Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary ; pathology ; Dactinomycin ; therapeutic use ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ependymoma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Ovariectomy ; Teratoma ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use

Objective To observe the effects of application at different acupoints in improving the quality of life in allergic rhinitis patients. Method Seventy-seven patients with allergic rhinitis were randomized into a 12-point application group (39 cases) and a 6-point application group (38 cases), to receive Dong Bing Xia Zhi (treating cold-induced diseases in summer) application during each of the three periods of canicular days at corresponding points, 2 h each time. Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) was evaluated before and after the treatment, and half a year later. Result After the treatment, the total effective rate was 92.3% in the 12-point application group versus 71.1% in the 6-point application group, and the 12-point application group was significantly better (P<0.05); half a year later, the total effective rate was 87.2% in the 12-point application group versus 63.2% in the 6-point application group, and the 12-point group was significantly better (P<0.05); regarding the RQLQ, the 6-point application group didn't gain marked improvement in sleep quality after the treatment and half a year later (P>0.05), but the 12-point application group showed marked improvement (P<0.05); the rest component scores in RQLQ were significantly improved after the treatment and half a year later compared to those before the treatment in both groups (P<0.05); after the treatment, the 12-point application group was superior to the 6-point application group in comparing the reductionof all component scores and general score except the non-nose/eye symptoms score (P<0.05); half a year later, except the non-nose/eye symptoms and behavior scores, the 12-point application group was superior to the 6-point application group in comparing the reduction of all component scores and general score (P<0.05). Conclusion Dong Bing Xia Zhi acupoint application can effectively improve the quality of life in allergic rhinitis patients, especially with acupoints selected based on holism.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the image quality and radiation dose of dual-energy (DE) computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of head and neck.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed two groups of patients (both n=30) undergoing 64-slice spiral CTA of cervical and cranial regions with different scan protocols. The DE group was obtained with 140/80 kVp, 64/272 mAs, 0.6 pitch, 80 ml of contrast medium, and caudal-cranial scan orientation. The single-energy (SE) group was obtained with 120 kVp, 220 mAs, 1.2 pitch, 60 ml of contrast medium and cranial-caudal scan orientation. The image quality and radiation dose were compared. The attenuation values and noises were measured on transverse images at 4 different vessels (the distal part of common carotid artery and adjacent vein in same axial image; the M1 segment of middle cerebral artery and sigmoid sinus or confluence of sinus in same image) and two muscles: erector spinae presenting average soft tissue enhancement and supraspinatus muscle presenting regions of great artifact.

RESULTSIn cranial region the arterial enhancement and venous contamination were similar (P=0.1427,P=0.1116) . In cervical region the arterial enhancement was similar (P=0.9414) . DE group had significantly greater venous contamination (P<0.0001) , while the mean attenuation value of common carotid artery was still 127 Hu higher than that of jugular vein. No matter artifact of soft tissue was obvious or not, the noise of DE group was significantly less than that of SE group (both P<0.0001) , and the soft tissue enhancement was similar (P=0.0760,P=0.0793) . The radiation dose required for bone-subtraction angiography was significantly less in DE group than in SE group (P<0.0001) .

CONCLUSIONSDE group has comparable image quality to SE group and less scan dose for bone-subtraction. DE-CTA has great potential in clinical application. "

Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Head ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiation Dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the features of eight segments of liver perfusion with the second generation dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) .

METHODSTotally 15 patients with pancreatic endocrine diseases underwent abdominal CT perfusion with the second generation DSCT. The liver perfusion images were then transferred to workstation, and perfusion parameters were calculated, and then the artery liver perfusion (ALp) , portal-vein liver perfusion (pVp) , and hepatic perfusion index (HpI) of the eight hepatic segments were calculated.

RESULTSALp was significantly different between segments 3, 4 and segments 5-8 (P<0.05) . pVp was significantly different between segments 2 and segments 6, 7 (P<0.05) . pVp and HpI were significantly different between segment 3 and segments 5-8 (P<0.05,P<0.01) .

CONCLUSIONSThe second generation DSCT can be used to evaluate the perfusion conditions in all eight hepatic segments. The perfusion differs among eight segments of liver, which may be related with the anatomy of the liver vessels and the position of DSCT scanning. Its clinical significance needs further research.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of dual energy computed tomography (DECT) for the detection of uric acid (UA) deposition in patients with gout.

METHODSA total of 37 patients with tophaceous gout (including 8 crystal-proven cases) and 10 control patients (5 with unknown arthropathy, 3 with rheumatoid arthritis, and 2 with osteoarthritis) were included. DECT was performed for all peripheral joints (wrists, hands, elbows, knees, ankles and feet) . Color coding was used to display the localization of UA deposition. Images were reviewed independently by two trained radiologists.

RESULTSWith DECT, patients with gout were found to have UA deposits in hands and wrists 46% (17/37) , elbows 16% (6/37) , knees 27% (10/37) , ankles and feet 89% (33/37) . No UA deposit was observed in all 10 control patients (P=0.000) . Among the 37 patients with gout, the number of UA deposition sites detected by DECT (n=297) was 2.25 times of that detected by physical examinations (n=132) (P=0.000) .

