Objective The enhanced patterns of atherosclerotic plaque on dynamic contrastenhanced MRI have not been well studied. The aim of this study was to explore the patterns of plaque enhancement and their underlying mechanism by using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI).Methods Atherosclerotic plaques were induced in the aorta of 12 New Zealand White rabbits by a combination of endothelial denudation and high-cholesterol diet. Ten to sixteen weeks after surgery, DCEMRI was performed with a fast spin echo T1 weighted sequence. Thirty-five phases of images were obtained at 71-second intervals. Gd-DTPA was injected coincident with the third scan via marginal ear vein. Specimens were harvested within 12 hours after imaging for HE staining and CD31 immunohistochemical staining which was used to highlight nco-vessels. Plaque enhancement patterns were studied and compared with histological findings. Signal intensity of each plaque section was normalized to pre-contrast signal intensity of psoas muscle, after which signal intensity versus time curve was drawn. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to reveal association between histological neo-vessel count and descriptive parameters derived from signal intensity versus time curve. Results Plaques were significantly enhanced by Gd-DTPA. Enhancement patterns could be described as fast-in and slow-out. Differences in patterns of enhancement were observed between tissues, with fibrous tissue enhanced more than lipid aggregation and leukocyte foci. Peak enhancement( 1. 05 ±0. 30) , initial slope(0. 82 ± 0. 28 ) and area under the curve at early phase(4.97 ± 1.67) derived from signal intensity-time curve had significant correlations with neo-vessel count( 117.7 ± 93. 3) ( r= 0. 553,0. 468, 0. 554 respectively, P ＜ 0. 05 ) . Conclusions The enhanced patterns of atherosclerotic plaque by Gd-DTPA were fast- in and slow-out. Neovascularization, increased endothelial permeability and extracellular matrix may be the reasons for plaque enhancement by Gd-DTPA. DCE-MRI has the potential to quantify the extent of neo-vasculature formation within plaques.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of flushing dental handpieces to prevent suction-induced contamination and to lower the bacterial level in dental unit waterlines,and then to analyze the time-effect relationship of flushing.METHODS Twelve BienAir handpieces(group A) and 12 W&H TA-96 handpieces(group B) were employed in this study.The water samples from each handpiece′s outlet were immediately taken once when operations of de-caries,cavity-preparing and dental-drilling had been completed,and then taken once per 0.5 min while the handpieces were being flushed by running without work for 4 min.The bacterial colony formation of these water samples was counted on R2A agar plates.Colony forming units vs flushing time were then compared.RESULTS Alike in groups A and B,water bacterial levels were lowered the most significantly while flushing the handpieces for 0.5 min.BienAir or W&H TA-96 handpieces still showed decreased levels of water bacteria when being flushed for 3 or 2.5 min respectively.Afterwards,the flushing effect reached to a platform,that was,more flushing time didn′t bring the bacterial level down further.CONCLUSIONS Flushing handpieces by running without work can significantly reduce the level of bacterial contamination in the waterlines.Different types of handpieces may have different flushing time at which the most effect is reached.

Objective: To compare effects of drug and psychotherapy in the treatment of depressive disorder. Methods: 63 depressive patients were randomly divided into two treatment groups: drug or psychotherapy. MMPI, SDSS and HAMD were used for assessing treatment effects on personality and social functions. Results: The effects of psychotherapy and drug were compatible for controlling symptoms of depression. Psychotherapy was superior to drug in preventing relapses, as well as improving cognitive and social functions. Conclusion: Psychotherapy should be applied to depressive patients. Dosage and duration of administering sedative antidepressants should be reduced in the treatment of depression.

