Objective To evaluate the left ventricular(LV)torsion in patients with permanent pacemaker implantation by speckle tracking imaging(STI).Methods Twenty-two patients with permanent pacemaker implantation were enrolled.Eleven of them had the pacing electrodes placed in the right ventricular(RV)apex(RVA group)and the others had the pacing electrodes placed in the RV outflow tract (RVOT group).Thirteen healthy subjects were studied as controls.The basal and apical shortaxis views of the left ventricle were acquired and analyzed using EchoPAC 7.0 station.Results ①The curves of LV torsion in the pacing groups were generally lower than those in the control group and notched.The torsion parameters of RVA group and RVOT group were all less than those of control group(Ptw:12.57±4.19°vs 12.43±5.46°vs 18.98±5.73°,all P＜0.05),but there were no significant differences between RVA group and RVOT group.The time of torsion was not changed in the pacing groups because there were no significant differences among the three groups.②The values of Ptw-a(peak twist of the apex)were gradually declined among control group,RVA group and RVOT group.There was statistical difference in Ptw-a between RVOT group and control group(7.40±4.27°vs 12.70±6.82°,P=0.0364).③The basal Tp-SD(standard deviation of times to peak twist)of RVOT group was significantly longer than that of control group[14.1(7.97～22.70)%vs 4.87(3.03～7.79)%,P=0.0298].And total Tp-SD of RVA group was significantly longer than that of control group[(7.6±6.5)%vs 2.26(1.62～3.51)%,P=0.0423].④The curves of torsion velocity in the pacing groups were obviously disorganized compared with control group.But there were no statistical differences in Ptv(peak twist velocity),Putv(peak untwisting velocity),Tptv(time to peak twist velocity)and Tutv(time to peak untwisting velocity)among the three groups.Conclusions The RV pacing tends to impair torsional synehrony of LV and depress LV torsion,though it doesn't change the timing of LV torsion.It may impair LV systolic and diastolic function.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical value of double-balloon endoscopy in subjects of failed conventional colonoseopy and gastro-intestinal tract modified surgery.Methods Doubleballoon endoscopy was performed in thirty-two subjects of failed conventional colonoscopy,three and nine patients of previous subtotal gastrectomy with BillrothⅡand gastro-intestinal modified surgery for various clinical manifestations.Suceessful intubation rates of terminal ileum or cecum in colonoscopic failure patients,afferent and efferent loop intubation in patients of BillrothⅡand alimentary tract modified surgery,were recorded and diagnostic yields in these patients were also observed.Results The endoscopy was successfully intubated into terminal ileum or cecum in 29 subjects,the intubated rate was 90.6%,the endoscopic diagnosis was obtained in 7 subjects,and endoscopic treatment was performed in 3 subjects.The endoscopy was successfully inserted in terminus of afferent loop and 150-180 cm of efferent below the anastomosis in all 3 patients of Billroth type Ⅱ gastrectomy,and the diagnosis was all clarified.And endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed in one patient.Five of nine patients with previous alimentary tract modified surgery had lesions detected after endoscopic procedure,and double-balloon endoscopy could have a thorough visualization on operated area and suspected region as needed.Abdominal pain and melaena were observed in 8 and 3 subjects respectively.Transient urine amylase elevation was found in one patient.The symptoms were alleviated and amylase was returned to normal after treatment.Conclusions Double-balloon endoscopy was a safe and feasible remediai endoscopic procedure with high diagnostic yields and endotherapeutic interventional capability,in patients of failed conventional colonoscopy and previous BillrothⅡgastrectomy and alimentary modified surgery.

