Objective To explore the early clinical characteristics of multiple system atrophy (MSA) in the elderly,and provide the basis for early diagnosis.Methods Totally 102 cases with probable MSA in elderly patients were retrospectively analyzed to understand the beginning symptom,clinical features and assistant examination results,combined with the literature review.Results Among the 102 cases diagnosed as probable MSA (61 cases were male and 41 cases were female),57cases (55.9％) were diagnosed as parkinsonism dominant MSA (MSA-P) subtype and 45 cases (44.1％) as cerebellar dominant MSA (MSA-C)subtype.In the beginning symptom,27 cases appeared autonomic dysfunction,including 15 cases (26.3％) in MSA P subtype and 12 cases (26.6％) MSA-C subtype; 14 cases manifested as dysuresia,11 cases as orthostatic hypotension,and 8 cases as sexual dysfunction.Parkinsonism as the beginning symptom was in 49 cases,among whom 24 cases were of abnormal gait,3 cases of resting tremor,16 cases of muscle rigidity,and 15 cases of slowed movement.Cerebellar symptoms as the beginning symptom were in 33 cases,with gait and limb ataxia of 27 cases,dysarthria of 6 cases,nystagmus of 2 cases.Pyramidal tract signs as the beginning symptom were in 2 cases.There was early misdiagnosis of 36 cases (35.3％).Conclusions As wide variety of early clinical features,MSA can be easily misdiagnosed.The clinical features and assistant examination should be paid attention to improvement of the accuracy of early diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE To understand the clinical effect of microeclogical modulator Bifid Triple Viable(BTV) in preventing neonatal antibiotic associated diarrhea(AAD).METHODS A prospective controlled study was undertaken on the antibiotic treated group and control group from Jan,2004 to Dec 2007.RESULTS Among the 996 neonatal patients in treated group,71 patients occurred AAD,with the morbidity of 7.13%.Among the 1012 neonatal patients in control group,235 patients occurred AAD(morbidity 23.22%).There was significant difference between the two groups(P

Objective To investigate the relationship between acute cerebral infarction(CI)and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)serum level and polymorphism(C-1562T)in Han population.Methods One hundred and one patients with acute CI from the department of neurology of Taizhou Hospital were included and 114 healthy persons were selected from physical examination as the control group.Serum MMP-9 level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).At the same time.genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)for the common C-1562T functional promoter polymorphism of the MMP-9 gene.The serum MMP-9 level and genotype frequencies of the MMP-9 gene between the patients and the control group were analyzed.Results The genotype frequencies of the MMP-9 gene C-1562T polymorphism of the two groups were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.The results of individual polymorphisms analysis showed that the frequencies of CT and TT genotypes in the C-1562T polyporphismin were of no significant difference between the patients group with CI(13.9%)and the control group(13.2%).The frequencies of-1562T allele was of no statistical difference between the CI group(6.9%)and the control group(7.5%).But serum levels of MMP-9 in CI patients group((138.9±121.8)ng/ml)were significantly higher than in the control group((18.4±4.6)ng/ml,t=9.93,P=0.00).Conclusions Serum level of MMP-9 obviously is increased after ischemic stroke in 48 hours.But genetic polymorphism in MMP-9 promoter(C-1562T)has no definite relationship with MMP-9 genetic expression and CI in the Han population of China.Therefore,the relationship between genetic polymorphism in MMP-9 promoter(C-1562T)and ischemic stroke needs further investigation.

Objective To investigate the effects of X-ray beam hardening from contrast agent on CT values on CTA images.Methods The 20 mL syringes were numbered 1 to 26.The syringe 1,4,7,23 and 20 were filled with 1 mL,0.8 mL,0.6 mL,0.4 mL and 0.2 mL of iodine contrast medium (300 mg I/mL),respectively,and then mixed each of them with 0.9％ NaC1 solution to get a total of 20 mL solution in each syringe.The rest of 26 syringes were filled with 20 mL of 0.9％ NaC1 solution,as the experimental group to simulate carotid artery CTA examination.Matched 26 numbered syringes were filled with 20 mL 0.9％ NaC1 solution respectively,as control group to simulate plain scan.CT scans were performed,CT values were measured,and then the difference of CT values of 0.9 ％ NaCl solution in two groups was analyzed statistically.Results The mean,maximum and minimum CT values of saline in the experimental group vs control group were (-0.139±10.322) HU vs (5.585±2.939) HU,14.6 HU vs 9.7 HU,-23.8 HU vs-2.4 HU,respectively,and the differences were significant (t=2.695,P＜0.05).The CT values of saline around the high concentrations of iodine solution showed a large fluctuation range.Conclusion The X ray beam hardening effects caused by high concentration of iodine contrast on carotid artery CTA phase,may cause significant fluctuations of CT values.