Objective To investigate the adhesion mechanism of Lactobacillus acidophilus FN001外to Peyer's patches. Methods Adhesion of L. acidophilus FN001 to mice Peyer's patches was studied in vitro using a fluorescent quantization method. The nature of adhesion mediator was studied by the effects of physical, chemical and enzymatic pre-treatments of the bacteria on their adhesion and effect of sugars on in- hibition of adhesion. The presence of lectin-like proteins in the cell surface was determined by hemagglutina- tion. Effect of L. acidophilus FN001 on inhibition of adhesion of pathogens to Peyer's patches was also stud- ied. Results The adhesion of L. acidophilus FN001 was strongly inhibited in the presence of D-mannose and methyl-ct-D-mannoside. Pretreatment of L. acidophilus FN001 with pepsin and trypsin decreased the ad- hesive capacity indicating that cell surface proteins are involved in adhesion to Peyer's patches. L. acidophi- lus FN001 could agglutinate rabbit red cell in mannose specific manner and protease pretreatment could de-crease hemagglutinin, suggesting that L. acidophilus FN001 has mannose specific lectin (s). In adherence inhibition assay, L. acidophilus NF001 could significantly inhibit adhesion of E. coli ATCC25922 to Peyer's patches when L. acidophilus NF001 were applied to Peyer's patches first or at the same time with pathogen. Conclusion It was concluded that a mannose-specific protein mediated adhesion of L. acidophilus FN001 to the Peyer's patches, and L. acidophilus FN001 could inhibit adhesion of pathogen with similar lectins speci- ficity to Peyer's patches.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in treatment of severe adults Kashin-Beck disease (KBD). Methods Sixteen cases of KBD patients underwent TKA in Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, including 2 males (2 knees) and 14 females (17 knees), aged 41 to 56 years, mean (56.38 ± 6.40) years, left knee in 8 cases and right knee in 11 cases, knee varus in 15 cases and valgus knees in 4 cases. Visual Analogue Scale/Score (VAS), Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores, knee range of motion, varus deformity and postoperative complications were observed before and after TKA. Results In this group of TKA patients, the levels of VAS scores in pre-total knee arthroplasty (pre-TKA), 2 weeks post-total knee arthroplasty (post-TKA), 3 months post-TKA, and at the end of the follow-up were 7.51 ± 1.00, 3.56 ± 1.29, 1.83 ± 1.40 and 1.10 ± 0.87, respectively. The level of VAS scores in 2 weeks post-TKA was significantly lower than that in pre-TKA (P<0.01), and the VAS levels were continued to decrease in post-TKA (all P< 0.01). Total HSS score at the end of the follow-up post-TKA was 78.60 ± 5.30, which was significantly higher than that in pre-TKA (43.59 ± 10.08, t=19.21, P< 0.01). At the end of the follow-up post-TKA, in addition to the muscle strength, the levels of pain, knee function, activity, flexion deformity and stability (25.94 ± 4.17, 15.88 ± 3.70, 14.09 ± 1.03, 6.79 ± 2.25, 8.58 ± 1.30) were significantly higher than those in pre-TKA (11.56 ± 5.39, 7.56 ± 1.75, 9.86 ± 3.85, 3.05 ± 3.22, 5.00 ± 3.07, t= 16.00, 8.32, 6.43, 7.07, 6.95, all P< 0.01). At the end of follow-up post-TKA, the knee degree of extension [(3.05 ± 2.71)°] was significantly lower than that in pre-TKA [(15.11 ± 11.30)°, t= -5.40, P< 0.01], the knee degree of flexion [(115.79 ± 9.65)°] was significantly higher than that in pre-TKA [(93.95 ± 22.40)°, t=6.02, P< 0.01), the degree of varus [(2.40 ± 2.40)° ] and valgus [(3.75 ± 2.50)° ] deformity was significantly lower than those in pre-TKA [(11.33 ± 10.43)°, (18.00 ± 5.72)°, t = - 4.15, - 3.61, all P< 0.05]. One patient was diagnosed as knee tuberculosis in 6 months post-TKA. There was no complication in this group of patients. Conclusion The TKA in severe adults knee of KBD can significantly reduce knee pain, improve knee function, correct joint deformities and improve quality of life in patients, and shows good clinical results.

