Objective To estimate the impact of the image quality of conebeam CT on the accelerator for the Bowtie filter. Methods This study used the system of conebeam CT on the accelerator,and scaned the phantom of Catphan 500 in the multiplicate scanning conditions with and without the Bowtie filter. The scanning conditions were : voltage :120 kV, 100 kV, 80 kV, electricity:25 mA, 40 mA, 64 mA,time of exposure :40 MHz, collimator: M20, L20, scanning angle :358°. We transmitted the scanning data in the treatment planning systems of Philips Pinnacle 8. 0, and estimated the influence of the image quality.Results With and without the Bowtie filter, all of the images had high geometric precision, and the maximum difference of the nominal and actual distance at the horizontal, vertical and arrowy directions in the transection were 0. 50% and 0. 56% ( t = 0. 44, P ＞ 0. 05 ), 0. 44% and 0. 48% ( t = 1.01, P ＞ 0. 05 ),0. 50% and 0. 56% (t = 1.06,P ＞0. 05 ), respectively. The spatial resolution was 0. 167 cm, immutably.The ununiformity with the Bowtie filter was decreased of 28.0% -76.0% (t=2.53,P＜0. 05)、2.8%-50.0% (t= 3.02,P＜0.01 ) than those without the Bowtie filter, and the contrast-to-noise ratio was increased of 4.0% -41.6% (t=2.70,P＜0.05)、4.0% -50.0% (t=2.14,P＜0.05), using the collimators of M20 and L20, respectively. The Bowtie filter could display clearly the edge of scanning phantom, and improve the CT number of the image edge of phantom. And the linearity of CT number was also improved. Couclusions With the Bowtie filter, the image uniformity, the precision and linearity of CT number and the contrast-to-noise ratio were improved obviously, the edge artifacts were decreased, and the geometric precision and the spacial resolution did not change.

Objective To study the prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy and the quasi-latent Keshan disease in villages of non-endemic areas of six Keshan disease endemic provinces in China,and to provide reference values for proposing a elimination standard of keshan disease.Methods County,township and village was selected as the study area by using multi-stage sampling in non-Keshan disease areas of Sichuan,Shanxi,Henan,Shandong and in Keshan disease areas of Chongqing and Yunnan.In each county two townships were selected and in each township one village was chosen.The residents of the villages sampled were surveyed by questionnaire,physical examination,electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac echocardiography.Suspected dilated cardiomyopathy patients had chest X-ray.Dilated cardiomyopathy patients were diagnosed according to the criteria proposed by 2006 World Health Organization/International Society and Federation of Cardiology (WHO/ISFC).Results The number of investigated villages was 126 and 54 139 people were surveyed by questionnaire and clinical examination.Ten patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were found,the prevalence was 18.47/100 000(10/54 139),and its 95％ confidence interval was 18.11/100 000-18.84/100 000.A total of 197 patients with quasi-latent Keshan disease were found,the prevalence was 363.88/100 000 (197/54 139),and its 95％ confidence interval was 362.27/100 000-365.49/ 100 000.The prevalence of male quasi-latent Keshan disease was 353.34/100 000(83/23 490) and of female was 372.07/100 000(114/30 639).The number of subjects with normal and abnormal ECG was 45 222 and 8917,respectively,and the rate of abnormal ECG was 16.47％.The highest rate of abnormal ECG was 38.28％ (1585/4141) in Chongqing.The lowest rate of abnormal ECG was 8.10％ (1175/14 507) in Yunnan.The highest detection rate of T wave and ST segment changes was 4.67％ (2528/54 139).In abnormal ECG indices,the detection rate of Henan,Shandong and Chongqing was higher,and all of them were higher than 10.0％.Conclusions We suggest that the reference baselines of dilated cardiomyopathy and quasi-latent Keshan disease in Keshan disease areas of the six provinces in the south of China be 18.47/100 000 and 363.88/100 000,respectively.

