Implantation of metallic stents is an important method in treatment of airway strictures,and it is applied in increasingly for treating benign tracheobronchial strictures. In this article, we comprehensively introduced the selection of characteristic stents, the current status and progress of stent application in benign tracheobronchial strictures.

ObjectiveTo seek the optimal method in treating hemifacial spasm (HFS).MethodThirty HFS patients were selected and randomized into atreatment group and a control group. The treatment group was intervened by selecting cervical Jiaji (EX-B2) points plus conventional acupuncture, while the control group was by conventional acupuncture alone; 15 sessions were regarded as a treatment course, and the therapeutic efficacies were observed and compared after 2 successive treatment courses. ResultThe total effective rate was 86.7% in the treatment group, significantly higher than 66.7% in the control group (P<0.05). ConclusionElectroacupuncture at cervical Jiaji plus conventional acupuncture is significantly effective in treating HFS, and its total effective rate is higher than that of the conventional acupuncture alone.

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of placement of self expandable metallic stent within right atrium and inferior vena cava (ICV) in patients with malignant ICV obstruction involving right atrium. Methods There were 5 male patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, aged from 42 to 65 years (mean 56 3 years). The malignancies invaded right atrium and ICV simultaneously, and caused obstruction of ICV. These patients presented symptoms and signs of obstruction of ICV such as hepatomegaly, ascites, edema of lower extremities. “Z” type stainless steel stents (7 5～10.0 cm in length and 2 5 cm in diameter) were selected for these patients. Part (1.0～3.0 cm in length ) of stent was placed in right atrium and the rest was in ICV. Results All of stents were placed successfully and obstructed ICV reopened. The symptoms of obstruction of ICV relieved or disappeared. There were no recurrence of symptoms of obstruction of ICV and any cardiac complication related to placement of stents in follow up period (67～188 days). Conclusion Placement of self expandable metallic stent within right atrium and ICV in treatment of patients with malignant ICV obstruction involving right atrium is one of the safe and effective methods.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has already been a mature and an effective treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Clinically,it is very important to quickly and accurately evaluate the postoperative curative effect with minimally invasive technique so as to determine the next treatment options.At present,postoperative conventional CT and MRI are the main means to assess the curative effect of TACE,but it is a pity that after the treatment the functional changes of the tumor occur earlier than the morphological changes.In recent years,functional MRI techniques,such as diffusionweighted imaging (DWI),multi-b value DWI,dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging,etc.have been more and more used for quantitative evaluation of the diffusion of water molecules and the blood microcirculation perfusion within the tumor tissue,and some progresses have been achieved in the evaluation of curative efficacy for tumor.This paper aims to make a comprehensive review about the research progress of the above mentioned functional imaging methods as well as their current application status in evaluation of the curative effect of TACE.

BACKGROUND:Radiation-induced brain injury has recently become an increasing area of research, in particular in animal experimental studies. Domestic and international researches show that there have been no uniform scanning parameters used for examination of animal models of radiation-induced brain injury by magnetic resonance imaging. In this study, we performed magnetic resonance imaging in rabbits to determine related sequence parameters. OBJECTIVE:To establish the New Zealand rabbit models of radiation-induced brain injury, and obtain the brain magnetic resonance images of rabbits using LOOP7 coil, so as to provide experimental evidence for diagnosis of radiation-induced brain injury by magenetic resonance imaging. METHODS:Each of T2-weighted imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility-weighted imaging were performed several times through the use of LOOP7 coil, to determine the optimal scanning parameters for each sequence. Rabbit models of radiation-induced brain injury were established and then their right hemispheres were irradiated using 6 MV X-rays at a single dose of 40, 80 and 120 Gy. The daily performance and dynamic magnetic resonance signs of rabbits were observed. The brain tissue was taken for pathological examination once abnormal magnetic resonance findings were observed or after 20 weeks of folow-up. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Only one rabbit model in the 40 Gy group had subdural hemorrhage. In the 80 Gy group, abnormal T2-weight imaging signals were observed in al rabbit models, which were pathologicaly confirmed as scattered degenerated neurons and infiltrated neutrophils. The abnormal signals that gradualy expanded over time were seen in rabbits from the 120 Gy group by magnetic resonance imaging and were pathologicaly confirmed as radiation-induced brain injury loci. The results confirm that establishing rat models of radiation-induced brain injury using radiation therapy system can better simulate the pathological process of radiation-induced brain injury; moreover, this model can be applied to receive routine magnetic resonance examination with LOOP7 coil.

Objective To realize the optimization of image quality and radiation dose by correcting mammography automatic exposure,according to automatic exposure controlled mode of mammography film-screen system . Methods The film-screen system(28 kV) was applied to perform automatic exposure of plexiglass(40 mm) and get the standard dose of exposure, the exposure mode of CR base on LgM =2.0 was rectified, which was divided into 10 steps. Mammary glands pattern(Fluke NA18-220) were examined with CR( 26,28, and 30 kV ) by the automatic exposure mode corrected. The exposure values(mAs) were recorded. CR image was diagnosed and evaluated in double blind way by 4 radiologists according to American Collage of Radiology(ACR) standard. Results Based on the standard of CR automatic exposure with the dose higher than the traditional exposure of film-screen system, the calibration of mammography automatic exposure was accomplished. The test results of the calibrated mode was better than the scoring system of ACR. Conclusions Comparative study showed improvement in acquiring high-quality image and reduction of radiation dose. The corrected mammography automatic exposure mode might be a better method for clinical use.