Implant materials, for examples, plaster of Paris, Bone cement and ceramics which are used experimentally to regain shape and function, act as a scaffold for bone growth and contribute to the healing processes at bone defect developed by trauma, infection and other causes. Therefore, the effect of plastei of Paris on the bone defects of adult rabbits may be an interesting subject, particularly in the orthopedic field. The authors carried out an experiment to study the effect of plaster of Paris on the bone defect, using 30 adult rabbits weighing fmm 3000-3500 gm, which were divided into 3 main gmups. (Each group was composed of 10 adult rabbits.). In Group 1, which was the control group, made a defect at the proximal metaphysis of the tibia, 6 mm×6 mm×6 mm in size, using a drill bit and filled by hematoma spontaneously. In Group II and Group IU, a defect was also made by the same method as in Group I and a piece of Gelfoam or plaster of Paris was inserted into the bone defect respectively. Then we studied the healing processes of the bone defect by sacrifying animals of each group at 6th and 12 th week after operation. The results of this experiment were as follows. 1. New bone formarion in the bone defect was poor in group I and Gmup Il, but it was good in Group III. 2. The plaster of Paris, filling into the defect, was absorbed and removed from the site of implantation continuously and stimulated the new bone formation. 3. The Gelfoam in Group II was more rapidly absorbed than plaster of Paris and didn't stimulate the new bone formation.
Adult ; Animals ; Bone Development ; Calcium Sulfate ; Ceramics ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Methods ; Orthopedics ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Tibia

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Aneurysm, Infected* ; Endocarditis* ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior*

We retrospectively analyzed 40 adrenalectomies due to 13 cases of primary aldosteronism, 12 cases of Cushing's syndrome and 15 cases of pheochromocytoma, which were performed at Chungnam National University Hospital during the last 10 years. Of the 25 patients who presented with adrenal cortical tumors(primary aldosteronism and Cushing's syndrome), 23 had an adenoma and two had cortical hyperplasia. The overall ratio of males to females was 2:1. As to the age distribution, primary aldosteronism was predominant in the 4th and the 5th decades and Cushing's syndrome; in the 3rd and the 4th decades; however, pheochromocytoma was almost evenly distributed in 2nd through the 6th decades. Headaches, fatigue, and general weakness were the most frequent symptoms in primary aldosteronism; weight gain or a change in fat distribution in Cushing's syndrome; and headaches or blurred vision related to hypertension and palpitation in pheochromocytoma. Postoperative complications mostly occurred in patients with Cushing's syndrome: There were four wound infections, including one abdominal abscess, one pleurisy, one cerebral and cerebellar infaction, and two intestinal obstructions, but there were no postoperative deaths.
Abdominal Abscess ; Adenoma ; Adrenalectomy ; Age Distribution ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cushing Syndrome ; Fatigue ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hyperplasia ; Hypertension ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Male ; Pheochromocytoma ; Pleurisy ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Weight Gain ; Wound Infection

We retrospectively analyzed 40 adrenalectomies due to 13 cases of primary aldosteronism, 12 cases of Cushing's syndrome and 15 cases of pheochromocytoma, which were performed at Chungnam National University Hospital during the last 10 years. Of the 25 patients who presented with adrenal cortical tumors(primary aldosteronism and Cushing's syndrome), 23 had an adenoma and two had cortical hyperplasia. The overall ratio of males to females was 2:1. As to the age distribution, primary aldosteronism was predominant in the 4th and the 5th decades and Cushing's syndrome; in the 3rd and the 4th decades; however, pheochromocytoma was almost evenly distributed in 2nd through the 6th decades. Headaches, fatigue, and general weakness were the most frequent symptoms in primary aldosteronism; weight gain or a change in fat distribution in Cushing's syndrome; and headaches or blurred vision related to hypertension and palpitation in pheochromocytoma. Postoperative complications mostly occurred in patients with Cushing's syndrome: There were four wound infections, including one abdominal abscess, one pleurisy, one cerebral and cerebellar infaction, and two intestinal obstructions, but there were no postoperative deaths.
Abdominal Abscess ; Adenoma ; Adrenalectomy ; Age Distribution ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cushing Syndrome ; Fatigue ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hyperplasia ; Hypertension ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Male ; Pheochromocytoma ; Pleurisy ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Weight Gain ; Wound Infection