Objective To evaluate changes of RV volume and function in patients with ASD after transcatheter closure of ASD by three-dimensional echocardiography. Methods In 58 patients with ASD (24 men, 34 women; mean age 28.9?17.1, range 4 to 67 years), 23 patients (11 men, 12 women; mean age 25.7?13.3, range 6 to 57 years) were diagnosed as secundum ASD [the stretched diameters of ASD were from 9 to 36 (25.1?7.5) mm], and had successfully received Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO, the sizes of ASO ranged from 11 to 40 mm ). 32 healthy people (18 men, 14 women; mean age 24.8?12.0, range 4 to 45) were matched interms of age and sex as the control group. Three-dimensional images were acquired by HP-SONOS 5500 cardiac scanner (Hewlett-Packard Company, Andover, Mass) and were reconstructed by Tom-Tec EchoView 4.2 (TomTec Imaging Systems, GmbH) to calculate right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV), right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVESV) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). RVEDV, RVESV and RVEF were measured at 3 days, 1 and 3 months after the procedure. Results The RVEDV and RVESV [(101.74?25.17) mL vs (59.65?15.00) mL, P

Physical examination of the nervous system is a very practical clinical skill.Based on our experience,we have found that conventional teaching approaches are not satisfactory in fully enabling medical trainees to master these skills and use them efficiently in clinical settings.Therefore we have developed a novel approach which involves prioritizing and standardizing examination procedures,imposing goal-oriented practices,improving teaching methodology and intensifying repeatitive exercises.This systemic approach has yielded considerable success that is not achievable through conventional teachings.

Objective To study the curative effect of ischemic necrosis of femoral head by interventional thrombolysis.Methods By applying Seldinger's technique,the catheter was guided via arteria femoralis with super-selection into circumflexa femoris medialis,lataralis,and acetabuli to performed the interventional thrombolysis in 50 cases(60sides)with necrosis of femoral head.Results All patients were followed-up for 6~48 months,combined with angiography,the clinical symptoms and the change of bone.The curative effect was evaluated.The ratio of excellent and better effect was 91.4%,the ratio of the improvement of angiography was 87%.the angiography showed that after treatment,the supply artery of femoral head was increased in number;the stained area of femoral head was extended,the capillaries were incereased and the reflux of vein was remarkably improved.The ratio of the improvement of clinical symptom was 96.6%.90% of the necrotic area of femoral head showed hyperplasia,sclerosis,and reduction of cystic changes.Conclusion The interventional therapy by leading to target vascular with thrombolysis in treating necrosis of femoral head has remarkable therapeutic effect.

Objective To determine the clinical value of myocardial performance index (MPI) in the assessment of right ventricular function in the patients with atrial septal defect (ASD). Methods The study included 23 patients with ASD and 81 normal subjects. MPI, defined as the sum of isovolumic relaxation time and isovolumic contraction time derived by ejection time, was measured from tricupid inflow and right ventricular outflow Doppler velocity profiles recorded during routine echocardiography. Results ①The isovolumic relaxation and isovolumic contraction times [respectively ( 74.78 ? 13.86 )ms vs ( 60.93 ? 12.94 )ms, P

Objective To investigate the relationship between concentration of plasma homocysteine(Hcy) and recurrence of ischemical cerebral stroke(ICS).Methods Plasma Hcy concentration were measured using fluorescence polarization immunoassay(FPLA) in 303 primary and 97 recurrent ICS patients [173 cases of atherosclerotic thrombotic cerebral infarction(thrombotic group),170 cases of lacunar cerebral infarction(lacunar group) and 57 cases of cardiogenic embolism] and 200 non-cerebrovascular disease patients(control group).Multifactorial regression analysis was conducted on recurrent factors contributing to ICS.Results(1) Plasma Hcy concentration in patients with ICS [thrombotic group(16.17?10.83) ?mol/L,lacunar group(14.64?7.71) ?mol/L,cardiogenic embolism group(15.75?6.8) ?mol/L] were significantly higher than that in the control group [(9.61?4.22) ?mol/L](all P

Perfofinance of the radio-diagnostic system can be evaluated quantitatively by the analysis method of the ROC curve.Areas under the ROC curves represent the diagnostic perfogrmance efficiency.A comparison of the perforrmance variance of the diagnostic system incurred by different diagnosticians,will find the diagnostic competence of individual diagnosticians.This can help hospital management in deploying personnel in the department of radiology reasonably.

Objective:To study the effects of Hedgehog signal transduction pathway on the cell proliferation, apoptosis and connexin 32 (Cx32)and connexin 43 (Cx43)membranous distribution of breast cancer cells,and to explore its mechanism in the cell proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer.Methods:The breast cancer MCF-7 cells at logarithmic growth period were divided into cyclopamine groups and blank control groups. The MCF-7 in cyclopamine groups were treated with 5,10,20,30 and 40μmol·L-1 for 24,48 and 72 h;MTT assay was applied to detect the inhibitory rate of proliferation of MCF-7 cells. After the MCF-7 cells were treated with 0 (negative control group)and 25μmol·L-1 cyclopamine for 48 h,flow cytometry was employed to determine the apoptotic rate and to analyze membranous distribution of Cx32 and Cx43 in the MCF-7 cells.Results:Compared with blank control group,the inhibitory rates of proliferation in cyclopamine groups were increased (P<0.05), and the inhibitory effect of proliferation was increased with the increasing of cyclopamine doses and prolongation of treatment time.After treated with 25μmol·L-1 cyclopamine,the apoptotic rate of MCF-7 cells was higher than that in blank control group (P<0.05).The positive expression rates of Cx32 and Cx43 48 h after treatment were higher than those in negative control group (P<0.05).Conclusion:Hedgehog signal transduction pathway can inhibit the apoptosis and mediate membranous distribution of Cx32 and Cx43 in breast cancer cells.

