Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Down Syndrome ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo determine whether glutamate induces the alteration of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression in cultured rat astrocytes. MethodsThe secondary cultured astrocytes were treated with 1 mmol/L L-glutamate for 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h. The morphologic changes of astrocytes were observed through microscope after GFAP immunostaining and AQP4 mRNA expression were detected with real-time PCR. ResultsThe astrocytes swelled when exposed to glutamate for 1 h and remained with prolonged treatment. Meanwhile, the AQP4 mRNA expression were early down-regulated and subsequently up-regulated, featured with the lowest AQP4 mRNA level at 12 h after treatment (P<0.01) and higher at 48 h (P<0.05). ConclusionAquaporin 4 may be involved in the occurrence and development of astrocyte swelling induced by glutamate.

Medical imaging teaching depends on support from multimedia database which is constructed with image information provided by PACS/HIS ( Picture archiving and communication system/Hospital information system ).This paper evaluated construction,administration and application of the multimedia database,and illustrated the importance of PACS/HIS in construction of the database,as well as of the database in medical imaging teaching.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic performance of CTCA in predicting myocardial perfusion defects through comparative analysis between MPI defects and severity of coronary stenosis on CTCA.MethodsFour hundred and seventy-eight patients who underwent CTCA and 99Tcm-MIBI MPI in the same period were analyzed retrospectively.According to the severity of coronary stenosis judged by visual evaluation of the vessel diameter,the patients were divided into five groups:no stenosis,mild stenosis,moderate stenosis,severe stenosis and total occlusion.MPI results were classified as negative or positive for perfusion defects,and the prevalence of perfusion defects in every group was calculated per-patient and per-vessel basis.The cut-off of stenotic severity for predicting myocardial perfusion defects was designated as 50％ or 75％,with MPI as standard reference.True positive,true negative,false positive and false negative statistics were thus determined separately on patient and vessel basis.The diagnostic performance for CTCA were calculated and compared.Pearson Chi-square and its partition tests or Fisher exact test were used to compare ordinal variables.ResultsFifty-eight patients showed myocardial perfusion defects.Either by patientbased or vessel-based analysis,the prevalence of myocardial perfusion defects showed an increasing trend with greater coronary artery stenosis in each group,and there were statistical differences among them (x2 =116.62 and 483.83,both P ＜ 0.05).On patient-based analysis,sensitivity ( SN),specificity ( SP),positive predictive value( PPV),negative predictive value(NPV) and accuracy (AC) for CTCA predicting myocardial perfusion defects were 62.1 ％ ( 36/58 ) and 34.5％ ( 20/58 ) (x2 =8.84,P ＜ 0.05 ),84.5％(355/420) and 97.1％ (408/420) (x2 =40.16,P ＜0.05),35.6％ (30/101) and 62.5％ (20/32) (x2 =7.19,P＜0.05),94.2％ (355/377) and 91.5％ (408/446) (x2 =2.18,P ＞0.05),81.8％ (391/478)and 89.5 ％ (428/478) (x2 =11.66,P ＜ 0.05 ) when the cutoff was set to 50％ and 75％,respectively.On vessel-based analysis,the SN,SP,PPV,NPV and AC for CTCA predicting myocardial perfusion defects were 58.8％ (40/68) and 30.9％ (21/68) (x2 =10.73,P ＜ 0.05),95.9％ (1768/1844) and 99.0％ (1826/1844) (x2 =36.72,P ＜ 0.05 ),34.5％ (40/116) and 53.8％ (21/39) (x2 =4.59,P ＜0.05 ),98.4％ (1768/1796) and 97.5％ ( 1826/1873 ) (x2 =4.14,P ＜ 0.05 ),94.6％ ( 1808/1912 ) and 96.6％ ( 1847/1912 ) (x2 =10.31,P ＜ 0.05 ),respectively.ConclusionsThe prevalence of myocardial perfusion defects correlates positively with the severity of coronary stenosis seen on CTCA.CTCA may predict perfusion defects with high SP and NPV.However,the PPV of CTCA in predicting myocardial perfusion defects is poor when the stenosis cut-off is set at 50％.It is significantly improved when the cutoff value is set at 75 ％.

