Objective To investigate the characteristics and value of nasal area-distance curves.Methods Based on data from CT images, nasal cavity cross-sectional areas in 60 volunteers were reconstructed. The size of each nasal airway and the distance from nostril to the corresponding cross-sectional area were measured. Area-distance curves were then established according to data obtained. t test was used to analysis the data. Results Three types of curves were found and categorized according to their shapes.Type Ⅰ consisted of 56 sides (46.7%) ,type Ⅱ 40 sides(33.3%), and type Ⅲ 24 sides (20. 0% ). Forcurves of nasal valve area, smooth type was seen in 86 sides (71.7%), and concave type in 34 sides(28.3%). Curves in area of inferior turbinate head were seen with shallow notch(48 sides,40.0%) ,deep notch (54 sides,45.0%), and no notch( 18 sides,15.0% ). Curves in area of middle turbinate head wereseen with shallow notch (31 sides, 25.8%), deep notch (38 sides, 31.7%), and no notch ( 51 sides,42. 5% ). Nasal minimal cross-sectional area was located at nasal valve area in76 sides (63.3%), head of inferior turbinate in 26 sides ( 21.7% ), region anterior to nasal valve in 15 sides ( 12. 5% ), head ofmiddle turbinate in 1 side, and region anterior to choana in 2 sides. The cross-sectional area at nasal valve in men and women were (197.9 ±41.2) and (151.2 ±35.5) mm2, respectively. The cross-sectional area at choana in men and women were (361.8±97.9) and (296.3 ± 81.8) mm2, respectively. There wassignificant difference between men and women at both sites (t = 4.707 and 0. 007, P ＜ 0.01). The distance from nostril to nasal valve in men and women were (14. 0 ± 2.4) and ( 11.8 ± 2. 9) mm, which presented significant difference, too (t = 3. 232,P ＜ 0. 01). Conclusions CT nasal area-distance curve varied with individual, CT may provide information for evaluating nasal passage on individual basis

Objective To evaluate the significance of MRI before surgery to remove polyaeryl-amide hydrogel (PAMHG) which has been used for augmentation mammaplasty. MethodsTwenty female patients with 40 breasts, having been injected PAMHG as augmentation mammaplasty, under-went bilateral breast axial T1WI, T2WI-fat saturation (FS) and sagittal T2WI-FS by 4-channal phased-assay breast coil at 3.0T (Philips) before removal surgery, in which 8 patients underwent axial multiphase contrast-enhanced MRI with THRIVE after Gd-DTPA (2.0 ml/s, 0.1 mmol/kg) adminis- tration. The results of MRI were compared with that of operation and pathology. ResultsPAMHG showed iso-intensity compared with breast gland on T1WI and hyperintensity on T2WI-FS. Low signal septa were noted within PAMHG in 40 breasts (20 patients), 90% (36/40) PAMHG without capsule, 10 % (4/40) with smooth capsule which showing homogenous low signal on T1WI and T2WI-FS. Subcutaneous lump of PAMHG was 70 % (28/40), lump of that in breast gland was 20% (8/40). Diffuse gel along spatium intermusculare of pectoralis major was 100 % (40/40), that along spatium intermusculare of intercostal muscle was 10 % (4/40). All PAMHG in breast of the 8 patients showed no enhancement, an irregular enhanced mass was found in gland of 1 patient. All distributions of PAMHG and appearances of its complications on T2WI-FS were consistent with the results of operation. ConclusionsT2WI-FS can accurately display the distribution of PAMHG and its complication before removal surgery. MRI plane scan combined with muhiphase contrast-enhanced MRI can differentiate PAMHG from the lesions in the gland and find the breast carcinoma, so that it can guide clinicians before surgery to remove PAMHG used for augmentation mammaplasty.

Objective To assess the value of coronal MPR of 64-slice spiral CT in investigation of the cause of bowel obstruction. Methods Thirty-eight patients with different kinds of bowel obstruction underwent 64-slice spiral CT examination, and the data of axial and coronal image were reconstructed. Then the images were analyzed respectively by 4 readers in group A and B. Doctors in one group viewed the axial images first, then the coronal images, while in the other group viewed the coronal images first and then the axial images. The CT findings were compared with the surgical and pathologic results. Results The accuracy of coronal MPR of 64-slice spiral CT for investigating the cause of bowel obstruction was similar to that of axial MPR (86.84% vs 89.47%), and both had high accuracy. Diagnostic accuracy and confidence of doctors were improved obviously with the combination of axial images and coronal images (both 94.73%). Conclusion Coronal MPR of 64-slice spiral CT has very high clinical application value for diagnosing bowel obstruction. Diagnostic accuracy and doctors' confidence are improved with the help of axial images.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis value of aortic aneurysm with MRI.Methods Two radiologist analysed 312 cases MRI of clinically suspected aortic aneurysm retrospectively,and screening 198 cases of aortic aneurysm,analysed by double blind method.Among these patients,there were 112 male and 87 female,aged 9 to 82 years(mean age of 50.4 years).86 cases underwent X-ray angiography(XRA) examination,and 79 cases with operation.Results The MRI showed 22 cases of ture aneurysm,19 of false aneurysm,127 of dissecting aneurysm,26 of Marfan′s syndrome and 4 of compound aneurysm.Contrast analysed the XRA,CT and operation,the sensitivity and accuracy of MRI is 99% and 94%.Conclusion The MRI is an accurate and safe method for detecting aortic aneurysm.

Objective To explore the mechanism of immediate effect regulated by acupuncture on acupoints in patients with migraine without aura(MwoA)during the interictal period.Methods A total of 28 MwoA patients were enrolled and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)were performed at baseline and after acupuncture for 30 minutes.Paired t test was used to compare the differences of regional homogeneity(ReHo)and voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity(VMHC)between two groups.Additionally,the correlation between the changes of rs-fMRI indexes and clinical scores was analyzed.Results In MwoA patients after acupuncture for 30 minutes,the mean regional homogeneity(mReHo)was decreased in the right lingual gyrus and right cere-bellum and was increased in the right middle frontal gyrus,while the z transformation voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity(zVMHC)was significantly decreased in the bilateral cuneus compared with baseline.There was no significant correlation between imaging data and clinical scales.Conclusion Patients with MwoA after acupuncture for 30 minutes show abnormal ReHo and VMHC in multiple brain regions,which suggest that the mechanism of immediate effect may act through regulating pain-related brain regions.

In recent years， the incidence of pulmonary nodules has kept rising. To give full play to the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in the treatment of pulmonary nodules and identify the breakthrough points of integrating TCM with Western medicine， the China Association of Chinese Medicine organized medical experts in TCM and western medicine to carry out in-depth discussion regarding this disease. The discussion encompassed the modern medical advances， TCM theories of etiology and pathogenesis， the role and advantages of TCM in the whole course management of pulmonary nodules， contents and methods of research on pulmonary nodules， and science popularization work， aiming to provide a reference for clinical practice and scientific research. After discussion， the experts concluded that the occurrence of pulmonary nodules was rooted in the deficiency of the lung and spleen and triggered by phlegm dampness， blood stasis， and Qi stagnation. TCM can treat pulmonary nodules by controlling and reducing nodules， improving physical constitution， ameliorating multi-system nodular diseases， reducing anxiety and avoiding excessive diagnosis and treatment， and serving as an alternative for patients who are unwilling or unfit for surgical treatment. At present， the optimal diagnosis and treatment strategy for pulmonary nodules has not been formed， which needs to be further studied from multiple perspectives such as clinical epidemiology， biology， and evidence-based medicine. The primary task of current research is to find out the advantages， effective prescriptions， and target populations and determine the effective outcomes of TCM in the treatment of pulmonary nodules. At the same time， basic research should be carried out to explore the etiology and biological behaviors of pulmonary nodules. The expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary nodules with integrated TCM and Western medicine needs to be continuously revised to guide clinicians to conduct standardized， scientific， and accurate effective diagnosis and treatment.