Objective To investigate the features and prognosis of noncompaction of ventricular myocardium (NVM) in Chinese.Methods The clinical features of 16 NVM patients were analyzed and 15 patients were followed prospectively.Results Familial occurrence were found in seven patients.Six came to hospital for heart failure and two for chest pain.Arrhythmias were found in six patients.Six patients were asymptomatic.Fifteen patients were followed prospectively for 52.06?8.46 months.In the follow-up,three patients died and heart failure occurred in one asymptomatic patients.One patients accepted permanent pacemaker.Five patients were still asymptomatic.Conclusion In general,the prognosis of NVM is poor,but the outcome is better in patients without symptom.The early diagnosis is important.

Objective To analyze the morphological matching rate with a digital image recognition system in pre-and post-orthodontic treatments,and to provide forensic dentistry evidence for individual identification.Methods High-resolution digital images of the palatal rugae were taken under particular conditions from each patient in pre-and post-orthodontic treatments.Features of each digital image were extracted using a digital image recognition system and collected in the palatal rugae database.Data of the palatal rugae werematched by MATLAB software system.Results From the matching results,the accuracy rate of individual identification of orthodontic patients was 100％.The accuracy rate in matching palatal rugae patterns in pre-and post-orthodontic treatments was 95.67％.The results were statistically significant with P＜0.05.Conclusion Palatal rugae pattern is highly individual-specific.The morphologyofpalatal rugaecould bechangedby theorthodontic treatment,however,these changes may not greatly influence individual identification in forensic dentistry,providing a new potential to individual identification.

Objective To study the alterations of metabotropic glutamate receptors la (mGluRla) in thalamic reticular nuclei (TRN) of rat brains after diffuse brain injury (DBI) so as to probe into the expression and significance ofmGluRs in DBI. Methods A total of 45 SD male rats weighing 280-320 g were randomized into three groups: normal (untreated), sham-operated (fixed, cut in scalp) and DBI groups (n=15 each group). At the 6, 12, 24 h after modeling, the brain TRN were examined for pathological changes under light microscope. Expressions of mGluRla were detected by immunohistochemical staining of PAP. Results Compared with the control and sham-operated groups, the expressions of mGluRla were increased significantly with the time going on, especially at 12 h, and they were decreased a little at 24 h, but still higher in DBI group, compared with the other 2 groups, the difference was ststically significant (P=0.000). Conclusion The up-regulation of mGluRla in TRN may play an important role in neuronal injury after DBI in rats.

Objective To explore the treatment of multifocal lower extremity arteriosclerosis oblitera-tions. Methods From March 2014 to September 2014, combined procedures were performed on 30 lower limbs in 30 patients with multifocal lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterations for revascularization. All the patients underwent endovascular , 20 of whom received endarterectomy , 10 received artery emboloctomy , and 8 received profundaplasty. The rates of technical success and clinical success were observed. The patients were followed up for 6-12 months to observe the total patency rate and rate of limb reservation. Results The technical success rate was 100%. The perioperative complication rate was 30% (9/30). 29 limbs gained improvement with differ-ent degree and the clinical success rate was 96.67% (29/30). The ankle-brachial index elevated 0.37 ± 0.19 on average (P < 0.001). Primary patency rate was 90% and 73% at 6 and 12 months, and 12-month limb reserva-tion rate was 97.67%. Conclusions The combined procedures for complex lower extremity arteriosclerosis oblit-erations have a higher short- to mid-term patency rate and limb reservation rate.

Objective To investigate the metabolic changes and the metabolites distribution of different hippocampal regions (head,body and tail)in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD)using 1 H-MRS for early diagnosis.Methods The hippocampal multivoxel 1H-MRS at 3.0 T was scanned in 30 patients with AD and other 30 normal cognitive elders (NC)as contrast.The data obtained were processed at a workstation.The hippocampus was divided into 3 parts (head,body and tail),and the ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr),myoinositol (MI)/Cr and MI/NAA were calculated respectively.The metabolite ratios and distribution changes were compared between group AD and NC.Results Compared with the group NC,the NAA/Cr in group AD in bilateral hippocampal body and tail was decreased,whereas the MI/Cr and MI/NAA in bilateral body and tail,MI/NAA in left head were opposite (P<0.01).In group NC,the NAA/Cr was gradually decreased from the bilateral hippocampal heads to tails (P<0.01),however,the MI/NAA was opposite (P<0.01).No distribution differences in every metabolic ratios of bilateral hippocam-pus were found in AD group (P>0.05).Conclusion Metabolic changes and disappearance of the normal distribution in different hippocampal regions detected by 1 H-MRS provide helpful clues for early diagnosis of the AD.

