Objective To evaluate the robustness of body mass index (BMI) adapted tube current selection method for obtaining consistent image quality in MSCT coronary artery imaging Methods Initially one hundred patients in the control group ( C group) underwent cardiac scans using GE 64-row VCT with standard scan protocol (640 mA, 120 kV, 0.35 see, body bewtie, C2 filter). Noise measurement was obtained for each patient using the average of three consecutive slices in the ascending aorta with ROI of 10 mm×10 mm to establish the relationship between BMI, desired image noise (IN) and required mA. An excel table was established to predict the required mA to achieve a desired IN for each patient with different BMI. A second group of one hundred cardiac patients (L group) was scanned with BMI-aclapted mA from the table to evaluate the practicability of this method. BMI, IN, CT dose index(CTDI),effective dose (ED) were all recorded. Results For the control group of 100 patients, the mean values and standard deviations of image quality score (IQS), BMI, IN and ED were 3.71±0.54, 25.08±2.63, 24.56±5.03 and (17.63±1.68 ) mSv (with range of 15-22 msy). Regression analysis indicated linear relationship between BMI and image noise with fixed mA. Using the relationship between tube current and image noise and noise ratio between large bowtie and cardiac bowtie, the following equation for the required tube current Xma to achieve present image noise of Ins for patient with certain BMI value when using cardiac bowtie could be then obtained: Xma = Fma×( k1 x BMI + c1 )/Ina]2, where Fma = 640 mA, k1 = 1. 033, c1 = - 3.2, Ins = 27 in the study. (2) For the patients in L group, the mean values and standard deviations of IQS, BMI, and IN were 3.69±0.53, 25.07±2.91, and 26.61±3.44, respectively. The average tube current used was (469.95±113.45) mA, depending on patient's BMI values. The average effectively dose was(9.08±2.25) mSv. There was no statistically difference between the two groups in image quality( F= 0.068,P=0.794). Conclusions In 64-MSCT cardiac imaging, the use of BMI dependent tube current selection method, in conjunction with dose reduction techniques, can provide individualized scan protocol to obtain consistent image quality across patient population and to optimize dose delivery to patients.

Objective To discuss the tympanic membrane puncture or tympanostomy tube under endotoscope combined with adenoidectomy under nasal endoscopy on the influence of invalid conservative treatment of pediatric secretory otitis media.Methods A total of 112 cases of secretory otitis media with invalid conservative treatment were selected in the department of otorhinolaryngology of children′s hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July 2013 to August 2015.They were divided into three groups,the group A of 38 cases(68 ears)underwent transnasal endoscopic pure adenoidectomy;the group B of 37 cases(60 ears)underwent transnasal endoscopic adenoidectomy combined with tympanocentesis;the group C of 37 cases(59 ears)underwent tympanostomy tube insertion.The clinical treatment effect,the period of middle ear effusion,postoperative recurrence and complication were observed and compared.Results The total effective rate of the 3 groups was improved after 3 months(P<0.05);the total effective rate in group B and group C at one week and 3 months after operation were higher than those of group A(P<0.05);and the total effective rate in group C at 3 months after operation was significantly higher than that of group B(P<0.05).The level of auditory brainstem evoked potential(ABR)and the latency of ABR wave Ⅰ latency were decreased at 1 year after operation(P<0.05);the ABR changes in group B and group C at 1 week and 1 year after operation were lower than those in group A(P<0.05).The incidence of recurrence rate and the period of middle ear effusion in group C were lower than those in group A and B(P<0.05).The incidence of complication of group A was lower than those of group B and group C(P<0.05).Conclusion Using tympanostomy tube combined with adenoidectomy under endoscope can improve the children with hearing,which not only can shorten the time of the middle ear effusion,but also effectively reduce the recurrence rate.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of MSCT in the diagnosis of superior sinus venosus atrial septal defect.Methods The MSCT features of superior sinus venosus atrial septal defect in twenty cases were evaluated retrospectively.The following data were recorded:the size and location of sinus venosus atrial septal defect,the anatomy of pulmonary vein,including number of anomalously draining pulmonary veins and their site of drainage,and associated anomalies.Results In all patients,the superior sinus venosus atrial septal defect locates in the extraseptal wall,which normally separates the right upper pulmonary vein from superior vena cava(SVC).And anomalous connection of right upper pulmonary venous and SVC was identified in all the patients.The mean value of the defect diameter was ( 17.1±5.8) mm.Left superior vena cava was identified in 3 patients.In an elderly patient,left anterior descending branch of coronary artery presented significant stenosis.And in another elderly patient with large atrial septal defect,severe pulmonary hypertension was identified by cardiac catheterization.MSCT findings of superior sinus venosus atrial septal defect in 6 cases were finally confirmed by surgical operation.Conclusions Contrastenhanced MSCT was a useful technique for the diagnosis of superior sinus venosus atrial septal defect,which accurately displayed the anatomical characteristics of the associated malformations for preoperative evaluation.

Objective To evaluate the imaging diagnosis of anomalous origin of coronary artery from the pulmonary artery(ACAPA).Methods A total of 11 cases with ACAPA were included in the present study.Chest films,echocardiography,cardioangiography,and electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) were employed as diagnostic modalities.Macroscopic anatomy at operation was referred. Results Ten cases were classified as anomalous origin of left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery(ALCAPA) and 1 case as anomalous origin of right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery(ARCAPA).They could not be diagnosed by chest films,but could be diagnosed by echocardiography in 3 cases,by EBCT in 1 case,and by cardioangiography in all cases.In ALCAPA,cardioangiography showed that the left coronary arteries arising from the posterior sinus or posterior wall of the pulmonary artery were perfused retrogradely via the collaterals from the dilated right coronary artery.In ARCAPA,the right coronary artery originated from the right sinus of the pulmonary artery.Gross anatomy at operation showed that the sites of the anomalous origins were the same as that of cardioangiography.Ischemic fibrosis of the anterior papillary muscles,mitral valve annulus enlargement,and prolapse of mitral valve,which led to mitral valve insufficiency,were found in 3 cases.Conclusion Chest film has limitation in the diagnosis and echocardiography should be further improved.Cardioangiography remains the “gold standard” of the preoperative diagnosis.

Objective To evaluate the effect of self-expandable occluder on closure of patent ductus arteriosus(PDA)with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension(PH)in adults.Methods Twenty-eight adult patients underwent transcatheter closure of PDA at a mean age of(31.3?11.6)years [(18—58)years].Either Amplatzer duct occluder or domestic device was used in the present study.X-ray,EKG and UCG were repeated in one day,one month,three months,and six months.Results Twenty of the 28 patients had successful occlusion,and the other 8 patients were given up.In the successful group,the narrowest diameter of PDA was(10.4?2.7)mm [(6—16)mm],the diameter of selected occluder was(15.6?3.2)mm [(10—20)mm] at the end of pulmonary artery.Systemic artery oxygen saturation(SAsat)before and after oxygen inhalation was(93.5?1.8)%,(98.2?1.8)%,respectively(P

Objective To investigate the risk factors of repeated episodes of child otitis media with effusion(OME).Methods One hundred and twenty-one children cases of repeated OME within 1 year in the Affiliated Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from February 2013 to August 2015 were selected as the repeated group and contemporaneous 125 cases of non-repeated OME were selected as the control group.The repeated OME related factors were performed the univariate and multivariate analysis.Furthermore the occurrence rates of main risk factors and annual onset frequency of nasal disease were compared among different age groups.Results The Logistic multivariate regression analysis results indicated that younger age,allergic rhinitis,recurrent upper respiratory tract infections,tonsil hypertrophy Ⅳ°,adenoid hypertrophy Ⅲ °and Ⅳ ° and poor mastoid gasification were major risk factors for recurrence of OME.The incidence rate of repeated upper respiratory tract infections in the 3-＜7 years old group and ＜3 years old group was obviously higher than that in the7-14 years old group(P＜0.05),adenoid hypertrophy in the ＜3 years old group and 7-14 years old group was lower than that in the 3-＜7 years old group(P＜0.05).The annual onset frequency of nasal disease in the repeated group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P=0.000).Conclusion Child OME is the results of multivariate factors combined action.The smaller the age,the more the annual onset frequency and the higher the possibility of OME repeated onset.

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect(ASD)with surgical closure in patients over 40 years old.Methods A single center, nonrandomized concurrent study was performed in 233 consecutive adults from January,2004 to December, 2005.The patients were assigned to either the device or surgical closure group according to the patients' options.Technical success rate,complications,residual shunt,hospital stay,amount of blood transfusion and cost were compared .Results A total of 137 patients were in the group undergoing device closure,whereas 96 patients were in the surgical group.There was no differences in age,sex distribution or baseline cardiac function between the two groups.The sizes of the ASD were(18.9?5.4)mm for the device group and(24.9?6.8)mm for the surgical group(P＜0.001).The technical success rates were 97.1% for the device group and 100% for the surgical group(P=0.151).The residual shunt rates were 0.7% for the device group and 0% for the surgical group(P=0.583).Mortality was zero for both groups.The complication rates were 16.1% for the device group and 30.2% for the surgical group(P=0.015).The blood transfusion amounts were(273.1?491.5)ml for the surgical group and 0 ml for the device group(P＜0.001).The lengths of hospital stay were (4.6?3.3)days for the device group and(12.0?4.0)days for the surgical group(P＜0.001).The costs of hospital stay were 39 570.0?5 929.5 RMB for the device group and 29 839.6?7 533.1 RMB for the surgical group(P＜0.001).Conclusions The technical success rates for surgical versus device closure of ASD were not significantly different,however,the complication rate was lower and the length of hospital stay was shorter for device closure than those for surgical repair.Transcatheter closure of seeundum ASD is a safe and effective alternative to surgical repair in selected patients.(J Intervent Radiol,2007,16:79-83)

OBJECTIVES: During pregnancy, pregnant women are prone to stress reactions due to external stimuli, affecting their own health and fetal development. At present, there is no good treatment for the stress reactions from pregnant women during pregnancy. This study aims to explore the effect of probiotics on abnormal behavior and hippocampal injury in pregnant stressed offspring. METHODS: SD pregnant rats were divided into a control group, a stress group, and a probiotics group, with 6 rats in each group. The control group was untreated; the stress group was given restraint stress on the 15th-20th day of pregnancy; the probiotics group was given both bifidobacterium trisporus capsules and restraint stress on the 15th-20th day of pregnancy, and the offspring continued to be fed with probiotics until 60 days after birth (P60). The offspring rats completed behavioral tests such as the open field test, the elevated plus maze test, the new object recognition test, and the barnes maze test at 60-70 d postnatally. Nissl's staining was used to reflect the injury of hippocampal neurons; immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of microglia marker ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA-1) which can reflect microglia activation; ELISA was used to detect the content of plasma TNF-α and IL-1β; Western blotting was used to detect the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3. RESULTS: The retention time of offspring rats in the stress group in the central area of the open field was significantly less than that in the control group (P<0.01), and the retention time of offspring rats in the probiotic group in the central area of the open field was significantly more than that in the stress group (P<0.05). The offspring rats in the stress group stayed in the open arm for a shorter time than the control group (P<0.05) and entered the open arm less often than the control group (P<0.01); the offspring rats in the probiotic group stayed in the open arm for a longer time than the stress group and entered the open arm more often than the stress group (both P<0.05). The discrimination ratio for new to old objects in the offspring rats of the stress group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.01), and the discrimination ratio for new to old objects in the offspring rats of the probiotic group was significantly higher than that of the stress group (P<0.05). The offspring rats in the stress group made significantly more mistakes than the control group (P<0.05), and the offspring rats in the probiotic group made significantly fewer mistakes than the stress group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the numbers of Nissl bodies in CA1, CA3, and DG area were significantly reduced in the offspring rats of the stress group (all P<0.001), the number of activated microglia in DG area of hippocampus was significantly increased (P<0.01), the contents of TNF-α and IL-1β in peripheral blood were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), the protein expression level of Bcl-2 was significantly down-regulated, and the protein expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 were significantly up-regulated (all P<0.001). Compared with the stress group, the numbers of Nissl bodies in CA1, CA3, and DG area were significantly increased in the probiotic group offspring rats (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05), the number of activated microglia in the DG area of hippocampus was significantly reduced (P<0.05), and the TNF-α and IL-1β levels in peripheral blood were significantly decreased (both P<0.05), the protein expression level of Bcl-2 was significantly up-regulated, and the protein expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 were significantly down-regulated (all P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Probiotic intervention partially ameliorated anxiety and cognitive impairment in rats offspring of pregnancy stress, and the mechanism may be related to increasing the number of neurons, inhibiting the activation of hippocampal microglia, and reducing inflammation and apoptosis.
Animals ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Female ; Hippocampus/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Probiotics/therapeutic use* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism* ; Rats ; Stress, Psychological/therapy* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism*