Objective To study the endoscopic anatomy of operative fissures in the sellar region related to pterional key-hole approach and to provide the anatomic basis for endoscope-assisted microneuro-surgery in the region. Methods Fifteen cadaver heads were dissected via pterional key-hole approach and the five operative fissures(Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ) were studied with both microscope and endoscope, by which the outcomes observed were recorded and compared. Results The basic information obtained by the pterio-nalkeyhole approach was comparable to that of the classic ptefional approach. According to the anatomic guideposts under neuroendoscope, the microstructures of the five fissures and Willis' circle would be well demonstrated. It is better to display the various anatomic structures in sellar region by neuroendoscope rather than microscope, particularly some important microstructures. Angled endoscope can be used to inspec thidden but important structure behind the arteries and nerves. Conclusion According to the anatomic guideposts, an endoscopy can be used to enhance the visible field of an operative microscope related to pterional key-hole approach. The endoscope-assisted microsurgery can reduce complications and injury of the important structures and increase the curative effect on the lesions in the sellar region.

Objective To investigate the curative efficacy of fracture with closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation of the simple lateral injury for humeral supracondylar fracture of Gartland type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ in children by the emergency treatment and selective surgery. Methods From March 2010 to March 2012,sixty children with Gartland type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ fresh humeral supracondylar fracture were operated in Xianyang Center Hospital. Six-ty children were randomly divided into two groups:group A by emergency operation 8 hours after injury with closed re-duction method and lateral percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation only,group B initially treated with plast fixation,then undergoing surgery after 3 - 5 days of injury with the closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation. The operation du-ration,frequency of intraoperative image intensifier,postoperative swelling,pain lasting time after injury and hospitaliza-tion cost were investigated in two groups. Results The average operation duration of group A was(18. 5 ± 12. 3)min, and that in group B was(20. 1 ± 15. 3)min,and there was a statistically significant difference between two groups(P ﹤0. 05). The frequency of intraoperative image intensifier was 6. 2 times on the average in group A,but 7. 3 times in group B,and there was a statistically significant difference between two groups(P ﹤ 0. 05). The postoperative swelling rate on 3,5,7 days after injury in group B was significantly higher than that of group A,and there was a statistically sig-nificant difference(all P ﹤ 0. 05). The duration of pain after injury in group A was(3. 44 ± 1. 23)days,but(5. 26 ± 1. 36)days in group B,which was significantly different;the nerve function recovery time of group A was(36. 5 ± 7. 0) d,and it was(36. 2 ± 7. 0)d in group B,which was not significantly different(P ﹥ 0. 05). The average hospitalization time and cost in group A was less than that in group B,which was significantly different(P ﹤ 0. 05). Finally there was no statistically significant difference in elbow joint function between two groups of children(P ﹥ 0. 05). Conclusions The emergency operation of closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation for the treatment of simple lateral injury in children with Gartland type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ fracture has the advantages over the selective surgery,including shorter operation time,less contact of X - ray intraoperatively,light postoperative swelling,short duration of pain in chil-dren,as well as the shortened hospitalization time,reduced costs,especially good efficacy for joint function recovery.

We studied the actions of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in differentiating breast tumors. From January 2010 to February 2012, we retrospectively analyzed data of 95 cases with breast tumor pathologically confirmed from DWI and DCE-MRI. We compared the ADC value, time-intensity curve (TIC) and DCE-MRI parameters between breast tumors, and calculated the sensitivity and specificity for differentiating breast tumors. The results were as follows: (1) On DWI, mean ADC value of malignant tumor was lower than that of benign tumor (P < 0.05). For differentiating breast malignant tumors from benign neoplasm, a cut-off ADC value of 1.2 x 10(-3) mm2/s achieved a sensitivity of 74.1% and specificity of 70.3%. (2) On DCE-MRI, early enhancement ratio (EER) value of malignant tumor was higher than that of benign tumor whereas value of time to peak (Tpeak) and maximal enhancement ratio (SImax) were lower than that of benign tumor (all P < 0.05). As for TIC, type II and III were more frequently seen in malignant tumor than in benign tumor whereas type I was more common in benign tumor than in malignant tumor (all P < 0.05). For differentiating breast malignant tumors from benign neoplasm, DCE-MRI obtained a sensitivity of 89.7% and specificity of 70.3%. (3) For differentiating breast malignant tumors from benign neoplasm, ADC value together with TIC obtained a sensitivity of 79.3% and specificity of 78.4%. Malignant or benign breast tumors could have their own unique characteristics on DWI and DCE-MRI. These characteristics might be helpful for differentiating these tumors.
Breast Neoplasms ; classification ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To investigate the esthetic effect of anterior ultra-thin veneers which were fabricated from heat pressed IPS e.max press ingots of high translucency.Methods The whole 62 anterior teeth of 12 patients,who wanted to receive aesthetic restorative treatment,were invloved in the study.Grooves with 0.5 mm depth were marked at the center of the labial face by the use of spherical diamond burs with 1 mm in diameter.At the cervix of the teeth,the design of 0.3 mm shallow concave shoulder was adopted.IPS e.max HT ingots of different color were chosen to be hotpressed; the straining technique was used on the marginal ridge and incisor ridge of the ultra thin veneers after they had been carefully trimmed.Subsequently,the restorations were bonded with Variolink Veneer resin cement.After a short-term follow-up for 3 years,a modified USPHS criterion was used to evaluate the esthetic effect.Results The thickness of the ultra-thin veneers fabricated by heat pressing was 0.3-0.5 mm,marginal integrity of the veneers was perfect and fitted well with the marginal finishing line of the abutment,and then the translucency of veneers was high.There was no edge discoloring after the veneers were used for 6 months to 3 years,and they might produce an excellent chameleon effect by mixing the color of adjacent teeth and gums,and appeared a surface morphology of natural enamel after carefully carved.In the short-term clinical observation,none of the 62 veneers fractured or fell off; there was no case of dentin hypersensitivity.Conclusions Ultra-thin veneers fabricated from IPS e.max Press ingots have the following advantages,a simple operating procedure,high mechanical strength,and satisfactory esthetic effect.

Objective To evaluate the effects of propofol,etomidate and midazolam on gap junction function in rats in vitro and in vivo.Methods Experiment Ⅰ NRK52E cells were seeded in 6-well plates with the density of 1.0 × 105/ml and randomly divided into 4 groups (n =6 wells each):control group (group C),propofol group (group P),etomidate group (group E) and midazolam group (group M).In group C,NRK52E cells were cultured in DMEM-F12 culture medium containing 10％ fetal bovine serum.In P,E and M groups,propofol,etomidate and midazolam (with the final concentrations of 15,8 and 4μmol/L,respectively) were added to the culture medium,respectively,and the cells were then incubated for 1 h.Parachute dye-coupling assay was used to measure the gap junction function in NRK52E cells.Experiment Ⅱ Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 2 months,weighing 220-280 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =6 each):propofol group (group P),etomidate group (group E),midazolam group (group M),and control group (group C).In P,E and M groups,propofol 100 mg/kg,etomidate 6 mg/kg and midazolam 5 mg/kg were injected intraperitoneally once a day for 3 consecutive days,respectively.The equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group C.The animals were sacrificed at 30 min after the last administration and the renal cortex was harvested to measure the gap junction function using tissue scrape and load assay.Results Compared with group C,the gap junction function was significantly decreased in P and E groups (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant change was found in the gap junction function in group M (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Propofol and etomidate significantly inhibit the gap junction function in NRK52E cells and renal tissues in rats,but midazolam produces no effect.

Objective To report our method to determine lateral needle insertion point (intersection point skin marker) in closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation for pediatric supracondylar fracture of humerus.Methods From May 2012 to June 2014,125 children with supracondylar fracture of humerus were treated with closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation.Of them,60 did not use the intersection point method to determine the lateral needle insertion point (group A),including 46 boys and 14 girls,with an average age of 6.3 ±0.6 years.According to Gartland classification,28 cases were type Ⅱ and 32 cases type Ⅲ.In the other 65 children,the intersection point method was used to determine the lateral needle insertion point (group B),including 50 boys and 15 girls,with an average age of 6.4 ± O.9 years.According to Gartland classification,29 cases were type Ⅱ and 36 cases type Ⅲ.The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time,fluoroscopy times,hospital stay and hospitalization cost.The efficacy was evaluated at the final follow-ups using Flynn criteria.The 2 groups were compatible without significant differences in preoperative general data (P ＞ 0.05).Results All the 125 children obtained successful closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation,and an average follow-up of 13 months (from 12 to 15 months)as well.There were significant differences between groups A and B in average operation time (23.1 ± 15.3 min versus 17.5 ± 10.3 min) and fluoroscopy times (9.2 ± 1.0 times versus 5.3 ± 1.3 times) (P ＜ 0.05).There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups either in Flynn excellent to good rate [(98.3％ (59/60) versus 98.5％ (64/65)] (P ＞ O.05).Needle irritation occurred in 2 cases and Kirschner wire shift in one in group A while tensile blistering occurred in one in group B.Conclusion In closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation for pediatric supracondylar fracture of humerus,the intersection point skin marker is a simple and reliable method to determine the lateral needle insertion point,leading to considerable reduction in radiographic exposure for both patients and doctors.