Background: Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET-CT) imaging is shown to influence a decision change in managing non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The introduction of such a facility in Malaysia is relatively recent, and its impact from its utility is currently being assessed. Aim: In a tertiary referral centre possessing the only PET-CT facility in northern Peninsular Malaysia, we evaluated the potential roles of PET-CT in referred patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma. Methodology: Sixty eligible adult cases with NSCLC, between September 2005 and December 2007, were retrospectively reviewed. Relevant data was collected using standard questionnaire for indications, staging of disease, and outcomes in terms of recurrence and response to prescribed cancer-specific therapy. Results: The indications for PET-CT were: staging of a newly diagnosed non-small cell lung carcinoma (25.0%); post-operative restaging (21.7%); exclusion of recurrence or metastasis (18.3%); establishing diagnosis of carcinoma (13.3%); assessment of response to treatment (11.7%), and for surveillance (10.0%). The use of PET-CT was shown to induce a change in the staging, compared with non-PET conventional means in 69.2% of patients with newly diagnosed lung carcinoma (upstaged in 55.5%; downstaged in 44.5%) and in 65.0% of patients who underwent cancer-specific treatments (upstaged in 38.5%; downstaged in 61.5%). PET-CT detected recurrence in 62.5% who underwent the imaging to exclude a recurrence or metastasis. Conclusion: PET-CT has affected the staging of a large proportion of our local Malaysian patients. Like elsewhere, the availability of such a facility is likely to have important influence in overall management of NSCLC in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND:Foreign studies have found that the magnesium alloy stent is safe and effective, but there are few studies on the degradation performance of magnesium alloy stents in China.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the degradation of degradable AZ31 magnesium alloy stent in the rabbit abdominal aorta and the effect of degradation process on vascularization.METHODS:Twenty-eight rabbits were enrolled, and the degradable AZ31 magnesium alloy stent was implanted into the rabbit abdominal aorta. Postoperative abdominal aortic X-ray examination and histological observation were done at 30, 60, 90, 120 days after implantation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) X-ray examination: 30 days after implantation, the stent expanded completely with structural integrity; 60 days after implantation, the stent deformation, partial stent fracture, and lose of support were found; 90 days after implantation, only a small amount of support rod residues were found, and the majority of the stent was degraded; and 120 days after implantation, there was no support rod residual, and the stent was degraded completely. (2) Histological observation: 60 days after implantation, the number of residual support rods was less than that 30 days after implantation (P< 0.05), the number value at 90 days after implantation was lower than that at 30 and 60 days after implantation (P< 0.05), and the number value at 120 days after implantation was lower than that at 30, 60, 90 days after implantation (P < 0.05), indicating that the number of residual support rods was negatively correlated with post-implantation days. The time for complete stent degradation was 124.8 days. The intimal area at 90 days after implantation was higher than that at 30, 60, 120 days after implantation (P < 0.05), while the lumen area was smaler than that at 30, 60, 120 days after implantation (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the intimal area and lumen area at latter three time points after implantation. To conclude, the degradation of the degradable AZ31 magnesium alloy stent in the rabbit abdominal aorta can be completed within 124.8 days, and at 90 days after the stent is implanted, vascular intimal hyperplasia and lumen stenosis are most serious, and then gradualy reduced.