Objective To investigate whether oral administration of probiotics can reduce complications induced by interventional therapy in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma and liver cirrosis.Methods Two hundred and sixty four patients with primary hepatic carcinoma and liver cirrhosis who underwent transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) were randomly divided into two groups.and patients in experimental group were given probiotics but not in control group.Shoa-term clinical manifestations.liver functions,blood routine and pain scores were compared between two groups.Results On the day 3 after therapy,the incidence of abdominal distension and constipation in experimental group were less than that in control group(x2=18.22 and 55.22,P=0.000);On the day 7 after therapy,the incidence of abdominal distension,constipation and infection in experimental group were less than that in control group(x2=5.35,13.5 and 19.14,P=0.021,0.000 and 0.000).There were no significant difference in other clinical manifestations,liver function,blood routine and pain scores between the two groups. Conclusion Oral administration of probiotics can reduce the incidence of some short-term complication induced by interventional therapy in patients with hepatic carcinoma and liver cirrhosis.

Objective To improve the clinic,CT and pathologic knowledge of pleomorphic hyanilizing angiectatic tumor of soft parts(PHAT).Methods Clinical,CT and pathologic characters of PHAT in one case at the right nuchal region were detailedly analysed with literature review.Results The clinical symptoms of PHAT were slight and unspecified.The lesion appeared as a orbicular-ovate tumour with sublobe and clear edge,the density of tumor was uneven on plain scan and uneven enhanced after injected contrast agent,and a part of the tumour was enhanced close to the CT value of blood vessel.The characters of pathology were the presence of clusters of dilated thin-walled vessels,with prominent hyalinization of vessel wall,perivascular and intercellular hyalinization,and pantomorphia neoplastic cell distributed between these dilated vessels.Conclusion PHAT is a low potential malignant soft tissue tumor,it has some specific CT and pathologic characters.

Objective To study the value and clinical significance of diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)in differentiating high-grade astrocytomas and solitary metastatic tumors of brain.Methods 16 patients with intracranial solitary metastasis and 25 patients with high-grade astrocytoma confirmed pathologically were examined with MR DTI.Mean diffusivity(MD)and fractional anisotropy(FA)were measured in the regions of interest(ROI)of peritumor and cerebral parenchyma of the normal side on DTL Fiber tractography was reconstructed and the encountered patterns of tumor-related alteration to cerebral white matter were observed.Results The peritumor were all depicted as hyperintense or isointense signals on DTI.The FA values were 0.227±0.05 and 0.169±0.07 in the peritumor of high-grade astrocytoma and metastasis respectively,which was of significant difference(P＜0.05).Furthermore,fiber tractography could display the course of white matter tracts in three-dimensional space.Conclusion DTI may be help to differential diagnosis of solitary metastasis and high-grade astrocytoma in clinical practice.

Aim To investigate the effect of transduct-ed-hemeoxygenase-1 ( HO-1 ) protein on brain ischemi-a-reperfusion ( I/R ) rat hippocampal neurons injury. Methods 11 R ( arginine residues )-fused HO-1 pro-tein was established and 50 male Mongolian gerbils were randomly divided into 5 groups ( n=10 ):I/R ( control group ) , I/R + 5 mg · kg-1 saline group ( group S ) , I/R + 5 mg · kg-1 11 R group ( group R), I/R + 5mg·kg-1 11R-HO-1 group (group H1) and I/R + 25 mg · kg-1 11 R-HO-1 group ( group H2). For I/R experiments, ischemia was induced for 5 min by occluding the common carotid arteries bilater-ally with aneurysm clips under Ketamine anesthesia. The experiment was conducted after the neurons were intraperitoneally injected with 5mg·kg-1 saline,11R , 11R-HO-1,or 25mg · kg-1 11R-HO-1 for 3 h. The rats were killed after 24h of reperfusion. Hippocampus was removed immediately for determination of cAMP level, neuronal apoptotic rate, and expression of HO-1 and Caspase-3 protein, mitochondria was observed un-der electron microscope. Results Among group C, group S and group R,there were no differences in the expressions of HO-1, Caspase-3 protein, cAMP level , neuronal apoptotic rate and mitochondria damage ( P>0. 05). Compared with group C, group S and group R, the expression of HO-1 protein was up-regulated, the expression of Caspase-3 protein was down-regula-ted, cAMP level increased, the apoptotic rate was sig-nificantly decreased and mitochondria damage de-creased in group H1 ( P < 0. 01 ) . Compared with group H1 , the expression of HO-1 protein was up-regu-lated, the expression of Caspase-3 protein was down-regulated, cAMP level increased, the apoptotic rate was significantly decreased and mitochondria damage decreased in group H2 ( P <0. 01 ) . Conclusion Transducted-HO-1 protein can attenuate brain ischemi-a-reperfusion rat hippocampal neurons injury.