Objective To analyze the changes of epidemiological and clinical features of patients with acute brucellosis over the past twenty years.Methods The epidemiological and clinieM data of patients with acute brucellosis in Harbin and counties around from 1982-1984 and 2002-2004 in our hospital were retrospeclively analyzed,and the routes of infection,epidemiologieal area,clinical manifestations,laboratory examination,time distribution and the treatment for relapse of different groups were compared.Results One hundred and sixty-five cases were collected.including 79 cases in 1982-1984 and 86 cases in 2002-2004.There were significant differences in routes of infection(X2＝11.758,P＜0.01)and epidemiological area(X2＝8.903,P＜0.05)between two groups of patients based on epidemiologieal data.Clinical manifestations were significantly different in two groups.such as sweating 74.7%(59/79)and 50.0%(43/86)(X2=10.629,P＜0.01);hepatomegaly 21.5%(17/79)and 9.3%(8/86)(X2＝4.780,P＜0.05);orchiditis,25.3%(20/79)and 8.1%(7/86)(X2＝8.877,P＜0.01);headache,20.3%(16/79)and 7.0%(6/86)(X2=6.281,P＜0.05);the distribution of fever severity(X2＝11.671,P＜0.01)and type(X2＝29.946,P＜0.01);the distribution of total white blood cells(X2=11.550,P＜0.01);rates of thrombocytopenia,2.5%(2/79)and 19.8%(17/86)(X2＝12.005,P＜0.01);and rates of liver dysfunction,21.5%(17/79)and 54.7%(47/86)(X2＝19.037,P7＜0.01).Relapse rate at 3-week 25.0%(6/24)was higher than that 6.5%(4/62)at 6-week(X2＝5.793,P＜0.05).Conclusion The epidemiologieal and clinical feature of acute burgeri infection has changed over the past twenty years due to the different strain of Bacterium.

The study summarizes the clinical experience of surgical treatments of various types of thoracic aneurysm and aortic dissection. Clinical data of 122 patients with thoracic aneurysm and aortic dissection during July 2005 to July 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. The elective operations were performed in 107 patients while emergency surgery was done in 15 cases. Different surgical strategies were employed on the basis of diseased region, including simple ascending aortic replacement (n=3), aortic root replacement (n=43), hemi-arch replacement /total arch replacement+elephant trunk technique (n=32), thoracic/thoracoabdominal aortic replacement (n=8) and endovascular repair (n=36). In this series, there is 4 cases of perioperative death due to massive cerebral hemorrhage (n=1), respiratory failure (n=1) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) (n=2). Three cases developed post-operative massive cerebral infarction and the relatives of the patients abandoned treatment. Instant success rate of endovascular repair was 100%. The intimal rupture was sealed. Blood flow was unobstructed in true lumen and no false lumen was visualized. It was concluded that aggressive surgery should be considered in the patients with thoracic aneurysm and aortic dissection. Surgical procedures should vary with the location and the nature of the lesions.
Aneurysm, Dissecting/*surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic/*surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Surgical Procedures/methods ; Young Adult

