Objective To evaluate the radiation dose and image quality of MinDose techniques in dual-source CT coronary artery angiography.Methods 120 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac CT scans were randomly assigned into 2 groups: Group A1 with the tube current reduced to 20% of the normal tube current outside the pulsing window,and Group A2 with the tube current reduced to 4% of the normal tube current outside the pulsing window (MinDose).The image quality,noise,volume CT dose index (CTDIvol),and effective dose (E) of these two groups were evaluated.Results The mean score of imaging quality of Group A1 was (4.3 ± 0.3 ),not significantly different from that of Group A2 [(4.5 ±0.4),t=0.16,P＞0.05].The value of CTDIvol of Group A1 was (40.2 ±9.6) mGy,significantly higher than that of Group A2 [( 36.4 ± 9.1 ) mGy,t = 3.2,P ＜ 0.05].The E value of Group A1 was (9.1± 2.2) mSv ,significantly higher than that of A2 [( 8.1 ± 1.9) mSv,t = 2.7,P ＜ 0.05].Conclusion Application of the MinDose technique not only reduces the radiation dose to the patient,but also meets the requirement of diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The effects of low-level laser biostimulation have been proved by various experimental studies and clinical application, which are manifested as tissue repairing, analgesia, antiinflammation, etc.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of He-Ne laser and low-level CO2 laser irradiation on fracture healing.DESIGN: A randomized controlled animal experiment. SETTING: Research Room of Laser Medicine, Chengde Medical College.MATERIALS: Forty-eight healthy male New Zealand rabbits, weighing 2.0-2.5 kg, were used.METHODS: The experiments were carried out in the Research Room of Laser Medicine, Chengde Medical College from 1998 to 2003. ①The 48 rabbits were induced into models of experimental fracture of the left radius, and then they were divided into three groups with 16 rabbits in each group: control group, He-Ne laser irradiation group and CO2 laser irradiation group. The fracture areas of the animals in the He-Ne and CO2 laser irradiation groups were respectively irradiated with 28 mW/cm2 He-Ne laser and 150 mW/cm2 CO2 laser for 10 minutes, once a day. ② The animals were killed on the 15th and 35th days after taking roentgenogram respectively. At 15 days, the collagen and calcium contents in callus were detected. At 35 days, the biomechanic anti-torsion strength was examined.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Results of roentgenogram in each group; ② Collagen and calcium contents in callus; ③ Results of biomechanic anti-torsion strength.RESULTS: Totally 45 rabbits were involved in the analysis of results. ① On the 15th and day after fracture, the roentgenogram, collagen and calcium contents in callus in the He-Ne and CO2 laser irradiation groups were better than those in the control group, and the collagen and calcium contents in callus were higher in the CO2 laser irradiation group than in the He-Ne laser irradiation group [(341.9±30.1) vs (302.1±28.7) mg/g; (197.1±19.7)vs (156.5±17.6) mg/g, P＜ 0.05]. ②On the 35th days after fracture, the biomechanic anti-torsion functions in the He-Ne and CO2 laser irradiation groups were superior to that in the control group, and there were no significant difference between the two laser irradiation groups. ③ The results of roentgenogram in the He-Ne and CO2 laser irradiation groups were better than that in the control group both on the 15th and 35th days after fracture, and there was no significant difference between the two irradiation groups.CONCLUSION: Both CO2 laser and He-Ne laser irradiations can accelerate the process of fracture healing, and the curative effect of CO2 laser is better than that of He-Ne laser on the 15th day after fracture, but there is no significant difference clinically between the CO2 laser and the He-Ne laser irradiations on the 35th day after fracture.

In temporomandibular disorders (TMD), pain takes place when neuropeptides stimulate synovial tissue to produce several cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which activate neurons and glia of synovial membrane at the bilaminar regions of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It has been reported that, after neurogenic differentiation, the synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs), deriving from TMJ, possess the same cytological features as the neuronal cells. This study examined the ability of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to stimulate SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs secreting inflammatory cytokines during TMD, evaluated the mutual effects of inflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides and tested the analgesic effect of hyaluronic acid (HA). The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs in the presence of neuropeptides were measured by ELISA. SP and CGRP produced by SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that the expression of SP and CGRP was significantly enhanced in the neurogenic SMSCs in response to IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and the effect was remarkably inhibited by HA. IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, in return, could be enhanced in the neurogenic SMSCs upon stimulation by SP and CGRP. Neuropeptides and inflammatory cytokines might work mutually on the TMD pain. The HA-mediated analgesic effect may be implicated in the inhibition of SP and CGRP expression in neurogenic SMSCs.

