Objective To evaluate the value of 64-slice spiral CT angiography based on pre- contrasted raw data in diagnosing pulmonary arteriovenous fistula.Methods 64-slice spiral CT plain scan and enhanced scan was performed in 16 patients with pulmonary arteriovenous fistula,pulmonary angiography based on pre-contrast and post-contrast raw data was performed respectively,including maximum intensity projection(MIP),shaded-surface display(SSD),and volume rendering(VR).According to the results of angiocardiography and surgical findings,comparson of the three methods was made in the display of PAVF in pre-contrast and post-contrast phase images.Results 8 of the 16 PAVF cases were single lesion,8 cases were multi-lesions.30 PAVF lesions were found in all the patients.MIP,SSD and VR based on pre-contrast raw data displayed PAVF lesions in 20,14,and 22,respectively.The combination of the 3 methods based on pre-contrast raw data could show 26 PAVF lesions.MIP,SSD,and VR based on post-contrast raw data displayed PAVF lesions in 24,18,and 30,respectively.The combination of the 3 methods based on post- contrast raw data could show 30 PAVF lesions.Conclusion 64-slice spiral CT angiography based on pre- contrasted raw data can clearly show the position,number,and shape of PAVF lesions,which is of great value in diagnosing PAVF.

Objective To investigate the association between the glycated albumin to glycated hemoglobin (GA/A1c) ratio and carotid plaque. Methods Type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients in endocrine inpatient department of Sichuan Provincial People′s Hospital were chosen whose clinical data were collected. Results Of the recruited 154 T2DM patients , GA/HbA1c ratio was negatively correlated with BMI , blood uric acid and was positively correlated with age, HCY, FBG, PBG, left carotid IMT and right carotid IMT. In terms of carotid plaque, GA, GA/HbA1c ratio and HCY were higher in carotid plaque positive patients than those without carotid plaque. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that GA/HbA1c ratio was significantly associated with the presence of carotid plaque (P=0.008). Conclusions GA/HbA1c ratio was positively correlated with the presence of carotid artery IMT in T2DM This suggests that GA/HbA1c ratio will serve as a useful clinical marker for predicting diabetic cardiovascular complications.

OBJECTIVETo compare the performance of full-field digital mammography (FFDM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in the assessment of the lesions in dense breast, and to estimate the difference in diagnosis of breast disease by FFDM images alone and FFDM plus DBT images.

METHODSAccording to the breast imaging reporting and data system (BIRADS), 134 patients were selected. The morphology of the lesions shown on FFDM and DBT were evaluated and compared, and the maximum diameter of the lesions was measured. At first, doctors made the diagnosis of a patient by reading FFDM only. Then they made another diagnosis by combining with DBT images of the same patient. The two diagnoses were compared and analyzed according to the pathology results.

RESULTSOne hundred and thirty-four patients were included in this study, and all of them were confirmed by histology (65 benign cases, 69 malignant cases). DBT could show more details about the morphology of the lesions, including the border of the masses, spiculation and vessels. The numbers of those signs detected by DBT were 46, 30 and 3, respectively, while only 33 case with circumscribed masses and 14 cases with spiculation were detected by FFDM. Only the difference of spiculation in heterogeneously dense breast detected by DBT and FFDM was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Of the cases with calcifications, DBT images (reconstructed as a 1-mm-thick slice) showed calcifications superior to FFDM in 2 cases, equal to FFDM in 23 cases, and inferior to FFDM in 11 cases. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). But when thickness was changed into 1 cm, the visibility of calcifications in those cases was equal between FFDM and DBT. The maximum diameter of lesions was 2.46 ± 1.64 cm in DBT image, and 2.58 ± 1.62 cm in FFDM image, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). Comparing with reading FFDM images only, the accuracy of FFDM combining with DBT was increased from 88.8% to 91.8%. For FFDM, the AUC of ROC was 0.887, while for DBT it was increased to 0.912, with a non-significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDBT is superior to FFDM in the morphological characterization and small calcification in the lesions in dense breast. Combining FFDM and DBT improves the accuracy of diagnosis, but the difference is not statistically significant.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Breast Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Calcinosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Carcinoma in Situ ; diagnostic imaging ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Mammography ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo identify Cassia seeds of six species by capillary electrophoresis.

METHODThe water-soluble extracts of Cassia seeds of six species were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis. The running buffer was 0.1 mol.L-1 borate, 0.1 mol.L-1 SDS, pH 8.5. The separation voltage was 25 kV.

RESULTFour common peaks could be found in the electropherograms of six species Cassia seeds, and the characteristic peaks could also be observed.

CONCLUSIONFingerprints of the six species of Cassia seeds show significant differences, which can be used for their identification.

Cassia ; chemistry ; classification ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Pharmacognosy ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Species Specificity

ObjectiveTo investigate norovirus infection status and indentify its epidemiological characteristics and genotype distribution in infantile viral diarrhea in Jiangsu.MethodsFour hundred and ninety-eight fecal specimens of infantile virus diarrhea cases were collected from Suzhou Children's hospital and Nanjing Children's hospital in 2010.Norovirus genegroup were detected by real-time RT-PCR,and genetype were determined by sequence analysis.Results Among all fecal specimens,2 (0.4％) cases were positive for norovirus G Ⅰ,and 190 (38％) cases for G Ⅱ.Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that in the 2 samples for G Ⅰ,one strain was G Ⅰ 1 and another was G Ⅰ 3.Twenty-one strains were belonged to G Ⅱ 4 and 2 strains were G Ⅱ 3 in the 23 samples for G Ⅱ.ConclusionAs one of the most important pathogens causing infantile viral diarrhea in Jiangsu province,subtype G Ⅱ 4 was the main epidemic strain of norovirus,meanwhile other genotypes also existed.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical features of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients, and to study the distribution of Chinese medical syndrome types and the pathogenesis of NMO.

METHODSThe clinical features, figures of tongue and pulse, Chinese medical syndromes were comprehensively analyzed in 63 NMO patients using statistical methods for clinical data.

RESULTSThe age ratio of male to female in 63 NMO patients was 1: 6.88. Their average age of first onset was 31.67 +/- 12.44 years old, and 28. 57% of patients had obvious inducing factor. Urgent onset with relieved recurrence were often seen, with the average recurrence times of 4.60. Most patients complained about sensation disorders, vision disorders, and movement disorders as their first attack and visit. The Chinese medical syndrome types included Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome and phlegm-heat collateral stagnation syndrome, mainly involved Gan and Shen. Gan-Shen yin deficiency, sputum, blood stasis, and heat were most often seen syndrome elements.

CONCLUSIONSGan-Shen yin deficiency was dominated in the deficiency in origin of NMO. Phlegm, blood stasis, mingled heat were main dominant evils. Of them, the pathogenesis of Gan-Shen yin deficiency and phlegm-heat collateral stagnation had universality and representativeness, which could be verified from patients' tongue picture and pulse picture.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Neuromyelitis Optica ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Yang Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Yin Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasound and MRI in preoperative staging of rectal cancer.Methods:A retrospective analysis of preoperative MRI and ultrasound in patients with pathologically proved rectal cancer was performed.The diagnostic values of ultrasound and MRI in preoperative staging of rectal cancer were compared by using pathological diagnosis as the gold standard.Objective:The accuracy of transrectal ultrasound was higher than that of MRI in the diagnosis of T1 rectal cancer,its accuracy was lower than that of MRI in the diagnosis of T4 rectal cancer,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The accuracy of MRI was higher than that of ultrasound in the diagnosis of N0 and N2 rectal cancer,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).And the difference between MRI and ultrasound in the diagnosis of N1 rectal cancer was not statistically significant.The area under the curve(AUC)of ultrasound was less than that of MRI in the preoperative diagnosis of rectal cancer,but the difference was not statistically significant.Conclusions:Rectal cancer of different pathological grades should be examined by different methods.MRI should be chosen for suspected advanced rectal cancer patients in preoperative staging diagnosis,and ultrasound should be selected for lower-grade rectal cancer or follow-up process.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of the mutations of leptin receptor gene exon 4, exon 6, exon9, and exon20 with the tumorigenesis of breast cancer.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from breast cancer tissues of 155 patients, benign lesions of 56 patients and normal tissues and blood samples from 100 health control subjects. The leptin receptor genes were assayed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and direct sequence analysis.

RESULTSNucleotide substitutions no mutations were found at exon 4, and nucleotide substitutions occurred at codon 1029 in exon 9, no significant difference among the three groups (P = 0.574). The nucleotide substitutions at codon 668 in exon 6 resulted in Gln223Arg polymorphisms. The occurring frequencies of GG, GA, AA in breast cancer, breast benign lesions tissues and health tissues control group were 70.9% and 17.4%, 12.3%; 80.4%, 14.3% and 5.4%; and 81.0%, 16.0%, and 3.0%, respectively. Alleles of G and A in the three groups were 79.1% and 20.8%, 87.5% and 12.5%, and 89.0% and 11.0%, respectively. Compared the Gln223Arg genotype with the three allele groups, there were significant differences (χ(2) = 16.11, P < 0.005 and χ(2) = 11.41, P < 0.01), respectively. The nucleotide substitutions at codon 3057 in exon 20 resulted in Pro1019Pro polymorphisms. The occurrence frequencies of GG, GA, AA in the breast cancer, benign disease and health control groups were 11.6%, 30.3% and 56.1%; 32.1%, 44.0% and 28.5%; and 32.0%, 45.0% And 23.0%, respectively. Alleles of G and A in the three groups were 26.8% and 73.2%, 51.8% and 48.2%, and 54.5% and 45.5%, respectively. There are significant differences among the three groups (χ(2) = 6.56, P < 0.03 and χ(2) = 5.45, P < 0.05), respectively. Nucleotide substitutions occurred at relatively high frequencies at exon 6 and exon 20 in obese and overweight breast cancer patients compared with those in normal weight breast cancer patients, there were significant differences (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSOur findings show that there is no relationship between the variations of leptin receptor gene exon 9 and tumorigenesis of breast cancer. The variation rate of leptin receptor gene exon 6 and exon 20 are significantly increased in the obese and overweight breast cancer patients.

Adenoma ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Breast ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; Carcinoma ; etiology ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Receptors, Leptin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of computerized tomographic angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for intracranial traumatic aneurysms (TAs).

METHODSCTA and MRA of six patients with intracranial TAs verified by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and surgery were retrospectively analysed. All patients were examined by nonenhanced computerized tomography (CT) and two by CTA. The source data were reconstructed by volume rendering (VR) and multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) from CTA. Four of them had maximum intensity project (MIP) from MRA.

RESULTSOf the six patients, a total of seven TAs were detected by CTA and MRA examinations. Five cases had only one TA and one case had two TAs. The average diameter was 2.3 cm (1.1-3.3 cm). CTA demonstrated two TAs appeared at the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the middle cerebral artery (MCA) respectively. MCA TA was definitely and clearly demonstrated on VR images, whereas VR images failed to depict the cavernous ICA TA, which was detected on MPR images. Two TAs were found irregular saccular shape, irregular margin of parent artery and wide neck on CTA. Four MRA examinations demonstrated five TAs, including the cavernous segment ICA TAs (2 cases), the supraclinoid segment ICA TA (1 case), and the cavernous segment associated with opposite side of the petrosal segment ICA TA (1 case). In a cavernous ICA TA, MRA only revealed aneurysm body, whereas aneurysm neck and distal segment of the parent artery were not revealed. In the remaining cases, MRA clearly depicted aneurysm body and parent artery, whereas the neck was not displayed. ICA TAs showed irregular capsule-like high signal intensity on MRA images. Four TAs exhibited irregular distal segment of the parent artery. TAs at the supraclinoid segment or MCA failed to find fracture signs on nonenhanced CT.

CONCLUSIONSBoth CTA and MRA examinations are the effective non-invasive method of imageology for diagnosing intracranial TAs, while CTA is more eligible for diagnosing TAs after nonenhanced CT has demonstrated skull base fractures.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain Injuries ; diagnosis ; Cerebral Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed