ner. Furthermore, IL-10 and TGF-β1 showed a synergic effect. Conclusion IL-10 and TGF-β1, the cytokines of regulatory T cells, suppress the formation and bone resorption function of the osteoclasts.

The dual energy CT (DECT) technology has been recently employed in the form of two X-ray sources of different energies to enhance the contrast between adjacent structures. Its use in the cardiac arena has been widely highlighted due to the higher temporal resolution. However, it may also be used in the craniocervical and peripheral vasculature for better differentiation between contrast-enhanced vascular lumina and calcified plaques, in the characterisation of ureteric stones, and in the evaluation of hepatic lesions. The objective of this paper is to revisit DECT physics, review the literature and discuss its use in CT neuroangiography with case illustrations from our institution, and impact on dose savings.
Cerebral Angiography ; Constriction, Pathologic ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiography, Dual-Energy Scanned Projection ; methods ; Review Literature as Topic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Adult ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; physiopathology ; Frontotemporal Dementia ; diagnosis ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculoma, Intracranial ; complications

INTRODUCTIONFungaemia carries with it high mortality rates and appropriate as well as timely antifungal therapy has been shown to be life saving.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe studied the invitro activities of antifungal agents using the Etest method, against 100 Candida isolates from blood cultures, 10 Cryptococcus isolates from blood or cerebrospinal fluid and 50 mould isolates from various clinically significant sites of patients in Singapore General Hospital, from June 2004 to December 2006.

RESULTSOverall, the yeasts appeared to have low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for all the 5 antifungal drugs tested except for fluconazole. The overall high MIC90 values of the moulds against the azoles were largely attributed to the non-Aspergillus moulds. Posaconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole and caspofungin appear effective against local strains of Aspergillus species, although there are no interpretive breakpoints.

CONCLUSIONSThe results show that the local fungal strains studied appear to be susceptible to the usual antifungal drugs recommended in the literature.

Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Candida ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Candidiasis ; microbiology ; Cryptococcosis ; microbiology ; Cryptococcus ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Fungemia ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Fungi ; drug effects ; Hospitals, Public ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Singapore ; Yeasts ; drug effects

Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Cholecystectomy ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male

Objective To investigate the ability of T2 mapping in early detection of the change of cartilage collagen by quantitative analysis.Methods 20 porcine patellae were randomly assigned into 4 groups,3 treated groups and 1 control group.The samples of 3 treated groups were respectively immersed in PBS with 100 mg/100 mL,1 50 mg/100 mL and 200 mg/100 mL typeⅡ collagenase for 4 h,whereas control group samples in PBS for 4 h.T2 relaxation times of superficial,deep and full layers of cartilage and mean densi-ty after Van Gieson stain were measured.The correlation of T2 relaxation times and mean density were statistically analyzed.Results Gross pathology showed all articular cartilages maintained intact after treatment.T2 relaxation times of superficial and full layers and mean density increased significantly in any treated group in comparison with control group(P <0.05).Significant differences in T2 relaxation times of superficial layers and mean density were found between any two treated groups,whereas no difference of T2 re-laxation time of full layers was found between 100 mg/100 mL and 1 50 mg/100 mL treated groups(P >0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed a close correlation(r=-0.837)between T2 relaxation times of full layers and mean density.Conclusion T2 map-ping can adequately detect the change of cartilage collagen in the early stage of osteoarthritis,and shows a good clinical application prospect.

The shoulder and axillary regions contain various complex anatomical structures in close proximity, many of which can give rise to neoplasms. Determining the origin and hence the exact diagnosis of advanced (diffuse) tumours in this region may become problematic. In view of the tumour morphology and the affected location in this case, we highlight the importance of Hodgkin lymphoma immunohistochemistry interpretation in a tumour which was initially suspected to be a soft tissue sarcoma.

Testing of hypothesis was affected by statistical analysis set division which was an important data management work before data base lock-in. Objective division of statistical analysis set under blinding was the guarantee of scientific trial conclusion. All the subjects having accepted at least once trial treatment after randomization should be concluded in safety set. Full analysis set should be close to the intention-to-treat as far as possible. Per protocol set division was the most difficult to control in blinded examination because of more subjectivity than the other two. The objectivity of statistical analysis set division must be guaranteed by the accurate raw data, the comprehensive data check and the scientific discussion, all of which were the strict requirement of data management. Proper division of statistical analysis set objectively and scientifically is an important approach to improve the data management quality.
Clinical Trials as Topic ; standards ; Databases, Factual ; Research Design ; standards ; Statistics as Topic