Objective To explore the improvement effect of SLOT Scan technology (narrow seam exposure capture technology) and the radiography techniques on the quality of the scoliosis X-ray films in teenagers. Methods The Sonialvision Satire Ⅱ equipment of Shimadzu corporation and SLOT Scan were applied to take the radiography for 60 patients taller than 1.50 metres. All the data were collected through a continual exposure, and the images were sewn up through a seamless connec-tion software. Results Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar and sacral segments could clearly present at the same time on one X-ray film by seamless splicing, and the quality of one time radiograph was as good as one film. Conclusion As a new radiology technique, SLOT Scan can wipe off splitting arti-fact effectively and make the whole spine seamless present on one X-ray film. It helps the spinal sur-geons to observe, calculate and measure accurately. It is useful to choose the operation mode and judge the curative effect.

Objective To assess metabolic alterations in the human basal ganglia area during maturation and aging by using 2D chemical shift imaging (2D CSI) of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Methods Seventy healthy subjects were examined by 2D CSI. 2D CSI imaging acquisition was performed in the bilateral caudate, lentiform and thalamus. 1H-MRS was processed to determine the metabolite ratios, including NAA/Cho, NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr. Seventy healthy subjects were divided into 3 groups:20 to 39 years of age group, 40 to 59 years of age group and 60 to 87 years of age group. The three groups of healthy participants were compared. Results There was a significant decrease with aging in the NAA/Cho ratio in the bilateral lcntiform, thalamus and left caudate, and a significant decrease with aging in NAA/Cr ratio in the bilateral thalamus,right lentiform and left caudate (P<0.05), whereas the Cho/Cr ratio was significantly increased in the bilateral lentiform with aging(P<0.05). Conclusions The results of 1H-MRS show significant changes in the level of metabolites during the process of aging. This technique may play an important role in clinical studies and applications for various conditions of metabolic disorders of the human brain.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanism of E-leng Capsule (ELC) in preventing and treating post-operation recurrence of ovarian endometriotic cysts (OEC).

METHODSA total of 60 patients enrolled were the inpatients, who underwent cystectomy of OEC in the Gynecological Department of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 2002 to 2004. They were randomly assigned to two groups, the treatment group and the control group. Patients in the treatment group were administered with ELC before operation and after operation (starting from the 7th day post-operation), each for 3 months, while patients in the control group were untreated before operation and administered with Danazol from the 7th day post-operation for 3 months. Specimens of eutopic and ectopic endometrium in all patients of both groups were taken during the operation for detecting expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) mRNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the incidence of post-operation recurrence was observed 12 months later.

RESULTSThe 12-month follow-up showed that recurrence presented in 1 patient in the treatment group (3.3%), and 6 in the control group (20.0%), showing significant difference between them (P<0.05). The expressions of TIMP-1 mRNA in eutopic and ectopic endometrium were 0.85 +/- 0.36 and 0.76 +/- 0.57 in the treatment group, and 0.71 +/- 0.33 and 0.56 +/- 0.39 in the control group, while the expressions of MMP-9 mRNA were 0.36 +/- 0.40 and 0.35 +/- 0.35 vs 0.36 +/- 0.33 and 0.72 +/- 0.59, respectively. The expression of endometrial TIMP-1 mRNA, either eutopic or ectopic, was significantly higher, and the expression of ectopic endometrial MMP-9 mRNA was lower in the treatment group than that in the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONELC can reduce the invasive ability of endometrium tissue probably by regulating the balance of MMP/TIMP, namely, increase the expression of eutopic and ectopic endometrial TIMP-1 and decrease the expression of ectopic endometrial MMP-9, and thus to achieve its preventive and therapeutic effect on recurrence of OEC.

Adult ; Capsules ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endometriosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Endometrium ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; genetics ; Ovarian Cysts ; complications ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Secondary Prevention ; Time Factors ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the sympathetic skin response (SSR) to the effects of N-hexane on autonomic nerves function in patients with chronic N-hexane poisoning.

