Objective To review the principles and techniques of CT perfusion imaging and its applications in the imaging diagnosis of abdominal disorders. Methods All the relevant literatures were reviewed. The principles and techniques of CT perfusion imaging were described and summarized in detail. The functional information of a target abdominal organ (e.g. the liver and pancreas) revealed by CT perfusion imaging, such as hemodynamics and microcirculation status, was also evaluated. Results In addition to the morphologic information, CT perfusion imaging can also provide functional information about the circulation parameters of target abdominal organs. Moreover, such functional information can be generated for the neovasculature and microcirculation of tumor lesions of abdominal organs, which is very helpful for not only the diagnosis, but also the evaluation of tumor invasiveness and response to treatment. Conclusion CT perfusion imaging offers an effective method for studying abdominal disorders by providing functional information that is quite useful for the differential diagnosis and assessment of therapeutic response.

Analysis for 6 metals (Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mn) by Atomic absorption spectrophotometer were made on hair samples of healthy 135 in urban area and 130 in rural area who have not dealt with the above metals in their daily working life. Marked variations were found. Samples of urban area contained more cadmium, copper, lead and manganese than those of rural area. No sexual difference in mean value could be observed and the amount of metals in hair did not increase with age. And no age dependency was found. There was a statistically significant correlation between the concentrations of cadmium and lead in both urban and rural people; Pb=1.50 Cd + 6.69 (r = 0.213, p<0.05) in urban area. Pb=1.44 Cd + 3.67 (r = 0.327, p<0.001) in rural area.
Absorption ; Cadmium ; Copper ; Hair* ; Humans* ; Manganese ; Metals

Treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be classified into conservative and surgical management. Injection therapy is one of the conservative methods, which is expected to improve symptoms or disease process by delivering effective medications directly to the involved site. If applied properly, it can be the treatment of choice considering the low cost. However, the natural course of the diseases varies widely, even in the same disease process. Therefore, some cases may be treated with simple rest, oral medication or other conservative measures, while others need sometimes surgery as the treatment of choice, especially of advanced diseases. So, we should bear in mind that injection therapy is just one of many treatment options, which should be employed with strict indications. Corticosteroids are the most frequently used agent for injection therapy. Many corticosteroid preparations are available for joint and soft tissue injection. Recently, the results of clinical applications with intraarticular preparations of hyaluronic acid have suggested some efficacy for degenerative arthritis. To achieve better results of injection therapy, the followings are the prereguisites: Accurate diagnosis Precise knowledge about the disease, indications, preparations of agent, complications and anatomy of the joints skillful technique
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Diagnosis ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Joints* ; Musculoskeletal System ; Osteoarthritis

Objective To explore the effects of environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity and ventilation rate on release quantity of formaldehyde in woodiness boards. Methods A small climate chamber was employed to control the temperature, concentration of vapor and ventilation rate. The quantity of formaldehyde released from woodiness boards was determined by 4160 Formaldehyde Analyzer of INTERSCAN. Results The released quantity of formaldehyde increased from 0.12 mg/(m2?h) to 0.35 mg/(m2?h) as the temperature increased from 18 ℃ to 38 ℃, it increased from 0.20 mg/(m2?h) to 0.46 mg/(m2?h) as the concentration of vapor increased from 3.99 mg/L to 15.75 mg/L, it increased from 0.21 mg/(m2?h) to 0.62 mg/(m2?h) as the ventilation rate increased from 0.5 h-1 to 2.0 h-1. Conclusion The emission rate of formaldehyde in woodiness boards will be accelarated when the temperature, concentration of vapor and ventilation rate increased.

Objective To assess value and limitations of non-invasive methods in assessing liver fibrosis.Methods By summarized current situation and advancement of serum fibrotic markers,ultrasound,CT and MRI in assessing liver fibrosis,we investigated their value and limitations.Results In addition to diagnosis,non-invasive methods of assessing liver fibrosis assess severity of liver fibrosis.For liver fibrosis,however,non-invasive methods can not monitor effectively reaction to therapy and progression.Conclusion Non-invasive methods play important roles in diagnosis and assessing severity of liver fibrosis,and reduce the need of liver biopsy.

Objective To review the current status of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)techniques in the evaluation of hepatic fibrosis.Methods The application and recent advances of various kinds of MRI techniques in evaluating hepatic fibrosis were summarized by literature review.Results The state-of-the-art of MRI evaluating of hepatic fibrosis included common contrast-enhanced MRI,double contrast-enhanced MRI,and various functional MRI techniques.Common contrast-enhanced MRI could detect morphological changes of the liver,but little value in phasing.Double contrast-enhanced MRI markedly increased the contrast to noise ratio.Except diagnosis liver fibrosis,functional MRI also could phase it by its serverity.Conclusion MRI techniques,especially those functional MRI techniques,are advancing very fast and have very great potentiality in both the diagnosis and severity assessment of hepatic fibrosis.

Objective To introduce the new nomenclature scheme of the International Working Group (1995) on hepatic nodules, and summarize the imaging features of various hepatic nodules in light of their pathological characteristics, and evaluate the diagnostic values of various imaging facilities.Methods Ultrasound, computed tomography(CT), magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), and angiographic CT were reviewed and introduced.Results Many of these types of hepatic nodules play a role in the de novo and stepwise carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in the following steps: regenerative nodule, low grade dysplastic nodule, high grade dysplastic nodule, small HCC, and large HCC. Accompanying such transformations, there are significant alterations in the blood supply and perfusion of these hepatic nodules.Conclusion Modern state of the art medical imaging facilities can not only delineate and depict these hepatic nodules, but also provide important clues for the characterization of focal hepatic lesions in most cases, thus facilitating the early detection, diagnosis and management of HCC in its early stage.

Objective To introduce the imaging modalities used for the evaluation of postoperative complications of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and to present the imaging findings of these complications. Methods The literatures related to the imaging methods and imaging manifestations of OLT complications were reviewed. Results Ultrasound was the initial imaging technique used for the detection of complications in the early postoperative period. Spiral CT and MRI yielded more accurate and comprehensive evaluation of postoperative complications in later stage. So far, there had been no specific imaging findings to suggest rejection reaction. The spectrum of imaging manifestations of OLT complications, such as vascular complications, biliary complications, liver parenchymal complications, and so on, were summarized and illustrated.Conclusion Imaging examination (especially ultrasound, spiral CT and MRI ) plays an important role in the evaluation of postoperative complications of OLT.

Objective To review the CT appearances and important differential diagnoses of various primary and secondary mesenteric neoplasms.Methods By describing the mesenteric anatiomy and major routes for the dissemination of metastatic mesenteric tumors, the article presents both the common and rare types of various primary and secondary mesenteric neoplasms, and addresses the characteristic CT appearances and important aspects of the differential diagnosis.Results CT study, especially the multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT), along with the clinical history and other related information, can nicely depict various mesenteric tumors and well differentiate them from infectious, inflammatory or vascular processes affecting the mesentery.Conclusion CT is the imaging method of choice for the evaluation of tumors of small bowel mesentery.

Objective To introduce the technique of three dimensional portal venography of multi detector row spiral CT and its clinical application in the evaluation of the portosystemic collateral shunts of liver cirrhosis. Methods All relevant literatures were retrospectively reviewed on the application of two dimensional and three dimensional reconstruction techniques such as MIP, SSD, VRT of multi detector row spiral CT to demonstrate the collateral vessels of liver cirrhosis.Results The distribution, pathway and anatomy of portosystemic collateral vessels were well shown by multi detector row spiral CT portal venography. Conclusion Multi detector row spiral CT portal venography provides excellent depiction of the anatomic characteristics of the collateral shunts and enables the continuous tracing of vascular structures, thus it is very helpful in the imaging evaluation of the collateral vessels of liver cirrhosis.