Objective To investigate the analgesic effect of salmon calcitonin(sCT)and its effect on expression of calcitonin receptor(CT-R)in periaqueductal gray(PAG). Methods Rat models of neuropathic pain were prepared by chronic constriction injury(CCI). Thermal withdrawal latency(TWL)and mechanical nociceptive threshold(MNT)were measured using hot plate test and yon Frey monofilaments test. The distribution of CT-R in PAG was detected by immunohistochemical method. CT-R protein was quantitatively determined by western blotting. Fourty male SD rats were randomized into 5 groups: normal group, sham-CCI group, CCI group, CCI plussubcutaneous sCT group, and CCI plus microinjection of sCT into PAG group. Results TWL, MNT, andexpression of CT-R in PAG showed no difference between normal group and sham-CCI group(P＞0. 05). TWL and MNT in CCI group were significantly lower than those in normal group(P＜0.05), and expression of CT-R in CCI group was significantly higher than that in normal group(P＜0.05). TWL, MNT and expression of CT-R in CCI rats increased significantly after sCT therapy(P＜0. 05), and the effect was more marked in PAG injection group than subcutaneous injection group(P＜0.05). Conclusions sCT raises the pain threshold and increase the expression of CT-R in PAG of CCI rats, while PAG injection showed more marked effect than subcutaneous injection.

Objective To evaluate the changes in the expression of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and aquaporin4 (AQP4) in lung tissues during one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy.Methods Forty ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 30-64 yr,weighing 45-79kg,undergoing pulmonary lobectomy,were randomly divided into 2 groups(n=20 each):two-lung ventilation group (group T) and one-lung ventilation group (group O).Anesthesia was induced with iv injection of midazolam,fentanyl,vecuronium and propofol.In group T,the patients were intubated with a single-lumen endotracheal tube and two-lung ventilation was performed.In group O,double-lumen endobranchial tube was inserted,and two-lung ventilation was performed followed by onelung ventilation after chest opening.PET CO2 was maintained at 5.3-24.0 kPa and SpO2 was maintained ＞ 92％.Anesthesia was maintained with iv infusion of remifentanil,propofol and vecuronium.The normal lung tissues were obtained from the site near the pathologic changes for microscopic examination (with light microscope) and examination of the ultrastructure (with transmission electron microscope),and for determination of W/D lung weight ratio,the expression of AQP1 mRNA and AQP4 mRNA (by RT-PCR) and the expression of AQP1 protein and AQP4 protein (by Western blot).Results Compared with group T,W/D lung weight ratio was significantly increased,the expression of AQP1 mRNA and protein was down-regulated in group O (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant changes were found in the expression of AQP4 mRNA and protein in group O (P ＞ 0.05).Pathological changes were observed in group O.Conclusion Down-regulation of AQP1 expression may be involved in the acute lung injury induced by one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy,however,AQP4 has no such effect.

Objective To compare surgical hybrid procedures (open thromboembolectomy/bypass,transluminal angioplasty/stenting) and endovascular hybrid procedures (percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy,catheter-directed intra-arterial thrombolysis,transluminal angioplasty/stenting) in patients with acute lower limb ischemia.Methods From June 2011 to June 2012,the clinical data and the six month follow-up data of patients with acute (less than 14 days) lower limb ischemia were collected and analyzed,who have underwent the endovascular modality hybrid procedures (endovascular modality group)or surgery modality of hybrid procedures (surgery modality group).The combined incidence of perioperative (30 days) death (POD) and major adverse limb event (MALE,include amputation or major intervention again) was defined as the primary end-point,and the secondary efficacy end-point was major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) consisted of myocardial infarction,stroke and death from any cause.Results There were 105 and 95 cases respectively in the endovascular modality group and the surgery modality group.96 patients (99.0％) in the surgery modality group and 97 patients (92.4％) in the endovascular modality group were successfully completed with vascular reconstruction.The incidence of the primary end-point (combined POD and MALE) in the surgery modality group (7.2％) was significantly less than the endovascular modality group (17.1％).Hemorrhagic complications occurred more in the endovascular modality group (6.7％) than the surgery modality group (0％).The surgery modality group had more postoperative pulmonary complications (9.3％) than the endovascular modality group (1.0％).Conclusions Surgical hybrid procedures offer better immediate and mid-term results for patients with acute lower limb ischemia.