Objective To analyze clinical charaCteristics and diagnostic experience on thyrotropinoma (TSHoma).Methods Clinical characteristics,laboratory findings,diagnostic experience,and surgical outcome were summarized from 16 cases of TSHoma in our hospital from January 2006 to September 2011.Results ( 1 )Among 16 cases ( 9 male,7 female ) aged ( 51.63 ± 13.23 ) years,14 ( 87.5 ％ ) cases presented with hyperthyroidism and 2 were diagnosed by physical examination. None of them had exophthalmos, acropachy, or pre-tibial myxedema.( 2 ) Serum FT4 and FT3 levels were all above normal range with serum TSH ( 4.37 ± 2.77 ) μIU/ml.There were 25％ (4/16) cases with positive serum thyroglobulin antibody and/or thyroid peroxidase antibody,none with positive TSH receptor antibody.TRH stimulating test was performed in 9 cases,3 were with positive response ( peak TSH level increased by 5.45-9.20 μIU/ml compared with baseline),and 6 without response (peak TSH level increased by -0.01-3.15 μIU/ml compared with baseline).TSH was suppressed to 27.15％ (5.19％-99.15 ％ ) of the baseline in 11 cases in which somatostatin suppression test was carried out.Prolactin and insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ levels were increased in 2 cases.MRI performed in 15 patients showed 10 cases of microadenomas and 5 cases of pituitary adenoma.A mass in nasal cavity was found in one case,where no mass was found in the pituitary.( 3 )Surgery was made in 11 cases ( 9 patients underwent transsphenoidal operation,one craniotomy,and one underwent operation via endoscopic nasal septum ). All patients (11/11) were proved to yield pituitary adenoma pathologically.Conclusion Thyrotropinoma should be considered in hyperthyroidism with unsuppressed TSH level,and dynamic tests facilitated early diagnosis.Ectopic thyrotropinoma shoull be considered when normal pituitary morphology was shown by MRI.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects on serum homocysteine(Hcy) level,vascular function and carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) in metformin-treated diabetic patients with or without supplementation with folate and Vitamin B12.MethodsA total of 100 newly diagnosed diabetic type 2patients were divided into two groups by random digits table with 50 cases each,90 patients completed study.Forty-seven participants (control group) received a 6-month course of metformin treatment,43 patients (treatment group) received mefformin,folate and Vitamin B12 treatment.The levels of serum Hcy,endothelin-1 (ET-1),carotid IMT,large or small arterial elasticity index (C1,C2),flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery were evaluated before and after treatment.ResultsThe level of serum Hcy in control group significantly increased compared with before treatment[ (13.4 ± 2.7)μ mol/L vs.(11.1 ± 1.9)μ mol/L],hut the level of serum Hcy in treatment group significantly decreased compared with before treatment [ (9.2 ± 1.8 ) μ mol/L vs. ( 11.3 ± 2.0) μ mol/L ],there was significant difference(P ＜ 0.05 ).A beneficial effect was observed in the serum ET-1,FMD,carotid IMT and C2 in treatment group[ (20.0 ± 6.2)ng/L,( 15.8 ± 7.6)％,(0.8 ± 0.2) mm,(4.1 ± 2.1 ) ml/mm Hg ( 1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa) × 100 vs. (31.3 ±10.1 ) ng/L,(9.7 ± 4.5)％,( 1.1 ± 0.4) mm,(2.3 ± 1.0) ml/mm Hg × 100 ] (P ＜ 0.05).The levels of ET-1,FMD,carotid IMT and C2 after treatment in control group [ (24.8 ± 6.8) ng/L,( 12.9 ± 6.3 )％,(0.9 ± 0.3)mm,(3.0 ± 1.4) ml/mm Hg × 100] had significant difference compared with before treatment [ (30.6 ± 8.7)ng/L,(9.8 ± 4.6)％,( 1.0 ± 0.3) mm,(2.2 ± 0.9) ml/mm Hg × 100](P＜ 0.05).However,the results were improved significantly in treatment group than those in control group (P ＜0.05).In treatment group,significant correlation were detected between changes of Hcy and ET- 1 (r =0.43,P ＜ 0.05 ),carotid IMT(r =0.56,P ＜ 0.05),FMD (r =-0.54,P ＜ 0.05 ),C2 (r =-0.37,P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionsAdministration of folate and Vitamin B12 can reduce the levels of serum Hcy and ET-1 in metformin-treated type 2 diabetic patients,which exert beneficial effect on carotid IMT,FMD and C2.

Objective To determine the effect of reducing the value of mA or kV on the image quality and the radiation dose of the patients undergoing low-dose spiral CT for orthodontics.Methods Thirty patients were divided into three groups,each group has 10 patients.They were group 1(80 kV and 200 mA),group 2 (120 kV and 80 mA),group 3(120 kV and 200 mA)The volume CT dose index(CTDI)was recorded and the average dose-length produce(DLP)was calculated in three groups,respectively.Image quality of three groups were compared and scored by two radiologists,and the results were statistically analysed.Results The CTDI among three groups in diagnostic image quality.Conclusions Low-dose spiral CT for orthodontics,especially the low-kV scan,may decrease the radiation exposure and guarantee the image quality.