Objective To evaluate the effects of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) on apoptosis and gap junction in isolated renal tubular epithelial cells of rats.Methods The renal tubular epithelial cells were seeded in 6-well plates at a density of 1 × 105 cells/ml and randomly divided into 2 groups (n =18 wells each) using a random number table:control group (group C) and H/R group.In group C,the cells were cultured in a regular incubator with 21％ oxygen at 37 ℃.In group H/R,the cells were incubated in an anaerobic chamber for 24 h and then returned to a regular incubator and incubated for 4 h.Hoechst33258 staining method and flow cytometry were used to detect the cell apoptosis.Gap junction function was determined by specific parachute assay.Gap function protein connexin 43(Cx43) expression was measured by Western blot.Results Compared with group C,the apoptosis rate was significantly increased and gap junction function and Cx43 expression were decreased in group H/R (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion H/R promotes apoptosis in isolated renal tubular epithelial cells through destroying intercellular gap junction in rats.

Objective To identify the metabolic levels in prefrontal lobe in patients with post-concussion syndrome by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), and to explore the relationship between metabolic levels and executive function. Methods The study was conducted in 40 patients with post-concussion syndrome and 20 normal controls. 1H-MRS on prefrontal lobe was performed in patients and controls, the NAA, Cho and Cr were measured and the ratios of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and NAA/(Cho + Cr) were determined. They were also evaluated executive functions by verbal fluency test (animal), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WSCT) and Tower of Hanoi (TOH). Results Compared with normal controls, the patients with post-concussion syndrome were significantly lower NAA/Cr and NAA/(Cho+Cr) ratios in left prefrontal lobe (P < 0.05). The NAA/Cr ratio in left prefrontal was significantly positive correlated with total scores of verbal fluency (r = 0.66, P < 0.05), categories of WSCT (r = 0.54,P < 0.05) and total score of TOH(r = 0.58, P < 0.05). The NAA/Cr ratio was significantly negative correlated with total errors (r = -0.53, P < 0.05) and persistent errors (r = -0.47, P < 0.05) of WSCT and mean executive time of TOH(r = -0.67, P < 0.05). Conclusions The metabolic levels of NAA in left prefrontal lobe in patients with post-concussion syndrome is significantly decreased , it is one cause of impaired executive functions.

AIM: To investigate the influence of irbesartan (Irb), a new angiotensin II receptor 1 antagonist, on renal hypertrophy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group (Group N, n=7), diabetic group (Group DN, n=6) and irbesartan treated group (Group DNI, n=7). In the experimental group, after the rats subjected to uninephrectomy, STZ was given by peritoneally injection at bolus dose of 50 mg/kg to induce diabetes. Blood glucose (BG), body weight (BW), urinary albumin excretion (Ualb), 24 hour proteinuria (24 h Upro) were measured at week 4, 8, 12, respectively. By the end of experiment at week 12, creatinine clearance (Ccr), kidney weight (KW), indicator of renal hypertrophy (KW/BW), renal total protein content (RTP), glomerular area (AG) and glomerular volume (VG) as well as glomerular basement membrane (GBM) were determined by semi-quantitative pathology technique. RESULTS: It was showed that there was no significant difference in BG between group DN and DNI, while Irb significantly reduced the increasing of Ualb, 24 h Upro in diabetic rats compared to control group (P

AIM: To investigate the change of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) expression and its role in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat kidney. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: control(sham operated rats, group C,n=32) and diabetic rats (group DN,n=35). Rats in each group were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks respectively after induction of diabetes. Body weight(BW), blood glucose(BG), 24-hour urine volumn(UV), kidney weight, KW/BW,24-hour urinary albumin excretion (24Ualb), creatinine clearance (Ccr), kidney weight (KW), KW/BW, glomerular area (AG), proximal tubular area (AT) and the width of GBM、TBM at each time point were measured. Expression of CTGF and ?-SMA were detected by immunostaining. RESULTS: There was a significant increase of 24 h Ualb, Ccr, KW/BW, AG, VG and the expression of CTGF in glomeruli and tubuli from week 1 onward in diabetic rats compared with those in group C (P