Objective To study the X-ray findings and evaluate the value of X-ray in diagnosis of stress fracture of the pubic ramus. Methods The X-ray findings of 66 cases (18 males and 48 females, ranging in age from 18-21 years, mean age 19.6 years) with stress fracture of the pubic ramus were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-five cases were military recruits undergoing basic training, and 11 army veterans were undergoing intensive goose step training. Results Sixty-two cases had stress fractures of the inferior pubic ramus including right-sided in 26, left-sided in 30, and bilateral in 6. Four had ipsilateral inferior and superior pubic rami fractures. With 2 weeks after onset, the radiographs were normal in 3 cases. The 66 cases had either a slight transverse fissure (34 cases) or a small dense callus (65 cases) or both during the examination period of 4 weeks to 8 months. Then the calcium resorbed at the margins of the fracture and at the same time the callus increased and surrounded the bone. Finally, the resorptive zone disappeared and the callus became homogeneous. This callus formation persisted for several months and disappeared gradually. Conclusion X-ray examination is the first imaging method of choice for detecting stress fracture of the pubic ramus. With combining clinical data, correct diagnosis can be made in the majority.

To investigate the clinical diagnosis and treatment of stress fracture of the pubic ramus caused by military training, clinical data of 66 cases (18 males and 48 females, ranging from 18～21 years, mean age 19 6 years ) with stress fracture of the pubic ramus were retrospectively analysed. 55 cases were military recruits undergoing basic training, 11 army veterans undergoing intensive goose step training. 66 cases complained of chronic groin pain which increased in activity and relieved while at rest. The symptom occurred 3～10 weeks after the training began. The pain often lasted 1 week ～14 months. 22 cases who sought medical advice in medical team were mistaken for muscular injury. There were 76 stress fractures of the pubic ramus in 66 soldiers. 56 had stress fractures of one inferior pubic ramus, 6 both inferior pubic rami, and four had ipsilateral inferior and superior pubic rami fractures. Stress fracture of the pubic ramus is not rare, but it's quite easy to be neglected or misdiagnosed. The key to its diagnosis is getting a deeper understanding and making an adequate and early imaging examination in light of the clinical data.

Objective To determine whether thiol can affect the activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-?B) in and release of TNF-?from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated kupffer cells (KCs) and ascertain whether these effects are mediated through glutathione (GSH) .Methods KCs were isolated from livers of healthy male adult SD rats weighing 250-300g and cultured for 12h. The cultured KCs were exposed to LPS 10 ng?ml-1. The effects of different concentrations of glutathione monoethylester (GSHEE) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on NF-?B activity in and release of TNF-afrom KCs were determined. The effect of pretreatment with GSH synthesis inhibitor - BSO on the inhibitory effect of NAC on inflammation was investigated. NF?B activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and intracellular GSH content and TNF-?level in supernatant by HPLC. Results Intracellular GSH content remained unchanged after exposure of KCs to LPS. Both GSHEE and NAC increased intracellular GSH level and inhibited NF-?B activity and release of TNF-?. BSO blocked the increase in GSH induced by NAC but did not affect the inhibitory effect of NAC on TNF?release. Conclusions LPS does not affect GSH level in KCs. NAC can inhibit NF-?B activity in and TNF-?release from KCs and increase intracellular GSH level but the inhibitory effect is not mediated through GSH.

Angioplasty, Balloon ; methods ; Aortic Coarctation ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; therapy ; Aortography ; Cardiac Catheterization ; methods ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Platinum ; Prosthesis Design ; Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Angioplasty, Balloon ; methods ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; therapy ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; methods ; Child, Preschool ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Ear ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Melanosis ; drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Administration, Cutaneous ; Adolescent ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Clonidine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tic Disorders ; drug therapy

Intra-articular therapies, such as steroid injection, viscosupplement injection and acupuncture, are common non-surgical options for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. With any intra-articular injection or acupuncture procedure, there is a potential for inoculation with bacteria leading to possible knee infection. The authors report a patient who incurred an acute infection found after a total knee arthroplasty attributed to prior acupuncture procedure done as part of conservative treatment.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee

Objective To observe the effectiveness of Antithymocyte globulin/antilymphocyte globulin(ATG/ALG)in the treatment of nonsevere aplastie anemia(NSAA)patients who didn't respond to cyclosporine A(CsA)or relapsed and review the literature.Methods We administered ATG/ALG to 5 NSAA patients who relapsed or showed no re- sponse after CsA therapy.Results 3 patients were cured,2 patients improved,4 patients became transfusion inde- pendent in 90 days,none relapsed or progressed to clonal disease.Conclusion Those NSAA patients who relapsed or showed no response after CsA therapy should be asministered ATG/ALG,so as to reduce transfusion complications and prevent sustained immune attack to the bone marrow.

0.05).Conclusion DTI can noninvasive detect the potential disorder of corpus eallosum in vivo,thus providing useful information to differentiate the cerebral ischemia disease from multiple sclerosis.