Objective To evaluate the effect of three diamension-digital subtraction angiography (3D-DSA) or computed tomography angiography (CTA) on the patients with ruptured multiple intmcranial aneurysm (MIA). Methods A retrospective study on 21 patients with MIA was performed.After scanning with 3D-DSA or 3D-CTA, three-dimensional reconstruction of MIA was carried out by 3D workstation,then the diagnosis was decided and the treatment plan (endovascular treatment or microsurgery) was selected according to stereoscopic image of MIA. Results (1) 3D-DSA or CTA was performed in 21 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH),it was revealed these patients carried with 48 aneurysms,including 35 small aneurysms (25 mm).Not only miero-aneurysms and small aneurysms could be precisely showed,also the size of aneurysmal neck,the relationship of the aneurysm and the parent vessel and contiguous branches by stereoscopic image.(2) According to the standard of classification,9 patients with MIA for gradeⅠ(42.9%),10 for gradeⅡ(47.6%),2 for gradeⅢ(9.5%),0 for gradeⅣ.Endovascular treatment was selected prior to microsargery for those high grade patients.In this group,17 patients with 40 aneurysms underwent endovascular embolotherapy with GDC coils.Twenty four anemysms were completely occlusioned,12 beyond 90%,4 were left without treatment because of their small size.In microsurgery group,3 aneurysrus were totally clipped,1 could not be found during operation.No any treatment was accepted in 2 patients with 4 aneurysms. Conclusions 3D-DSA or CTA,which is very useful for the diagnosis and treatment of MIA,could improve the accuracy of diagnosis of MIA and clearly show the stereoscopic image of MIA,also the relation of sac and parent artery.For those patients with high grade MIA,endovascular treatment was selected prior to microsurgery,pro re nata,used to combine with mierosurgery.

Objective To evaluate the effect of tranexamic acid (TXA ) in medical treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) .Methods A total of 19 patients with CT-confirmed CSDH in our department from Mar 2014 to Aug 2015 received an in-travenous dose of 1g TXA in the first week ,and followed by a maintenance oral dose of 250 mg TXA three times a day for 1 - 5 months (2 .73 ± 1 .05) months .These patients received a follow-up period of 6 - 10 months .Hematoma volume and neurological functions were compared before and after treatment .Results The therapeutic outcome was divided into effectiveness and ineffec-tiveness .Thirteen cases (68 .4% ) were effective ;six cases (31 .6% ) were ineffective .Among them ,three patients (15 .8% ) whose neurological functions deteriorated underwent surgery ,one patient (5 .3% ) who did not show any improvement with initial one month of TXA underwent surgery ,one patient (5 .3% ) stopped the treatment due to the side-effect of drug ,one patient (5 .3% ) lost .Conclusion Results of this preliminary study show that the administration of TXA is effective and safe in treating CSDH .

OBJECTIVETo objectively evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of tongfengkang (TFK) in treating acute gouty arthritis.

METHODSAdopting randomized single blinded controlled trial, the 40 patients were equally divided into two groups. The tested group was treated with TFK, the control group was treated with indomethacin and allopurinol, the therapeutic course for both groups was 10 days.

RESULTSThe clinical cure rate in the tested group and the control group was 30% and 35% respectively, and the total effective rate 90% and 95% respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The scores of blood uric acid and symptom significantly lowered in both groups after treatment (P < 0.01), but showed no significant difference between them (P > 0.05). Adverse reaction to the treatment was shown in 3 patients in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of TFK is similar to that of indomethacin plus allopurinol but with less adverse reaction, it is an effective and safe remedy for treatment of acute gouty arthritis, and worthy for further studying and developing.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Gouty ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Single-Blind Method ; Uric Acid ; blood

Adolescent ; Atrioventricular Block ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

0.05).The CD4+ lymphocyte of them was(53.37?4.38)% and(29.25?9.38)%,respectively,and the difference between two groups was significant(P

UNLABELLEDObjective: In order to assess the integrative cardiopulmonary function after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), we used symptom limited maximum cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

METHODSAll 59 patients diagnosed stable CAD by coronary angiography and echocardiography from August to December of 2014 in our hospital, were divided two groups. PCI group, 31 patients received PCI and drugs. Control group, 28 patients received drugs therapy only. All patients performed CPET before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAll patients safely completed CPET without any complications. The control group, all functional parameters were unchanged (P > 0.05). PCI group, the anaerobic threshold, peak oxygen uptake and peak oxygen pulse increased significantly (P < 0.05) from baseline,but not for others (P > 0.05). For individual analysis, PCI group had higher rates of increase (≥ 10% of baseline) in both peak oxygen uptake and peak oxygen pulse than those of control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCPET is an objective, quantitative, safe and effective method to evaluate the clinical therapeutic efficiency. PCI can improve the integrative cardiopulmonary function in CAD patients.

Anaerobic Threshold ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; surgery ; Exercise Test ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Oxygen Consumption ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention