Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of the spinal cord during neck flexion in Hirayama disease for diagnosis.Methods MRI examinations in neutral neck position and a fully flexed neck position were performed on 18 cases of Hirayama disease and 31 young normal control subjects.We measured an antero-posterior diameter(APD)and transverse diameter(TD)of the cervical cord at the superior margin of the C6 vertebral body for each position,and investigate the dynamic changes.The different in frequency of these findings between the control and patient groups was examined by means of the x~2 test.The group means were compared by independent-sample t-test.Significance was defined as P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the alleles and genotype frequency of 8 short tandem repeat (STR) loci (DXS6804, DXS8378, DXS7132, DXS7133, DXS6789, DXS101, HPRTB and DXS7423) on the X chromosome in Luoba ethnic group of China.

METHODSThe eight X chromosome STR (X-STR) loci were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by polyacylamide gel electrophoresis and silver stain.

RESULTSAmong 96 unrelated Luoba individuals, the numbers of alleles in the 8 X-STR loci (DXS7133, DXS6789, DXS6804, DXS8378, DXS101, DXS7424, DXS7132 and HPRTB) were 5, 8, 7, 5, 8, 8, 8 and 5, respectively. The genotype frequencies in females were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

CONCLUSIONThe eight X-STR loci are appropriate for individual identification, paternity testing involving a female child and studies on related diseases.

China ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics

Catheter Ablation ; Child ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; surgery ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Adult ; Castleman Disease ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Radiography

AIMThe structure of the human penile venous system has been well studied, but disappointing outcomes of penile venous surgery in certain patients have called into question on the anatomy. We planned to extend the anatomic knowledge with the ultimate goal of improving operative success.

METHODSThirty-five patients, who had undergone penile venous surgery, complained of poor erection developed gradually 6 months to 7 years postoperatively. Cavernosography was performed again during their return visit. Seven new patients underwent spongiosography followed by immediate cavernosography. Eleven male cadavers were carefully dissected. The anatomical findings were applied to venous surgery in 155 patients, who were then followed with the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire-5 (IIEF-5).

RESULTSImaging observation demonstrated that the deep dorsal vein served as a common vessel of the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum. A prominent cavernosal vein was found coursing along each corpus cavernosum distally to the glans, in contrast to its reported description as a short segment at the penile hilum. All cadavers had two sets of para-arterial veins sandwiching the dorsal artery. In 148 men available for follow-up, their mean IIEF-5 score was 9.3 preoperative and increased to 22.7 after the operation. The 88.5% (131/148) of the patients believed that venous stripping was a worthy treatment modality. Five cases required sildenafil to maintain their potentia, which was not working preoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSThe failure of penile venous surgery has traditionally been ascribed to penile vein regeneration. However, our finding of a long and independent cavernosal vein and an independent set of para-arterial veins may be the principal cause in patients experiencing poor postoperative results.

Aged ; Dissection ; Erectile Dysfunction ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Phlebography ; Veins ; anatomy & histology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo reveal the allelic frequencies and haplotype frequencies of fourteen Y-chromosome short tandem repeat (STR) loci in a Tibetan population.

METHODSThe Y-chromosomal STR loci were analyzed from 126 healthy unrelated autochthonous male individuals of Chinese Tibetan using a multiplex PCR system. Allele and haplotype frequencies for these loci were determined by the AmpFISTR Y filer PCR Amplification kit.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-one alleles were detected from the 14 STR loci. The allele diversity values (DP) for each locus ranged from 0.4104 (DYS391) to 0.9489 (DYS385a, b), the DP value of these loci were higher than 0.5 except for that of DYS391. A total of 105 haplotypes were identified in the Y-STR loci, among which 103 were unique, while two occurred more than once. The overall haplotype diversity for the Y-STR loci was 0.9998, and the discrimination capacity was 0.9898.

CONCLUSIONThe 14 STR loci above belong to loci of high discriminating ability, the haplotypes are highly polymorphic.

Alleles ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Tibet

This article discussed the possible physiological mechanism of "treating waist by abdominal massage therapy" from the perspectives of TCM and modern medicine, and analyzed the effects of abdominal massage from the nerve, fascia, visceral, muscle and other aspects, with a purpose to elucidate that the occurrence of relevant diseases may be caused by a variety of factors, and different massage techniques have different effects on the body.

