Objective To find the features and diagnostic values of CT for adrenal ganglioneuroma.Methods CT examinations were performed in 16 cases(7 with plain scan and 9 with both plain and enhanced scan).All cases were confirmed by pathological evidence.Results 2 cases showed solid -cystic mass,14 were solid mass,and 5 accompanied with calcification.The average CT value was from 20 to 40 HU.In 9 cases with enhanced scan,5 slightly enhanced on delayed phase and no enhancement was seen in the others.Conclusion Adrenal ganglioneuroma showed some characteristic CT appearance and CT scanning plays an important role in diagnosis of adrenal ganglioneuroma.

As the basis of the health management of the elderly, weight management should receive attention from medical practitioners.However, there is an ongoing debate on the ideal range of body mass index for elderly in China.This article aimed to find the suitable body mass index for Chinese old people by reviewing the literature regarding the body mass and obesity of the elderly.Lots of evidence show that overweight and mild obesity appear to be the optimal weight status for the elderly.

Objective To investigate the differences of four equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and their impacts on chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence in communitydwelling elderly people in Beijing.Methods A total of 489 participants aged above 70 years were enrolled.The GFR was estimated using the Cockcroft Gault (CG) equation,Chronic Kidney DiseaseEpidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation,Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation and Berlin Initiative Study (BIS) equation respectively.The internal-consistency check was made on the four equations for the GFR (ml min 1 1.73m 2) estimates.Results The mean age of participants was (81.8±7.6) years.The mean GFR estimated using the CG,CKD-EPI,MDRD and BIS equation was 58.4± 17.2,71.9± 15.3,76.7± 19.1 and 62.7± 12.7,respectively.And the prevalence of CKD was 56.2％,22.7％,17.8％ and 41.7％,respectively.The greatest differences of equations to estimate GFR were seen in elderly people aged 90 and above,and those with body mass index＜ 20.0 kg/m2 or serum creatinine concentration＜ 88.4 μmol/L.Conclusions The GFR estimated using different equations has a large difference which has a significant effect on CKD classification in elderly people.The equation to estimate GFR for the elderly is urgently needed.Until then,the eGFR and CKD classification estimated using different equations should be regarded with caution.

Objective To analyze the clinical and radiological features of retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF), and to deepen the understanding of this unusual disease and improve the diagnostic level at the early stage. Methods Fourteen cases (10 males and 4 females, mean age 45.8 years) of pathologically diagnosed RPF from January 1990 to June 2004 were summarized. The clinical and radiological performance of the cases were analyzed. All patients received non-contrast CT scanning, 10 of them underwent enhanced CT scanning as well. 8 patients received MRI, 10 patients received IVP examination, and 11 received B-ultrasound. Results (1)The very first symptoms usually included back pain, bellyache (10 cases), or urinary tract obstruction (3 cases), with increase of ESR, IgG, CRP value and abnormal renal function.(2)The result of radiological examination showed that 11 lesions of the 14 cases located at retroperitoneum. Ten cases were mass type and 4 cases were diffuse type. Non-contrast CT scanning revealed soft tissue mass at retroperitoneum with inhomogenous or homogenous density. After contrast medium injection the lesions were enhanced with different extent. MRI results showed that the lesions presented low signal in T_1WI, while in T_2WI the signals had no obvious coherence but were different from one case to another. Conclusion Radiological examination is one of the important methods for diagnosis of RPF. Based on the different characteristics of RPF in CT and MRI, together with the clinical findings, we will get valuable references for staging and follow-up of RPF.

Objective To understand the clinical characters and imaging features of Mirizzi syndrome.Methods All 15 patients were confirmed by operation , including 10 females and 5 males , aged 41～82 (mean age 65.1 years old). The course ranged from 4 days to 15 years. Among them, ERCP were performed in 8 patients, PTC in 2 patients, MRCP in 4 patients and CT in 3 patients.Results Cholangiography of Mirizzi syndrome revealed a broad, curvilinear impression on the common hepatic duct in the area where the cystic duct or gallbladder was in direct apposition, hepatic bile duct dilation above the level of the cystic duct. 6 cases were diagnosed to be Mirizzi syndrome preoperatively (3 cases in ERCP , 2 cases in PTC , 1 case in MRCP), 7 cases bile duct stone, 1 case bile duct dilation, 1 case normal. Conclusion Mirizzi syndrome is a rare disease . No pathognomonic features appear in either the history or the physical examination .Diagnosis requires a combination of ultrasonography , cholangiography (ERCP,PTC), CT and MRI .

To explore the differential proteome pattern in mouse fibrosis liver in comparison to wild type. Mice were fed with carbon tetrachloride or olive oil vehicle for 15 weeks. Mouse livers from both groups were collected and submitted to MS platform for proteome screening. GO (Gene Ontology) biological process and KEGG (Kyoto Enyoolpedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichment analysis were used to analyze differentially expressed proteins. As the results, we identified 17 382 and 20 486 unique peptides in control and carbon tetrachloride-induced groups, respectively. A total of 4 991 proteins (at least 1 unique peptide matched) were identified, of which 2 135 were differentially expressed (> or = 2 fold). In fibrosis mouse liver 1 264 proteins were up regulated and 871 proteins were down regulated. Proteins associated with DNA replication, cell cycle, ECM-receptor interaction, and splicesome were significantly increased in carbon tetrachloride-induced group. Proteins associated with small molecule metabolic process, protein transport, organonitrogen compound metabolic process, and tetrapyrrole biosynthetic processes were down regulated in carbon tetrachloride-induced mouse liver fibrosis tissue. Bioinformatics findings showed that fibrosis was closely related to the regulation of VEGF and T cell receptor signaling pathway, and further suggested that liver fibrosis was a complex signal transduction process that many biological processes such as liver metabolism, inflammation, and immune response are involved. Based this study, we can envision that protection of protein metabolism in liver parenchymal cells and blocking of inflammatory signaling transduction may be beneficial for liver fibrosis therapy.
Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Computational Biology ; Down-Regulation ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Mice ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

