Objective To evaluate the value of MSCT in differentiate cystic lesions in different cervical region. Methods Forty cases with cyst lesions in the neck which was confirmed by pathology were collected in our study. The following diseases were excluded: cystic lesions from thyroid gland and thymus or bronchus, cystic changes of solid lesions ( necrotic lymph node) and cystic or solid lesions in the parotid gland. All patients underwent MSCT scan on GE Lightspeed 16. The parameters were following: 120 kV,260 mA, thickness 5 mm, pitch 1. 375. The delay time for contrast enhanced CT was 25 seconds for arterial phase and 60 seconds for vein phase. Results Lesions were analyzed in 4 different cervical regions including parotid gland, midline, lateral cervix and posterior cervix. Among the lesions in parotid area,2 were first brachial cyst and the other 2 were epidermoid cyst. First brachial cyst occurred intraparotid gland and epidermoid cyst occurred intraparotid or extraparotid gland. Among the lesions in midline area, 17 cases were thyroglossal cysts,81.0% were in the level hyoid bone, 12 cases of thyroglossal cysts protruded at the preepiglottic space or oral base. Another kind of lesions in midline included 3 cases of epiglottic cysts and 1 epidermoid cyst in the lower level of the neck which involved infrasternal level. The 12 cases of second brachial cysts occurred in the lateral neck. Ten cases were in the left side. Type Ⅱ was the most common type and account for 5 cases among all of second brachial cysts. Type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ were running up,accounting 3 cases respectively. Type Ⅳ account for 1 case. Two cases with lymphangioma and 1 case with third brachial cyst located at the posterior neck. Conclusion According to the location and typical imaging appearance, MSCT can do the differentiation of different cystic lesions in the different area of neck.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between polymorphism of leptin gene -2548A/G and leptin receptor gene ( LEPR) Gln223Arg and asthma and metabolic syndrome.Methods: 82 asthma-combined metabolic syndrome patients,114 asthma patients,100 metabolic syndrome patients and 96 normal controls were conducted.The polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism ( PCR-RFLP) analysis were performed to investigate the polymorphism of leptin gene -2548A/G and LEPR gene Gln223Arg site.In addition, asthma was graded into mild AS and mod-severe AS according to lung function.Then the associations between the polymorphism of leptin gene -2548A/G and LEPR gene Gln223Arg and different grades of asthma were performed.Results:①The biochemical indicators were different compared between each group.②The genotype and allele frequencies in leptin gene polymorphism -2548A/G were significantly difference between metabolic syndrome patients(P=0.047 and 0.046), asthma-combined metabolic syndrome patients( P=0.038 and 0.044) ,mod-severe asthma patients( P=0.019 and 0.028) and control group.③There was a significant difference of genotype and allele frequencies in LEPR gene Gln223Arg between metabolic syndrome patients and controls(P=0.037 and 0.023);between metabolic syndrome patients and asthma patients(P=0.000 and 0.000).There was a significant difference of allele frequencies in LEPR gene Gln223Arg between asthma-combined metabolic syndrome patients and asthma(P=0.032) .Conclusion: Polymorphisms of the leptin gene -2548A/G site may be associated with metabolic syndrome and mod-severe asthma.Polymorphisms of the LEPR gene Gln223Arg site may be only associated with metabolic syndrome.The two genes would be the candidate genes in early prevention and control.

AIM: To establish an HPCE method for determining the fingerprint of Compound Danshen Dropping Pill.(Radix et Rhizoma salviae miltiorrhizae,Radix et Rhizoma notoginseng,Borneolum Syntheticum) METHODS: A standard fingerprint was set up under following conditions: capillary,50 ?m (id)?50.0(eff.41.5) cm,uncoated;detector,UV 203 nm;injection,50 mbar(10 s);running voltage,20 kV;buffer,50 mmol/L sodium tetraborate and 50 mmol/L boric acid(pH 9.0,containing 30 mmol/L SDS) and acetonitrile(4∶1,v/v). RESULTS: Based on the fingerprints of 10 batches Compound Danshen Dripping Pills,an average electropherogram was used as the standard fingerprint,among which there were 14 characteristic peaks. CONCLUSION: The fingerprint analysis can be used for assessing the quality consistency of Compound Danshen Dropping Pill from batch to batch.

OBJECTIVE To study the distributive properties and susceptibility of yeasts to six antifungal agents. METHODS To analyze the distributive properties of 264 clinical Candida spp isolates and study the susceptibility to amphotericin B,nystatin,fluconazole,ketoconazole,miconazole and clotrimazole.The susceptibility of yeasts was tested according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guideline(NCCLS M27-A2). RESULTS Strains of Candida albicans were the most frequent organism isolated accounted for 62.5% of all the isolates.C.tropicalis,C.glabrata,and C.parapsilosis accounted for 20.8%,12.5%,and 1.9%,the others accounted for only 2.3%.The main infected organs were lungs,urinary tract,and digestive tract;the susceptibility tests showed strains of Candida spp to nystatin,amphotericin B,and fluconazole were more active than to the other antifungal agents.The resistance to triazole antifugal agents could be shown. CONCLUSIONS We should strengthen the diagnosis of Candida spp and strengthen the surveillance on susceptibility of clinical isolates Candida spp so as to help the doctors choose the antifungal agents reasonably.

Objective To analyze the surgical treatment options and its results for thoracic and thoracolumbar disc herniation.Methods From June 2004 to December 2009,thirty-one patients of thoracic and thoracolumbar disc herniation with or without ossification of ligament flavum were surgically treated,including 22 males and 9 females,with a mean age of 54 years(range,24 to 71 years).According to Anand and Regan clinical classification,there was type 2 for 1 case,grade 3a for 2,grade 3b for 3,grade 4 for 6,and grade 5 for 19.The neurological status was Frankel B for 2 cases,C for 6,D for 11,and E for 12.Anterior surgeries were performed for 18 patients without ossification of ligament flavum.Anterior decompression was performed through the resection of posterior part of vertebral body,or subtotal resection of vertebral body,followed by strut graft and internal fixation.Posterior surgeries were performed for 13 patients with disc herniation and ossification of ligament flavum.The resection of hemi-articular process and total laminectomy was performed.Results The complications of 18 patients with anterior surgery included laceration of dura mater in 1 case,nerve root sleeve injury in 1 case,intercostal neuralgia in 3 cases,atelectasis in 1 case,and femoroiliac numbness in 2 cases.The complications of 13 patients with posterior surgery included intra-canal hematoma in 1 cases,leakage of cerebrospinal fluid in 2 cases,infection of incision in 1 cases,and pneumonia in 1 case.The patients were followed for 18 months(range,6 to 48 months).At final follow-up,the neurological status and local symptom improved in all patients,with Frankel C for 3 cases,D for 7,and E for 21;and Anand and Regan type 1 for 2 cases,2 for 1,3a for 1,4 for 2,5 for 10 and no symptom for 15.Conclusion For thoracic and thoracolumbar disc herniation,anterior surgery is suitable for patients mainly suffered anterior cord compression.Resection of posterior part of vertebral body or subtotal resection of vertebral body is often needed for sufficient decompression.Posterior surgery is suitable for patients with anterior and posterior cord compression due to ossification of ligament flavum,and the decompression can be obtained by resection of hemi-articular process and total laminectomy.