Objective To review the clinical features , diagnosis , prognosis and treatment of polycythemia vera ( PV) complicated with acute coronary syndrome ( ACS) .Methods The clinical data of 2 PV patients complicated with ACS admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital ( PUMCH ) were retrospectively analyzed and the recent literatures were reviewed .Results Case 1 was a 65-year old man who had been diagnosed PV with a positive JAK2V617F mutation 3 years ago.At presentation, the patient was suffering from recurrent angina pectoris , and coronary angiography revealed that there was a severe ( 80%) stenosis in the middle segment of left circumflex and a Xience V stent was implanted .After the percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention ( PCI ) , secondary prevention for coronary heart disease and hydroxyurea for PV were given and the patient has been followed up regularly for more than three years and he is going well.Case 2 is a 44-year old man who was diagnosed PV with a positive JAK 2 mutation 3 years ago and hydroxyurea, interferon, aspirin was prescribed.Then splenic infarction, thrombosis of splenic vein,regional portal hypertension , severe varices of fundus of stomach and upper gastrointestinal bleeding developed with him.Two months ago , an AMI of inferior wall occurred and the angiographic findings demonstrated an thrombotic lesion in the proximal segment of the right coronary artery with a moderate stenosis ( 60%);1 month ago an AMI of anterior wall developed and coronary angiography discovered that there were diffuse thrombus in the proximal segment of left anterior descending artery with a severe stenosis ( 90%) and a complete occlusion in the right coronary artery .After double antiplatelet therapy with anticoagulation therapy of warfarin was given , the patient recovered gradually .Conclusions PV complicated with ACS is relatively rare.According to recent studies, positive JAK2V617F mutation, leukocytosis, age >65 years and positive history of thrombosis are the most important predictors of cardiovascular events .Clinicians should design individualized treatment strategies for patients on the basis of clinical features , coronary angiography findings and complications .For those with thrombotic lesion in the coronary artery due to the hypercoagulative state caused by PV, it should be cautious to carry out a coronary revascularization treatment .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the knowledge of and attitude to sexual dysfunction in aged men, and to discuss the status and needs of male healthcare.

METHODSTwo thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight men (40-70 years old) were surveyed on sexual dysfunction using the randomized questionnaire in Xicheng District, Beijing.

RESULTSThe prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) was 41.2%, and only 12.1% ED patients were to see the doctor. 52.4% aged men thought the sexual life was important or very important during the life, and 55.6% thought ED would exert negative impact on the quality of life and the partner relationship. Although 27.4% knew that ED was a kind of disease, 49.0% thought ED was a nature rule. Compare to the 41.2% ED prevalence, only 9.7% male were dissatisfied with their sexual life, and later ratio was 14.1% among the partner.

CONCLUSIONIn China, the status of the knowledge of and attitude to sexual dysfunction in aged men was unsatisfactory to some extent. There is a lot of work to do especially in sexual healthcare education and improvement on diagnostic and treatment of sexual dysfunction.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Coitus ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

AIMTo determine the age-adjusted prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in 3 big cities of China and to explore its potential sociodemographic, medical and lifestyle correlates.

METHODSA cross-sectional, population-based survey was conducted in three cities of China. Structured questionnaires were administered to 2 226 men, aged 20 - 86 years, by trained interviewers.

RESULTSThe age-adjusted prevalence of ED was 28.34 % (mild 15.99 %, moderate 7.14 %, severe 5.21 %). In the men above 40, the prevalence was 40.2 %. Age was positively correlated with ED (P<0.01). Education was negatively correlated with ED (P<0.01). Spouse companionship, living condition were positively correlated with ED (P<0.01). Histories of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were positively correlated with ED (P<0.01). Cigarette smoking was not correlated with ED (P>0.05), while the cigarette consumption and duration were positively correlated with ED (P<0.01). Alcohol drinking is negatively correlated with ED (P<0.01). The duration of drinking was positively correlated with ED (P<0.01). Weekly alcohol consumption was not correlated with ED (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of ED increased with age. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hyperlipidemia were positively correlated with the increased prevalence. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, such as education, spouse companionship, living condition, cigarette and alcohol consumption or duration also have association with the prevalence of ED.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; complications ; epidemiology ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; Education ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; complications ; epidemiology ; Life Style ; Male ; Marriage ; Middle Aged ; Population ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; physiopathology ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To explore the activated brain region of acute epilepsy in cat model induced by pentylenetetrazol(FFZ)with manganese enhanced-functional MR imaging(ME-fMRI),and evaluate the application of ME-fMRI on localization of the activated brain.Methods Forty cats were divided into 4 groups by random number table method as epileptic A and B groups as well as control A and B groups. Cats of epileptic groups were injected with PTZ(55 mg/kg)intramuscularly,and those of control groups were injected with the saline at same dose.The behavior change in the epileptic and control group A was observed and electroencephalogram(EEG)was also undertaken.Cats of epileptic and control group B were performed ME-fMRI,and the percentage of the enhanced signal intensity was then calculated.Results After injection with PTZ(55 mg/kg)intramuscularly,epileptic seizure was all evoked,and then EEG recording showed spike-wave and polyspike-wave complexes.The neocortex of cats of epileptic group B was diffusely phanero-enhanced on ME-fMRI.The percent enhancement of signal intensity in cortex of frontal lobe,parietal lobe and occipital lobe was(34.6?5.7)% and that in cortex of temporal lobe with(22.9? 6.5)%,whereas those of control group B with(14.9?4.5)% and(11.6?3.2)% respectively.And there was significant difference between the above different localization of the brain in the two groups (t=-10.43,-5.46 respectively,P

AIMStudies on synthesis and antibacterial activity of new heterocycles.