Objective To summarize the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). Methods From March 2003 to January 2008, a total of 16 cases of AIP were reviewed retrospectively. Results The ratio of male: female was 15:1, with a mean age of 61 years old (range:47-79 years old). Jaundice was the main clinical presentation in 81.2% patients. 68.8% patients presented with high serum gammaglobulin, while 66.7% with high serum IgG, 56.2% with elevated ESR, 50.0% with positive rheumatoid factor(RF), 43.7% with eosinophilia, 26.7% with positive antinuclear antigen(ANA),31.2% with elevated lipase, 18.7% with elevated amylase, and 25.0% with elevated CA19-9. 93.7%patients showed diffuse swelling of the pancreas on CT and/or endoscopic ultrasound. Stricture of the main pancreatic duct was seen in 100% patients. Distal common bile duct stricture was seen in 87.5%, while thickened wall of bile duct was seen in 50%. Histological findings of the pancreas EUS-FNA showed nonspecific results in one patient, while no tumor cell was detected in other 5 patients; lymphocytes infiltration was noted in 3 patients; pancreatic fibrosis was seen in 2 patients. 75.0% patients was found to have diabetes or abnormal sugar tolerance, enlargement of the celiac lymph nodes in 43.7%, splenic vein or inferior cava vein involvement in 42.9%, swelling of the maxillary glands in 18.7%, the lacrimal glands in 12%. Prednisone was given to 11 patients, among them 5 patients underwent endoscopic stent placement, and 10 patients responded well while 1 patient discontinued therapy due to intolerance. 2 patients underwent endoscopic stent placement alone and jaundice disappeared. 3 patients received conventional medical treatment. Steroid therapy exerted different effects on levels of the blood glucose, the enlarged maxillary and lacrimal glands improved after steroid therapy. Conclusions AIP occurred in middle aged and senior male predominantly, painless obstructive jaundice was the main clinical presentation, and patients may be accompanied with elevated levels of IgG, hypergammaglobulin, positive RF and ANA, diffuse or focal pancreatic enlargement, pancreatic duct stricture and distal common bile duct stricture. Stent placement could improve the symptoms, and steroid therapy was effective.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of capsule endoscopy (CE), CT enterography (CTE), ileocolonoscopy and small bowel follow through (SBFT) for small bowel Crohn's disease (CD). Methods Fifty-seven consecutive patients with CD underwent ileocolonoscopy, CTE, CE, and SBFT. It included the presence of the following symptoms and signs: abdominal pain, weight loss,diarrhea, fever and positive fecal occult blood test. The location and the characteristics of intestinal and extra-intestinal lesions detected by four techniquks were compared. The proportions of patients with positive findings using each examination were compared. Results Of the 57 patients, 50 underwent ileocolonoscopy, terminal ileum lesion was found in 33 patients (66. 00% ), the remaining 17 (34.0%)were normal; among 34 patients who had CTE, 29 of small bowel lesion were found (85. 29% ); CE were performed in 27 patients, due to prolonged gastric transit one time, the capsule did not reach the cecum in one patient during battery lifetime. CE showed small bowel lesion in 26 patients (96.30% ); SBF was performed in 39 patients and 26 of small bowel lesion were detected (66. 67% ). CE had the highest diagnostic yield for CD and ileocolonoscopy had the lowest, and there were statistically significant difference among the 4 examinations (P = 0. 006 ). The combinded positive rates of two methods were: CE + CTE 92. 86% (13/14), SBFT + CTE 90. 91% (20/22), CE + ileocolonoscopy 95. 65% (22/23), CE + SBFT100% (17/17), ileocolonoscopy + CTE 89. 66% ( 26/29 ), ileocolonoscopy + SBFT 77.78% ( 28/36 ), but there were no significant differences between each two examinations. Conclusion CE, CTE have a higher yield in depicting mild to moderate finding of CD than SBFT. CE is better for assessing early mucosal disease,whereas CTE is better for detecting transmural and extraluminal abnormalities. Most important, CE plus CTE may depict nonobstructive CD of the small bowel when conventional techniques such as ileocolonoscopy or SBFF have negative or inconclusive finding. CE provides us explanations for the symptoms of patients, decision to follow up or therapy.

Advanced gastric cancer without distant metastasis remains a potentially curable disease, but the prognosis is poor in this condition because of the high unresectability rate at presentation and the high recurrence rate after radical surgery. Administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy has several potential benefits for advanced gastric cancer. This treatment can decrease tumor stage and improve R0 resection rate. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has higher patient tolerability and a higher rate of chemotherapy completion than adjuvant chemotherapy. In vivo drug sensitivity tests can also be conducted to avoid unnecessary surgeries. Although high-intensi-ty chemotherapy results in a high overall response rate, a few advanced gastric patients can achieve a pathologically complete re-sponse. However, no standardized treatment has been achieved. This article introduces five cases of advanced gastric cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. The five cases achieved a pathological complete response. This article also aims to explore the clinicopathological characteristics of these patients, proper cooperative treat-ment practices, and prognostic factors for the benefit of future patients.

[Summary] An analysis of clinical data was performed in 6 patients diagnosed as adefovir dipivoxil (ADV)-induced nephropathy in recent 14 months.The results showed that all of six patients suffered from pain over multiple joints after taking ADV 10-20 mg/d for 2-3 years,along with hypophosphatemia,hypouricemia,and raised osteogenesis index.One case had increased serum creatinine,5 cases had hypokalemia,renal glycosuria,and4 cases had albuminuria.Imageological examination showed osteoporosis,osteomalacia,and pseudo fracture.After discontinuance of ADV treatment,joint pain was obviously relieved within 3-6 weeks,blood uric acid level returned to normal within 1-2.5 months,and renal glycosuria and albuminuria disappeared by 1-2 months.The results suggest that after taking ADV for more than two years,attention should be paid to the nephropathy induced by ADV and regular monitoring of renal function,blood electrolyte,and urine should be mandatory.Hypouricemia is a reliable index of diagnosis and treatment in this event.