Purpose To compare the CT features of hepatic metastases of gastro-entero-pancreatic adenocarcinomas with and without neuroendocrine differentiation [NED(+) and NED(-)] and to explore the value of CT features in differentiation of the two groups.Material and Methods From January 2009 to December 2015,abdominal CT scans of 17 pathologically proved cases of NED(+) gastro-entero-pancreatic adenocarcinomas with hepatic metastases and 34 pathologically proved cases of NED(-) hepatic metastases with sex,age and primary site matched were retrospectively reviewed.CT features including hepatic metastases number,size,distribution,shape and enhancement were assessed,as well as presence of lymphadenopathy or ascites.Differences of CT features between the two groups were analyzed.Results Compared with NED(-) group,hepatic metastases of NED(+) group more frequently demonstrated a peripheral enhancement on artery phase (94.1％ vs.44.1％,P＜0.05),and more washout on portal venous phase (41.2％ vs.5.9％,P＜0.05),while hepatic metastases of NED(--) group showed more plateau type (91.2％ vs.58.8％).There was no significant difference of other findings between the two groups (P＞0.05).Logistic regression revealed that enhancement area in hepatic artery phase and enhancement changes in portal venous phase were independent factors for differential diagnosis (P＜0.05).The area under the ROC curve of combining the two features was 0.811 (P＜0.05).Conclusion There are some different CT enhancement features between NED(+) and NED(-) hepatic metastases of gastro-entero-pancreatic adenocarcinomas,which are helpful in differential diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: von Willebrand factor (vWF) is only released from endothelial cells and platelets and is an in vivo and in vitro marker of endothelial injury in septic patients with acute lung injury (ALI). Interleukin-8 (IL-8), as a proinflammatory mediator causing recruitment of inflammatory cells, induces an increase in oxidant stress mediators and makes it as a key parameter for localized inflammation. However, it has not been well established whether the level of serum IL-8 is associated with the severity of lung injury and whether it is a prognosis marker for severe lung contusion. This study was to investigate the expression of plasma vWF and IL-8 and their association with the severity and outcomes of severe pulmonary contusion. METHODS: A total of 63 patients were divided into a severe pulmonary contusion with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) group and a non-ARDS group, or a survivor group and a non-survivor group, or an injury severity score (ISS) <20 group and an ISS ≥20 group. Another 20 healthy volunteers served as controls. The levels of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after injury. The expression patterns of the plasma vWF and serum IL-8 were compared between different groups. RESULTS: The concentrations of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 were significantly increased in all severe pulmonary contusion patients at all time points in comparison with the control group. The concentrations of plasma vWF in patients with ARDS increased during the whole study period, but vWF in patients with non-ARDS increased gradually until day 5 and then decreased at day 7. The concentration of serum IL-8 showed a similar expression pattern in both groups, but the expression increased more significantly in the ARDS group than in the non-ARDS group. Interestingly, both plasma vWF and serum IL-8 levels steadily increased in the non-survivor group. Furthermore, the level of plasma vWF was higher in the ISS≥20 group than in the ISS<20 group. The level of serum IL-8 in the ISS≥20 group was consistently high, while that in the ISS<20 group peaked at day 3 and decreased at day 5. In addition, the level of plasma vWF was positively correlated with platelet count, but negatively correlated with oxygen index. The level of serum IL-8 was positively correlated with white blood cell count and ISS score, and inversely correlated with oxygen index. CONCLUSION: The elevated levels of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 in severe pulmonary contusion patients reflect the severity of pulmonary injury and patients outcomes, suggesting that the plasma vWF and serum IL-8 are sensitive markers for clinical evaluation of the severity of pulmonary injury and predication of patient prognosis.

AlM:To observe the changes of binocular vision in V-pattern exotropia children before and after surgical correction, and the effect of training in reconstructing the binocular vision after surgical corrections.METHODS: Sixty V-pattern exotropia children were enrolled in this study and were divided into three groups according to their age:group A (4~6 years old), group B (7~9 years old), and group C (10~12 years old), 20 cases for each group. Patients received routine refraction and ophthalmic examinations. Distance and near deviation were measured by prism-covering method and synoptophore. The simultaneous perception and fusion were examined with a synoptophore, and the stereacuity was measured with stereograms ( Titmus) . The children who didn’t reconstruct binocular vision function 1wk after surgery received binocular vision training. The data were recorded before and 1 , 2, 4, and 8wk after surgery. RESULTS: Binocular vision significantly improved among the children after surgery in group A and B ( P<0. 05 ) . Significantly divergence showed between group C and the other groups 1wk after surgery ( P < 0. 05 ). Binocular vision of the three groups all significantly improved 8wk after surgery, with no significant differences (P>0. 05). CONCLUSlON: V - pattern exotropia children can benefit from early surgical correction and training after surgery in reconstruct binocular vision.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relation between the behavior psychology analysis of partial mechanical injuries and the nature of death in high-falling cases, and provide reference, for such cases. METHODS: Of 311 death victims of high-falling injuries collected from 2008 to 2013, 205 cases were associated with partial mechanical injuries. The characteristics of injury formation, preliminary crime scene traces, fatal injury of high-falling, and text messages were all retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: According to the investigation of preliminary crime scene traces, fatal injury of high-falling and text message, there were 86 suicide, 24 accident and 95 uncertainty in the 205 cases. According to the behavior psychology analysis of partial mechanical injuries, there were 80 suicide, 11 accident, and 4 homicide in the 95 uncertainty cases. CONCLUSION The partial mechanical injuries uncertainly caused by high-falling correlate with the manner of high-falling death. According to the behavior psychology analysis of the partial mechanical injuries in high-falling death cases, the presumption of high-falling death is usually accurate
Accidents/statistics & numerical data* ; Cause of Death ; Death ; Female ; Forensic Pathology ; Homicide/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Suicide/statistics & numerical data* ; Uncertainty ; Wounds and Injuries/pathology*

Objective To investigate the clinical features and microsurgical resection techniques of cerebellopontine angle cholesteatoma. Methods Clinical features, surgical approach and techniques, results and complications were analyzed in 30 cases of cerebellopontine angle cholesteatoma. Results Total resection in 26 cases, subtotal resection in 4 cases ,no operative mortality. Post-operative complications was aseptic encephalitis which was most common after treatment, and all recovered. Conclusion Cerebellopontine angle cholesteatoma was a third category of common tumors, CT, MRI examination can provide diagnosis. According to cholesteatoma involving the site ,selecting a good surgical approach and making good use of microsurgical technique could improve surgical total removal rate and reduce postoperative complications.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic myelopathy results from liver disease, which lacks of effective cure method. Liver transplantation has attempted to cure this disease; however, the long-term therapeutic effect is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: To explore the long-term therapeutic effect of liver transplantation in patients with hepatic myelopathy. METHODS: The clinical data of 2 patients with hepatic myelopathy, who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation, in August 2002 and November 2004, at the 309 Hospital of Chinese PLA, were analyzed retrospectively. The time of follow-up was 18 and 43 months, respectively. The muscle strength of double lower limbs in 2 patients was assessed prior to and after operation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Two patients recovered well at 4 weeks after transplantation, the clinical symptom and physical signs of patients were improved obviously, the blood routine examination and other biochemical index were normal,and the function of transplanted kidney was normal. Two patients discharged at 6 weeks after transplantation. Patient 1 could stand for a long time at months 6 after transplantation, walked slowly with the supporter after 12 months and without the supporter at 43 months. The muscular strength of two lower limbs was grade 4. And the liver function was normal. Patients 2 could move his lower limbs in bed at months 6 after transplantation, walked with the supporter at 18 months. The muscular strength of two lower limbs was grade 3. The liver function was normal. It demonstrated that liver transplantation is beneficial to control hepatic myelopathy and recover muscular strength of two lower limbs. It is a newly developed, effective curing method for treating hepatic myelopathy. However, the numbers were small with short time observation, thus, the long-term therapeutic effect still need to be explored.