurrence in the univariate analysis. However, tumor size ≥20 mm, maximal ETE, number of metastatic LNs ≥2, and LNR ≥0.31 were significantly associated with recurrence in the multivariate analysis (hazard ratio=6.61, 7.17, 3.43, and 11.23, respectively). CONCLUSION: The LNR and the number of metastatic LNs are independent prognostic risk factors for recurrence in patients with clinically node negative PTC, and these factors can be used to guide postoperative adjuvant therapy and follow-up strategy after prophylactic CND.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy

OBJECTIVETo observe effect of formula of removing both phlegm and blood stasis (TYTZ) in improving hemorheology and blood fat of mini-swine with coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome.

METHODThirty-six Chinese mini-swine were randomly divided to six groups: the normal control group, the model group, the Shujiangzhi group and TYTZ groups with doses of 2.0, 1.0 and 0.5 g x kg(-1), with six mice in each group. Except for the normal control group, all of other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 2 weeks. Interventional balloons are adopted to injure their left anterior descending artery endothelium. After the operation, they were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to prepare the coronary heart disease model of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome. In the 8th week after the operation and administration, the changes in hemorheological parameters, serum lipid level, myocardial ischemia level and range were observed.

RESULTCompared with the normal control group, the model group showed significant increase in serum TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels (P < 0.01), whole blood viscosity under the shear rate of 5 s (-1) and 60 s (-1) (P < 0.01), and myocardial ischemia degree and range (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, TYTZ groups revealed significant decrease in myocardial ischemia degree and range (P < 0.01), serum TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and whole blood viscosity under the shear rate of 5 s(-1) and 60 s(-1) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTYTZ could improve the abnormal hemorheology in Chinese mini-swine with coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome, and regulate serum lipid, with a certain efficacy for coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome.

Animals ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Hemorheology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Mucous Membrane ; secretion ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience of diagnosis and treatment of esophageal leiomyoma.

METHODSClinical data of 52 patients with esophageal leiomyoma were analyzed from 1993 to 2002.

RESULTSAbout 54% patients in this group had difficulty of food intake. The diagnostic accuracy of gastrointestinal barium meal series, computed tomography, gastric endoscope and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for esophageal leiomyoma was 64% 44% 27% and 90% respectively. All patients received operation, resection of esophageal leiomyoma by videothoracoscopy (VAS) and endoscope were performed in 6, 9 patients respectively. The remaining 37 patients received regular open operation,in whom 32 cases received enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma, 5 cases received partial esophageal resection and esophageal-gastric anastomosis. No serious complications occurred except only one case needed operation again because of bleeding.

CONCLUSIONEUS is an effective method for diagnosing esophageal leiomyoma. VAS and endoscopic treatment should be considered for suitable cases in order to reduce the trauma.

Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thoracoscopy ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUNDPulmonary embolism (PE) is rare and seldom considered in adolescent patients; however it occurs with a greater frequency than is generally recognized, and it is a potentially fatal condition. The aim of the current study was to understand its epidemiology, clinical features and the cause of delay of its diagnosis in adolescents.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of nine adolescents with acute PE admitted to the Peking University Third Hospital over the past 16-year period was performed. The epidemiology, clinical features and risk factors of the adolescents were described and compared with those of adults and elderly patients. The time to diagnosis and misdiagnosed diseases were analyzed. Pretest probability of PE was assessed retrospectively by the Wells score and revised Geneva score.

RESULTSThe incidence of PE was 43.6 per 100 000 hospitalized adolescents in our hospital. The incidence of PE in adolescents was much lower than that in adults and PE is diagnosed in about 1/50 of elderly people. The clinical features in adolescents were similar to those in adults. But fever and chest pain were more common in adolescents (P < 0.05). The major risk factors included surgery, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), thrombocytopenia, long-term oral glucocorticoids and trauma. The mean diagnostic time was (7.8 ± 8.4) days. Six cases had a delayed diagnosis. The mean delay time from symptom onset to diagnosis was (11.0 ± 8.8) days. The time of presentation to diagnosis in patients initially admitted to the emergency department was less than one day, and was much shorter than the time in outpatients, (9.4 ± 7.5) days. Most of the patients were initially misdiagnosed with a respiratory tract infection. Most patients' values of Wells score or revised Geneva score were in the moderate or high clinical probability categories; 88% by Well score vs. 100% by revised Geneva score.

CONCLUSIONSPE was seldom considered in the adolescent patients by physicians, especially outpatient physicians, so the diagnosis was often delayed. If adolescent patients complain of dyspnea or chest pain or syncope with/without fever, and they had risk factors such as surgery, thrombocytopenia and trauma, PE should be considered and included in the differential diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Male ; Probability ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

The mechanism and principles of autofluorescence imaging based on autofluorescence technique are reported. The threshold value of fluorescence spectrum ratio applied can be quantitative and objective and the reliable measurement method that may provide intuitive method of autofluorescence imaging in the gut mucosa. The suspected lesion may be found rapidly according to the imaging color difference, therefore the results of clinical study of the digestive tract cancer diagnosis indicated that the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were 94%, 95.5% and 94.8% respectively, and it has very high value in clinical application.
Digestive System Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Early Detection of Cancer ; instrumentation ; methods ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; instrumentation ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Photofluorography ; Sensitivity and Specificity

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of the introplasmic interferon-γ level in circulating T cell of patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and its clinical significance. The interferon-γ level before and after immuno-suppressive therapy was monitored by flow cytometry. The results indicated that the higher interferon-γ level was detected in 28 out of 50 AA patients, detected rate was 56%. The effective rate of immunosuppressive therapy for AA patients with higher interferon-γ level was up to 85.7% (24/28). The decrease of interferon-γ level in these patients positively correlated with hemogram recovery to normal level and obviously earlier than hematologic remission. It is concluded that the immunosuppressive therapy shows better efficacy for AA patients with high interferon-γ level, moreover the change of interferon-γ level is earlier than hematologic change, that is important for predicting the therapeutic efficacy and relapse of disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Primary idiopathic chylopericardium is a rare clinical entity characterised by the collection of chyle within the pericardial cavity without a definitive cause. This case report describes the history, physical examination, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of a 19-year-old boy with primary idiopathic chylopericardium. Radiological findings and biochemical analysis of the pericardial fluid following pericardiocentesis sustained this diagnosis. Initial conservative management failed, and the patient was surgically treated subsequently. He recovered well postoperatively and remained asymptomatic thereafter. Primary idiopathic chylopericardium is a rare pathology with very few cases reported till date, and the symptoms are commonly due to cardiac compression. Computed tomography of the chest and bipedal lymphoscintigraphy are considered the standard methods for accurate diagnosis, and in cases of failed medical treatment, open and thoracoscopic thoracic duct ligation with pericardiectomy have been described as the best surgical options.
Adult ; Humans ; Lymphoscintigraphy ; methods ; Male ; Pericardial Effusion ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Pericardiectomy ; methods ; Pericardiocentesis ; methods ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; methods ; Thoracic Duct ; surgery ; Thoracoscopy ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Treatment Outcome