Objective To investigate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods The fasting plasma glucose,fasting insulin,25-hydroxyvitamin D,and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in the normal glucose tolerance group and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) group were measured.The homostasis model assessment insulin resistant (HOMA-IR) and homostasis model assessment β cell (HOMA-B) were calculated for assessing the insulin resistance and β-cell function.The relationship between 25-hydmxyvitamin D and hs-CRP,HOMA-IR,and HOMA-B were analyzed.Results The level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the GDM group [(2.16 ± 0.38) nmol/L] was significantly lower than that in the normal glucose tolerance group [(4.13 ±0.79) nmol/L](P =0.001).Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was negatively correlated with hs-CRP (r =-0.448,P =0.002) and HOMA-IR (r =0.396,P =0.004),but was positively related with HOMA-B (r =0.495,P =0.001).Conclusions The serum 25-hydmxyvitamin D level remarkably decreases in GDM patients.Vitamin D deficiency may cause the functional damage of beta cell of islet,increase insulin resistance,and thus contribute to the development of GDM.

Objective To compare dosimetrie difference of treatment planning of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and simplified intensity-modulated radiotherapy (slMRT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Ten NSCLC patients treaded by radiotherapy were investigated. 3D-CRT and slMRT plannings were designed for each patient. The prescribed dose was 60 Gy(2 Gy/f), the 95 % of the planning target volume was received with this dose for each patient. The dose was computed with treatment planning system of ADAC Pinnacle3 using convolution/superpasition algorithm. Two plans were compared according to the homogeneity index (HI) and conformity index (CI) of dosimetry in the planning target volume and the parameters of dose-volume histogram (DVH) in normal tissue. Results In the terms of HI and CI, sIMRT had slight vantages over 3D-CRT. In the terms of DVH, compared with 3D-CRT, mean lung dose, V5, V10 and V20 of slMRT reduced by 14.81 %, 17.88 %, 19.15 % and 27.78 %, respectively. The dosimetric differences were not statistically significant between 3D-CRT and sIMRT in terms of esophagus, heart and spinal cord. Conclusions For NSCLC, sIMRT has some irreplaceable advantages over 3D-CRT and is worth spreading in clinical work.

Objective:To investigate the neuroendocrine properties of adrenalcortical tumors.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 99 adrenalcortical tumor patients,who were treated in Changzheng Hospital form June 1999 to June 2005.Expression of neuron specific enolase(NSE),chromogranin A(CgA) and synaptophysin(Syn) proteins were examined by immunohistochemistry(S-P method) using monoclonal antibodies.The general data of patients,including the age,symptoms,laboratory findings,and pathological types,were collected and subjected to statistical analysis with SAS v6.12 software.Results: The expression of all the above 3 proteins was found in adrenalcortical adenoma tissues,with the positive rate of NSE being 80%,the positive rate of CgA being 48.9%,and the positive rate of Syn being 75.6%;the positive rates in the adrenalcortical carcinoma tissues were 77.8%,22.2%,and 77.8%,respectively;and those in the normal adrenal tissues was 20%,0%,and 10%,respectively.The positive rates of 3 proteins in adrenalcortical tumors was significantly higher than those in the normal adrenal tissues(P

It is a trend that clinical researchers overemphasize on hypothesis testing and the P value. However, P value has some limitations in the presentation of study results. Power is a tool for study design and results explanation, especially for negative results. Confidence interval contains more information for clinical results than P value. P value, power, and 95% confidence interval should be provided in the clinical reports to facilitate the interpretation of the results.

Objective To explore the efficacy of tentorium cerebelli hiatus incision for treatment of severe brain injury complicated with tentorial herniation. Methods Tentorium cerebelli hiatus incision was performed in 38 patients of severe brain injury with secondary brain stem damage resulted from tentorial herniation after intracranial hematoma evacuation and bone flap craniotomy decompression. The changes of four sides cistern, ambient cistern and interpeduncular cistern before and after operation were observed. Results There was a siginificant difference in the appearance ratio of four sides cistern, ambient cistern and interpeduncular cistern between the preoperation and postoperation(P

Objective To observe the expression of oxidized purine nueleoside triphosphatase MTH2 in the hippocampi of senescence-accelerated mouse P8(SAMP8). Methods Randomly selected SAMP8 and its control strain SAMRl aged 1-,4-,8-and 12-month and performed immunohistochemisry and Western blot analysis to explore the expression changes of MTH2 in the 2 groups of mice. Results The MTH2 protein was detected in cytoplasm and nuclei of neurons throughout the whole hippocampus of SAMRl at all ages.There were no obvious changes of SAMR1 in both CA1 and CA3 subregions,but an age-related decline of MTH2 protein in both regions of SAMP8 was found.The optieal density(OD)value of Cal hippoeampus(0.0473),CA3 hippoeampus (0.0510)were significantly less in 8-month old mice than in the 4-month old[CA1:0.0619,CA3:0.06803(all P＜0.05).By immunoblot analysis,the grey values of MTH2 expression were 0.529,0.313,0.032 in hippoeampus of 4-12 months-old SAMP8 mice,and significantly Iower than in the age-matched SAMR1 mice(all P＜0.05). Conclusions MTH2 deficiency may be a new factor involved in the accelerated aging and in deficits of learning and memory ability in SAMP8.

BACKGROUND: With the advancements in helical CT myelography and computer image postprocessing, virtual medical imaging has acquired good outcomes in the diagnosis and treatment of complex cervical spondylosis. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects and significance of helical CT myelography on multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstruction of virtual anatomical models of cervical spondylosis. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The present computer three-dimensional reconstruction, gold standard control study was performed at the Second Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University between January 2001 and January 2006. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty patients with complex cervical spondylosis, who had received surgery, were employed for this study. METHODS: Virtual anatomical model of cervical spondylosis was established by multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstruction through the use of helical CT myelography in 20 patients. Scanning and reconstruction results were used for pre-surgery disease condition evaluation and virtual surgery. In addition, surgical intuitionistic results were considered gold standard to evaluate the accuracy and efficacy of virtual anatomical models. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The accuracy and efficacy of virtual anatomical models. RESULTS: Virtual anatomical models could concurrently show bony and membranate vertebral canals. These exhibited comprehensive and minute bony anatomic structure of cervical vertebrae and anatomic information regarding dura mater, spinal cord, and nerve sleeve for pre-surgery evaluation and virtual surgery. The imaging virtual anatomic information was in accordance with practical anatomical information in patients. CONCLUSION: Virtual anatomical model can be used to comprehensively evaluate the disease condition of cervical spondylosis and simulate the surgery due to its intuitionistic, vivid, and accurate display of anatomy of cervical vertebrae.

Objective To study the effect of the location and volume of tumors on the normal lung dose-volume parameters for lung cancer. Methods An sphere with a diameter of 2 cm made of tissue-equiv-alent material used for simulating tumor was inserted into the superior lobe, middle lobe, inferior lobe of the right lung, and superior lobe, inferior lobe of the left lung of the Rando phantom, respectively. 5-field sIM-RT plans were designed. The prescribed dose was 60 Gy/2 Gy/30 f, and 99% of the planning target volume received this dose. Dose-volume parameters of normal lung tissue including V_5, V_(10), V_(20), V_(30), V_50 and mean lung dose were analyzed and compared. Results For the dose-volume parameters, the diameter and the po-sition of the tumor have a significant effect (P < 0.05). With the diameter expanding from 2 cm to 3 cm,the parameters associated with tumor in various lobes increased by a range between 3.83%-125.38%,while the parameters linked with tumor in different lobes increased by a range between 10.46%-51.46% with the diameter expanding from 3 cm to 4 cm. Conclusions Location and diameter of sphere-like tumor have obvious effect on dose-volume parameters. Knowing about the degree of influence will help oncologists and physicists to evaluate treatment planning better and reduce radiation pneumonitis.

Objective To explore the possibility of anterior open reduction and internal fixation to treat the lower cervical irreducible dislocation. Methods 15 cases of lower cervical irreducible dislocation were treated by the anterior open reduction and internal fixation, 11 cases were male and 4 cases were female, 10 cases were unilateral facet locked and 5 eases were bilateral facet locked which were confirmed by the MRI and CT scan. All the cases were failed to the skull traction before operation and received anterior open reduction and plate fixation, and interver-tebral fusion. All the cases were followed up, the recovery of neurological function and the fusion rate were evaluated. Results 15 cases were completely reduction and none of them got a worse neurological function. Conclusion The treatment effect of anterior open reduction and fixation for the lower cervical irreducible dislocation were good.