Objective To assess the ability of the new software SonoAVC to measure follicular volume and to compare these volume calculations with those made by conventional methods. Methods Three-dimensional ultrasound imaging was used to acquire volumetric data from the ovaries of 50 women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation as part of in-vitro fertilization treatment. SonoAVC was used to automatically measure the volume of follicles and virtual organ computer-aided analysis(VOCAL) was also applied to measure volume, which was used as the standard of volume measurement. And the three perpendicular diameters (xyz diameters) of follicles were manually measured by conventional two-dimensional(2D) ultrasound, which were used to estimate volume using the sphere formula. And the validity of each technique was compared using limits of agreement. Results One hundred and seventy-six follicles were studied. SonoAVC and VOCAL provided highly accurate and repeatable follicular volume measurements in all cases. Volumes estimated from manually derived follicular diameter measurements were less accurate and repeatable. VOCAL took more time in follicular volume of measurement than SonoAVC and conventional 2D displays. Conclusions SonoAVC provides highly accurate, repeatable,and efficient measurements of follicular volume.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; analysis ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; analysis ; Melanoma ; enzymology ; Skin Neoplasms ; enzymology

Objective To investigate the prevalence of renal insufficiency and its associated factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus with normoalbuminuria using estimated glomerular filtration rate ( eGFR) .Methods We retrospectively analyzed 10-year data of chronic complications in type 2 diabetics in-patient from the Chinese Diabetes Society.eGFR was estimated using the equation from Modification of Diet in Renal Disease(MDRD) study.The clinical characteristics as well as associated factors for low eGFR were analyzed among the normoalbuminuric type 2 diabetic patients.Results A total of 1351 type 2 diabetic patients were included, 755 patients with normoalbuminuria, 466 patients with microalbuminuria and 130 patients with macroalbuminuria respectively.Among the patients, 310 (22.9% ) had low eGFR (GFR <60 ml · min~(-1) · 1.73 m~(-2) ) , 19.7% (149/755) in the patients with normoalbuminuria, 21.9% (102/466) in microalbuminuria and 45.4% ( 59/130 ) in macroalbuminuria Patients with normoalbuminuria and low eGFR suffered more chronic complications than those with normoalbuminuria and normal eGFR, mainly retinopathy, cerebrovascular diseases and sensory neuropathy.Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that age ( OR = 1.042, P < 0.001), diabetic duration ( OR = 1.038, P = 0.045), systolic blood pressure (OR = 1.017, P < 0.001) were independently associated with renal impairment among the patients with normoalbuminuria.Body mass index ( OR = 0.868, P < 0.001) and HbAlc (OR =0.898, P =0.021) were also related with renal insufficiency.Conclusion A considerable proportion in type 2 diabetic patients without albuminuria may exist renal impairment, and eGFR estimation could benefit the evaluation of renal function in such patients.

BACKGROUND: After local injection of Botulinum toxin type-A (BoTX-A), not only the function of the neuromuscular conjunction was affected, but also the changes occurred remote from the injected site. F-waves result from the back fire of the motoneuron activation, which may indirectly reflect the functional state of the motoneurons.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the remote effect of local BoTX-A injection by F-wave test.DESIGN: Self-control study based on patients with movement disorders.SETTING: Neruologic clinic in a university hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six patients with movement disorders not received previous local BoTX-A were selected from Neurological Clinic in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between September 2002 and July 2003, including 19 cases with hemificiospasm, 5 Meige syndrome and 2 torticollis spasmodicus.INTERVENTIONS: F- and M-waves of ulnar and tibial nerves were recorded before 1, 12 - 24 weeks after local injection of BoTX-A in 26 patients.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The following parameters were analyzed:latency(ML) and amplitude (Mamp) of M-wave, minimal (Fmin) and average latency (Fave), amplitude of negative peak(Famp), duration (Fdur), persistence (Fpcr) and chronodispersion (Fchr) of F-wave.RESULTS: No definite F-response of ulnar nerve stimulation was obtained 1 week after injection in 3 HFS patients (5 nerves) . Fave prolonged significantly on ulnar and tibal nerve and Fdur increased significantly on ulnar nerve 1 week after injection, but there was no significant difference 12 - 24 weeks later, compared with before injection. No significant correlation of the altered F-wave parameters was found with the dosage of BoTX-A.CONCLUSION: Fdur and Fave could sensitively assess the remote effect,which correlates with distance away from the injected muscle, rather than the dosage of BoTX-A.

Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Adult ; Cryptococcosis ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; Male

Objective To investigate the association of transforming growth factor (TGF) gene rs1800469 (TGF1-509C/T) and rs1982073 (TGF1+869T/C) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with susceptibility of lung cancer. Methods The case group consisted of 193 histologically diagnosed lung cancer patients, and control group of 211 controls were selected from cancer-free patients at the same time. The single nucleotide polymorphisms of rs1800469 (TGF1-509C/T) and rs1982073(TGF1+869T/C) were analyzed by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method. The demographic characteristics, correlated risk factors of exposure and SNP between 2 groups were compared. Results The genotype distribution frequency of TGF1+869T/C and TGF1-509C/T in control group was accorded with Hardy-Weinberg law (P>0.05). The TT, TC and CC genotype distribution frequency in TGF1+869T/C in case group were 16.1%(31/193), 55.4%(107/193) and 28.5%(55/193), while these in control group were 22.3% (47/211), 50.2% (106/211) and 27.5% (58/211), and there were no statistical differences (P>0.05). The TT, TC and CC genotype distribution frequency in TGF1-509C/T in case group were 28.0%(54/193), 56.0%(108/193) and 16.1%(31/193), while these in control group were 27.0% (57/211), 51.2% (108/211) and 21.8% (46/211), and there were no statistical differences (P>0.05). The allele in rs1800469 (TGF1-509C/T) and rs1982073 (TGF1+869T/C) showed no association with lung cancer (P>0.05). Conclusions TGF gene SNP may not be associated with susceptibility to lung cancer in Han Chinese in North China.

Objective: To quantitatively study the incidental extra-cardiac ifndings (ECFs) by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) in order to better recognize those lesions in clinical practice.
Methods: A total of 1169 suspected CAD patients received CCTA in our hospital from 2011-06 to 2013-03 and 1030 patients were enrolled in this study. There were 589 in-patients, 441 out-patients and 549 patients≥60 years of age,481 patients < 60 years of age. 3 physicians evaluated the incidental ECFs in the full ifeld of view (FOV) in different window level and window width for lung, mediastinum, thorax and upper abdominal areas. Clinical relevance of ECFs were classiifed by corresponding scores. Score 1, the patients with severe lesion need immediate treatment, score 2, the lesion with clinical and prognostic signiifcance and score 3, the ifnding without clinical signiifcance.
Results: There were 197/1030 (19.1%) patients having 224 ECFs and 27 (2.6%) patients having 2 ECFs; 90/1030 (8.7%) patients having 106 signiifcant lesions including 3 (0.3%) of lung cancer and 8 (0.8%) of pulmonary embolism; 107 patients with 118 lesions without signiifcance. ECFs were found in 114/589 (19.4%) in-patients and in 83/441 (18.8%) out-patients, P>0.05; 76/481 (15.8%) of patients < 60 years of age and 121/549 (22.0%) of patients≥60 years,P<0.05.
Conclusion: Unexpected ECFs detection rate was 19.1% in patients undergoing CCTA without further radiation exposure by reconstruction with the full FOV setting, and 8.7% of ECFs had clinical signiifcance. Radiologists should routinely analyze the extra-cardiac organs in CCTA.

Objective To study the characteristics of bone mineral density and bone metabolism in elderly men.Methods 220 male elderly hospitalized patients were selected and divided into three groups according to age:65-74 years group,75-84 years group and 85-94 years group.Bone mineral density and bone metabolic biochemical makers including serum parathyroid hormone (PTH),bone gla-protein (BGP) and 25-dihydroxy vitamin D (25-OH VD) were detected.Results The prevalence of osteoporosis was increased along with ageing in three groups (6.8％,12.0％ vs.22.9％,respectively,F=4.986,P＜0.05).The characteristics of bone metabolism showed that serum PTH level was increased and serum levels of BGP,25-OH VD were decreased along with ageing (F =4.986,3.245,5.997,all P＜0.05),and the levels of BGP,25-OH VD were generally decreased in elderly men.Conclusions The prevalence of osteoporosis is high in elderly men.Bone metabolism can be used as the auxiliary index for osteoporosis risk assessment,which is helpful for the early diagnosis of primary osteoporosis.

Objective To evaluate the remote effect of local injection of botulinum toxin by use of the F-wave measures. Methods The F-wave responses as well as M-waves were recorded before injection, and at 1 week,12 to 24 weeks after local injection of botulinum toxin type-A (BTX-A) in 26 patients, including 19 with hemi-facial spasm (HFS),5 Meige syndrome and 2 torticollis spasmodicus (TS).The following parameters were analyzed: M-wave latency (ML) and amplitude (Mamp), F-wave minimal latency(Fmin) and average latency(Fave),amplitude (Famp), duration (Fdur), persistence (Fper) and chronodispersion (Fchr). The above parameters were obtained through the electric stimulation of ulnar and tibial nerves, and recorded from the abductor digiti minimi and extensor digitorum brevis, respectively. Results No definite F-wave was obtained by electric stimulation of ulnar nerve at 1 week after injection in 3 HFS patients (5 nerves). The Fave recorded from electric stimulation of ulnar and tibial nerves prolonged significantlyand Fdur from ulnar nerve increased significantly at 1 week after injection, but were not significantly different from those of pre-injection when recorded at 12 to 24 weeks after injection. No significant correlation of the altered F-wave parameters was found with the dosage of BTX-A. Conclusion Fdur and Fave could sensitively assess the remote effect of the local injection of BTX-A, the remote effect might be correlated with the distance between injected muscle and tested muscle, rather than the dosage of BTX-A.