Objective To explore the relationship between serum leptin level and the hypothalamuspituitary-gonad ( HPG) axis in female adolescents with anorexia nervosa ( AN). Methods Sixteen newly diagnosed female adolescents with AN in Shanghai and Zhejiang province were investigated, and their serum leptin, FSH, LH and body composition were measured before and after 18 weeks treatment, and their menorrhea cycles were observed. The rhythm of 24 h serum leptin secretion was studied in 4 patients with AN. Twenty-six, healthy females with normal weight and without contraceptive medication were studied as controls. Results (1) All of 16 patients had amenorrhea, 3 primary amenorrhea and 13 secondary amenorrhea. At admission LH in 14 patients and FSH in 12 patients were below the low limit of the normal reference range (1.5 U/L and 4. 6 U/L respectively), and among them 5 patiend had both 15% weight gain and significantly increased serum leptin level (P

Objective To assess the diagnosis and treatment of enterovesical fistula.Methods The clinical data of 12 cases (10 men and 2 women;mean age,57 years) of enterovesical fistula were retro- spectively analyzed.Of the 12 cases,7 (58%) had colovesical fistula,3 (25%) had ileovesical fistula,and 2 (17%) had rectovesical fistula.The etiology of fistula was intestinal malignancy in 7 cases,Crohn disease in 3 ,and bladder cancer in 1,and intestinal diverticulitis in 1.The clinical features included fecaluria in 10 cases,recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in 6,abdominal pain in 4,and pneumaturia in 3.Five patients (5/9) had a definite diagnosis by CT;3 (3/6),by cystoseopy;2 (2/5),by cystography;and 1 (1/5),by barium enema.Among the 10 patients undergoing surgical intervention,resection of the involved bowl with one-stage anastomosis and partial cystectomy was performed in 4;resection of the bowl with one-stage anasto- mosis and repair of the fistula or single bladder drainage in each of 2;one-stage transverse colostomy and two- stage radical colectomy with partial cystectomy in 1;palliative proximal colostomy in 3;and conservative ther- apy in 2.Results One patient died of septic shock 10 d after admission.Nine patients were followed for 3 months to 16 years (mean,6.5 years).One patient had intestinal fistula recurrence and was cured with re- operation;1 patient with conservative therapy and 1 with palliative surgery died of tumor metastasis;and 1 died of cerebrovascular accident 2 years later without fistula recurrence previously.Five patients undergoing surgery had a better survival with no complication.Conclusions The major cause of enterovesical fistula is intestinal malignancy.Fecaluria and recurrent UTI are the most common symptoms.CT and cystoscopy are the preferred adjunctive examinations.Surgical intervention is the major therapeutic choice.

Objective To study the prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy and the quasi-latent Keshan disease in villages of non-endemic areas of six Keshan disease endemic provinces in China,and to provide reference values for proposing a elimination standard of keshan disease.Methods County,township and village was selected as the study area by using multi-stage sampling in non-Keshan disease areas of Sichuan,Shanxi,Henan,Shandong and in Keshan disease areas of Chongqing and Yunnan.In each county two townships were selected and in each township one village was chosen.The residents of the villages sampled were surveyed by questionnaire,physical examination,electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac echocardiography.Suspected dilated cardiomyopathy patients had chest X-ray.Dilated cardiomyopathy patients were diagnosed according to the criteria proposed by 2006 World Health Organization/International Society and Federation of Cardiology (WHO/ISFC).Results The number of investigated villages was 126 and 54 139 people were surveyed by questionnaire and clinical examination.Ten patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were found,the prevalence was 18.47/100 000(10/54 139),and its 95％ confidence interval was 18.11/100 000-18.84/100 000.A total of 197 patients with quasi-latent Keshan disease were found,the prevalence was 363.88/100 000 (197/54 139),and its 95％ confidence interval was 362.27/100 000-365.49/ 100 000.The prevalence of male quasi-latent Keshan disease was 353.34/100 000(83/23 490) and of female was 372.07/100 000(114/30 639).The number of subjects with normal and abnormal ECG was 45 222 and 8917,respectively,and the rate of abnormal ECG was 16.47％.The highest rate of abnormal ECG was 38.28％ (1585/4141) in Chongqing.The lowest rate of abnormal ECG was 8.10％ (1175/14 507) in Yunnan.The highest detection rate of T wave and ST segment changes was 4.67％ (2528/54 139).In abnormal ECG indices,the detection rate of Henan,Shandong and Chongqing was higher,and all of them were higher than 10.0％.Conclusions We suggest that the reference baselines of dilated cardiomyopathy and quasi-latent Keshan disease in Keshan disease areas of the six provinces in the south of China be 18.47/100 000 and 363.88/100 000,respectively.