Objective To explore the diagnostic value of MRI on fetal neural tube defects.Methods Ten pregnant women,aged from 25 to 35 years(average 28 years)and with gestation from 20-39 weeks(average 33 weeks)were studied with a 1.5 T superconductive MR unit within 24 to 48 hours after ultrasound(US)studies.The imaging protocol included fast-imaging employing steady-state acquisition,single-shot FSE and T_1-weighted fast inversion recovery motion insensitive sequences in the axial,frontal,and sagittal planes relative to the fetal brain,thorax,abdomen,and spines.Prenatal US and MRI findings were compared with postnatal MRI diagnoses(3 fetuses)or autopsy(7 fetuses).Results Ten pregnant women(9 with a single fetus and 1 with twin fetuses)were examined.For all cases,the diagnoses established by MRI were correct when compared with postnatal diagnosis or autopsy.In 7 cases,US and MRI findings were in complete agreement with postnatal diagnoses.US missed the diagnosis in 1 case and misdiagnosed in 2 cases.Ten neural tube defects in this study included anencephaly(1 case),exencephaly (1 case),meningoencephalocele associated with amniotic band sequence(1 case),meningocele(1 case),thoracic myelomeningocele(1 case),lumbar spinal bifida(1 case),sacroiliac myelomeningocele(2 cases),sacroiliac large cystic spinal meningocele(1 case),sacroiliac spinal bifida(1 case).Conclusions Prenatal MRI is effective in the assessment of fetal neural tube defects.It can exactly discriminate herniated contents and locate the spinal lesion level.

Objective To explore the value of MRI on fetal autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD).Methods Sixteen pregnant women,aged from 28 to 38 years (average 30 years) and with gestation age from 22 to 36 weeks (average 25 weeks) underwent MR scanning with a 1.5 T MR unit within 24 to 48 hours after ultrasound examinations.The imaging sequences included steady-state free-precession (SSFP) sequence,single-shot turbo spin echo (SSTSE) sequence and T1-weighted fast imaging sequence.Prenatal US and MR imaging findings were compared with autopsy or pathological results.Results A total of 16 cases of ARPKD showed bilateral markedly enlarged kidneys and diffuse high signal small cysts in renal medulla on SSTSE sequence.Among the 16 cases,11 cases were with oligohydramnios,1 1 cases were with pulmonary hypoplasia,and 6 cases were with hepatic fibrosis.Eleven cases of pulmonary hypoplasia and 6 cases of hepatic fibrosis were all missed by US.For the diagnosis of the renal anomalies,US missed one case.MRI diagnosis was correct in all these cases.Conclusions MRI shows great advantages on the diagnosis of fetal ARPKD,and it is not affected by the amount of amniotic fluid.It can be used to evaluate kidney and lung abnormalities accurately.

Objective To observe the effects of hyperbaric oxygen combined with rehabilitation training on the motor ability of ischemic stroke patients.Methods Eighty ischemic stroke patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 40 cases in each group.The control group was treated with Bobath' s approach,while the treatment group was treated with Bobath's methods supplemented by hyperbaric oxygen therapy.The United States National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS),the Fugl-Meyer motor assessment scale (FMA) (lower part) and each patient's maximum walking speed (MWS) were used to evaluate the patients before,and after 8 weeks of treatment.Results After treatment the average NIHSS score,FMA score and MWS were 4.17 ± 1.4％,31.2 ± 3.3 and 54,.3 ± 16.2 m/min,respectively,in the treatment group.The control group' s results were 6.81 ± 1.2％,26.2 ± 2.2 and 45.6 ± 18.3 m/min.The intra-group differences in evaluation results before and after treatment were statistically significant in both groups.An inter-group comparison showed that the treatment group performed significantly better after treatment than the control group in terms of FMA and MWS.After treatment,the treatment group showed significantly better walking performance in terms of cadence,stride length,step length on the affected side,gait cycle and double support duration.Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen can make rehabilitation training more effective in improving the neurologic deficits,motor function and walking ability of hemiplegic stroke survivors.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Calbindin 2 ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Mesothelioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; pathology ; Orchiectomy ; methods ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein G ; metabolism ; Sarcoma ; pathology ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading, as well as their correlation in Wilson's disease (WD) patients with different Chinese medical syndrome types.

METHODSTotally 906 WD patients in line with inclusive criteria were assigned to 6 groups, i.e., the heart spirit confused by phlegm group (HSCP, 26 cases), the phlegm-fire disturbing heart group (PFDH, 90 cases), the retention of damp-heat group (RDH, 113 cases), deficiency of qi and blood group (DQB, 168 cases), the deficiency of Gan-yin and Shen-yin group (DGYSY, 327 cases), the deficiency of Gan and Shen group (DGS, 182 cases) due to different Chinese medical syndrome types. Recruited were another 160 healthy subjects having similar ages and diet structures, who came for medical examinations, as the healthy control group. Venous blood was collected from the medial cubital vein of each-patient on an empty stomach in early mornings to detect blood uric acid levels. Results Blood uric acid levels were lower in each syndrome type group than in the healthy control group (146.08 +/- 67.24 micromol/L in the HSCP group; 157.08 +/- 69.77 micromol/L in the PFDH group; 162.58 +/- 97.72 micromol/L in the RDH group; 156.20 +/- 62.63 micromol/L in the DQB group; 161.83 +/- 111.23 micromol/L in the DGYSY group; 194.41 +/- 90.01 micromol/L in the DGS group; 242.39 +/- 87.55 micromol/L in the healthy control group, P < 0.01). Blood uric acid levels were higher in the DGYSY group than in the other 5 syndrome groups (P < 0.01). Correlation analyses between Goldstein grading and blood uric acid showed that, along with increased Goldstein grade (that was aggravating disease conditions), WD patients' blood uric acid levels decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSWD patient's blood uric acid levels decreased more. Blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading were different in various Chinese medical syndrome types. Blood uric acid levels had certain value in assessing the severity of WD.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Heart ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; blood ; classification ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Syndrome ; Uric Acid ; blood

OBJECTIVETo analyze the electrical activity property changes in nucleus accumbens (NAc) of heroin-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) rats during different stages of heroin dependence and to explore NAc's roles in the formation of drug dependence.

METHODSRecording electrodes were bilaterally embedded into the NAcs of rats with the aid of stereotaxic apparatus, followed by establishment of heroin-dependent rat model. The NAc electrical activity during 3 different stages of heroin dependence, including heroin pre-exposure, immediate post-exposure and heroin withdrawal, were respectively recorded using EEG wireless telemetry techniques. The frequency distribution (ranging from 0.5 to 30 Hz) and the amplitude of NAc electrical activity were analyzed and measured.

RESULTSHeroin-dependent rat models were successfully established and their withdrawal symptoms were evident. All rats showed a conditioned place preference (CPP) for the white box after 5-10 days of heroin-exposure, and displayed a maximum withdrawal symptoms on 2d after heroin- withdrawal. During all statges of heroin-dependence, the NAc electrical activity contained the highest proportion of delta rhythm and the lowest proportion of alpha2 rhythm. The discharge frequence band was similar across different stages. There was a significantly increased ratio of low-frequency discharges (delta rhythm) and decreased ratio of high-frequency discharges (beta rhythm) in NAc of rats during the immediate post- heroin exposure stage when compared with that during pre-exposure and heroin withdrawal stages. During the withdrawal stage, the ratio of at rhythm was significantly lower than during pre- and post-heroin exposure stages (P < 0.01). Further, the mean discharge amplitude in NAcs during immediate post-exposure and withdrawal stages was significantly increased relative to pre-exposure stage. However, the mean discharge amplitude during heroin withdrawal stage was significantly lower than during immediate post-exposure stage.