Objective To investigate the clinical effects and complications of uterine artery embolization (UAE) therapy using different embolic agents in treating uterine adenomyosis. Methods During 2004—2011, a total of 45 female patients with uterine adenomyosis were admmitted to authors’ hospital to receive uterine artery embolization therapy. The embolic agents used in the procedures included domestic iodized oil, sodium alginate microspheres and Embosphere microspheres. The patients were randomly divided into group A (n=15, using domestic iodized oil as embolic agent), Group B (n=13, using sodium alginate microspheres as embolic agent) and group C (n = 17, using Embosphere microspheres as embolic agent). After the treatment, all the patients were followed up for over 2 years, focusing on the observation of the clinical symptoms such dysmenorrheal, changes of MRI signs and severe complications. The results were analyzed and compared among the three groups. Results After UAE, the clinical symptoms such as the degree of dysmenorrhea, menstrual quantity, etc. were improved in all patients. Six months after UAE, the obvious remission rate of dysmenorrheal in group A, B and C was 33.3% (5/15), 30.8% (4/13) and 41.1%(7/17) respectively. Twelve months after UAE, MRI scanning showed that the uterine sizes in group A, B and C were reduced to 49.19%, 48.25% and 50.05% respectively. Follow-up examination at 24 months after UAE showed that recurrence of dysmenorrheal in group A, B and C was seen in 2, 4 and 2 cases respectively, and amenorrhea was seen in 2 cases of group A and one case in group C. Conclusion The use of domestic iodized oil, sodium alginate microspheres or Embosphere microspheres as embolic agents in performing super-selective uterine artery embolization for adenomyosis can effectively relieve the degree of dysmenorrheal, decrease the uterine size. In addition to ovarian dysfunction, the uterine cavity adhesion may be also a possible cause of amenorrhea occurring after UAE may. In order to ensure a similar clinical efficacy, the use of granular solid embolic agent is preferred as its safety is possibly higher than the liquid embolic agents.

Objective To assess the influence of medical monochrome liquid crystal displays (LCD) with different resolutions for the detection performance of micro-nodules (diameter <10 mm) on chest radiograms. Methods Eighty-seven DR chest images that were verified with CT were selected from PACS on-line, including 32 positive images, 32 suspected images and 23 normal images. The diameters of all nodules were lower than 10 mm. Three of high-, mid- and low-experienced radiologists who participated in the ROC study interpreted these 87 images using three types of LCDs with different resolutions, respectively. Regarding the presence of nodule, five-point confidence level rating scale was used, i.e. definitely absent, probably absent, possibly present, probably present and definitely present. All observers marked their confidence levels of every image according to the presence of pulmonary nodule on different displays. Software SPSS 13.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results AUC increased with the increasing resolutions and radiologists' experiences in 2MP, 3MP, 5MP displays. For the detection performance of pulmonary nodules (diameter <10 mm), there was no significant difference among different types of displays or different aptitudes of radiologists. Conclusion It's equivalent for the detection performance of pulmonary nodule (diameter <10 mm) on 2MP, 3MP and 5MP medical monochrome LCD when no restriction on the use of image post-processing tools. Highly-experienced radiologist can get the most information when using 5MP display. It is advisable to combine the diagnostic workstation system with high-, mid- and low-resolution monitors, and reasonable equipment scheme between different types of displays and different aptitudes of radiologists could result in better cost-efficacy.

Objective Evaluate the influence of medical monochrome liquid crystal display (LCD) with different resolutions on the detection of pulmonary nodules.Methods Ninety-three direct digital radiography (DR) chest images were selected on-line from picture archiving and communication system (PACS),including 38 positive,32 suspected and 23 normal cases.All of the images were confirmed by CT.These positive images were divided into group A and B according to the diameter of nodules.Three experienced radiologists blindly read the 93 images using three types of displays with different resolutions.Regarding the presence of nodule,five-point confidence system was used:definitely absent,probably absent,indefinite,probably present and definitely present.All observers marked their confidence levels of each image according to the presence of pulmonary nodule on different displays.Software SPSS 13.0 was employed for statistical analysis.Results In the group-A cases,the areas under ROC curves were 0.643,0.686 and 0.739,and in the group-B cases,those were 0.813,0.832 and 0.846 respectively.There was no difference in the detection efficacy among different radiodiagnostic systems.Conclusion Regardless of post-processing tools,it was equivalent to detect pulmonary nodules with different diameters of Group A or B among medical monochrome LCDs with different resolutions.