METHODSThe subjects in present study included 30 controls and 37 cases with chronic N-hexane poisoning. Also 37 patients were divided into 3 subgroups (mild, moderate and severe poisoning) according to diagnostic criteria of occupational diseases. All subjects were examined by SSR test and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test. All patients were reexamined by SSR and NCV every 1 ∼ 2 months. The differences in SSR parameters (latency, amplitude) among groups were observed. In the severe poisoning subgroup, the changes of SSR and NCV parameters (conduction velocity, amplitude) in different poisoning stages were observed.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in SSR latency of upper extremity among groups and the significant differences in SSR amplitude of upper and lower extremity among groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences in SSR parameters were found between the adjacent groups (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in SSR latency of upper extremity during different periods and the significant differences in SSR amplitude of upper and lower extremity during different periods among all groups (P < 0.05). The change of SSR parameters consistent with that in NCV. The longest SSR latency of upper extremity and the smallest SSR amplitudes of upper and lower extremity appears 1 - 2 months earlier than that of the smallest action potential amplitude.

CONCLUSIONThe damage of autonomic nerves induced by N-hexane increased with poisoning progresses. The damage of autonomic nerves corresponded with the damage of myelin sheath of large myelinated nerves, but which appeared 1 - 2 months earlier than the damage of axon of large myelinated nerves. SSR test may serve as a method to detect the damage of autonomic nerves function in patients with chronic N-hexane poisoning.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Autonomic Pathways ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Galvanic Skin Response ; Hexanes ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Neural Conduction ; Occupational Diseases ; physiopathology ; Skin ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Hexanes ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) with allogeneic tendon or autologous hamstring tendon under arthroscopy.

METHODSThirty-two cases of ACL injury (3 cases compound with PCL injury) were reviewed. All the patients were divided into two groups randomly. Fifteen cases were reconstructed with hamstring tendon, including 12 male and 3 female with the age ranging from 23 to 61 years. Seventeen cases were reconstructed with allograft, including 11 male and 6 female with the age ranging from 17 to 57 years. The tendons were fixed with absorbable or Ti screws. All patients were recorded symptoms,physical signs and Lysholm Scores two weeks after operation,and functional rehabilitation of knee six months after operation.

RESULTSAll cases were followed up from 6 to 8 months. Pain and clinical symptoms disappeared and the function of knee joint was improved in all patients. Five patients of allograft with positive Lachman test result,one with severe graft rejection was found complete absorption of allograft under arthroscopy. No significant differences were seen in Lysholm Score between the two groups,average (88.5 +/- 7.2), (93.2 +/- 8.5) after operation (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe effects of reconstruction of cruciate ligaments with allogeneic tendon or autologous hamstring tendon under arthroscopy are more satisfying. But there are more symptoms and obvious individual differences in the earlier stage of rehabilitation. So reconstruction of cruciate ligaments under arthroscopy using autologous hamstring tendon should be performed as far as possible.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; surgery ; Arthroscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Tendons ; transplantation ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Yishen Zhuanggu decoction ([Chinese characters: see text], YSZGD) on the fracture healing and function of wrist joint in osteoporotic distal radius fractures (ODRF) of elderly patients.

METHODSNinety patients of ODRF were treated with splint external fixation and YSZGD, including 28 males and 62 females, with an average age of 63 years (ranged, 61 to 91 years). According to AO classification, all the patients were classified as type A or B1. Among the patients, 80 patients had a type of Colles fracture,7 patients were with a type of Smith fracture,and 3 patients had a type of Barton fracture. They were randomly divided into three groups included TCM, Western medicine and control group (30 cases each group) after the fractures were fixed manually by splint. Patients in TCM group took YSZGD orally, one potion and two time each day; the patients in Western medicine group treated with Calcitonin (50 units, intramuscular, 2 times each week), Caltrate D (1 tablets, taken orally, one time each day) and Alfacalcidol Soft Capsules (0.5 units, taken orally, one time each day); and the patients in control group took no medicine. X-ray examination on the fractured wrist was taken at the 4, 6, 8, 12th weeks after treating to observe, the fracture healings, the evaluation of wrist function and comparision of curative effects were taken at the 2nd month.

RESULTSThe fracture healing time in TCM group was 7.12 +/- 2.32 weeks and that in the Western medicine group was 9.25 +/- 3.05 weeks, showing significant differences between them (PC < 0.05), and that in the control group was 11.57 +/- 1.93 weeks which was longer thant in that in the two medicine groups (P < 0.05); According to Dienst wrist rating system, the excellent and good rates of three groups were 93.3%, 86.7% and 60% respectively which showing significant differences between medicine groups and control group (P < 0.05), and the curative effects of medicine groups were more excellent than that of control group through Ridit analysis.

CONCLUSIONYSZGD can promote the fracture healing evidently and shorten the healing time, whose curative effect surpassed Western medicine and promoted the restoration of wrist function.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Density Conservation Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; Humans ; Male ; Radius ; surgery ; Radius Fractures ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the pathogenic variants of the KIF1A gene and its corresponding protein structure in an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) family trio carrying harmful missense variants in the KIF1A gene. METHODS: The peripheral blood DNA of the patient and his parents was extracted and sequenced using whole exome sequencing (WES) technology and verified by Sanger sequencing. Bioinformatics software SIFT, PolyPhen-2, Mutation Taster, and CADD software were used to analyze the harmfulness and conservation of variants. The Human Brain Transcriptome (HBT) database was used to analyze the expression of the KIF1A gene in the brain. PredictProtein and SWISS-MODEL were further used to predict the secondary structure and tertiary structure of KIF1A wild-type protein and variant protein. PyMOL V2.4 was utilized to investigate the change of hydrogen bond connection after protein variant. RESULTS: The WES sequencing revealed a missense variant c.664A>C (p.Asn222His) in the child's KIF1A gene, and this variant was a de novo variant. The harmfulness prediction results suggest that this variant is harmful. By analyzing expression level of KIF1A gene in the brain. It is found that KIF1A gene widely expressed in various brain regions during embryonic development. By analyzing the variant protein structure, the missense variant of KIF1A will cause many changes in the secondary structure of protein, such as alpha-helix, beta-strand, and protein binding domain. The connection of hydrogen bond and spatial structure will also change, thereby changing the original biological function. CONCLUSION The KIF1A gene may be a risk gene for ASD.
Autism Spectrum Disorder/genetics* ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Kinesin/genetics* ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense ; Pregnancy ; Protein Domains ; Whole Exome Sequencing

OBJECTIVE: To carry out genetic testing for a patient with 45,X/46,XY mosaicism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: Peripheral blood samples of the patient and his parents were collected for the extraction of genomic DNA. Trio-based whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were carried out thereafter. RESULTS: The proband and his father were found to harbor a heterozygous c.4781G>A (p.Arg1594Gln) variant of the CACNA1I gene. In addition, the proband was also found to harbor a de novo c.268C>T (p.Arg90Trp) missense variant of the MTRR gene. Based on guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the c.4781G>A (p.Arg1594Gln) variant of the CACNA1I gene was predicted to be pathogenic (PVS1, PM1, PM2, PP3), while the c.268C>T (p.Arg90Trp) variant of the MTRR gene was predicted to be of uncertain significance. CONCLUSION Variants of the CACNA1I and MTRR genes, together with the chromosomal mosaicism, may have predisposed to the susceptibility to the ASD in this patient.
Autism Spectrum Disorder/genetics* ; Genomics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mosaicism ; Whole Exome Sequencing

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Postoperative tissue adherence, scarring and radiotherapy often lead to extrinsic compression and stricture in the distal ureter of the patients who had history of pelvic malignancies. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endourologic techniques in treating this kind of ureteral obstruction. METHODS: From Jan. 1998 to Mar. 2007, 46 patients with obstruction in the distal ureter and had history of pelvic malignancies underwent endoscopic treatments at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University for relief of the obstruction. Perioperative and follow-up data were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 46 patients, 25 underwent laparoscopic ureterolysis and ureteroneocystostomy, 18 underwent placement of ureter stent under ureteroscope, 3 underwent percutaneous nephrostomy. No severe complication was recorded. The mean operating time was 82.5 min (range, 30-140 min). The mean blood loss was 45.5 ml (range, 5-180 ml). No blood transfusion was needed. The median follow-up time was 18.2 months (range, 3 months to 6.5 years). Three months after operation, B-ultrasonography and intravenous urography (IVU) showed that 39 (84.8%) patients had recovered normal renal function, the other 7 (15.2%) had hydronephrosis relief and renal function improvement. Nuclear renal scanning showed that the mean postoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the obstructive kidney was higher than the preoperative level (37.6 ml/min vs. 21.3 ml/min, P＜0.05). No stricture in the uretero-bladder anastomotic stoma was recorded. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic operation is an effective and feasible option for managing some selected kinds of distal ureteral obstruction caused by postoperative tissue adherence and radiotherapy in the patients with history of pelvic malignancies.