Objective To observe the effects of balance visual feedback training on balance function and walking capacity in patients with hemiplegia. Methods40 patients with hemiplegia were divided into the visual feedback group (n=20) and balance board training group (n=20). They were assessed with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Holden Walking Classification before and 5 weeks after treatment. ResultsThere was no significant difference between groups before treatment in both BBS and Holden Walking Classification (P>0.05). The visual feedback group improved more than the balance board training group (P<0.01). ConclusionThe balancer visual feedback training is more effective on balance function and walking ability in stroke patients with hemiplegia.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Complement C3 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Male ; Silicosis ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1/immunoglobulin A (EBNA1/IgA), BamH1 Z transactivator/IgA (Zta/IgA), capsid antigen/IgA (VCA/IgA), and Epstein-Barr virus deoxyribonucleic acid (EBV-DNA) in detecting different stages of na-sopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The relationship between the EBV markers and stages of NPC was also analyzed. Methods:Blood sam-ples of 152 untreated patients with NPC and 675 healthy subjects were collected.ELISA was used to detect the serum levels of EBNA1/IgA, Zta/IgA, and VCA/IgA. Fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) was used to detect the plasma levels of EBV-DNA. ROC and correla-tion analyses were employed to assess the detection assays for NPC diagnosis. The positive rates of EBV markers in NPC patients in dif-ferent stages were analyzed statistically. Results: The positive rates of EBNA1/IgA, Zta/IgA, VCA/IgA, and EBV-DNA in NPC patients were higher than those in the healthy individuals. The expression of EBNA1/IgA was relatively high in early NPC. The sensitivity of EB-NA1/IgA was 77.8%. In advanced NPC, the level of EBV-DNA was high, and the sensitivity of EBV-DNA was 88.8%. The specificity of EBV-DNA and EBNA1/IgA could reach more than 96%. The combination of EBV-DNA and EBNA1/IgA showed the best diagnostic value, with a sensitivity of 92.1%(early stage 82.5%, advanced stage 98.9%) and a specificity of 96.9%. The positive rates of EBV-DNA were positively associated with the NPC clinic stage and N stage. The positives rates of Zta/IgA were positively associated with the NPC N stage. Conclusion:The best single index for NPC screening in an asymptomatic population is EBNA1/IgA. EBV–DNA is an ideal index for auxiliary diagnostics of advanced NPC. The combination of EBV-DNA and EBNA1/IgA shows the best diagnostic value. EBV-DNA is an important index in the stage and illness monitoring of NPC. Zta/IgA can indirectly reflect the character of lymph node metastasis, and it may be useful in assessment of NPC surveillance.

BACKGROUND:The sodium alginate film, jointly developed by our research team and the Institute of Polymer Material of Qingdao University, has good biocompatibility and is often used for the preparation of a variety of composite materials. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of sodium alginate film wrapping and covering nerve anastomotic stoma on the regeneration of injured sciatic nerve in rats. METHODS: A total of 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups after the right sciatic nerve was cut. Control group: The nerve stump was sutured through epineurial end-to-end anastomosis; Experimental group: The nerve stump was sutured through epineurial end-to-end anastomosis, and wrapped with sodium alginate film, forming a regenerative environment for sciatic nerve regeneration. The degradation and absorption of sodium alginate film, as wel as the adhesion at suture site were observed post-operation. Interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 positive expression was detected with immunohistochemistry method. The histological sections were also detected with hematoxylin-eosin staining and osmium tetroxide staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 4-6 weeks post-operation, sodium alginate film was mostly degraded and absorbed in the experimental group. The experimental group rats had less local adhesion, slighter infiltration of inflammatory cels, and fewer fiber tissue hyperplasia than control group rats. The contents of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 were almost the same between the control and experimental groups at 1, 7, 14 days post-operation. At 6 weeks, the regenerated nerve fibers were distributed evenly with uniform shape, the number of nerve fibers, axons and myelin sheath were significantly better than the control group (P < 0.05). Sodium alginate film has good biological degradability and histocompatibility and plays an important role in promoting sciatic nerve regeneration.

Objective To explore the correlation between cystatin C (Cys C) and intima-media thickness of carotid artery (CIMT) in patients with hypertension.Methods One hundred and one patients with hypertension (hypertension group) and 54 healthy people (control group) were enrolled in this study.The level of serum Cys C was measured and CIMT was detected by B ultrasound.The correlation between Cys C and CIMT was analyzed.Results The level of Cys C and CIMT in hypertension group were significantly higher than those in control group [(0.92 ±0.21) mg/L vs.(0.85 ±0.20) mg/L,(0.91 ±0.16) mm vs.(0.65 ± 0.15) mm] (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01).Multiple linear correlation analysis showed that Cys C and CIMT was positively correlated in total population or hypertension group or control group (r =0.412,0.443,0.315,P ＜0.01).Conclusion Serum Cys C is associated with the degree of hypertension arteriosclerosis,and Cys C may be involved in atherosclerosis.