CONCLUSIONThe electrical activity properties in rat NAcs showed a significant change during different stages of heroin-dependence, which suggested that neuronal activities in NAcs might contribute to the modulation of drug-dependence.

Animals ; Conditioning, Operant ; Heroin ; pharmacology ; Heroin Dependence ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nucleus Accumbens ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Telemetry

This research is to establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of ophiopogonin D, ophiopogonin D', ophiopogonin C, deacetylophiopojaponin A and ophiogenin-3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-(1-->2)-β-D-glucoside in Ophiopogonis Radix. HPLC-ELSD analysis was performed on a Kromasil 100-5 C₁₈ column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 µm), with the mobile phase of acetonitrile (A) -water (B) in gradient elution mode (0-45 min, 35%-55% A), at a flow rate of 1 mL · min⁻¹. The column temperature was 35 °C and the drift tube temperature was 100 °C in a gas flow rate of 3.0 L · min⁻¹. The result showed that baseline of all the 5 constituents was well separated, and every constituent had wide linearity range and good linear relation (r > 0.999). The recovery rate was between 95.75% and 103.1%. The new established method for simultaneous determination of saponin constituents in Ophiopogonis Radix was sensitive and has good, repeatability. It could be applied to quality evaluation of Ophiopogonis Radix.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ophiopogon ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective:To investigate the effects of corticotomy assisted orthodontic treatment for mild skeletal Class Ⅱ malocclusion. Methods:7 adult patients with mild skeletal Class Ⅱ division 1 malocclusion were included and underwent corticotomy assisted ortho-dontic treatments.3D measurements and analysis of CBCT data before and after treatment were conducted.Results:The average dura-tion of upper anterior teeth retraction was 3.2 months.After treatment,obvious retraction of up incisiors with the retraction of maxillary alveolar bone and the upper lip backward and downward movement were observed.Conclusion:Corticotomy assisted orthodontic treat-ment is effective in the treatment of mild skeletal Class Ⅱ malocclusion by the retraction of uper anterior teeth,alveolarar bone and soft-tissue profile improvement.

Objective To improve the understanding,the incidence and imaging findings of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) combined with cardiac rhabdomyomas (CRs) in fetuses and infants.Methods The imaging findings of 9 infants with TSC combined with CRs and 4 fetuses with TSC combined with CRs from our hospital between June,2006 and November,2013 were retrospectively reviewed.Results The brain MRI of 9 with TSC combined with CRs showed bilateral subependy-mal nodules,subcortical white matter and cortical tubers.Subependymal nodules were isointense or hypointense on spin-echo T1WI and hypointense or hyperintense on spin-echo T2WI.Subcortical white matter and cortical tubers were hypointense or hyperintense on T1WI and hypointense or hyperintense on T2WI.There was varying contrast enhancement.Three of 9 infants presented single cardiac tumor and 6 of 9 infants presented multiply cardiac lesions.CRs on contrast cardiac MRI showed round solid masses in ventricular septums,ventricular outflow tract,ventricle or atrial free walls.The masses were isointense relative to the cardiac muscles on T1WI,T2WI and B-TFE sequence.There was varying contrast enhancement.Four fetuses with TSC on ultrafast MRI showed bilateral multiply subependymal nodules,the nodules were isointense or hyperintense on TFE T1WI and isointense or hypointense signals on SSTSE or B-FFE sequence,Four fetuses with CRs showed isointense to hyperintense solid masses in ventricular septums on ultrafast MRI,ventricle or atrial free walls on B-FFE sequence and SSTSE sequence images.Conclusions TSC in infant and fetus is a kind of neurocutaneous syndrome,usually combines with CRs.Fetal ultrafast and routine MRI is a useful method to make a definite diagnosis for cranial and cardiac lesions.The development of MRI might improve the timeliness and accuracy of the assessment for this disease.

Animals ; Helminthiasis ; pathology ; Humans ; Moniliformis ; pathogenicity