CONCLUSIONSDECT allows the visualization of UA deposition in gouty arthropathy. Even subclinical disease can be delineated with this technique. However, the accuracy of DECT requires further investigations.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthrography ; methods ; Extremities ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Gout ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Uric Acid ; metabolism

Objective To measure volume and other parameters of normal adrenal glands in Chinese adults with 64-slice multidetector CT, to evaluate the relationship of volume result with age, sex and body size, and to explore the correlations between adrenal volume and other measurements. Methods This study was based on 125 acquired contrast-enhanced upper abdominal CT scans performed with a 64-slice CT. The final study group consisted of 81 patients (49 males, 32 females). Portal venous phase images were studied for the measurements. Both the reconstruction interval and thickness were 1.5 mm. Each adrenal gland was outlined manually with computer-assistant technology to calculate its volume. The maximal sectional area, length, width and thickness of each adrenal gland were also measured. Results The mean age of total population was 47.9±13.0 (range: 20-76) years. The left, right, and total adrenal gland volumes were 4.23±0.74 (range: 2.85-5.83) cm3, 4.26±0.86 (2.59-6.56) cm3, and 8.50±1.40 (5.80-11.39) cm3, respectively. These volumes increased with weight (r=0.381, 0.389, and 0.437 respectively, all P<0.001), height (r=0.386, P<0.001; r=0.297, P=0.007; r=0.384, P<0.001) and body surface area (r=0.406, 0.392, and 0.452, all P<0.001). There was no significant difference in left, right or total adrenal volume with regard to sex after applying General Linear Model procedure to reduce the impact of weight (F=1.304, 0.064, and 0.597, all P>0.05), nor did volume change significantly with age (r=-0.033, -0.014, and -0.026, all P>0.05). Nearly all descriptors of bilateral adrenal glands correlated with ipsilateral volume except thickness (r=-0.027, P=0.814) and width (r=0.166, P=0.138) in the left side. Among these parameters, length had a stronger correlation with volume than others in the both left (r=0.412, P<0.001) and right (r=0.516, P<0.001) adrenal glands. Conclusion Our study has defined the volume distribution and other parameters of normal adrenal glands in Chinese adults, which provide a baseline for future studies.
Adrenal Glands ; Humans ; Reference Values ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To analysis the influencing factors on underweight and stunting among children aged 0-3 years in rural areas from ten provinces in China.Methods Children under study were identified by multi-stage stratified cluster from rural areas of ten provinces in China.The ascertainment methods mainly included questionnaire and anthropometric measurements.Results There were 58 926 children under investigation,with 50.91％ were boys.The overall rates on underweight and stunting were 5.05％ and 10.49％ respectively.The rate in the 6 month-olds (1.97％,3.79％ ) was the lowest,while the highest were in the 24 month-olds (7.80％) and the 36 month-olds (16.83％).Age,sex,birth weight,gestational weeks as well as maternal education and fathers' schooling were factors significantly related to childhood underweight and stunting (P＜0.0001).Conclusion The status of underweight and stunting among children aged 0-3 years in rural areas was impressive,with birth weight was the key factor influencing the growth of children.Perinatal health care should be improved to promote the growth of children.

Objective To study the clinical significance of the method of three perpendicular planes plus special planes in diagnosing fetal cleft lip /palate by prenatal ultrasound .Methods The approach of three perpendicular planes and special planes were used in diagnosing 110 cases of cleft lip/palate.The sonogram features in each section were analyzed and the outcomes were recorded during follow-up.Results On prenatal ultrsound ,110 cases were examined with three perpendicular planes method .The coronary section could be displayed at 100%cases (110 cases), sagittal section 76.4%cases (84 cases),transverse section 96.4%cases (106 cases) and parasagittal section 25.5%cases (28 cases).With special planes method,74 cases were examined .The section through pyriform aperture could be displayed in 47 cases,in 45 cases on the section through the lower lip/lower jaw/submandibular triangle ,and in 16 cases on the section through the cheek.Combining the three perpendicular planes and special planes methods ,94.5%(104/110) cases could be diagnosed definitely.Six cases (5.5%,6/110) were missed because of fetal position or oligoamnios . Conclusions The method of three perpendicular planes plus special planes is effective in prenatal ultrasound diagnosing cleft lip/palate,which is of great help in improving prenatal diagnostic accuracy of fetal cleft lip/palate.

Objective To investigate the effect of autologous tissue breast reconstruction with microsurgical lymph node transfers and lymphatic-venous anastomoses for the treatment of mastectomy related axillary cavitydeformation and upper extremity lymphedema .Methods The donor sites of lymph node transfers were mainly chosen according to the donor site of breast reconstruction .Themicrosurgical lymph nodes were transferred to the axillary cavity .When the superficial lymph vessels could be detected in lymphangiography with indocyanine green , thelymphatic-venous anastomoses were done to improve the lymphatic drainage .The treatment effect was assessed by the perimeter changes of different parts of upper extremity, the isotope lymphangiography and associated symptoms . Results 20 cases involved in autologous tissue breast reconstruction with microsurgical lymph node transfers , 18 cases from ingruinallymph nodes and 2 cases from lateral thoracic lymph nodes .2 cases receivedlymphatic-venous anastomoses on their upper extremity .The perimeters of palm and wrist were found significantly decreased in 6 months postoperation , while the perimeters of midpoint forearm and upper arm also decreased .The cellulitis, pain and swell happened less during the follow-up from 6 months up to 4 years. The postoperation isotope lymphangiography showed functional transferred lymph nodes inaxillary cavity , better lymphatic drainage and less volume of upper extremity .The subcutaneous superficial lymphatic drainage signs could be observed by the isotope lymphangiography in cases who had lymphatic -venous anastomoseson upper extremity .Conclusions Autologous tissue breast reconstruction with microsurgical lymph node transfers and lymphatic-venous anastomoses is a promising option for the treatment of mastectomy related axillary cavitydeformation and upper extremity lymphedema .The long term results need longer follow-up and more research .