METHODSThe cyclocondensation of [(3-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl] thio acetic acid with various aroyl hydrazines in the presence of POCl3 and xylene gave the corresponding titled compounds, and the in vitro antibacterial activity was primarily evaluated by the method of cupplate diffusion solution.

RESULTSSixteen novel titled compounds were synthesized, their structures were confirmed by IR, 1HNMR, MS and elemental analysis. Biological screening results demonstrated that most of the compounds prepared displayed potential antibacterial activity.

CONCLUSIONOxadiazoles incorporting pyridyl oxadiazole ring may be usefully antibacterial candidate drugs.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; Oxadiazoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Proteus vulgaris ; drug effects ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of whole body diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in bone metastasis detection using bone scintigraphy as comparison.

METHODSForty-five patients with malignancy history were enrolled in our study. All the patients received the whole body DWI and bone scintigraphy scan within 1 week. The magnetic resonance (MR) examination was performed on 3.0T MR scanner using embedded body coil. The images were reviewed separately by two radiologists and two nuclear medicine physicians, who were blinded to the results of the other imaging modality. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the two techniques for detecting bone metastasis were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 181 metastatic lesions in 77 regions of 34 patients were detected by whole body DWI, and 167 metastatic lesions in 76 regions of 31 patients were identified by bone scintigraphy. The patient-based sensitivity and PPV of whole body DWI and bone scintigraphy were similar (89.5% vs. 81.6%, 97.1% vs. 91.2%), whereas, the patient-based specificity and NPV of whole body DWI were obviously higher than those of bone scintigraphy (85.7% vs. 57.1%, 60.0% vs. 36.4%). Ten regions negative in scintigraphy but positive in whole body DWI, mainly located in spine, pelvis, and femur; nine regions only detected by scintigraphy, mainly located in skull, sternum, clavicle, and scapula. The region-based sensitivity and specificity of whole body DWI were slightly higher than those of bone scintigraphy (89.5% vs. 88.4%, 95.6% vs. 87.6%).

CONCLUSIONWhole body DWI reveals excellent concordance with bone scintigraphy regarding detection of bone metastasis, and the two techniques are complementary for each other.

Aged ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; secondary ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; instrumentation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Whole Body Imaging ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo elucidate how chronic prostatitis affects the expression and activity of the plasminogen activator (PA) system and relates to male infertility.

METHODSTwenty-three normal fertile males and 80 chronic prostatitis patients (40 fertile and 40 infertile) were included in this research. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fibrin overlay method were used to estimate the total PA, and tissue PA (tPA), urokinase type PA (uPA) in semen.

RESULTSTotal PA, tPA and uPA highly expressed in normal males, but decreased in the semen of the chronic prostatitis patients of both the fertile and infertile groups. However, there was no significant difference in total PA between the fertile and infertile patients.

CONCLUSIONChronic prostatitis reduces the secretory function and PA synthesis and secretion of the prostate, but the decrease of PA alone does not cause infertility. PA may be one of the tools for estimating the function of the prostate.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; metabolism ; Male ; Prostatitis ; metabolism ; Semen ; metabolism ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; biosynthesis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; biosynthesis

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes of pathogens in hematological ward and susceptibility of patients received chemotherapy to antibiotics. The pathogens were taken from blood, urine and sputum of patients who accepted chemotherapy from years 2001 to 2005, then were isolated and identified. The susceptibility test was performed by disk diffusion method. The results showed that the total of 418 strains were detected. Gram-negative bacteria were the most common of nosocomial infection. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, E. coli account for the most of Gram negative- bacteria infection and most resistant to broad-spectrum penicillin, Acinetobacter baumannii showed a trend of increase. The ratios of gram positive bacteria and fungi were increased slowly, mainly as Enterococcus and Candida. Enterococcus is the most common cause of Gram-positive bacterial infection. Vancomycin resistance did not occur. It is concluded that Gram-negative bacteria are main cause of nosocomial infection in patients with hematological malignancies. Gram positive bacteria and fungi had been more frequent. Strains resistant to antimicrobial agents increase.
Cross Infection ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Hematologic Diseases ; microbiology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; microbiology ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests