Objective To explore application value of blood flow ratio indexes in the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT) with different thyroid functions.Methods One hundred and four patients who were diagnosed clinically as HT were enrolled in the study.The patients were classified into three groups according to thyroid functions:the hyperthyroidism group,the hypothyroidism group and the euthyroidism group.Thirty-two volunteers with normal thyroid functions were enrolled as control group.All the cases were examined with ultrasound and five blood flow ratio indexes were calculated automatically.Their differences in the four groups were compared.Results ①Among the five blood flow ratio indexes,three indexes(mean ratio,maxratio and minratio) had significant differences between each two groups(P ＜ 0.001),the other two indexes didn't have any differences among the four groups.②Two receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves on meanratio were drew:a)HT with hyperthyroidism and HT with euthyroidism;b) HT with euthyroidism and HT with hypothyroidism.The cutoff value as a result of the ROC analysis of HT with hyperthyroidism and HT with euthyroidism was 0.235 with the maxim of specificity and sensitivity.The cutoff value of HT with euthyroidism and HT with hypothyroidism was 0.113 with the maxim of specificity and sensitivity.Both Bland-Altamn scatter diagrams and high intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC) showed that blood flow ratio indexes have high repeatability.Conclusions Blood flow ratio indexes are promising quantitative indexes in reflecting the vascularity of thyroid parenchyma,and they are helpful in the differential diagnosis of HT with different thyroid functions.

Objective To evaluate the application of preserved urethral plate urethroplasty to treat urethral fistula after hypospadias repair. Methods Two hundred and twenty-four cases with u-rethral fistula after hypospadias repair were treated by preserved urethral plate urethroplasty from 2001 to 2006.Follow-up data were reviewed and analyzed.All of these cases had big(>1 cm)ure-thral fistula.One hundred and two failed hypospadias cases were repaired by tubularized incised plateurethroplasty(Snodgrass).The patients were 2-16 years old and mean age was 3.7 years old.In thesame time period,86 failed hypospadias cases were repaired by Duplay urethroplasty.The children were 2-14 years old and mean age was 3.5 years old.Twenty failed hypospadias cases were repaircd by Onlay island flap urethroplasty and another 1 6 failed hypospadias cases were repaired by Flip-Flap urethroplasty. Results Fistulas were successfully repaired in 86(84.3%)cases out of 102 tubular-ized incised plate urethroplasty procedure.There were 1 3 urethral fistulas and 3 urethral strictures.Seventy-five(87.2%)cases were successful out of 86 Duplay procedure.There were 9 urethral fistulas and 2 urethral strictures.There was no significant difference between these tWO groups of results(P>0.05).Nineteen cases were successful out of 20 Onlay urethroplasty procedures and there was only l urethral fistula.Fourteen cases were successful out of 1 6 Flip-Flap procedures and there was onlv 2 u-rethral fistulas. Conclusions Surgical procedure for urethral fistula repair should be chosen accord-ing to the condition of penis.Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty can get same satisfactory result comparing with Duplay method for failed hypospadias repair.More Snodgrass should be used to assure the cosmetic penis.

Objective To discuss the management of urethral duplication in children. Methods The clinical data of 1 8 children(all are males)with urethral duplication were retrospectivelv ana-lyzed. All the 18 patients were sagittal plane included epispadias in 6,hyposPadias in 4 and Y type in the remaining 8. In 6 cases with epispadias,3 patients underwent excision of the accessorv dorsal ure-thra,3 patients without operation.Urethroplasty was necessary in the patient with a duplicated hypo-spadiac urethra. Of 8 patients with Y-type urethral duplication,7 patients underwent 2 stage repair including displacement of the urethra from the anal canal to the perineum at stage 1 and subsequent urethral reconstruction at stage 2.The ventral urethra which was hypospadias had been excised in the other one. Results All the patients were followed-up. Good cosmetic and functional resuIts were a-chieved in the 3 boys who underwent excision of the accessory dorsal urethra.In the hypospadiac du-plication,2 patients could void spontaneously through a normally positioned granular meatus.One boy presented with urethral stenosis after operated. One boy had a vesicostomy for neuropathic bladder. In Y-type urethral duplications,only 1 patient was successful after 2-stage urethroplasty,3 patients de- veloped urethra stricture or fistula,3 boys need the 2-stage operation,the other 0ne who underwent excision of the ventral urethra could void spontaneously. Conclusions Urethral duplication is a rare congenital anomaly.The clinical presentation varies because of the different anatomical Datterns of this abnormality. Commonly the ventral urethra is most functional and maintained after surgical correc-tion.Surgical management should be individual and depend on the anatomical configuration of the du-plicated urethras.

Objective To explore the method of isolation, identification and in vitro differentiation of islet stem cells in neonatal rat. Methods The whole pancreata of neonatal rats were digested with collagenase, then,under the (condition) of pH 7.4～7.6,the digested tissue fragments were cultured with serum and serum-free RPMI 1640 (( bFGF), EGF, N2).The whole formation process of new islet cell-like cell masses was examined.The insulin (release) test was used to detect islet function. The expression of nestin was tested by immunocytochemistry. Results The nestin positive cells can be found within 36 h of culture of the digested pancreatic fragments.After addition of bFGF,ECF,N2,nestin positive cells proliferated fast and formed new islets-like cell masses after 18～24 d, and (insulin)ssion could be confirmed. Conclusions The nestin positive cells of pancreatic cells possess the character of islet stem cells, and can form islet like cell masses through culture in vitro.

Objective To evaluate the long-term functional results, complications and patient's satisfaction level in patients performed augmented enterocystoplasty and continent urinary diversion using the appendix. Methods From 1999 to 2005, there were 22 children (12 males and 10 females) underwent augmented enterocystoplasty and continent urinary diversion using the appendix. Surgical results were reviewed retrospectively. There were 11 eases with bladder and urethra dysfunction attributed to neurogenic bladder, 2 cases with complex genitourinary malformation associated with an imperforated anus, 2 cases with exstrophy-epispadias complex, 2 cases with posterior urethral valves, 3 cases with failed urethrovaginal fistula repair and 2 epispadias cases with post failure of Young-Dees- Leadbetter bladder neck reconstruction. Upper urinary tract dilatation and hydroureteronephrosis were found in 17 eases (28 units), including grade Ⅱ-Ⅴ vesicoureteral reflux in 15 children (24 units). Simultaneous procedures included ureteral reimplantation in 15 cases and bladder neck closure in 14 cases. The appendix was used as the catheterizable conduit placed in the right lower abdomen and clean intermittent catheterization was performed in all patients. Outcomes were assessed by urodynamic study, IVU, ultrasound, voiding cystourethrography, BUN, Cr and electrolyte test. Results Mean follow-up was 3.6 years, ranging from 1.5-6 years. Complications included stomal stenosis requiring dilatation in 2 cases and leakage in 2 cases without bladder neck closure and 1 case required surgical revision. All patients achieved excellent stomal continence. No metabolic acidosis and bladder stone was noted. Upper urinary tract impairment had not worsened in all patients. Conclusion Augmented enterocystoplasty and continent urinary diversion using the appendix are associated with high continence, compliance and satisfaction rate and a low complication rate in the treatment of pediatric patients with disorders related to bladder and urethral dysfunction.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of nephroblastomatosis (Nbm) combined with Wilms'tumor (WT). Methods Clinical data of six patients treated for WT combined with Nbm in Beijing Children's Hospital from 2006 to 2010 were reviewed retrospectively.The patients'ages ranged from five to 14 months.Two of the patients were female and four were male.The WTs were left-sided in four cases and right-sided in two cases.The Nbms were ipsilateral with WT in three cases,contralateral in two cases and bilateral in one case. The Nbms were single In three cases and multiple in three cases.WTs were all single and the maximum diameter was 3,4,8,10,11,and 12 cm respectively.Two paitents underwent nephrectomy.Nephron sparing surgery and upper and lower pole nodule biopsy was conducted in two cases,Nephrectomy and contralateral nephron sparing surgery was conducted in an additional two cases.Adjuvant chemotherapy included vincristine,actinomycin and doxorubicin. Results One patient had tumor recurrence 33 months after a 15 month regimen of postoperative chemotherapy. One patient had tumor recurrence and died after nephron sparing surgery 5 months after a 11 month regimen of chemotherapy.Four patients underwent 6 months of chemotherapy,and it was 9,12,and 21 months respectively after stop of chemotherapy.Another patient was still in chemotherapy. Conclusions Nbm is a pre-neoplastic proliferative process with high risk of developing WT.Chemotherapy may reduce the rate of Nbm malignancy.If Nbm is malignant or chemotherapy is invalid,nephron sparing surgery is recommended.