OBJECTIVE: To develope an easy to use, rapid and accurate test for detecting buprenorphine based on the principle of competitive immunoassay. METHODS: Monoclonal antibody against buprenorphine was conjugated with colloidal gold and dispensed on the glass fiber. The complete antigen Buprenorphine-BSA and the goat anti-mouse IgG polyclonal antibody were separately sprayed on the nitrocellulose membrane as the test line (T line) and the control line (C line). The rapid test kit was the final assembled product of test strip with the plastic cover. RESULTS: A total of 100 urine samples were tested for buprenorphine by immunochromatographic and GC/ MS methods. The accuracy was 99.0%. It is found the test kit can only detect by cross reaction with other 45 kind drugs. CONCLUSION Rapid test kit can detect buprenorphine in the samples in 5 minutes. The cut-off value of the test is 100 ng/mL.
Analgesics, Opioid/urine* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology* ; Buprenorphine/urine* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods* ; Gold Colloid ; Humans ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the HLA-A, B, DRB1 allele polymorphism in Monba ethnic population of Xizang Autonomous Region.

METHODSHLA-A, B, DRB1, DNA types in 47 unrelated Monba ethnic healthy individuals from the Xizang Autonomous Region of China were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-based reverse line-strip sequence specific oligonucleotide hybridization. Based on the HLA-DRB1 alleles frequencies of 11 other ethnic groups in China, a molecular phylogenetic tree was constructed by the Neighbor-Joining (NJ) method.

RESULTSTwenty-three alleles were detected for HLA-A, 39 for HLA-B, and 33 for HLA-DRB1. HLA-A*1101, A*2402, A*02011, A*0206, HLA-B*3802, B*4001, B*4002, B*51011, HLA-DRB1*12021, DRB1*0403, DRB1*0701, DRB1*1201 were the most common alleles. The most frequent alleles were HLA-A*1101(0.2128), HLA-B*3802(0.1064), and HLA-DRB1*12021(0.0851).

CONCLUSIONThe HLA loci are highly polymorphic in Monba population of Xizang Autonomous Region. Compared with other ethnic groups in China, the Monba ethnic group is close to Tibetan ethnic group.

Alleles ; China ; Ethnic Groups ; classification ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; HLA Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the outcomes of patients with unresectable massive primary liver cancer (PLC) receiving three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3-DCRT) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

METHODSFrom January 2001 to December 2004, 84 patients with unresectable massive PLC (tumor size> or =10 cm) received 3-DCRT combined with TACE, including 49 cases in UICC/AJCC T(3) stage and 35 cases in T(4) stages. Lymph node metastasis was found in none of the patients, and portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) was detected in 30 cases. Child-Pugh grade A of liver cirrhosis was present in 64 cases and grade B in 20 cases. The mean value of GTV was 705-/+430 cm(3) (170-2099 cm(3)). Following injections of fluorouracil and hydroxycamptothecine into the target artery of the tumor, the mixture of carboplatin, mitomycin (or pirarubicin) and super-liquefactive iodized oil was injected into the target artery. Gelatin sponge was used to embolize the artery. The procedure was repeated every 1.5-2 months according to the condition of the patients, and each patient received 1-3 such procedures. 3-DCRT was performed in all the patients, who received a total dose of 53.6-/+6.6 Gy (4-6 Gy per fraction at the interval of 48 h), and 3 fractions were given every week.

RESULTSEight patients died in 3 months after 3-DCRT and were not evaluated. The total response rate (CR+PR) in these patients was 68.9% (51/74). The overall survival rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 55.4%, 24.7% and 15.4%, respectively. T stage, GTV, PVTT and fraction size had no significant impact on the overall survival. Child-Pugh grade was found to have significant impact on the patients' survival (P=0.035, RR=2.440).

CONCLUSION3-DCRT combined with TACE has definite therapeutic effect on advanced massive PLC, and Child-Pugh grade is an independent prognostic factor in such cases.

Adult ; Aged ; Camptothecin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitomycin ; administration & dosage ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome