Objective To study the normal changes in brain during childhood by analyzing the diffusion characters of different regions and different age phases with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Methods DTI was performed in 63 children (age range, 2 days to 9 years) without brain abnormalities and the data measured in ADC maps were analyzed statistically. Results (1) There were significant differences in ADC values among some different regions of brain tissue; (2) In babyhood, the ADC values in gray matters decreased faster than in white matters; (3) The ADC values decreased with the increasing of age , and show negatively exponentially correlation with age. Conclusion DTI shows the changes of brain tissue composition in vivo, with which normal changes in brain during childhood can be evaluated.

Objective To study findings of the white matter of nomal children on color tensor map and evaluate the diffusion tensor imaging in the assessing development of the brain. Methods DTI was obtained in 89 normal children aging from 2 days to 18 years.Their color tensor maps were generated and analyzed.Results Their color tensor maps revealed different findings due to aging;with the increase of the age,the fiber tracts showed were more and well defined.Conclusion The color tensor map is superior to the routine MR in assessing the development of the white matter.

Objective To evaluate the diastolic function in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) by conventional echocardiography or Doppler tissue imaging (TDI).Methods 31 patients with CHF were divided into responders to CRT (group R) and nonresponders to CRT (group N) according the standard of a decline in left ventricular(LV) end-systolic volume ≥10％.All the patients received echocardiography examination 1-3 days before CRT and 6 month after CRT.Color M-mode echocardiography indices included Vp,E/Vp.TDI indices included the peak velocity in early diastole (e) at 4 sites of mitral annulus,E/e,time to peak velocity in systole (Ts),Ts-SD and maximum difference of Ts (Ts-Dif) among 12 segments.Results Compared with before CRT,Ts-SD and Ts-Dif significantly shortened in group R;Vp increased significantly,E/e at each 4 site and mean value at 4 sites of mitral annulus,E/Vp decreased significantly; but there were no significant difference in group N.There were significant positive correlation between mean value at 4 sites of E/e,E/Vp and Ts-SD in group R.Conclusions The diastolic function in responders to CRT improved after CRT,which was associated with the decreased LV filling pressure and improved LV relaxation.

Objective To evaluate the right ventricular function in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) by 2-dimensional speckle imaging (2D-STI).Methods 46 patients with CHF were divided into responders to CRT and non-responders to CRT according the standard of a decline in LV end-systolic volume ≥ 10％.All the patients received echocardiography examination 1-3 days before CRT and 6 month after CRT.Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) indices included SD of time to peak velocity in systole (Ts-SD) among 12 segments.Right ventricular diameters included RV basal transverse diameter (D1),RV middle transverse diameter (D2) and RV longitudinal diameter (D3) in apical four views.2D-STI indices included systolic strain (S) and stain rate (SR) of basal or middle segment of RV free wall.Results Compared with before CRT,LVEDd,LVEDV,LVESV and Ts-SD significantly decreased,LVEF significantly increased in responders 6 months after CRT.Before CRT,compared with nonresponders,there was no significant difference of D1,D2 and D3 in responders,while S and SR in basal or middle segment of RV free wall were higher than non-responders.Compared with before CRT,D1,D2 and D3 in responders decreased significantly,S and SR in basal or middle segment of RV free wall increased significantly,while there was no difference in non-responders.There were significant negative correlation between S and SR in basal or middle segment of RV free wall and Ts-SD in responders.Conclusions The remodeling and systolic function of RV are improved after CRT.It may help for improving the efficacy of CRT when takes RV function data into account before CRT.

Objective To compare pediatric patients with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) with normal children by using diffusion tensor MR imaging. Methods Diffusion tensor images were obtained in 15 pediatric patients with PVL and 15 age-matched normal children. Regions of interest were drawn to measure the fractional anisotropy (FA) in bilateral posterior limb of internal capsule, bilateral optic radiation, genu of corpus callosum, and splenium of corpus callosum. The values of PVL patients and normal children were compared using non-dependent samples T-test. Results The FA values of regions of interest prescribed were significantly lower in PVL patients than in normal children(P

Objective To study the normal changes in brain white matter during childhood by analyzing the anisotropy of different regions and different age groups with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Methods DTI was performed in 89 children (age range from 2 days to 18 years) without brain abnormalities, and the data measured in fractional anisotropy(FA) maps were analyzed statistically. Children less than 6 months were ranged to group 1, 6-12 months to group 2, 1-3 years to group 3, 3-5 years to group 4, 5-8 years to group 5, 8-12 years to group 6, 12-18 years to group 7. Results (1) There were significant differences in anisotropy (FA values) among different regions of white matter in brain In group 7, the FA value of corpus callosum was 0.826?0.039, middle cerebellar peduncle 0.678?0.043, frontal white matter 0.489?0.033. (2) The anisotropy among different age group was statistically different, P

Humans ; Occupational Health ; Workplace ; statistics & numerical data

Objective To study the clinical application of finger reconstruction by transplantation of two second toes and evaluate the postoperative appearance and function regarding the reconstructed hand and donor feet. Methods Defect of fingers were treated by transplantation and reconstruction with a total of 74 cases,including two second toes transplantation for both thumbs in 2 cases,thumb with index finger in 10 cas es, index finger with middle finger in 8 cases and middle finger with ring finger in 17 cases. Results Sevetythree fingers survived except 1 failed. During the follow up examination made from 3 to 36 months, the reconstructed fingers could move, write and dress with ease, pinch forcefully, show good recovery of manual work and the sensation of pain and warmth. Two-point discrimination found to be between 5 to 10 mm. Both donor feet have symmetrical appearance with normal gait and satisfactory motion. Also, no pain was complained.Conclusion Transplantation of two second toes from both feet is a good method to reconstruct defect of multiple fingers, and has little effect on the appearance and motion of feet.

One new neolignan identified as 2, 3-( trans) -dihydro-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) -3-[(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy) methyl]-7-methoxybenzofuran-5-propenoic acid (1) and five known steroidal glycosides namely torvoside A(2), torvoside C(3), torvoside H(4), solanolactoside A (5), (25S)-6alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-spirostan-3-one-6-0-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3-beta3)-beta-D-D-quinovopyr-anoside] (6) were isolated from the fruits of Solanum torvum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis.
Fruit ; chemistry ; Isomerism ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Solanum ; chemistry

Objective To determine the MR phenotype of Leigh syndrome (IS) with SURF-1 gene mutation.Methods The cranial MR examination of eight patients with the diagnosis of Leigh syndrome associated with SURF-1 gene 604G→C mutations were reviewed retrospectively.Comparison was made with typical LS patients' MRI.Observation was made regarding lesions in basal ganglia,subthalamic nuclei,substantia nigra,and dentate nuclei,involvement of white matter,and brain atrophy.Results The MR findings of LS in the study included the following:3 cases exhibited involvement of brain stem and subthalamic nuclei,2 of these 3 cases also had basal ganglia abnormalities.3 cases showed abnormality in the white matter without any involvement of the deep nuclei.Cerebral atrophy was observed in all cases in the group,and was the only finding in two cases.Conclusion The imaging findings in LS with SURF-1 604G→C gene mutation were variable.