Objective To discuss the management of the congenital vesicoureteral junction obstruction (UVJO). Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed of patients who underwent ureteral reimplantation due to UVJO between 2003 and 2008. Of the 73 patients with 83 ureters (male 49 and female 24, age range 8 months to 13 years, median 41 months). Forty-one cases were on the left, 22 were on the right and 10 were bilateral obstruction. The most common presenting symptoms were intermittent abdominal pain and urinary infection. All patients were evaluated preoperatively by ultrasound, voiding cystourethrogram, intravenous pyelogram and diagnosed as UVJO. Reimplantation was done by the Cohen technique in all patients. Results Follow-up of 46 patients ranged 0.5-3.5 years postoperatively, including ultrasound, voiding cystourethrogram, intravenous pyelogram. Hydronephrosis improve in 41 patients, had no change in 5 ureters. Conclusions Symptomatic children or advanced hydroureteronephrosis are definite indication for surgical treatment of UVJO patients. Surgical management could be effective for most of patients.

OBJECTIVETo study the roles of type II 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD2) and it's signaling factors in the lung tissue in pathogenesis of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH) in neonatal rats.

METHODSSix Sprague-Dawley rats on the 19th day of pregnancy were randomly divided into PPH and control groups (n=3 each). The PPH group was intraperitoneally injected with indomethacin (0.5 mg/kg) twice daily and exposed in 12% oxygen for three days, in order to prepare a fetal rat model of PPH. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with an equal volume of normal saline and exposed to air. Neonatal rats were born by caesarean section from both groups on the 22nd day of pregnancy. In each group, 15 neonatal rats were randomly selected and sacrificed. 11β-HSD2 expression in the lung tissue of neonatal rats were observed by Confocal laser technology, and serum cortisol levels and prostacyclin, renin, angiotensin and aldosterone in the lung tissue of both groups were measured using ELISA.

RESULTS11β-HSD2 protein was widely expressed in the lung tissue of the control and PPH groups. The levels of 11β-HSD2 and prostacyclin in the lung tissue were lower in the PPH group than in the control group, while serum cortisol levels and renin, angiotensin and aldosterone in the lung tissue were higher in the PPH group than in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS11β-HSD2 and it's signaling factors play roles in pathogenesis of PPH in neonatal rats.

11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 ; analysis ; physiology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Female ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; enzymology ; etiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of anterior tooth movement using clear aligners in integrated three-dimensional digital models. METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomography was performed before and after treatment with clear aligners in 32 patients. Plaster casts were laser-scanned for virtual setup and aligner fabrication. Differences in predicted and achieved root and crown positions of anterior teeth were compared on superimposed maxillofacial digital images and virtual models and analyzed by Student's t-test. RESULTS: The mean discrepancies in maxillary and mandibular crown positions were 0.376 +/- 0.041 mm and 0.398 +/- 0.037 mm, respectively. Maxillary and mandibular root positions differed by 2.062 +/- 0.128 mm and 1.941 +/- 0.154 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Crowns but not roots of anterior teeth can be moved to designated positions using clear aligners, because these appliances cause tooth movement by tilting motion.
Casts, Surgical ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Crowns ; Humans ; Tooth Movement* ; Tooth*

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of DAAs in treating HCV patients with HIV/HCV co-infection.Method 53 patients were divided into groups based on HCV genotype. Sofosbuvir + Ledipasvir regime were used for 1b and 6a subtypes; sofosbuvir+Daclatasvir regime were used for 3a, 3b and those cannot be typed; all the patients diagnosed with cirrhosis were also administrated with ribavirin. The course of treatment for all patients is 12 weeks.Results All 53 patients completed HCV treatment, the overall SVR rate of DAAs treatment rate was 98.1%(52/53), failure rate 1.9%(1/53) ; SVR rate of DAAs treatment among non-cirrhosis patients was 100%(41/41) ; SVR rate of DAAs treatment among cirrhosis patients was 91.7%(11/12), failure rate 8.3%(1/11) . After treatment, ALT and AST levels of DAAs treatment patients were decreased (P＜0.05), while CD4 level increased (P＜0.05) . Main adverse effects are: 12 patients had gastrointestinal symptoms (22.6%) ; 6 had nausea, vomiting (11.3%), 4 had diarrhea (7.6%), 1 had mild rash (1.9%), and 5 had elevated serum total bilirubin (9.4%) . Conclusion The overall SVR rate among DAA treatment for HIV/HCV co-infected patients is high (98.1%) with broad indications. Even patients with cirrhosis are eligible. It yielded optimistic outcomes among different gene subtypes, and effectively improved liver function and CD4 level. With oral administration, short regime course, and mild adverse effects, patients can tolerate well, indicating its effectiveness and safety.