OBJECTIVETo investigate the administration of far-lateral approach in lesions located anterior or anterolateral to brain stem and upper cervical spinal cord.

METHODSTwenty-three patients underwent far lateral approach, including 12 retrocondylar approach, 5 partial transcondylar approach, 3 transfacetal and partial transcondylar approach, 2 transtubercular approach and 1 complete transcondylar approach.

RESULTSTotal tumor removal was achieved in 15 patients, subtotal removal in 5 patients, 3 vertibral artery aneurysms were clipped successfully, 3 patients were given occipitalcervical fusion. There was no operative mortality. The most frequent complications were lower cranial nerve deficit, CSF leakage, injury to vertibral artery, and ischemia of brain stem, cerebellum or spinal cord. No patient presented clinical instability of the occipitocervical junction after surgery.

CONCLUSIONSThe far-lateral approach is an ideal approach to structures located ventral to cranial-cervicle junction. But some of the surgical steps are technically difficult and carry some degree of risk. The choice of approach depends on the pathological feature and degree of exposure required for effective surgical treatment. Bone removal should be quantified for individual lesion. The approach may be limited to less aggressive steps, while still achieving significant exposure and surgical space.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aneurysm ; surgery ; Basilar Artery ; surgery ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebral Artery ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differences in dielectric properties (relative permittivity and conductivity) between the mucosal surface and serosal surface of malignant colorectal tissues, adjacent tissues at 1 cm and 3 cm from the tumor focus and normal colorectal tissues.

METHODSThe dielectric properties of the mucosal and serosal surface of malignant colorectal tissues, adjacent tissues (1 cm and 3 cm) and normal colorectal tissues from 39 patients with colorectal cancer were measured with an open-ended coaxial probe within the frequency range of 50 MHz-3 GHz, and the corresponding dielectric properties were analyzed respectively; statistical tests of the data were used to analyze the dielectric properties at 6 specific frequency points.

RESULTSThe dielectric properties were significantly higher in the malignant mucosa surface than in the adjacent tissues and normal colorectal tissues at the 6 specific frequency points (P<0.01). The dielectric properties decreased progressively in adjacent tissues at 1 cm and 3 cm and normal mucosa surface. The mucosal and serosal surface of malignant tissues showed significant differences in dielectric properties at 64 MHz, 128 MHz, 298 MHz, 433 MHz, and 915 MHz (P<0.01) but not at 2450 MHz (P>0.01), but such differences were not observed in normal tissues (P>0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe dielectric properties of the mucosal surface of the mucosal decrease in the order of malignant colorectal tissue, adjacent tissues at 1 cm and 3 cm from the tumor foci and normal colorectal tissues. The dielectric properties are higher in the mucosal surface than in the serosal surface in the malignant tissue, but comparable in normal colorectal tissues.

Objectives: To investigate the association between acquired thrombocytopenia and long-term clinical outcome among stable coronary artery disease patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: We analyzed clinical data of 8 271 consecutive patients who underwent elective PCI in Fuwai Hospital from January 2013 to December 2013. Acquired thrombocytopenia was defined as platelet count <150×109/L after PCI in patients with normal baseline platelet count value. We compared data on demographic, clinical, laboratory, and 30-month outcome between non-thrombocytopenic and thrombocytopenic patients and identified the independent predictors of acquired thrombocytopenia post PCI. Results: Acquired thrombocytopenia developed in 654 (7.91%) patients (634 [7.67%] patients had mild thrombocytopenia, 20 [0.24%] patients had moderate or severe thrombocytopenia). Patients who developed thrombocytopenia had higher 30-month rate of all cause death (2.3% vs 1.0%, P=0.0086) and cardiogenic death (1.2% vs 0.5%, P=0.0261). Moderate or severe thrombocytopenia was associated with a 13-fold increased risk for cardiogenic death, 7-fold increased risk for stent thrombosis,11-fold increased risk for myocardial infarction compared with patients without thrombocytopenia. Conclusions: Acquired thrombocytopenia after PCI is common in stable coronary artery disease patients and is independently associated with increased risk of long-term adverse outcome in these patients.